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Thumbtack Press {gorgeousness}

04/25/2008, 00:33 | Original Site: decor8
Here are some fabulous prints that caught my attention today over at Thumbtack Press, who happens to have a very strong collection of prints online featuring the work of some of my favorite artists. I'm hoping that you'll enjoy them along with me. :)

I adore Bride Diving by Penelope Dullaghan and Gossip by Chris Silas Neal. I always seem to go for images of girls jumping, not because I secretly have thoughts of suicide or anything (he he), more because I am constantly jumping into new things and love the thrill of just getting involved in something I'm passionate about. Also shown above is Bluebell by Lilly Piri and Presagio di Primavera by Gianluca Folě. Drool.

Long Beach Shoreline by Shiho Nakaza, I Miss You Already by Jared Drew Moody, Angel by Irana Douer, and This Flooded World by Sarajo Frieden. Isn't Irana amazing?

The Great Flood Series (set of 3) by Oksana Badrak, Spam One-Liners: Happy Life by Linzie Hunter (fun!), HiFi by Chris Silas Neal, and India Dawn by Oksana Badrak.

And finally, Don't You Leave Me Here by Matthew Woodson. Isn't this a melancholy, tender, emotionally charged glimpse into the life of the modern relationship? We all have fears of being abandoned at times and I think artist Matthew Woodson did such a great job capturing this emotion here.

(images from thumbtack press.)

The Artful Home: New Kareem Rizk at BlueFlip Art

04/15/2008, 09:29 | Original Site: More Ways to Waste Tim
Kareem Rizk's beautiful, open-edition giclee bird prints have been so popular that Matt over at BlueFlip Art just added two more: Bird No. 3, left, and Bird No. 6, right.

The 9-by-11-inch archival prints are $25 each, or you can get the whole set of six for $125 (a $25 savings) when you enter coupon code "KAREEMSIX" at checkout.

As always, BlueFlip will donate 10 percent of all sales to a charity of the artist's choosing -- in this case, Australia's Starlight Children's Foundation.

Check out the new prints right here.

Cool Stuff: Ferm Living Oilcloths

04/14/2008, 20:40 | Original Site: More Ways to Waste Tim
I don't know what the weather's been like in your neck of the woods, but here in Northern California it was blistering hot this weekend. (Is it global warming? Is the Bay Area the new Palm Springs? I'm busy plotting our move to Vancouver through the sweat over here ... )

Anyway, all this unseasonal heat has me itching to move mealtimes outside, where we can take shelter under the shade of our towering birch tree while praying for a cooling breeze. And what better way to dress the patio table than with these brand-new oilcloths (such as Family Tree, above) from Denmark's Ferm Living, the maker of some of the coolest modern wallpapers around?

Even if it's still chilly in your area or you don't have an outdoor dining space, these are a fun way to dress up your kitchen or dining table -- and are particularly great if you have spill-prone kids.

Take a look:

Branch

Walldots

Bindweed

Berry

Ferm's oilcloth is about $28 per linear meter, which is roughly 39 inches; the oilcloth comes in 55-inch widths, so if you want a tablecloth that's about four and a half feet wide by six and a half feet long, order two meters. It's available through the Scandinavian Design Center -- which also carries beautiful oilcloths from Marimekko, Pappelina, and Susanne Schjerning.

Check them out right here.

IKEA fialena

02/26/2008, 15:48 | Original Site: red.house

: : This is a new serie of patterns at IKEA, called .fialena. I adore the name, it's what my parents would always call my sister. she was .fialena., I was .pyret. and my brother .skrotten. Maybe not the most flattering name for my brother, but it was very cute when he was young.

Anywho, these patterns are very much in line with the current scandinavian folklore pattern trend that's happening. making me think my own patterns are very current and aligned with this trend?? IKEA why won't you call?


I found this while I was browsing the .style files. blog.

DP Customer Service Team / Staff Profile - Melissa

00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Hatch: The Design Public® Blo

Upon the event that you’ve ever been lucky enough to communicate with our customer service team…this is who is on the other end:


“The adventures of two women and one man
working together in one department.”

Since quality customer service is so important to us, these guys are very important to us. Luckily, we’ve got a great tight group with amazing karate chopping (aka customer service) skills.

