Beyond Opulence: How to Achieve the Quiet Luxury Look in Your Home on Any Budget

Finding serenity in your home is crucial amidst the hustle and bustle of an increasingly busy, stressful world. As our lives become more fast-paced and technology-driven, there is a growing trend in the world of interior design that seeks to create spaces that evoke a sense of calm and tranquility. Welcome to the world of "Quiet Luxury:" – a design philosophy that celebrates understated elegance. Think the Roy family on Succession: logo-free cashmere sweaters, expansive and luxurious homes with the finest of everything (but not shouting it from the rooftops). 

Quiet Luxury is a departure from the opulence and ostentation that has defined the luxury market in the past. Instead, it focuses on a refined aesthetic that stands the test of time. At its core, this trend embraces the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi, valuing imperfection, asymmetry, and the natural beauty of materials and textures.

Shop the Quiet Luxury trend at Lavender Fields

What is the color palette of a Quiet Luxury home? 

The color palette of Quiet Luxury is a blend of soothing neutrals and muted tones. Soft whites, gentle greys, warm beiges, and earthy hues dominate the spaces.  These colors also allow natural light to play a significant role, fostering a connection with the outdoors and bringing a sense of balance into the home. Don't be afraid to mix textures: grasscloth wallpapers, boucle armchairs, and mohair sofas are all welcome in these spaces. 

Modern History's artisan-crafted furniture is ideal for a Quiet Luxury home. Shop Modern History at Lavender Fields. 

Quiet Luxury and Minimalism

Decluttering is another hallmark of this trend. In a world filled with excess, Quiet Luxury seeks to create spaces free from unnecessary distractions. This minimalistic approach to decor emphasizes the importance of selecting pieces thoughtfully, ensuring each item serves both a functional and aesthetic purpose.

Crisp, clean, luxury bedding like Sferra is a hallmark of the quiet luxury trend. Shop Sferra bedding at Lavender Fields. 

Where to source Quiet Luxury decor

One of the key elements of Quiet Luxury is the use of natural materials. Wood, stone, and natural fabrics like linen, silk, and wool take center stage, reflecting a deep appreciation for the organic beauty of nature.

Textiles also play a significant role in Quiet Luxury decor. Luxurious, soft fabrics like cashmere, silk, and wool bring tactile comfort to the living space. Layering these textiles adds depth and warmth to the overall design, creating an inviting sanctuary where residents can unwind and recharge.

Our Sferra Pettine collection is the epitome of Quiet Luxury. Shop Sferra bedding online at Lavender Fields. 

How to embrace a Quiet Luxury look in your home

Quiet Luxury is about building a home slowly and with intention - no cheap Amazon furniture here. Instead, one slowly collects and decorates, building a space with their most beloved items.  

Another hallmark of Quiet Luxury is investing in the finer things (within your budget). Get the nice sheets from Sferra, the plush robe you've had your eye on, invest in the handmade dining table. Not only are investment pieces eco-friendly, it feels good to be surrounded by intentionally-selected, beautifully-made objets and furniture.

Shop Sferra Robes at Lavender Fields

By embracing natural materials, neutral colors, and minimalism, homeowners can create a serene haven that stands as a timeless testament to the essence of luxury – finding beauty in simplicity. So, if you seek a space that exudes tranquility and offers an escape from the chaos of the world, the Quiet Luxury trend might just be the perfect fit for you.

Beautiful Summer Bedding from Pom Pom at Home

Lavender Fields has been pleased to partner with Pom Pom at Home for over 10 years. Their bedding has become our customers favorite and best seller. 

Pom Pom at Home provides the marketplace with superior linens and textiles that are sustainably sourced and embody a “lived in” elegant look that is relaxed & casual. All of Pom Pom bedding lines; from their linen & cotton duvets to our pillow shams, throws, and even their accessories are curated with the intent of providing our customers with the most refined, natural, & highest quality fibers throughout our product lines.

Pom Pom at Home Jackson Duvet 

Parker Duvet Set

Blair Duvet 

Isla Throw

Shop the complete collection of Pom Pom at Home by visiting our online store or visit our Port Jefferson, New York retail store. Free Design Assistance, Free Shipping and we ship worldwide. 

Straight Out of a Nancy Meyers Movie: How to Achieve the Coastal Grandmother Decor Look

The Coastal Grandmother interior design trend offers a delightful blend of nostalgia and coastal charm, creating a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere reminiscent of cherished family beach vacations (and our favorite Nancy Meyers movies!). This style captures the essence of coastal living while incorporating vintage elements and treasured heirlooms. We'll show you  how to achieve the Coastal Grandmother trend, infusing your home with timeless coastal style.

Shop the Coastal Grandmother Collection

Embrace a Soft, Neutral Color Palette

Start by selecting a soft and soothing color palette inspired by the coastal surroundings. Opt for shades of green, soft blues, sandy beige, and creamy whites. These hues create a serene backdrop that mirrors the coastal landscape and evokes a sense of calmness and tranquility.

