So Nice, You'll Have to Look Twice

So Nice, You'll Have to Look Twice!

Project by Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd.

Tableaux Faux Iron is a remarkable product. It possesses the beauty of decorative iron but is light weight making it easy to hang indoors or out. Because it is constructed from environmentally friendly composite materials, it is only 10% of the weight of iron. It's design and dimensions can be customized to fit any window, architectural element or personal style and is available in 17 decorative finishes.

Project by Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd.

The decorative pieces used in the niche above this fireplace were custom sized to fit the space. These pieces provide texture, dimension and added interest to this large expansive wall space.

  Used as a window treatment, these decorative pieces add beauty and architectural interest to windows, skylights, sidelights, transoms and archways. They can also be designed to simulate window mullions.

Project by Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd.

Project by Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd.

Installed over the draperies, the Faux Iron cornice related to the pieces installed on the double doors.

Look Up! Ceilings!              All too often an afterthought, ceilings offer a large uninterrupted plane that's begging to be adorned.            The Tableaux EX material used for exterior application is a water, rot, and termite resistant wood composite material. Use it for your homes corner brackets or arches or in the garden on your patio, gazebo, terrace or trellis.    For even more great ideas, go to:    http://tableaux.com/     . . . then call Celeste to learn what will work for you!

To unleash your home's true potential, call  Celeste Jackson Interiors today! To view more inspiring homes, visit Celeste's website at: CelesteJacksonInteriors.com Cultivating Individuality in Your Unique Home Celeste Jackson

First Impressions

First Impressions

Curb appeal is a term often used by realtors when selling a home but in reality it applies to all homes. This term, curb appeal, simply describes how visually attractive a home is when viewed from the street. There are a number of details that contribute to creating great curb appeal. A well maintained home with attractive landscaping, containers of flowers on the porch and a pretty wreath on the door all add color and say "Welcome" but since it can be seen from a distance, it's your home's paint color that gets noticed first. Have you ever driven past a home and wondered if the color it was painted was truly the home owner's desired end result? Maybe they wanted a warm sunny yellow but got safety vest reflective yellow instead. Choosing paint colors can be challenging.  Trying to visualize a one inch square paint chip spread over the expanse of an entire house can make it seem virtually impossible. As demonstrated in previous newsletters, Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd. has a unique computer program that illustrates how your home will look before any work begins. This same program can be applied to the outside of your home. Look below at what Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd. has done for others just like you, then, give us a call so you can see what we can do for you! 

Lighting the Way One of the more recent home trends is to bring the inside out, including full outdoor kitchens in many new home designs. An outdoor space can provide a tranquil place for intimate conversation and sipping wine or host a celebration for friends and family. Whatever the occasion, lighting should enhance the beauty and enjoyment of your outdoor spaces. Just as it is indoors, your outdoor lighting should be layered coming from multiple sources so it illuminates without glare. Discreetly lighting your trees and plants can create a dramatic sculptured effect. Small lanterns along walks and stairs provide soft subtle light as well as safety. A ceiling fan on your covered porch or gazebo will provide a breeze on warm summer nights and help keep flying, buzzing things at bay. Light fixtures for outdoors are stylish with a myriad of design and finish options and are given the same attention to detail that was once reserved solely for interior lighting.

 

 Cultivating Individuality

Celeste Jackson IDS

So What's So Great About Shutters?

On days when it's not raining and the summer sun beats in my windows, I am reminded again of just how much power and heat the sun has. Left unguarded, the sun will bleach the color from the fabrics on my window treatments and furniture and cause my air conditioning to run continuously. As you know, when I have a beautiful quality product which offers a great solution to a problem, I like to share it and I have something great in Norman Shutters. Please read on to find out more!

So What's So Great About Shutters?

Louvered shutters are not a new concept in home decor. In fact, they are thought to have originated in ancient Greece where their primary function was to allow air ventilation while minimizing heat from the sun.  It is for this same reason we still use them today. The adjustable slats retain privacy yet allow light and air to continue to penetrate into the room. 

