Designing Lives

Alpha Workshops

The Alpha Workshops is an ingenius not-for-profit organization that not only makes great contributions to the design industry but also invests in people's lives.  Alpha trains people living with HIV and AIDS to become artisans in the decorative arts and then employs them in said areas.   I had the honor of attending the Alpha Awards at the Prince George Hotel a few years ago with a colleague of mine. I was amazed to learn that the employees of  Alpha restored the ballroom where the event was held. Their work was simply masterful.  From the hand-painting to the guilding, words just can't describe so I won't try ( tee hee). Take a look.

 

The Alpha Workshops line of  products  are available through various  design showrooms. Do visit their website for product and showroom information and Do support this great organization!

Here is a cheerful wallpaper they offer called "Kimono". It is hand-painted and absolutely customizable using colors offered by Benjamin Moore.  Here are two colorways that I just adore!



Kimono in Ling Ling





Kimono in Sand Dollar



Children At Play!

  5 Design tips for your child's playroom

1.  A darker hued area rug will hide those little spills and "oops" better than a lighter rug will, even if it is stain resistant. Lint will show up easier on darker rugs, however running a vacuum is much easier than scrubbing out a stain. 

2. Use Laminate wood flooring. It takes abuse better than natural wood. It's more durable,  doesn't nick as easily (if at all), doesn't wear from the traffic of those little active feet, and you don't have to be concerned with peeling polyurethane that your little ones may be tempted to eat.

3.  Use sconces opposed to table or floor lamps. You won't have to worry about  the kids tripping on cords, playing with cords, or accidentally knocking it over. And let's face it, they just aren't utilized enough in children's play areas, and they should be because they are practical and good-looking. 

4.  Purchase a stain-resistant sofa. Or ask your retailer if they offer a "goof proof" plan where, for a little extra money, if your sofa becomes downright NASTY, they will send someone to clean or replace it.

5. Corner guards to protect kids from those sharp corners on furniture. It's nice to find another option other than those clunky foam ones that are so common. This one is from IKEA. Don't get me wrong, kid safety first! So purchase ugly clunkers if necessary (I have), but when possible do safety in style (smile).    

Style Int'l

Talk about eye candy, right?!  Patterns, contrast, texture, etc. Shall I go on? This is just a little collection of some fabulous, globally inspired, finds. If you want your space to have an international world traveler type of vibe, this is how you do it. Individually, all these things are great, but how much better when they work together. THOSE plates above THAT bed with THAT side table and...(bringing it down--breathing). I'm getting carried away (lol). There is variation in materials, patterns, textures and finishes; that's what makes it so pleasing to the eye.  The muted palette with the trace of blue also keeps it cohesive. There's nothing worse than a space that sends you into such visual overload that you feel like your being attacked! Aspirin anyone? The key is buy what you like, try to find some cohesive element (color is probably the easiest--but not matchy matchy), mix it up and see what you come up with. Safe travels. 

Blue Ikat Rug from Horchow- Ikat, popular in South and Central America (and all over really), are recognizable by their stretched-looking patterns.  The colors can be arresting or subdued but their added texture is great.

Chinese Garden Stool from Wisteria- I love a good garden stool and this one is even yummier in metallic gold.  It's shiny reflective finish makes it standout allowing it to be special whether alone or in a crowd.



John Derian 12-Faience Style Wall Plates from Horchow- Decoupage never looked so darn good! These wall plates were made to mimic the popular earthenware made in France, Germany, Scandinavia, and Spain.  The history goes back as far as Egypt but regardless, they are simply stunning.  The various sizes, patterns and colors are just the best. This grouping does a lot of the leg-work for you. I love it!

Kuba Cloth Pillows from Wisteria- Each of these pillows is handwoven by the Kuba people of the Congo. I love their graphic  patterns and texture.  They're wonderful, chic, and unique pieces of African culture.






Morocco Headboard from West Elm- Here is a taste of that popular Moroccan fretwork. This is the perfect backdrop to any bedding you might choose. BONUS: The bedding! Hand-blocked Mosaic Quilt. I love it when a plan comes together (sigh).



Graphic Suzani- Inspired Dhurrie from Wisteria- Add some Central Asian flare to your decor with this graphic piece.  I could stare at it all day.



Rue La La!!!

