A lot of clients say to me: Oh, but that’s going to be so impractical! What about my kids/pets/husband with his muddy boots??

So here’s my big secret: outdoor fabrics.

There are so many of these fabulous new fabrics on the market that have special stain and water-resist qualities. They’re practical, durable, easy to clean, and they look great – like the uber-stylish cushions in this poolhouse, made from Sunbrella fabric.

(Source: Elle Decor)

The good thing is, I can indulge my love for light colors without worrying about the fabrics getting soiled right away. That’s such a blessing when you’re trying to create a really pretty indoor-to-outdoor look. One of my current favorites is the Palm Springs house featured in a recent Veranda, with these fabulous pinky-lavender couches in the porch – a real style statement, and practical too!

(Source: Veranda July-August 2011)

The wonderful thing about the new generation of stain and water-resist fabrics is that they look so good! Forget the canvas-type fabrics of the past – these new materials come in all kinds of finishes, including linen, jacquard, even chenille and velvet. You really can’t even tell they were designed for outdoor use. And so, why not bring them indoors? I’ve started using them in high-traffic areas like mudrooms, kitchens, breakfast rooms – they’re so perfect for banquettes and casual seating nooks.

(Source: House Beautiful)

The end result: beautiful soothing color schemes without the stress. What more could you ask for?

(Source: Chelsea Textiles)

Chelsea Textiles has these amazing little classic check patterns I love to use on benches, chairs, drapes, in breakfast rooms, mudrooms and bedrooms. It’s a classic favorite, and there’s no denying that a strong geometric print never goes out of style. See how it looks on this bench – just charming!

(Source: Chelsea Textiles)

I found so many unique prints, I could hardly decide which I liked the most! They are especially known for their embroidered fabrics, such as this  beautiful embroidery  – graceful floral sprays and cheerful yellow blooms…I have such a fancy for all these amazing hand embroidered textiles, and we use them to create accessory pillows in our projects.

(Source: Chelsea Editions)

(Source: Chelsea Editions)

The furniture collection is equally stunning. Many of the pieces are Swedish- and French-inspired, with gorgeous painted finishes. I find myself tempted to include them in my latest project…

(Source: Chelsea Textiles)

I especially love this little writing desk. I found a similar antique one a few years ago, and the style and the shape really attracted me. This is a great piece to put in an entry area as a drop zone, to store keys, mail, cards, stamps and so on.

The gorgeous lacquered pieces are really appealing to me too. Just one of these high-glamor items is enough to add a really modern, stylish touch to a room!

(Source: Chelsea Textiles)

(Source: Tulu Textiles)

The fabrics on the bed above come from a design house called Tulu, which specializes in bold, bright prints and hues. So many of these beautiful prints are inspiring me these days. I especially like the rich shades they use. Used against a crisp white background, the colors ‘pop’ even more, creating a really spectacular effect.

(Source: Tulu Textiles)

One of the other companies I’m really loving right now is Les Indiennes, which produces a line inspired by the colors and shapes of India.

(Source: Les Indiennes)

The great thing about prints like these is that they can really infuse a room with personality, even one with a simple, rustic décor. I’ve fallen for the rich, saturated hues, the beautiful patterns, and the pretty linen-like backgrounds.

(Source: Les Indiennes)

I love the patterns too – especially the paisley prints, which are so reminiscent of traditional Indian designs. Even in the simplest of color combinations, they look so elegant!

(Source: Les Indiennes)

Perhaps one of the most famous examples of Empire style today is the much-photographed Red Room at the White House, with its bold color palette, elaborate gilt chandelier and medallion embossed silk sofa.

(Source: East Wing Rules)

It’s definitely not a style for the faint-hearted! The colors and motifs of Empire-style décor were inspired by Egyptian tombs – deep red, cool azure, rich green and acid yellow, with sphinxes, lions, lotus blossoms, eagles, rosettes and animal-paw feet. Draperies were always heavy and luxurious, wood was typically expensive (rosewood, mahogany and ebony) and gilt and brass ornamentation was everywhere. I found some great examples of this kind of décor in these pictures of Vizcaya, the former estate of businessman James Deering in Miami. Don’t miss the highly decorated walls, the use of gold, and the fabulous tented ceiling in the bathroom – such luxury!

(Source: Architect Design)

I love the opulence of old-style Empire décor, but it doesn’t always sit well with my preference for calming, cool interiors. I prefer rooms that combine the grandeur of this style with a softer color palette for a look that is elegant but not overpowering. But if you really want to make a statement deep, rich saturated colors with Empire style pieces will definitely make a bold design statement!

(Source: Decorati)

I love to  incorporate these highly stylized elements of a particular style or era into a space like a foyer, where they can stand independently and still make an impact. I’m really liking the effect of this Empire-style marble-topped console against a rich gold patterned wallpaper. With the pale wood floors and classic chairs, upholstered in an elegant gold and ivory stripe, the overall look is reminiscent of the Empire style but perfect for a contemporary home.

(Source: Elle Decor)

What do you think? Is the Empire style something you could incorporate into your own home, or is a style like this better left to the palaces and stately homes where it originated?

(Source: Eclectic Revisited)

The tulip has made its way into many ‘traditional’ English prints and you often see a tulip print in old English stately homes. There’s even a special Tulip Staircase in the Queen’s House in London!

(Source: Open House)

Interestingly, tulips are not originally a very English symbol at all. The tulip was first used in interior design and architecture in Turkey, and it was the Ottomans who brought the motif to Europe. Of course, the Dutch were the ones to eventually commercialize the tulip in the 17th century, and Holland became known as the birthplace of the tulip. But as a design motif, tulips have proliferated across Europe, and now can be seen in upholstery, curtains, bedding and even wallpaper.

(Source: New Home Interior Design)

I love this modern tulip inspired velvet fabric, by Barbara Barry for Kravet. We recently used this fabric in one of our projects, for these two fabulous, extra long, cozy kidney pillows, and they turned out so luscious!

Historians say that the tulip motif came to the United States through Dutch descendants who settled in the Hudson River area and began producing tulip themed freehand paintings on large wall areas. This trend eventually became a fashion for wall stenciling, and we now see many modern homes with a feature wall covered in a delicate tulip vine stencil.

(Source: Design Amour)

I’m loving the simplicity and the elegance of the wall shown above – the almost austere white sink and mirror are the perfect contrast to the elaborate stenciled design. Perhaps I need to think about a makeover for one of my powder rooms!

(Source: Elle Decor)

There is something just so delicious about combining vibrant hot pink tones with the cooler shades of lilac and lavender – the end result is unashamedly feminine, bold and full of personality.

(Source: House of Design and Style)

It’s a combination I think could work in any setting, not just a bedroom. Of course, concentrated colors like these suit private spaces better, but set against a more neutral pale cream or sand, I think the fuchsia and lavender combo could work very well in a lounge or even dining room.

(Source: The Southern Eclectic)

I like the idea of introducing print and texture into the mix too – as long as your base colors are essentially complementary, you can experiment with patterns and prints that go well together.

(Source: Veranda)

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the project I just completed was looking for the perfect fabrics. I fell in love with these prints by Mulberry for Lee Jofa, which just show how a room can really be brought alive with the right kind of fabrics.

More fabulous color schemes coming up in our Crazy for Color Series… keep watching this space!

The palette this time is inspired by shades of green and blue, very elegant and with a kind of sophisticated grandeur. The custom sofa (7) is being made in a beautiful soft grey-green linen fabric, and I’ve picked a charming Lee Jofa print for accessory pillows. No loud colors and way-out prints for this client – the idea is understated glamor, all the way…

The classic Louis XVI bergere chair (3) is one of my favorite frames; I love the carving, and the grace of its curvy but upright shape. This is a piece we can customize, so we will customize the finish on the frame to a rich green painted finish. It will look so rich with this large scale floral print and bring out the colors in this lovely fabric.

For the tables, we’re working with a mix of traditional rectangle (4) and round (6) shapes so that the room is not all hard edges. Given the soft curves of both the sofa and the bergere, I think the gently concave legs of the side table complement them perfectly.

We included a classic gourd lamp for the side table- I just love the shapes in this lamp (5) but you can see my love for gold coming through on this project too!  I just adore the regal look of this beautiful chandelier (2) and the look is echoed in the accessories too (1). Like I always say, you can’t beat gold for adding a touch of luxury!

Today was presentation day, and as it turned out, the client loved our ideas. That’s fantastic, because working with someone who has enthusiasm and appreciation is just a really fulfilling experience!