Shop Dash & Albert Dunes Rug

Incorporate Natural Materials

To achieve a Coastal Grandmother look, integrate natural materials throughout your home. Utilize rattan, wicker, jute, and seagrass for furniture, rugs, and decorative elements. Incorporate reclaimed wood for shelving, tables, or picture frames, adding warmth and character to your space.

Here are a few never-fail Coastal Grandmother decor tips from our design experts:

• When in doubt, go for a sisal or jute rug. 
• Grasscloth wallpaper in soft shades of blue, green, or cream (preferably paired with thick, chunky base and crown molding in crisp white). 
• Linen slipcovers in white and cream on the sofas and chairs. 

Shop the Coastal Grandmother Collection

Mix in Vintage Furniture and Heirlooms

To truly capture the essence of the trend, incorporate vintage furniture and cherished heirlooms into your decor. Look for pieces with a timeless charm, such as a weathered rocking chair, an antique dresser, or a vintage trunk. These items bring character and a sense of history to your home, creating a nostalgic ambiance.

Coastal-inspired Accessories

Enhance the Coastal Grandmother style with carefully curated accessories. Display seashells, driftwood, and vintage beach-themed artwork. Incorporate linen or cotton fabrics for curtains, throw pillows, and upholstery. Layer with cozy knit blankets and striped fabrics. Remember - the goal is keep the aesthetic, but avoid too much of a "theme." 

Shop Gray Malin San Francisco Print

Achieving the Coastal Grandmother interior design trend allows you to create a space that is both inviting and nostalgic, combining the serenity of coastal living with cherished family memories. By embracing a soft color palette, incorporating natural materials, integrating vintage furniture and heirlooms, and curating coastal-inspired accessories, you can transform your home into a tranquil haven reminiscent of cherished beach vacations. Embrace the charm and warmth of the Coastal Grandmother trend, and let your home tell the stories of the sea and the love of generations past.

An Interior Designer's Guide to Choosing the Right Size Lighting for Your Home

Lighting plays a crucial role in enhancing the ambiance and aesthetic appeal of your home decor. However, selecting the right size lighting fixtures can be challenging. Finding a balance between functionality and style is essential to create a harmonious and well-lit space. Here is our guide on how to choose the appropriate sizes for lamps, chandeliers, flush mounts, and wall sconces, ensuring that your lighting is the right scale for your space.

Overhead Lighting/Can Lights:

You might already have these in your home, or you might want to add some in a larger, more open floor plan that needs some brightening up. Our designer tip? Always put them on a dimmer.

Chandeliers:

Shop the French Follie Chandelier Here

Chandeliers serve as a focal point, adding elegance and grandeur to any room. 

Diameter: This is easier than it sounds! To choose the overall size and width of your chandelier, find the height and width of your space in feet. Add those measurements together for the ideal diameter of your chandelier in inches. For example, if your space is 26 by 14 feet (26 + 14 = 40), you’ll want a chandelier that is around 40 inches wide. For a 14x16 foot room, a 30" diameter chandelier is perfect. 

Shop the Jamie Young Blanca Chandelier

Height: The ideal length for your chandelier depends on the height of your ceiling and the type of room you're installing it in. Most chandeliers come with chains that you can customize to suit your space. For a dining room with standard eight-foot ceilings, a chandelier should hang about 30 to 34 inches above the table. For a living space or any room where people may walk directly underneath the light, ensure there’s at least 7 feet of clearance between the bottom of the fixture and floor.

Weight: 50 lbs is the maximum weight for a standard ceiling outlet box - make sure the check the weight of your fixture and let your electrician know if it's heavier so they can bring the right equipment. 

Lamps:

Shop the Rousham Blue Table Lamp Here

When it comes to table or floor lamps, size matters. The general rule of thumb is to consider the lamp's height in relation to the furniture it accompanies. For example, a lamp on a side table should be approximately 24-30 inches tall, while a floor lamp beside a sofa or reading nook should range between 58-64 inches in height. Ensure that the lampshade's diameter is proportionate to the lamp base.

Flush Mounts and Ceiling Mounts:

Flush mounts are popular for their versatility and space-saving design. To determine the right size for a flush mount, consider the room's dimensions and the fixture's purpose. For general lighting in a small room, a flush mount with a diameter of 12-18 inches works well. In larger spaces, you can opt for fixtures with diameters ranging from 18-24 inches. Ensure the fixture is not too large, overpowering the room, or too small, appearing disproportionate. 

Shop the Cyan Design Gold Leaf Pendant 

The most important thing - make sure there is enough clearance for any doors to open underneath it! 