So remember when all your favorite design mags were dropping like flies? Well I do! First it was House & Garden (2007) and then, like a brick upside the head, Domino (2009). I know I'm a little late on this one, but I've just discovered RUE magazine. It's an online mag that fills the void left by all of our favorite defunct publications, and much more! I just "thumbed" (it's online) through their fifth issue, May/June 2011, and it's fun, fresh, innovative, creative, and any other wonderful adjective you can come up with. Best of all, it's free! You don't have to subscribe to get good design dish. I was happy to find a featured article on design duo Bob and Cortney Novogratz.  Not only did I get to see some of their latest work, I found out about their new venture with HGTV, "Home by Novogratz", which will premiere this July! There are lifestyle pieces, recipes, fashion, and...I mean there is just something for everyone (in a good way)! So check it out!  I'm so impressed with the RUE team and their fabulous publication. Congratulations to them on the success of their magazine and congratulations to us readers for our new found fortune in RUE (wink).

Scheme with a Theme

                         

          Complete the Look with:

So who says you can't have a beachy retreat in the middle of the city? So many city-dwellers would love to bring the beach to their decor, but feel like it's out of place amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, or just simply don't know how to pull it off.  Well here is a scheme that I came up with that will help any city-dweller unwind and enjoy the relaxtion of the beach at home. The key to this look is introducing pieces that have relevance to the beach while keeping it edgy enough to make sense in the context of the city.

Black and Tan Coral Art Pieces from Hibiscus Island Home- The black background and frames of these pieces give them an edginess by creating a stark contrast with the coral.

Cobble Hill Hampton Slipcovered Sofa from ABC Home- The loose fit of the slipcover is consistent with the laid back beach style but the lines of the sofa are still very clean.

Cobble Hill Nantucket Sidetable from ABC Home- This is pretty self explanatory (lol). It's driftwood with glass on top!

Azure Chair in Transparent Black from Hibiscus Island Home- This modern seating piece is suggestive of coral while its shiny sleekness maintains its city context.



Urban Trestle Coffee Table from ABC Home- This piece is reminiscent of white-washed driftwood but its clean sharp angles make it sleek and modern.



Cassidy Table Lamp (Tall) from Clayton Gray Home- If this doesn't say "ocean" I don't know what does. The base is made of shells and is evocative of trumpet coral. The monotone white palette almost reduces the piece to just a form--like a sculpture. Very modern.



Cobble Hill Ribbon Ceramic Sidetable from ABC Home- This piece just reminds me of a white fence that has been worn by the water and sand of the beach.



Embroidered Beaded & Crocheted Pillow from Pier 1 Imports- This piece has beach cottage appeal to me. The seafoamy color and appliques is what does it I think.

Big Style

Ok, so most people shopping at Target are not trying to spend $400 on a lamp, and honestly, I have a hard time justifying it in my own mind.  Yes, Target shares relationships with designers that allows consumers to purchase designer goods at a lower price point, but this doesn't seem low enough. Right? Well, I thought about it and came to one conclusion, and it will forever change the way I view Target. They are offering big style for less, NOT big style for cheap! The fact of the matter is, if I were to purchase similar items, at a trade showroom, they would probably cost three times as much, and even if they were purchased from the manufacturer, the price point would still be slightly higher. So with ALL that said, here are some "Big Style" picks from Target that are on the pricier side, but more importantly, on the FABULOUS side.    

Olivia Swivel Chair

Tripod Floor Lamp

Dolce Faux Alligator Leather Chair

Becca Lamp

Main Street Armchair

Helix Table Lamp

Mix It Up!

From Left to Right: 1.Teeny Tiny Zoo in Chocolate 2. Chevron in Village Blue and Neutral 3. Dot Linen in Espresso  4. Teeny Tiny Zoo in Sage 5. Walls Pink 6. Polka Dot Pop in Green 7. Squid in Marigold 8. Mod Circles in Yellow  9. Plus One Linen in Yellow. 

Pattern mixing can be scary for many, but if the fabrics have a common denominator (color in the above cases) any number of combinations are possible. Incorporate a variety of pattern sizes (small, medium, large) and you're on your way.   In the end you have a visually interesting and well put together space. These whimsical fabrics in conjunction with the graphic patterns will make any room feel sophisticated and neither too childish nor too grown-up.