Architectural Digest Home Show 2010 - Great Finds

Design events and shows are always a welcome break to meet new people and check out the latest creations. While I could do without the $5 bottles of water and throngs of people, the culinary demonstrations, free wine, and handouts are more than enough of a reason to attend! The Architectural Digest Home Show held this past weekend is one of the best of the year – and as always, proved to be a day of great new finds.

Here are a few of my FAVORITE new items:

Not only were no animals hurt in the making of this lighting fixture, but the clean contemporary white lacquer and rustic origin give this chandelier a unique eclectic look. By Roll and Hill.

A remake of an original created by Tucker Robbins, these are fabulous, solid wood accent chairs that would be great as an accent to a brightly patterned throw.

One of the newest trends I've been seeing around are enclosed chandeliers. This chandelier by John Pomp studios, however, is the first glass enclosed chandelier I've seen of this magnitude in a residential setting. How fabulous would this be in a loft?!

Above are artistic steel accent tables by John Beck Paper & Steel. They can be made with any number of your choosing. Such a clever idea to be used in a cluster.

This is a beautiful infinity edge console with rough edges by Tucker Robbins which is stunning.

Walking around DUMBO in Brooklyn, I saw a fabulous industrial lighting fixture and my heart skipped a beat. 22 CC Industrial furnishings specialize in industrial items such as this cage floor lamp which ranks as one of my top finds this show!

Another great lighting fixture by Roll & Hill with a unique rendition of the antler chandelier!

I happened to come upon the John Pomp Studio at the show – hard to miss actually, since the booth was able to hold this massive table. The uncut edges give what would be an otherwise streamlined table an organic look. The table top is available in a few different materials. Can you say ‘Hamptons eat in kitchen?’

Here is another mixed chandelier with industrial old fashion lighting by Zia Priven. The metal can be made with any finish (brass, copper, oil rubbed, satin nickel, etc.). While I love the fake candle chandelier from Restoration Hardware, this is far more authentic!

And finally... I couldn't resist. They have dominos too!

See something that peaks your interest? Shoot me a note for some great related items at erin@emc2interiors.com.

Architectural Digest Home Show - NYC 2010

On this gorgeous 70 degree spring day, I will not be exploring new shops around New York City as much as I would like. However with Spring comes new designs and styles, therefore I am excited to be posting throughout this weekend showing you all new, up in coming designs showcased at the Architectural Digest Home Show!! Stay tuned for pictures from the show and top things I LOVE and of course.... HATE!

EMC2 Project Spotlight: Monet Water Lily Theme Nursery

Despite the record amounts of snow, it’s already March and spring is coming fast. And with spring comes baby season. Therefore, I thought I’d showcase one of my most recent nursery designs.

The mom-to-be of a little girl loved colorful impressionist art and specifically the Monet Water Lily paintings. I used this as the basis to style the room.

We assembled a Monet painting into a variety of vintage style frames, to create an accent wall over the glider. I am a firm believer in nursery furniture that can be used post-baby. This glider would fit well as accent chair in an office or living room.

 

We also chose furniture that will be able to grow with the child. The changing table can become a double dresser, and the crib can be transitioned into a toddler bed, followed by a double bed with the addition of rails. Art work was selected with transition in mind. The style can adjust to be less youthful overtime. This makes a nursery far more economical given the potentially large initial investment.

 

Nestled under a tree, the crib is centered in the room. EMC2 Interiors custom designed and hand painted this whimsical tree, creating a calming focal point for the room.

Birds, Birds, Birds

I love the winter, but after all this snow and cold, I’m getting pretty excited for the spring. A recent scan through facebook confirms that most of you are too.

In anticipation of afternoon park rendezvous, farmer’s market trips, and storing winter clothes far, far away, it’s never to early to start thinking about fun spring designs! I'm a big sucker for incorporating furniture and accessories that are nature themed. One of my new favorite designs is the use of birds. Check out some of the fun and funky items I've come across!

The use of industrial wire with the brightly colored ceramic birds is fantastic! To top it off, I'd add a vintage style light bulb with exposed metal (below).

Combining both texture and nature, these wooden napkin rings from Z-Gallerie are sure to be a conversation starter at any dinner party.

Add a Scandinavian approach by incorporating a wooden mobile like this one from Anthropologie - your living room or kid’s room will have a fun, almost whimsical feel.

 

The bright spring colors for this dishcloth would be perfect in a vintage kitchen mixing the old with the new.

I love incorporating abstract art into all styles. Especially if you're spending a good chunk of change, you are going to want your visitors to notice your design style!

I wish I saw these when I was writing my "Destination Organization" post! I love finding funky new folders, and while these don't include the same witty comments, they are gorgeous!

Sneak a Peak: Bedroom Design Case Study

My fiance and I recently moved into a new apartment that was able to hold more than a just a bed and a small dresser, a rarity for the younger New York crowd. With this newfound space, I was able to design my ideal bedroom from the ground up.  

