We made it through design season and it’s time for a little holiday break. It’s as if the holiday gods know that the design industry could use a few days off after walking around The Javits Center row by row. We’re still prepping and loading posts on all the incredible furniture, textiles, wallpaper and cards…
Okay— what I’m about to say might alienate some aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers, and grandparents out there—but y’all need to cool it with the overly sentimental greeting cards. I know you mean well. I also know that picking out a card from the myriad available at a typical drugstore is the last thing you want…
One of the first things I do when I, or any of my friends, move into a new apartment is look for lighting I can swap out. Most NYC apartments come with those awful “boob” ceiling lights, so the first thing I do is find a new medallion or cover and replace them with a…
This year’s ICFF was a textile-lover’s paradise. There were thick wool blankets in intensely colorful patterns, soft cushions that looked like they’d been splattered with beautiful paint and so many rugs that I had to save some for a second post coming up soon. I’m an equal-opportunity textile lover, so I tried to include a…
This year marks the fifth year that the D*S team has traveled to western Massachusetts to attend, and revel in, the madness that is the Brimfield Antique Show. Launched in the 1950s, Brimfield is the largest and best-known outdoor antiques show in the US. It is basically the biggest, craziest and most incredible antique show…
I have a hard time resisting geometric prints and patterns. They’ve been around for a few years now, but they continue to pop up in contemporary designs and they definitely had their moment again at this year’s ICFF. I feel like my entire life is an ode to the humble, but beautiful, triangle so seeing…
Whenever someone asked me what me favorite color was as a kid, I would always respond with “sunshine yellow.” Not just “yellow,” but “sunshine yellow.” (I was a very particular child.) I just adored the vibrant hue so much and would flock to any piece of wardrobe or decor in that color. It’s a color…
I always love seeing what Shannon from Eskayel is making. Not only if she an inspiring business woman (her contributions to our Biz Ladies lunches were always so thought-provoking), but her designs consistently push the wallpaper field further toward a modern, artistic style. Her latest collection is called The Lora Collection and includes a wide…
I knew when we decided to have an entire day devoted to COLOR that I’d want to roundup my favorite products, organized by color. Though I primarily wear black and white in my personal life, I love to imagine a bolder version of myself that isn’t afraid to dress in head-to-toe blue, red or orange….
I always lament not being able to paint. I tried and tried when I was in college, but much to my dismay (and my professor’s), I just couldn’t make it work. I felt at ease with printmaking, but the rich colors of oil paints always tug at my heart strings. So for today’s color day,…
Speaking of beautiful color, I love the bits of blue and green in these beautiful porcelain pieces by Linda Fahey. Passionate about ocean conservation, Linda’s work often uses the sea as inspiration, ranging from subject matter to actual found driftwood used as handles for serving pieces. I love these sea-inspired pieces above and below, but…
It’s so hard for me to resist colorful swaths of paint like this, especially when it’s made available in affordable print form. These gorgeous pieces of art were done by Australian artist Belinda Marshall, who strives to depict calm, meditative worlds in her work. For me they’re expert studies in combining colors for soothing effects….
As much as I love pattern, I really appreciate when a wallpaper can add not just pattern but texture to a wall. A sense of history, patina or other weather details always gives a room so much more dimension. These wallpapers from Dutch wallpaper company NLXL (who produced another great textured collection, Scrapwood by Piet…
I can’t believe design week is already here in NYC! We’re knee-deep in antiques at Brimfield right now, but as soon as we get back I’m diving into ICFF and all of the amazing new designs that will be launched there. Before I head to the Javits center, I wanted to show a sneak peek…
What better way to start your Monday than with a vibrant dose of color! And I mean COLOR! Rainbows have always fascinated me. Since learning all about how the reflection and refraction of light creates these beams of color, I’ve been mesmerized by rainbows. No matter how many times I see one, I always stop, snap a…
This month is all about color for us and these painterly pieces at Leif are exactly the sort of color I had in mind. I love when products feel like someone (who knows how to use a paintbrush) took a palette and paint to the pieces, decorating them as they see fit. All those loose…
I can’t believe that ICFF starts next weekend! Somehow this spring just flew by and Design Week is officially upon us. We’re heading to Brimfield first (next week!) but before we dive into trade shows full-time I wanted to share a little sneak preview of the awesome new collection that Katie Deedy of Grow House…
I’m going to keep it real- I never bake. Like, ever. The closest I’ve ever gotten was a batch of half-cooked brownies that has sort of become my specialty. It’s delicious if you are someone like me who enjoys the taste of batter. I know, gross. Thankfully my lack of patience with baking doesn’t mean…
This is color month, so I couldn’t resist an excuse to showcase something both colorful and animal-filled. These prints and pottery pieces are from Kaye Blegvad, a London-based illustrator, designer and maker. She’s selling her work (prices range from $16-$35) in her Etsy shop and I can’t get enough of the colorful little faces she…
When JC Penney rebranded a little over a year ago, I was skeptical—and I don’t think I was alone in that regard. Despite a shiny new logo and a refreshed store design, the trend of mass-market retailers suddenly promising a “high end” look has become incredibly prevalent in today’s market. Department stores like Macy’s and…
