Design in the News: Artistic Tile at DIFFA

Last week, DIFFA (Design Industry's Foundation Fighting AIDS)  held its15th annual Dining by Design event during the Architectural Digest Home Show in NYC. Such a great cause, this event benefits DIFFA's mission to help fight AIDS.

Artistic Tile's beautiful installation caught my eye this year. I love when I see local companies involved in causes such as this. I had the pleasure of interviewing Artistic Tile's Founder and CEO Nancy Epstein last year and its so great to see her company involved in a wonderful event.

The beautiful setting was designed by designer Thom Filicia. Thom was always a favorite of mine on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. He is so full of energy and creativity and his installation showcased his talents and the gorgeous talents of Artistic Tile as well. How amazing is that tabletop done in the company's Vetrazzo? I love it!

Congrats to Artistic Tile and Thom Filicia for a job well done!

Shop Spot: What's New at Matteria

I received a cheery email this morning from Matteria, a fabulous online shop based in the UK. They curate the best items for the home from some of the most talented designers I've seen.

This email was all about the design group Buzzispace and its new felt products. I love felt, it's a material I love to work with and use in my home.

First up is this amazing felt lamp! How genius is this design? It reminds me of these super cute paper lanterns from Martha Stewart Kids.




Speaking of kids...how about this clever felt puzzle piece rug? I would have had a blast playing with this as a child.

Finally...I really adore these puzzle poufs! I know they're geared towards kids but I'd totally use one in my home office.


What I love most, aside from the whimsical, smart designs is that EVERYTHING is made from 100 percent recyled eco-felt...it's eco felt that's made from upcycled plastic bottle waste. SO COOL! I wonder if it is the same material Kunin uses for their eco-felt...

To check out more of this fun collection visit http://www.matteriashop.com/

All photos via Matteria.

Just Hangin' Around....

I was over at the 7 W New York building today, the new(ish) home to several fabulous design and giftware company showrooms. Two's Company & Tozai Home are located in the lobby and Tozai's current display made me stop and smile...

How fun are all of the white animal heads with the colorful ties hanging around them? Brilliant. Design can certainly have a sense of humor sometimes :)

Anna Sui's Butterfly Shopping Spree

Catching up on the New York Times today, I happily came across this "Shopping With Anna Sui" feature - all about the talented designer shopping for furnishings bespeckled with butterflies! I am drooling over every photo.

If you need a little shot of happy spring today, go check out the story at nytimes.com. For now, here are a few of favorites from her picks:

I adore the whimsical Niagra Chandelier from Lladro? I found it for sale over at Unica home for a mere...$60,000!!

The John Derian Butterfly cache pot Anna also choose stole my heart. I am bummed because it is temporarily unavailable..I'll have to keep my eye out! I am also bummed because I missed meeting him at an event earlier this week. I met him a couple of years ago when he first launched his line at Target and he was just such a gentleman, so wonderful and inspring to talk to! Perhaps I will run into him again one day.

Finally something I will be purchasing (thanks for the scoop, Anna!)...this beautiful linen foil printed pillow cover from Patch NYC for West Elm. At $34, it is such a steal, I may have to buy two!

Home, Around the World...

Hello friends! I wanted to share two fantastic interviews I did for this month's LI Pulse magazine! How chic is this cover? Loving it!

The first is "Home, Around the World," an article totally devoted to design customs and superstitions from around the globe. I had such fun interviewing so many dear friends for this article, it is worth a read for sure. Aside from the always interesting principles of Feng Shui, I learned that birds and empty bird cages in the home are bad luck in so many cultures...too bad it is such a trend right now!

Then, pop over to read my interview with Mary Nolte of Kaleidoscope Color Consulting to learn the ins and outs of home staging. Have you heard about this popular trend in real estate right now? I'm kind of obsessed with the idea and would love to learn how to do it myself!

Happy Reading!!

DIFFA Dining by Design Show, NYC

The New York Times web site today has a fantastic slideshow of all the amazing designer tables at the DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) Dining by Design Show in NYC that was on Monday night. All proceeds from the night go to the DIFFA foundation, a wonderful organization.

This year's tables were so creative, so amazing, I was bummed I didn't go see them myself. Here, my faves:

Designer David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group had the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's (my all-time FAVE) playing on a screen behind their gorgeous table, which was divided with a curtain of Swarovski Crystals. Can you say dream-come-true?

Another favorite, the fixture above Eric Warner's table for Aesthete seems to be dripping with gorgeous purple ribbons...how creative and colorful! I want to do this for my upcoming birthday :)

Finally, this showstopping table by the designer Arpad Baksa really caught my eye. See how the red just pops? His design was called "All the Webs We Weave." and according to the NY Times it consisted of 50 Gloriosa lilies that were all suspended with fishing wire from a bicycle wheel. GENIUS! I love the unique use of ordinary supplies to make something beautiful.