We’ve shared a number of staff profiles in the past but there has been a major lapse in updating our team info. Now’s as good a time as any to get this going again and who better to start with than the Three’s Company (i.e. customer service) team. First up: Melissa!

Where are you from? Where do you live now? I am from the East Bay. I lived there forever until I decided to make a very ambitious trek across the bridge to San Francisco where I live now.

How did you get interested in design? I used to think design was frivolous and elitist and just didn’t think much about it until I interned for a magazine that featured new design products. I also had some friends that went to CCA for Design and that got me interested in the art. Now I see that design is an essential part of life because everything man made has to be designed by someone. Mostly, I admire the possibilities of combining art and functionality.

thomas paul imperial horse pillowWhat’s your favorite DP product and why? I really like Thomas Paul’s Retro-looking Imperial Horse Linen Pillow and Apollo Head series. He has a definite sensibility for Retro-Victorian (don’t know if that’s an actual style, but in my book it counts).

What do you like most about our company? Why do you work here? I work here mostly because the staff is great. I love my co-workers and although the work here can be challenging I like the challenge. I like that we’re free-form and that there are many possibilities here if you make them happen. Also, I enjoy learning about design because you learn a great deal about people and lifestyle.

If you weren’t doing this what would you do?
Probably Live in New York and write music reviews and starve.

What do you do in your spare time? I sing and play music.

Favorite member of the A-Team? The Oakland A’s? ha ha, don’t really know of the A-Team, I only know of Mister T and don’t think I quite get it, but I do like his fashion sense.

Thanks, Melissa!

Steal This Look: Fernlund + Logan Townhouse

00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Remodelista

From Julie:

Fernlund + Logan—a New York City firm that counts design god Ted Muehling among its clients—creates a thoroughly mod interior within a classic Manhattan townhouse, mixing classics (a Le Corbusier LC4 chaise) with future classics (Jasper Morrison Glo-Ball lights and a Marcel Wanders New Antiques table). Candelabras and a ghoulish crucifix over the mantle add an edgy note. Photos by Herman Verne.

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Below: Recreate the look with the Le Corbusier LC4 Chaise Longue in natural canvas with black leather headrest and matte black enamel steel base; $2,585 at Design Within Reach.

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Below L: Felted Wool Stones, $298 for small, $495 for medium, and $595 for large at Viva Terra. Below R: Gray Ludde Sheepskin, similar to the one draped on the Le Corbusier chaise; $39.99 at Ikea.

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Below: Marcel Wanders New Antiques table for Cappellini; $2,529 at Unica Home.
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Below: The Moroccan Zig-Zag Rug, handknotted in ivory and chocolate wool, starts at $1,825 for the 9-by-12-foot size at Williams-Sonoma Home.

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Below L: Designed in 1962 by brothers Achille Castiglione and Pier Giacomo Castiglione, the Toio Floor Lamp was inspired by a car headlamp; $1,212 at Design Within Reach. Below R: Jasper Morrison’s large Glo-Ball Basic 2 Table Lamp by Flos is $872 at Lumens; Glo-Ball Basic 1 Table Lamp, a smaller version, is $596 at Lumens.

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Below: The formidable (and formidably priced) Dorian Table by Dominique Matthieu features curvy lacquered legs and a heavy glass top; $10,500 at Conran USA; available in black or red.

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Below: Beech Black Enamel Bentwood Chairs; $79 each at Kurt Peterson.

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etta designs & sustainable interiors

00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: studio wellspring
the term 'sustainable interiors' can be misleading because it describes only part of the picture. claiming that a project or renovation is green, sustainable or eco-friendly, may seem like a wonderful thing to boast but it alone doesn't define a space. an interior space also needs to have functionality, beauty, comfort, and good space planning ~ as all good design requires. the vast majority of projects claiming to be green aren't 100% eco-friendly, especialy since they're often found within existing non-green architecture. but integrating green design techniques and knowing where to go to help boost the eco-friendly factor in interiors projects is the key stone to making a shift from wasteful to wonderful in interior design. that's why i just adore finding people like rachel winokur & her firm eTTa designs.
rachel winokur runs eTTa deisgns, an l.a. based interior design firm with a focus on interior design for residential & commercial applications including stunning eco-friendly solutions. rachel is the founder and lead designer of eTTa designs which handles the entire design process including concept, budget, space planning, selecting and purchasing finishes, furnishings & equipment, project management, and installation.

