I have a soft spot for wisteria.  I know it is one of those things, like tea-cups and lace curtains, that evokes the early 1990s and old issues of Victoria Magazine.  I can’t help it.  It’s still just so darn pretty and it reminds me of Spring.

But I really think Farrow & Ball has done a beautiful job with their new Wisteria wallpaper.  Block printing and their own eco-friendly paints are what give the paper it’s sense of depth and quality.

If pastels don’t suit your taste, no worries.  Farrow & Ball offers this paper in 20 different colorways, including this stunner… Read the rest of this entry »

I am a treehugger.  There, I’ve said it.  It’s true, and not just in the sense of being an eco-minded individual either.  I literally love trees.  They fascinate me.

One of the most interesting and beautiful aspects of trees is the variation found on their bark.  From the rough and rugged oak, to the delicate, papery aspen, trees come in a tremendous range of colors and textures.  But as much as I love wood as an interior element, it had never really occurred to me to use the bark in my designs.

Luckily, Bark House, part of Highland Craftsman, came along and created a material that any designer could be inspired by. Read the rest of this entry »

For the third post in our series on Japanese craft I thought we could take a look at natural wall plasters.

Image via Japanese Wall

The traditional Japanese home’s interior is made up of an artful blend of wooden floors, tatami mats, shoji screens and natural plaster walls.   Although most modern homes in Japan now use drywall and paint, the call for more sustainable building methods has created a renewed interest in the traditional plasters. Read the rest of this entry »

For the second in our series on Japanese artisan crafts, we will take a look at the 1,400 year old tradition of washi, or Japanese handmade paper.

Brought to Japan in 610 AD by Buddhist monks, the art of washi making spread across Japan, till by the late 1800’s, over 100,000 families were employed in the craft.  However, once European mechanical papermaking techniques were introduced, the number of washi makers rapidly declined, until it hit a low of only 479 families in 1983.

Image via Precious Pieces

These remaining families have worked hard to maintain the traditions of their craft, and some artisans are considered to be national treasures of Japan.

It is the beauty of the paper though, that has given washi a new life in the world of interior design. Read the rest of this entry »

I was excited to see that Idea Paint has introduced the new “Lil’ Bit” kit, which contains just enough of their terrific dry erase paint (in White), to cover 3 square feet.  The next size up kit covers 25 sf, and costs $99, while the Lil’ Bit kit is a mere pittance at $25!  Durable, water based, easy to apply, and environmentally friendly, Idea Paint can be applied to any flat surface.  Walls, furniture, refrigerators, chalkboards – you name it! Read the rest of this entry »