 

When fully opened, shutters create a spaciousness to the room and enhance its view of the out doors. Like rich furniture, they add warmth and beauty. Many people prefer wood shutters not only because they are easy to maintain, durable and hold up well when handled, but also they possess a  timeless beauty that will enhance any decor. Whether your home's style is very traditional, very contemporary or somewhere in between, Norman Shutters has a design to compliment your home's style.

Norman Shutters also makes equally beautiful quality blinds. Whatever your window treatment needs, they have a solution for you.

 

  

Norman SHUTTERS Norman SHUTTERS By  Geengyee Chong, Norman Shutters  About Us Backed by more than 30 years of manufacturing experience, plus a proud reputation for having superior customer service and industry-leading products, Norman Window Fashions is the total solution for window coverings. We offer a complete line-up of premium window coverings. Product offerings include the Norman shutter line, a collection of faux wood, basswood and eco-friendly Phoenix wood blinds, and honeycomb shades. Sussex® Born of the finest basswoods, crafted by hand and finished with a rich palette of paints and stains, Sussex® are truly fine furniture for your windows. The refined elegance of the Sussex® line is created by artisans who craft each custom shutter using mortise and tenon joinery, arguably the strongest joint in woodworking.   mortise and tenon joinery   The assembled shutters then undergo a meticulous process that includes multiple hand sandings and application of coats of your ideal paint or stain. The result - an heirloom with a soft, lustrous surface more akin to silk than the rough-hewn shutters you see from other manufacturers. Normandy® Made from the wood of rapid-growth eco-friendly Paulownia trees, Normandy® not only adds a warm contemporary accent to your home décor, but also make your decorating decision much more rewarding. The distinctive wood grain enhances color, depth and character of your shutters through the inherent texture of the timber.   Woodlore® Woodlore® shutters are constructed with a solid medium density fiberboard (MDF) - real wood in an advanced state - for incredible density and strength. Woodlore® patented protective coating is extremely durable and robust, resistant to cracking or chipping over time. In addition, it meets the most stringent environmental standards and has been verified to be environmentally safe, releasing no volatile organic compounds into the air. Designed to offer the highest performance at a great value, Woodlore provides an enduring, distinguishing accent to any window. Cultivating Individuality in Your Unique Home! Celeste Jackson

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

As an interior designer, it's my job to help my clients create a home that's an expression of their tastes and personal style which will be conducive to their lifestyle. So, when I meet with a client for the first time, I ask them to describe how they would like their home to look, their style and what "feeling" they'd like their home to have. While all my clients can clearly articulate what they don't like, some will struggle to describe what they do like and want.

In the days before the internet, I would encourage my clients to "read and rip" through magazines, collecting images to help them identify and communicate the design elements they liked best. Today, we have Houzz, Pinterest and countless websites with seemingly endless design ideas but inspiration can come from many places.

  

When you're looking for what to do next in your home, look on the internet and home magazines for room views of finishes, furnishings and accessories but then look in some less likely places too. Nature, food, art are all wonderful places to begin. They can present amazing color combinations and provide wonderful insight to personal preferences.       Think of the colors of the four seasons; the soft, fresh pastels of spring, the bold, bright summer hues, the deep, rich jewel colors of harvest and the cool neutrals of winter.   Food may sound like an odd place to look for home design inspiration but food is a great way to articulate the shade of your favorite colors.   Chocolate Brown Lemon Yellow Cherry Red         Vacations can be a great source of ideas.  You may be looking to bring home the feel of a luxurious hotel, the warm glow of the lighting in your favorite restaurant or the cozy feel of a bed and breakfast.

