wine storage solution

One of my friends recently asked me if I knew of any good solutions for wine bottles in a small space.  I came across this and think it is attractive, compact, and versatile.  It can be mounted on a wall (a great space saver in a small apartment) or stacked on a horizontal surface.  

Shesham Wall Mount-Stacking Wine Rack

$29.99 for one

$49.99 for two

Crate + Barrell

paint = trend

What many people might not realize is that paint colors are trends that change from year to year.  Paint manufacturers analyze trends in color in other sectors and develop new colors to introduce each year.  From what I've noticed, the major trends change every 2-3 years.  It's very similar to the fashion industry in that way (just a bit slower to change).  In fact, paint colors are often influenced by what's happening in fashion.  

So, that being said, I'd recommend bold paint colors be reevaluated every several years to be sure they are still current.  I watch HGTV a lot, and see the interiors of many houses all over the country that are for sale (on House Hunters).  I am always shocked by how many houses put VERY bold paint up a decade ago and never updated it.  I see a lot of schemes that were current in the 90s.  Leaving those in your house would be like only wearing fashion that was popular in that decade.  Crazy - no one would do that (hopefully).   The same goes for the colors on walls.  If it's something bright and bold (not neutrals) it should be changed at minimum every 5 years to stay current.

Keep current by checking with major paint manufacturers: Benjamin Moore, Dunn-Edwards, Sherwin Williams, etc.  All of these companies do a yearly trend report and introduce new colors.  You can check their websites for the most current trends.  And give them a try!  It's a great way to freshen up a space, and is an inexpensive way to make a major impact on a room.  Try a trend on an accent wall if you don't want to make a major commitment.  You can always paint it back after a few months if you're through with it.  It's like a new fashion accessory. 

Here are a few links of the most current paint trends:

Benjamin Moore 2010 Envision Color

Sherwin Williams 2011 Color Forecast

Dunn Edwards Specs + Spaces

Dunn Edwards 2011 Trends Preview

Here are a couple schemes that I really like (both Dunn Edwards):

design with light

I recently attended a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, a super cool outdoor venue in the Hollywood Hills.  It was very awesome - I saw John Williams and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.  The way they lit the canopy over the stage illustrated a great point - the importance and power of lighting.  Lighting can completely transform a space.  See some examples below:

Notice the lightsabers in the audience!

rounded coffee tables

If you have a small living room (because maybe you live in New York City, for example) and furniture is cramped, it's critical to choose wisely so that circulation is still possible.  You want to be able to access all parts of the room comfortably.  One critical factor in selecting furniture is its scale.  Choose pieces that are not over-scale and imposing.  Compact pieces are better.  

Also, in certain areas, rounded pieces may afford more space.  In the case of my friends Wendy + Howie, they are currently using a rectangular coffee table and its sharp corners are blocking comfortable access to their gorgeous Eames lounge chair + ottoman.  I'm recommending a few oval or rounded shaped substitutes.

1. Saarinen Wood Coffee Table (Tulip Table)

$1988  41"L  27.5"W  15"H

2. Ventura Coctail Table, Room + Board 

$699  54"L  20"W  16"H

3. Stafford Cocktail Table

$799 50"L  23"W  16"H

new table lamp from Jonathan Adler

I really love this new lamp from Jonathan Adler called the Relief Drip Lamp.  Made of porcelain, it has a really warm glow when lit and and fresh white look when not. 

$295

Eva table lamp

This is a great-looking lamp from Room + Board.  It would look especially good in a room with mid-century modern decor.  At 27" high, it is sizable fixture.  Made of hand-blown glass in brown or white, with a silk shade, it is stocked for $299.  

Eva Table Lamp from Room + Board

sofa slipcovers

A couple people have recently asked me about sofa slipcovers to achieve a "shabby-chic" look.  The shabby chic style is deliberately distressed, casual, and comfortable with an all-white and/or bleached-out pastel palette.  Vintage pieces that look worn and antiqued (but still in a light or white color) play a role in this aesthetic.

This look can be achieved by applying a white or off-white slipcover to an existing sofa.  Installing a slipcover is very easy.  You simply drape it on and tuck it in.  A trick to keeping it tucked in is to lodge rolled-up newspapers into the crevices.  This will hold the slipcover tighter on the sofa.  Here are a few slipcovers I found.  Some are classics while others are updated modern versions:

Dropcloth Twill Slipcover

$99

This one is a departure from the traditional slipcover, but it still achieves the "shabby-chic" look.  It also seems like it would be more flexible for different styles of sofas underneath.  It requires a less rigid installment and therefore becomes more casual.  Pair this look with an array of colorful (or muted pastel) accent pillows.

Box-Pleat Tailored Twill Slipcover

$109

This is a more traditional look.  The pleats give it a more structural feel and add a strong design feature.  This one is on sale and available in stark white. 

Loose-Fit Twill Separate Seat Slipcover

$150

This is the most typical slipcover of the three. The nice thing about it is that it has a separate cover for the seats, which keeps it fitting tightly and minimizes having to re-tuck-in the slipcover repeatedly.  It's available for sofas with square-shaped or T-shaped back cushions.












Hovas Sofa Cover

$50

This is a great budget-oriented option from Ikea.  It's a pretty straight-forward slip cover, machine washable and white.  With this low price you can really go crazy with pillows.

Dot Coffee + Side Table

The new Dot coffee + side tables from West Elm are really unique and truly minimal.  This very neutral oak finish would work in a room with a warm neutral scheme (beiges), as shown.  In my opinion it doesn't mix well with grays.  If you have a lot of space to work with, you could try clustering a couple of them.  

Coffee table measures 36" in diameter, and 14" high for $399.  Side table is 14" diameter and 18" high for $149.