Posts from — May 2011

I am often asked,”Why on earth would I want to spend the time, effort and money to go to a design show abroad? My clients aren’t interested in the products shown there, it’s too difficult and complicated to source products overseas, and the exchange rates make it too expensive. “

My answer is- if for nothing else- Inspiration! I couldn’t say it better that the way CB2 recently in their blog post- How Did we Get Here?- giving the back-story on their new Tie-1- On sectional inspired from a trip to Milan Design Week last year.

So what’s the story behind the Tie-1-on sectional?

It all started at Milan last year.

They got comfy thinking about it here…

so they talked it over with a few of these

and added a few of these…( hence the name.)

I often see major US retailers in the aisles working the show and I always make note of what they are interested in, because I know it’ll show up in their stores and it’s what my clients will be getting excited about. So, expand your horizons! Think globally even if you sell locally!

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So if you haven’t heard, Targethas announced, via Twitter, it’s next big design /fashion collaboration will be with Italian luxury brand Missoni.The 400+ piece (supposedly the largest to date) collection, Missoni for Target, features apparel and accessories for women, men, girls and baby, as well as home goods including bedding, dinnerware, stationery and décor items. Ranging in price from $2.99 to $599.99, with most items less than $40.Missoni for Target will be available Sept. 13 through Oct. 22, 2011 at all Target stores and Target.com.

“Our collection for Target embodies Missoni’s values of family, color and quality,” said creative director Angela Missoni. “It has been a fantastic experience translating our aesthetic into an affordable line, one we are eager to share with families across the United States.”

Who knows if the colorful and pattern happy knits and fabrics that Missoni is known for will translate into lower quality materials, but this is no doubt this is another WIN another for Target and accessible design.

I see some fabulous Flamestitch in my future! ( I passed on this summer’s launch of Calypso Home.) Mark your calendars.

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The winner of our book giveaway- Mark Hampton, American Decorator is Linda Bassert. Congrats Linda. The book is coming your way!

She answered the question:

What is American Style? How do you define what is quintessentially “ American“.

American Style is Independent, Based on Tradition, Innovative, and Lifestyle oriented. We don’t worry about having our homes look just like our neighbors - we’re happy to have it reflect our own personalities. Our traditions are younger t…han some other parts of the world, so we may be inspired by something traditional or a part of our region’s history ( whether the Williamsburg of Virginia, or the Victorian mansions of the Chicago business tycoons, or the Spanish structures of our Western regions), but we may also take that traditional building and put a comtemporary interior. Or take a comtemporay interior, and throw in a Chippendale chair as sculpture. We are innovative, full of initiative, and so our design is dynamic, and reflects measured change, while not being trendy. And our living extends to outdoor spaces, and the relationship to the out of doors, whether a fabulous urban view, or the rolling plains, or the woods out back. American style is like Americans: Independent, Based on Tradition, Innovative, full of Initiative. I’ll have that slice of Apple pie now.

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I will be speaking at Decorating Den National Conference at Renaissance Glendale, AZ on Sunday, May 22, 2025

Here’s what I’ll be speaking about:

Design Inspiration: Past, Present, Future

There’s an old adage: “If you’re going to borrow, be sure to borrow from the best.” Discover the eccentricities and exuberance of Tony Duquette, the unstudied elegance of Sibyl Colefax, the surprising boldness of Dorothy Draper as we explore the design giants of the past. You’ll see some of their trademark design elements and learn how to incorporate these classic concepts into your designs. There is no better place to look for inspiration today then to study the trade secrets of the greats like John Fowler, Sister Parish, Billy Baldwin, David Hicks, Elsie de Wolfe, Syrie Maugham. With their signature styles as a frame of reference we’ll see the latest new product introductions, color and material trends from some of the world’s leading design shows through photos and actual sampling. This whirlwind tour brings the latest design theme to you, outlining how certain products and style references develop from one show to the next. Get your hit of international inspiration along with a sneak peek of what the design future holds, all without having to walk endless miles of aisles.

Transform Custom to Couture: A Designer’s Guide to High Style Window Fashions

Learn innovative ways to make a window statement with this designer’s guide to High Style Window Fashions. We’ll cover style prescriptions for all types of specialty windows such as dormers, arches, bays, atrium doors, window walls and more. Learn the tricks the pros know to turn a problem window into an opportunity. Then we’ll turn our attention to design and construction techniques that can make your custom window fashions into couture treatments. Discover dressmaker-inspired specialties as stitch in the ditch, hand picking, slotted seams, trapunto, corded tucks, ruffling, curtain fills, origami bands and wadded hems; plus Deb’s original and innovative headings. See samples right off the runway in this presentation that will help build your own one-of-a kind couture portfolio of inspired techniques, processes and creative styling’s and takes your work to the next level. We’ll discuss how to specify these techniques, what fabrics each works best with, and how these can be used to build your bottom line.

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French

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