Art can be the launching point for design style and color palettes for one room or the entire house. It says a lot about your personal taste and makes you feel good about your room each time you enter. Goethe wrote, " A person should hear a little music, read a little poetry and see a fine picture every day in order that the worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful God has implanted in the human soul." Aside from a house of worship, there's rarely a more perfect place to restore oneself that at home. So, whether your artwork evokes a memory, a day dream or just makes you smile, don't under estimate its the role it plays in creating the end result of your home.      Cultivating Individuality in Your Unique Home! Celeste Jackson

Biltmore Estate: Built to Last

Have you ever seen something so breathtakingly beautiful you want to tell everyone you know what you've experienced yet you can hardly find the right words to describe what you've seen or encompass the full impact of its beauty? This was my experience as I, for the first time, approached the Biltmore Estate. What a testament to our American Heritage and architecture. The below photos merely highlight a few of my most favorite features of this magnificent home but perhaps they'll be just enough to tempt you to travel to the fairytale home atop the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Biltmore: Built to Last "Biltmore is a testament to the uncompromising ideals of an exceptional man - George Washington Vanderbilt. What began as his vision of a country retreat became the largest private residence in America and stands to this day as a celebrated historic landmark. To visit Biltmore is to cross the threshold into a world of hospitality, beauty and luxury that has remained unchanged for more than a century and is being preserved for many generations yet to come." - Biltmore: An American Masterpiece.       While George Vanderbilt was the visionary, Biltmore house and its gardens are the result of a collaborative effort between Vanderbilt, architect Richard Morris Hunt and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead. Together they created a harmonious blend of finest architectural details, interior design and furnishing and landscaping from England, France, Italy and Asia. Added to this is the very best in American ingenuity of its day.      The house alone is 175,000 square feet or 4 acres of floor space, boasting 250 rooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces. The architect Hunt, incorporated many of the innovations being introduced at the 1893 World Exposition; electricity, electric lights, refrigeration and 2 Otis elevators still operating with the original motors.       It took 6 years and 1000 artisans  working 6 days a week to complete this architectural masterpiece. The limestone, brought in from Bedford Indiana, was set in place then carved to create the countless architectural details that cover the exterior and line the roof tops. Each of the many gargoyles that watch over the estate are unique and one of a kind.     The above pictures show the exterior of the Grand Staircase, which has 102 steps that lead from the ground floor to the fourth floor. Typically photos of the interiors are not allowed, however, our docent allowed our group to sneak a couple of the wrought iron chandelier suspended through the center of the staircase.     This incredible work of art is illuminated by 72 electric bulbs and is suspended by ONE bolt. Only recently has this bolt be replaced as a precautionary measure!     Because of the many influences, our docent remarked the house is "like a English woman wearing a French dress".                        There is so much beauty in this home, so much to be said about its many rooms and the treasures each room holds, I feel my little newsletter can hardly do it justice. So I'll conclude with my favorite room and hope you too will one day visit the America's Downton Abbey. Graceful and feminine, Edith Vanderbilt's bedroom is as fresh and lovely as the day in 1898 it was completed. Decorated in preparation for their wedding, it appears today the same as when Edith saw this room for the first time upon her return from their honeymoon. Decorated in the Louis XV style, circa 1725, this oval shaped room incorporates all things feminine; luxurious silk wallcoverings, gilded mirrors and velvet draperies and is furnished with French period pieces typified by carved floral motifs and curving profiles. What woman today wouldn't relish such elegance? As I said before, there is so much more to this cultural and historic feast for the eyes that it is my hope you will find your way to this magnificent American Landmark. But if you can't, I hope you'll at least visit the website to learn more about the history of this home. It's something you don't want to miss! http://www.biltmore.com/   Cultivating Individuality in Your Home Celeste Jackson

From Flappers to Furniture, Fringe is in!

Recently I received a manufacturer's email announcing "Fringe is Back!" I love fringe and never really considered it gone. To me, fringe is the jewelry of drapery and adds attitude to upholstery. Take a look at some of these inspiring pics and you'll know right away what I'm talking about!

