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I am not one for practical jokes, but as a designer I do love  a good visual trick or two.  That’s what I am seeing lately -trompe l’oeil (French for “deceive the eye”)  looks from fashion to decor that marries whimsy and humor with style and design.

I’m seeing trompe l’oeil looks in :

Walls

Piet Hein Eek’s wallpaper  makes scrap wood gorgeous!

Koziel’s antique shutter wallpaper doubles your fun.This paper gives you pause- is there or isn’t there a window there?

What can a say?- Christain LaCroix for Designers Guild. LOVE.LOVE. LOVE

Need architectural detail? Berard has it.

Doors

Shelving

Deborah Bowness is a Genius with fool the eye looks

Everyone loves books Right?

Textiles

Windows

I ♥ Bauke Knottnerus’ trompe l’oeil curtains, they can be on a window in a doorway fooling the eye into believing there’s more space thanks to the perspective.

Koziel’s Decorative film provides the view and the ornate ironwork.

Fashion

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I’m forecasting textiles with a bright & youthful styling  and a new breed of intense, yet understated luxury that is meant to be admired rather than envied. Design studios at Surtex and Heimtextil said one of the strongest demands they have been receiving is for hand-painted designs, many noting that hard lines and computer-generated creations are less in demand. I concur that the free flow of the hand is growing in popularity and that artisan looks are  key.

What better way to do that than with florals. These florals are not the viney, mid size motifs from past years. Those have given way to large sometimes ethnic influenced full blown blooming florals in size, scale and motif.   

Pillow: Bluebellgray Fashion: Christopher Kane

Big blooms are making an impact in both fashion+ home. One of our favorites is Bluebellgray.

 We saw this new fabric collection at M&O introduced by two young gun Scottish designers influenced by a love of color and all things floral.  The designs are something unique and special; each design is painted by hand in the Bluebellgray studio before being printing onto natural cottons and linens using state- of- the- art digital printing.

 Digital printing enables every brushstroke and color to be captured, enhancing the feel of the hand painted design. The pieces above have a sense of provenance and the designer behind the product, adding to the feeling of exclusivity. (Hard to believe they are digitally printed!)

 Shortlisted for an Elle Decoration Design award at TENT London last month for their collaboration with Roger Lewis, the design philosophy behind the brand adheres to the ‘eclectic mix’ school of thought.  As Fiona says ‘it’s ok when things don’t match, if you love it- go with it!’ The designs are aimed at people looking for something unique and individual for their home, an antidote to mass production.

More Evidence:

Amrapali Fall/ Winter 2011 Designer’s Guild

Collier Campbell for Fabricut VPR 36"

Catalina for Duralee

Wall panels from Jakob Schlaepfer

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The fashion world’s loss is the interior design world’s gain. In Janaury, we saw Christain LaCroix’s brillant collection for Designers Guild and now he recently launched his furniture collection for Sicis’ Next Art Mosaic Factory. With designs inspired from the famous mosaics of the Byzantine empress Theodora, who LaCroix describes as “an archetype of femininity”, the furniture  reflects  a heady mix of styles with a touch of flamboyance and extravagance .

Christian Lacroix has been a recognized force in interior decoration for some time as he dreamt up several illustrious hotels, cinemas and theatres. The new furniture collection made up of 12 chairs, light fixtures, tables  and ottomans combining fabric and leather, accented with lace, passementerie, and embroidery is set for worldwide distribution from June 2011 in all of SICIS’s showrooms.

Mr. LaCroix on his inspiration for the collection…..

“Having the privilege of being brought up between monuments, museums and 17th century houses – all well-steeped in the history of art – gave me the confidence that everything could be mixed up, particularly the most extreme styles such as baroque, neo-classical, post- modern, kitsch and pop.”

With regard to the furniture’s enviably sensual shapes, Mr Lacroix demonstrates his practical and grounded side, stressing that amongst the curves and contours, comfort was a key consideration. Meanwhile, to enhance the magnificence of the mosaics – exuberantly colorful and jewel-like in appeal – he used them sparingly, opting for a light, subtle hand. Elegant as ever, Mr Lacroix’s main goal was to create furniture conjuring up “refinement and individuality.”

I am so hoping we’ll get a up close and personal look at Maison et Objet in September. (BTW- LOVE! the lace applique on the ottoman.) This is a ceramic tour de force about the art of living.

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