LYRA MAG.

NY NOW PART 4 Unusual or usual materials used unusually-the antithesis of mass merchandise. METALACE -The Art of Lace On Metal...stunning designs include these multi-tasking bowls/baskets/holders as well as wall art and lightening. METALACE -trays HANDMADE Wild Woolies Felt BirdHouse Kit-made of sheep's wool- by a Fair Trade collective based in Nepal...sold on Amazon LA VIE DESIGN  an events/design service run by two sisters-had us obsessing on their keepsake - cake boxes-crafted to a whole other (collectible) level. Themes-sizes vary -and custom work is available too. PERFECT for one's homemade efforts. Keepers all! AXIOM  GLASS -hand blown stunners-are tipsy (or not-stand up right too). Vases, vessels-bowls and cups/tumblers -made in Detroit by one VERY talented guy, Andrew Madvin. WOW.

2020 NY NOW Highlights: Part 3 Earthy elements- and hand crafted items bring an authentic textural touch to modern homes. Outdoors inside: Outdoor spaces are often the most popular 'room' of any home-that's if you have one. For the majority of living urban apartment dwellers-furniture for inside the walls-made of materials typically seen under the open skies or enclosed porches-are gaining traction. IMO : Works well with typical upholstered pieces-like contemporary seating. Accessorize with an abundance of green and flowering plants... sturdy woven fibers...with wood frames=classic SEEN-materials including sea grass, banana eaves, resin wicker, rattan, wrought iron steel, and not seen much=plastic. Metal-iron...brings that outdoor French café vibe indoors... panel patterns of this wood frame credenza reminds of metal radiator covers BIDK --wholesale only HOME ACCENTS Woodsy tree branches...base of a lamp See through acrylic trays-with ...

PART 1 Ilex Studio, Kobo  At the latest NY NOW (formerly NY Gift Show) innovative design tradeshow...SURTEX (artist designs for license), and the NY stationary/paper goods show... a wide variety of items destined for retail stores and consumers-to accent -furnish homes (or wardrobes), and add to one's wellness-quality of life (ie. indie beauty and CBD products-right alongside scented candles/scents and crafty kids' items)-heavily leaned towards hand crafted, creative, uniqueness -truly conjuring up a true sense of place individuals crave. Whether aiming for small boutiques in tourist or home locales, wedding registries, online sites, or even mass market retailers...exhibitors 'get' that now buyers mix and match their possessions and spend coinage on products that will contribute to 'experiences-emotional harmony (not to be to wishy washy here). Attributes like production-sustainability+traceability, limited editions, individually made, Fair Trade, and origi...

Part 2 DDB Building Fall Market 2019 FABRICUT SHOWROOM It's not easy to cause home envy in a crowd of professional decorators. BUT  Kendall Wilkinson (San Fran. based with a signature beauty/comfort  MO garnering West Coast- Rocky Mountain clients), Tina Ramchandani (NY full service designer known for it's 'soulful minimalism') and Jackson Hole WY based duo Klaus Bauer and Rush Jenkins ( WRJ DESIGNS -" Natural Elegance " personified)...managed a few lustful gasps-during an informative slide presentation last week. As summed up by keynote host  Brittany Chevalier McIntyre (Executive Editor of Luxe Interiors)-vacation homes are  the ultimate dream abodes - with a design must of comfort AND a place to work- for today's work life balance.   AKA "...living the same life in different homes...beginning with location and architecture." SOME HIGHLIGHTS A desire for LESS TECH by HIGH TECH honchos -noted Kendall Wilkinson; "they...

(Plus Home Offices AWAY FROM HOME ) Part One The design professionals across several industries-including residential -commercial designers (and architects), and tech firms-creators of software/artificial intelligence that impacts the way we all live now ...have more commonalities than not. To make life easier, to work better, transition from environments- seamlessly-surrounded by all the comforts of home-whether actually at home. Inspirations: A Concept Applause and laughter greeted  "...well-traveled and citizen of the world" Robert Coutrier 's succinct answer to what inspires him..."THE CLIENT!!!" Unbelievably to us-it's usually not that answer  of this often asked question-from what we heard at the jam packed bi-annual DD Building Fall Market 2019. But this fab keynote presentation on the theme of "The Global Future of Design,"  hosted by House & Garden's Editor-In Chief Hatta Byng-at the Lee Jofa and Brunschwag & F...

Less Maybe is not More...but is def Preferred Part 2 Set the trends fashion... high/low comfort casual  with glamour accents...seems to filter into how people live-domicile wise...and how luxury living can get defined. Given the luxury of time to live. Services by designer pros ( online ...or investing in the talents offline-of interior decorators/landscapers)... usually incorporate this 21st century wardrobe approach. via GIPHY The upshot-spaces embracing off the shelf  comfort  - bedrooms/baths as sanctuaries- inexpensive  furniture bought 'off the shelf' from RH - Design Within Reach -mixed with expensive custom items ($200,000 sofa seen/sold at Design Miami ) , George Smith 's Brewster chair + Turkish Fireplace Chair from the Commune hand crafted collection-English classics reimagined in California inspired casual ....an area for  working at home and  informally entertaining - ( less the staff  -open floor plans, ch...

DDB Showroom Program: Blurring The Lives: Living Outside & In The Gloster Showroom (Suite 1601) and Aspire Design and Home Magazine hosted design luminaries and select  AD 100  honored Joe Nahem ( Fox Nahem ), Edmund Hollander ( Hollander Design Landscape Architects ) plus Emily Cosgrove (indoor/outdoor Sunbrella Fabrics' Design Director), and the legendary designer/creative director Sherri Donghia -as moderator- on a lively discussion on the panel's 21st century residential outdoor/indoor renovation projects. Reflections on the "three ecologies...design, architecture, and human elements..."' underscored imaginative highlights and practical approaches-with favorite outdoor environments cited- as creative launchpads. Takeaways: Edmund Hollander creates spaces where "people want to be..." and crafts architecture/design for the outdoors that are reflective of how clients live indoors--- particularly in demand...the comfort practical- casu...

DDB SPRING MARKET 2018 Al Fresco; Inside Out At the Decoration & Design Building The so popular it even has its own hashtag  #VANlife- which we write about a lot ... is both an outgrowth and a mobile impetus/desire for individual household dwellings styled for outdoor living. More meaningfully perhaps- is the need to expand life's moments-beyond solid residential walls...to enjoy multi-generational, purposeful time under the open (or shaded) skies...for recreational fun, entertaining dining-big (and small) celebrations, and the ultimate, quiet relaxation-all in the comfort of one's home environment. Scheduled right after the wonderful NYCxDesign week  and ICFF tradeshow , the luxury showroom packed DDB building hosted a series of informative panels, posh events and open showrooms ( oh -the envy inducing home decor) as well as networking cocktail soirées-ably guided by the country's premier interior/landscape designers, architects, high-end manufacturers, a...