Interior Design Sense

Spring has sprung! Besides getting ready for the beautiful weather, we’ve been busy asking our favorite Dallas showrooms about the top fabric trends for spring. This is what they said is big for 2012:

1. Ethnic/ Tribal Prints
Spring is a time to be playful, and these fun designs have been almost impossible to keep in stock.

2. Children’s Rooms
Grownups shouldn’t have all the fun- infants through teens are all enjoying the new designs this spring, especially the new line from Lulu DK that has been flying out of the Schumacher showroom.

3. Outdoor
Not too surprising is the popularity of outdoor fabrics.  Although we love spending time in our homes, there’s nothing like sprucing up a patio or porch for the upcoming warm weather!

4. Orange and Blue
Every season has its perfect palette, and this year, showrooms have noticed the popularity of bright orange and blue hues. Seen in almost every popular line from Modern Colors to Alexa Hampton, these colors are everywhere!

5. Colored Leather
One unexpected trend is the popularity of colored leather. Used for all types of spaces from bedrooms to offices to living rooms, this fabric is a fun little surprise, especially in bold colors.

Bonus: The anticipated trend for 2013? Kelly Green, and lots of it!

Not so much a yacht as it is a floating home, the Rieul-Useful provides luxurious accommodations from the comfort of the marina. The second floor consists of two bedrooms, an entertainment lounge and complete kitchen but the really special part is what’s underneath- the S-shaped design features a private dock on the first floor with space for a single hull yacht up to 15m long, giving yacht owners access to their own private amenities versus sharing facilities with a large yacht community.

Designer: Hyun-Seok Kim

Spring has sprung! Besides getting ready for the beautiful weather, we’ve been busy asking our favorite Dallas showrooms about the top fabric trends for spring. This is what they said is big for 2012:

1. Ethnic/ Tribal Prints
Spring is a time to be playful, and these fun designs have been almost impossible to keep in stock.

2. Children’s Rooms
Grownups shouldn’t have all the fun- infants through teens are all enjoying the new designs this spring, especially the new line from Lulu DK that has been flying out of the Schumacher showroom.

3. Outdoor
Not too surprising is the popularity of outdoor fabrics.  Although we love spending time in our homes, there’s nothing like sprucing up a patio or porch for the upcoming warm weather!

4. Orange and Blue
Every season has its perfect palette, and this year, showrooms have noticed the popularity of bright orange and blue hues. Seen in almost every popular line from Modern Colors to Alexa Hampton, these colors are everywhere!

5. Colored Leather
One unexpected trend is the popularity of colored leather. Used for all types of spaces from bedrooms to offices to living rooms, this fabric is a fun little surprise, especially in bold colors.

Bonus: The anticipated trend for 2013? Kelly Green, and lots of it!

Not so much a yacht as it is a floating home, the Rieul-Useful provides luxurious accommodations from the comfort of the marina. The second floor consists of two bedrooms, an entertainment lounge and complete kitchen but the really special part is what’s underneath- the S-shaped design features a private dock on the first floor with space for a single hull yacht up to 15m long, giving yacht owners access to their own private amenities versus sharing facilities with a large yacht community.

Designer: Hyun-Seok Kim

Not so much a yacht as it is a floating home, the Rieul-Useful provides luxurious accommodations from the comfort of the marina. The second floor consists of two bedrooms, an entertainment lounge and complete kitchen but the really special part is what’s underneath- the S-shaped design features a private dock on the first floor with space for a single hull yacht up to 15m long, giving yacht owners access to their own private amenities versus sharing facilities with a large yacht community.

Designer: Hyun-Seok Kim

After the beach-side house just beyond the dunes from earlier this week I though I’d share another. Just a little different. Or is it? What do you think? (And yes there are 4 bedrooms with bath in room and ensuite!) The Dune House by Norwegian architects JVA (Jarmund/Vigsnæs AS Arkitekter MNAL) and built on the shore in Thorpness, England is available for holiday rental.

Architecture needs relationship … Architecture ought to be interesting rather than pretty … Architecture should be exiting, not just satisfying … Architecture is not just about the money.

I got my hands on some new properties from the lovely folks over at West London estate agents Domus Nova. They always have really cool or really wacky homes on their roster. The 3 today would qualify as being somewhat wacky. Or at least out of the ordinary. Here is the first one, located in the heart of Notting Hill. It’s 3 bedrooms, oddly shaped, 3-storey, 2040 sq ft and formerly the home of singer Robbie Williams. These owners sure have eclectic taste. I’m not sure how many people have the balls to buy a monstrous eggplant coloured sectional – and then outfit it with orange and yellow pillows. 

The first isn’t a home, it’s a house – I wouldn’t take my coat off in it. If ever a house’s attitude said, “Sod off!” The second has comfortable, welcoming public areas. If the kitchen is a little ratty, at least you can see a group of people having a good time in it. But the kids’ rooms in the first house are fantastic – move them into the ‘a bit tarted-up’ house, where the bedrooms are woeful indeed.

The first isn’t a home, it’s a house – I wouldn’t take my coat off in it. If ever a house’s attitude said, “Sod off!” The second has comfortable, welcoming public areas. If the kitchen is a little ratty, at least you can see a group of people having a good time in it. But the kids’ rooms in the first house are fantastic – move them into the ‘a bit tarted-up’ house, where the bedrooms are woeful indeed.

Instead of doing my usual blog favourites of late post today, at the last minute I decided to instead feature one really inspiring blog instead. I heard about 47 Park Avenue a while back via an email from one of its creators, Michael, an owner of London based locations company Shoot Factory. Michael and his partner Jonathan purchased 47 Park Avenue in May of last year, a stunning home (with 3 reception rooms! 5 bedrooms!) that was desperately in need of some wallpaper removal, paint jobs, walls knocked out and pretty much a complete overhaul. They’ve been working very hard to get their home out of the 50′s and into the new millennium and while still a work in process, what has been accomplished so far is incredible. The vintage furniture and lighting they have sourced is all TO-DIE-FOR, and everything being painted black and white is just right-on. And their dogs are too cute! Their blog and the progress on their home is a must-follow. (I had to include some before photos so you get the full effect of the transformation).