Crystal Chandeliers and Lighting done right...

Gone are the days of those hideous crystal chandeliers... You know the ones, dripping in small faceted pieces of that sparkly stuff in cascading or dripping off a circular frame hanging twenty feet up in the air, overtaking any Mob Family's "grand entry foyaahh" in Jersey or Staten Island... Well okay those horrible things still exist, but thank god, there are now acceptable options to still celebrate this wonderfully luxurious material... CRYSTAL.

Alison Berger is one of my favorites as she really understands how to showcase the best qualities in crystal without a thousand facets in site... Her simple straight forward approach is shown here in one of her pendants and sconces.

Timothy Oulton hasn't remade the wheel, or the chandelier, for that matter, but just added to it to make it something completely new... Who knew the addition of a simple metal sphere surrounding a classic crystal chandelier could transcend it into something completely modern and  awesome?!...

Dennis and Leen's lighting is always rooted in tradition, but their shapes and applications are what keeps it fresh. Here's one of there simple chandeliers, but each metal arm is laced in beads of crystal and at the tip of each is alternating colors of crystal, intermixed with rock crystal, which is just perfection.  This is a prime example of a fixture that can go in a very traditional, transitional or contemporary setting without being an eye sore.

Michael McHale has taken my favorite look, industrial chic and given it just a bit of sparkle... This gives the otherwise very bare and sometimes very masculine look a feminine touch, which is still very much acceptable in any guy's eyes.  So chic...

Who did it better?...

I've been scrolling through hundreds and hundreds of fabulous images of the latest menswear collections for my contributions to the Fashion + Decor website due to launch next month, which is ridiculously exciting... But in doing so I noticed a few looks that were remarkably similar to each other.  So this leads me to my question of, "Who did it better?"

Both Moschino and Jean Paul Gaultier's Fall 2012 collections were quite graphic and celebrated pattern, but what are the odds the patterns are basically the same?  Who did the better grey brick pattern?

Not only did the two fashion powerhouses utilize the same grey brick pattern, but also in orange? I don't get it... Who leaked the information, or is this a true trend happening, and they are the only ones that know of "Brick Layer Chic"? Hehehe...

Moschino again is in the hotseat, this time comparing graffiti patterns with Dries Van Noten's 2012 Fall Collection... What do you think?

Who did it better?  You be the judge!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

Here's "three thousand words" that I just find particularly intriguing...

These are just a few of the images I've got on my Pinterest page... Come join me!

Louis Vuitton is coming home...???

So the Fall/Winter 2012 showing of Louis Vuitton's collection just went down the runway earlier today in Milan, and you know I love the translation of couture to interieur...  Let's just see what I can up with based off the gorgeous looks that were presented by the iconic brand...

So wanting everything that came out of that monumental shiny silver globe, that is the World of Louis Vuitton!

A Pouf is a Pouf is a Pouf... Not really...

A pouf is a wonderful way to bring in unexpected color, texture and form into a room that may otherwise be bland.  A pouf is also an easy way to incorporate more seating into a space that requires flexibility within its usage without committing to larger furniture pieces.

First of all, for some out there scratching their heads, "What is a pouf?"

pouf:  Also, pouffe. a broad, backless, usually round, cushion-like seat, often large enough for several people.

So most people are familiar with the Moroccan style of what a pouf is.  Many times you see them in every shade of the rainbow, and generally done in leather since it's meant to be kicked around, and have many people throw their feet up on it.  A great way to also bring a bit of glam into a room is to go with a metallic leather pouf, like the gold one shown below from John Derian. 

  

Another style of pouf or ottoman is in a kilim.  This too is another very traditional pattern, but brings a new dimension to any seating area with the strong graphic elements.  This one from Horchowis only $199, which is a great value for the amount of visual you get in such a small and useful package.  Getting a pair alongside a cocktail table is the easiest way to get extra seating into a living room or den...

Now leather and fabric are not the only ways a pouf comes... Check out this awesome solution for recycling the latex waste from shoe manufacturers...  It's a Latex Roll Pouf, as their slogan reads, "A seat with a footprint!"

There are poufs in other shapes which can sometimes be fun, in the shape of animals, like this Rhino from Omersa and Company. 

Missoni Home is known for their inventive use of color and pattern, and their take on a traditional cylindrical pouf is just so chic, especially with the addition of the smart leather pull on the side, making it so easy to move around. 

This is the Taiko Pouf, where a lightness has been given to the usual heavy pouf.  Raising the cushion up on a beautifully woven base allows the pouf to not appear so massive in the room.  Not that a pouf is massive by any means, but this gives it a lovely airy quality.

So whether you're looking to squeeze more seating in a room, or and a splash of color, or even just looking to fill that void in your space, a pouf is a perfect way to make your eyes and weary feet happy... They are such an affordable way to freshen up a room!

Window Treatment talk...

We all know that an undressed window is just a missed opportunity to warm up a room and really help set the tone for the environment, but what style of window treatment do you go with? What sort of fabric? Patterned or plain fabric?  There are a lot of things to consider, like window heights, ceiling heights, sill heights? Is there a door, or is it a working window? Does the window swing in/out or tilt? All these factors determine what is appropriate.  Here are my four most frequently used style of window treatments and why:  The Ripple Fold drapery panel, the Tailored Pleat drapery panel, a Flat Roman shade, and also a Relaxed Roman shade.

What I did was I used 3 different fabrics on the the 4 mentioned treatments to show how different fabrics look according to the usage. 

The first of my go-to treatments is the clean and simple Ripple Fold drapery. This is a clean and contemporary way to dress a window or door where you'd like to accentuate the height of the ceiling or the span of glass...  This is a treatment that works well with sheer fabrics and heavier weight textiles making it a great layering treatment.  The Ripple Fold Drapery panel is one of the easiest to operate as fabric is run on a simple track, much like a hospital track, effortlessly gliding back and forth.  The soft folds offer visual fullness and total utility... Great option for most homes regardless of style.

Ripple Fold Drapery Panels

The next option if a drapery panel treatment is your choice is the Tailored or Top Pleat drapery panel.  This is similar in its operation ease to the Ripple Fold, but as opposed to the complete simplicity of the Ripple Fold, void of any pinching or pleating of the fabric, the Tailored Pleat drapery treatment gathers small sections at the top of the panel.  This will create the folding action with very little fluffing to make it look perfect.

Tailored Pleat Drapery Panel

If you have a smaller window or one that can't accommodate heavier drapery panels on the side of it, or you don't want have so much fabric in the room, then a Roman shade is the way to go.  I personally go for either a Flat Roman Shade or a Relaxed Roman Shade.  The great thing about a Roman Shade is it gives you easy light control in the room, as well as a treatment that when retracted only enhances the window without overpowering. 

The Flat Roman Shade is one that is more appropriate for everyday use that will be raised and lowered, since its construction is more rigid and needs no maintenance to keep it looking good open or closed, while a Relaxed Roman is structurally less stable and is more decorative.  The Relaxed Roman is great for use in a guest room or kitchen where it's a finishing aesthetic detail, not a utilitarian choice.

Flat Roman Shade

Relaxed Roman Shade

All the images of the actual treatments were generated on the Shade Store site, which is a great source to play around with different looks... I chose a graphic pattern, a solid neutral fabric and a lovely colorful stripe.  As you can see each style of treatment showcases the fabric very differently, so all things needed to be considered.  Just remember there's really very little that is technically "WRONG" in design... Have fun with it!

Where do they live?...

Oh Fashion Week in Milan is going strong and couture galore for Fall 2012 is being sent down the runway... I just love this time of the year and what I love even more is "fantasizing" if you will about where these non-humans we like to call "models" live... I know most of them don't live glamorously at all, most of them in very meager apartments, sometimes quite a few of them sharing a place, but let's pretend, since they're dressed in the most awesome clothes that they are in equally awesome accommodations...

John Varvatos Fall 2012

Etro Fall 2012

Gucci Fall 2012

It could happen... I guess... I love the clothes and the interiors!...

Reasons why Reclaimed is so Rad!...

Just a dozen or so reasons why going the reclaimed route is just awesome! These are images I'm accumulating on my Pinterest page under "Reclaimed Love"...