We lived near the ocean back in the day.  My family went to the beach often and I remember exploring the shoreline as a child, enjoying the crash of the waves, the briny smell of the water, the little joy of discovering shells.

I remember being fascinated by the wet, weathered textures and mysterious origins of the driftwood washed up on shore.  Where did it come from?  It was easy to imagine all sorts of stories: a wharf damaged by storms, or a pirate ship sunk with its treasure at the bottom of the sea…

Of course, there were never pirates off the coast of Los Angeles, were there?  But one can dream.

And one can have the romance of that dream in one’s living room, kitchen, bedroom… anywhere in the residence, really, with these cool creations by Shipwreck Furniture. Read the rest of this entry »

Seattle, WA may be a Mecca for coffee lovers, but there’s so much more to the city than that.  It’s also a hotbed for sustainable business ethics and the development of a low-impact lifestyle, both of which mesh nicely with this week’s featured company, Viola Park.

But to tell their story it’s necessary to back up a bit. Read the rest of this entry »

All that glitters may or may not be gold (in fact, it is usually polished brass), but it certainly is a hot design trend right now.

Mind you, this isn’t your mother’s 1980′s era brass.  You know, the kind that was used for overly ornate faucets and accessories to go with the Laura Ashley wallpaper and the little pink soaps in the guest bath?    <shudder>

Instead, gold is now the accent of choice to warm up that other trending “color” – crisp white.  Although gold can also be used to great effect with navy blue, chartreuse, and blush pinks, it is white that really begs for it.

If you want to try out this design trend, try accessorizing with brass planters or bowls you find at a flea market or thrift shop.  Just be sure that they have simple, modern forms, and can be polished up to a high shine.  Or find some silly ceramic figurines that could be improved with a solid coat of gold paint, then group 3-5 of them together on your mantel for a fun and trendy look.

For more ideas and inspirations, check out my All That Glitters board on Pinterest.

Thanks for visiting!

The sources and credits for the images above can also be found on Pinterest.

Meet Jerry the pig.

Jerry used to be a detergent bottle but now he’s gained new life as a kid’s nightlight… or, perhaps, as a whimsical conversation piece owned by an adult who hasn’t forgotten how to be a kid.  Isn’t he great?

Steven Wine created Jerry and his menagerie of companions as a diversion from his regular work as lighting designer for ABYU (And Bob’s Your Uncle) and its partner company, BNO Design.

Read the rest of this entry »

Recycled wool sweaters are a definite trend right now (hmmm, next Trending post?), and I’ve seen lots of cute pillows, stuffed critters, and the like made from them, but this is the first time I’ve seen an entire blanket!

Created by Michelle Christman from LovelyJustLovely, this blanket is made up of 8 different thrift store sweaters that were then felted, pieced, and then sewn together with a tight zigzag stitch.

Read the rest of this entry »

William Morris once said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

 And 19^th-century architect Louis Sullivan proclaimed that “form ever follows function,” an idea that vastly influenced the modernist movement in design.

One can find much to uphold both maxims in the work of Stella Bleu Designs, where the creations of Mississippi-born designer Katie Katzenmeyer are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, elegant and sturdy.  In a word, useful.

On view at her website (along with her Etsy shop, here) are shelves and garment racks made from industrial steel pipe, reclaimed wood, and other salvage materials gleaned from local, family-owned salvage yards and demolition sites.  Everything is made from scratch in house. Read the rest of this entry »

Owls, deer, butterflies, songbirds of every sort,… even octopus!  All have become trends in graphics and interiors over the last few years, and for good reason.  Between the renewed interest in all things outdoors, and the surge in handcrafted artisan goods, it was inevitable that people would want to populate their homes with their own personal totem (or just animals they think are cool looking).

So, get ready to meet the “new” critter on the block…

Whether the Fantastic Mr. Fox, dapper in his regal orange coat, or the clever and magical Japanese kitsune, the big ears and clever ways of the fox capture our imagination.

So go ahead.  Get a little foxy with your home!

To see more images, inspiration, and sources for some of these great fox finds, check out my Trending – Foxes board on Pinterest.

Thanks for visiting!

Rachel

The Roaring Twenties. The Jazz Age. The Silent Era.

Whatever you call it, the time that gave birth to the Art Deco was one of opulence and optimism. Skyscrapers were going up, speakeasies were going underground, and the whole world was giddily coming out of a period of war.

(click on image to see full size)

Today, Art Deco is quietly, but firmly making a reappearance.  The bold geometric patterns that characterize the style were everywhere on the runways this year.  The costumery and interiors of Boardwalk Empire and The Artist have reintroduced a younger generation to the strong black and (almost) white palette.  The graphics for modern day posters are harkening back to the days of Art Deco and its curvealicious  cousin, Streamline Moderne.

Want to introduce a little Art Deco to your project?  Try borrowing from the simple but potent color combination of black, cream, and gold.  Lots of gold.  Then give it a feminine touch by adding coral or shell pink.  Or why not find an old club chair, with upswept arms and deep, cushy seats?  Perhaps some pillows with Art Deco inspired fabric.   Don’t forget the silk, the pearls, and the cocktail shaker.

You can mix Art Deco in with so many other styles.  Modern, Arts & Crafts, Mid-Century, traditional Japanese, Chinese….  the list goes on and on.  The key is to mix it in, not let it dominate, because you would quickly start to feel like you were living in a museum or a movie set.  That is, unless you WANT to live in a movie set.

As an aside, I love researching and writing these Trending posts, so you’re going to be seeing a lot of them from now on.  As an interior designer, I’m drawn to trends like a magpie, and I bet you are too.  Right now, I am playing around with ideas for how to make the trending articles even more relevant and useful, such as shopping lists, additional resources, and how to recreate the trends while sticking to sustainable practices.  If you have ideas on how they could be more interesting or useful to you, please let me know in the comments below.

As always, I have made a Trending – Art Deco board on Pinterest with even more images and inspiration.

Thanks for visiting!

Rachel

In interior design furniture, textiles, and light fixtures tend to steal the show but flooring – alas, often of less glamour – is equally essential. When one gets up in the morning and paddles through the house, it’s good to know that the comfortable carpet underfoot matches one’s ethics as well as it matches one’s furniture.

The idea of low- or no-VOC paint or finishes seem to have seeped into the public consciousness enough that the former are commonly found at big box home improvement stores.

Low-VOC carpet? Not so much.

So it was pleasant to discover these flooring options by Merida Meridian: carpet patterns which can not only contribute to LEED points but which are, according to the company, “Green-Label Plus certified”.

So what does that mean? Read the rest of this entry »

St Patrick’s Day holds a special place in my heart, ’cause, well, it’s my birthday day too.  So in celebration of all things green and Irish, here is a little St Patrick’s Day round-up, Etsy Style.

Looking for a little good luck?  How about this Lucky Horseshoe?

This recycled burlap pillow has (Irish) Whiskey stamped all over it.

Love this sweet little felt bunting made from a recycled wool sweater.

Read the rest of this entry »