Brass Brass Baby

It's time to resurrect your vintage brass candlesticks, sconces, lamps, pitchers and accessories. Brass is back for 2011!

Designing with brass gives a timeless, clean look. It brings classic style and glimmer to a room. The metallic yellow-gold color shimmers and stands out in a room while giving the room an antique look.

A great way to compliment the gold color of brass is by using gold-toned fabrics or accessories throughout a space. It adds to the gleaming effect of brass.

Serena & Lily's Bazaar

Serena and Lily's Bazaar is now open for business, but you have to act quickly and visit their site because it is only open for 6 days, closing on January 27! Serena & Lily's online pop-up shop offers one-of-a-kind global treasures. The two owners, Lily Kanter and Serena Dugan, are selling pieces they found around the world.

The site features a unique collection of home decor items including furniture, art, textiles and fun finds. The Batik upholstered chairs are a find favorite of mine. The pair of Danish-style modern chairs from the 1960's were repainted in white and upholstered in a batik fabric from Indonesia in indigo, white and pale yellow.

Fun finds that have not yet been sold include an Austrian Schnapps glass set, Maasai earrings from Kenya and a hand-painted vintage folk horse. 

So don't miss out on these fabulous finds! 

Martha Sturdy - Resin Collection

(Martha Sturdy's Island Retreat in Vancouver, British Columbia)

Tuesday I was in the Baker McGuire showroom at DCOTA, and I met renowned Canadian designer Martha Sturdy. Sturdy showcased her collection of one-of-a-kind resin furniture. Some of her furniture was shown using her colored alternating LED lighting. Here are some photographs of her work:

Winter Market 2011: Color and Pattern in Decoration

Today I attended a discussion at Design Center of the Americas hosted by Verdana. Verdana's Senior Style Editor Eugenia Santiesteban Soto led a panel including one of my favorite interior designers Celerie Kemble, renowned fashion and home furnishings designer Trina Turk, author and design connoisseur India Hicks and interior designer Gene Meyer. They each spoke about colors and patterns in interiors and how it has impacted their work.

Trina Turk launched her line of new indoor/outdoor fabrics for Schumacher. The fabrics are vibrant, geometric and tropical with natural motifs. Turk said much of her inspiration came from landscapes found in California. The color palette is influenced by her resort collection and features beautiful turquoises, watermelon, citron and marine paired with neutrals and charcoal.

(Trina Turk & I)

(Trina Turk Fabrics for Schumacher)

Celerie Kemble is an extremely talented and well-known interior designer who I have been following for years. I can relate to her as we were both born to interior designer mothers and are both from South Florida. Much of my design inspiration comes from her work, and I was thrilled to meet her. Celerie will launch a new book that will debut later this year; she will discuss black and white interiors.

(Celerie Kemble & I)

Here is a look at some of Celerie Kemble's work:

Martial Arts Pillow Talk

Pillow Talk! I prefer my accent pillows straight, but I have noticed that many design showrooms showcase their pillows chopped down the middle. Some like the karate chopped-look and say it makes a sofa or bed look more comfortable. I feel that a well made aesthetically pleasing pillow will have its beautiful shape without any martial arts performed.

Chopped:

Straight:

PEi Pods for Your Pets

We all love to spoil our pets! Now you can pamper your pooch or other pet with PEi Pods, an animal's very own modern, private retreat. PEi Pods are chic, egg-shaped habitats. The elliptical-shaped home accents and enhances an interior. The cavelike design mimics the space that animals gravitate instinctively toward for protection, so they are happy and comfortable with their den-like experience.

PEiPod is made from high density polyethylene (HDPE), is 100 percent washable and can withstand up to 100 kgs of weight pressure for even your largest pet. Your pets deserve modern luxury!

Khloe Kardashian's Home Office

I've always admired Khloe Kardashian's home office when watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians, one of my favorite reality television shows. I would pause the television, viewing the beautiful desk accessories and custom fabrics.

Today I found images of her home office and learned more about the overall design. Jeff Andrews, one of the most sought-after interior designers in Los Angeles, designed the fabulous residence. Khloe's office is fresh, glitzy, sophisticated and feminine.

The mirrored desk adds a touch of glamour and elegance. The guest chairs were vintage chairs Khloe previously owned. She reupholstered one chair in a subtle sparkle fabric and the other in a solid-colored fabric. I love the shelves as it adds visual interest; there is an added glitz to the shelves as it is mirrored at the back. The chandelier is stunning with customized bohemian black crystals hanging. The walls are painted in Benjamin Moore - Stone, a lovely lavender gray color. The window treatments are charcoal sheers. I think the draperies work very well paired with the light paint color on the walls. The fresh flowers add life to the room; the vases are unusal and beautiful. Job well done!

Shane Powers for West Elm

I have always wanted my very own high-style indoor botanical garden. Well now it is possible, and it is with very low maintenance and on a tight budget! Shane Powers is a prop stylist, interior designer, craftsman and set designer who has developed artisan-made home accessories in Nepal and other places around the world. He can turn flowers, leaves and branches into enchanted forests.

West Elm recently decided to do an updated indoor garden and Shane Powers was chosen to make this beautiful botanical garden happen. Shane created four different vessels made of hand blown glass. The tall glass jars are made for floating water plants. The clay forms display every imaginable flower, leaf and branch. The three-tiered mini-garden adds architectural interest when planted with a cactus and succulents. Have your very own indoor garden from West Elm.

Kirath Ghundoo Wallpaper

Kirath Ghundoo is a talented student with a bold color palette. Her final collection for her master's in textiles is absolutely amazing. The collection of wallpaper is inspired by Paul Smith Women's/Menswear 2011 Spring/Summer RTW collection, with the intention of being utilized as interior visuals for a Paul Smith boutique. The patterns are made of screen printed neon ink and foil finishes on and off white wallpaper.

On January 15, Kirath Ghundoo's wallpapers will be on display at Huddersfield University. Her wallpapers are not yet on sale, but I cannot wait until her online shop is launched.