As a designer I am always working to balance beauty and function {although when pushed I always favor beauty!} Most homes can't live without our flat screen televisions but they can be such an eye sore - oversized, shiny black boxes which all the furniture in the interior is pointed at! One of my favorite tips for disguising a TV is to built it right into a gorgeous gallery wall. When surrounded by a collection of prints, paintings and photos, the dark screen is far less noticeable and blends more naturally into the space. We are moving soon and the TV in the new apartment is mounted on the wall - I can't wait to give this idea a spin in my own home! 

What do you think? 

Gracious Graphics: I Love NY

I adore the architecture of New York City and especially loved all the different facades and town homes in the West Village, where my husband and I were lucky enough to live for a year. So I could not help but smile when I came across a lovely graphics site, Windows Of New York. Artist Jose Guizar's designs are so simple but still so charming and so representative of each neighborhood. These would be so fun as a set of framed prints!

 I love you NYC!

Singapore Shopping: Crate & Barrel Arrives!

Crate & Barrel has finally opened its first Asian store in the ION in Singapore and I am thrilled. Ok, for my American readers this may seem like small potatoes for but us Singapore folks this is very big news!  Even after 2+ years of searching for my design clients {and myself} it still can be quite challenging to find beautiful and affordable design products here, so I am very excited to have access to many of these pretty pieces. Also, I have to admit it just reminds me a bit of home and I love wandering the store. I pulled my favorite new C & B pieces to share, and before I knew it, I designed a room - I am loving all of these lemon and cool aqua hues!

For those of you in SGP, here is the info - go check it out!

Crate & Barrel

ION Orchard 

#03-25 and #04-21

Hours 10 am - 10 pm

+65 6634 4222

They do not have a specialized Singapore website so you have to use the US site for images {but beware pricing is different!}

Happy Shopping! 

A Quick Design History: Wallpaper

As a designer and decorative arts nerd, I love to look at au currant fashions with a view to the past. Today it's a quick design history of wallpaper - which I adore! Wallpaper was first used in China, as early as 200 BC, where rice paper was hung to give add a decorative element to walls. But the wallpaper we know today, did not come into fashion until the late 1700's when it became all the rage for the working classes in England and France. Wallpaper was advertised as a cheap and chic alternative to traditional wall decorations, like rich tapestries and ornately carved wood paneling. Until 1785, it was made using a labor intensive process of wood block printing, but when a Frenchman created a wall paper printing press, the product became widely available. Wallpaper became fashionable in America shortly after, with Philadelphia as the trend-setting and production capital, coping the most en vogue patterns from France. 

Two traditional 18th century French patterns: an Indiennes floral inspired by European trade with India and a hunt scene {via 1 / 2}

Today, wallpaper is still an affordable design solution. It's such a dramatic and versatile way to layer your space with style. I especially love to see the pop of wallpaper in unexpected places like a closet interior or ceiling! Here are some of my very favorite wallpapered spaces, which ones do you love?

Hope you enjoyed this bite of design history!

{images via 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7}

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone! Wishing you a wonderful day filled with dear friends and loved ones {and maybe a few treats too!} 

XOXO

I love these raw linen heart pillows - they also come in gold, so fun! Perfect for today but lovely any time of year, from a wonderful Etsy Shop in Turkey.

Daily Detail: A Pastel, Global Bedroom

For a daily dose of design, here is a charming and eclectic bedroom by L.A. based designer Peter Dunham that I just love! Dunham is brilliant at creating collected and worldly space that are also soft and welcoming. This room is so layered and textured without being overwhelming at all! 

Here's why it works:

{1} A palette of dusty pastel hues is balanced with just enough chocolate brown accents

{2} The combo of many different subtle patterns together in one space keeps it interesting

{3} A large persian rug ground the space and adds to the global inspired feel

{4} Creamy white bedding, walls, and drapery allow all the other patterns to shine

What do you think? Inspired or pattern overload?

The Ever-Changing Taylor B: The February Edition

One of the best things about visiting Taylor B. is their ever-changing array of furniture and accessories - no two visits are ever the same! So, I am continuing my series and featuring my 5 favorite furniture pieces of the moment. And since I am dreaming about which pieces I would steal away for myself, I thought I 'd share a little inspiration for how I would use each of these lovely finds!

# 1. These petite upholstered chairs would work perfectly in this room below, adding a great geometric pattern and continuing the cool, vintage vibe!

#2. This blue and white lamp would work beautifully in loads of places, but I think it would be especially chic as a bedside lamp {and so pretty paired with dusty reds and pinks}!

#3. The entry below would be the perfect setting for this boldly hued Chinese cabinet. I'd love to see it topped with all these decorative accessories - what a welcome when you enter a home! 

#4. I would use these wonderful carved mango wood urns in the cool, minty kitchen below! They would add a much needed warmth and an organic element.

#5. Why not try a beautiful piece of oversized art in lieu of a headboard? This antique astrological chart would be so fabulous hung over a bed! 

I hope I offered a little inspiration! If you are in Singapore, be sure to come visit Taylor B to see all their other great pieces too! 

{interior images via}

Happy Chinese New Year: Red & Gold

Happy Year of the Snake! It's Chinese New Year and all of Singapore is celebrating and the city is full of red and gold decorations. Since these are the traditional colors of prosperity and good luck, I thought I would share some inspired interiors featuring red and gold as well! Surprising what a lovely color combo it can be {and I especially love it balanced with pops of blue} Wishing you all a year filled with happiness and success!