Home Designs Master | Valentina Expressions

Catching Rays | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

06 Nov 2015 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #DramaticLighting, #LightingEffect, #LightingLayering, #LightingTemperature, #NaturalLight, #ValentinaCirasolaDesigner

Sun fuels plants. Plants know how to transform sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into the energy they use to grow.
Let’s think for one moment of our interiors. The few items that make an interior beautiful are: space, light, colors and material, of which lighting is the most fundamental of all. With lighting we can obtain a serene space, or change a dull environment into a vibrant space. Don’t think lighting is all about the electrical parts, bulbs, sockets, wires and difficult wattage calculations.

The best lighting is the daylight because it enriches our homes and has a positive effect on our health. Human are drawn to light as much as plants are drawn to sun. We blossom when we are exposed to the sun. Natural light entering our eyes affects our entire nervous system, which determines how excited or relaxed we are and how awake or lethargic we feel. Natural light is more than we see, it influences our mood and the way we feel about things.

Italians (me) have a fantastic expression:
“A house where there is no sunlight is a house where the doctor will soon enter”.
To maximize natural lighting, make sure there isn’t much going on around the windows to allow the light to come straight in without dodging objects. Usually a mirror placed across a window amplifies the amount of light in the room and creates illusion to please the eye.
Often people install skylights in the ceiling thinking the volume of natural light coming in will increase, but skylights creates an enormous pool of light in one spot only. To correct this, it is important to know the geographical position of the room and know which reflective finishes to use to bounce off light.

A carpet placed near a window will absorb natural light, but a glossy wood or ceramic floor will diffuse natural light, reverberate it on the walls and make the room brighter. Consider that the outside light reflects and bounces off buildings, grass or surroundings and comes in filtered making a huge impact on the quality of light inside the room. Weather and geography make an impact as well on how natural light reacts with interior colors. A hot color in a grey weather in the Northern Hemisphere will look murky, but a hot color in a warm weather in the Southern Hemisphere will look like a jewel.

(Homeowner granted permission to photograph this home)

The second best lighting is how we illuminate with electric light to energize our spaces. Electric light has a warm and cool effect. In colder climate is best to use warm tone light and cool tone light in warmer weather.

Dramatic lighting games and layering lighting can transform any room instantly. We can’t reproduce the effect of the sun, but we can get quite clever with electric light. Central lighting only illuminates half of the space leaving the rest of the room in the dark. It is hard to relax with that one light, thus we layer lights with shadows, texture and brightness, it’s like painting with lighting. Adding sidelights, up lights, down lights, gracing lights, task lights, table lights, floor lights, diffuse lights, directional lights and behind furniture lights, we create a fantastic layering effects, a mood and a convivial atmosphere. However, don’t think all this light layering must be turned on all at once. To create a cozy ambiance, light layering must have individual or group switches, otherwise the showroom effect is assured.

Cutting and preparation area in the kitchen need to be in bright light, but in the dining, please do create shadow of atmospheres and do illuminate a bottle of champagne with a warm temperature – down light as all the expensive merchandise in stores.

Light is good for us! Afraid of painting with lighting? Don’t be, send me an email, or call me, we will do it together. Ciao,

Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

As a designer in business since 1990, I am interested in helping people designing their interior and exterior spaces with an overall feeling of peace, relaxation and harmony that will draw them home eagerly. I am always looking to add that special touch with original findings to the spaces I design. Find copies of my three books on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Cloaked In Color Green | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

30 Sep 2015 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #GreenColorPalette, #GreenKitchen, #PantoneFall2015, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #ValentinaCirasolaDesigner, #WaveTilePattern

“Could green be the most important color on Earth? Plants and algae fuel the planet, and a lush, green pigment plays the starring role. This pigment captures the Sun’s rays, harnessing light’s energy to power life”~ says one of boards at the exhibit in the Museum of Science in San Francisco, California.

How do you feel about green in your home? Green is hope, is freshness, is relaxation, why wouldn’t you feel good in a green décor? Oh by the way, green is not only for bathrooms. Take a look at this concept board I prepared as a suggestion of a living room. (Click on the picture to view it in larger size).

