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Saturday, May 1, 2010

Checkmate

I thought I would show something other than Yipes! Stripes!! Hopefully I have not burned you out on my obsession love of black and white stripes, however, if I have, you will be glad to know I am now going to talk about checks!!

I think some of the reasons I love checks are  that they feel fresh and crisp. I love their uniformity and the way they make a room feel as if it has order but are still fun. I have a collection of checked images that I would love to show you……..
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I not only get some of my favorite pattern but it is also in one of my favorite combination of colors.  Beautiful blue and white, always a classic.
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Southern Accent Magazine
Love the oversized scale of this check. It is often referred to as Buffalo check. What an amazing collection of brown transfer ware.
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A smaller check is used on these chairs and a wonderful brass nail head trim is added. I really like the contrast of the gold and black.
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More blue and white. This time in a buffalo check. Love the chandelier in this room. If this were my room I would paint the walls crisp white and the inside of the shelves in a crisp apple green. I love the fresh look of blue and green together.
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Black and neutrals always make a good choice. Fun table for all of you bloggers that love the burlap, rope look. It looks like a giant spool of thread!! How fun is that?!
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A simple , neutral check gives these wicker chairs a fresh and casual look. This looks as if it is a home by the ocean. Notice the hanging lantern and the reflection of the ships wheel in the mirror. Check out the chandelier. It has an anchor in the center which is very clever!!
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Love this room with it’s mixture of stripe and checks. I also like the mix of formal and casual. Understated elegance, just my style preference.
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Love these two checked settee's!! What is a rather formal lined piece has become more approachable with the informality of the black and white checks. The room becomes much less serious.
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We not only have checks but checkerboard patterns in this room. This is obviously a very Country styled room, but very cute.
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Checks and toile always make a nice combination.
As you can see, checks can be used in so many types of rooms. It can be used in a more formal setting . Checks can be placed on antique pieces to freshen their look and make them more approachable. So how do you feel about checks? Could you see yourself using them in a room? What size and color would your checks be?
I will leave you with a few pictures of the checks/checkerboard patterns I have used in my home.
entry hall to guest bath
My guest bath.
Here is the very tradtional linen fabric that is on my sofa. You know how I love a little whimsy so I added a cord welting in a watermelon/pink check.  Once I made that choice the rather traditional flavor of the fabric became more ME!
(The color in this pict. is a little off, it is actually a watermelon pink like you see in the picture of the sofa.)
This is the same fabric that is on the sofa cord welting . I used this on a reading chair in the corner of my family room. I love a contrasting welt so I chose a Springy green to go with the chair. My sofa is Hickory White and my chair is a Highland House with a Century cord welting. Since I did different fabrics from different manufacture's it was considered a COM( customers own material) . You can add different fabrics to your furniture pieces if they are a custom order. Just realize it does take longer to get the fabrics approved and shipped to the manufacture of the furniture piece. These pieces took 4months which is pretty normal for a nicely made custom piece. I hope you have enjoyed playing checkmate with me today!
“Enjoy the Process” Of: Adding checks to your room.
Kathysue

28 comments:

Jules said...

Just to confuse the issue I love stripes, checks and florals together (as longer as the colours are co ordinating!) I have pinched the navy blue check photo I just love that room! Also love the fabric on your sofa. My small problem is that I don't have a style I just love certain things, then I mix them all up together. When you visit this far country you must come and see, the house is a bit dark to photo well unless you are a professional. Have a great day xoxo

Allie and Pattie said...

Kathysue, I LOVE checks- probably as much as you love your stripes! I adore your sofa and chair fabrics- the room must be lovely
xoxo Pattie

A Room For Everyone said...

Checks are timeless aren't they? Just gorgeous Kathysue, beautiful images..Rachaelxx

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Love checks, stripes and florals. I just love pattern. Great post and so many gorgeous rooms. However, you know that I like your home the best. Your bathroom, entry hall and familyroom are just gorgeous. Hugs, Marty

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Kathysue! You know I love the first pic! In fact, I love ALL of these pics!I scrolled down to catch up and saw your lampshade at night...gorgeous! Loved reading the seven things about you. You are a very special person, my friend! Happy weekend...hugs...Debbie

Grace @ Sense and Simplicity said...

