Oldies but Goodies - Decorative Hardware from our Archives

Orbit Grand Tiki pulls in gold, black and periwinkle.

You can just imagine how many knobs and pulls we've created over the course of 20 years and occasionally we get a request for an item, that well -  we just haven't seen for awhile. A customer may be looking to match a knob they purchased a while ago, or one of our retailers may ask for a knob on their Susan Goldstick display that hasn't been updated. Most typically we get a request from someone who spotted a knob or handle in one of our printed catalogs that we used to publish regularly.

We  referred to the mini style 7 knob as our M & M knob.

 There are many different reasons why a manufacturer my retire a product - out of style, discontinued parts, not profitable, too difficult to produce and sometimes it may just compete with another product. Regardless, we try to oblige these requests whenever possible. I have to admit  it's kind of fun seeing these designs emerge from the workshop. It motivates me to  revisit some of the knobs and pulls from the archives and contemplate whether I should bring back a favorite from yesterday and turn an oldie into a newbie.

The nu duo  has one of my favorite colors schemes.

We called them "show stoppers " Parfum knobs have  2.5"projections.  

Color it yours! Custom Paint Finishes for Glass Switch Covers is our Specialty

Double glass switch plate has custom paint finish created to match mosaic glass tile.

There's a bounty of beautiful glass tiles in the marketplace today that have fast become the most popular design choices for both kitchens and bathrooms. Recently I attended the opening of an exquisite new showroom in San Francisco's design district and was blown away by their selection. Art Deco, mid century modern, urban, eclectic - wow -there's a glass tile style to satisfy every decor genre. It's a magnificent statement worthy of an elegant detail. And you guessed it, this is where glass switch covers are a natural fit.

I'm particularly fascinated with the mosaic designs because they pose so many color options. We offer 15 choices from our jewel- tone palette covering a broad spectrum of colors that range from the soft pale hues to the deep and bold.

Jewel Tone Glass Color Palette

But as one may suspect there's always going to be a situation where we just don't have the right match. This is when the request for custom colors comes into play. I like the challenge because it's exciting to invent a new hue and we're pretty confident that we can come up with the right mix. To get the process started, we'll ask  our customers to send us their sample tile, or sometimes even a photo will do. Of course they should realize that custom colors may incur an up charge for the special service.

Soft Color Palettes Soothe and Stimulate

Decorating with tints of color and touches of white has a special allure. Offering calm, serenity  and yet nothing less than drama, it's easy to understand how people gravitate to these color schemes. Not limited to pastel hues, the design motif can also include a pop of bold color amid shades of gray, white and earthy taupe.
I perused our library of product images and was amazed at how many beautiful creations that we developed for our interior designer clientele over the years.I found some wonderful examples of knobs, pulls, drapery hardware, switch plates and furnishings. Some sophisticated, some whimsical, some simplistic - all excellent applications of soft color palettes, these are some of my favorites.

Nu Lily Knobs adorn cabinetry and complement wall covering. Photo courtesy of Vanessa Deleon Associates Interior Design.

Close up of Nu lily cabinet knob combines light sapphire blue with deep opal gray and Swarovski crystal.

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Jitterbug cabinet dresser with cabriole legs has paint unique paint finishes using warm light gold, jade green and amber brown.

Jumbo Birdie Drapery hardware combines gold paint finishes with alabaster white and Swarovski crystal has always been one of our best selling window decor sets.

Corner and finial detail from Barcelona dresser shows unique artwork in a sophisticated color scheme combining pastel tones of lilac and shell pink with light teal and deep opal gray.

Birdie drapery hardware set combines silver with shell lilac and periwinkle purple with Swarovski crystals.

Combination duplex outlet and single toggle switch cover combines pale blush and silver paint finish with Swarovski crystal.

Erte Tieback has soft blend of pale blush and gold with drape and belt in various shades of mauve.

                                    Eel Ivory  knob and Drawer Pull in cast and sculpted resin in alabaster with gold and just a hint of black with  Swarovski crystal. 

Custom duo knob 2" was designed to match kitchen glass tiles and has a matching pull.  

Red and Green - When Opposites Attract

Complementary colors sit directly across from each other on the color wheel and it's an easy way to compose a decorative color scheme that is sure to be a winner. I know we all tend to think of Christmas at the mention of a red and green combo. Or maybe a Scottish tartan? And yes a foodie is likely to conjure up images of salad greens with  tomatoes. I love this complementary duo and enjoy putting together the red and green hues from our jewel tone palette.There are pairings of ruby and garnet with jade and emerald throughout our line. It's always been a fave of mine and our customers too. Here's a sampling:

Barcelona bed headboard has emerald and jade green tigress pattern that surrounds the ruby red.

Cleo knob 2" diameter is jade green and garnet with amethyst crystal.