in this excerpt from apartment therapy rachel has some great tips for staying green during a renovation and shares some of her favorite resources.
in her own home she's stayed green largely due to using vintage pieces instead of buying new. for larger projects here's how she stays green:

renovations ~ one of the first things to do when starting a renovation project is to plan for the proper disposal of whatever will be removed. this means: recycling demolition debris through a service like looney bins or in some cases a better solution is to hire someone like the reuse people to deconstruct your project and take away all materials intact to be sold at their warehouse. your tax deductions for the donation of those materials may offset the cost of deconstruction which takes a little longer than demolition, but shouldn't be a problem with proper planning.
the reuse people's warehouse is a terrific place to buy building materials at a fraction of the cost of new. for commercial projects, check with the city to find out who they require you to use. {for the eco-friendly nail salon we completed recently, we were instructed to use consolidated disposal services.}
planning the design ~ use what's already there. it's important to embrace the existing conditions and make as few structural changes as possible {as long as it makes sense to the project}. this creates less waste and can also decrease the cost and energy usage. for the nail salon, we kept the existing window and door openings and added new metal frames to give it a fresh and clean look, added clerestory windows for cross-ventilation with clerestory windows in the back, and added fluted glass for privacy. we re-used an existing exterior light fixture which was cleaned up and re-installed with a flourescent bulb. to remove existing paint and stains from a fixture you wish to re-use, try soyclean's paint stripper.
we also discovered a wonderful concrete floor hiding underneath the wall-to-wall carpet. to remove remaining carpet adhesive, use something like franmar's bean-e-doo
and enhance the concrete finish with a product from eco-procote.
new materials ~ when selecting new materials and finishes, consider not only the manufacturer's 'green' claim, but also the product's life cycle and who manufactures it and where. for example, recyclable glass tile from sandhill industries is not only made of 100% recycled glass, the energy used to make it is less than 1/2 that required to make ceramic tile and 1/4 that of cast glass tile.
choosing the right green product usually requires weighing the pros and cons just like with any product. for example, at $29/SF, the sandhill glass tile may sound expensive, but consider covering a smaller area with this special tile or use it more generously and hold back on something else. also consider the associated savings with benefits of 'green' products, like health, durability, sustainability and curb appeal.

for more delights along the same lines, rachel has a nice blog based on her green design philosophy & savvy, called
eTTa bits.

What Is Magnetic Induction?

00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Landfair Furniture (Blog)
Mike came across an article today at Wallstrip Today about how Intel, using some new technology called "magnetic induction" has demonstrated a prototype system that could power gadgets without having to plug them into a wall socket. Imagine that! No more charging stations for cell phones and laptops, maybe even electric cars.



His research into "magnetic induction" led him to another article, this time about a new cooking surface.
Magnetic Induction Cook Tops uses technology that transfers heat to the pan through magnetism. Even when the cook top is on, it is cool to the touch because the energy transfer only affects magnetic objects. This is of great value for homes that have kids with curious hands!
GE is selling the GE Profile:
The GE units have a whole lot of smarts added in, especially when it comes to safety. If you remove the pot or pan while cooking, the surface detects its absence and cuts off. If you place something with less mass on the surface such as your ring or a spoon, it won't heat up. Only pots and pans will be allowed to generate the cooking heat. There's even a setting that lets you lock the cooktop's controls.
The neat thing is, it can boil water in 15 seconds and heat control is much more precise than with gas or electric burners. Think of the fossil fuels that can be saved! The GE website shows the cooktop has a retail price of $2549.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

New Products

00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Landfair Furniture (Blog)
Lindsey Strader at Home Accents Today Product Line has singled out some new products and two are from Uttermost, whose products Landfair Furniture carries on our showroom floor.



Tree Panels
Set of 2 are frameless hand painted oils designed by Grace Feyock, and feature an array of natural earth tone colors. Each measuring 20"W x 70"H.



