3 SIMPLE STYLE TIPS

What's the freshest and newest decorating trend?

What can I do to update my home that's cost effective and quick?

These are questions I hear

every day

as customers enter the shop and begin to peruse the displays

at

PATINA.

There are some economic and simple changes you can make to quickly bring your home 

up to the minute.

1. DECLUTTER!

Remove items from your counter tops, table surfaces and shelves.

Refresh those surfaces with a quick cleaning 

and replace no more than 1/3 of the items you previously stored or displayed there.

The items you re-display should be big, bold and clean lined.

Discard or store dried or silk flower arrangements.

Contain small items inside an attractive box.

Remove most of the photos.

Big impact!

TRUST ME ON THIS.

2. THINK IN THREES!

If you're learning about display techniques, 

one simple theory is to display in multiples of three.

Whether it's your coffee table, mantle or a entertainment center shelf,

group three items and the symmetry is sweet.

On a mantle: lean a large mirror, and place a huge, shapely apothecary jar or vase slightly to the side.

In front of the mirror add a stack of beautiful antique leather bound books as a pedestal and feature a cherished memento atop the books, ( the giant seashell from your beach vacation or your grandfather's silver golfing trophy . . .)

3. CONTRAST TEXTURES!

Layer an assortment of textures: Begin your table top display with the table itself.

If it's glass, add a wooden bowl.  If it's wood, add a metal tray.  If it's metal, add a soft, nubby textile.

Think of a surface layered with beautiful opposites.

Then, on the second layer, contrast a third texture.

Wood, metal, fiber.

Metal, wood, ceramic.

Glass, wood, metal.

And so on.

The hottest textures are currently: a.) galvanized metal, (think mop bucket gray tone);

                 b.) mellow patinas of wood - old cutting board or wood bowl

c.) "raw" fibers such as burlap, canvas, nubby knits and chunky wools

d.) silverplate, (your mother's wedding present tray that's been stored away for 40 yrs.)

Have fun, and remember we're always in at PATINA to assist you in your quest!