design book
How to use retro and vintage
in design without looking
Crazy
HGTV ‘Design Star’ Winner Jennifer Bertrand knows all about thinking outside the box!
By Jennifer Bertrand
H
there and that can throw people off. When re- ally, I want you to challenge yourself to bring in one element that is unexpected. If you adore contemporary design, then try adding a piece of furniture that has a softer, weathered aesthetic. It can add soul to a space, which is often needed when everything is sleek and modern. Coastal design is taking the world by storm right now! This design is all about textures. Picture bare feet, rolled-up pants, walking on weathered wood floors, carrying a basket of ... oh, okay, it’s not quite that picture perfect, but it is all about a feeling of being relaxed and a happenstance of textures. The color palette of coastal is the expected whites, blues of all tones, grays, khakis and tribal patterns thrown in there. However , coastal can evolve into whatever you want it to be! Just keep in mind, you never want to be kitschy coastal. You know, when only decoraing with boat oars
brimwith cool things, but perhaps you have no clue how to make them flow and not look themed or junky. Or, maybe you need to be re-inspired because you need a fresh change. Or, maybe you just need to challenge yourself to take your home design to the next level. What- ever the reason, get excited because you will stare at your home with fresh eyeballs after this! When adding a retro piece… You can mix styles. Your retro table can have modern chairs or vice versa. It actually makes for an interesting mix when you push and pull styles throughout a space or home. With traditional design, keep in mind that a simple piece of furniture like a Mid-Century Modern piece can add a “calm in the storm” feel to a room. If everything starts to feel heavy or too fussy, you might surprise your- self by liking the simplicity of a MCM piece. I think often it’s just that the word modern is in 1
ellooo everyone!! Obviously if you are reading this article, you discovered this magazine because you, too, have a
love for objects that have past lives. I am here to inspire you to think of vintage items in new and unexpected ways. We’ll start off simply; I may be pointing out the obvious to some of you. However, it’s best to address it all and really try to simplify the concepts. Because here’s the thing: In design, when you love vintage, you could easily become the crazy person whose whole house looks like a flea market. My goal in these articles is to teach you how to take a concept or passion and give it a high- end twist. I also want to keep you on your toes as to what you are going to do next with your newly found objects! Let’s make it look like a designer designed your home and incorporated items you loved. Your home may be filled to the
VintageKC / Winter 2014 6
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