The Jannik
Hurricane Candleholder features an old barn finish with bronze metal details and clear seeded glass. Designed by Matthew Williams this candleholder measures 11"W x 25"H.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

The Abundant Table

00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: designer's library

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Alright ready. I know, I know. I always seem to be on semi-permanent hiatus from my blog. Well I got ton of things on my mind, namely getting my website updated. I believe, as of today, the index page is still announcing the NSS in May 2008. Nice. I should point out that on page 90 of Craft Inc, I wrote that you should "Update your site frequently with news or new products." And clearly, I am leading by example. I also tell people to always have their business cards on them, yet I am always writing my contact information on the backsides of other people's business cards when I meet them. I'm awesome like that.

Ironically, next week you'll find me on as a guest blogger on design*sponge. Obviously, have the time and energy to blog, just not on my own blog.

As for the above cookbook, "The Abundant Table: Recipes from the Bishop's Ranch Kitchen", which I illustrated, is finally out. So far I've made the pancakes (hey, I'm starting off easy) and they are delicious! I can't wait to try out the rest of their healthy recipes. And I have to say that Laura Crookston Deleot, the graphic designer, did a wonderful job! Such a pleasure working with her. Here are a couple of images from the book:

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(the inside cover)

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(introductory section)

Can classic black ever really be replaced?

00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Hue
The NYT just published an article about the rise of super star color plum. Yup, plum.
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Evidently, it's being touted as the "new black". Here's my take on the concept- black will never be replaced. Colors will come and go in trends, but we'll always have our staples like black, white, brown, neutrals.

In any case, it's refreshing to see variations of violet being embraced in the marketplace. In the past, it's been one of the least-used colors for marketing because it's so hard to pin down. Sandwiched in between red and blue, violet can swing in two radically different directions. Blue violets have similar characteristics to blue- calm, dependable, trustworthy, rational, cool. Red violets, on the other hand, tend to adopt those traits more like its companion red- active, strong, passionate, hot.
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Violet has often been used to represent the mystical or spiritual. It's often seen as artistic, eccentric, or quirky, even romantic. Deep violets can be regal and majestic. So now, marketers are tapping into those associations to bring you everything from credit cards, internet service, and water.
Plum TV is a a channel available in resort communities like Aspen, the Hamptons, and Martha's Vineyard.
“Plum says calm; plum says clean; plum says health,” said a rep at Penta Water in Carlsbad, Calif. “Other products in the water category are blue, clear, red,” he added. “This color came out as a consistent representation of vitality, a pure product.” source

Redplum coupons

What fascinates me is the reinforcement of the color with the name. All these companies seem to feel they must attach the word "plum" to their products in order to get across their meaning. I think alot of that comes from the ambivalence of the color's attributes. Plum can range anywhere on the spectrum of violets, and perhaps without the term "plum", could be misconstrued as having different characteristics from those marketers hoped to convey.
The Plum Card from American Express for business owners.
In the article, a marketer reinforces this issue:
“When we were looking at the color of the plastic (during the planning stages), we wanted something classy and sophisticated, and the choice was a shade we called 'burgundy.' " But the company did not want to call it burgundy when marketing it, he added, for fear of confusion with wine brands.
What's your take on the trend? Do you think these companies need the word "plum" to drive home the point of using this color for their product or service? What do you think of when you see the color?

A New Chapter...

00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: The Peak of Chic




I've long admired Charlotte Moss. Of course as this is a design blog, I've talked many times about her style, her panache, and the gorgeous environments that she creates. She is such a talented woman. But there's more to it. She has business savvy and a vigorous work ethic. Interestingly, for someone whose aesthetic is rooted in tradition, she is a thoroughly modern woman.

As some of you may know, Moss recently made the difficult decision to close The Townhouse later this year. For those of you who have had the opportunity to visit it, you know that it is like no other store around. A few days ago, I spoke with Moss about the Townhouse, and she admitted to me that it was a decision that was not made lightly. One of the issues that many of us face is the lack of time to pursue new opportunities, to fully invest our energy and creativity in our current endeavors, and to spend time with family- in Moss' words, not being able "to have time to smell the roses". And this was just the problem that Moss was facing. With her career as a designer, a writer, a philanthropist, and a retailer, life was becoming a bit crowded. As she told me, she wanted the time to enjoy the process of retail, but career demands were making it difficult.

So while the Townhouse may be closing, it's not really going away. In fact, it's going virtual. We'll still be able to buy Moss' china, linen, and those gorgeous accessories on her website... and now we won't have to travel to New York to do so! Moss also told me that she plans on adding more editorial to her site, recognizing the popularity of the online design community.

