Kiki Phukan Design

I spent the first couple of years of my career, as a new design school graduate, just playing with patterns as my job was to create textile patterns for home decor use (upholstery fabrics, area rugs, bed linen, drapes etc.). It was an affair of using unlimited colors and shapes and the million different ways they can be used to create mood and personality. As my career veered more towards the application of these amazing patterns to create beautiful homes, my love of patterns played an important part in my later work. Patterns, used properly and in the right quantity can create a dramatic yet restful room. Overuse patterns and it will take away from the livability of a room . Here are some of my most favorite applications of patterns in home decor.   The floral and stripe patterns dominate while the rest of the neutral decor helps showcase the patterns Neutral wall color and sofa fabric support the mix of complementary colors and patterns On a neutral back...

Burlap, also known as sackcloth, is a coarse canvas woven from jute, hemp or similar fiber, used mainly for, you guessed it, sacking. A lighter version, however, is now a popular trend in home furnishing. As a lover of all things natural, it is very exciting for me to see burlap fabric used to make drapes, accent cushions, table linen and so much more. Layering textures and neutral colors has long been my favorite style of decorating. Because of its coarse texture and neutral color I love the way burlap adds a touch of nature and interest to the decor of a room. These are some of my favorite applications of burlap in home decor. I would particularly love to get my hands on the bottles with burlap labels!  Burlap Table Runner Burlap Labels Burlap Napkin Rings Burlap Cube Ottoman Obviously, there are many more clever uses of burlap in decorating your home and I have chosen to list ones that I personally like. Burlap is a coarse material and th...

Wood salvaged from shipyards, farms and old buildings have a history and mystery that we all want part of. What if we could walk or eat on that history? The idea really intrigued me about four years ago when I saw reclaimed wood furniture and flooring displayed in a trade show I was visiting. The trend seems to have finally caught on and here are some beautiful and creative examples. Reclaimed Wood Flooring Photo: Pinterest Reclaimed Wood Furniture Photo:  Pinterest Photo :  Pinterest I loved this DIY project when I came across it on one of my marathon quests to find easy-to-do projects. I love this table so much, I even like the nails! Suddenly IKEA seems full of endless possibilities. To see many more products and ideas visit me on Pinterest . Have fun salvaging!

Aesthetically speaking, a fireplace is a focal point and as such, must be adorned and showcased to be the center of attention. The first step to showcasing a fireplace is to create a showstopping mantle and surround. Here are a few fireplaces (above and below) that I love for their uncluttered and well-defined look.  When it come to the decorating part, I like to keep things uncluttered and dramatic (not shocking just striking!). Start with a great piece of art or a group of prints, or my favorite, a gorgeous mirror. Depending on the space available on the mantle, some of my favorite types of decor accessories are listed below.  Fresh or Artificial Greenery Candles & Candle Holders Vases

I find that a lot of people are looking for ideas about how to arrange furniture around a fireplace.  A warm fireplace the most inviting feature in a home during freezing winter months. In a Home Staging project a  fireplace is a focal point and a coveted feature in any room. Seating and furniture arrangement around a fireplace must not only provide function but should also showcase these selling features.  In general, the main considerations when arranging furniture are function and aesthetic. Function indicates how the space is going to be used to its fullest potential. The function of a fireplace is to provide warmth and comfort to everyone who sits around it thereby creating a relaxing area to spend time with family and friends. To achieve this function we aim to create a conversation-friendly seating arrangement. This type of arrangement usually works best in a larger room with the fireplace in the middle of a wall or in a corner.  I have chosen a few p...

We cannot deny the importance of symmetry in nature; our faces are symmetrical and so are snowflakes. Our brains are hardwired to perceive symmetry as attractive. For this reason, in interior decorating symmetry plays a very important role. Certain rooms are better suited for a symmetrical arrangement than others. A wall with a fireplace or window in the center can be used to create a symmetrical arrangement. Most bedrooms work well with a symmetrical arrangement. The images below demonstrate how furniture laid out symmetrically can create cohesion and universal appeal.

Have you ever wondered why most decorators chose to work with white when there are numerous other colors out there? Why not another neutral color? What about blue or green? Those are unobtrusive colors of nature too. Well, the answer lies in a simple fact. Every other color is in fact, obtrusive. White is clean, pure, dramatic and unobtrusive; rooms photograph well when all decked out in white. The same reason a bride wears white from head to toe. We all love white - universally and unanimously. We do not question its presence but get caught up in its unique ability to create a feeling of grandeur and openness; a feeling akin to no other than heaven itself. Most people may have a different favorite color but they all still love white for its inoffensive and clean presence. Home decorators understand this natural affinity for a clean, bright and open space; they layer white trim with white fabric and furniture. It is easier to introduce accent colors to a predominantly whi...

Recently, I saw a fashion blog claiming that orange is the new gray. I have always loved orange as an accent color for Staging homes. In home decor, orange works very well with gray and many shades of brown. This makes it a popular accent color. Orange is a bright, cheerful and dominating color and to use it appropriately in the right quantities is the key. It is important to keep in mind that if you use a large piece of art, an area rug or a chair in orange, you have to make sure to balance it all with a lot of other neutral furnishings. Orange in large quantities can be overbearing. I prefer it in smaller doses as purely an accent color. The market offers a large variety of decorating items in orange. This makes it easier to put a room together at a lower cost and in no time at all. See a few examples of using orange as an accent color below: