Trends & Tips Archives - Page 5 of 15

Color Obsession: Navy and Plum

Navy and plum make a deep, sultry combo.

Navy and plum make a deep, sultry combo. What I love about them is how they are such a saturated. So many people want blue or navy for their interiors which is so typical to see paired with white or red — things that are basic. I want to be able to counteract with something else, and plum does that. It doesn’t create a high contrast, but the two colors pair well because they are on the same level of saturation. Part of my obsession is my serious desire to get away from what everyone else is doing. Yes, an interior is an investment, and some people are braver than others. I see so much similarity and safeness as a designer, so when I am working on projects with repetitive palettes, it is nice to jump outside the box. With a color like blue that everyone loves, I like the idea of being original and pairing it with something that isn’t the norm. Add a little spice!

1. Purple Ocean, oil on canvas, by Lynn Grayson

2. Fragile, photography by Cathleen Naundorf

3. 1950s Lounge Chair from Michel Contessa

4. Valentino Spring 2015

5. Galata Pumps by Louboutin

6. Tablecloth from My World Bazaar — fabric would make amazing pillows!

7. Hughes Upholstered Velvet Sofa

8. Over Dyed Vintage by Sacco Carpet

Favorite Things: Bar Carts

A bar cart is a great addition to your home furnishings.

A bar cart is a great addition to your home furnishings. They are versatile, compact, and mobile, letting you set up the party in any room of the home — or even outdoors. It can find a spot in unexpected places, such as a console in the entry. Pretty decanters are one thing, but I think it’s cooler when it’s just dressed with bottles. The upside to that is, it’s constantly changing! The bar cart is an elegant reminder of the glamorous past, a throwback to an era of sophistication. Here are some of my favorite examples of bar carts. Which would you like to wheel out at your next party?

1. This bar cart features a chic geode knob. (Image via The Decorista)

2. Expandable Rolling Server from 1st Dibs

3. Vince SS Bar Cart from Worlds Away

4. Cesar Lacca Bar Cart

5. Console Cart, a more rustic bar cart.

6. 1930s Industrial Steel Bar Cart from Restoration Hardware

7. Roland N Bar Cart, nickel plated with mirrored shelf.

8. Nero Bar Cabinet from Williams-Sonoma Home

9. Milo Baughman Bar Cart

10. Bar Cart no. One from The New Traditionalists

Custom Pillows

Custom pillows are a need in a room.

Custom pillows are a need in a room. The moment someone wants to take them out of a design, my heart starts to palpitate. Pillows are the icing on a cake, finishing a sofa or chair and pulling the room together. I actually feel unsettled if custom pillows aren’t part of a design.

Additional details such as the edging or embellishments provide further ways to individualize each pillow. They don’t have to all match each other, the upholstery, the window treatments, and the rugs. Pillows let you mix things up, soften an area, or influence the mood of a room. Here are some custom pillows I’ve designed for clients, each one designed specifically for a certain space.

More Must-Have Design Books

I love adding to my collection of interior design books

I love adding to my collection of interior design books. There’s so much inspiration in all of these pages! Seeing what iconic designers are doing really makes me want to be a better designer myself. Books like these are an invaluable resource, allowing us glimpses at a wider world than we would normally see in our day to day lives and opening our minds to new possibilities. Here are some design books that would make a great addition to any design enthusiast’s home library.

As you all know, books are a passion of mine. Here are some recent ones that I’ve been exploring.

1. Artfully Modern: Interiors by Richard Mishaan

2. Jean-Louis Denoit: Interiors

3. Tory Burch: In Color

4. Markham Roberts: Decorating the Way I See It

5. The Tailored Interior

6. Mies

Lema J Jewelry

I stumbled across Lema J jewelry while browsing online and instantly loved what I saw.

I stumbled across Lema J jewelry while browsing online and instantly loved what I saw. These handmade shagreen cuffs are simply gorgeous and make such an impact with a pop of color.

Lema J was founded by sisters Jenny Benscher and Jill Becker in 2013. The cuffs are made from stingray leather and lined with lambskin, available in custom combinations of amazing colors and patterns. The texture of the shagreen is so striking, and the cuffs have wonderful scale. They can be worn with a casual look or something more dressy. For work or an evening out, a Lema J cuff would make a great statement.

This jewelry doesn’t just look good; it supports a fantastic cause. When owner Jill Becker’s daughter Cara passed away from leukemia in 2012, her family started a foundation called Karma for Cara with the goals of engaging youth, awarding unsung heroes, and tangibly helping patients with leukemia. All profits from jewelry sales go to Karma for Cara, so you can feel good about buying something handmade by a small business which supports a worthwhile cause.

To learn more about Lema J or see their full line of cuffs, visit their website. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Lindsey Adelman Studio

One source I really love for beautiful, custom lighting is Lindsay Adelman Studio.

Lighting is an important element of an interior, from both a practical standpoint and an aesthetic one. Lighting sets a mood in any room, but is also an opportunity to dress up a space. One source I really love for beautiful, custom lighting is Lindsay Adelman Studio. What I love about her fixtures is that they have somewhat of an organic essence to them, even though they are metal and glass. There’s something precise and graceful about them.

Lindsey Adelman 18 — Liminal Pendant, collaboration with Darcy Miro.

