From bland to beautiful By Jo-Ann Lamon Reccoppa Lush fabrics in rich colors stand the test of time. Rosen Decorators in Manalapan can help you spruce up your home decor with unique furnishings and accessories. Photos by Farrah Maffai Home decorating and design trends come and go with alarming speed, but traditional décor is never out of style. Everything old is new again, and luxurious textures and deep earth tones are making a huge comeback. "In these days of worry and high pressure occupations, warmth is what we not only want our homes to reflect, it's what we need to return to at the end of a hectic day," says Norman Rosen, owner of Rosen Decorators, newly located in the Cambridge Square Shopping Center, Route 9 north and Union Hill Road in Manalapan. Comfort and a feeling of permanence is what our hearts yearn for and nothing stands the test of time like lush fabrics, soft, cozy pillows and bedding, and deep, rich colors that please the eye. Many people are reluctant to part with boring neutrals and the spring-like pastels that give the home an air of newness. For those too timid to take the deep earth-tone plunge in home décor, key accents are the perfect way to introduce these rich colors. "Enliven that safe, neutral room with a stunning vase in a vibrant color," Rosen suggests, "or add interest with an exotic, decorative box. Silk floral displays or trees with plenty of foliage will also add flavor to an otherwise bland room." Don't forget pillows when considering accents, in lush fabrics such as damask, brocade or a brocade/velvet combination. Elaborate fringe work and tapestry are also highly regarded in decorating today, though the faded look of years gone by has now been replaced with vivacious jewel colors or deep, earth-tone hues of plum, burgundy, wine, and maroon mingled with gold. Even those safe, lackluster sand and beige tones can be transformed to warm and opulent with the proper accents of deep, vibrant color. "Neutral is a fine backdrop for deep, rich tones," Rosen explains. "Go for degrees and slight variations when combining shades of an earth tone or a vibrant color." With nearly 50 years of experience in the family-owned and operated home decorating business, Rosen has an expert's knowledge of what is considered tastefully traditional and what will be next year's old decorating trend. Those who are willing to go boldly traditional when selecting colors and fabrics in home décor will appreciate the various services Rosen Decorators can offer. Bring in pictures of the room you want to change, and the staff at Rosen's will help you pick and choose just the right colors, fabrics, and accent pieces to transform your living space. No room is left unturned when it comes to make-overs. Bathroom hardware and accessories have gone earth tone, too, and bedrooms, the most restful rooms in the home, demand the traditional luxury of these colors. Ensembles by manufacturers such as Harmonique, accent pillows and art pieces, curios, urns, pedestals, lamps and adventurous, decorative touches will turn your bedroom into a showcase. Come to Rosen's with measurements and samples such as paint chips and fabric swatches, and express your ideas about the look of your room. The staff will advise you on how to tie in existing pieces with bold new touches that will give your home a more gracious look. Those who wish to let the experts handle the details will be grateful for the in-home consultation service Rosen's provides. Don't forget one of the most important home decorative touches and the focal point of many sensational rooms - window treatments. Rosen Decorators is the largest Hunter Douglas window fashion dealer in the area, carrying Duette Honeycomb shades, wood blinds, Luminette privacy sheers, and Silhouette window shadings to solve your window decorating dilemma. Rosen Decorators is open seven days a week, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Stop in or call (732) 972-3364.u