Oh, and about that Charlotte Moss work ethic? She's working on a few books as well as adding products to her fabric and china collections. And she's still designing and decorating. It sounds to me like she's doing exactly what makes her happy!

New Products

00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Landfair Furniture (Blog)
From Uttermost:



The Atara
Table Lamp has a crushed, amber-gold glass body with dark bronze details and gold highlights. The oval, semi drum shade is a silkened chocolate bronze textile. This Billy Moon design is 33" tall.




Set of Six, Paris Scene
s monotone prints are accented by wooden frames with a black finish. The frames inner lip has a glazed champagne finish. These Grace Feyock prints each measure 19"W x 24"H.

From Palecek:

Woven wonder
A basket weave havana rope top and bridge leg design combine to create the sleek bench from Palecek.

Both company's products can be found at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Bev & Mike

for the bath + (another) must read article

00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Design*Sponge

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i’m a sucker for a zig zag line (i’m always lusting after a full-sized version of this rug) and these new towels at williams sonoma home are calling me. i really love the persimmon/pumpkin combination (very fall) but the blues are perfectly summery as well. click here to check them out ($36 each).

ps: penelope green at the nytimes wrote a great article/at home with piece with faythe levine of handmade nation. it’s always inspiring to read about people like faythe in big mainstream news. click here to check it out.

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faux bois fun

00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Design*Sponge

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this morning while i was holding ms. jackson in my lap and waiting for her soft paws to dry, i flipped through the new williams sonoma catalog and pretended that she was really interested in hearing my opinion on everything inside. she clearly wasn’t, but i thought this faux bois chair was fun. i wish it had cuter legs (i’d like this kind) but the fabric is pretty fun. click here to check it out.

a training seat we can live with

00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: shelterrific

I knew that once we became parents, our lives would be flooded with tons colorful plastic products. Some of it is necessary, but we try to keep it from taking over completely. Though we’re nowhere near this phase yet, this product The Family Seat from One Step Ahead, gives me hope. It’s a seat that comes with a junior-sized ring attached, available in wood grain or white. As long as I can train the hubbie to put TWO seats down, rather than just one, it could be just the ticket for some aesthetically pleasing toilet training. Time will tell! For a full review of the product, check out celebritybabyblog.com. — Angela M.

contest! win free john derian goodies!

00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: shelterrific

With all the depressing economic news this week, wouldn’t it feel good to win something for free? How ’bout a boxful of lovely John Derian products from Target? The kind folks from their PR team have contributed a pile of goodies, as you can see in the photo above. It includes a wastepaper basket, desktop notes, wall art, and serving tray all decked out with airy birds, butterflies and fauna.

How do you win this bounty, you ask? Simply email us a JPG of the stuff you collect, along with a short description. It could be wall-ful of paint-by-numbers, a gaggle of squirrels, Niagara Falls memorabilia, straw hats — you name it! We’ve gotten a few entries but would love a few more, so we are extending this contest to the end of next week, Oct 3rd. So grab those digital cameras, snap some pix and send them in today! Email to us at letters at sheltterific dot com. Don’t miss this!

P.S. The first runner up will get a copy of To Each His Home by Bilyana Dimitrova.

WINKS

00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: desire to inspire
.... I'm obsessed with growing moss. Help! My home is being taken over.

WINKS - weekend links. Here we list what has come in during the week, things we've found and things we think you'll want to see. If you'd like to see your blog or website featured email us and if we think it fits with our readers we'll link you. So what's in this week?


  • Cliff Spencer is a furniture maker. His website says so. He specialises in highest quality modern and traditional cabinetry, custom furniture, green materials, finishing & refinishing. But Cliff isn't a furniture maker. He's an artist. Wood comes alive under his hands. As the website says, "When the morning sun hits the swirling grain of the wood in one of our pieces in just the right way, you’ll see a different angle, a shape, a curve you hadn’t noticed before. It’s old world craftsmanship in modern times, using only the finest joinery, built to last for generations." Live simply with beautiful artisan pieces.