From Flappers to Furniture, Fringe is In!                   

For the same reasons the flappers of the "Roaring Twenties" loved fringe, and lots of it, on their dresses, designers love to add fringe to interiors. Let's face it, Fringe is Fun! Just like on the dress of a flapper, fringe follows form and accentuates lines and curves. Lovely to look at fringe catches the eye. Luxurious textures, toooo tempting, must touch!

 

Fringe reflects light, adds movement, texture and an unexpected twist to draperies or any piece of upholstery.

 

 

 

Today, fringe come in a huge assortment of  colors, textures, beads, metal, brushes and boullions.

If your style is traditional, substituting the skirt of a sofa with fringe can add a playful and unexpected touch of whimsy.

If your style is contemporary, fringe trim will bring movement to the lines and curves of everything from furniture to lighting. 

Fringes and trims add life and interest to toss pillow, table runners, afghans and bedding accelerating them from functional to fabulous.

And now they can go outside! These boldly colored creations take luxury to the outdoors. Give your patio a bit of bedazzle!

Jazz up your home, add sass to your sofa, shimmer to your drapes and adorn your home with the jewelry of trims!

  

Cultivate Individuality in your Unique Home! Celeste Jackson

Understanding Your True Furniture Needs!

Do you know the best way to go about furnishing your home? Will your home look and feel the way you hoped? How much should you spend to know the pieces you've selected will stand the test of time? There's more to furnishing you home than you might think. Below are a few ideas to consider before you begin.

Understanding Your True Furniture Needs  Have you ever bought a sofa or chair that looked like "just your style" only to be disappointed a year or two later when the cushions have flattened or the seams are coming apart? Or, have you had a dresser drawer bottom out because it had more than it could hold?   In today's era of environmentalism, we're constantly receiving messages encouraging us to choose reusable water bottles, unbleached paper products made from post consumer materials and toilet paper without the cardboard tube, all in an effort to reduce our impact on the environment.  While these are all simple steps we can all take, here's another area to consider, furniture. It's most obvious around holidays, such as President's Day, July Fourth, Labor and Memorial Days, there's a lot of furniture deals to be had. Online and discount retailers promise highly recognizable brand name furniture at HUGE, HUGE, SAVINGS and DEALS THAT CAN'T BE BEAT! Great photography in catalogs and online make reasonably priced furniture look amazing; a lot of look for little money. But to get prices so low, what are you sacrificing? The answer, quality; quality in the construction and quality in the finish. Now two thoughts may be crossing your mind. The first, what does this have to do with the saving the environment? Well, we know the better something is made, the longer it will last. Well constructed furniture will stand up to heavy use rather than braking down only to find its way to the landfill. With care, quality furniture will provide years of service and can be refinished or reupholstered for continued use by you, new use in a new space, sold or passed along to others. The second thought, how then do I choose furniture? Here are a few tips to help. Prioritize Your Furniture - The furniture that's used daily, such as, the family room sofa and chairs, kitchen dining table and chairs, beds, mattress sets and bedroom dressers should be your most well constructed pieces and top budgetary priorities. This is the essential furniture in your home.   Keep It Simple - Because buying new furniture with each new trend can be costly and your essential pieces will last a long time, the fabrics and finishes you select should be classic in style and neutral in color, so they're versatile and can be easily updated with fresh accessories as color trends change.   Have a Plan - Have a well designed floor plan and color palette. Just as a road map makes for a good road trip, a strong plan will help you to know exactly which pieces you'll need and the colors to select with each phase of your homes development. You'll know which pieces to purchase first and where best to allocate your funds. You can still strategically use some of those inexpensive, fun and sometimes trendy pieces in areas for low use and high impact. Furniture for halls and foyers, powder rooms, guest rooms and rooms that aren't frequently used don't have to provide a lot of support or endure repeated opening and closing are the places to preserve the budget.   Cultivate Individuality! Celeste Jackson