Tips from the Madcap Cottage design duo

February 13, 2019 by 1970 Dogwood Street

The Madcap Cottage collection is known for its brave and fearless use of color, pattern, and texture. Their mantra? “Bring the adventure home.” We love it! They use their travels and experiences as inspiration for their stunning collection of fabric, wallpaper, furniture, lighting, and accessories.

looking at all the newest trends

We enjoyed time with them recently at the grand opening of the Calico in Old Town Alexandria. Here are some trends they are seeing for 2019.

Chinoiserie is seeing a resurgence. Florals are big, as well as fabrics featuring foliage and botanicals, and if they are done against a black backdrop, they will really pop. Watercolors can work in a contemporary space. Embroidery and linens with differing types of stitching help to bring a special quality to any room. When selecting/placing items in a room, give visual cues to establish a focal point and pecking order. What’s the star? What are the supporting players? Choose a mix of 3 different scales/sizes for fabrics in a room. Finishes don’t have to match. Add embroidered tape trim to the lower edge of a skirt for a chair or sofa to customize it.

“Think about prints and pattern as a mini vacation.” What great advice!

Here is their new book!

Barb
Jen and Anne were so much fun to work with. My living room and office/exercise area really needed a refresh. Trying to figure out what to do was completely overwhelming for me until Jen and Anne were recommended. They really listened to what I was aiming to accomplish and provided thoughtful suggestions and new ideas that I NEVER would have thought of. As I result, I now have improved lighting, carpets, furniture, accent pieces and, best of all, a fantastic gallery wall that I can add to and/or rearrange. I’m so comfortable and happy in my improved spaces. Jen and Anne are the best!
Barbara M.
Jen and Anne have great ideas and are fun to work with. They made suggestions for design, lighting, furnishings and storage that have made my living space more comfortable and functional. I would never have been able to accomplish any of this without them. And all this happened during COVID! They're the best!
Barbara L.
Their design knowledge combined with their access to many competent professionals made the job so easy! Ann and Jen were super easy to work with and always wore masks. I have lived here since 1987 & I have never been this thrilled with my home. They were conscious of the budget. I highly recommend Ann & Jen of 1970 Dogwood Street!
Kelly E.
Jen and Anne were amazing! They listened well to get a good understanding of my needs and style and then came up with great ideas and designs. Their use of Pinterest boards made is super easy to exchange ideas. Jen would also text me photos if she happened to be at a store and saw something I may like/need. They are very thoughtful and professional and deliver as expected. I highly recommend.
Maura W.
They provided fresh and innovative ideas where I had no clue, helped guide me where I already had views, and were great sounding boards where I was unsure (and they often would bounce ideas off of one other, resulting in a great final product). They were never pushy or judgmental but were always honest and supportive with their views. They were always enthusiastic and clearly love what they do. They were ready to do anything from offer little tips to go pick out and buy everything for me (and everything in between).
Alexis D.
Thanks for helping us transition our living room and kitchen into a warm and cozy space. We love it!
Rebecca H.
I wasn’t sure what I wanted our basement to look like, beyond removing the carpet and changing the paint color. You two took my hazy vision and vague ideas and made every inch of the limited space truly work! The framed gallery of family photos brings me great joy and makes the room vibrant!

Most especially, I loved working with you both. You really took the time to ask the right questions to learn exactly how my family operates, our personalities, interests and styles and then, amazingly, put it all together.
Why I LOVE 1970 Dogwood Street
"Ladies, you rocked my world. So much done and out of my hands that I don't need to worry about anymore!"
Why I LOVE 1970 Dogwood Street
“Jen and Anne are two super talented people that can really take care of anything you need them to do! They transformed my living room while coming in under budget and getting my "style" better than I did! Besides their unlimited design and organizational skills, I can really attest to their efficient, no-nonsense way they get any job done.

They have so many contacts in the area that before you can say reupholster, they reply with a reassuring, "I've got a guy/gal for that!"

They are so great and easy to work with, I can't wait to start on my next project with them which is making my kids' rooms not look like we just moved in! And it's my house of 7 years!”
Why I LOVE 1970 Dogwood Street
“We would highly recommend 1970 Dogwood Street if you are looking for great, easy to implement ideas for your home. They transformed our kitchen from bland to full of life with smart paint, rug and accent choices in a matter of a couple weeks. Anne and Jen are great to work with, and they make decorating fun. No more analysis paralysis with the overwhelming decorating choices for us - we have Anne & Jen!”
Why I LOVE 1970 Dogwood Street
The services that Jen and Anne provide are invaluable. The key to their success is their ‘can do’ attitude. They approach each task with excitement and interest and anything they do will be a job well done. Their experience with design and furniture/color selection proved to be a life saver when they helped me decorate our new home. They are a delight to work with. I highly recommend 1970 Dogwood Street!