  • Kim and I have been waiting for some time to introduce you to Manvi Drona-Hidalgo and her blog Mochatini. Emails back and forth and now she feels she's ready ;) "With Mochatini, I hope to share with you things that inspire me, that I am passionate about, some upcoming artists, timeless classics with modern twists, my attempts at design and other musings." Manvi is a busy woman. She also blogs for 2Modern’s Design Talk and Vogue India. Click on over and say hi! Oh and check out all the eye candy.


photograph: Annick Geenen
  • Belgian furniture designer Casimir Meubelen has launched a new website and is exhibiting his first new furniture pieces after four years of design silence. Casimir uses the symbolism of the well known I form of a building-construction as the inspiration for "The Poutrel". Find out details of the exhibition in Antwerp and discover more of his design here.



  • Up To You is the ĂĽber stylish creation of brother and sister team Bill and Dimitra Doufekas. This Toronto design destination showcases funky objects and gifts housed in a shop that replicates your trendy friend's apartment. So many of their internationally sourced pieces can't be sourced anywhere else in Canada. Kim is always lamenting the lack of great design shopping in Ottawa. Maybe a short trip to Toronto will cure your blues Kim. They have an online shop as well.



  • What do you think this is? It's crusted with Swarovski crystals. Perhaps jewellery? A hair clip? A pendant? A brooch? No it's jewellery for your home.


    Yes, a crystal encrusted mural you can apply to a wall a column, a head board. Anywhere. The Saturday Décor designs and produces a unique line of home décor products — including window and wall décor, jewellery, lighting, and pendants. Duco Phangsoa emailed to introduce this concept. It's unlike anything I've ever seen. OTT definitely but just right for your own personal palace!



  • I wish emails had smells. This one had me wishing for an internet version of scratch and sniff. "Diptyque, the effortlessly chic brand from France, has the solution for your fireplace woes. French for “wood fire,” Diptyque’s Feu de Bois candle is the perfect substitution for a crackling fireplace. The earthy-but-refined candle is infused with a complex scent that is evocative of fir trees, firewood and autumn woodlands." Website is coming soon but there is a store locator. I'm so intrigued I'm off to Ollie and LLoyd in Brisbane to savour the scent.



  • Another new blog. This time from Byron Bay in Australia. (God's own country.) Paisley Peacock and Paneer combines decor (paisley and the peacock bit) and blogger Mamta Pinnell's other passion, Indian vegetarian cuisine (paneer - it's a soft cheese). Interior design and home-wares (with lots of paisleys), beautiful Byron Bay, India and vegetarian cooking! Sounds like candy for the eye and the spice for the taste buds.
  • Not your average kitchen appliance

    00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Hue
    Are you frustrated by the limited color options out there for kitchen appliances? Not into stainless steel, white or black? Join the club. Reader Denise wrote to me, asking for some advice:
    I'm getting ready to buy all new kitchen appliances; hooray! The trouble is, my kitchen is very open into my family room, and my house is quite colorful, with lots of Mexican and abstract influences--and lots and lots of color. To me, stainless-steel (or, God forbid, black) appliances would look terrible in my house--too sterile in the case of the stainless steel, and too dark in the case of the black.

    Although my preference for the appliance color is bisque (of the limited options), I'm trying to think ahead to the eventual resale of my home, too. Is there an up-and-coming appliance color that I should consider? Everything I see in model homes is stainless steel or black, both of which leave me (you guessed it) COLD!

    Can you help me?
    Denise
    Rachel's humble kitchen
    (We rent, so I didn't have anything to do with the design choices. I will say that white appliances are a pain to keep clean!)

    To help tackle Denise's appliance quandary, I brought in the help of the very talented and knowledgeable kitchen designer, Susan Serra, author of the blog The Kitchen Designer.
    Take it away Susan!

    Colored Appliances, it's all the rage now. Color is in our lives as never before, and has entered our kitchens, often with gusto! And, why not? We are loving our strong, pro, appliances and often want to showcase them in an equally strong way, or, for that matter, in a whimsical way. The rules for blending and matching color have been continually redefined, and not by the "experts" but by you. Individual expression now trumps "safe!"
    Jen-Air oil-rubbed bronze series
    Appliance manufacturers have gone color-crazy! We have purples, we have bronzes, many colors of blue and on and on.
    image source
    I consider Viking to be a leader of color appliances, going back quite a few years now. Viking has only expanded their colors for their appliances year after year.

