WELCOME to Nest by Tamara

WELCOME to Nest by Tamara
Tamara Matthews-Stephenson is the creative talent behind Nest by Tamara, a captivating journal dedicated to interior design, history and lifestyle inspiration. With a passion for design and a keen eye for aesthetics, she shares her expertise and insights. Tamara has established herself as a prominent figure in the world of interior design and her design philosophy is rooted in the idea that a well-designed home can elevate the quality of life, combining beauty with functional everyday living. Her blog is a testament to her dedication to helping readers achieve this balance. Beyond her writing, She is also an accomplished interior designer who is known for her talent blending diverse styles which has earned her a loyal following and recognition within the interior design industry. She has worked on a wide range of projects- from luxurious urban homes to cozy beach houses. Additionally, she is the Creative Director and Owner of root cellar designs, LLC, an artisan line of textile and wallpaper sold exclusively to the design industry. She designs and manufactures her wares in the United States and sells her line through trade showrooms around the country. Connect with Tamara Matthews Stephenson through email at rootcellardesings@gmail.com and at nestnestnest.blogspot.com for weekly stories, or through her fabric and wallpaper designs at rootcellardesigns.com and embark on a journey to transform your living spaces.

My Take Away Regarding This Spring's Blooms For Home and Fashion


WITH THE EMERGENCE OF SPRING, 2026
LET'S TALK
FLORALS WITH A TWIST
FOR HOME & FASHION
 It's all over the magazine pages this season, florals are back.  It's Spring after all but are we surprised?  Let's face it, botanicals (although not groundbreaking) are everywhere in home, fashion, entertaining and weddings.   This year is different and these familiar florals are shown with a bit of edge, some black, some earth tones, yet sometimes bold color combinations and always with an unexpected flair. According to Marie ClaireVOGUE and Who What Whererunways are showing these over the top florals with adornment. These are not your preppy florals of the past, and instead hold an urban flair. For the home market this spring, it is shaping up to be a floral lover's dream.  According to Florista, it's a year of "Fearless Design". 
Photo: Courtesy of Merlette, Rosie Assoulin, Altuzarra, Dôen, Proenza Schouler via Vogue

For Home, Pattern Drenching and Pattern Mixing Are Bringing Florals to The Front of the Line. 
With the emergence of earthy colors, more wood and tile coming into the mix, the home market is showing florals with a sophisticated flair.  With both Pattern Mixing and Pattern Drenching on everyone's mood board, a good floral adds to these aesthetics beautifully. Maximalism is still here but with a bohemian vibe, and layering of beautiful textiles and yes, that includes florals.

Here's my take about florals and all this Pattern Drenching and Pattern Mixing in the Home- I think for home, florals and small-scale nature motifs on the walls, textiles and furniture are helping to give homes a more "lived in" and less "decorated" feel.  It's truly the time for home and interior design to embrace authenticity and a less formulated feel.  We continue to long for our homes to be a safe harbor and to feel fully curated, a mix of old and new, our family heirlooms mixed with new, modern and unusual, curated pieces.  It feels to me like we are finally finding our way in home, and florals are not a trend but are here to stay. Incorporating florals is just part of that story. As you may know, I am a textile designer and manufacturer and botanicals became a mainstay in my newest collections at root cellar designs.  I have a new floral pattern inspired by gorgeous English Country designs I call Victoria Blooms-
VICTORIA BLOOMS 
in Linen Cotton by home textile company,
Pattern Mixing showcased via House Beautiful Designed by Avrea and Company.
Pattern Drenching 
What is Pattern Drenching you ask?  
"Pattern drenching is a maximalist interior design technique where a single pattern- or group of closely coordinated patterns- is applied to nearly every surface in a space."
-Chat GTP 
A William Morris print adorns every upholstered surface in a library room
designed by interior designer Ken Fulk.  Photo: Douglas Friedman via Vogue

Happy Nesting,
XO Tamara



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