Hello everyone!  this week’s blog is by guest bloggers, Rhonda Vandiver-White (Principal Designer at RSVP) & Amy Armstrong (Associate Designer at RSVP)!

Because this time of year can tend to be dreary and solemn due to the weather and post holiday boredom, we wanted to talk about a fun trend in the interior design world: BRIGHTS!  At RSVP, we have a services we call Room Rehab where we help clients redo spaces.  We use pieces they all ready own and sometimes we add a couple of accents.  This trend is a perfect example of what can be done to change a space without needing a huge budget!  Hope you enjoy all of the photos we put together for you and get some inspiration of your own to revamp your home for the New Year!

Bright Ceilings with White Walls

Bright Accents

Add a pop of color to a neutral room that can easily be changed later.

Balance out crisp/clean paint with bright lively furnishings & white accents.

Brightly colored lacquered chairs are just enough to balance the white furnishings and trim next to a very brightly colored living room.

Pops of yellow to an otherwise dark working space.

Here they used color on the back of the bookcase to accentuate the neutral accessories housed in the shelves.

In this example, they used colorful artwork to add interest and focal points to the neutral space.

Eileen Kathryn Boyd collection at Duralee

This Schumacher fabric is perfect for a splash of bright in the year of the dragon!

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Notice a trend???  Shades of orange, yellow, and pink are all prominent

in both fashion and interior design this Spring!

This is what Pantone says….

“Every season, color forecaster Pantone determines fashion’s next it-colors. For spring 2012, the palette features hues that are bright and sunny (yellow is super big for summer 2012) that mix well with neutrals. We feature the top color trends, straight from fashion week,…”

(More photos of the Nanette Lepore Spring 2012 Show)

H&M Spring 2012 Summer Collection

(H & M Trends)

Kate Spade Spring 2012

(Kate Spade Spring 2012 Photos)

LOVE this. WANT this.

Kate Spade Vespa! LOVE!!!

If you’re in the mood to see some very interesting bright and unusual furniture, take a jump to this website!  

Very cool!  Below are just two of their pieces…

Hive Side Table

Strand Coffee Table

Or, check out LUXE Interiors + Design, D Home Magazine, & Design Guide websites.

Remember, the most important aspect of this trend is that it is easy to incorporate into a space by adding a pillow, throw, or a few accessories.  You are not married to the trend!  When designing a room, aim for classic and timeless so that it will never go out of style and incorporate a small amount of trend in small portions.

Hope you enjoyed!  Please comment with any thoughts about trends for the year!  We would love to see more!!

RSVP Design Services

RSVP Design Services

RSVP Design Services

The Essentials for a Great Man Cave!

Layout and the BIG SCREEN!

Pool Table

This pool table costs a pretty penny but is fully interactive with every shot and you can change the themes.  Check out http://obscuradigital.com/pool/ for more information and a video.

Obscura CueLight Interactive Pool Table

Obscura CueLight Interactive Pool Table

Obscura CueLight Interactive Pool Table

Poker Table

This poker table can be either a dining table with a lazy susan in the middle or can be transformed into a high class poker table.  This table is made of murano glass and comes in multiple color choices.  Check out http://www.italydesign.com/poker_table.html for more information and a video!

Reflex Poker Table

Reflex Poker Table

Reflex Poker Table

Shuffleboard Table

Here is a great shuffleboard table that was discovered here in Dallas at the World Trade Center in the Ambella Home Collection showroom.  Check out http://www.ambellahome.com/index.php?id=5 for more game table options.

Ambella Home Collection Shuffleboard Table

Bar Area

Lighting

Seating

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams - Dr. Pitt

http://www.mgbwhome.com/DR-PITT-SECTIONAL-COLLECTION-P8690.aspx

American Leather - Chloe Recliner

http://www.americanleather.com/Comfort-Recliner/Comfort-Recliner-Styles/Chloe.aspx

American Leather - Antigo Swing Chair Recliner

http://americanleather.com/Standard-Recliners/Antigo-%281%29.aspx

Now you should be set for designing the best man cave around!  Enjoy the Super Bowl!

This is a fantastic video of 25 soldiers coming home to surprise their loved ones!  See how far you can make it before tearing up.  I was grabbing the tissue box 5 seconds in.

Now after you have gained your composure and reapplied your mascara, below we have featured some great finds that incorporate ADA compliant designs that are comfortable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing.

