What is the purpose of Interior Design?

Invitation to a Holiday Shopping Showcase

If you cannot make it to our event, you can shop for Private Quarters items through my website @ www.privatequarters.net/charisse and Go to Events for November 20th.

Fabric from India

Check out the fabric for sale on the Happinest store site  from India. The fabric is 100% cotton with a hand blocked print of red elephants. This fabric would be lovely as pillows, slip covers, pillows, table runners, napkins or a bed tent. See the photos for some ideas on uses for the fabric.

https://happinest.cartfly.com/happinest

Bird Motif Designs by William Morris

“If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” these words were said by English designer and brainchild of the British Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris.

Morris’ chief contribution was as a designer of repeating patterns for textiles and wallpapers which were based on observations of nature and bird motifs. He was also a major contributor to the resurgence of traditional textile arts and methods of production.  Here are some of his designs which included birds and nature.

Halloween Cookies

I made these cookies this week and realized I have an addiction to collecting cookie cutters since I discovered I had several of the same one!

25 Gifts for Under $25

25 Gifts under $25

In our fast paced society, we are all looking for a way to find more comfort, get more sleep, and add a little more romance to our lives. Private Quarters’ products provide the solution by offering affordable luxuries in the comfort of your own home.  As a comfort consultant for Private Quarters, I can show you how to add more comfort to your life today. Since the holidays are upon us, it’s time to decorate your home, give gifts of joy and make lasting memories.

Contact Charisse Colbert @602-803-1995 www.privatequarters.net/charisse

Go for Baroque

The dramatic and decorative Baroque style originated in Italy and influenced all of Europe. The style is exuberant and opulent and displayed much pomp and circumstance in the appearance.  According to the Oxford English dictionary the word baroque is derived from the Portuguese word “barroco” and means rough or imperfect pearl. The word simply means elaborate, and with many details.

The period which is from 1685 – 1725 under the reign of Louis XIV followed the Renaissance Period.  The furnishings were ornamented with heavily ornate carvings, gold gilding, and were grand in scale.  The French Baroque style is distinguished by the use of marquetry and gold covered bronze ormolu, creating the most elegant of styles. Chairs upholstered in tapestries, damasks, brocades, silks, satins and velvets in rich colors of crimson, rose, gold and blues contrasted with a dark wood frame were fashionable. Another element of design which adorned textiles and tapestries were chubby infant babies or putti, Italian for little boys, adorned with garlands of flowers and foliage. The textiles were woven with designs of flowering shrubs, scrolling foliage, heraldic crests, birds, and Chinoiserie motifs. Some of the other fashionable motifs of the period were arabesques or repeating geometric forms, C and S scrolls, cartouches or oval shaped design,  lambrequins or a decorative valance, rinceau or a decorative border featuring stylized vines with flowers, fruits and leaves and rosettes or a round stylized floral design from antiquity.

One of my favorite duvet sets in the fall catalog of Private Quarters is called Baroque. I think it was named Baroque because of the large scale scrolling foliage motif design. This duvet set was one of my favorite vignettes at the Private Quarters convention in July 2009. The set has a tie rather than a button closure, which is a lovely dressmaker detail which you cannot see in the catalog.  It is funny because the set was familiar to me from somewhere in my past. Yesterday I watched the movie, The Sound of Music again for the 25^th time and lo and behold the draperies in Maria’s bedroom share a similar design motif as the duvet set in the catalog. Maria decided to “Go for Baroque” and made those children clothes to play in out of those drapes!

Scrolling Foliage Upholstery

Baroque Style Textile by Designers Guild

Baroque style wallpaper by Zoffany

Baroque style wallpaper by Zoffany

Baroque style textile on draperies by Zoffany

Louis XIV Baroque Bedroom

Louis XIV Baroque Chair

Putti

Marquetry

Rinceau Motif with Rosettes

Lambrequin

Private Quarter's Baroque Duvet Set

Sound of Music Baroque Drapery Panels

Drapery Panels made into play clothes

Yours Truly

Improved Host Benefits for September

Rewards for Hosting a Private Quarters Party

•15% in free products
•Monthly host rewards at 60% off
•Monthly guest specials at 40% off
•A free half price item for each party booked
•A free plush robe for booking 2 parties
•Half price items based on sales

Want to know more about the PQ Opportunity?

• Your start up kit $199…1/2 price in August!!
•High party average
• Luxury at wholesale prices for necessities.
•Generous Career & Income Plan in the industry.
• Earn 20%-40% on your personal sales and 5%-11% on your team’s sales.
•Earn incentive trips to luxury resorts
•FREE training and a very mobile business!