    Aga, always into color, brought in a soft purple, called heather.
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    note: AGA discontinued the yellow and royal blue and added pillar box red which does not appear on their site
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    And one sees lots of color in retro appliances, such as the very cool Big Chill line of appliances. I'm not a retro fan, but this line is awesome.

    And, talk about color? What about Blue Star? Sit down for this one...190 colors!
    You can even play around with how one of their stoves would look in a variety of colors

    It's all good. Or, is it?

    Of course, the appliance manufacturers would just love for you to buy a whole suite of appliances in the color of your choice. And, so, one will see this concept in manufacturer's advertising. But, wait, what happens if, down the road, one appliance needs to be replaced and that color is no longer available? Something to think about, to plan for.

    Color CAN be done in a temporary way for your appliances. Dishwasher and Refrigerators can have panels of bold color, changeable as one desires.
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    Or, another elegant way to incorporate color, short of an entire suite of color, is to choose one appliance, perhaps the range, which may be situated as a focal point, and select a color that will be picked up elsewhere in the kitchen. Thus, the color is isolated, yet, significant. Yet, another idea is to have an appliance painted locally, via a special process just for appliances.
    image source

    As the color story for 2008 moves toward nature, such as greens and blues, even elegant shades such as our old friends, black and white, take care not to follow trends solely because the colors look fresh and new. Appliances are not pillows...they may last you decades!

    Here's my advice...follow your heart, keeping one foot solidly on the ground.

    Added thanks to Danielle from Canton Kitchens for additional picture links

    Illustration Love...

    00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Rang-Decor {Interior Ideas predominantly Indian}
    Today , I share with you works of two amazing artists whose styles are so diverse from each other but have touched my heart in very special ways.Neend Meein
    Kalyani Ganapathy is an artist/ illustrator, whose work has a profusion of vibrant colours, patterns and has a traditional Indian folk-art feel to it. ponnuku malli poo asai translated 'A little girl likes jasmine flowers'
    thothe baag mein pedh ke neeche
    paani bharna
    Kalyani has started a new venture called 'Kye' which means hand. Here you will find unique handmade products like cushion covers, bags, dinner plates and trays. Do check it out!

    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    Celia
    Priya Sebastian is an awesome artist and illustrator who works mainly in charcoal and pastel.
    Whenever I see her work I feel 'black' is the most beautiful colour. Congregation Self-Portrait
    The most striking feature in most of her illustrations are the 'eyes' of her characters, they seem to express so many different emotions!Yama
    She uses colours also beautifully just to give that extra punch.* Sigh*
    Cats
    Woman
    I am still under the spell of the amazing works by these two extremely talented artists. Hope you enjoyed their work as much as I did showcasing them.:-)

    (images of Kalyani's work from Jellicle Cat and Priya's from The Plum Tree)

    P.S. A special thanks to Masala Chai, who introduced me to Kalyani's work.

    Steal This Look: Ochre Table Setting

    00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Remodelista

    From Julie & Francesca:

    Last month in New York we admired this table setting at our favorite interiors shop, Ochre. The pale blue farm table paired with black Hans Wegner wishbone chairs is a combination we wouldn’t have come up with on our own. We also love the matte black candlesticks, the simple white tableware, and the blue tinted glassware.

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    Below: Original Painted Farm Table from Pennsylvania from East Meets West Antiques. Also consult Joseph Spinale Primitive Furniture. lancasterpaintedtable.jpg

    Below: Hans Wegner Wishbone Chair with natural cord caning; $599 at Hive Modern.

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    Below: Lacquered Wood Candlestick in satin-black finish; on sale at Gump’s for $29.99 (down from $40).

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    Below: Barbara Eigen designed the cream-colored Studio Dinnerware line for Pottery Barn; $144 for a 16-piece set.

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    Below: Dibbern Glass Odeon Tumbler from Bavaria; $12 each at Rose and Radish.

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    Below: Studio Large Pitcher by Barbara Eigen; $49 at Pottery Barn.

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    Below: Hand-made, satin-finish stainless-steel Lambert Flatware with black Bakelite handles from Germany; $58 for a four-piece setting at Terrestra.

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    Below: Kenyan Salad Server made of coconut wood and bone; $55 at Ochre.

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    Below: Vintage hand-woven napkins of organic boiled linen; $25 at Ochre.

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    Below: Natural Rush Round Placemats; $25 for a set of four at Amazon.

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