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I will be speaking at Decorating Den National Conference at Renaissance Glendale, AZ on Sunday, May 22, 2011

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.

French

I am being swept into the techno world. I am not a full fledged geek yet, but do love me some gadgets and when coupled with design, I’m in. So I was sucker for Microsoft’s  home of the future:

 According to MS, the Microsoft Home is

…a place to explore technology scenarios that could transform the way we live in five to 10 years. Built as a full-scale model home in the company’s Executive Briefing Center, the Home is used to explore practical applications of cutting-edge technical trends, and exhibit futuristic prototype technologies to a variety of industry and government leaders, partners and customers.

While the space is a private testing ground accessible by invitation only, the video below provides a glimpse of what a day in the suburban future could look like in 2025. Among other advances, check out:

• touchscreen, wireless & ‘smart’ charging plates that also read sensors in your products to interpret your personal data, including vital health statistics
• interactive walls consisting of various screens – which are in turn controlled by a simple flip of a light switch
• visual analysis via image-to-image search for each image featured in your home entertainment screen (i.e., ability to search for travel schedules, restaurant information, and backback purchase information for all items featured in a travel show); this is cool – right now, we really just do text-based search
• motion-controlled digital wallpaper capturing your personal digital ecosystem, including real-time texts, Facebook status updates or Twitter feed updates

OK, so we really have to get on the stick when it comes to innovative window coverings to match up to these other elements in the room!. Any ideas?

via Engadget

First things first- Congrats to Candace Phelps of CPDC Decor, Germantown MD  , the winner of Essential Elegance by Solis Betancourt!

Still in the cleaning and purging mood so as  promised, next up is Mark Hampton, An American Decorator by Duane Hampton. This book starts with a very personal essay about Mark, his life, career and successes by his wife, Duane and follows with a retrospective of his work for some of Americas movers and shakers. The icing on the cake- interspersed in the pages are Mark’s delightful watercolors and gouaches. 

 Mark Hampton, one of the most famous and admired designers of the 20th century, he has been called ” an icon of American Style.”  Hampton epitomizes American success- growing up in small town Indiana and gaining world wide fame. He worked for some of the most venerable design firms in the U.S.- Parish- Hadley, David Hicks, McMillen, Inc. so it’s not surprising that  that designers today still look to his work as a guideline and inspiration.  Some of my favorites:

So to celebrate a great American Decorator, let’s give away his book.

To enter to win the book, just answer my question below by commenting on the post.  You’ll automatically be entered into a drawing for this great book. I’ll draw a winner when I get back from Vegas next week.

In the spirit of the book, What is American Style? How do you define what is quintessentially “ American“. Post your answer in the comments below to be entered to win the book.

Oh yes- watch for posts on KBIS and Vision11 – what’s new, what’s not; my musing and more….it’s Vegas Baby!!!

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