Do I have to have all of my woods matching? Do I have to have all of my hardware matching? The answer is no. When you are putting your woods together, just make sure they are in the same color family. Try to keep your red and orange based woods together and your grey browns together. If there is too much wood happening in your room, look to metal tables or painted tables.
As far as hardware goes, most people these days are leaning toward stainless steal appliances in their kitchen. That does not mean you have to have brushed nickel hardware, otherwise we would all have the same color! If you have warm cabinets and copper colors in your granite, you may lean towards oil rubbed bronze hardware. There needs to be a balance when mixing metals. Not everything has to be "matchy - matchy", but it has to relate. If you do not understand this concept, seek a professional's opinion.
What is the trend right now? The trend is, that there is no specific trend. Find what you are drawn to. Greys are still very popular, rustic reclaimed pieces are also prevalent. Large, focal pieces of art have taken over. Fun i-kat, haring bone and chevron patterns are all around us. Metallics of all shades are showing up in rose golds, silvers and soft champagne golds.
What color should I paint my walls? First ask yourself how you want your space to feel. Do you want it to feel warm and cozy, light and airy or whimsical and fresh? Colors and lighting change the mood of a room very quickly. Next look for inspirations to find your color palette, through art, fabric or an area rug. It is a good idea to start with those pieces before you pick a paint color!
Are drapes and valances still in style? Heck yes!! Watch the latest Sarah Richardson show and you will notice she never leaves a window uncovered. It is a great way to finish off a space and give it some real character. We are staying away from ornately designed treatments like swags or treatments with layers of heavy fabric and sheers and are leaning towards straight, clean side panels, simple sheers and simple valances. Less is more in this case!
Do I need the same blinds through my entire house? If you have an open concept it would be nice to keep your blinds the same. However, each blind has it's own function and benefits depending on the window type and where it is located. If you have a blind over your sink for instance, you may want something wipe-able. In this case, you want a product like a screen shade or a wood or faux wood. If you have a patio door, maybe a screen shade is not your best option; you may need a panel track, a vertical blind or a set of custom drapes. If it is not possible to have the same blinds on all windows, try to coordinate your fabrics and colors so that they still flow nicely through your house.