I know I am not the traditional decorator, I don’t design my homes with a cookie cutter, that’s why in my décor it’s easy to find textured walls, stones or bricks, these elements always find their way in. The living room in my concept board has a brick wall opposite to a wall colored in Dried Herb color, Pantone 17-0627 (see photo with hanging lamps), then a load of green colors goes in the furniture, in the leather and upholstered chairs. Accent other items with opposite colors, such as tobacco leather chair and a stack of Marsala, gold pillows with a mixture of hand embroidered jute or natural fiber pillows to scatter around the room and on the floor. To this setting, add artistic lighting that can be dimmed to suffuse lights and you will have a relaxing ambient.

Let’s move on to a green kitchen. I think an interesting backsplash lays in the pattern of the tiles. Don’t choose the usual straight subway, as everyone would do, but go with the wave or ogee pattern tile design, it will make an original backsplash. – Wave Pattern below.

Ogee Pattern

Green likes to play with the warm side of the color spectrum. This is how how I envision a kitchen with green backsplash: Marsala Red professional range (La Cornue in the photo), stainless steel all other appliances, reddish countertop, either a red marble or red granite with an open pattern. Stones are not fragile, that’s why they are called stones, they live under all kinds of weather and they will outlive you. Don’t be afraid of stones. A simple white wash, or a desert sage finish would be the color of the cabinets and for originality I would mix randomly the two cabinet colors.

La Cornue Range Burgundy

Desert Sage Color-www.PaintedKitchenCabinets

Red Travertine

White Wash on Oak-Found on: k1kitchens.com

Take a look at the next kitchen and how someone else has interpreted the green. This kitchen has a lot of natural light, don’t forget that green likes light.
I will have one green kitchen too coming up shortly.

(Photo: BH&G)

(All images are property of the respective owners)

In short green is not the color to hide in your own skin and blend into your habitat like a lizard. You are not supposed to camouflage in a green room and looking to be left alone. You can be cloaked in green to relax with your loved one and discuss life solutions. Give me a shout, if you are thinking of remodeling any part of your home. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer working in the USA and Europe since 1990, specializing in kitchen, bath, wine cellar, and outdoor kitchen designs. Often people describe her as “the colorist” as she loves to color her clients’ world and loves to create the unusual. “Vogue” magazine and many prominent publications in California featured Valentina’s work. She also has made four appearances on T.V. Comcast Channel 15. Author of three published books, the latest ©RED – A Voyage Into Colors is on the subject of colors.
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

The Shape Is Round | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

07 Sep 2015 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #CircleShape, #ContemporaryDining, #DiningRoomDesign, #MollyChairs, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #RoundDiningTable

The circle is a well-known convivial shape, it is the shape used when dining in groups and in most business meetings. The circle shape doesn’t have a start-end point, thus it represents unity and infinity. It is a protective sign, what’s in the circle stays in and what’s outside the circle will have difficulties coming in. The circle is the symbol of the sun, planet and stars and its influence is stellar.
In Chinese symbology, the circle represents heaven and the square represents earth. A square inside of a circle in Chinese art represents the union between heaven and earth. The yin yang symbol we all know so well is circular and it translates in duality with unified balance.

(Above photo: Scandinavian Designs)

The debate in my last dining room remodeling project was about a square or circle shaped dining table. For long years my clients got used to the square-shaped table. Their table style was outdated and didn’t fit the shape of the new room. Once I talked about these few points I mentioned above and a prospect to sit more friends to dine with them, they agreed the round table was the way to go.

This is a very nice couple well-established in their union and their way of life who have a studious approach to new ideas. The couple doesn’t make decisions on the spot or even in a short-term. The couple approaches new ideas as something that must be digested, pondered, discussed, studied in and out in all the angles until they both are overwhelmed and when finally can’t take it anymore involve me to finalize the decisions.

I opted to go with a circular glass table and circle back Molly chairs versus the more traditional dining chairs seen in every house I am invited to. BTW, at another project, I used the same Molly chairs with a glass square table for the same principle of the square inside the circle, representing heaven and earth. It went so well with that young couple, so different from one another and so unified.

