Let's Have a Pattern Party

If there is one thing I truly love about design, it's the use of pattern. Not overt and in your face, but subtle, and well placed. The beautiful thing about  pattern is its versatility. It can be monotone or eclectic and can be used on any element. Here are some of our favorite patterns.

Firstly, the Hex. Also known as the Honeycomb. Fun fact, a hexagon is a shape that can provide the most strength with the least amount of material and weight! Here we have the infamous carpet from the set of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining and also a gold porcelain tile by Merola.

 

Up next, our friend Herringbone. Named for it's rectangular layout similar to that of a Herring. Yes. The fish. Thank you, fish brother. Here is a tile that is actually available through Home Depot via online ordering. Also very popular in fashion trends every now and again.

Jeez louise. This next guy I have seen in everything from Kleenex boxes to cathedrals: the quatrefoil  The word itself mean "four leaves" and is essentially made up of four slightly over lapping circle. This pattern can vary in shape, and it also comes in a "barbed" version, that has small points where the circles meet.

I've noticed Aztec prints a lot in fashion recently, and I hope to see it used in design as well. Here it is in a pillow. I think it gives a designer a great opportunity to change it up. It essentially mixes a few different patterns.  

And oh my jeez louise, how could we not talk about the phenomenon that is the Chevron stripe. It was an over night explosion to me. This pattern is everywhere and on almost every product known to womankind. 

Chevron and Herringbone are very similar. However, upon close inspection, a Chevron stripe creates several single zig zags as their ends line up to meet perfectly. The Herringbone is more of a staggered approach at a zig zag effect. 

Our friend Ikat has many variations because it is based off a weaving technique where the threads are dyed before they are woven, but this top one is what I've always seen in home decor. There is also the lovely blurred tie dyed look!

And then. There is the animal print, which really deserves its own blog. 

-sarah reuther

20 questions with Sarah....

Hey some of y'all may not know that we went and hired us one creative little lady in January of this year!  Since joining the Red River Remodelers team  as a design assistant Sarah Reuther has helped us in just about every facet of our daily routine. So here's 20 questions so you can get to know her a little better.  No food questions, but I'm sure her answer would have been cheese stix!

"Where do you come from?" Give us some back ground -

I was born in Spring, Texas. I’ve lived in Bossier since I was 3. I went to school at ULL for Hospitality Management, then transferred to LA Tech to get a legit Bachelor’s of Interior Design. Finally got that degree in 2012. I’ve been doing some different design things for the past several years, in addition to being pretty active in the music scene. 

"What’s your favorite room to decorate?" -

My own bedroom is my favorite space to add to. Because I start and end my day in there, I like to make it the best room. It is currently filled with an antique metal bed, super modern chartreuse dresser from cb2 and TONS of framed show posters. 

"If you could throw a parade of any caliber through the RRR office what type of parade would it be?" 

A parade of rock and roll and pizza rolls would be really great. Also, I would want Mardi Gras beads. Because who doesn’t love catching beads?!

"If you could sing one song on American Idol, what would it be?" – 

Van Halen’s “Runnin with the Devil” only because I was obsessed with it as a child.

"Are you more of a hunter or a gatherer?" -

Huntress!

"If you were a box of cereal, what would you be and why?" –

Totally Cookie Crisp. Or maybe not, because everyone would try to eat me. So maybe Raisin Bran. I don’t think anyone actually eats that. 

 "What’s the one store you could spend hours browsing?" -
Me and cb2 are best friends.

"Do you believe in Big Foot?" – 

Who doesn’t?!

"If there was a movie produced about your life, who would play you, and why?"– 

Amy Poehler. Because she is always about helping people out and being hilarious.

"What was the last gift you gave someone?" – 

I sent out some guitar picks and set lists from The Sword to some fans for winning a contest on a page I manage! I love giving gifts!

"You're a new addition to the crayon box, what color would you be and why?"–
Electric Plum.  Because I love purple, and that just sounds like a color I would love.

"What do you say when someone asks, what color should I paint my walls?" -  (Or something about paint color)

In my mind I think purple, because purple rules. But it’s always a good idea to ask “What do you want to see as soon as you walk into this space?” Every space is so different. But in all honesty, it is hard to go wrong with a cool gray.

"What is your road trip essential snack?" -

Fruit Roll Ups. Hands down.

"You've been handed two free round-trip tickets...who are you taking and where are you going?"

I am using them both for me and I would go to Sweden and then where ever the best rock and roll show is happening! 

"What was your high school jam?" -

Oh man. I had a super obsession with Styx for almost all of middle school and high school. Other than that, a lot of embarrassing music, I’m sure.

"What shows are you ashamed to admit are on your DVR?" -

I don’t even have a DVR! But I watch Frasier and Golden Girls every single night. And Golden Girls is still on in the morning while I get ready for work.

"What's your ringtone?" -

If I could figure out how to change it, I would totally make it something like “I’m Your Boogie Man” by KC and the Sunshine Band.

"Where do you look for an obscure source of inspiration?" -

I like to get ideas from album art and show posters. It doesn’t just help with color selection. The layout can translate into many different forms of design. Sometimes you just need to think about something totally unrelated and let your subconscious figure it out. 

"If one song could be the soundtrack to your life, what would it be?" -

This is such an outrageously difficult question to answer. I could never pick one. I’ll just say the entire Warp Riders album by The Sword. It’s conceptual and filled with adventure and awesome. I feel like so far that has been my life. Last minute change of answer to...."Too Hot to Stop" by the Bar-Keys.

Finish this sentence: Every room needs....

     Every room needs some sort of animal. Whether it’s a bronze giraffe or a cow hide or a  taxidermy bison head, you gotta  have something!