Southwest Decorating
Articles
Light The Fire of Your Decorating Imagination
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One of the questions we get come from people who look around their home and ponder, “What can I do to improve the atmosphere or beauty of my home?” This question can be difficult in the face of endless design choices and shades of color that are numberless. Sometimes it can even be intimidating to stare at our walls and try to decide, “Should I paint, or wallpaper? If I use color where should it go and what color should I use?” In the face of all these choices, You need to be INSPIRED. We’d like to share with you a few tips on “Finding Decorating Inspiration”.
It doesn’t make sense to start a new redecorating project without first doing some planning and looking for inspiration. You need to determine what you really want. Start this process slowly. Finding the inspiration will ultimately provide a “roadmap” for your entire redecorating project.
Here are some ways for you to get INSPIRED.
VISIT MODEL HOMES OR “SHOW HOMES”.
Just about every community has model homes that you can walk through. There are also builder home shows put on by local organizations that can give you great ideas. In Albuquerque we have the annual “Parade of Homes.” These model homes or home shows feature the work of talented decorators.
While touring the models, don’t look at individual qualities or furniture pieces, consider the basics (floors, wall and ceiling), and then ask yourself, “How does this room make me feel?” Are the textures right? Do the colors create the mood I’m trying to create? Do I like the carpeting, both color and texture? Or, have they used alternative flooring that would provide a better design atmosphere. What is it about this room that I like or dislike? Take the time to write down notes for later use.
TV, DECORATOR MAGAZINES AND THE INTERNET
View TV shows that feature interior decorating, try a few and catch ideas and inspiration from the ones you like. Go to the library and check out a couple of books on interior decorating. Your local bookstore usually has a good selection of home magazines to browse through to find that “look or mood” you want to create. (We list some magazines at the end that are great resources for Southwest design.) Amazon.com is an excellent source to search for decorating books on Southwest, Santa Fe style or Scottsdale style homes. They will have photos that can add to your inspirations.
The Internet is nearly limitless with possibilities. Use the search engines like Google or Yahoo to find internet sites that have resources for the specific design style you want.
CREATE A “VISION” SCRAPBOOK OR NOTEBOOK
Now that you have done your homework, create a scrapbook of ideas. In this book, keep your notes of rooms that inspired you and what it was about the room that was INSPIRATIONAL. Keep pictures from magazines or photos of styles, colors, textures that really surprised you and created the mood or atmosphere you’ve dreamed of creating in your home.
Most important of all, keep an open mind. Experiment with new designs and color combinations. Many times it is the unusual that will create that atmosphere that will "wow" your friends the most.
RECOMMENDED MAGAZINES
SUNSET
Sunset Publishing
PO Box 62375
Tampa, FL 33662
www.sunset.com
SU CASA
Hacienda Press, Publisher
4100 Wolcottt Ave NE, Suite B,
Albuquerque, NM 87109
www.sucasamagazine.com
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The Kiva Ladder
One of the most universal symbols used throughout southwest design and art is the Indian Pueblo. There's something mysterious about the grouping together of adobe homes. Building one home on top of the other to improve security from other warring tribes and a closer community, the shape has evolved into an icon design in southwest decorating. Many homes in New Mexico and Arizona are built to imitate the design of the early pueblos. We find pueblos designed into rugs, Kachina dolls, ceramic pottery, paintings, metal art, and even whole coffee tables.
One great way to attach a pueblo mood to your room without actually having pueblo designs is to use a simple, inexpensive Pueblo Kiva ladder. The ladder gives a subtle Pueblo whisper to the design. The ladder creates a wonderful place to showcase a couple of your favorite southwest rugs or saddle blankets. We've also used a log drum and a small lamp to give it some symmetry.
You can use the Kiva ladder to showcase a special Navajo blanket and several pieces of pottery. If your Kiva ladder may sit on tile, which is often slick, add a cotton kokopelli throw rug underneath the ladder. This further enhances the southwest theme, adds some additional color and gives the ladder a landing zone to prevent it from being easily dislodged.
Use your imagination. You probably already have some rugs you can use and maybe some southwestern design trinkets to show. Just add a small table beside it or a drum and you have an eye pleasing design.
You can use the Kiva ladder to store several southwestern throw blankets that you can wrap up in during those cool winter evenings. You might use a Kiva ladder as a place to hang bed blankets or comforters in your bedroom when not in use.
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