Valentina Expressions

In my second book, Sins Of A Queen, I wrote that “Salt is the spice of food, attitude is the spice of life”, but in my designing business colors and fabrics are the spices of a home.
We have entered a new decade of a young millennium with a new gentle attitude when approaching style. We are freer than ever to decorate or even to dress as it is most pleasurable to our eyes and without following made-up rules any more. Yet every 40-50 years we take inspirations from past time décor or fashion, turn it around and make it new again. That is because looking back in the past is nostalgic for those who have lived it and refreshing for those who have not yet. Who would have imagined that the hippies ‘70s era would have brought inspiration to copy today!? Well, not really copy it, but remake it into a new sophistication.

Today looking at the ’70s means to take the psychedelic patterns, the bold colors, the vivid floral fabrics of that era and mix them with the contemporary style or even with traditional furniture. The objective is to incorporate without falling into the matchy-matchy syndrome.
I say, feel free to mix paisley with geometric lines, fringes with appliquéd designs or rich velvet, quilted pieces with leather pieces, masculine with feminine, but do it with a conscious style and taste.

The Bohemian style of this decade has a well researched look, sophisticated, soft, gentle and vintage versus the jumble of colors and patterns of the ‘70s that went hand in hand with scruffy, casual and untidy fashion look. The Bohemian style is totally different from Shabby Chic style, you might find vintage items and vintage colors and fabrics, but you will not find distressed and worn out items, only suggestions to the past.

Furniture of the Bohemian style are well-preserved even if they are from the ’70s, no chipping in the wood and in the varnishes, leucite, bakelite materials and flowers in every colors and shapes for accessories. In homes a striking Bohemian color palette allows the browns, grey/silver and Prussian blues to live together in a combination of velvets, tapestries and 16th century French prints. Opposite to this autumnal colors, the new Bohemian style allows to decorate interiors in a more young dynamic way with pinks, oranges and dark blues or purples in an attempt to revive the hippies fashion’s vibrancy and rebellious colors.

(Photo: Natalie Quilt – The Company Store)

In a bedroom, bring a patchwork floral quilt with mixed floral prints pillows and set it against a heavy textured wall for a new chic. We will see beautiful and interesting stones on the walls again, such as bricks. I absolutely adore any natural stones! In the living room, add a bundle of colorful flowers pillows to that beige tired sofa and watch life come back to the room!

(Photo: the Company Store)

I prescribe Bohemian style in your home, because it is comfortable, unpretentious, yet chic and refined. Walking down the street in a Bohemian fashion is a head turning. Whatever ideas you have, I can help you put it all together, I am only an email away. From there is easy to develop a project through various communication channels that will not break your bank. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Copyright © 2011 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved

Valentina Cirasola has been in business as a designer since 1990. She has helped a variegated group of fun people realizing their dreams with homes, offices, interiors and exteriors. She is a designer well-known to bring originality to people’s homes. As an Italian designer and true to her origins, she provides only the best workmanship and design solutions.
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