Thursday, May 17, 2012

Pattern

The application of pattern adds interest and dimension to a space,



makes a statement about style,




gives focus to a room,





develops a more complex look,




tells a story about YOU.



All these are reasons to apply a particular pattern to a space.  


Are you bold? 





 A daring and adventurous personality?






Are you quiet and contemplative?







Lively and personable?





Are you most comfortable in a peaceful sanctuary?





Are you trendy and stylish?





Stable and methodical?





Patterns have a language all their own.  

They speak volumes.


For this reason, I requested little to no pattern on my website.  I didn't want my site to speak, I wanted my images to do the talking.

Another heated e-mail debate erupted with my marketing guy.  (He's so into all this.)  

"NO." I said.  No pattern.  No competition for my images! They need to stand alone.  

He's incredibly persistent.  I received link after link of new patterns applied to the background, the sidebar, etc.  Link after Link after Link.

We've ever so slightly compromised, but I do consider this my win. :)

He's a bit miffed, but assures me I'm the boss.  (After trying yet again with another pattern).

"It's going to be boring", he says....among other things. "I'm tellin' ya...It's gonna look dull if there's not any."


Knowing what I know about the application of pattern, I make my own decision.......no matter what he says......
"You'd probably be able to get away with not having any texture if the site featured a nice spectrum of different colors, but it doesn't - yours is more minimalistic, color-wise (not that there's anything wrong with that)."

Okay....now we're back to color!




Source images:  Gideon Mendelson-House Beautiful, David Mitchell-House Beautiful, Daniel Sachs-House Beautiful, Carleton Varney-House Beautiful, Amelia Handegan-Architectural Digest, Kazumi Yoshia-Elle Decor, Michael S. Smith-Architectural Digest, Thom Felicia-Elle Decor, Suzanne Tucker-Architectural Digest, Sig Bergamin-Elle Decor, Suzanne Tucker-Elle Decor Showhouse via katie-did blog





15 comments:

An Urban Cottage said...

In the bedroom with the striped pillows on the bed I love how the notched bottom of the roman blinds repeats the pattern in the pillows. The eye naturally wants to connect the two. It's genius!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

These are great images. I don't like a lot of pattern on a blog either. I just went with a burlap or linen look.

My Notting Hill said...

Love the black and white bedroom and the image from AD. I might need some more pattern around here!

Sharon @ mrshinesclass said...

I'm a quiet and contemplative, peaceful sanctuary, stable and methodical kind of girl. I do love patterns, but in a minimal way.

Sharon @ mrs. hines class

Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass said...

I am much more liberal with mixing in my own home, but with others I am a little more tame unless given the go ahead.. I do like the bedroom to be a little more conservative. I have found that so many patterns go together and without trying them and living with them, you may never get a chance to have as many choices
I love the more bold here. Just gorgeous. Beautiful choices, Carla, as always.
Teresa
xoxo

Taylor Greenwalt said...

Carla, sometimes you got to go with your gut. If you have a gut feeling about your site than stick with it! You have good taste and I am sure it will look great.

Tatiana Doria said...

You are sooo right!! Patterns will distract from the images.
Well done, and stand strong!!


www.tatianadoria.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I know who I am, a person who really loves bold patterns and is really, really, afraid of getting them wrong. I've been hung up lately between your previous post about patterns and your post about neutral covers that can go with so many different decors. Argh. Throw caution to the winds or be cautious, how do I know which to choose?

I like your site the way it is. I love your header photo. I've really enjoyed lurking here the last few months or so.

Unknown said...

Lurk away, Anonymous. I'm not taking this one down, I'll be going back and forth for awhile and it will be a smooth transition. It has to be for me! I'm so resistant to technological change! The new site is just amazing though. I feel like this one has run it's course...it's been my useful little Ford Focus. My marketing guy is just a true genius though and he's building me a custom Lamborghini!

Jessie said...

You are a designer and you know what works and what doesn't work, so go with your guts. Looking forward to see the new website design.

Love the room with the canopy twin beds, by the way!

Have a good weekend, Carla.

Jessie
www.mixandchic.com

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Beautiful images! I agree let the pictures do the talking!

Concrete Jungle said...

I am completely with you......patterned sites cross my eyes!

Ann said...

Love your images.
I don't think your background is boring at all, in fact I find it elegant and classy without the patterns.

Mona Thompson Providence Ltd. said...

Great post...i love design...and as long as it makes sense and is done right...I like it all. Can't wait to see your new site. Change is fun.

Stacy CUrran said...

I don't love a lot of pattern, but totally agree with Mona that all design when done well is fabulous!
Stacy

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