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By admin, 5:38 pm

I was in one of my favorite interior design showrooms the other day and was  so enthralled by these new 1950′s inspired fabrics and wallpapers, I just had to do a new  post about them.

These linen prints are so playful. I love the 50′s dresses and the colors. . .  just the thing for pillows, window coverings and furniture in any mid century modern interior.

Wonderful Retro chair in gray and yellow, a favorite color scheme of mine. And the wallpaper captures the era to a tee!

The curtain fabric and  sleek, minimalist sofa reiterate the 50′s theme so perfectly, you just want to sit right down and enjoy!

Crisp, clean  wallpapers and fabrics enhance the spare style of these interiors. What could be more relaxing? High Society Collection by Villa Romo.

This post is for you, Linds!

Letitia Little  Allied ASID, CID is a licensed, award winning interior designer located in Minneapolis, MN. for more info visit www.letitialittle.com.

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By admin, 1:44 pm

The newest designer fabrics for the home are done up in bold, refreshing patterns with vibrant, strong colors.Here are a few examples in hot pinks and cool blues that I find inspirational. Hot pink and lime green,  give this linen Ikat a fresh new look. Ikats are very popular this year for interior applications.  The Ikat is a near universal weaving style common to many world cultures including Central and South America, Central and Southeast Asia and Japan just to name a few and has been around for centuries. The pattern in the fabric is created by using a resist dyeing tehnique similar to tie-dye.  ”Bansuri” from Kravet.

The  crisp, lime green floral shown on the top has a toile like feel because it is two toned. The hot pink and raspberry print on white cotton  is so detailed it looks  hand painted. More two toned fabrics in lime and raspberry complete the color grouping so popular right now. Fabrics from Pindler and Pindler.

Another Ikat in bright blue and turquoise, one of my favorites. In linen from Thom Filicia for Kravet.

More cool blues and turquoise in crisp cotton and linen from Kravet. The lower fabric is a damask pattern, another popular choice for interiors.

These beautiful, casual fabrics are suitable for curtains, bed coverings and pillows and would refresh any interior for spring and summer!

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By admin, 2:21 pm

Before and After-Part 2 of this Late Victorian Historic Renovation project is about the design process. My goal for the interior design of one of the bedrooms and its bath was to restore the feeling of the original period. I accomplished that by using the  colors, types of fabrics, antique furniture, wallpaper and  tile of the era. Combined with the conveniences of the 21st century this suite will be livable as well as authentic.

You can see by the floor plan that this is a small bedroom chopped up by doorways and the angled fireplace wall. The new bath room was carved out of what used to be a closet so there is limited space to work with. The layout must be functional so every inch counts.

I selected silks and velvet in seafoam green and gold, a popular color scheme of the period to bring the room to life. Authentic William Morris wallpaper  will be used in the bathroom above the tile wainscoting, and a swag wallpaper border will be  used in the bedroom to keep the room from feeling too closed in. Late Victorian antique furniture  completes the look.

Design for the custom made vanity in the bathroom incorporates design elements seen in the house.

The actual custom vanity has a bowed front, large lozenge on the top panel and beading.  The delicate spoon feet keep it from looking too heavy.

This antique  Late Victorian “hanky” dresser in the Charles Eastlake style is perfect for the bedroom. All it needed was a bit of clean up and polish to restore it to its natural beauty. Its attached mirror, marble top and tear drop dresser pulls  represent the era to a tea.

Follow my next post to see how the  rooms came together in the “After” phase

Letitia Little is a licensed, award wining interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. For more info visit www.letitialittle.com.

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By admin, 7:38 am

I am always inspired by Barclay Butera fabrics and these richly layered reds are no exception. From Kravet.

The red family from deep merlot and rose red to azalea and raspberry, is representaed here in these exciting new fabrics fromKravet.

Bold red is dynamic shown here  on the walls and in this tufted leather chair from Century.

Modern console in white lacquer is the newest trend in furniture. Loft Collection from Somerset Bay.

This fabulous bouquet of roses represents the full range of reds and pinks for 2012.  Inspirational!

The soft sheen of the silver leaf finish gives this three drawer chest  from Emerson et Cie  a real updated look.

For more on Color watch for my next Post on “How to Choose a Paint Color.”

Letitia Little is a licensed, award winning interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. Visit www.letitialittle.com for more info.

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By admin, 11:58 am

COLOR, COLOR, COLOR! We are drawn to it and intriqued by it. It is the strongest element of interior design. Color can change your mood or change your perception of the size of an object or room. Color can soothe or excite. It’s POWERFUL. The newest colors for 2012 are pure hues with lots of depth. Blue, always a favorite is now in saturated tones like midnight, indigo and navy. Turquoise is full of life, definately not pastel. Green makes a real statement in shamrock, bottle, lime or chartreuse. These colors are covered in this post. Watch for reds in Part II.

The vibrant blues and greens in these fabrics by Diamond & Baratta from Lee Jofa  are refreshing examples of the newest colors.   The white lacquer cocktail table is an exciting new direction in furniture.

We always love blues and greens because they are nature’s colors. These fabulous fabrics in indigo, turquoise and lime have so much energy. Shown in rich velvet, shiny satin, nubby chenille and crisp cotton, their possibilities are endless. From Kravet

This Chinese inspired credenza from Oscar de la Renta, by Century looks so now in lime green. The metal accents add real interest.

The new blue and mocha color scheme looks great on this updated wing chair. Long  tapered legs with casters give it a contemporary twist. From Century

 Love the lime green in this traditional setting. Its so fresh and unexpected with the dark tables and camel back setee. Very NOW. From Century.