I love check fabric as well and have tablecloths in yellow check and brown check and have red check in the laundry room. I agree it is just so fresh looking.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Kathysue, oh how I love checks. Gingham checks or the big buffalo checks. As you know I have checks in my bedroom and breakfast room. I love the fabric choices you made. Hope we get to see the whole room sometime.

Have a super weekend,

Kim

Cashon&Co said...

i was done w/ checks for a while, but now i'm back in like with them. the one thing i will NEVER tire of though is the classic black& white checkered floor. Pure Elegance!!

vignette design said...

Happy May Day Kathysue,
I'm so glad yo featured checks, as I'm in love with them too. That second image of the brown room with the buffalo check sofa and brown transferware took my breath away! But then so did your guest bath and sofa fabrics. Thank you for showing a glimpse of your home.

Karen said...

I have no problem with your love of black and white stripes-I'm a little fixated myself!

Anonymous said...

oooh, the flooring is my favorite. enjoy your day :)

xo Alison

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Kathysue! I forgot to ask if yoou noticed the bouillotte lamp in the 4th photo? lol...Debbie

A Perfect Gray said...

wonderful images, Kathysue, that brown transferware collection rocks my world!

Bring Pretty Back said...

Where do I begin to tell you how much I love this post! It's wonderful! Thank you!

Pat said...

Hi Kathysue,
You know how I love my checks! Especially black and white, also love stripes, ticking to be exact with them. My kids tell me they are old fashion. I don't care,they make me happy, gingham, buffalo, love them all.
Always Enjoying The Process,
Pat

Melissa Miller said...

Just a truly amaazing and inspiring post Kathysue! Love your floors. ~Gorgeous. :)

Kat said...

Beautiful images Kathysue. My favorite is the check and toile bedroom - just look at the light! We attended a wedding yesterday and the reception was held at the best man's family home. Oh my goodness, I wish I had had my camera. You would have loved this place. And they had a gorgeous screened porch with a built in banquette with- you guessed it - buffalo check pillows. Sigh. Kathy

Unknown said...

Love the checks! And I was looking at the top photos thinking to myself "Checks look really good with toile," and then lo and behold, I scroll down and there you go! Great post!

Unknown said...

I have that large blue buffalo check on two chairs in my family room...so yes, I love checks too!XX

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

Oh...you are a girl after my own heart! I adore checks...I think I have them in every room! My dining room table is covered in a huge buffalo check...love it!

Your own fabric choices are gorgeous! Have you sshown them before on your blog...I would love to see the whole thing;)!

Wonderful post!

Enjoy!
Cathy

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

Another great post ! I love the timeless things... thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

I've never seen this many checks in one place! :-) I really like your black and white floor. I'm a big fan of contrast welt too. It's a great finishing touch for any piece of furniture.

Unknown said...

Hi Kathysue,
First, thanks for your sweet comments on my precious new grandson. I can't believe that we haven't even met, and yet we are so "simpatico"! You were my very first blogging friend, and I know we'll be friends for many years to come. One day, we'll hook up!
As to the checks, the black and white check settees are just classic goodness. If you'll email me privately, I'll send you a couple of pics that we've done with checks for your collection.
Thanks again for stopping by!
www.divinedistractions.blogspot.com
sally@sallyjdesigns.com

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Kathysue, You have such a talent. I have thought I wanted to do welding in a different fabric, but I'm never sure what patterns go together. Both of the examples from your home are wonderful. Enjoyed all of the checks. laurie

koralee said...

I adore black and white checks..my kitchen has a checkerboard floor and my chairs are covered in b&w checkerboard fabric...Love the red chairs in that one image as well. Thanks for this today. xoxo happy new week.

Sue said...

Oh my...I thought the brown would be my favorite, until I saw the blue dining room...but then I saw that black and white chair...and I fell in love with the red and white, it is my favorite! This was fun:)

Anonymous said...

Nice :) I love checks, in blue and white and red and white most, but I have to say your post shows many other nice options plus the great combinations.

The Shiny Pebble said...

Fantastic compilation. Checks and toiles go together like PB&J