BH&G

I can’t show pictures yet, the dining room is still in the making and not totally finished. The kitchen leading into the dining room is completed and because it is more beautiful than they expected clients refuse to cook in it. They say the risk of making it dirty is high. Wasn’t the idea of remodeling the kitchen to have a better, comfortable space to cook in? I don’t understand. Now the kitchen is beautiful, clean and lonely, like getting dressed up and have no place to go. The result so far is very happy clients, but I am still waiting to get an invitation for a dinner they cooked with their hands.

Let me be your chosen designer who can put stardust in your décor. I can help you with any style. Put your name in the box, leave a comment and I will answer you within 24 hours. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola has been a lifetime designer in fashion and interiors. Her extensive knowledge of colors and materials led her in both directions successfully. She is well-know for designing custom furniture. She cares to make spacious and functional pieces, but she doesn’t forget to introduce the element of surprise, sinuous lines, attractive shapes and colors in the style fit for each of her special clients. She is the author of ©RED – A Voyage Into Colors. Check out her books on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

How Cool Do You Want To Be? | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

31 Aug 2015 10 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #CambusaFridge, #ItalianAppliances, #ItalianFridge, #MeneghiniFridge, #RedVoyageIntoColors

In the summer time, when my grandfather prepared to go out of the house, always chilled his clothes in the refrigerator for a few hours and then wore them to keep his body cool through the hot Italian weather. As a girl, I used to make fun of him, it seemed the most ridiculous thing to do until one day I could not take that same scorching heat myself and started to chill my clothes in the refrigerator too. This past august has been unusually hot for northern California. The heat rose up to 90+ F. most of the days, I was looking frantically to keep cool anywhere, even looking at pictures of refrigerators would cool me down.
I saw the picture of La Cambusa Refrigerator and immediately thought of my grandfather.

(Meneghini-Cambusa Fridge)

Cambusa in English translates as the galley of merchant and military ships, depository of food provisions. Cambusa is basically a huge food pantry.
This refrigerator made by Italian manufacturer Meneghini follows the same concept with a few extra optional to the standard fridge and freezer components.
It includes space for coffee maker, fitted pantry, double pantry, ice-maker, microwave oven, steam oven and multi-function oven.
Considering all you get, price is really not bad: Euro 16,400 Vat included (European sales tax).

(Mia Fridge)

It comes in a variety of colors and styles, but I think the red model is the most striking. The front face has nautical features: portholes, shutters and nautical handles.
You will instantly warm to these wood refrigerators. They can be customized, they are truly unique and individual as you are.

(Mini Kitchen)

Meneghini makes other interesting appliances, such as the Mini Kitchen, with a sink on top and storage-refrigerator on the bottom. It might be perfect for a small apartment, or a bachelor pied-à-terre. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Inspiration | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

05 Aug 2015 2 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/inspiration/, #Inspiration, #MarsalaColor, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #WPPhotoChallengeInspiration, #YellowColor

Every home-buyer has a different need when looking to buy a house. I wanted a house in a good neighbor serviced by major freeways and highways, not too far from stores and a ton of architectural features. I found one with mansard ceilings, some odd-shaped windows, natural light and a good size yard for cultivating some food. Well, the yard was sunburned and no plants in sight. I had some serious garden work in front of me to let it come alive the way it is now. The rest had potentials and I took full advantage.

I found inspiration everywhere from nature, fashion, architecture, antiques and my own travels. Creating my cocoon was not a difficult search. I looked through photos of my gardens and instantly I knew my bathroom had to be yellow and my bedroom ocean blue, which is my essence color and it agrees with my zodiac sign. (Click on each photo to view it larger)

Red is my passion color. Some of my red fabrics gave me the inspiration for textures and shapes in my bedroom.

This field of wild flowers inspired me to create the Parisian style lamp in the corner of this bathroom.

