Marie Burgos Design Blog

If you like color, you will LOVE Toronto decorator Holly Dymant.
She has a fabulous eye for design and is widely acclaimed for her fearless use of color.
From yellow walls in the living room, purple velvet headboard, orange painted staircases to electric wall paper color of sky in the powder-room . Her designs really liven [...]

Bamboo style chairs – Designer Jonathan Adler
Bamboo-look furniture, accents, and chandeliers have been popular for more than two centuries of interior design. Whether used in a zen-like spare and modern home or a Hampton’s style beach house, bamboo-look pieces can look great in a variety of homes. I’ve found some great real bamboo or bamboo-style [...]

Did you know Mohair was done from the long silky hair of the Angora goat?
The Angora goat is thought to originate from the mountains of Tibet, making their way to Turkey in the 16th century. Of course, Mohair is shorn from the goat without harming the animal.
Here is a good looking Angora goat! The Winner of [...]

“When Kathy met Rally” , Katherine Rally Textiles was born… is a fairy tale story just out of the design world!!!
Rally is an architect originally from Nashville and Kathy is an interior designer born and raised in the desert of Arizona.
This lovely couple and their two little children are the creators of Katherine Rally Textiles.

They [...]

Used to transport grain, coffee, potatoes and other dry goods, these humble bags have inspired high-style accessories. You can buy  them or DIY from recycled bags to bring a well-traveled rusticity to your decor.
Burlap is now being used in home furnishings.  Known more for it’s durability, burlap has traditionally been used in the home for area [...]

A trunk, also known as a travelling chest, is a large cuboid container for holding clothes and other personal belongings. In the past, they were most commonly used for extended periods away from home, such as for boarding school, or long trips abroad. Most trunks are now used as either furniture such as coffee-tables or decorative storage for [...]

Photo galleries display are a great way to dress up a wall with interesting art but also a fantastic way  to showcase your family photos, a favorite collection or  special memorabilia.
For a perfect display , there are a few rules to respect… First, hang frames at eye level, or around 5 feet, or slightly more, from [...]

Large spaces feel cozier when you can create distinct moments that relate to each other without competing.
Dividing a large space by identifying multiple functions works as long as the areas chosen for each activity add up to a harmonious statement. I like to start by creating a color story, and then figure out how [...]

I had the best time at Imperio Showroom. I gave a Feng shui design presentation to a keen crowd of design enthusiasts!
And Jessica Packer, owner of Imperio did a fantastic job at showcasing her beautiful exotic home and fashion goods from countries such as Argentina, Thailand and Burma.
From silk pillows to colorful shawls and cowhide [...]

Irene Nikolay and Marie Burgos
Here I am pausing with my client Irene Nikolay, CEO of Stratus Realty Group - Joshua Wong Photography
Today, I just wanted to share some photos of the fabulous party organized by my clients Stratus Realty Group for the inauguration of their newly Feng Shui Design offices in NYC. I have designed this [...]

The Hallway is the first thing you see when entering your home. Often when designing a home, the hallway is neglected. While not officially a room, there is likely more than one hallway in your home. In Feng Shui, hallways help your “Chi” energy circulate throughout your home. For these reasons, designing your hallway should [...]

With people spending more hours at work than at home, building positive energies in the office or workspace can affect your overall attitude and health.  If your job’s got you down, it may not be your work – it may be your space.  Taking the time to implement a few Feng Shui guidelines to your office or workspace may [...]

For years the elephant has been known as a sacred animal in the East. As the largest animal to walk the Earth, the elephant is known as a symbol of strength and power. It also represents perseverance, in that it is an extremely hard working animal. Some worship the elephant so much as to make it their [...]

Imagine creating a space within your home for your baby to grow and develop while being healthy and at peace.
I’ve consulted on many nurseries for existing and expecting parents. Here are 9 tips to consider when creating a nursery for the new baby.
1. Crib Position: The crib should be placed in the command position of [...]

During summer, hours are longer and we tend to lounge around a bit longer with a book, on the phone, talking with friends, napping or just relaxing…
Have you thought about the best spot to lounge around in your home? if you don’t have a favorite place yet, here are some great design lounge spaces for [...]

The foyer being the first space that you see when entering a home, it is important to make it inviting.
According to Feng Shui, The entrance of your home is also the “mouth of Chi”, which is the entrance for good energy. This energy nourishes all your home, your goals and dreams. You want to make [...]

There are natural arches like this one from the National Park in Utah

There are ancient and historical arches like these Oman Mosque Marble Arches
Designers and architects also use nature and history to bring or showcase the most exquisite elements to an interior. Arches represent a very architectural home attribute that brings elegance, grandeur and really  uniqueness [...]

I  have noticed that more and more designers use green fabrics or green leather for their chairs designs.

Green is a fun color there are so many shades and it can be paired with white, blue, yellow, red…
Check out the many combinations below…
A little bit of old world with this apple green and white dining chairs.

So [...]

Love this staircases look! The colorful world maps nicely framed are just a step away from discovering new countries and horizons…
Properly framed, lit, and displayed antique maps can be a part of almost any successful design scheme. World Globes are always a great addition to infuse a sense of world travel experience and culture to any interior.
Here [...]

Love this small mosaic tiles! This Bathroom Design reminds me of a chic Moroccan style bathroom of a fabulous hotel resort.
With the arrival of spring, it is time to use  light, sunny, happy colors for your home for more enjoyment of the warm season. Yellow stripes help achieve a really happy design look. You can use [...]

