Vietri: Irresistibly Italian

At Kellie Burke Interiors we strongly believe in “designing for your lifestyle”. We feel that the spaces we design should feel well traveled, lived in and kid friendly.  No more “plastic living rooms” and off limits spaces and accessories.  When we had the opportunity to carry Vietri dinnerware, we were delighted that they share the same philosophy.  Vietri dinnerware is high quality dinnerware imported from Italy, however, it is meant to be used for every day. 

The days of fine china and cut crystal stemware are over.  Modern brides and young families today do not share the same lifestyle as their parents and previous generations did; today we want classic elegance for everyday use at a great price.  And that is exactly what Vietri offers. 

They have a vast variety of dinnerware, stemware and linens, and their line even extends into linens and home décor.  With the variety of selection that they have there surely is something for everyone. Our favorite is the Incanto line, which encompasses a variety of shapes. There are ridges and stripes, and scallops and ruffles.  The line is made from black clay with a white glaze over it, which gives all of the pieces an antiqued look. Because the dinner plate differs from the salad plate, which differs from the bowl, it adds visual interest whether combined in a table setting or used alone for more casual dining.  The best part? Dishwasher safe! Perfect for a busy young couple, a growing family, or anyone who doesn’t want to hand wash any longer. 

For those with more simple, modern tastes, we recommend the Blanco line, which features clean, simple lines.  Shown here in white, it comes in a variety of colors which allows you to mix and match and achieve the perfect look for you.  

We love the wide color selection because, at Kellie Burke Interiors, we love starting off with a crisp white table, and then adding in the trends and colors as desired.  Rather than doing an entire table in a single trend, the option to add it in or subtract it, and to mix and match ensures longevity and many, many options.

The Animal Kingdom: Leopard

Alright, we have to admit it; at Kellie Burke Interiors we have an obsession with all things animal print.  We have our favorite design techniques; adding a pop of color, mixing textures and playing with sparkle, but animal print may be our favorite thing to add to a room.  Leopard, a classic animal print, might take the cake as far as favorites go.

Small Accent with a Leopard Print Pillow

Like most, if not all animal prints, leopard is essentially a neutral.  It can work in any design scheme, and in some form, almost any style of décor.  The key is using it properly. Unless you are using leopard as a major design statement, it is best to use it on smaller furniture pieces or accessories.  We love an ottoman upholstered in a classic leopard with nail head trim. Pillows are also a great way to add touches.  If you are looking for a more subtle effect, look for even smaller touches.  We recently installed a chandelier in a client’s home; the inside lining on the candlestick shades were a leopard silk and it looks fabulous. 

With the popularity of leopard there are thousands and thousands of fabrics to choose from.  This allows you to find both a scale and color way that best fits the design scheme.  If you have a small pillow in a traditional scheme, a small scale classic leopard would be perfect.  Likewise, if you are upholstering an ottoman, you may want to consider a larger scale print that better suits the piece.  There are so many color variations of leopard today.  Rather than varying from light to dark, we can now find leopard in any color of the rainbow. If you have an elegant, sophisticated space a leopard in a deep wine and tan could suit it perfectly.  If color and funk is what you’re after a hot pink or deep turquoise would certainly brighten the space. There are also monochromatic color ways which are great for neutral design schemes, or a client who isn’t sure they want to make the full commitment. Either way, there is truly something for everyone!

Leopard Print Side Chair in Nursery

So join us in our addiction! Try some leopard! You can start off with little hints and accents here and there, and see where your design inspiration takes you!

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

You get up in the morning and what is one of the first things you do? Look in the mirror.  You look in the mirror while you brush your teeth, you may glance up after you wash your hands, and it’s an essential part of the daily hair and makeup routine. 

But what happens when such a utilitarian object leaves the bathroom and enters the rest of your home as part of your design scheme? 

At Kellie Burke Interiors, we know the answer; it SHINES! Decorating with mirrors is a great way to add some light, shine and a touch of glamour to a space.

The first and most obvious way to incorporate mirrors into your design scheme is by using them as wall décor.  We do love art at Kellie Burke Interiors, but there surely are times when you do not want to overload a space with paintings, and the design qualities of a mirror will enhance the space.  We all know that first and foremost mirrors reflect. When it comes to mirrors in interior design, we can utilize this quality to reflect light back into a space, thus making a room feel not only like it has more natural light, but larger and more open as well.  However, simply hanging a mirror on the wall of a small, dark room will not instantly make it feel twice its size with a wall full of windows. You have to utilize the elements within the room and design scheme to achieve the desired effect. 

Another way we love bringing mirrors into a design scheme at Kellie Burke Interiors is by adding in a large piece of mirrored furniture, like a chest. Mirrored furniture is a great way to add a touch of the unexpected in a design scheme. It can add just the right amount of glamour to a traditional scheme, or it can ground a modern scheme, especially if in a traditional shape. Mirrored pieces truly can transcend style in interior design. They are also a great way to keep a room from feeling to dark, especially if there are a lot of dark woods throughout the space.  A mirrored chest in a forgotten corner can come to life and highlight accessories put on top of it or artwork placed above it. 

Another way to add mirror to a room is in smaller touches.  This can be done in many, many ways, whether it’s a small mirrored accent on furniture, or with accessories and lighting.  Small mirrors will add sparkle and shine to a space. Like the facets of a diamond, small mirrors will reflect and refract light throughout a space, making them a glamorous touch to a space. 