Be attentive of your surroundings and surprise yourself. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

This week at WordPress the photo challenge is about Inspiration – https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/inspiration/

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior and Fashion Designer, working in the USA and Europe. She blends fashion and interior well in any of her design work. She loves to remodel homes and loves to create the unusual. She needs your story to design your dream. Check out her books on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Al Fresco | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

20 Jul 2015 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #AlFrescoDining, #AlFrescoLiving, #Julie&Julia, #OutdoorLiving, #OutdoorSpace, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #TerraceLiving

A friend asked me what is the meaning of decoration “Al Fresco”, hmm!!! It intrigued me that she did not know the term “Al Fresco”, but I was not surprised. We designers often assume that everybody know our decorating jargon. Many words or names in architecture and decorating have a Latin root, reminiscent of the Greek-Roman civilizations, when style was orderly and classic. However, both field of architecture and home interior décor abound of Italian and French words as well. “Al Fresco” in Italian means In The Fresh Air.

The ancient populations of the Mediterranean Basin led business in ways unthinkable for today’s time: in the sauna, in public bathrooms while doing personal ablutions, in the food market, or while eating and enjoying life, basically most of the time they conducted business outside of the four walls, under the sun, the moon rays and in the breeze.
“Al Fresco” is not a way to decorate, it is a lifestyle, it is a concept of relaxation and productivity at the same time and it is an inclination of being sociable.

In the last scene of the 2009 film “Julie and Julia” based on the life of chef Julia Child, impersonated by Meryl Streep, Julie organizes a dinner al fresco on the rooftop of her apartment (above a pizza shop), ending a yearlong saga of blogging and cooking from Julia Child’s book. Her last recipe was a “désossé canard en surprise” (boneless duck surprise) that she served to her friends on the terrace looking over New York City lights.

(Photos above: Property of Domenico Cafarchia)

What you need to create an “Al Fresco Living” first and most important is an attitude and the willingness to put up with insects, bees and birds, too much heat or cool weather and possibly a few eyes of the neighbors looking in your space. Then you need a terrace, a balcony, a belvedere, an atrium, or a patio and finally a view. If you do not have a view, you can create a special ambience within the walls of your surroundings. Choose the theme of your liking: Bohemian, country, beach, ethnic and more. Choose the style: French, Italian, contemporary, classic, colorful, or monochrome, you get the idea. Find the right lights to create ambience: lanterns, rope lighting, a string of bulbs or floor lamps, add a wall fireplace or a portable type and heat lamps for warmth,numerous comfortable seating, large pillows, sofas and aRécamier for a sweet afternoon nap. Complete the décor with colorful accessories, greenery and plants.

You got the area decorated, now you need a table for food. Imagine your new “al fresco living” with an outdoor dinner table set or a flowing buffet that allows your guests to sit where is comfortable to them. Which is it going to be?
I hope you can cook, you know that people go where there is good food and good drinks, as in Julie & Julia.

Right now, I am designing an empty ex-terrace area into a living space enclosed in large glass panels through which the lush vegetation outside opens up before the eyes of observers. The terrace will look like my client is living in the trees at the top floor of her house. It is the reverse of an “al fresco living”, the glass panels will protect her and the furniture from the weather, but the feeling will be the same as if she was living outdoor. The décor will be contemporary and colorful as in my material boards above. You too can have my help in changing an area into an outdoor living space, just ask me or contact me. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Don’t Fight Drought, Embrace It | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

25 Jun 2015 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #DroughtTollerantPlants, #EcoFriendlyGarden, #GardenDesign, #WaterConservingGarden, #Xeriscape

It has been said that “brown is the new green”, really?! I cannot bear seeing my garden in brown after I spent so much money planting flowers and time working to maintain beauty, but here in California we are under a severe drought, to avoid incurring in penalties we must not water lawns and I had to adapt too. I am looking around in neighborhood and do not like what I see outside the homes, some people are letting their gardens go shabby and it is not necessary. Luckily there are many alternative solutions if you are just starting a new landscape or rethinking the old one.

Before you design garden and curb appeal, create a landscape that removes the water-thirsty lawn, make a chemical-free environment and enhance the outdoor living with beautiful stones to match the exterior colors of the home. Create a sustainable landscape that is not only beautiful, but provides a bio-diverse environment that is gentle on the earth and welcomes the birds, the bees and the butterflies.

