Posts Tagged ‘home-accessories’
I’m feeling a real need to renew and rejuvenate my life this spring. So it’s no wonder the color I’m craving the most right now is any shade of bright, sprite, energetic green!
Greens that are not too sage-y, not to dark… but in shades that can best be described as existing somewhere between preppy and edgy and are as refreshing as a tall, cool glass of minted sweet- tea.
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I love talking about color trends each season for fashion and beauty, and the process becomes especially exciting when I spot the same trends appearing simultaneously in the world of home decor.
The melding of these two different worlds, color, style and trend wise, is an important reminder of how the trends from different industries can effect each other. (more…)
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This trend isn’t limited to fashion. Offerings for your home are available in ombre too.
Looking toward the sky, West Elm’s horn pendant lamp is beautiful shades of browns.
In the kitchen, toss a salad in (more…)
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I recently wrote about the current trend of gray accessories but this color trend isn’t confined to the world of fashion and can be a sophistocated addition to your home.
In the living room, gray is a beautiful neutral that can be combined with many colors, for a fresh spring look. And by using gray in the palette, even the guy in my life is comfortable contributing to the design of his favorite rooms. (As long as I can still have a girlie room somewhere in the house).
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Calling someone’s style transparent used to be an insult, this season though it might just be taken as a compliment.
That’s because the trend of transparency, in the form of see-through layers, sheer fabrics, frosted glass, clear pvc and lucite will be making waves in the world of fashion and home design for Spring 2008.
Unlike the fashion “see-through” trends of days gone by (think Madonna circa 1990), today’s transparencies are not about being overtly sensual, but instead about adding a layer of mystery to an already interesting ensemble. A sheer top layer can be a viewed as either a peek at what lays beneath or a thin shield from what lays ahead. It all depends on the attitude of the wearer.
Marc Jacob’s infamous sheer plastic dressed nurses first appeared on the catwalk in Paris and then later reappeared at the Guggenheim Museum for the launch of Louis Vuitton’s collaboration with artist Richard Prince. .
At Jil Sanders designer Raf Simone enveloped a bevy of his runway models in a cocoon-like poncho made of sheer organza.
Prada, always sure to surprise, showcased a collection of sheer chiffon pieces covered in whimsical drawings and finished with bold piping.
While Adidas by Stella McCartney showed that a transparent silhouette isn’t just a high fashion statement but can add an interesting layer to the way we dress in everyday life.
A translucent glow seemed to come across the faces at both Givency’s Fall 2007 show and Zac Posen’s Spring 2008 runway showing. Style.com takes a backstage look at why the designers decided to forgo color for sheer textures.
House Beautiful named this Umbra clock as one of the most exciting products in their January issue. The clock which measures 2 feet wide is made of frosted glass and in their words “fogs the Victorian style hands and conjures up the mist of time”.
Elle Decor’s “What’s Hot” for Jan/Feb 2008, features these clear plastic side tables from White Webb inspired by Chinese garden stools and Indian architecture.
Metropolitan Home was so inspired by the sheer and cut-out trend in today’s newest home fabrics- it featured them on their Jan/Feb 2008 cover.
Bringing the trend home
White shoes tend to get a bad rap, but how can you not love any pair of Christian Louboutins! The peep-toes are very “of the moment”…. I can just image how sexy the sheer shoe would look on the right foot.
The lucite- inspired Micheal Kors sandals are to me the perfect choice for a tropical getaway- they’re super chic , could be worn from poolside to party and would absolutely “go” with everything you packed.
Everything feels retro about Tom Ford’s Chase sunglasses from their vintage shape to their cool black and white illustrated ad. You would definitely be channeling old Hollywood glamour when wearing these- a time when lucite first came into fashion.
Phillip Stark designed the Louis Ghost chair for Kartell in 2002 and it became an instant classic. Loved by designers and hip homeowners alike, it’s the perfect piece to update any decor.
My friends and family are probably ready to shake me and say “enough zebra motifs in your house, already!”, but I’m obsessed. When I saw these Zebra print burnout sheers in the new West Elm catalog it was love at first sight!
If you want to add a little boost to your hair color without fear of roots, Clairol’s Natural Instinct’s “Shine Happy” promises to add a clear sheen of coverage to give your hair super shine… my stylist told me it may also help blend in those pesky little grays.
Fellow Color Maven Picks (I just had to ask)
Kimberlin Brown spotted this Marina and Sussana Sent’s Bubble Necklace at a recent visit to the MoMA and thinks the translucent piece would look great paired with one of Spring’s super bright colors.
Kate Smith said she’s been dying to try Ralph Lauren’s Candlelight top coat. Said to cast a warm “candlelight effect” over your walls- she thinks this translucent treatment would work wonders in a dining room.
April Clark, my handbag connection and world traveler extraordinaire, brought this little Chanel gem to my attention…. sure we might not be able to afford to purchase it, but maybe we might be able to split the rent on it for a month at Bag, Borrow and Steal.
Found a great way to bring “sheer style” into your life?… Let me know.
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Changing the color of your room is now as easy as changing a light bulb. Mood-lites offers seven colored light bulbs that are touted as being able to create particular moods, such as tranquility, serenity, passion, or happiness.
While color therapy is gaining acceptance in the scientific community, there is still a great deal of study that needs to be done to fully understand how color affects us both physically and emotionally. This means you will have to decide for yourself if these lights produce the suggested effects.
If you are simply looking for a fun way to change the ambiance of a room, colored lights are an economical and unexpected way to do something different.
At only $4.95 each, who says you can’t buy happiness?
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Whether you call them diner dishes, restaurant china, or sturdyware, commercial plates and tableware from the 1940’s and 50’s have a hometown charm that is as comforting as meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
For years, collectors (me among them) have found the classic designs and colors irresistible.
Fishs Eddy, a company specializing in American sturdyware, was born when two passionate collectors turned their appreciation for the simple beauty and durability of these American dishes into a growing business.
Julie Gaines, one of the founders, shared a story about the inspiration for their Pantone Collection that struck a chord with both the collector and color-lover in me.
Julie explained that years ago, she and her partner bought a stack of vintage dishes from a manufacturer in Ohio that was closing their business. The stack included “color wheel” plates that were used by the company’s traveling salesmen in the 40’s and 50’s to show customers the different colors available.
The actual names of the color, the identifying number, and sometimes even the salesman’s name were written in the glaze. One of the plates even had “Do Not Touch” bolding written along with the salesman’s name.
She said that, initially, they didn’t know what they were going to do with the samples and so the plates stayed in their office for the next ten years.
During that time, the destiny of these plates
became clear as their design caught the eye of person after person who, upon learning of their history, expressed delight in the plates and their story.
The new line began to take shape and Julie said that it was only natural for Fishs Eddy to take the concept to Pantone, a world leader in color matching.
The result is the colorful Pantone Collection shown here, complete with color name and number written in the glaze.
Sometimes the story behind the product is as interesting as the product itself.
Available online or in stores at Fishs Eddy or Gracious Home.
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I had the pleasure of being invited by Leatrice Eiseman to attend a color trends presentation she was giving to customers and associates of Gracious Home.
Gracious Home is a retailer with four fabulous stores in New York city that are brimming with every houseware imaginable.
Gracious Home had selected four palettes from the home forecast Lee had done for Pantone and had invited their customers to meet Lee and hear her personally describe each of the palettes.
The team at Gracious Home arranged merchandise from the store that showcased the colors and allowed the audience to see how the colors on Lee’s presentation boards looked on actual products.
Lee began by showing the “Grounded” palette. She described these as colors “of the earth,” but not simply the earthtones we might immedately think of. This palette does includes golden olive and rosy brown, but also has the less expected earth colors of misted lavendar, mineral blue, and atmospheric gray.
The second group of colors Lee showed was “Pique-Nique” - a palette that speaks to our need for summer fun. Lee described these as the colors of patio parties and picnics in the park. When these colors come indoors, they add summer freshness to any room. “Pique-Nique” colors include a mix of fruity melon and red, refreshing green, baja blue, and a warm rattan.
Next, Lee presented an updated view of pastels with “Pastille.” These are not the candy or sherbet colors that may come to mind when you think of pastels, but rather serene, stylish hues. This quiet palette blends dusted coral, icy aqua, sunshine yellow, and lily green with silver gray or mocha frappe.
The last group was “Primitive,” a palette of bold colors influenced by cultures from around the world. Inspired by handmade objects and native materials, the colors include Chinese yellows, Pompeian reds, earthy browns, and, of course, ebony and ivory.
The audience appeared to enjoy gaining insight into the colors and the palettes Gracious Home had selected seemed to truly resonate with their customers.
In addition to being tuned into the color preferences of their shoppers, I was very impressed with how everyone from the founder to the management team to the sales associates focused on meeting the needs of each customer.
It was easy for me to see why Gracious Home has a reputation for world class service.
All items pictured available on the Gracious Home website.
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“The possibilities are endless” was a phrase often used by one of my favorite professors in college to encourage me to expand my exploration of art and design.
It was that same phrase that popped into my head when I discovered the delicious tiles whipped up at the Color Bakery.
The intense color and texture baked into each piece created by the husband and wife team of Glen and Mindy Sommers certainly prove that the possibilities are endless when it comes to 
creating tiles.
Their tiles will satisfy your hunger for color when incorporated into murals, back-splashes, room borders, or decorative items such as mirrors and table tops.
But if all you have room for right now is a little taste, that’s okay, because Color Bakery offers smaller bites of color in their fresh baked keepsake boxes, coffee mugs, decorative plates, shelves, frames, and many other imaginative items.
Simply yummy- and best of all, these are baked goods with zero calories!
Photos from the Color Bakery.
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Superb colors, livable designs, great quality, and interesting graphics.
Need I say more?
Visit Unison Home for Quailty Home Textiles
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