Blog | Design LI

August is a huge month for trend-spotting in the furniture and design industries and there was no place this fact was more evident than at the 2011 Summer Las Vegas Market, held earlier this month.

I’ve never attended this show, which has gained an enormous amount of popularity within the furniture and design markets, but I am compelled to give it a try. The coverage for it has been tremendous, and I can see why. Not only did former President Bill Clinton give the keynote speech, but the show’s popular panel presentation “Ahead of the Curve” consisted of three hot designers, Anthony Baratta, Jeffrey Alan Marks and Nathan Turner revealing their top trends after scouring the entire show floor (about five-million-square-feet of showrooms according to the show’s website).

I am a fan of all of these gentlemen and was very eager to hear what they had to say (you can view the video online). Below are my favorite three trends from the many these experts revealed. I’ve paired them with a few finds I’d love to see in my own home.

Black and White

I love that I don’t have to choose, because this is one of my favorite color combos. For me, when I can’t commit to a color, I reach for great pieces with cool patterns in black and white for my home. This gorgeous zebra print rug from Safavieh is so luxurious, not to mention of the most recognizable black and white prints out there.

Red

You know that old joke: “What’s black and white and red all over?” Well, apparently the new answer is what’s hot for your home this year. The trio of designers spotted lots of red all over the showrooms. And I’m ready for it. I use red as an accent color in my kitchen and this Jeeves table from Global Views  that Jeffery Alan Marks spotted is a must-have. It’s colorful and perfect for a little extra surface space.

Chrome

We’ve loved stainless steel, embraced oil-rubbed bronze and now it’s time for chrome to shine (pun intended!) I’m currently eyeing new sofas for my living room and the Jackson leather sofa with chaise from Room & Board has my heart. I love its modern style with those sexy chrome legs.

While I’m definitely a glamour girl at heart, when it comes to my home, country is one of my favorite design styles. I love the laid back look and rustic interest it adds to a room, something I think is a perfect match for living in East Northport. Whenever I’m taking on a new project at home, I typically go for country with an industrial slant, that way it’s a bit more modern. Galvanized steel, rustic wood and burlap make for a favorite combination.

I’m currently in nesting mode, trying to organize my home as I await the arrival of my first baby. Aside from the nursery, my kitchen has become a focus. I’ve quickly realized my little baby will need a lot of room for all of his bottles, formula and later baby food and snacks. Time to shift a few things! As I started to look for inspiration, I found myself going back to one website in particular: Wisteria.com.

I see this website pop up from time to time in many of the shelter magazines and blogs I read and I am somewhat familiar with it. However, once I started digging around, I was ready to order half of the offerings. I love the casual look of so many of the products. My favorite is the burlap lined iron baskets–these are so perfect for storing odds and ends on a kitchen counter , on open shelving or in a pantry. I plan on picking up a few to line the top of my cabinets. They’ll make for an attractive place to store items like baking supplies or espresso pots that I probably won’t be using when baby arrives.

Another great find is the multipurpose wooden box. I had a similar prop with me on a photo shoot once that I filled with potted herbs. That’s my plan for this summer; however, I can see this as an attractive home for baby bottles later on.

My kitchen drawers are rather narrow and we always have trouble keeping the multitude of tools in there. To make room for baby needs such as bottle brushes, wipes and other must-haves, I’m thinking of moving all of my kitchen utensils into a vessel on my countertop instead. This blue-and-white multipurpose kitchen holder would be so perfect. I love the antiqued finish and its orderly layout as opposed to all of those round canisters I’ve been seeing.

Finally, I’ll be adding one or two of these colorful wooden trays to my shopping cart. I love the gold for a little glamorous touch. Trays are a wonderful way to corral odds and ends on a kitchen counter, giving it a bit more order. I love how low the rims are, they’re perfect for displaying all of my bottles and jars of oils and favorite spices.

How about you, what are some of your favorite online shopping sources?

Sometimes after you first start following a designer, you tend to spot their work rather quickly. Such was the case for me with Jamie Herzlinger. In this month’s issue of LI Pulse, you’ll read my interview with Jamie, the native LI girl-turned fabulous interior designer. Jamie has been recognized lately for her modern, glamorous twist on traditional décor and well, when I spotted her master bathroom for the recent Kips Bay Decorator Show House in NYC, I knew it was thoroughly Jamie.

A master bath for “him”, as she described it, Jamie paired a classic palette of black-and-white with a bit of her signature glamour. I love the uniquely patterned black granite and white Thassos granite floor, which is complemented by similar patterns in the shower and a veined black Nero Marquina tile in the shower surround and chair rail. The tile work alone must have taken her and her team days to complete!
Perhaps what finished this room for me was her use of gilded accents. The silver plastered ceiling and the gold tones found in the lighting, fixtures and those amazing openwork stools give this room its stamp of luxury.
Of course, Jamie also made sure to give us a few organic touches with the woodtone cabinetry and the lacing details found on the doors. Just like life, design is much more fun when it’s full of little surprises.

The old saying goes that April showers bring May flowers…well, I for one am ready for the rain to finally stop! It hasn’t been much of a Spring so far, and whenever that sun does shine through I am instantly daydreaming of sun, sand and carefree days.

I think that’s why I am so drawn to the new Calypso St. Barth collection coming to Target, May 1 – June 11. Calypso St. Barth is known for its trendy yet easy, breezy luxury lifestyle collection of clothing and home accessories. And what they have done for Target is the epitome of chic summer living.

First off, the color palette is amazing—a cool mix of corals and blues set off by white is the perfect way to get your home ready for summer. As for the patterns, the subtle tie-dye on the serving bowl is my favorite and is just asking for a fresh fruit salad. Paired with the ombre drinking glasses in ocean hues and you have the setting for a refreshing afternoon snack.

Elephants are all the rage in home design right now and the exotic looking elephant teapots from this collection are sure to be a big hit. Elephants are known to bring good luck, so you can bet I’ll have one perched in my home this summer. I’d love to pair one with the jewel toned beaded candleholders, also from the collection, and create an exotic tablescape for a weekend cocktail party.

Ready to let the summer into your home? Then you better hurry over to Target or Target.com. The collection, which also includes women’s, kids and baby clothing in the same color palette, is only available from May 1 – June 11. Happy Shopping!

Today, I am inspired by Fashion Week. How could I not be? Fashion is so closely related to what’s going on with interiors, you can’t love one and not be inspired by the other.

Case in point…the new DVF Home line launching at Bloomingdales today! Of course, DVF stands for the legend herself, Diane Von Furstenberg.

While she’s dabbled in home (her rugs with The Rug Company are simply gorgeous), DVF Home is well, for the masses—a fabulously affordable collection of bedding and housewares.

The collection consists of what are three stories : Animal Instincts, Bright & Bold and The Garden Path. Of the three, Bright & Bold is my least favorite…it’s a little too beachy/tropical for me, but I still tip my hat to her for bringing back color. I definitely see this as a great match for a beach house or a teen’s room for sure.

The other stories are deliciously colorful prints that are in true DVF style. The Garden Path is my favorite, a soft sweep of floral batiks that gently bring color into the bedroom. Of course, Animal Instincts is just in a word, hot. I’ll be picking up select pieces from that collection for accessorizing.

How about you? Are you excited for the new DVF Home line?