Northwesterners embrace the season of rain with an eye on the Mudroom. Starting with umbrellas, wet, dirty shoes and backpacks, this is where the family sheds their stuff and gets down and dirty. The mudroom is more important than ever with today’s busy families and with so much more to organize.

Once dominant as the home of the television and components, the latest victim of technology is the armoire. No longer bulky and awkward, flatscreen TVs are minimal, attractive and a status symbol. People put them in full view for all the reasons just mentioned.

The name, armoire, (ar·moire) (ärm-wär) derives from their original use for storing arms. As the story goes, when the French changed tax code and started taxing by the number of rooms, closet walls were removed. The armoire replaced the closet for wardrobe and linen storage. In the beginning, the armoire was designed by André-Charles Boulle, a cabinetmaker, as a tall cupboard or wardrobe and was sometimes made in two stages, the upper compartment containing numerous small drawers.

At first designers and furniture manufacturers resisted replacing the venerable armoire but inventive types quickly introduced cabinets with pop-up mechanisms and storage for components.

Pop-Up Flatscreen TV Cabinet

Some clients are comfortable with placing the flatscreen directly on a buffet or console. They continue to use the buffet for storage of related components and other items. With less clutter and the development of streaming technology, customers no longer have stacks of CDs, DVDs and the accompanying equipment.

Many consumers prefer to wall mount televisions and they could choose to frame them as an alternative using moulding found at frame shops. You can enter a search for ‘frames for flatscreen TV’s’ for more information. For my clients I have interpreted ‘frame’ as a unified art arrangement on either side and/or above the flat screen. I like the balance this provides on the wall and it also reduces the starkness of the black screen.

An even more sophisticated approach is the one from Media Decor http://www.mediadecor.com. This is a description from their website: “Media Décor Moving Art provides a silent motorized solution to concealing displays. These innovative units are all powered by Lutron drive units. The QC Elite series employs a magnetic roller system to ensure silent and smooth operation.”

And what do you do with that armoire? Some are now outfitted as a bar complete with a small refrigerator and wine cooler. Others are returned to their original purpose as storage for clothing and/or linen.

The color ochre, also spelled ocher, is one of my favorites. Early in my design career I participated in a Designer Showhouse. My challenge was the foyer, all stairs and hallways. With other designers all around my areas, I sought a color to invite, complement and add a warm contemporary feeling. My choice was ochre. Over the course of the month that the Showhouse was open to the public, I received many calls for the exact name and number of the paint.

So when I saw this photo in the latest issue of Southern Accents magazine, all my memories of that design concept refreshed in my mind. I like that this color is suited to antique and traditional elements as well as transitional contemporary styles. Whether the other designers worked with reds, burgundy, blues or greens, the ochre fit. Likewise soft blue greys, creams and ebonized wood looked rich and fresh.

This color is understated and doesn’t draw attention to itself. Not too bold so that beautiful art, rugs, flowers and all the other design elements have space for appreciation. Accents of white or black create balance when added selectively.

Possibly the biggest plus for ochre is that it flatters all skin tones so everyone invited to enjoy the space looks equally fabulous.

In this article the author notes Sherwin Williams Sunrise SW 6668 and Weekend 1029-C Martin Seynour in case you want to check it out for yourself.

Locate a designer

Helios Carpet is promoting LocateADesigner.com in Metropolitan Home magazine. The ad is on page 46 of the November issue and is on newsstands now!

This Website was developed by Helios Carpet to help you find the right interior designer for your decorating or remodeling project. Designers from all over the country have posted profiles that include information about their services, experience, and qualifications, along with images of their work.

Click on Locate A Designer to find a designer near you.

Ed Del Grande of Kohler shares his top ten tips:

1. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving to avoid using excess water.
2. Cut a minute off your shower time every day to save more that 750 gallons of water annually. Also consider swapping out your showerhead with a low-flow model that can reduce water usage by one-half gallon per minute.
3. Landscape with native or drought-tolerant plants to significantly reduce water usage outside the home.
4. Replace old toilets with High-Efficiency Toilets (HET) to save up to 17,000 gallons of water annually.
5. Use leftover water for houseplants instead of pouring it down the drain.
6. Make sure the dishwasher is fully loaded to maximize the number of dishes cleaned in a cycle.
7. Use the appropriate water level and load size on the washing machine when doing laundry. Consider purchasing a front-load washing machine.
8. Fix leaky faucets and install low-flow aerators on kitchen and bath faucets to effortlessly save 200-300 gallons of water each month.
9. Use a broom rather than a hose to clean off driveways, steps and sidewalks.
10. Water your garden during the coolest part of the day, generally in the morning, and avoid watering on windy days.

