Contents of Ballantyne Magazine - SPRING 2012

Ballantyne Magazine covers news, events, real estate, restaurants, shopping, health, schools and business in the upscale Ballantyne Area of Charlotte, NC.

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Interior Design Society and owner of Decorating Den in Mint Hill. "People don't have rooms they don't use, such as a formal dining room. They use space wisely and make it all very comfortable." As one example, her clients are opting for lighter furniture. "We
have highly mobile communities and lighter weight pieces are easier to move," Galloway explains. "Homeowners are also choosing lighter weight fabrics, with a preference for slipcovers, which are easy to clean. With so many homeowners having children and pets, people are conscious of everything in their home being highly livable." Another decorating concept among her younger clients is leveraging room space through off-the-floor servers, which stand on legs, or floating shelves to showcase porcelain and bric-a-brac instead of immense china cabinets.
Whimsical sundials and
bird baths are showing up more in outdoor spaces.
Wicker/rattan is a popular material.
Flooring is also feeling the
impact of the livability factor. "Hardwood is so in, even in master bedrooms," says Margi Kyle, past national chairman of the Interior Design Society and owner of The Designing Doctor, a Cornelius interior design firm. Instead of laminates, however, the trend is a return to natural hardwoods. "Before, people were afraid they would dent and mark," she notes. "But now they realize there is a charm to real wood. It feels solid."
Making a home livable includes
the outdoor space as well. "The indoor-space look is moving outside," says Carole Sackowitz, co-owner of Today's Outdoor Living in Blakeney Crossing, which carries patio furniture, grills and pool accessories. In particular, people are
"The indoor-space look is moving
Outdoor fabrics today are available in a wide variety of choices.
outside." — Carole Sackowitz
ditching old-line patio seating. "We've gone from plain metal chairs to sofas with cushions," she says, adding that customers want outdoor furniture to be as comfortable as that indoors. "Technology is also making outdoor furniture that lasts longer, and requires much less maintenance." Homeowners want their
Decorative lanterns can provide a finishing touch.
outdoor space to have the same detailed look as that of their indoor décor, which means quality components. To meet this need, Sackowitz offers natural stone tabletops, polished granite benches and functional decorative accessories such as lanterns and plant stands. "Customers like to have the whole thing color coordinated to give it that finished look," she says.
Good for a Lifetime The desire for things that last
Outdoor wicker/rattan furniture can be both comfortable and durable.
SPRING 2012
is a third trend in home décor influenced by the environment and economy. "Consumers are loosening up their purse strings, but they are still cautious, so they
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