“Influenced by the emerging technology of the machine age, as well as the Cubist art movement, art deco can be found everywhere from skyscrapers to poster art to furniture design.” – PopSugar Home

“Salon”
The word “salon” is based on the French word living room and can be thought of as a gathering place for conversation among intellectuals. The word itself dates back to 1699 and nowadays holds several meanings. It could be an elegant living room, an assembly of notable people at a prominent person’s home, a hall for exhibiting art or another word for ‘business.’

Salon by Bernhardt
This collection of furniture by Bernhardt embodies the extravagant and glitzy era of art deco. Clean lines, geometric forms, and shining materials harkens back to art deco. While the jewelry inspired hardware, eclectic mix of styles and alabaster finishes bring this group into the 21^st century.

Attention to Detail
Throughout this fashion-forward collection there are maple veneers in an alabaster stain, inlaid metal borders, silkscreen faux shagreen patterns, silver leafing and natural capiz shells. And all of the pieces work together to create a peaceful harmonic cohesiveness.

Description
If you were to describe this collection with a series of words you could say: elegant, refined, high quality, soothing, chic, eclectic, warm, sophisticated, classic and relaxing. It is an eclectic collection for today’s modern home. And it makes perfect sense that it’s called “salon,” because it is a group that is inviting and conversational. It pulls beautiful elements from the art deco period but with an up-to-date and modern twist.

Take a look at this gorgeous collection, and see it in person at any of Star’s 9 store locations.

Find more quality furniture and daily inspiration at Pinterest.com/StarFurniture. And be sure to follow us on Twitter, @StarFurniture, and Facebook.

No matter what your style or personal taste, you can discover how to interact with texture, fabrics, reclaimed materials, natural materials, global influences, various color patterns, up-to-date lighting and various styles of furniture.

You choose where you want to splurge and where it’s best to save. Bringing together the many different working parts to function as a whole.

What is your style?
You don’t have to get too complicated and “label” your style as “modern, classic, contemporary” etc. just yet. As you select things that you truly love, you will discover what design label you fall into (you may even fall into more than one).

Say no to knickknacks!
A handful of selectively chosen items or personal things is perfectly acceptable. But buying knickknacks just for the sake of having knickknacks probably isn’t a good idea. Everything you choose to display in your home should be a reflection of you and your taste! The photo examples below may have a few too many items busying up the space.

Start with the basics
Choose clean lines to build the foundation of whatever room you are designing. Start with furniture and a color palette before getting over concerned with the little details.

Consider the space you are decorating and what it has to offer (natural light, architectural details, window placement, volume of traffic, etc.).

Versatility
Look at out-of-the-box fabrics for pillows, ottomans and accent pieces that can be switched out for the seasons. These are the types of accessories/furniture that can really add character to your space and that you can alternate if you get bored of a look.

Also check out furniture that has more than one function (like an ottoman that serves as a coffee table or an armoire that is also a bar). Make the most of whatever space you’ve got to work with.

Don’t overlook the details
Drapery is like the lipstick of a room – no space is entirely complete without it. And don’t overlook little details like drapery hardware, lamps, mirrors, artwork, plants/flowers, etc.

Overall, it’s not as hard as you may think to incorporate comfort and style while keeping your taste in mind.

To learn more about what your personal style is, try taking this design quiz. And to learn about Star’s FREE Design Seminars, click here.

Colonnade Outdoor Dining Collection

Summer is right around the corner and more people are looking to utilize their unused outdoor spaces. It’s easier than you might think to turn your blank slate into a beautiful outdoor room that you and your family can enjoy year-round.

When looking for outdoor furniture consider these things:

Measure, Budget and Plan
Measure your area and reflect on how you will use this space once it’s complete. Is this an area for large parties or relaxing reading? How you use the space can help determine what furniture you will need.

Materials
Metals
Steel rusts but aluminum doesn’t. Look for aluminum with paint that is applied with an electrostatic finish.

(What is an electrostatic painting? It’s a powder coating that uses electrically charged powders to paint metal objects. Once painted, the object is baked at up to 500°F to create a hard shell that is incredibly durable (it resists chipping and peeling). This method produces mirror-smooth finishes without runs, sags, bubbles and drips that occur with traditional painting methods. The process is also Eco-friendly since it doesn’t use any solvents that can evaporate or contaminate drainage water.)

Wicker
Synthetic wicker is superior to natural wicker when it comes to outdoor furniture. You want wicker that has high quality vinyl or poly-resins treated with UV inhibitors.

Fabrics
Make sure the fabrics are truly designed for outdoor use – that they are UV tested and made of materials that let water drain through. Find out what the cushions are stuffed with – you want Dacron, Dacron wrapped foam, reticulated foam or waterproof liners. These materials help wet cushions drain, preventing mildew.

Construction
Also look for full circumference welds when shopping for outdoor furniture.

(Full circumference welds run the full circumference of the tube, providing superior strength over spot welding. These welds will be even and extend completely around the joint to fortify its strength.)

Style and Comfort
You may think it’s common sense, but make sure that the furniture you choose is comfortable! Are you drawn to the style? Does it fit into your vision of your ideal backyard retreat? You have to make sure to balance comfort and style. There is a huge range of comfortable styles out there to choose from.