Whichever way you utilize mirrors, make sure to incorporate them into your design; their many qualities will be sure to add shine and glitz to any space!  

Something Old, Something New...

So many of us have a favorite, upholstered antique (or just old, worn and tired) piece of furniture.  Maybe it’s a family heirloom that was passed down to you through your family, or, maybe it’s a vintage find that has become a treasured favorite over the years. Or it could be an older piece that you had in your first apartment, and it has too much sentimental value to part with.

What happens when this piece is looking too worn for comfort and is sticking out like a sore thumb in your freshly re-designed space? 

Kellie Burke Interiors has the perfect solution; reupholster!

New fabric and filling can make a world of difference when it comes to an older piece of furniture. In addition to making the piece more comfortable to sit on, it can also breathe new life into the piece itself, and the design of the room.  The above picture is a chair we reupholstered a few months ago; it’s an heirloom piece with sentimental value. Rather than finding fabric that is of the same time period and style as the chair, we decided to go in a totally new direction with zebra print and distressed leather. At Kellie Burke Interiors we absolutely love the contrast of the antique shape and style of the chair with the modern fabric choice; it gives the piece life and character. Because of its eclectic look it fit beautifully into any design scheme; it could add some funk to a more traditional or old world space, or the traditional shape could offset sleek lines in a modern room. Either way, it’s a great way to give a special piece an updated look and add a lot of character into a space!

Setting the Mood with Lighting

One of our favorite custom lighting vendors recently held a contest for Best Lighting Application.  We knew we had to enter, and decided that Bricco Trattoria in Glastonbury, CT was the design that would take home the gold; and now we are excited to announce that we WON! 

When designing a lighting scheme you first want to consider the practical uses for a space.  A restaurant is similar to a residential dining room or family room in the sense that you don’t need bright lighting; it is more about creating ambiance than anything else.  Lighting that is too harsh, that would be more appropriate in a home office or kitchen, makes it hard to relax and get in the mood that you are trying to create in the space. 

Light fixtures are also a great way to set the style for the room.  If you are going for a romantic look in a bedroom, than an ornate, crystal chandelier is perfection. For a modern kitchen, sleek pendant lights not only provide excellent task lighting but simple lines will add to the minimalist look.  And for an Old World style family room? Think ornate and over the top, with gold shades, intricate iron work, and lots of scroll work. 

Lastly, light fixtures often can bring texture, as well as light, into a space.  As seen at Bricco Trattoria, we’ve mixed chandeliers with a rope detail, cylinders in a metal cage design, sleek, oversized pendants, and chandeliers with clusters of metal caged globes. What you get is a mix of textures that adds to the design scheme.  It is also important to use a variety of fixtures in a space. Rather than repeating one fixture over and over in either a home or a restaurant, it is better design to choose several fixtures with similar characteristics, and mix them to keep things interesting. 

View pictures from our award winning lighting design below!

Vote for us! Best of Hartford Magazine 2012!

Kellie Burke Interiors needs your votes!  Hartford Magazine's annual Best of Hartford Survey 2012 has officially started.  After winning in 2006 and 2011 we are going for a third win, but we can't do it without you!

Click the link below to cast your ballot

http://hartfordmag-survey.wehaaserver.com/survey-8-hartford_magazine_survey_2012.html

Glam Up That Table!

It may feel like you were just scrambling to set your holiday table yesterday, but Kellie Burke Interiors is ready to talk tabletops! 

A beautifully set table can be the visual highlight of any dinner, whether it’s a holiday party, special occasion, or “just another weekday dinner”.  After participating in “Set To Celebrate” Holiday Table Show at the Town and Country Club in Hartford last December we are ready to share our tips!

Layer, Layer, Layer!

Just as layering helps add interest to an outfit or a window treatment; it can do the same for a table.  We decided to feature Vietri’s Incanto line, we liked the crisp “winter white” that it brought to our holiday-glam table, but also viewed it as a neutral, every day dinnerware set that is found in many kitchen cabinets. We love that there are different shapes within this collection to layer on top of another, rather than having circle upon circle. Then, we placed the Vietri Chiaroscuro appetizer plate on top; the black was a great pop against the white.  By adding our Kellie Burke Interiors as a party favor, it ties all of the layers below it together as well as adding height to each table setting.  

Texture 

The next element we incorporated was texture. With the intricate detailing of the Vietri dinnerware, we already had some texture from the get-go.  Our flatware, also Vietri, has some texture as well in the basket weave pattern of the metal at the base of the handle.  The holly berries sprigs that we tucked into the candle ribbon also add texture (as well as a pop of color). Lastly, our centerpiece, which consisted of branches with glitter and sparkles, enhanced the texture as well. 

The Element of Surprise

Last, but certainly not least, is the element of surprise. That unexpected something that takes your table over the top.  We took a ebony faux fur blanket and layered it over a plain white cloth as our dramatic tablecloth. Not only is it completely out of the box it adds to the layers that we have going on as well as brings a different texture to the table.  Faux fur was having a major moment this year so we were so excited to glam up our table and participate in this trend.

It is helpful to have a color scheme in mind beforehand, as well as having a general idea as to the direction that your table will take, but after that use these three tips and watch your table go from drab to fab! Have fun! 

To purchase Vietri, or any item seen please contact us!

Kellie Burke Interiors

993A Farmington Avenue

West Hartford, CT 06107

T: 860-232-9128

www.kellieburke.com

Monday-Friday: 9:00am - 5:00pm