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 (ARA)
- Tropical decorative motifs, such as palm trees, monkeys, pomegranates,
and the pineapple that symbolizes "welcome," endure
for many reasons. Not only are they intrinsically graceful in
their own right, but they are also evocative of a relaxed, comfortable,
leisurely way of life. Their reflection of ease and warmth has
made these motifs popular for generations, and they are enjoying
another home fashion renaissance now.
They coincide beautifully with
the trend toward such nature-friendly materials as bamboo, wicker
and rattan. They also relate to increased interest in exotic
places, such as Key West and Bali. Pineapples and pomegranates
add an international flavor to the traditional basket of decorative
fruits. Monkeys represent a gender-neutral motif, easy to decorate
with and especially appropriate for shared spaces, such as the
master bedroom, where men may raise objections to an abundant
use of florals.
While tropical themes are ideal
for decorating a vacation home in a southern climate, they can
also carry their luxurious sense of comfort to the harsh winters
of the north.
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Patterns in the Ellison Bay collection
from Maxwell's Piper Designs division offer an example. The collection
takes its name from a beautiful inlet on the Wisconsin side of
Lake Michigan -- an idyllic summer resort that is snowbound for
much of the winter. While pineapples, interspersed with tropical
flowers are in perfect sync with the surroundings in summer,
they bring the welcome glow of summer to winter's short, dark
days. |
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For added winter warmth, we used
this pattern in red in an entryway. It is installed above a white
molding at chair-rail height, and topped with its even more densely
floral coordinating border. A harlequin pattern in matching red
runs from the chair rail to the floor.
Classic ring-tail monkeys meander
along tropical branches in a design in Maxwell's Vintage Colonial
collection, which also contains matching borders and a coordinating
cheetah print. All three help unify a master bedroom and adjoining
dressing area, while also making each space distinctive. To produce
a "positive/negative, reverse" visual effect, we combined
the monkey wallpaper with a white background and a border of
the same design on a black background.
This stunning pair of patterns
extends along one wall into the dressing area that is otherwise
wallpapered completely in the cheetah pattern. Because Maxwell
collections use color families to make coordination easy and
mixing and matching foolproof, this cheetah's spots are perfectly
color-matched to the monkey's fur.
Such coordination also makes
it easy to add true decorator distinction. For example, we covered
the two shades on the sconce at the entry to the dressing area
with the cheetah wallpaper print. Details like this bear the
mark of professional interior design and become a signature of
your great taste of the tropics.
The most dramatic of all Maxwell's
tropical references is an innovative vertical wall mural, created
for the Vintage Tuscany collection from Maxwell's LV Emmert Studios'
division. It replicates a floor-to-ceiling window, complete with
trompe l'oeil window panes and drawn shades, with an open view
to a nearly life-size palm tree in a faux Italian courtyard.
We know of no other pattern that can so completely infuse any
room with the lush look of the tropics. |