Suzanne Kasler’s first collection of pieces for Hickory Chair are inspired by her own personal collection. She is an Atlanta based interior designer who mixes continental and classics.

According to Suzanne, she found a Russian bench at a Paris flea market and decided to recreate it with the name Anastasia. For emphasis, the legs are gilded.

This bench would be the perfect dressing table chair or an extra seat (or two) in a conversational grouping. With another finish or stain and less formal fabric, it would have another totally different look for a more casual area.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) will partner once again this October to observe National Window Covering Safety Month. This year’s campaign will mark the sixth-annual observance.

According to information provided by the CPSC, since 1990 approximately 200 infants and young children have died from accidentally strangling in window cords. This month-long, nationwide campaign is designed to increase consumer awareness of potential window-cord hazards, as well as to urge parents and caregivers of young children to only use cordless window products in young children’s bedrooms and play areas and to replace all window coverings in the home made before 2001 with today’s safer products.

To invoke industry-wide participation, the “Make the Right Choice, KIDS…CORDS…CAUTION” safety slogan will be the theme for the promotional campaign. In addition, the official National Window Covering Safety Month campaign logo, depicting a child’s hand grabbing the cords of a window blind, will be used.

In a previous post I discussed how Fashion Week influences color themes in interiors. Then, I took a walk to shop for produce at Pike’s Market. Since I live and work in the Pacific Northwest the farmer’s markets with vibrant fruits, vegetables and flowers add bursts of color. They also allow an opportunity to imagine and select colors via a variety of garden gifts. In the open market purple eggplants combine with golden squash; red peppers with nectarines and peaches. You get the picture. What a way to learn about pairing colors! I love the bouquets of flowers assembled by the women selling flowers at Pike’s Market. Each season brings a fresh interpretation to the hues seen in selections for furnishings, fabrics, bedding, carpet, rugs and of course paints. And each season fresh produce offers inspiration.

Recently in STIR magazine for Sherwin Williams, Lauren Makk of the Learning Channel, commented, “When it comes to regional color schemes, colors are driven by three factors: architecture, nature and the people who enrich the culture.” I love the traditional colors of New England derived from documentary fabrics and historical influences. When you open an issue of Veranda you see the deep burgundy reds, navy blue, and complementary greens. Benjamin Moore has a wonderful representation from the Historical Collection to use for projects involving architectural elements of columns, Colonial and Georgian furnishings.

Moving Southeast and on to the Florida Coast, the colors are increasingly vibrant and mingled with the ocean blue, corals, softer greens, tropical oranges and sunshine yellows. In the South history calls forth richer, deep hues similar to those of New England. In the center of the United States where all four seasons occur and indoor activities occupy many months, the warm colors invite people to linger and colors literally provide a sense of heat.

The Southwest reflects the historical Hispanic and Native American traditions. Old World architecture embraces colors of terra cotta, brick red, coppery gold and rich chocolate brown. Not surprising Southern California pumps up the intensity with limes, rose pinks, and tangerine-orange yellows.

Back in the Pacific Northwest and during and after the vegetable harvest, neutrals form the background for walls and furnishings. Just like that colorful arrangement of fresh produce bursts of color accent interiors and furnishings. Warm tans, reds, greens enter inside our homes complementing the abundant green of the landscape.

The artisans of Hancock and Moore use only the finest Grade A woods for unrivaled quality and detail. Using a 21-step process, each piece is hand sanded more than seven times until almost silky to the touch. Clients select from over 50 finishes or request a customized finish. Whether you prefer a wood finish as sleek and reflective as glass, or a time-worn antique, the options are endless with a signature piece by Hancock & Moore. This is furniture that remains beautiful for generations and bears the skilled touch of master craftsmen. Hancock and Moore is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.