Creating Contemporary Pizzazz with Pillows
Enter the exciting new world of textiles for a flair of tone and color that is replacing a once routine selection of pillows. Designer modern room details are making news with an artistic flair that was once thought reserved for the stylish elite. No longer does one have to accept the same design and material pumped out by the millions to compliment a room.
With the 21st century, a new and creative group of designers are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to adding pizzazz to home decor. Swedish award-winning artist, Lena Bergstrom, led Swedish textile manufacturer, Designers Eye, into the millennium with soft, appealing designs, perfectly bringing an air of opulence to any living room group or rooftop garden. The felted, virgin wool in simple, yet elegant floral shapes or horizontal stripes have been noted throughout the world.
Mibo, founded in the UK, was the brainchild of TV and Film Art Director, Madeline Rogers. Noticing that her flat lacked a certain light in furnishings, she set out to rectify the problem. Pillows and wallpaper are part of her creativity using vivid, yet subtle hues in her accessories. Linen and cotton cushions bring a joyful brightness to any section of a room needing a pick me up. Another favorite is Madeline’s impressive tile tattoos that literally bring out the life in a kitchen or bath.
Page Ikeda and Rhonda Holloway, co-owners of Modern Basics, started their business of contemporary home furnishings and gifts in 2001. An appreciation of quality and design sensibilities led them to create basic, popular designs that can be found in stores throughout the United States today. Functional, stylish, fun and comfortable, throw pillows by Modern Basics hits the spot for that extra feeling of freedom.
A favorite of the Orient and now appearing more and more in the states is the zabuton. Typically square and measuring twenty to thirty inches across, this Japanese floor pillow has been used as a form of floor sitting for centuries in Japan. Designed to have an interior life of eight to ten years with daily use, the muslin fabric is perfect for an active home. Covering the exterior with another fabric can only add atmosphere to your room as these friendly pillows invite casual guests to have a seat.
Decorative accessories are no longer common, factory generated pieces where duplicates are found in every store. Design teams from all over the world are learning that textiles are an exciting way to express fashion and design. Whether you are looking to add drama to a fireplace, fun to a game room or modern style to your living area, pillows, runners and many other small decor selections can make a huge difference in your modern home style.
Patrick Mahoney on February 1st 2009 in Home Accessories