With many of our troops coming home throughout this year, some soldiers have been wounded in combat and are permanently disabled, resulting in necessary changes to the functionality of their home.  This does not mean that your design remodels have to resemble hospital rooms.  With strict ADA guidelines in interior design and architecture these days, enabling the disabled has become virtually unnoticeable.

According to the  ADA website, ” By breaking down these barriers, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will enable society to benefit from the skills and talents of individuals with disabilities, will allow us all to gain from their increased purchasing power and ability to use it, and will lead to fuller, more productive lives for all Americans.”

Great Example of Undersurface Knee Space

Cabinets on Rollers Help with Maneuverability Throughout the Space

The Recessed Lower Cabinets Allow for Comfortable Knee Room

The Lower Countertop Allows for a Great Work Area at a Comfortable Height

This Design Features the Appropriate Grab Bars and Turnaround Space

Smooth Floor Transitions are Depicted

The Shower Bench and Large Shower Door Make this Very Accessible

The Shower Head Nozzle Can Be Adjusted to Different Heights

The Tub and Shower Offer Plenty of Room for Access and Comfort

A Smaller but Completely Functional Bathroom with all the Right Guidelines

A Beautiful White Marble ADA Compliant Bathroom Design

Fantastic Example of a Stimulating Design for a Child with Disabilities

Here is a Cute Idea of the "Mommy & Me Potties", that is Now Being Implied in Some Commercial Family Restrooms

Now any of these designs and remodels can be for anyone who was born with disabilities, who has become disabled, or has a growing ailment with age and requires better accessibility and comfort.

First off, RSVP Design Services wishes everyone a very Happy New Year and welcomes you to 2012!  Now that you are invigorated by your resolutions, it is time to start the purging from all the holiday sweets that were consumed during the past few weeks.   We are going to be designing a healthy appetite for the new year!

Each new year we all say how we are going to be more organized, work harder, manage money better, stop a bad habit, or lose weight!  Losing weight is one of the top resolutions made by Americans each year!  In order to keep from unnecessary weight being added on this year, go into your kitchen and make some small design changes that will offer big  results and a thin waistline.

In order to get the pounds off and for them to keep coming off we need to look into what colors are stimulating and suppressing to your appetite, what distractions or entertainment keeps us in the kitchen snacking away, and what size portions and plates we are using to pile up with food.

Red, orange,  and yellows are fantastic mood boosters but when you are on a diet or wanting to lose weight, they are not the best color choices for the kitchen.  These colors stimulate your appetite and also may prompt you to eat more than you usually would.

Red makes you want to gobble this up!

Blues are the best for your kitchen when wanting to lose weight.  These hues help repress the urge to eat.  We are not used to seeing blues when we eat so we have a natural aversion to it when we see it on a plate.  Add some blue plates, paint, or flowers into your kitchen to let yourself know that the main focus does not have to be food while hanging out in the kitchen.

Looks just as good but maybe just a bite will do!

Coco Cozy Kitchen Design

House Beautiful

Domino Magazine

IKEA Kitchen Shelving

Another way to keep off the weight is to use much smaller dinnerware.   When you have a large plate you are more willing to pile on the food and your portion sizes end up being a lot larger than you think.  Here are some helpful tips on measuring the proper portion sizes that are healthy!  Add some blue plates to your dinnerware collection to help with the blue trends!

Living Etc.

Imperial Blue Dinnerware Collection by Denby USA

Labyrinth Dinnerware Collection at Z Gallerie

Cobalt Blue Collection by Bombay

In America we have some of the largest residential kitchens and when you have a large kitchen this means you have a large pantry and fridge.  If you are wanting to trim off a few pounds, don’t fill up the fridge to the brim or stock the pantry like a mini grocery store.  Put all of your healthy food items in front of “quick snacks”.  Put out a healthy recipe book  on the counter after you clean off all the bills, newspapers, kid’s homework and everything else that clutters your counters.  Clean counters means more workspace to cook healthier meals.  When you see clutter you want to eat more and just snack on what is not the healthiest option in the fridge or pantry.

Organization is the Key!

A Healthily Stocked Pantry Helps with Weight Loss

60" Northland Refrigerator and Freezer

RSVP Design Services designs magnificent kitchen and dining areas which are perfect for organization and keeping your appetite under control while offering fantastic decor!

Downtown Dallas Highrise by RSVP Design Services

Highland Park Residence by RSVP Design Services

Addison Condominium by RSVP Design Services

Addison Condominium by RSVP Design Services

With these tips you can prepare your kitchen for a healthier appetite this New Year!!