Fountain Grass

Cattails

Echium Fastuosum

Ben Weber – unsplash

Brandon Cormier – unsplash

Plants to choose for the drought are low-water plants that give an all-season appeal. Mix a variety of ground cover, decorative grasses, fountain grasses and wispy green, orange, pink and purple blades grasses, which move in the wind creating a certain musicality, if you can picture it. I have a bunch of them and love the swing. Alternate colors for interest and intersperse these grasses between the stones, cover the ground with pea gravel instead of grass to allow excess water to soak into the earth rather than run off into the street and use lots of colorful pots in which you might want to plant some vegetables, or more cacti and succulents.

Don’t dwell on drought, embrace it, water-conserving gardens can be as colorful as any other and you don’t have to spend your weekends cutting grass anymore. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola has been in business as a designer since 1990. She has helped people realizing their dreams in homes, offices, interiors and exteriors. She designs landscape as a complement to the residential design concept to reflect the lifestyle of her clients. She loves creating garden spaces for entertainment, relaxation and for those who cook she likes to create a spice garden. Check out her three published books on regional Italian cuisine and color theory, available on:
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Changing Your Perspective | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

19 Jun 2015 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #Digital#MuralImage, #Murals, #PhotoMural, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #ValentinaInteriorsDesigns, #WallPhotos

How many times I am tempted to cover a long wall with a city view, or a path in the nature!!! Often in my clients’ home I have to go through the process of finding the right wall paint color, only to cover it afterward with photos, prints and paintings or memorabilia, when, in reality, that large wall lends itself for the biggest digital image mural.

Just picture sitting in your home office and look at the view of Manhattan or an inviting warm beach. Granted it might distract you from working and wished you were there. In some people could create the opposite effect, but I find that looking at pretty views is very inspiring and brings out my best ideas.

Wall26Store – Etsy

Etsy-Wall26Stores

Wall26Store – Etsy

You could be looking at a city street in one of the foreign countries you have visited that brings sweet traveling memories. Do you want to feel calm and relaxed? Choose a lake view or a meadow view photo and turn it into a print.

Found on: brewsterwallcovering.com

In the ‘70s mural prints were in fashion for the first time, but they required a lot of glue emitting VOC – Volatile organic compounds, which are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature. Today wall prints are eco-friendly, safe for you and the environment. There are companies that will turn your favorite photo into a digital mural print. The process is not any more expensive than applying wallpaper. I added a link below, check it out. http://www.worldwidewallmurals.com

Your large digital print will open up the room, your perspective will change and you will feel an integral part of the scenery. Ciao.
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola transforms and creates spaces realizing people’s dreams in homes, offices, interiors and exteriors. She infuses your everyday living with a certain luxury without taking away a comfortable living.  She offers design consultations on-line through Skype and the traditional in-house consultations, helping people with their design challenge any where in the world. She is the author of three books, all-available on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Coastal Atmosphere In Your Home | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

09 Apr 2015 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #CoastalColors, #Corals, #HowToDecorateWithShells, #LifeOnTheCoast, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #SeaColors, #ValentinaInteriorsDesigns

Coastal decorating to me is ephemeral. Picture for one moment the colors of the water reflected on the walls and the next moment sun rays reverberating on the water and then again on the walls of your home. Coastal decoration is breezy, it must recreate the soft wind that carries the music of a wind chime and the echo of the sea in a large conch shell. Coastal decoration is also rustic, sandy and weathered as the seawater creates a patina on anything it touches. These are the feelings and atmospheres we want to create when decorating in the coastal style.

Coastal Colors my way

Sea Cockles-Photo found on http://www.pescherialoscoglio.it/frutti-di-mare.html

My shells collection

https://www.etsy.com/listing/75945106/sea-foam-green-whelk-seashell-air-plant

This style requires texturing, that means eliminating slipperiness and glossiness. The essence of a coastal effect is to keep everything as natural as possible. It is a celebration of tactile qualities where one can imagine telling a story of mariners and navigations. It is important to use opaque material, salvaged or rustic, weathered-beaten materials that are warm and cozy like driftwood, burlap fabrics and cord or rope materials often used as trims.
To perceive a soft lulling sense of the sea waves, window covers must be light, soft, easily to drape and often very sheer.