Wall Sconces:

Wall sconces are an excellent addition to create ambient lighting and add visual interest to walls. To choose the right size for wall sconces, consider the height of the ceilings and the available wall space. For standard 8-foot ceilings, sconces with a height of 10-14 inches are ideal. If you have higher ceilings, you can go for taller sconces. Additionally, ensure the sconces are placed at a comfortable eye level to create an inviting atmosphere.

Cyan Design Luciana St. Regis Wall Sconce

Choosing the appropriate lighting sizes for your home decor is crucial to create a balanced and visually appealing space. By considering the size and proportions of lamps, chandeliers, flush mounts, and wall sconces, you can achieve the desired aesthetic while ensuring functionality. Remember to take into account the room's dimensions, furniture placement, and ceiling height when selecting lighting fixtures. With a thoughtful approach, your lighting choices will enhance the overall ambiance and elevate your home decor to new heights.

Lake House Living

Lake House Living is casual and relaxed. Think childhood summers at the lake house and long summer days of picnics and barbecues. Evenings playing games on the porch and nights under the stars with a cozy quilt. Our collection of Lake House decor features fabulous rugs, bedding, pillows and art.

If you do not have a lake house and dream of owning one you can create a cozy retreat in your house with our lake house decor.

Lake House Pillow

Welcome to the Lake Rug

Boats for Rent Pillow

Camp Collection Blankets & Throws

Camp Fire Coffee Candle

Shop the complete collection of Lake House Living Decor 

Lavender Fields offers full interior design services locally and nationwide. If you are setting up your dream lake house contact us for details. 

Visit our retail shop at 250 E Main Street Port Jefferson, New York

How to Create a Low-Maintenance Pollinator-Friendly Garden [With Links]

 How to Create a Pollinator-Friendly Cottage Garden

We love beautiful cottage gardens - they're like candy for pollinators like hummingbirds, bumblebees, and butterflies. These little flying friends don't just look pretty, they provide an essential service for humankind. According to the US Department of Agriculture, "Without pollinators, the human race and all of earth's terrestrial ecosystems would not survive. Of the 1,400 crop plants grown around the world, i.e., those that produce all of our food and plant-based industrial products, almost 80% require pollination by animals."

Unfortunately, in suburban areas especially, pollinators are in trouble. Due to climate change, overspraying of pesticides and lawn chemicals, and a lack of pollinator-friendly plants, pollinators have a hard time finding food and shelter.

The good news? Pollinator-friendly gardens are beautiful, and once you get them in the ground, the plants can be easy to maintain. Most of them are perennials or hardy, deer-resistant annuals like zinnias. 

Pollinator Garden Supplies: 

Butterfly House

Butterfly Feeder

Bird Bath Fountain Pump

Solar Pathway Lights

Star Solar String Lights

What Needs to Be in a Pollinator Garden? 

Some general tips for a pollinator garden are:

• Less grass, more garden beds. Pollinators can't feed on or shelter in vast expanses of grass. Removing the grass to create more garden beds is the first step to making your yard more pollinator-friendly: and the best part is, more garden beds, more room for beautiful cottage gardens! 
• And most importantly, restrict the use of pesticides and herbicides. Pesticides kill all bugs, not just the ones you don't want, and herbicides can severely harm pollinators. All-natural options like tick tubes and mosquito dunks are more effective and much less effective than sprays, anyway. 

How do You Organize a Pollinator Garden? 

As with any garden design, you want to layer the heights - not just for visual interest, but for the pollinators themselves. They need little spots to rest on and shelter in.

Start with your larger shrubs in the back, then your medium-height plants in the middle. 

If you're going with a cottage garden design, you can start small, then fill it in as you find plants you love. If you're using plants that spread, like butterfly milkweed and yarrow, make sure to leave space for them. 

Are Pollinator Gardens Low Maintenance?  

If you're planting a lot of perennials, pollinator gardens can be very low-maintenance! They come back year after year. 

Adding weed-preventing ground cover like creeping thyme or phlox can make it even easier. 

Not a pollinator, but a pollinator-appreciator! 

Are there Pollinator-Friendly Perennials?  

There are plenty of pollinator-friendly perennials. Some of our favorites are:

• Butterfly milkweed: an essential shelter for Monarch butterflies - a must-have for any pollinator garden!
• Catmint: this grows big and beautiful, and is especially beautiful next to a fence or trellis. 
• Salvia: similar to lavender, it grows big with beautiful color. 
• Lavender: perfect for dry areas with sandy soil.
• Yarrow: grows like crazy in sandy, dry areas. 
• Liatris: excellent to pop in as bulbs in the spring, they grow fast and don't spread too much.

Are there Pollinator-Friendly Annuals?  

• Wildflower Seed Mix is the easiest way to plant annuals. 
• Zinnias are deer-resistant and last until the fall. 
• Cosmos are a beautiful addition to our garden this year, they grow nice and tall. 
• Sunflowers are a favorite, as long as you protect them from deer when they're small (they'll bite the heads right off!) 

Our sweet Ray loved to watch the butterflies