I've been eagerly awaiting Pantone's 2011 Color of Year announcement. In 2010, we celebrated Turquoise as Color of the Year. This coming year, Honeysuckle will rule as our courageous, confident, bold, and uplifting hue.
A Color for All Seasons / http://tinyurl.com/2bqqssz
Pantone forecaster Leatrice Eiseman conveys that,
"In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues. Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum."
Don't you agree? Let's start off the New Year by featuring spirit inspiring interiors that make wonderful use of our newly declared Color of the Year.
Kristen Brant, Elle Decor / http://tinyurl.com/2ay6ndk
As Accent Color via Shelter Pop / http://tinyurl.com/2cdu4dd
Betty Murdock Interiors via Traditional Home / http://tinyurl.com/34zklmv
Pink Guest Suite, Photo by Scott Moore / http://tinyurl.com/23eb4g5
Elle Decor / http://tinyurl.com/2ay6ndk
Graphic Bedwall / http://tinyurl.com/3xhfvab
I hope these interiors leave you inspired and ready to take on 2011! Happy New Year!
It is with great excitement that I congratulate Jerry Arcari, close friend, mentor and noted expert on Oriental rugs, for winning the Karastan Life Time Achievement Award 2010!
Jerry is one of the best merchants in the retail business; no one is better deserving of this honor. His personal integrity, strive for excellence, and professional success are rarely found in one package.
Jerry established Landry & Arcari Oriental Rugs & Carpeting, an award-winning showroom devoted to oriental rugs and broadloom carpeting, in Salem and Boston, Massachusetts.
In the below video, Jerry discusses the wisdom, passion, and vision that goes hand in hand with running a business. He mentions that "The success of my business is being able to have the passion I have and a love for what I do." That's Jerry Arcari. Congratulations to a very deserving, honorable man.
I just love the holidays. There is something so special about this time of year that I never tire of. Especially when nature provides us with beautiful outdoor scenes like this...
By Helena Normark / http://tinyurl.com/2fog297
While Mother Nature fabulously completes the outdoors, she interiors to us! This holiday, whites, greens, and golds are incredibly popular. Breath deep and take it all in:
By Janis Nicolay / http://tinyurl.com/23vdfnk
By Virginia Macdonald / http://tinyurl.com/2efhqcl
By David Stark / http://tinyurl.com/2dof4a7
By Leanne Michael Interiors / http://tinyurl.com/26v93qm
By Various / From Left to Right: theresidenceschicago.com, countryliving.com,
decorateokc.net, knottinghillinteriors.com, Bits & Barley on Etsy.com
I have always loved the style of the Arts and Crafts movement. So naturally, Stickley is one of my absolute favorite furniture collectors. I love everything about Stickley: their style, craftsmanship, and philosophy of living in “harmony with nature."
Stickley pieces are a fine and beautiful art. Their dedication to excellence is second to none. In fact, since their inception in the early 20th century, the motto has been: Als Ik Kan – "to the best of my ability."
I don’t usually like to add my email to any list, but in this case…there is a Stickley piece at stake! See for yourself at www.stickley.com.
Tyler C. Swoverland didn’t grow up planning to be an Interior Designer. In high school, he was a linebacker on the football team. Next he worked as a popular bartender and then became a restaurant manager. His diversified experiences provided the opportunity to observe the many different environments that would later inspire his artistic interior designs.
A famous Henry David Thoreau's quote inspires him: "It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts."
The surge of interest in going green brought high-end fashion products in earthly colors such as beiges, browns, and greens. Earth tones, generally seen as more neutral in color, are being paired with vibrant and bold hues like blues, yellows, and purples. We've seen this in fashion for a year now and it's finally making its way to interior design.
If you are planning to remodel in 2010, definitely consider pairing earthly neutrals with bold hues. For instance, green paired with yellow is simply stunning. Green is a calming, balancing, and soothing color while yellow bursts vibrancy and energy. Take a look at some beautiful spaces below that sing with green and yellow.
Malene B is a Brooklyn, NY based African American carpet designer with a multi-disciplinary background in textile arts, painting, and illustration whose unique carpets are inspired by her international travels. Her stunning and powerful work certainly speaks for itself. Take a peek below:
Malene B
Papunya
Mehndi
Wolof
Connect with Malene B. at one of the below upcoming events:
I truly believe that when it comes to crafting beautiful area rugs there's no fiber more beautiful, more natural, or more sustainable than wool. Have you ever pressed your bare feet into a plush and luxurious floor covering made of the finest wool? It's so comforting.
So, when I came across the below beauties made from the finest wools one could find in New Zealand...I was instantly in love. I purposely chose soothing neutrals to showcase today. I'm hoping they provide calm to your day.
Created by U.S. designer Michael Stolworthy, a fantastic furniture designer and artist, whose creations are whimsically modern without losing their original practical application. The artwork is so exquisite, yet it appears to fit the contour of the human body perfectly. I would love to try one out with a cocktail in hand! Here are another creation to feast your eyes on:
There are some stunning rooms to take in among the grand mansions of Europe. Have you ever been? Among many things, I found myself (interestingly) inspired by the unique hardwoods that the happy visiting feet walk upon. With natural oil finishes, large heartwood plan formats - sigh. Simply beautiful. In my discoveries to duplicate, I came across the hardwood floor covering musings of Porcelanosa. Take a look…
Roble Ebano Luxor, White Oak finished in Ebony
(Above) French - Parquet de menuiserie / parqueterie is extensively used throughout the Palace of Versailles. The influence of colonization saw its popularity spread around the world during the 18th & 19th centuries where its stature in Palladian style architecture was equal to the most opulent of inlaid marble floors.
White Oak: Latin Quercus, Translation “A fine tree"
(Above) Oak has a light to dark brown heartwood with a creamy white sapwood. The exposed veins accentuate the bold character of the wood. Reminiscent of vintage oak sherry barrels of the Andalucian Jerez region.
White Oak: Latin Quercus, Translation "A fine tree"
(Above) Oak has a light to dark brown heartwood with a creamy white sapwood. The modular format communicates traditional elegance yet contemporary chic or great style and natural beauty.