Contact me today:

Charisse Marie Colbert 602-803-1995

www.privatequarters.net/charisse

Announcing the Private Quarters Fall 2009 Catalog

Independent Comfort Consultant

I am very excited about the 2009 fall catalog of Private Quarters. The catalog is available online through my Private Quarter’s website as of August 1, 2009.

I just came back from our annual convention of Private Quarters and was able to see and touch all of the new products and they are spectacular! I think you will be as impressed as I am to bring these lovely items to your home or share them as gifts. Here are some of the highlights of the fall 2009 catalog.

The popular serenity plush sheets are now available in nine colors:  ivory, green, taupe, and the new colors are white, pink, blue, chocolate, burgundy and navy. See page 16 in the catalog. The best selling North Woods Collection has been expanded to include new colors in the blankets, throws, scarves and booties. The North Woods Collection is an ideal product for men as well as women. The blanket and throw come in camel, brick, spruce, ivory, brown and navy. See page 19 for the blanket and page 46 for the throw in the catalog. The scarf comes in camel, brick and brown. See page 46 in the catalog. The booties come in brown, brick and spruce. See page 46 in the catalog.

There are fabulous new Comfortwear items including a Satin Reversible Robe which comes in lavender and ivory and Small, Medium, Large and 1X/2X. See page 36 in the catalog. The Ruffled Wrap made out of 100% micro-chenille polyester comes in black and white and can be worn as lounge wear or out to the movies. See page 40 in the catalog.

My favorite new products and vignette from the convention is the “Touch of Mink” which is a faux fur that comes as throws, scarves, duvet sets, pillows and tote bags. They are luxurious, beautiful and fun! See page 44 in the catalog.

Yours Truly

A new product introduced is the bed shawl which is an ingenious design invention by the VP of Product Development’s daughter Lyssa Selness. The bed shawl is smaller than a throw and is made to decorate your bed without the financial investment of changing your overall bedding ensemble. They are throughout the catalog and enhance several of the bedding schemes.

Something you will find particularly useful and timely is the large selection of items for gifting. The section begins on page 50 through 55 and includes items ranging in price from $9.99 to $249.99. I know you will be certain to find something for everyone and yourself!

Have fun shopping. When you host a Private Quarters party, you can qualify to receive items for free, discounts on several items and the opportunity to share these products with your friends and family. Contact me today to see how you can share the comfort and joy of Private Quarters!

Charisse Marie Colbert
Independent Comfort Consultant
Private Quarters
602-803-1995
My Private Quarters Website
pqccolbert@cox.net

What do you know about Rococo?

The style of Rococo emerged in 18th century in France. The word is a combination of the French rocacille referring to curved and natural forms of ornamentation similar to the shapes of rocks and shells and the Italian word barocco or Baroque style. This style came after the Baroque period during the reign of Louis XV and was at its peak in history in the 1730s. At the time it was a new style which had not been seen before and like anything new the critics of the period considered it a frivolous style of decoration.

While the classical style of ornamental followed the architectural orders, Rococo was free and without restrictions.  The style was characterized by acanthus leaves, asymmetry, C and S scrolls, and naturalistic motifs all evoking an extravagant form of decoration. The style was particularly embraced by artists and craftsmen in their ornamentation of luxury goods, pottery, grand furnishings and silver.

Chinoiserie, from the French word chinois meaning Chinese-esque emerged during the period of Rococo and became a very popular motif which still is prevalent in design today in porcelain pottery, textiles and wallpaper. The Chinoiserie style features Asian landscapes, pagodas and pavilions, elaborate birds, dragons, and Chinese figures.

Acanthus Leaf Ornamentation on Bombe Chest

Asymmetry in Porcelain

C and S Scroll in Ornamentation

Chinoiserie Mirror

Chinoiserie Painting by French Artist Boucher

Dragon Motif for Porcelain

Chinoiserie Landscape Design on Bombe Chest

Rococo Interior by John Linnell circa 1755

Rococo Louis XV Chair

Pagoda Style Window Treatment

Pagoda Cresting and Fretwork on Chair

Chinoiserie Bedroom by William and John Linnell circa 1754

Schumacher Fabric

Thibaut Tea House Wallpaper

By: Charisse Marie Colbert, CMC Design Studio

References:  Victoria and Albert Guide to Period Rooms and Period Rooms in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.