Birdie drapery rod finial with matching bracket has garnet and jade green paint finish.

Charisma bathroom sink cabinet has jade green top. Cabinet doors are painted ruby surrounded by a blend of jade and bronze green.

Cleo double toggle switchplate has jade green paint finish surrounded by garnet trim.

Mini Tudor cabinet knob 1.5 " has garnet, bronze and ruby paint finish.

Contessa Jewelry armoire has emerald green drawers with rose and mosaic artwork in ruby jade and garnet.

Land and Sea -Decorating with Blue and Green

Whether thinking of an idyllic seascape or green pastures under brilliant blue skies, there's something about a blue green color combination that stirs our senses and yet calms us with feelings of serenity, purity and rejuvenation. It's easy to understand how this color scheme is oh so comfy in home decor,and no surprise that it's a popular pick for bathrooms and bedrooms.

Designing with blue and green color stories gives me a lot of freedom that's evident everywhere in our collections. You see it in our paint finishes, resins, glass, silk, crystals, all the materials that we use in the manufacturing of our products. So I had a bit of fun scouting our decorative hardware and furnishings and assembled some of my favorites.

Nu Tiki cabinet knob and Orbit Tiki pull in light sapphire and lapis blue.

Duo Square cabinet knob in deep lapis and  jade green with silver metal accents and crystal.

Birdie drapery hardware set includes finial, bracket and wooden pole in jade and light sapphire paint finish.

Shirley lamp has dupioni silk shade in absinthe green. Lamp body has hand painted peacock artwork in lapis blue and citrine green. 

Seaside Sara lamp has dupioni silk bell shade in nugget green. Lamp body has handpainted artwork in bronze green and light sapphire blue.

Detail of  Barcelona bed headboard and footboard  have unique paint finish in lapis blue, deep opal and citrine green.

Rumba end table has unqiue ripple and stipple paint finish with jade green, lapis blue and amber.

Home Accents are Bringing in Brown

If there was any one color that takes a neutral stance in interior design, brown fulfills the role. Contemporary, modern, traditional, classic- inevitably all decor styles make great use of this color in some way shape or form. Just take a look around your house. Wood floors, paneling, cabinetry, a coffee table or the drapes - from the lightest tan to the deepest mahogany there's bound to be something with a brownish hue that plays a part in your home. That includes the lighter tones too. Yes even taupe and beige are hiding a little brown pigment in the formula. So it's no surprise that it marries well with a wide spectrum of colors to create stylish and inviting color schemes. I love the freedom and warmth that a dose of brown brings to design and enjoy exploring new color combinations from our jewel tone palette.                                                                                                            

Drapery hardware includes Birdie Finial with matching support bracket in ruby red and agate brown.

Siena Sara accent lamp has a Dupioni silk shade in pecan that throws off a rich reddish brown glow when illuminated.

Eel Iris Left Drawer pull has Swarovski smoke topaz and mocha brown crystal.
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All Things Purple in Home Decor

Mauve, violet, and lavender- It's a strange thing about the color purple.  Aside from a few fleeting moments like a sunrise or sunset, or a perennial garden, it's appearance is fairly rare in our daily lives. Oh yes there are a few fruits and veggies, hence the favorite shades of plum, grape and aubergine (eggplant). And then there's the gem  amethyst, which of course we only see in small doses.  Unlike the omnipresent blue or green of planet earth, it's probably most familiar in a box of crayolas and easy to see how it becomes a child favorite or an artist's passion. But my point here is how we use it in home decor. I love the way the color is so easily associated with decorative genres by just how we mix it up with other colors. So here's my interpretation on purple-ish motifs and how they affect interior design.

Take for example the lighter hues like mauve and lilac. Put them together with silver and white and you instantly get a modern motif. Go a step further and throw in some cinnamon brown to create something even more modern. If you substitute the white with black you're approaching Art Deco territory. On the flip side, antiquity reigns when we delve into saturated sorts like red or blue violet paired with golden hues (purple's color wheel complement). Here it captures the feeling of something classic, baroque or majestic. Intricate tapestries, brocades and luxurious fabrics like velvet and silk all come to mind. Think pageantry and Mardi Gras (yes, purple loves a parade).

Just about any shade of purple with a mix of soft pastels offers a French impressionist flavor, a taste of country decor for rural abodes. Plaid, floral and paisley prints sprinkled with shades of lilac and touches of sage or mossy green conjure up a spring time mood.

And finally there are the vibrant purples that take a spot with feisty shades of turquoise, red or lime green. These color palettes follow the fashion trends of the clothing industry that eventually spill into home furnishings. Young, hot and stylish, they are the color schemes that dominate contemporary decor and sure to pop up in tiles, fabrics and wall coverings.