Love this round double sink and the family style look of this colorful bathroom. There are a lot of nice curves in this design…the sinks, the mirrors, the sconces,  the flower vases, the sink legs, the wallpaper graphic…. it is all flowing beautifully…         Bathroom Design- Source House of Turquoise

This is a [...]

Capiz shells and mother of pearl shells are one of the most popular sea shell component and specimen and natural material that is used for home decor because they are beautiful and elegant.
Capiz shells are carefully processed to make beautiful Capiz mother of pearl tiles and wall panels and all kinds of natural wall covering.
Capiz [...]

What is a coral?
A coral is a rocklike deposit consisting of the calcareous skeletons secreted by various anthozoans. Coral deposits often accumulate to form reefs or islands in warm seas.
They can come in red-orange, pinkish, or white colors with a variety of  shades and are used a lot to make jewelry and ornaments.
Adopting the [...]

“Country interior design style is very welcoming and comfortable.”
Country interior design is all about lived-in comfort. The emphasis is on natural materials, handcrafted features and time-worn charm. I find it very cozy.
Your color palette can vary widely, but country decorating gets inspiration from the surrounding landscape. That’s why you often will see color schemes centered [...]

The sisal stairs runner  gives a very natural look to this country style house foyer. The combination of vintage pieces with natural sisal inspires simplicity, comfort and warmth.

A beautiful classic style dining room. The sisal rug is functional and elegant.

In a more relaxed and eclectic space such as this sitting room, the classic diamond pattern [...]

Polka dots is a fun, cheerful and flirtatious pattern.  Polka dots have been around for ages but the actual term was born in England in the late 19th century when the polka music was gaining popularity.  And even though there was no actual connection between the dance and the pattern, the name “polka” stuck around.  [...]

Today’s kitchens are growing rapidly in size and many designers are adding kitchen islands along with the industrial appliances, state of the art cabinets and custom countertop designs that have gained recent popularity. The kitchen island has come a long way from the days of a single small table in the middle of the kitchen. [...]

Discover the beauty of tufted furniture!
Tufted headboard in blue silk – via The Paris Apartment

Silk Tufted wall at the DIFFA show designed by Preston Lee

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For more information about Interior Design and Feng Shui, email marie@marieburgosdesign.com and visit www.marieburgosdesign.com

My dream dressing room!
Take a look at these celebrities’ dressing rooms and closets!
We lust after the enormous and elegant dressing room complex Mario Buatta designed for Mariah Carey.  What you see here is just a tiny part of it. Lucky her!

Thanks to Belle Maison for introducing me to the work of Ron Norsworthy. She shared Tyra Banks’ [...]

Colour Chart: Reinventing Colour, 1950 to Today, Tate Liverpool, Liverpool, May 29 – September 13 2009
Beautiful white and navy zig zag rug and decor by Jonathan Adler.
Love this room all together from the Madeline Weinrib zig zag rug..to the Suzani inspired bench fabric from “Dzhambul” from Brunschwig & Fils. (Home ofKrista Ewart featured in Domino, June/July ‘07)

Jamie [...]

“Creating a romantic bedroom look with a canopy bed!”
A canopy bed is a decorative bed somewhat similar to a four-poster bed.  A typical canopy bed usually features posts at each of the four corners extending four feet high or more above the mattress.  Ornate or decorative fabric is often draped across the upper space between [...]

A beautiful area rug with hexagonal patterns

The hexagonal shape is used more and more in the world of Interior Design. In Feng Shui, it represents longevity, expansiveness and celestial power. With its 6 facets, the hexagon supports your home and introduces the notion that things will last. The number 6 is one of the luckiest [...]

Most people are uncertain of how to begin the restoration work of their homes and the magnitude of the task can easily overwhelm anyone. Here are some suggestions that will give you a fair picture of what it entails and make it less complicated for you.
The primary thing you should do is to decide what [...]

Ikats have been around for several centuries. It is rare when something that was developed so long ago becomes so popular in modern times. The word “ikat” means “to tie” or “to bind”. This describes the process and also the fabric itself.
Even though, many of today’s Ikats may not be “true” in the sense of [...]

Paisley or Paisley pattern is a droplet-shaped vegetable motif of Indian and Persian origin, similar to half of the Yin & Yang symbol. The pattern is sometimes called “Persian pickles” by American traditionalists, especially quiltmakers, or “Welsh pears” in Welsh textiles as far back as 1888.
Today paisley design patterns are used from whole walls to small accent to create harmonious interiors.
Above some [...]

A great way of creating more space or the feel of more space is by using transparent furniture or accessories.
There is currently several firms designing and manufacturing Acrylic furniture. This see-through furniture looks weightless and is especially fitting when you have tight spaces like a city apartment or a small boudoir to design.
Here are some great [...]

Orange is probably one of the happiest colors you could use. It’s a blues lifter. A health promoter. And it just makes you feel better. You don’t grab for a glass of grape juice when your sick. It’s the orange stuff we drink! Orange has a sense of warmth and liveliness to it. It makes [...]

The use of Black and White in design can create a stunning and dramatic decor.
There’s a rule in decorating that says that “every room can use a touch of black.” You might think this is strange if you have a room of pastels or jewel tones.  But using the color black adds a focal point of color [...]

Bookshelves and Libraries are a wonderful place to display everything from collectibles and photographs to books and boxes.

If you happen to be a book lover or a voracious reader, it is likely that you have built up quite a collection of books over the years. Home libraries help you organize your book collection, make it [...]

Many modern interior design trends are taking something for themselves from the history. Everything is changing but some things are staying the same – in fashion and in home design, in all trends. One of those elements is using colors and ornaments that are inspired by nature.
I have selected for you very pretty rooms all [...]