Cast bronze by Dacry Miro — Cast bronze by Darcy Miro

These highly artistic pieces aren’t just lights, they’re sculptures. Each piece is hand crafted in her Brooklyn, NY studio from blown glass and precisely machined metal. A team of local artisans create each piece to order from designs based on natural forms, and each is available in a variety of finishes. The balance of each piece must be precise. Because each element is custom made and unique, the various components have to be assembled and exactly balanced for weight differences. The skill and artistry that goes into this lighting is simply incredible.

Working with glass at the Brooklyn studio.

I find her new collection has a little bit of whimsy and playfulness to it. It is striking and peaceful at the same time.

To see more lighting options by Lindsey Adelman or to learn more about her company and products, visit her website.

Color Obsession: Currant

When I think of Currant, I think of a deep, sultry color.

When I think of Currant, I think of a deep, sultry color. I became inspired by it as a change from the trend of black, white, and neutral interiors. I recently pitched this color for a library as a cohesive palette to pair well with and balance rich wood tones — think walnut and wine. It’s definitely more dramatic, being so deep and saturated and just a more grounded color. A hue like this is about taking chances and steering away from the path everyone else is walking.

1. Teatro Cervantes Buenos Aires IV, 2006 by Candida Hofer

2. Torn Spiral Series, Moss & Lam

3. Sloop Chair by Amy Somerville

4. Donna Karan, New York Fashion Week Fall 2014

5. Currants, via Tumblr

6. Decollete 554 by Louboutin

7. Over Dyed Vintage by SACCO Carpet

8. Rock Chronograph Watch by Marc Jacobs

Zoe Bios Creative

Zoe Bios works with dozens of artists worldwide, overlaying their prints with elements such as aging, gesso, leafing, and India ink to develop high quality pieces.

Zoe Bios Creative is a California firm I learned about at the NY NOW show. They produce art in house, creating repeatable originals in editions of 100. Zoe Bios works with dozens of artists worldwide, overlaying their prints with elements such as aging, gesso, leafing, and India ink to develop high quality pieces.

What I find wonderful about the Zoe Bios pieces is the mix of materials, like the oil paint with metallics. I love abstract art; it’s very contemporary. The various sizes available from this line allow you to play with different spaces, making a bold statement with a larger piece or using a smaller scale to suit a specific area. Their photography pieces offset the abstract collection with additional options.

Many of these prints are beautifully saturated with color. I get tired of seeing the same prints or accessories used over and over again in design magazines, so having such an appealing range of unique choices is refreshing.

To see more of the artwork offered by Zoe Bios Creative, visit their website. You can also find them on Facebook.

Color Obsession: Celosia Orange

Celosia Orange is a great color for this time of year.

One of the best things about spring is the opportunity to embrace the brightness of the season. Celosia Orange is a great color for this time of year. It’s a crisp, saturated, uplifting hue that can add a bit of fun to a space or provide a boost with a dramatic splash of color. Use it to spice up a neutral palette or add zest to a modern interior. Bold and eye-catching, Celosia Orange is one of my favorite shades.

1. An amazing color for a low rider! (source)

2. Hermes, always a classic.

3. Mark Rothko, Untitled No. 11

4. Saint Laurent Color Block Ring

5. Celosia Orange Rug from Crate and Barrel

6. Gorgeous design by S.R. Gambrel

7. Cool shoes! (source)

8. Gorgeous dress by KaufmanFranco

International Contemporary Furniture Fair

This past weekend I went to the International Contemporary Furniture Fair at the Javits Convention Center in NYC.

This past weekend I went to the International Contemporary Furniture Fair at the Javits Convention Center in NYC. Now in its 26th year, the ICFF draws close to 30,000 visitors who browse over 600 exhibitors. Since I missed the last ICFF, I was so glad to be able to attend this year. The ICFF is completely inspirational to me! I don’t understand how other people can go to this event and only buy one or two things. I just want to hoard everything and not share new sources, but at the same time I want others to be inspired by all of amazing products I saw.

From innovative items to re-imagined classics and even archived elements that have been brought back to life, the ICFF had aisle upon aisle of products that left me feeling energized. I saw so many artisans from Brooklyn and a ton of great items that I can’t wait to use in the right environment. Here are my favorite finds from the ICFF.

These new Trove wall coverings, printed on foil, look so beautiful in person.

I love this amazing outdoor sculpture and bench by Atelier Vierkant. I am absolutely crazy for these organic objects and vessels. The sheer scale of their products is unbelievable.

Tibetano has a great range of rugs.

This is one of the sources I am tempted not to share but keep all for myself! This collection by Gilles Caffier of Paris is handmade and each piece is a work of art.

There was a ton of Danish inspired furnishings throughout the show. These pieces by Vitra were so comfortable! The Petit Repos is a cool swivel chair, super good for kids spaces. The Grand Repos – it’s not your grandfathers recliner.

I am seriously obsessed with this tile from Walker Zanger, especially the chevron pattern. It would make a cool kitchen floor, mudroom, or handsome master bath. I can’t wait to use this!

Heated outdoor furniture by Galanter and Jones – can you believe it! This is absolutely the best find of the day. It would be amazing for my Montana project.

Textiles by Hiroko Takeda, a beautiful company who uses alpaca kid wool and silk, woven to your specification and oh so luscious to the touch.

Talk about an endless amount of choices to make your head spin! Cosmopolitan Glass is a very cool company from Brooklyn – this is how creativity starts!

Bernhardt Design is a staple in the design world. Beautifully crafted!

I cannot wait to incorporate many of these finds into my designs!