greenery

Winter Survival Guide – Bring the Outdoors In

/ Heather Helms

We were so anxious for 2020 to be over we forgot to consider what to do with ourselves once it was! With the excitement of the holidays behind us, we are now faced with several months of winter remaining before the temperatures warm up and eventually draw us out of our hibernation. It has been a long 10 months but the light is visible at the end of the tunnel. In this blog series, Winter Survival Guide, we will share a few tips and resources to nurture your mind, body and spirit to help you finish strong.

ADD GREENERY!

Using greenery with interior design

As humans we have an innate connection to nature. We also spend almost 90% of our lives indoors with little connection to it. And that is a pre-COVID stat! The practice of incorporating nature in our built environments is known as Biophilic Design and IT IS NOT A TREND. Biophilic design reduces stress, promotes well-being, improves the ability to concentrate, boosts our creativity and expedites healing. YES, PLEASE!

Don’t have a green thumb? No worries! Stick to succulents, aloe and cactus varieties. Need help getting started? Whether you prefer to shop from the comfort of your sofa or if you prefer to venture out, these local gems have you covered!

BOWOOD FARMS

Bowood Farms (4605 Olive Street, 63108) is an experience! They offer online and in-person shopping with curbside pick-up for your convenience. The Studio at Bowood offers a variety of uniquely fun and creative workshops (virtual options available!) and there is always something new to see in the beautiful courtyard and nursery. Prepared to be inspired!

Bowood Farms in St Louis MO

Here are some helpful links to get you started……

Classes – Plants – Containers

FLOWERS & WEEDS

Flowers and Weeds (3201 Cherokee Street, 63118) is open for business and observing social distancing to keep you safe! If you prefer to shop from the comfort of your own space, their online store offers a variety of terrarium kits, house plants and my personal favorite, the fiddle-leaf fig. And talk about immediate gratification, online orders are available for pick-up the next day! If flower arrangements are more your style they offer everyday arrangements for pick-up or delivery and a monthly flower subscription.

Flowers and Weeds in St Louis MO

Here are some helpful links to get you started…..

Floral & Retail – Pots – Tropicals & Houseplants

CHECK THIS OUT! It’s not to late to sign up for their Terrarium Virtual Class. Join them via Zoom on Saturday, January 23rd at 5 pm to create your own custom terrarium. All materials for the class are provided and available for pick-up the week prior to the session.

Hang in there and be well!

The Nature of Design

/ Heather Helms / 2 Comments

With what seems to be a never ending January in St. Louis I find myself desperate for sunshine on my skin, blooms on the trees and the chirping sounds of birds and crickets. As humans we have an innate connection to nature. We also spend, on average, 90% of our lives indoors with little to no connection to it. World populations are increasingly moving from rural to urban centers. With that comes more steel and concrete and less green spaces. So how do we fill the void while making a positive impact on our surroundings? That is where Biophilic Design comes in. It is the practice of incorporating nature in to our built environments and will continue to gain popularity as sustainability practices and urbanization trends build.

EFFECTS OF BIOPHILIC DESIGN

Research has shown that biophilic design reduces stress, promotes well-being, improves the ability to concentrate, boosts our creativity and expedites healing. Exhaustive research has been completed on the effects and applications of biophilic design. With all of the positive impacts it makes you wonder why more people aren’t embracing the principles in their own spaces. When you think about it more thought goes in to the habitats at our zoos than goes into creating our built environments.  For the purpose of this blog we are going to focus on a few ways to introduce the benefits of biophilic design in your home and office setting.

INCORPORATING BIOPHILIC DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Visual Connection to Nature – a view of natural elements.group of potted indoor plants

Material Connection to Nature – incorporating the use of materials and elements found in nature.natural fiber placemat

Presence of Water – refers the ability to see, touch or hear the sound of water.indoor water feature

We would love to hear from you. Let us know how you are embracing nature in your space. Better yet, show us!

Spring Fever

/ Heather Helms / 2 Comments

One of the things I love most about living in the Midwest is getting to experience all 4 seasons. But right now I am Totally. Over. Winter. I can not wait for sunshine, Cardinal’s baseball, and less traffic on 270…. So basically the exact opposite of the current conditions in St. Louis. It is encouraging to see a few 60 degree days creeping into the forecast and before you know it we will be complaining about our allergies or how unbearable the heat is! Until we get there, here are a few things you can do right now to brighten your decor and spirits in anticipation of Spring.

