Do you wear the same size skirt as your best friend? Your sister? Your mother?

No.

Well your bed, your sofa, and your windows don’t wear the same size as other houses either. There is no such thing as standard measurements anymore. The beauty of custom-made goods is that they are made for a particular application and a specific set of measurements.  Much the same way that a great fitting pair of jeans can lift your spirits, a well made and custom-fitted bedding ensemble raises the quality and luxury level of any bedroom.  Custom-made window treatments are like a great hairstyle cut exactly for your face and body.  You do not have to settle for off the rack blandness, when you can get custom drapes for the same or for a little more than something made to fit as many windows as possible.  You can also showcase your personality.  Because off the rack big box stores are trying to appeal to as many shoppers as possible, they offer very little in the way of personality and color. Custom upholstery and slipcovers that fit also offer a chance to stamp your personality on your room.

So remember that custom goods for your home are the equivalent of haute couture in fashion.  It’s all about the fit and the freedom of choice.  And even better—your sofa doesn’t care about vanity sizing and whether it can fit into a size 4 or not! Its cushions can be stuffed to the limits.

Sometimes we have a tendency to make things more difficult than they should be. Decorating your home should be fun and rewarding. As we saw in the last installment with color inspiration from our closets, style inspirations are all around us. This time of year it seems everyone is either going on vacation or coming back from one. Travel and the memories we make on our adventures are a great style inspiration.

Maybe you stayed at one of the uber cool new hotels — sleek lines and zen serenity made you feel calm and peaceful. Did you love that feeling? Duplicate it in your own bedroom. Sumptuous silks, linens, and cottons will build layers of quiet texture that will embrace you on your way to a restful sleep.

Went on photographic safari in Africa? Make your own “Out of Africa” haven in your family room. Wonderful animal prints, subdued florals, and earthen color tones will remind you of that fabulous vacation when the stress of the real world is trying to pull you down. (more…)

Ready to decorate but not sure where to start?  Just visit your closet!  What do you see when you look inside your closet? What is your style – artistic, preppy, bohemian, edgy, or traditional? What colors do you like – black & white, bright colors, beige & neutrals, or fall colors?  Do you see mostly solids, prints, plaids or animal prints? What fabric’s do you prefer – cotton, silk, linen, tweed or cashmere?

You wear what you like, what makes you feel good about yourself.  Take those cues and transfer them into your home design.  If you like bold prints, upholster a piece of furniture in a floral fabric. Prefer plaids?  Mix and match plaids in different scales to brighten a solid sofa. (more…)

Calico Corners is pleased to announce your very own online destination for design inspiration and installation.  This is an online community 100% dedicated to home decoration. It is a place for people who have a passion for decorating to learn, to teach and to interact with Calico Corners and with each other.

We will help you get boredom out of your bedroom, give your windows a better view and create some pillow talk with ideas and tips on dressing your home for less with Calico Corners.

It is you that will make this site great by participating. We will continue, of course, to let you know about special sales and events at the stores, but we encourage you to come back to the site frequently to take part in the dialogue. This site is about you, so please use it, enjoy and share. Let’s continue to explore the world of home decorating together.