Inspired.talk

Design Bloggers Conference and News about Blogfest 2012

Presenting in Seattle with the help of panelists Leah Steen and Faith Sheridan.

One of the greatest rewards of my job is hearing how designers are using social media to leverage their skills and experience and gain more recognition, more clients and offer better service to their existing clients. We began to host social media presentations across the country more than two years ago, and it eventually sparked the idea that became Blogfest. The world of social media has changed since 2009, but our core instinct to connect with one another remains intact, and these tools make it easier than ever.

The ballroom at the Design Bloggers Conference.

I recently attended the Design Bloggers Conference in Los Angeles. It was a jam-packed two days of great information for the design blogging community, not to mention great parties. I came back, mind reeling, ready for Blogfest 2012, which will be here before we know it!

If you’re attending Blogfest, we have a few exciting announcements:

Travel: If you haven’t made your travel arrangements just yet, keep in mind that there may be a great event Wednesday evening. We can’t reveal the details until everything is confirmed, but wanted to let you know. Also, you’ll get a free ticket to ICFF and the best time to attend will be Monday afternoon before we kick off at 5pm.

Swag: Our sponsorship team has been hard at work securing tons of great swag. I know it’s not time to think about packing, but when you do, make sure you leave room in your suitcase!

Speaking of sponsorship, we are still exploring a few strategic brand alliances for Blogfest 2012, so email us if you’re interested in sponsoring. If you’d like to attend, we are currently sold out but taking names for our waiting list. Email us your name and blog URL to add your name.

We’ll host a few more social media presentations this spring, so make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter for news and updates.

-JP

Maison & Objet September 2011 Trend Report

Maison & Objet continues to be one of the most important design shows in Europe, and it takes place in one of the most dynamic cities in the world, Paris. Each year, M&O presents three lifestyle trends, reflected and narrated with product from vendors at the exhibition. Although somewhat ethereal, these trends do trickle down, as we have seen from seasons past. 

One trend, the most literal of the three, referred to the influence of sports paraphernalia in all aspects of design. The United States has been witness to this trend for the longest time, so much so it is hardly a trend at all. With the branding of sports teams, and the fanaticism of fans, objects for the house abound in references to the equipment, uniforms, and environments related to the athletic endeavors of our heroes on the playing field.

 

Coupling, the second trend presented, focused on the interpretation of ordinary objects reconstructed with a dual appearance. Noteworthy were the series of chairs displayed, and the double headed deer treated with a needle point body.

 

Lastly, Private Obsessions highlighted the most obvious visible trend: the collecting of objects, a passion of many designers and their clients. Throughout the show, objects are presented as collections but rarely make it to the home that way. For the passionate few, collecting is a way of life. The focus on one object, in all its aspects, created visually stunning, graphic displays.

 

 

Beyond the formal trends presented, each attendee forms his and her own opinions and conclusions about the next wave of influences. Most obvious was the lack of color shown by many vendors. While bright colors played a larger role a year ago, this year’s palette was dominated by hues of gray, highlighted with dusty lavenders, hints of chartreuse and more neutrals. The exploration of textures, both natural and artificial, was stimulating and provided a tactile experience. Resins, leather, shagreen, wood, ceramics and porcelain contributed to materials used in unusual ways. Casual chic still seemed to dominate the overall mood of lifestyle interiors, interpreted with unique, individual touches.

Outside the show, in the streets of Paris, the boutiques are already filled with the latest fashion from the runway. One step ahead of the home industry (still!), will we soon see the influence of plaids, Mondrian and fetish in January 2012. Fur abounds, in all hues, but for the most part, colors were rather conservative. Gone are the feathers this year, replaced with snakeskin, head to toe.

January 20-24, 2012 is the next exhibition when the show is even bigger! Fabric editors from across Europe and the world show their wares at Maison & Objet and introduce their latest collections. If you want a jump start on your inspiration, Paris in January is the best place to be.

Windsor Smith and Veranda Present the House of Windsor

By Beth Greene

 
From left: Windsor Smith, Beth Greene, Roger Stoker, Katie Brockman

This lucky NY gal left behind some balmy weather and the Hamptons for the toniest of design events, the opening celebration of the "House of Windsor." If you aren’t familiar, this is not the one in the rainy countryside of the United Kingdom but rather it’s located in the swank suburb of Brentwood in Los Angeles, a neighborhood populated with equestrian estates and carriage houses.

Photo courtesy of Veranda. 

The House of Windsor is aptly named after the design entrepreneur and project manager, Windsor Smith. Finding an available piece of property across the street from her personal residence made this two-plus year project that much easier to undertake.

 
Photo courtesy of Veranda.

Once the plans were drawn, the House of Windsor gained momentum thanks to Windsor’s close group of designer friends. A list designers like Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Kathryn Ireland, Tara Shaw, Candace Barnes and many others offered their talents to the project.

No wonder VERANDA magazine signed on the dotted line to promote and feature this 8,300-square-foot mansion, beautifully designed with Directoire accents, in its upcoming October issue.

 
Photo courtesy of Veranda. 

The eco-friendly side of Windsor came out with re-purposed floors throughout the house, inlaid with intricate herringbone patterns. How clever of Windsor to base the color palette of the home on Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter, a pale grey/taupe, which she used as the exterior color with white trim and again in the front entrance way. As a licensing partner of Windsor Smith, Kravet fabrics and trimmings were prominently featured throughout the home.

Kathryn Ireland, Beth Greene, Jeff Lewis

The opening party was a West Coast star studded event! Red carpet, flashbulbs, TV cameras galore were present as the doors to this brick Federal Style estate were opened to the public for the very first time. In attendance were TV personalities like Jeff Lewis and his sidekick Jenny, Niecy Nash, Cheryl Tiegs as well as NY designer Philip Gorrivan and many many others including Veranda's editor in chief Dara Caponigro. Of course, Windsor's besties, fresh off the set of Million Dollar Decorators, were there in full swing to help her celebrate.

Enjoy the photos and look for the October issue of Veranda for more pictures and inspiration.

Backyard and outdoor dining area.

 
Photo courtesy of Veranda.

Dara Caponigro, Editor-in-Chief of Veranda

 
Photo courtesy of Veranda.

Carolyn Englefield, Philip Gorrivan, Beth Greene

 
Photo courtesy of Veranda.

The House of Windsor is open through July 17 to the public through a daily schedule of house tours and special events. Tickets can be purchased in advance here, and more information, including a list of special events, is available here.

Inspired in Asia by Barbara Barry

Last week during Blogfest 2011, a group of 100+ interior design bloggers had the chance to meet Barbara Barry one-on-one and hear the inspiration for her latest collection for Kravet, called Indochine. For the latest issue of inspired.news, Barry shared several personal snapshots from her trip and described her journey in her own words. Indochine is now available in Kravet showrooms across the country.

-JP

Barbara Barry presenting at Blogfest 2011, photo via Beth from Hello, Splendor

Inspired in Asia

Who wouldn’t like to slip away and spend a month in Asia? I would!… And I just did.

A week in Singapore, a week in Thailand, a week in India and a week in Japan. Asia became the center of my world and I am left with many tangible and precious memories. I visited my new showroom in Singapore . And my showroom in Bangkok. It was two weeks of press and parties! In India I traveled to see the factory where my sheeting is made outside of Bangalore. After three weeks of business I snuck away to Japan with a few days in Tokyo and even more in Kyoto. I have a color memory of each country and so much of this inspires my work.

 

Singapore was bright and lively with that wonderful color of aqua, buoyant like the sky and the sea. The jaw dropping marina bay sands casino with the boat on top and the aquamarine gallery walls outside my favorite restaurant True Blue.

 

The green of Thailand! The floating lotus at the Chedi in Chaing Mai and riding bikes through the rice fields on our way to Lisu Lodge for a picnic lunch rolled in banana leaves.

 

When I close my eyes and think of India I think of pink. The faded pink stone of a ceiling in a mosque or gorgeous pink city of Jaipur and the pink silk spinning on the looms at the silk factory.

 

And lastly Japan… When I think of Japan I think of shadow colors. The black of the koi pond, the blue black uniforms on the ladies at Ippodo Tea Company.

Ralph Lauren Home on Oceania Cruises’ New Ship Marina

 

With its latest ship, Marina, Oceania Cruises has partnered with interior designers and well-known high end brands to introduce a ship that redefines luxury on the high seas. We were fortunate enough to work with Oceania Cruises on its fabric selections, and in a previous post you can see many of the beautiful Kravet and Lee Jofa fabrics on board.

Another Oceania Cruises (and Kravet!) partner is Ralph Lauren Home. RLH products were on display in the largest private suite on the ship, one of the Owner’s Suites, which was designed by SB Long Interiors. The suite features furniture, fabrics, lighting and bedding from Ralph Lauren Home. Take a look at our photos of the beautiful suite: