Pantone's 2015 Color of the Year Has Been Announced

It's official!  Pantone Color Institute has announced their 2015 Color of the Year.  Yes, Marsala 18-1438. Why Marsala?  As Pantone's Executive Director, Leatrice Eiseman states, "Marsala is a subtly seductive shade, one that draws us in to its embracing warmth".  

Interesting, as I looked down at my hand while typing, my fingernails have been painted this shade for a week now without the knowledge of Pantone's pick.  

Marsala, the wine-influenced, red-kissed color of the year by Pantone for 2015 is one you'll be noticing in every aspect of life.  From food to fashion, to fabric and appliances.  

Always has been one of my favorite dishes.  Chicken or veal Marsala, I love them both and now to thoroughly enjoy throughout the 2015 year.  How about Marsala and mushroom?  So delicious my mouth is watering.

Watch while ringing in the new year.  One will notice this full bodied color in cocktail and evening wear.

Dolce & Gabbana Marsala Derby Shoes

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date Watch 

Marsala colored fabric

Black & Decker 12 Cup Coffeemaker in Marsala

Reddish chocolate wine hues of natural deep browns will be a warm welcome from otherwise brighter shades of last year's Radiant Orchid.

Faux Fur Frenzy

Winter is quickly approaching.  Cold nights and our first frost has arrived.  Warming days in the sun can be deceiving.  What better way to warm up your interior living space than with warm and fuzzy accessories.  A fun little find of a furry throw, a floor rug or even a seat cover.  Here are some light and easy ways to use faux fur.  Obviously we all love the feel of the real deal, but without being cruel and unkind, faux fur can give the same appearance.

Some great finds for inexpensive pricing can be found at Walmart, Target and Pottery Barn.

Work at home in bare feet? Welcome fur under the desk

Cozy up by the fireplace with a furry transformed chair

Welcoming and warm on the bed fur for chilly nights

Accent pillow in faux fur white

Make your own foot stool

Faux Fur plain and simple in white

Bedside fluffy throw rug

Cover a hard seating bench with fur

Place on a wire chair for comfy fur seating

Anthropologie Faux Fur Lux Chair

Anthropologie also has a line of Faux Fur chairs, benches and stools for your accessorizing and WOW factor pleasure.  Embrace the cold with faux fur.

A Shabby Chic Bedroom With Vintage Style

I was recently asked to stage a boudoir setting for Pizzuti Wedding Photography.  As anyone who knows me, I was in heaven.  Just saying the words vintage and shabby chic in the same sentence, I was all over it.  I wanted to share how easy it is to create a room of this style all on your own through my photos in  collaboration with Ashley Pizzuti.  It was a fun project and an easy style to recreate.  Here are some ideas for items to add to any shabby chic design.

Turquoise Painted Shutter 

Home Decorating Books

Vintage Hand Mirror 

Crystal Vases for Fresh Flowers

Antique Props

Creating the Masterpiece

Detailed Bevel Mirror Painted White

Antique Crystal Lighting

Vintage Bottle Props

Shabby Chic Bedroom Creation

Prepping to Stage our Bedroom

Fresh Cut Flowers from the Garden

Flea Market Find!

Props - Vintage Hand Bag and Bottles

Dressing Table with Crystal Drawer Pulls

Ashley's Antique Mirror

Antique Vanity Brush & Mirror Set

Tufted Upholstered Comfy Chair

Vintage Suitcases

All of these items were raw finds discovered on  back roads and seacoast picking trips or vintage family heirlooms. Be passionate about your style and let it shine in your design.

Interior Design...Making A Career From What You Love

Interior Design & Staging students at Debbe Daley Designs

Last week's interior design and home staging course was one of the best I've had the pleasure of teaching. Realizing my hobby as a little girl has not only turned into a business but also a passionate career of helping others.  I especially enjoy watching women achieve their dreams working in a field they would learn to love.

The course was packed with many field trips and hands-on training experiences jammed into a 5 day extravaganza.  From playing with fabrics and furnishings in our own classroom studio to learning all about rugs from our friends at Persian Rug Gallery.  A trip to Harmon's Paint and Wallpaper in our own lovely historic city of downtown Lowell, MA was such a treat.  With the trending return of wallpaper and with my background in the field, it was fun and exciting to share with the students the different styles and patterns available for residential as well as commercial applications.  We also staged a home in Lowell for the Sears family which goes on the market today.  What a pleasure!  It was the perfect house to stage.

Manual & Classroom Time 

Learning about rugs from Sy Mahfuz at Persian Rug Nashua, NH

Learning about rental furniture for the home staging industry was also an experience with Jessica Miller of Churchill Furniture.  Jessica is most knowledgeable about the process of renting furnishings for vacant homes.  She is always so gracious in taking the time to spend with our students walking them through the process.

Jessica Miller of Churchill Furniture with Students

Churchill Furniture Showroom

Churchill Furniture Showroom

Our grand hurrah was when the students were involved in an all day custom client installation in Andover, MA.  One of my most pleasant clients allowed us to spend the day from 8:00 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon.  Students experienced the process of a custom furniture installation, custom window treatment installation and physically assisting our installers through the completion of the design.

Furniture Installation

Window Treatment Installation

Students Take a Break in Client's Media Room

Thank you to all our business associates, vendors and colleagues for participating and sharing your invaluable knowledge. All in all it was one of the best design courses of the year thus far offering hands-on design and staging experience to the max!