SET THE SCENE

entry table with mirror and decorative accessoriesThe entry foyer is your first opportunity to introduce the overall vibe of your home to guests. This is typically one of the smaller spaces in the home so updating it is relatively inexpensive. You can use these suggestions to breathe life into your formal powder room too. For a quick fix I suggest – a new geometric or mutli-colored rug, introducing a fresh, clean scented candle or diffuser, and finishing it off with a few bright, fun accessories and a fresh floral to complete the look. Adding or switching out a piece of art with a mirror is a great way to brighten up and expand the space too!

TEXTILES & ACCESSORIES

Mixing in a few decorative pillows and accessories can make an immediate and noticeable impact. Remember we are just looking for a few statement pieces to get us through these next few weeks of Winter. Don’t dive in too quickly. The goal here is to not get overwhelmed and abandon the task. Quick fix – mix colored, patterned and textured pillows to create a look all your own, incorporate natural elements in the decor, and add a few pops of color throughout.seating area with bright and bold textiles and art

Are you counting down the days to nicer weather? We would love to know your tips and tricks that get you through these winter months. Already embracing spring decor? Show us what your favorite finds have been so far.

2017 Interior Trends Follow-Up

/ Heather Helms / 2 Comments

Every year I relentlessly scour my favorite magazines, manufacturers and online resources for new introductions in search of the next years “Next Big Thing”. It is that time of year again when we take a look back at our Interior Design Trends to see how well we did with our 2017 predictions. Stay tuned for our 2018 Forecast coming in January!

MIXING & MATCHING PATTERNS – While we did see mixing and matching it was mostly a textural difference than the bright, vibrant interiors featured below. As we continue to move through the gray and white craze we will certainly start to see some of these pops of colors making their way into our homes in 2018. HINT – Mixing and matching patterns becomes easier when anchored by a monochromatic or neutral backdrop.

ART-INSPIRED WALLPAPER – I should have said ALL WALLPAPER! 2017 was the year of wallpaper at Schaub + Srote. Large scale prints, grasscloth, and metallic finishes/embellishments made their way into almost every one of our projects. If you haven’t considered using a wallpaper recently I encourage you to take a look. It seems we all have a wallpaper memory of our childhood. Mine happens to be of my kitchen covered in country blue bows with ducks(and matching canisters for the countertop). I promise you these are not the papers that haunt your past!

NAVY AND DARK GREEN INTERIORS – It would be an understatement to say that Navy was a HIT! I really hope that the Dark Green picks up in popularity as we make our way through 2018. Both work great as a neutral and create a drama that can’t be found in brighter tones of the same colors. Although these were not selected as the color of the year by the leading paint companies they will be EVERYWHERE!

DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER!

Here are a few of the design trends we will say goodbye to in 2017 –

POLISHED METALS – So many amazing finishes were introduced to the market in 2017- all with a matte or brushed finish. Aged Pewter, Carbon, Architectural Bronze and Shadow are just a few that are featured in the new Waterworks catalog. Polished finishes haven’t completely disappeared they are just being layered with other finishes for visual interest.

“Warm metals like copper, brass and rose gold will continue to be on trend for autumn/winter 2016, but as we move into summer 2017 you’ll see a shift away from this super polished look,” says Diane Cocksey, Senior Interior Decorator at Freedom. “I expect you’ll see a more industrial aesthetic, with black steel and burnished metals taking over the home.”

MARBLE HOUSEWARES – While I do not see the marble countertop trend coming to an end anytime soon, I think we have cycled through the marble-everywhere phase. I have to admit I am a sucker for a marble and wood serving platter or cutting board but I am ready for the next big thing in housewares. Stay tuned for our 2018 Trend Forecast to see what that will be.

While marble is all the rage in the mass-produced homewares market, we can soon expect a sharp decline in interest. In 2017, be on the lookout for earthy textures like timber, clay and wicker to take its place.

FIDDLE LEAF FIGS ARE OUT, OLIVE TREES ARE IN – The trend is certainly still leaning toward bringing the outside in. I  find the Fiddle Leaf Fig to be extremely popular and I happen to be a fan. Incorporating natural elements in your space is a designer must have. Just be sure to pick whatever reflects your style and fits the scale of your space. Those are the only rules.

I am struggling with this one! Fiddle Leaf Figs are EVERYWHERE. EVERY. WHERE. Cost, maintenance and lifespan are cited as the major factors for the decline in popularity.

How do you think we did on these predictions for 2017.

Which trends did you love or leave?

Any prediction for 2018?