Turquoise, one of my favorites, looks great paired with polished chrome on this Modern ottoman from Kravet.

Watch for my next post COLOR FORECAST PART II on Reds.

Letitia Little is a licensed, award winning interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. Visit www.letitialittle.com for more info.

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By admin, 3:13 pm

Give any one  of these dreamy design elements to your home for the  holidays and it will love you forever.

Bubble tiles from Ceramiche Keope.

Elegant Queen Anne arm chair in red velvet from Artistic Frame.

Garnet channel velvet and silk circles from Kravet. Gray cotton  paisley from Pindler and Pindler. Woven metalic from Kravet.

Wilshire wing chair from Schumacher in white leather with silver nail head trim. Voila!

Warm and fuzzy wool rugs in reds and garnet from Lee Jofa. Your toes will love these.

The grand finale! Show stopping elegance in hand- cut crystals and warm silver frames.  “Cascades” chandelier from Fine Art Lamps. Happy Holidays from Letitia Little Interior Design!

Letitia Little is a licensed, award winning interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. Visit www.letitialittle.com for more info.

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By admin, 11:10 am

Here are a few quick and easy ways to decorate for the Holidays using things you already have around the house.

Silver and red are so pretty together this time of year. These mint julep cups look great with red ball ornaments. Add a sprig of  greenery and some red berries and you have a simple but  festive table top decoration. These cups look great in the summer with flower bouquets. I have used them in the spring as well, with green moss.

I love hydrangeas and these white silk ones with a touch of green are so elegant with the red berry branches. I put them in a simple glass vase and added green moss.  The little fat red cardinals  add just the right amount of red. This arrangement would be perfect  on a table all winter long.

These colorful red and green throw pillows add holiday color to a chair or sofa. Pillows are a quick and inexpensive way to change the look of a room for the season. They’ll add cheer through the long winter months too.  

Red and green floral print in cotton chintz makes a great pillow to pair with the red silk stripe. 

This antique desk looks festive for the holidays with red santas  and holiday greenery. The old silver pitcher comes out of the cupboard to hold greens.

I hope this post gives you some food for thought as you decorate your home for the season. Happy Holidays.

Letiltia Little is a licensed, award winning interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. Visit www.letitialittle.com for more info.

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By admin, 11:13 am

Want to change the look of your interiors without re- decorating the whole room? Well chosen accessories can do that. In fact accessories are powerful design elements in any interior. The right ones can be the frosting on the cake and truly finish off a room. The wrong ones can ruin the entire design.

 If you have neutral furnishings you can easily switch out pillows and accessories to create a new look for your room for not too much money. These colorful pillows and natural floral arrangement create great texture for Fall. And they won’t break the bank.

Hand crafted  accessories like these suggest an Artisan feel and provide character to a casual setting. Handwoven African baskets, glazed ceramic pitchers, antique silver stirrups, a crude wooden bench and a Kilim rug work well together to make a rich, ethnic statement. 

Custom made throw pillows in deep rich autumn colors make a bold statement on a white sofa. An off white or tan sofa would work too. 

More textural pillows in rust and turquoise.

 Southwestern basket, ceramic horses from South America and giant silk mums offer yet more possibilites for  variety and change in a great room or living room.

 Wonderful, crude santos from Guatamala look great on an end table. An interior designer to help you select one -of -a -kind items like all of the ones  shown. You might even have some special mementos from your travels. Visit flea markets and fairs for ideas too. 

Here’s another look at the same living room with different pillows and accessories all dressed up for the Holidays. See my post dated December 2010.

Letitia Little is a licensed, award winning interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. Visit www.letitialittle.com for more info.

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By admin, 4:43 pm

                                                        GLAMOROUS GRAY,  A CLASSIC

 When you first think of the color GRAY, gloomy winter days, dark storm clouds or foggy mornings might come to mind. But think again. In the world of interior design a Gray color scheme is sophisticated and elegant. Gray is the new neutral. Combined with almost any color it can be a backdrop or the main attraction. Pair it with silver for shimmer and glitz. Add a touch of white for crispness and a bit of glass for lightness. Be sure to add lots of texture for contrast and interest.

This classic channel backed “wing chair” looks handsome in gray wool flannel and silver nail heads. The dark wood furniture provides the perfect contrast. Very menswear. By Century

 Textures show up well in Gray because its strong yet flattering. Along with color, fabric is a main element in interior design and these elegant examples would add style and class to any interior. The silk damask, woven metallic, smooth vinyl, geometric white sheer, silver organza circles and rhinestone studded white silk are all so yummy! Fabrics by Duralee, Highland Court, Kravet.

I love this simple little drop leaf secretary desk in dark mahogany with its white interior. A great transitional piece, beautifully complemented by gray metallic wallpaper.

Looks great with this wool area rug by Davis and Davis. Can be custom sized and colored.

                                    Fabulous wavy striped and rippled silk in “Nickel” from Highland Court.

This amazing antiqued mirror drawer chest with silver leaf accents, by Century, adds a new dimension to gray!

I fell in love with these paper gardenias!   And they look fabulous in this antique silver urn.  Mat white is a new look in accessories. Watch for it.

Gray is timeless and versatile. I have pulled together formal, traditional design elements for this blog. Next time I’ll do casual, contemporary.

Letitia Little is a licensed,award winning interior desiger in Minneapolis, MN. Visit www.letitialittle.com for more info.