To check out all of the photos, head on over to NYTIMES.com slideshow. Enjoy!

Bronze Beauties...

A few years ago, certain home accessories were all about stainless steel, nickel and brushed chrome. I know because I fell for it! My kitchen appliances, most light fixtures and the accent lamps in my living room...are all about that cool shine.

Now, it seems its time to go warm. Bronze is back...well, it has been back for awhile, actually. However, lately, I'm noticing a lot more warm, bronze accessories creeping up...and I like it.

Lighting. I was at Porto Vivo in Huntingon, NY this week for the LI Pulse party. These oversized bronze light fixtures that were in the center of the restaurant stole my heart. Amazing, right?

Window shades. My friends at Hunter Douglas recently alerted me to this trend...how fabulous do these shades look? Sheer bronze fabrics, yes, please! These are from their Alustra Duette honeycomb shades series. So elegant.

Decorative furniture. I am in love with this oil-rubbed bronze Etagere from Restoration Hardware. I love this for a bathroom or really, more for a living room or bedroom.

And these Mission-style house numbers also from Restoration Hardware are just so fun and fabulous...I had to include them!

Street Style at Home in Germany

Was anyone else blown away by this eclectic, funky apartment in the Real Estate section of the NY Times today? It grabbed my attention right away!

The owner is Stefan Strumbel (below), a former graffiti artist-turned-cuckoo clockmaker in Offenberg, Germany (quite the profession, huh?!). Stefan's one-bedroom apartment is a little bohemian, a little mod and filled with lots of inspiration.

His apartment is an eclectic mix of hand-me-downs (the velvet-backed dining chairs, shown below, were his grandmother's)


...and modern wares like the prints and artwork on the wall and of course, his very cool cuckoo clocks (below) that are based on traditional models, slightly updated with grenades and handguns :).

I love that he decided to give up graffiti art bc he felt it was more of a "New York thing" and instead took upclock making, as it was a reflection of his German roots or "Black Forest" as he so eloquently put it in the article.

I also happen to LOVE his bathroom...it was surprisingly chic and so pink!

Good luck with your endeavors, Stefan and thanks for sharing your apartment with us here in the states! Check out the NY Times slideshow here.

Inspiration Icons: Audrey Hepburn

Since I am so often inspired by others, I've decided to start a new series of posts called "Inspiration Icons." My goal is to focus on someone whose style, creativity, achievements, generosity or all-around-amazingness has inspired me (and perhaps some of you) in some way. It could be anyone from a fellow blogger, a designer, a well-known actress or perhaps a new friend. You just never know!

First up...my all-time favorite actress, activist and all-around style-goddess: Audrey Hepburn.

The first photo I chose, of course show her in character as Holly Golightly from the classic film, Breakfast at Tiffany's. No matter how many times I watch this favorite film, (based on Truman Capote's book, a must-read) I am always enchanted by the costumes, the story, the scenes of NYC and of course, by Hepburn herself.

I love how she captured the true spirit of a young girl trying to make her way and find her place in NYC. I love the opening scene, captured here, as she stops by the windows at Tiffany's after a late night out, obviously feeling unfulfilled and looking for an escape, dreaming of her future.

My first job out of college was only blocks away from this very spot on fifth avenue in NYC. I would often take a walk to Tiffany, browse at the windows and think of this scene from the movie and dreaming of my own future.

What an amazing actress she was and quite the style visionary as well. Her amazing relationship with Hubert de Givenchy brought us some of the most gorgeous dresses and gowns to ever be filmed. This beautiful dress she wore in the film Sabrina (another must-see) simply takes your breath away. It seems so fresh and relevant today, just as it did back in 1954.

It actually reminds me a bit of this gorgeous gown that actress Olivia Wilde recently wore on the red carpet of the People's Choice Awards. This Monique Lhuillier dress is STUNNING and feels just like something Audrey would have chosen for herself...perhaps for one of her younger characters such as Sabrina. I'm in love with this gown!

Of course, there was more to her than her choice in dress, style and talent as an actress. She was also a humanitarian. In 1988 she was appointed as UNICEF's International Goodwill Ambassador, working with needy children in Ethiopia and later around the world.

Audrey brought the world a sophisticated, glamorous yet playful style that is classic through and through. Even today's fashion and design trends point back to that glamorous time. If I were to design a room today based on her classic style, it would look something like this:

Holly's Room by designcandy on Polyvore.com

If you haven't already seen Breakfast at Tiffany's, Sabrina or really any other of Audrey Hebpurn's movies, you simply must, you'll definitely be inspired by this true icon.

