Décor gets a British Invasion

Ever since Prince William and Kate got married, we have been seeing more British Influence in design. I am sure that the success of Downton Abbey is a contributing factor to the British pieces of décor as well.

Modern British design is a great combination of contemporary piece with warm, rustic sprinkled in there.  It has a nod to the tradition of wood and time-worn pieces mixed with sleek lines and styles.

As with any trend, you might not want to go whole hog, or maybe I should say Full Monty, but Flaunt your love for our friends across the pond with this charming Union Jack stool.Whether you put it in the den, study, or bedroom, this stool adds a global allure to any space.

The Union Jack is so recognizable and can be found on so many items. Design Sponge even wrote an article about it call Union Jack is the New Black. Heck, even Home Depot wrote about the Union Jack as a design trend. With such classic colors as dark blue, deep red and white, it can be integrated into almost any decor depending on the material of the object.

Not sure you want the Union Jack in your home or you don't want to let your love for all things British stop you there.  Check out the new Constable Button necklaces from Smitten. It will add a 'proper' touch to any outfit.


Enjoy!
Linda @ Urban Cottage 

Ikat-ching Textiles are on Trend

There has been so much buzz about Ikat designs in the home décor and textile community.  These exotic fabrics have a motif with ancient roots, but new colors give it a fresher look that  can energize furnishings and accessories.  

Above and beyond the visual interest of Ikat, there is a long and interesting history dating back to the 10th century.  Elle Decor did a really great piece about the history of Ikat that you can check out.

Reclaimed Wood Keeps Trending

Reclaimed wood can be used in a number of areas of the home including flooring counter tops and décor pieces. Urban Cottage carries a line of products from a local company called Reclaimed Things. Reclaimed wood isn't as convenient to buy as wood from the home supply store, but nothing can matches reclaimed wood's uniqueness and character. A lot of reclaimed lumber comes from old, rundown barns that are no longer in use. However, reclaimed wood can be anything made from a wood products. It might be something in your home like an old banister.

According to Chad Beatty, vice president of Elmwood Reclaimed Timber, there are some good arguments for using Reclaimed Wood products for projects.
1) It's environmentally friendly. Reclaimed wood isn't grown on farms. Yes, it represents a tree that's been cut down, but at least it's getting another life in your home.
2) It has an age and character that cannot be mimicked. Aging also brings out the color in the wood.
3) Most old-growth wood is no longer available because many species cannot be harvested due to regulations.
4) Reclaimed wood has its own history. The counter top in your kitchen might have had a previous life as a barn in Sunbury, PA.

There are so many ways to use Reclaimed products and sources, and I listed a few of them for you to check out.
In home décor, there is always a lot of discussion about color and pattern. However, over the past few years, there has been a lot of talk about Reclaimed Wood. With many new products coming on the market, I thought it might be nice to take a quick look at the topic.

• Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen (Cultivate.com)

•  Reclaimed Wood Project Ideas (Houzz.com)

• Using Reclaim Wood Staircase Spindles (ThisOldHouse.com)

•  11 Ways to Use Reclaimed Wood in Your Home (BobVila.com)

• Reclaimed Wood Posts on Pinterest (Pinterest.com)

• Workshop Talk from our Friends at Reclaimed Things (ReclaimedThings.com)

Enjoy!

Linda @ Urban Cottage

Aviary Design Takes Flight

Bird motifs have been popular in design for years. There is a category of home design called Aviary devoted to all things with a Bird on it. If you have been in the store, or even looked at the logo, you know I like birds. Some of my favorite products in the store have our feathered friends on them.


Why? Bird Motifs add a beautiful, nature-inspired element to a home's interior. They lend themselves to a variety of design styles, and are easy to incorporate into an existing decorating scheme. Birds are found on everything from clocks, to light and lovely fabrics and linens, artistic print trays and fun decorative bird accessories.

Last holiday season, we used Peacocks in our holiday decorating scheme - Urban Holiday. The array of colors in the aviary world means that you can find something in nature that can inspire your color scheme in the home or coordinate with the palette you have already chosen. You could say, it will let you imagination take flight.

Enjoy!
Linda @ Urban Cottage

Creating Warmth with Rustic Décor & Accents

In an era where 'craftsmanship' is taking on more importance, we are seeing time-loved and custom built pieces become more important in our home décor mix. The trend is about giving a nod to our ancestors who lived in basic rustic wood structures with hand made furnishings, rough cut woods and 'livable' surroundings. There is something about the simplicity of rustic décor that lends warmth and goodness to any room.

As a store in the Rustbelt, we often have cold and dark winters. Creating a home that is a warm, comfortable retreat can help us make it through a long stretch of Northern Winter weather. It also allows us to have a place to get away from the grind of daily life and imagine we are having a 'weekend' getaway at a luxe cabin.

Here are some easy ways to experiment with rustic décor:
- Add a hanging votive with natural wood in your home - above a dining room or in the bathroom
- Warm up your kitchen with a new counter from Reclaimed Wood
- Integrate natural elements like branches or twigs in centerpieces
- Natural materials such are easy to add with burlap or canvas pillows
- Using animal on hooks or other décor gives that rustic lodge feel as well

Enjoy!

Linda @ Urban Cottage


A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Reclaimed Wood and how it is a growing trending. One of the drivers of that trend is the resurgence of Rustic décor as a home design trend. Although Shabby Chic has been a strong style for the past decade, it seems like home owners and apartment dwellers have finally figured out that timeless, classic rustic pieces can create a cozier home. It is a style that can be easily combined with other styles because it straddles industrial, shabby chic and vintage styles.

Wired In For Storage Solutions

In today's home, we are always trying to figure out how to effectively store our things. There are a lot of solutions for this dilem
ma, but baskets are still one of my favorites. There are a lot of different places in the home you can use baskets.

Baskets are also versatile and can coordinate with any style. They also come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes to fit any space where you might need them. At Urban Cottage, we use baskets throughout the store to display and keep everything from hooks to pillows.

We recently got the incredible folding wire baskets pictured at the left. The come in so many sizes, will match a multitude of styles, and will fold away when you are not using them. I don't know why you wouldn't be using them, but it could happen.

Enjoy!
Linda @ Urban Cottage

A Little Makeover for Thumbtacks

Why not jazz up those boring thumbtacks?

Get out that hot glue gun. Round up any buttons you have around ('cause you know you do).

Just hot glue buttons on top of the thumbtacks.I recommend pairing up the curved or indented parts of the buttons with the curve of your thumbtacks if they don't have a flat surface.

Now they are cute as a button!