Here is the scheme we put together to show the design for the great room:

In the top left corner (1) is a Louis XVI Fauteuil upholstered in a simply gorgeous Schumacher fabric. The bold, modern print works really well with the more traditional shape of the chair, I feel. I love mixing modern designs with antiques, and that’s why I’ve included the two iron side tables (2 & 7), to add a touch of contemporary into what will be a predominantly classic room. I love the geometric design table – it’s so elegant! – but I sometimes like to use round tables to soften the edges in a room.

The custom sofa (8) will be upholstered in the blue linen fabric, but I wanted to work in a pop of color so I found this luscious embroidered fabric to use for cushions. For the other accessory cushions, I’m loving this Schumacher print (3) which is both classic and chic.

Another element the room is going to include, is a couple of little benches with the Greek key pattern carved on the benches (5). I love the versatility of pieces like these – they’re great for pulling up when you need additional seating, but they can be easily tucked away when they’re not required.

The final touch comes with the accessories (4 & 6) that will be used on installation day. This is the best part of the project – the day when we bring everything to the client’s house and then spend several hours placing all the furniture, hanging the artwork and arranging the accessories. It’s fairly labor-intensive, but the end result has real wow factor. And seeing the client’s face, when they finally catch sight of the finished room that they have been waiting so patiently for – that makes it all worth it!

All furniture, fabrics and accessories available at Amitha Verma. Contact us today to get started on a custom interior design for your home!

Toile has been around since the 1700s, but it hasn’t lost any of its charm and elegance… in fact, I think it looks even more beautiful today, in the context of entirely modern interior designs. The airy, pale fabric, with its highly detailed pastoral scenes, adds a certain je ne sais quoi to every room that I use it in!

(Source: Chris Dee Designs)

As most of my projects have a French inspired flavor to them, I enjoy bringing in authentic touches like French antiques and vintage, antique pieces. Toile is the perfect blend of old and new – it is steeped in the old-world charm of eighteenth century Europe, but it works well within any kind of modern home, whether it is a bedroom or a comfortable sofa in the family den.

(Source: The Enchanted Home)

I just love, absolutely love rooms that are covered in toile wall-covering and fabrics like the one above. One day, this will work it’s way into my house. I adore working with toile, and usually incorporate it into my best designs.

(Source: Amitha Verma Interior Designs)

Recently, I used a delicious caramel and cream Braquenie, toile print on a beautiful dark wood chair. The contrast of dark and light, and the contemporary use of the vintage-style toile, created a stunning effect.

(Source: Country Living)

Toile is also perfect for use in less formal settings too. The French country style, which embodies cool, laid-back rustic charm, is also a great backdrop for toile-upholstered pieces. I love this toile bedding in a cheery red and white, which looks so simple and pretty on a cast-iron bedstead.Bright or subtle, upholstery or bedding, you can’t really go wrong with toile!

Why do they call it a ‘Roman Shade’? One theory is that the style and mechanism of the Roman Shade is the same as that of the retractable shade used outside of the Coliseum in Rome. Another theory is the Roman Shade was first invented in Rome out of necessity. Ancient Rome was a design Mecca, with many awe-inspiring wonders being built – the Coliseum, the Pantheon, numerous Basilicas. Homeowners of the time period needed a window covering to prevent dust from coming in. At first, damp cloths were used to cover the windows until design took over, and window coverings started to be made using luxurious fabrics and textiles.

Roman shades are still a very classic way to cover a window, and add a design statement! I love how you can use a gorgeous fabric, or even a simple fabric and a bit of detail to create a classic, timeless look.

A lovely French inspired design by Suzanne Kassler (via)

I love this modern geometric print used in the Roman Shade over the sink. This is a fantastic use of a modern design in Louis XV inspired room. The curves and organic shapes are so perfectly in tune with the style that was in vogue during that time period!

House Beautiful. Jan/Feb 2011

A Roman Shade is a GREAT window covering for a kitchen window. You can keep it up so you don’t have to worry about water ,(this window doesn’t usually need privacy) sneak a little softness into the kitchen, and add a pop of color and texture!

House Beautiful March 2011

Gorgeous!! This Roman Shade is the perfect addition without looking too ‘busy’. One of my own personal favorite design tricks is to add a contrasting border or stripe into a solid panel to create a classic look. I especially love the color of the bookshelves – who says cabinets must be white?

Custom window coverings and draperies, and fabric available through designers, In Houston, contact Amitha Verma Interior Design.