More Interior Fashion Focus

Interior Fashion Focus

Natural Surroundings

The future is now, but our customers' instincts crave a natural home.

The new millennium is upon us and the Internet has catapulted us onto an ever more speedy technology turnpike, yet we crave more natural cocoons to refresh and replenish our souls, psyches and spirits, says international interior merchandising expert Dawn Kearney, president of Design Line Interiors, Inc., San Diego, CA. "We hunger for each new leap of technology to enhance our lives, while we covet a restful, peaceful home where we can balance our hectic work schedules and family commitments with colors, textures and natural elements that soothe and warm us," Kearney says. The way we can deal effectively with the frantic pace of technology for our clients is to honor their natural instincts to reach for the familiar past, real woods, natural stones and authentic designs, she suggests. GREEN BALANCE Kearney, whose firm designs and merchandises model homes for more than 100 merchant builders throughout the United States, Mexico and United Arab Emirates, says there is a very real, human connection with nature. "As sophisticated animals, we quite naturally gravitate toward sensory-filled fibers, woods that once held branches aloft, and timeless granites and marbles quarried from international landscapes," Kearney explains. Our emphasis on bringing nature into our clients' homes is quite sensible, according to this award-winning designer. "It's natural for us to respond to fresh, outdoor sensory experiences like lush green plants, dewy verdant grass, blue skies and the gentle laps of bubbling fountains." As we mature and become more conscious of our surroundings and our need to affect our souls, instincts guide us to green design, feng shui, natural forms, stones, shells and woven materials. Indeed, restful palettes of green are in vogue to suggest nature, fresh air and good health, Kearney notes. Green plant prints on fabrics and sheets, green wall paints, green accessories, framed green herb pickings and, yes, live green plants set the tone and temperament for balanced home harmony. NATURAL ACCESSORIES Resting on this harmonious green backdrop, suggests Kearney, can be accessories such as a silk cocoon bowl collected on a Japanese excursion, mid-19th-century Turkish rug pillows, blown-glass goblets from an Italian vacation, rich paintings that conjure pleasant memories, vintage toys, family photographs and other treasures clients have collected on journeys or imagined voyages. Simple techniques to begin your introduction of nature into an environment include picking up some wheat grass or basic herb plants at a market, investigating aromatherapy, hanging gentle wind chimes, placing a rippling fountain among some river rocks, or putting down an area rug composed of natural material. The next step is to introduce granite countertops to kitchens and bathrooms, real wood crown moldings and other authentic materials to enrich your customers' lives and nurture their spirits. "Often in our subconscious pursuit of the essence of nature in homes, home owners and their guests are touched by architectural elements, color, texture, lighting, music and many other components of the overall design that can express the happiness, freshness and dreams we're all seeking," Kearney advises. Design Line Interiors, San Diego, CA, was founded in 1985 and can be contacted at (619) 458-0700.