Designer Inspiration: Jaime Drake

I am a design junkie, no question. And professional interior designers are my heroes. While I may eat, sleep, breathe--oh, and write about design and decorating, I am not a practicing designer (well, in my own home I certainly am). Perhaps one day but for now, I enjoy sitting back and drooling over what the pros create.

This photo gallery from nytimes.com of designer Jaime Drake's NYC apartment blew my mind. Bursting with color and creativity, it's no wonder Mr. Drake is one of the best around.

My favorite photo is this bedroom shot. I adore, adore, adore the green-painted wall behind the bed and the energetic painting that is ever-so-slightly off-center. So refreshing and fun. Also loving the simple colorful coverlet on the bed...hm...something to think about for my own bedroom makeover.

My other favorite photo? The lacquered wood coffee table that is embedded with Swarovski Crystals. Is he kidding?! For me, this was love at first sight!

You can check out the rest of the gallery here. I hope it inspires you as much as it has me!

Happy Anniversary, Elle Decor!

Speaking of Victoria Hagan...

I just read over at Coco + Kelly (one of my new favorite blogs) that the cover image of the new Elle Decor book: Style and Substance: The Best of Elle Decor , is of a room designed by Victoria.

The image was the best selling cover in all of Elle Decor's 20 fabulous years.

20 years? Yep, Elle Decor is celebrating 20 fantastic years of bringing us gorgeous design. They're celebrating in a big way with this new book. Can't wait to check it out.

In my opinion Elle Decor is one of the last great shelter mags out there. Margaret Russell and her staff do it right. I am always struck by their cover images and the gorgeous stories inside. I love how they bring amazing design from around the world right into my little hands.

Thank you and happy anniversary!

Award-Winning Design: Family Chairs

Sometimes the simplest ideas make the biggest impact. I think that is why I love the Family Chairs by Lina Nordqvist at Design House Stockholm.

Just like a family, each of these chairs have a unique personality, yet somehow when grouped together, they just seem to belong together.

If you look closely, each chair has its own individual style. Sold as a foursome, the chairs are available in black-lacquer (shown here) or natural wood and priced at $700 for the set.

They recently won the Accent on Design Award at the NYGIF and I'm not surprised one bit. If these worked in my home, I'd seriously consider buying them.

NY Gift Show Re-Cap: Lighting Round-Up

Lighting was big, both as a trend and well, the lighting itself. Over-the-top designs were everywhere and I loved every second of it!

This first set is from Notre Monde. Their designs can only be described as romantic and Parisian.

This next lamp from a to-the-trade design company is over the top gorgeous. A shimmery chandelier, encased in a sheer, luxe shade placed on a curvy stand. I loved it, I'm not sure this photo gives it justice but trust me!

This next collection of hanging lamps was from the same company. It was so dramatic, I loved the look! This look would work great in a large entranceway.

NY Gift Show Re-Cap: I Heart Jonathan Adler

When I first made my way up to the design floor at the gift show, this fabulous, fantastic booth greeted me with a jolt of energy...

Who else but Jonathan Adler could fill a space with color, humor and more color? I had such fun exploring his booth. Everything from his pottery to pillows was on display. I especially loved the new vase designs and tabletop selections...simply irresistible. A groovy mix of chic design and color, just what we all could use more of!

If I could, I would buy every single one of those tall vases. Look how happy they make those yellow flowers look!

NY Gift Show Re-Cap: Butterflies

Whew! It's been a long couple of days! My trip to the NY Gift Show was a whirlwind! I walked away from the show with a big smile. Everyone I met, all of the business owners, store reps and artisans were all so friendly and so positive, it was so refreshing. Plus there were TONS of eye candy and great inspiration.

To give you a glimpse of the amazing information I picked up, I took this photo of a pile of my press kits. I have so much to get through so bear with me as I work my way through it! There's lots to report on this week.

On to business! One of the biggest trends I spotted was the beautiful butterfly. Butterflies were everywhere! Big prints, small prints and everything in between. The design world has really embraced nature for fall and the butterfly has quickly become the mascot.

Here's a peak, but you should note, these items are for the most part inspirational since they are all from wholesale companies, BUT that means they may soon be popping up in your favorite stores this fall!

Butterfly prints at Two's Company...

Design Legacy's Cabriole leg chair upholstered in a hand-screened natural linen with a butterfly (and bugs!) print. The chair runs about $439.

A gorgeous "Mariposa" transferwear cloche at Fringe for Isadora & Mizrahi (sorry, they don't have a web site and sell to trade only). The colors really popped. I loved this!

I love the freedom and re-birth butterflies represent, don't you?! Tune in tomorrow for more trend-spotting!!