Keep the Elements in Mind
Consider the amount of sunlight you will receive and whether or not you will need an umbrella to shield you from the light. Also think about the winter months and ask yourself if you will need to store some of the furniture, or buy covers for it.

Ask About Cleaning
Once you’ve purchased your outdoor furniture, be sure to ask your sales person what the best way to clean your furniture is. You want to take good care of your investment so that it can last for the long haul.

San Rafael Outdoor Sectional

San Rafael Outdoor Sofa

Palau Bistro Collection

Palau Bistro Table

Manhatten Outdoor Collection

Manhatten Outdoor Collection

Leeward Outdoor Collection

Colonnade Outdoor Dining

Colonnade Outdoor Dining

The items pictured above are just a sampling of the assortment of outdoor furniture carried by Star Furniture, to see more visit: http://tinyurl.com/c2m9yaf and follow us on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/StarFurniture/

Playful Patterns
These days, patterns are plentiful. It’s a blast to experiment with different patterns, but even more fun to combine them to create a cohesive and unique look. You don’t want to have an area that’s too over stimulating or busy; but just intriguing enough to add personality to the space.

Wonderful Wallpaper
The possibilities are endless when it comes to wallpaper. Whether you’re looking for bold, subdued, metallic, textured, monochromatic, geometric, or organic wallpaper, there exists wallpaper for your taste and your space. You could spend a lifetime looking through wallpapers and they are wildly popular.

The Chevron Pattern
Whether it’s accessories, furniture or fabrics, this trendy pattern has taken over! Did you know that this V shaped pattern was commonly used in military and police uniforms as well as flags and highway signs. It first appeared on pottery and rock carvings as early as 1800 B.C. Check out these uses of this well-loved pattern:

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: bold colors, chandelier, chandeliers, chevron pattern, color and design, décor, design, interior design, interior design trends, interiors, lighting, mixing patterns, mixing patterns in design, on trend, patterns, sofas, textured wallpaper, trends, wallpaper ]]> http://starfurnitureblog.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/right-on-trend-part-ii/feed/ 0 starfurnituretx 22a55efae2b27c97c907186dd4a019f4 40edefbdc4a8970cd7bbd00336c09847 6950cfb0b400b30b819f7a991319026d 0b48ee85d4ef9f36dea2f9c0bc431062 eclectic-bedroom c512798a1d53ba8a674652a6b97d8426 c2601644309d1ef74536e79b93d688d4 dee2dc35ba472ad5a5bb6ee447e3eb43 31914a4e1d5f96e46e462a6d67177fc3 5d205aed5aabb62c2799b93720a347d8 bb1c51eeca6402fb77d248aae10263eb dfb30b137a1893a46ab9aba40cf5a45c http://starfurnitureblog.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/right-on-trend/ http://starfurnitureblog.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/right-on-trend/#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 15:37:08 +0000 Star Furniture http://furniturepolished.com/?p=1251 Continue reading →]]> Tufted
Tufting is a major up-and-coming trend in furniture. You can see it in upholstered items as well as leather pieces. Look for it on chair or sofa backs, seats, or both as well as on headboards, chaises and ottomans. The tufted style conveys a sense of vintage class and elegance that can carry across many different decorating styles.

Tickle me Pink
Plums and pinks are quickly emerging as popular palette choices in furniture.

Be Bold
Bold colors are definitely on the rise.

Keep Your Cool
Grays remain a popular neutral for fabric selection, and blues and teals are on the upswing as well.

Pillow Palace
Pillows are incredibly important and can lend style, color and comfort to nearly any room. But don’t just grab the first pillow that looks nice at the strip mall. Put some serious thought into the quality, texture, color, pattern, size and shape of the pillow before buying. Picture where it will go and how it will fit into your furniture and design plans.

A well-placed and adequately sized rug can really anchor a group of furniture and create a cozy sanctuary within your great room, especially if your floor is the same throughout the space.

Color in a Great Room
If you’ve got a good amount of light in your great room, you can consider richer colors, which usually make a room seem smaller. In a large room, you can use deep tones of a color you might not want to use in a small room.

If you’re looking to bring the ceiling down visually, you could consider painting it a deep color. Moldings and architectural elements also assist in moving the eye around a space, especially if it creates a contrast with your color choice.

Texture and Taste
Don’t forget that since it’s a larger room, your great room can handle more color and heavier fabrics. When creating your dream great room, remember that window dressings can really finish off the room nicely. And when it comes to furniture, be sure to explore multiple fabrics and leathers that would look best in your space.

The finishing touches of course, are accessories. Framed art, accent pillows, tabletop items, lamps and throws bring personality and warmth to any space. Make sure that you really like the accessories you choose for your space; don’t pick something that you sort of like, choose things you love.

Great Room Education
Before you set off to design and decorate your great room, consider ways to better educate yourself on the topic. Star Furniture is offering a free great room seminar at nine of their store locations in Houston, Austin, Bryan and San Antonio. To learn more, visit: http://www.starfurniture.com/designseminars/

Below are more examples of great rooms: