Thibaut (pronounced like the football player, te-bow) just released their Shangri La collection.  The fabrics and wallpapers are fresh, colorful, fun, and also very affordable! 

I think wallpaper is making a comeback – what do you think?

(Images from Thibaut)

Lauren

It’s ok to mix finishes!  Actually, I find it quite refreshing!   Who says everything has to be matchy-matchy?  Take a look at the examples below and be inspired.

In this kitchen, antique brass pendants hang above the island with stainless steel appliances and oil-rubbed bronze cabinet hardware.  While polished brass has lost favor, antique brass is coming onto the scene.  It pairs beautifully with oil-rubbed bronze, which can sometimes have a warm-undertone. 

The copper hood above makes a statement in this kitchen.  Even next to the stainless-steel range and the bronze door hardware, it ties in with the other warm tones in the space. 

Here, the stainless steel hood and range bring an updated look while black hardware contrasts nicely with the white cabinets.  The antique pewter faucet brings the silver tones in again and pops against the dark counters.

For a house at the beach, the blue knobs are a playful touch!  Mixing finishes doesn’t always mean mixing metals; many of these kitchens show contrasting finishes in the cabinetry as well.

Anne Turner Carroll’s kitchen is a beautiful example of mixed, yet matched, finishes.  Polished nickel pulls work nicely on the gray and white cabinets.  And, the bronze faucet flows out of the dark granite countertops with nice contrast against the backsplash.  She even has a copper toned Kitchen Aid Mixer!

Looking in from the dining room, bronze, nickel, and antique brass have all been used – and they work together wonderfully!  They are almost as amazing as the before and after of this space, which you can see here.

What do you think?  Would you do it in your own kitchen?

(Images from Southern Living, Cottage Living, Urban Grace, and AB Home)

Lauren

I can’t believe we haven’t featured this product on Drool-Worthy Weekly before now!  3 form is a fabulous company that makes very inspiring products!  They are known for their eco-friendly resin panels that suspend almost any type of material or texture in them, but recently they’ve added glass and recylced stone to their repretoire. 

They are able to layout things like these slices of bamboo to form organic patterns.  Their line features flowers, leaves, shells, and many other natural things.

Their panels can be used as room dividers or privacy screens, but they can also be cut and bent to function as lighting or a sculptural feature.

They are often used in commercial applications (including the offices of Ebay, the US Green Building Coucil, and Girl Scouts of America), but they work residentially as well.

For more inspriation, check out their website here!

Lauren

We had the pleasure of being graced with the spirit of a classic design icon earlier this week!  Richard Schultz worked for Knoll back in the sixties, designing some fabulously modern furniture pieces that are classics today.  His petal table is in the collection at the Modern Museum of Art in New York!  After such a successful time at Knoll, he did freelance work for a while before starting his own line with his son Peter, and Peter visited our studio to share their furniture collection with us.

Peter was kind enough to pose for a picture with the petal table.  All of their furniture is very sculptural and inspired by nature.

The structure was designed to look like Queen Anne’s Lace.  The underside is as beautiful as the top!

Brittany and Hilaire look through a small booklet with the cover graphics inspired by the petal table. 

These classic chairs were some of the first designed with stretched fabric over the frame.  They were designed decades ago but fit todays lifestyle perfectly!

Classic designs like these will never go out of style, and they work beautifully in both traditional and modern environments.

Their Topiary collection is something you won’t see anywhere else!  It was designed to blend with the dappled sunlight that filters through the leaves of shrubbery.  It is truly a playful design in their brightly colored finishes – or in green it can be designed to blend with nature.

Aren’t the shadows beautiful?  They design all of their furniture to be used year round – sun, rain, and snow.

We love their take on a classic wingback.  Stunning in red!  We heard that Gwen Stefani ordered one for her home in hot pink!

She’s not the only celebrity who loves this line.  Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt enjoy one of Richard Schultz’s chaise lounges for the cover of W Magazine.

We can’t wait to use some of these pieces on a project we’re working on!

Lauren

Trellis is in – and it has been for a few years now.  But with the change in weather, this seemed like the perfect time to revisit some of my favorite trellis and lattice patterns.  Enjoy!

I love the unique shape of the mirror with the morrocan-inspired trellis pattern!  I wouldn’t mind coming home to this one bit.

A little while back Southern Accents did a post on trellis patterns, including this picture.  I really love the lamp!

Perhaps the most popular trellis pattern is this one – designed by Kelly Wearstler for Schumacher.  I’ve seen it everywhere, on walls and on chairs, and I’m still loving it! 

Here it is in citrine.

And in green. 

Dramatic in black.

Osborne & Little has a velvet version.  (Yes, this is a different pattern.) 

Windsor Smith’s collection for Kravet rounds out the list.  Do you love trellis patterns as much as I do?

(Images found via Coco & Kelly, Decor Pad, Little Green Notebook, Veranda, Southern Accents, Tobi Fairley, and Southern Aspirations.)

Lauren

Zimmer + Rohde introduced a new brand of fabrics under their umbrella called Travers.  We instantly fell in love with the look – I call it ‘New Traditional.’  It is comfortable and fresh – and it fits perfectly into so many rooms!

We used one of their fabrics on this shaped cornice for a recent project.  (The corner chair sitting below it is by Baker and the sheer fabric used on the panels is from Schumacher.)  I love the unique color palette as well as the slight sheen of the light green damask fabric. 

At the end of 2009, Travers introduced its Entrada collection – filled with Suzani patterns and spring-ready colors.  Now that it’s warming up outside, it’s the perfect time to use this cheery pallette!

Even the aquas seem fresh.  I love this unique paisley and airy floral!

Zimmer + Rohde describes Travers as, “a translation English country cottage style into urban and rural living in America. With its eclectic mix of patterns, the brand creates traditional textile art with a new and modern twist. Classic woven materials, embroidered linen and elaborate prints form the basis upon which Travers develops its comfortable, inviting style. Pure luxury without being pretentious.”

Can you tell I’m looking forward to warmer weather?  Here’s a splash of citrus!  I love the elephants - don’t you?! 

See you next week!   (Images from Zimmer + Rohde)

Lauren

A few years ago I was working with a client who was looking for a spool chair.  While I’d seen them before, finding the perfect one piqued my interest.  And I’m convinced that Hickory Chair has the best spool chair I’ve seen.  Others have tried to imitate, but their designs aren’t nearly as classic.

It would work wonderfully in a library or seated next to a fireplace.  But, depending on the fabric and finish, the look can change completely.

Thanks to the advanced technology on Hickory Chair’s website, you can picture any of their pieces in the fabric and finish of your choice.  Simply click on the “Personalize this Item” button at the top right side of a product page, like this one.  At Furniture Market, we saw this chair in a playful black and white paisley.

Aside from the great looks, it’s made to last.  Handcarved in North Carolina from Mahogany, it’s also very comfortable!

Even the First Lady agrees.  (Michelle Obama selected a pair of these chairs for the White House!)

Lauren

Just last week, Molly and I had the opportunity to meet with a rep from Atlanta’s J Nelson design showroom.  He mentioned that what he had to show us wasn’t cheap, but that it was worth it.  I think we were both a little hesitant, but in the end we were wowed!  Beaumont & Fletcher has some of the most remarkable embroidered fabrics – check them out!

Here’s a sample of embroidery on leather!  The dimension and detail is incredible!  The stripe design would be perfect on the lead edge of a drapery panel.  (But I probably wouldn’t do window treatments in leather; they embroider any fabric of your choice!)

This traditional pattern might be done in a monochromatic scheme, but there are so many different grays in the threads when you look closely.  Other patterns better show the use of many different colored threads.  These embroideries combine color like a fine rug!

For a more contemprary and completely unique look, they even embroider with metal threads!  Below, the same pattern is done on suede and on burlap.

This design uses metal threads as well, with Svarovski crystals sewn in!  Beautiful!

Here’s a detail view – the craftsmanship is incredible!

I mentioned that they aren’t cheap – BUT you could get a lot of bang for the buck by simply doing a pair of pillows with one of these patterns!  And if you’ve limited your emboirdery use to a set of monogrammed towels – take a second look!

Until next week – Lauren

We should yet again receive Gold medals in  Olympic Sport Spectating. I asked the Design Lines team to answer the following question: What 2010 Winter Olympics event have you enjoyed watching the most?

Hilaire’s answer was half-pike Snowboarding, Laurie & Molly answered that they adore watching the mens & women’s snowboarding events, as well.  How about those US Snowboarding team jackets?  We found them to be cool and fashion forward- it would fit right at home in this child’s study designed by Judy & Lauren.

Lauren’s answer to my question: ” Ice skating & Apolo Ohno- I know he’s not an event, but still.” Apolo Ohno has won his fair share of Olympic medals (the Vancouver medals shown below) but who doesn’t want to go for the Gold with this fabulous Fang Gourd Table Lamp in Antique-Burnished Brass with Natural Paper Shade from Visual Comfort?

Personally, I like watching the  ski jumping and the women’s Aerial.  I find both events to be thrilling- though I’m happy when they land on the ground again.  Wouldn’t it be great if the Olympic inspired Rio rug from our friends at Niba Rugs in warm Miami was underfoot?

Ashley’s favorite:” Curling, it is so amazing & addicting.”  Judy has been watching figure skating and has been cheering on the US Hockey team on its way to a gold medal! Go Team USA!  Check out Jasper John’s beautiful interpretations of the American flag:

What’s your favorite Olympic Sport to watch? For our 2008 Summer Olympics Inspiration from China, click here.

-Brittany

We first became smitten with Natural Curiosities when we discovered them in High Point at Furniture Market.   And our affections haven’t faded!  Below you’ll see the wonderful character of their pieces.  You will find cartoonish humor alongside timeless classics;  nature’s wonders and man’s inventions expressing creativity.  The simple and sophisticated are married in a union of effortless imagery.

Their quotes caught me first – individually framed quotations spelled out in a beautiful typewriter face. 

This horse triptych is sure to make a statement in any room!

Their subject matter covers traditional and modern subjects, geometric prints, photography, humor, and more.

Some of my favorite are the common objects that they frame in artful ways, like the sea urchins above.

Their framing compliment the pieces beautifully!  Take a look at the world maps above.

Until next week!

Lauren