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DO'S Organics: Florals, leaves, vines, birds, and other natural motifs. They are appropriate for pillows, draperies, or rugs. Use a large-scale pattern for dramatic effect on large areas such as window treatments, walls, or large upholstered seating. Small organics give a softer and less imposing effect. Geometrics: Stripes, plaids, checks, lattice, circles, and other predictable patterns. Remember that stripes have direction and are best used on draperies and upholstered seating. Plaids, ...   Read more

3 Easy Guidelines to Minimize Confusion & Maximize Success: Mixing a variety of fabrics in a room can make it exciting and fresh, or confusing and restless. The secret to success is the expert balancing of colors and patterns. 1.  Start with the most complex pattern you want to use. It may be fabric for pillows or draperies, or the design of the rug on the floor. The style may be free-flowing, such as vines and flowers, or rigid and precise, such as a geometric. It should c...   Read more

Fabrics are Powerful Statements of Style Here are some guidelines on updating that will help you select the perfect fabric accents for your home. Traditional: Update a traditional look by choosing a formal pattern in a non-traditional color or texture. Plush, nubby or beaded damasks in purple, lime green or sunny yellow create striking contrasts to the classic lines of a formal room. Casual: Replace soft pastel patterns with bold geometrics. Stripes, plaids, and coordinating solid f...   Read more

Have you ever wanted to perk up a tired room without having to start all over? The answer might be as simple as adding some new touches of an interior design staple: pattern! Recently I was asked to update a well-worn powder room with taupe walls and neutral fixtures. My client felt that all the elements in the room were blending into each other and there was no focal point. I agreed - the room was quite boring! Recognizing that the powder room, though small and private, was an important indi...   Read more

Create a necessary focal point In a room that is ordinary or featureless in appearance, use color to create a new imposing focal point to catch the eye. Paint a strong accent color on the wall behind a sofa, bed, fireplace, or built-in shelves. The contrasting wall will give new significance to the furnishing or architectural feature in front of it by outlining its shape and form. Add a few well-placed accessories and decorative pillows in the same accent color, and you will have the beginning ...   Read more

Color Schemes A planned “color scheme” is a great way to introduce and control color for a desired effect. Color schemes usually combine two or three hues, plus a coordinating neutral, to create the mood and personality of a room. The result can feel warm and inviting, or cool and restful. It may be dramatic and formal, or fun and relaxing. A successful color scheme is the most exciting and powerful element we use to communicate the unique look, feel, and use of a room. One popula...   Read more

Enlarge Your Space To visually enlarge a space, paint walls, ceiling, and trim in the same light color. This technique reduces awareness of where walls, ceiling, and floor stop and start. The result is a visually larger space with less finite parameters. To maximize this effect, choose window and floor treatments to match the wall color. Enclose Your Space To visually enclose a space, contrast the color of the walls with the ceiling and trim. This emphasizes the finite dimensions of the...   Read more

We are currently offering interior design instruction in Guangzhou, China.  The students shown are design consultants who work for Markor Home Furnishings.  These design consultants have been specially chosen to receive this training and will complete 88 hours of intensive study in two weeks.  They are currently learning all about selecting and coordinating fabrics, colors, and patterns.  They are also learning about the latest international design trends and how to recognize out-of-date fe...   Read more

Madge was asked to be a featured presenter at Markor's Design Masters event entitled "Design @ Life" .  Multiple presentations given by Madge on various interior design topics caught the attention of  numerous television, news, and magazine media outlets covering the event.  As a result, a press conference and multiple private interviews were scheduled with Madge to learn more.  We hope to share some of those with you as they are made available to us. Below is a snapshot of Sina's coverag...   Read more

Watch as a major chinese television network interviews Madge about the interior design work she has been doing in China this month.  Her work on this most recent trip has sparked quite a bit of media coverage, so we will do our best to translate and share. In this interview they are discussing a huge Design Masters event where Madge was one of several key people featured on an expert panel as a representative from her interior design program at Markor. Click Here to Watch the Video Interv...   Read more

Here are a few important furniture buying “buzz words” you should know. Case Goods: Originally “case goods” referred primarily to wood to furniture designed for storage, such as cabinets, dressers, desks, and bookcases or it refereed to entire collections of bedroom and or dining room furniture.  These definitions still apply- however these days the term case goods may also include any pieces of furniture that are not upholstered, may not necessarily be made of wood, but typic...   Read more

In 2010 we began working in China to provide international interior design education and international interior design services in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, Urumqi, and Dalian. Three separate trips will be made to China in 2011.  Each trip is jam packed with interior design classes for the local students, full scale residential interior design projects for multiple locations (finishes, fixtures, furnishings and accessories will be specified and installed in each ho...   Read more

We hope you find our new website easier to navigate and full of new and exciting features.  Below are a few areas we would like to draw your attention to: Browse through a sampling of our work in our new portfolio image gallery.  Be sure to click on the image thumbnails to see a zoomed in version for a closer look! Sign up to receive emails with special discounts, updates and links to our new blogs which will be full of interior design ideas and advice. Coming Soon! Our new Designers ...   Read more