Brown Design + Development

Fall Decor

Here are some ideas for an inexpensive way to bring autumn colors into your home without breaking the bank.

Seen below, we've used an antique clamshell and stone lotus dish that we found at a local antique store.  As you can see, we've added small pumpkins and squash in this antique clamshell that can be placed either on an entry table or could be a beautiful centerpiece in your dining room.  We've also added fall vegetables to the lotus dish making it a perfect accessory to a guest room or a powder bathroom.

Also seen here is a piece of art that Ryan's daughter, Chloe (age 3), made in school.  It's a great piece with beautiful autumn colors.  You can have your children make art and frame them to create a personal statement to your home this fall.

 

Ryan Brown in Daily News

With a 3 year old daughter, Ryan knows how difficult it can be to keep a home clutter-free.  He discusses some of his tips in a recent article featured in the Home and Garden section of the Daily News.  Click here to read the article. 

 

Incorporating Pattern

Due to the large number of inquiries we receive, we are going to start posting some of the most commonly received questions on our blog. 

Reader Question: "My room has no pattern and I'm afraid that if I add patterns, I'll get tired of them too quickly."

Brown Design Solution: A great way to add pattern to a room is to find fabrics that have a similar tones of color in the pattern.  This adds subtle pattern without being overwhelming.  Sticking with neutrals is great when you don't want to commit to a certain color scheme.  You can always add to a neutral base with accent items that bring your color in without the commitment.  And the best part is that your room becomes interchangeable without having to redesign every time--accents can go a long way in changing the mood of your room.

Here is a great rug with a beautiful subtle pattern which really grounds the space.  You can pick up these same colors with an accent pattern in your throw pillows as well. 

 

Here is another example of how we picked up the same tones found in the chair to select fabric for the accent pillow and throw. 

 

Herringbone Wood Floors

One of our favorite patterns of hardwood floor is the classic herringbone.  Seen here is a traditional style where the application has a clear coat finish. 

In the photo below, the floors were painted in contrasting blue and white stripes in the same herringbone pattern.  It gives a fresh and modern look to this classic style. 

Make a Statement with an Oversized Vase

If you want to make an impact, try using an oversized vase.  For a zen look, keep the arrangement simple as seen here with long stemmed lilies.  This vase is available for purchase from our online store www.ryanbrownstyle.com.  We love this piece because of it's versatility to be used as a terrarium or as a vase (as shown below). 

Over-scaled green leaves from your local florist are also a nice change from your typical arrangements.  This is also a great way to create more height to your room.

 

Don't be Afraid of Dark Colors

Deciding to go with overall darker colors in a room can be a bit daunting at first.  Will you choose wrong? Will it be overwhelming? Will you grow to love it or regret it? 

If you want to make a unique statement, don't play it safe --go bold.  Paint isn't meant to be a permanent fixture and purchasing all new furniture isn't necessary.  Punch up your room by reupholstering your existing furniture pieces in rich colors and great patterns.  Give old furniture a face-lift with a coat of paint or stain. 

Using a dark and bold wallpaper is also a way to make an impact in a room. 

If you are nervous about taking the step towards a new dramatic room, a good experimental location is a powder bathroom.  In the powder bath below, we used a black and gold geometric print paper.  Even though this paper seems dark and a little funky, we kept the traditional style of the home in tact. 

Designing a Baby Room

One of our current projects is a complete remodel of a large duplex in Los Angeles.  The client is expecting a baby girl and the nursery design was very important to her.  Her two requests were to have bright pops of pink combined with a touch of whimsy.  This is what we came up with...

The overall color palette in the room is a vibrant mix of pinks and grays.  The fabrics have incredible style and sophistication while still being baby appropriate. 

We selected the following wallcovering for the top half of the walls.  The first image shows a detail shot of the pattern and also the actual color we will be using.  The second shot is a darker color, but shows the overall pattern.  This wallcovering is definitely whimsical and has tiny glass beads that gives off a beautiful sheen when hit by the light. 

 

The bottom half of the walls will be painted in Dunn Edwards Ash Gray (shown left).  For a fun twist, we will be painting the ceiling in Dunn Edwards Forgotten Pink (shown right).

 

For the furniture, we selected this crib from Newport Cottages and are having the bedding custom made using several of the pink fabrics shown above in our color palette.  This rocker will be reupholstered in the gray fabric also shown above in our color palette.

We purchased this dresser, but are having it custom made into a changing table.  We are also having the wallpaper design etched into the wood on the front of the cabinet. 

This vintage chandelier is sure to make the room feel extra special.

Other custom pieces include a "pagoda" hutch, as seen in the sketch below and a custom baby door (not shown).  

   

 

Designer Challenge

We love a good challenge and try to be ready for anything a client may throw our way!  One of our latest projects has been working on a house that originally belonged to Bela Lugosi.  Imagine this: hunter green walls, gold ceilings and animal cages still on the hill.  It’s quite the house to say the least!  But the original architecture of the house itself is quite amazing—over 12’ ceilings, over-scaled fireplaces, high baseboards, etc—so we had a lot to work with.

For it being such a quirky house with an interesting history behind it, we didn’t want to lose any of that in the new design.  Our client wanted a way to separate the two wings of the house but also wanted to have a large bookcase as a focal piece somewhere in the house.  So when the idea of a secret passageway of sorts came along—how could we not say yes?  Paired with an old 19th century church bench and a bold antique rug, we’ve taken your standard hallway and turned it into a layered and inviting space.

 

Ryan Brown Style 20% Kick Off Promotion

As you know, we opened our furniture and accessories shop last week, www.ryanbrownstyle.com.  We would like to offer our blog readers a special kick off promotion.  Beginning today, you will receive 20% off your total order.  Click here to start shopping because this offer only lasts through Sunday, October 11, 2009.  At checkout, use promo code KO20. 

        

 

Brown Design Launches an Online Furniture & Accessories Store!

We are very excited to announce the launch of our ecommerce site!  These are just a few of the great items we have available for sale.  Visit www.ryanbrownstyle.com to start shopping!