Warm up with color
Seasonal interior design can be accomplished on any size budget.
— By CAROLYN FERNALD

September 16, 2007
For the Maine Sunday Telegram

As beautiful and idyllic as fall days in Maine can be, the hint of
the impending winter is everywhere.

Blazing fall foliage begins to dull and scatter from trees, nights
turn from crisp to cold and days shorten.

At the very least, it’s time to take out the flannel sheets and
heavy blankets. But with a little extra effort and some interior
design know-how, you can warm your entire home for the
winter months.

Incorporating warm colors like red and orange as accents
around your home, making sure you have plenty of light to get
through long winter nights and adding rugs and textiles are just
some of the ways you can ward off cabin fever, according to
interior designers Priscilla O’Kelly Wilkinson, owner of Sanctuary
Design, in Portland, and Joanne M. Larman, owner of JML Casual
Home Design, in Falmouth.

ADD THE UNEXPECTED

Infusions of color can have enormous impact on any room in the
home, especially if a homeowner has an otherwise conservative
color palette, O’Kelly Wilkinson said.

“Adding a little bit of unexpected color will invite a warm and
nurturing feel to the room,” she said. For the winter months,
O’Kelly Wilkinson likes vibrant shades of red, orange, blue and
green. Larman, who carries designer brands of pillows, textiles
and home accents through her business and on her Web site,
www.jmlcasualhome.com, said golds, oranges and reds can help
a room transcend the winter chill.

“In rooms that are going to be used for socializing, I like to use
the warm tones of colors,” Larman said. She said not to be
afraid to use daring colors on walls. “Even an accent wall in red
really helps to warm up a space.”

Changing or adding rugs seasonally can be an easy way to make an instant impact in a room, the designers said. Larman said changing from light woven rugs to thick, heavy rugs adds
warmth underfoot and to the ambiance of a room.

Portland-based textile designer Angela Adams offers new rugs
seasonally for those in search of timely designs.

“In the summer months people bring in bolder bright colors that
will sing like a bright, happy bird,” Adams said. “In the winter
we seem to want a softer, purring sound coming from our
home.”

In her designs for the fall and winter rugs, Adams said she
chooses colors that are cozy and rich in deep, saturated colors.

“Our fall products tend to be soft and comforting and the colors
should reflect the landscape at the time,” she said.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

In addition to color, Larman said adequate lighting is one of the
most important considerations to winter design, especially as
nights get longer.

“The best lighting is something on the ceiling for an overall
light,” Larman said. Recessed lighting or track lighting works
well for larger rooms. Additionally, rooms should have “task
lighting,” or lamps that address specific needs, like a lamp next
to your favorite reading chair. Larman recommends using
dimmers to set the mood for any overhead lights.

To make the most of daytime light, Larman said its best to stay
away from bulky window treatments, opting instead for panels
or roman shades with luxurious velvets or heavy fabrics.

A few well-placed mirrors not only opens up a room, but
maximizes light, O’Kelly Wilkinson said. She said ambient light
is important, and recommended the use of candles and
fireplaces.

A CONVENIENT FIRE

An option for those without the space or utilities for a fireplace is the Chimo hanging fireplace, which burns ethanol fuel and can be used safely indoors and in small rooms.

Available at Addo Novo on Congress Street, the Chimo has
created a buzz in the design world for its ease of use and
design.

“The Chimo makes the room feel very cozy and works very well
in small rooms that might not typically have a fireplace,” said
Brian Latham, a co-owner of Addo Novo.

“It’s a cost effective alternative to having something built or
having a vent or gas line put into your home.”

The retail price of the Chimo hanging fireplace, which comes in
a variety of sizes and styles, starts at $1,195.

LOOKING FOR BARGAINS

But decorating a home for the winter doesn’t need to have a big
budget.

Bargain shoppers might enjoy stores like TJ Maxx and Home
Goods in South Portland, which have heavily discounted pillows,
textiles and home accessories.

“Those stores are a great way to get people into higher end
accents for a fraction of the price,” O’Kelly Wilkinson said.

She said most people can redecorate using items they already
have around the home or in their yard.

“Bowls of fresh fruit such as pears, pomegranates and oranges
add fragrance and a pop of color to the tabletop,” O’Kelly
Wilkinson said, adding that bowls of nuts, pine cones and tree
pods can have a similar effect.

Bringing natural elements, like evergreen boughs and forced
bulbs, indoors can also counter the austere outside
environment, O’Kelly Wilkinson said. Larman said bringing patio plants indoors can add to the interior design of a room as well as its air quality.

SEARCH THE ATTIC

O’Kelly Wilkinson said design inspiration can be found in the
attic or in photo albums. Clusters of family photos can be a
welcome change on walls or tabletops.

Using antiques can bring a homey feeling that not only warms
the house, but the heart.

“Winter is a good time to pull out grandma’s china and all the
things that you’ve been holding on to that you never use,” she said. “A lot of people have extra things tucked away here and there that are nostalgic and make you think of home and hearth and family.”

Carolyn Fernald is a freelance writer who lives in Portland. Until
recently, she thought winter decorating involved Santa figurines
and snowman doormats.

Copyright © 2007 Blethen Maine Newspapers