July 9, 2011

Smart Summer Decorating with Indoor-Outdoor Fabric

Interiors

When it comes to smart summer decorating, nothing beats durable, easy-to-care-for indoor-outdoor fabric. These fresh new Sunbrella fabrics, designed by Joe Ruggiero, beautifully blend low maintenance with high style. Introduced at the most recent High Point market, one the most uplighting patterns in the collection is called Deville Parfait, whose zesty stripes on a taupe background brighten an otherwise neutral setting with vibrant shots of color—the perfect summer pick-me-up. It’s shown here as upholstery on the Germaine chair, also designed by Joe for Miles Talbot, and as pretty bed hangings. This fabric and others in the new collection, were inspired by … Read Post

June 26, 2011

7 Fundamentals of Good Design

Interiors

When designing residential and commercial spaces, Chicago interior designer Mary Cook relies on what she refers to as “design fundamentals,” or seven characteristics that she says must be present in interior spaces in order for them to be successful. Here’s how she defines them:   1. Function: “Whether we are planning for specific small-scale functions like study, rest, or family dining, or much broader functions like large-scale community interaction,  careful thought needs to be given to those for whom the area is intended, realizing both the primary use of the space as well as the many possible alternate uses which may come into … Read Post

June 19, 2011

Beautiful New Rugs from Shaw and the Designers at HGTV

Design, Interiors, Products

Looking for a way to sweeten your home for summer? Then consider adding a new rug from Shaw. The company recently entered into an exclusive partnership with designers from HGTV to create a gorgeous assortment of rugs in transitional, contemporary, and traditional patterns (they’ve produced some beautiful new wood floors, too). The rugs are divided into two collections, Haven, which offers fresh takes on old world traditional patterns and gives a give a nod to classic global influences, and Inspire, which includes a vivacious mix of transitional and contemporary designs in bold colors. The Haven rugs are made from Shaw’s EverTouch nylon, … Read Post

May 13, 2011

5 Easy Spring Spruce-ups for National Home Improvement Month

Inspiration, Interiors, Projects & Tips

Did you know that May is National Home Improvement Month? Consider these five easy ways to give your space a seasonal update without taking on a major overhaul.                         Slipcovers: If you’re tired of your living room and want to give it a summer feel, keep your vacation budget in tact by updating chairs with slipcovers. Sure Fit has hundreds of light and bright options to take your living and dining rooms through summer.                         New Bedding: The quickest … Read Post

May 3, 2011

Win a Karastan Rug!

Interiors

Spring has sprung! And that means now’s the perfect time to liven up your living spaces with a little fresh style. Leading rug manufacturer Karastan is offering a Spring Awakening contest, which will give one contestant’s home a fresh lift with a new Karastan rug. To enter the contest, submit two photos of any room in your home that is in need of an update. Share with us your “happy home” vision for the space, and how you feel can you make a statement with Karastan. Send your photos to [email protected] before Friday, May 20, 2011 for consideration. The winner will be featured … Read Post

April 30, 2011

Beverly Hills Condo Designed by Erinn Valencich

Interiors

This beautiful condo, designed by L.A.-based Erinn Valencich, a designer, stylist, and frequent television host, reveals how textures and subtle patterns can boost the character and warmth of modern rooms. Erinn designed the space for a newly married couple, who appreciate good design. “She loves soft colors, and a modern yet feminine approach with texture and subtle prints to bring some style and pizzaz into the space,” Erinn told me. “He is a furniture maker, so I designed nearly all the pieces and he built it all,” she says. Some of the pieces will be included in Erinn’s new Erinn V … Read Post

April 19, 2011

Eco-Friendly Wallpapers from York

Products

With Earth Day right around the corner, I’ve got eco-friendly products on the brain. And one new eco-conscious decorative element that intrigues me is York’s line of wallpapers that feature textured patterns made with recycled glass and sand. Made with proprietary machinery developed by York, the wallpapers are printed on breathable, eco-friendly non-woven paper with water-based inks and come in a wide range of colors and patterns. One of my favorites is the Seabury pattern shown above. Last fall, a few journalists were invited to visit their facility in York, Pennsylvania, and were shown many of its other eco-friendly approaches to doing … Read Post

April 12, 2011

TradHome, a New Online Magazine, Launches Today

Interiors

If you like the online magazine Lonny and you also like the print magazine Traditional Home, then you’ll probably love TradHome, a new online hybrid of these two publications, which launches today. The editors of the new digital magazine call it their “love child” and say that it combines the style and imagination of both editorial teams to redefine tried-and-true traditional style. Here’s how they describe it: “It’s part Jamie Drake, part Dorothy Draper. Mid-century modern meets Rococo. Kelly Wearstler takes on Louis XVI.” With original content, TradHome’s first-ever digital issue highlights 20 trad designers the editors have been keeping … Read Post

April 5, 2011

New Trends in Porcelain, Glass and Ceramic Tile

Products

Interested to know the latest trends and innovations in residential tile and stone? Plenty were on view at the Coverings trade show in Las Vegas. As impressive as the vast range of new design ideas in porcelain, glass and ceramic tiles were the technological and sustainable strides being made in these surfacing materials. Here’s a round-up of some of the dominant trends, along with impressions from award-winning trend-watcher Patti Fasan, who presented her tile and stone outlook for 2011 at the show: •Stone-look tiles: Just as laminate flooring manufacturers have mastered making flooring material that isn’t wood but looks just like … Read Post

April 2, 2011

Arhaus in Manhattan

Products

If you’re in need of a little mood-brightening inspiration, then look no further than Arhaus. The 25-year-old home furnishings retailer defied the economic odds last year and experienced a double-digit sales increase in the midst of a lackluster economic climate, which says a lot about the spirit-lifting quality of its offerings. It also just opened a big new store in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan today, so if you’re in New York, you can get a firsthand look at the beautiful accents and furniture that make the company so successful. We got a sneak peek at the 28,000 square-foot store yesterday. … Read Post