Pepper Design Blog

Favorite Trend: Botanical Prints

There’s something so simple and lovely about vintage nature prints. Whether in a collage or by it’s lonesome, a single floral stem or a blue jay framed is a classic and timeliness art addition for the home {a home of almost any style!}. Here are a few of my favorite rooms…

A wall full of illustrations can be an easy project; collect a set of matching frames (Ikea & Target have a great selection) and an old botany book or a few Etsy purchases for matting.

A few great resources for images include: PATCH NYC’s line at West Elm, Art.com, Etsy artists Trampoline & Gennine (among many others), and free downloads from Vintage Printable.

How beautiful is this wallpaper? I don’t know if I’m bold enough to cover my entire bathroom in botanical but it sure looks lovely in Lonny Magazine.

Sources: DecorPad, Belle Vivir, Centsational Girl, La Dolce Vita, Caitlin Creer and ArTrism.

One last collage after the jump. Read more »

Favorite Trend: Dressing Up a Room with Branches

There’s a trend that I’ve been loving lately… and it’s incorporating nature and the outdoors in a new way beyond indoor plants and floral bouquets. Recently I’ve noticed that editors and stylists have covered magazine layouts and online spreads in rooms with blooming branches, and it’s beautiful.

Whether the branches are flowering like a rich pink cherry branch or bare like classic manzanita, they bring in outdoorsy texture and help to break up an ordinary space.

To recreate this idea at home, try pruning back a favorite tree in your yard with small branches ranging from 2 to 4 feet. You can also find an assortment of branch varieties from magnolia to palms at your local florist shop or request clippings from your favorite nursery.

Searching online brings up a few great real and artificial resources for branches such as grape wood, pussy willow and birch. A few of my favorite sites include Nettleton Hollow and Save on Crafts. If you have sources you love, be sure to share!

I love these branches as a centerpiece – and also when leaned as a group against a corner or wall. I’d love to find tall branches to stack in a vase between a bookshelf and corner chair in my living room.

More ideas and inspiration after the jump. Read more »

Favorite Trend: Black & Chalkboard Accent Walls

What are your thoughts on black walls? I think they’re kinda cool. An accent wall here or there in a strong color can really make a room pop, and an entirely black room can give the illusion of a larger, open space (it doesn’t really make a room smaller as most people assume) while still exuding that intimate atmosphere.

My favorite technique is painting your accent wall with chalkboard paint for instant creativity! Now the grocery list, kid’s artwork and favorite quotes can be displayed for all to see (and erased as quickly as it went up).

What do you think? Would you ever paint a wall or room black?

A black wall helps artwork and wall collages to prominently stand out:

And can bring a sophisticated coziness to a small den:

Chalkboard walls are my favorite in the kitchen and bedroom. Choosing a pop of color (like turquoise) helps balance the darker background.

Keep in mind there are many different types of black so before you grab the nearest pitch black gallon of paint, determine if your room would benefit from a blue-black, deep midnight color or dark gray. You’re best bet is a matte – avoid the glossies.

If you’re not a black-wall-type-of-person, not to worry – but if you are, there are four more delicious examples after the jump! Plus credits for all of the images. Read more »