I start with a big caution. It’s all too easy to go out to a Raymour & Flannigan or Rooms-to-Go and buy a complete set of furniture. The commercials make it look so nice and easy – and it is. But it’s also exceptionally boring and, for most of you, you’ll be sick of it pretty quickly. With a little effort (or a professional designer like yours truly), you can make a bedroom you’ll be excited to sleep in!

Now let’s get to the design. With a real space (at 15 ft x 12 ft, it's actually big enough to be entitled the word MASTER). The bed of course is the center piece, but you can actually still choose what the focus is. A quality headboard is a must. I wanted to create an upholstered headboard with brushed nickel nail heads to give a tailored look while keeping a cozy feel.

The next necessary item is a dresser. I went for a classic, solid wood double dresser. The thing I particularly loved about this dresser was the masculine patina finish on the handles. The legs were inset which added to the unique look of the room.

Lighting is another critical element sometimes overlooked in the average bedroom. Pictured above is the gorgeous, smoke blue Murano glass lamp. It's difficult to find a masculine chandelier, but this might fit the bill as both! Along with some reading lamps, we have our lighting needs well covered.

If you have the room as we did, I absolutely love the metal legs and nail heads on this chaise lounge from Shine by Sho!

All wool handknotted Makhmal rug from ABC Carpet to tie the room together.

In our last apartment, our bed touched 3 out of 4 walls in the room – it was quite literally a bed-room. I have been dreaming of nightstands for a while now, so I chose antiqued mirror drawer chests to straddle the bed.

So what do you think? Send me some comments on my ideas for our new master bedroom and I promise to share the final results! Stay tuned for an up in coming post showcasing possible accessories too!

PB&J Worthy Splurges

Ever come across a decorative accessory or piece of furniture and wonder if it's a smart buy? Is it worth a month of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner just to afford it? It’s rarely an easy answer. Even as a professional I spend untold hours looking at decor for client’s homes. It can take a lot of research to determine if an item makes the right statement at a worthwhile price.

Here are few items that I label ‘statement pieces’ – and are definitely worth stretching your budget and having a few PB&J's for dinner.

Anyone who knows me can tell you I am obsessed with nature inspired FF&E (that’s furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the uninitiated). I absolutely love this table. Global Views did a fabulous job creating this sleek granite and ebony metal tree table. It was even showcased on Oprah - that's how you know it's a big deal! I am perpetually hunting for a place in my house to give me a reason to buy it.

The next item is hardly a splurge, but as I discussed in a past blog, I believe that IKEA does occasionally surprise me with their accessories. This Ebony Framed Mirror is a whopping 7' tall and 3' wide with a very thick ebony frame. Designed to lean against a wall, this is a great item to make your space look contemporary, stylish and most importantly, larger. For only $99, this is a Jim Cramer-level BUY.

I know what you're thinking: who would put lemons in a lamp?! This lamp actually offers endless possibilities to change the style of the base by filling the cylinder with anything from rocks, sand, glass, to, yes, even fruit! The modern clear glass lamp can even be used holding nothing at all - meaning it can work in any surrounding. Lamps Plus offers this lamp for just $99, making it another great BUY.

Recently, while looking at new manufacturers, I came upon this company and I think I caught myself blushing. The case goods and lighting by Shine by Sho can't be described as anything else but stunning. The detailing with nail heads are enough to make me want to get my hammer and "revamp" my coffee table. The white lacquer nail head accent tables are a perfect accessory to stand out in a room and make a statement.

Because of my newfound infatuation with Shine by Sho, I had to finish this post with another accessory of theirs. The color dandelion piece is a marvelous addition to an eclectic room. Not only are the geometric shapes on the base visually stimulating, but the bright yellow color and the tall drum shade capped off with a crystal finial just make me happy.

Destination Organization

With all the different sources of information and pulls on your time, maintaining basic organization can easily consume a big part of your day – and, if you’re anything like me, you still feel like you’re behind. Sure, there are a few people out there with spotless homes and alphabetized books on their shelves. If you’re one of them, this column isn’t for you (and if you are, maybe you can share your secrets). The rest of us need all the help we can get. As an interior designer, I continually look for products that can help organize yet add style to a home. Here are a stylish few that I’ve recently come across.

Pottery Barn has created a new system of organizers that are equal parts decorative and functional. Their ‘Rustic Wall Organizers’ would be a great focal point in dressing up an otherwise boring home office, kitchens, or laundry room.

Most stores supply some kind of organizational desk systems, but West Elm has a new, unique looking Lacquer collection that is very sleek and contemporary. As an extra bonus, white products add a clean look to a sometimes cluttered desk.

A great way to generate a high-end looking design for a low budget is to creatively spice up selective IKEA products. In designing one of my recent home offices, I used a basic IKEA ‘Bergsbo’ bookcase and inserted linen paper instead of the standard (and boring) laminate backing. Decorative knobs rounded out the feel of far pricier furniture.

Storage ottomans are a chic way to add extra seating as well as storage. Z-Gallerie just released an all-new Chelsea upholsterered storage cubes with nail head detailing that would be a great fit in any room.

Finally, for those with a sense of humor, Z-Gallerie also supplies a collection of hilarious folders including, "To Do", "To File", and my favorite for those procrastinators, "To Ponder" paper folders.