Colors are interesting, because most people would decorate using a lot of white, blues and aqua colors, but if we look at the underwater world, we will find an array of beautiful colors. In the underwater world there are coral banks ranging from beautiful orange color to purplish, white, cream and even greenish. The seabed has vegetation and algae ranging from all the grey tones, all the blue tones, all the green tones, to sage, pale yellow, and purple and even rose colors. Let’s not forget the colors of all the fish, some of which are multicolored and then all the variegated shells varying from beige and white tones to even brown tones, black, grey, blues and on and on.

To give a finishing touch, succulent plants tucked away in shells and glass topiary full of sand and driftwood would be perfect.

Nautical Theme – Model Kitchen

Colors and Material – Kitchen

Colors and Material Story Board – Living Room

A few years ago, one of my clients in Italy decided to decorate most of his home in coastal style. I called that project: “Stories of Navigations” because the client had been a life time long-distance navigator on merchant ships. Using his memories and his tales to decorate his home, my goal was to let him re-live his sea affairs. To reminding him of his distant voyages in exotic lands, I reproduced the original ancient maps he collected and pasted them on the walls of his living room. I used nautical ropes as curtain tiebacks, I placed lot of brass metals here and there as we see them on old ships, galleons and even modern yachts. The fabrics of upholstery were rough canvas, jute fabrics, striped cotton and burlap fabrics. The kitchen was huge fun to design. I found a company that specializes on nautical kitchen and other furniture. On the kitchen cabinets, the details were ship’s portholes and a lot of brass hardware. The floor was spectacular. I found a bluish-green marble that really echoed the swaying of seawater. The choice was between blue-green marble or blue painted hardwood floor. The choice was hard, as both floor solutions were very attractive. At the end marble won.

If you live on the water, refresh your home with “cool” ideas and if you need me, I am here to help. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer working in the USA and Europe since 1990, specializing in kitchen, bath, wine cellar, and outdoor kitchen designs. Often people describe her as “the colorist” as she loves to color her clients’ world and loves to create the unusual. “Vogue” magazine and many prominent publications in California featured Valentina’s work. She also has made four appearances on T.V. Comcast Channel 15 and on RAI, Italian National TV.
Author of three published books, the latest ©RED – A Voyage Into Colors is on the subject of colors.
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Playing With My Marsala | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

12 Mar 2015 2 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #2015Colors, #2015Marsala #2015PantoneColors, #MarsalaColor, #MarsalaWine, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #ValentinaInteriorsDesigns

I cannot be happier than this year choice of color: Marsala. It is a rich color, it feels velvety and opulent, it’s ruby undertone is warm and when it bounces off the walls on your skin will give you a special glow, in fact everyone with any color skin tone can wear this colors.
To some people it might feel a bit dark when used it in an interior space, but the idea is to feel enveloped. However, if the walls are painted in Marsala color the floor must be made of a light color, that is just one of the basic rules of designing regardless of colors. Adding light color furniture and mirrored furniture is one other way to avoid feeling closed-in by dark walls and I will never stress enough about lighting, which is something people don’t pay much attention to. Lighting is a vital feature for a successful décor and to feel in harmony with your space.
(Click on each photo to view it larger).

(Photo above: Pantone)

Here, I have prepared a couple of boards to give you ideas how to combine Marsala with cool aqua green and custard color together for a younger and modern décor, or how to combine it with a mixture of texture to achieve a more traditional and eclectic look.

Texturize it, explore new feelings and express it your way.

When in doubt call the expert, me!!! I am always available for new adventures. It’s alway easier to row the boat with two people. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer working in the USA and Europe since 1990, specializing in kitchen, bath, wine cellar, and outdoor kitchen designs. Often people describe her as “the colorist” as she loves to color her clients’ world and loves to create the unusual. “Vogue” magazine and many prominent publications in California featured Valentina’s work. She also has made four appearances on T.V. Comcast Channel 15. Author of three published books, the latest ©RED – A Voyage Into Colors is on the subject of colors.
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w