This July, TGI has been introduced to Thom Filicia's new collection of fabrics from our friends at the Kravet Showroom and we are in love! His line balances fresh designs, with quality fabrics and budget-friendly pricing. Flipping through his samples, we saw a use of fun prints mixed in with clean and classic textures to create a collection that really exemplifies his design aesthetic: timeless beauty with personality.
Thom's
video on the Kravet website is a great way to hear him further describe the collection and really shows the range of his designs. We think his solid textures are so practical for upholstery and his prints are perfect for fun pillows and drapes.
We're such big fans of Thom's that we've already placed an order for his woven, blue-gray fabric for an upholstered, ottoman. It fits in perfectly for our client's fun & sophisticated living room and will wear beautifully with 100,000 double rubs! What's better than that?
T.G.I.F :)
Photos courtesy of Kravet
Accessories act as the finishing touch to any project. They help bring in color, texture, and give rooms that "lived-in" feel. I always suggest incorporating pieces that have meaning (treasured heirlooms, antiques or family photos), but if you're looking to introduce some fresh, new items, below are my recommended vendors for any budget...
1.
Z-Gallerie: Z-Gallerie has a huge assortment of art and accessories. It is all beautiful and classic. There is an extensive collection of "Art under $100." They have basics like silver candle holders and pieces that could be a focal point like artsy vases and sconces.
2.
Global Views: Global Views offers an extensive line of unique accessories. They are not afraid of color or vibrant, worldly things. They also offer a sophisticated line from Barbara Barry. If you're looking for something like nothing else, try Global Views.
3.
Arteriors: If you're looking for elegant and subdued, Arteriors is great. The textures and finishes are high end and for a good deal.
4.
Ikea: Ikea is the place to go if you're on a major budget. Despite the super low prices, their accessories are pretty long-lasting, especially the artwork, which is the best deal they have. Many staple items like white frames or candle holders are inexpensive and are great if you're planning on buying in bulk.
5.
Home Goods: Home Goods is bargain central. It is a huge mix of items and the floor is always changing, so if you see something you think could work, grab it, because it probably won't be there tomorrow. They have framed art, furniture and worldly accessories from African Safari to Beach-inspired.
6.
Pier 1 Imports: Pier 1 has many accessories and gifts. Everything is very colorful...
7.
Uttermost: Uttermost has styles from very traditional to abstract. They use a lot of wood and metal to create inspirational, very down to earth pieces.
8.
Roost: Roost carries many modern and eccentric accessories. Everything is hand-made and quality is ensured.
Many of you know that "going green" is a good thing. Simple things like switching the type of light bulbs you use, recycling and driving less are great ways to help the earth, but what about when it comes to remodeling? Building a new home or even redecorating can present challenges for using sustainable materials. So today we thought we'd share with you a list of some of our favorite eco-friendly vendors. From fabric to flooring, these vendors are making green design accessible for all. Click on their links to learn more:
1.
Lee Furniture: Stylish and sustainable furniture featuring soy based cushions, water-base finishes and FSC certified wood frames.
3.
Enviroglas: This small business converts recycled glass and porcelain into elegant floors and countertops. With extreme durability and low maintenance, these sustainable surfaces will also add visual interest to any space.
4.
Lumber Liquidators: This accessible company carries bamboo and cork flooring in a variety of finishes. Both materials are rapidly-renewable resources, providing more sustainability than traditional hardwood floors.
5.
Robert Allen Pure Style: A line where at least 50% of the fibers in their fabrics are sustainable, organic and/or recycled, leaving an end product that is completey recyclable.
6.
Interface Flooring: Carpet Broadloom and modular carpet tiles using natural and recycled content. Interface also practices the latest tech-science, Biomimicry, to take the first step towards becoming a fully-sustainable company.
TGIF :)
When most people think of wallpaper, images of old and dated florals from grandma's house may come to mind, but TGI would like to take this opportunity to defend wallpaper and introduce you to the new papers and styles of 2010! On a recent visit to the
Duralee Showroom, we went through wings and wings of the latest papers from
Thibaut Wallpapers and had to share with you some of our findings!
Full of color and texture, today's updated papers could easily serve as the inspiration for an entire room. We saw metallic and floral prints with large-scale patterns and subtle color palettes creating a more refined and sophisticated feel. These papers are fashionable and decorative without being over the top. We noticed famous designers like
Candice Olson and
Kelly Wearstler designing wallpaper lines in similar aesthetics as well. There now seems to be an understanding in the industry that wallpaper is coming back in a big, yet understated way.
Below are some of our favorite styles (click to enlarge):
These are the latest grasscloth papers that provide a warm texture in a modern way. In my opinion, textured wallcoverings like these bring so much more to a room than paint can offer.
When it comes to deciding which rooms to paper, I always recommend dressing up the showcase rooms in your home: the powder room and dining room. You can always get away with doing something a little different in these rooms, so select papers that amp up the style factor and have some fun!
Some other creative ways I love to see wallpaper are as a feature wall in a bedroom behind the bed or even on the ceiling! The wallpaper then becomes the focal point of the room and really makes a statement!
Here are some of the wallpaper samples we picked up from our latest showroom visit. My hands-down favorite is the champagne and oyster floral on the bottom right:
My hope is that this post helped to open some minds to the new possibilities in wallcoverings!
Enjoy the holiday weekend everyone :) TGIF!
photos courtesy of Thibaut Wallpaper and Fabrics
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