The Studio Blog

Enchanted Jardin

Tue, 14 May 2013 20:23:26 +0000

Introducing the centerpiece of our Avant Garden Summer Bedding Collection - the Jardin Duvet Set. A hand-drawn garden of abstract botanicals set in a sun-washed color palette adds instant decorator style to the bedroom. This scenic pattern is inspired by antique hand painted wall murals.

Our design team modernized this sweeping print by simplifying the color palette and adding intricate hand-drawn elements. This duvet is an eye-catching centerpiece for the bedroom.

Explore All New Bedding>

Her name was Lola...

Thu, 02 May 2013 15:28:37 +0000

Summer is right around the corner! Think long sunny days, dinners al fresco, trips to the lake, beach, pool… To ensure we are all thoroughly prepared, we're rolling out our Outdoor Living collection, starting with our new Cabana Stripe Beach Towels. These oversized, luxe towels are made from 100% long staple Turkish cotton (read: incredibly soft, and only get better with time). The cabana stripe recalls days of poolside dressing rooms and beach clubs along the Côte d’Azure – it’s the perfect beach towel.

Available in 8 chic colors - get different color for each family member or choose one color to give your sunny days that beach-club-cabana feel.

Explore the Outdoor Collection>

Klein Coffee Table

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:33:26 +0000

Meet Klein. A fashion-forward accent for the home, our Klein Coffee Table features a chic square silhouette and a faux shagreen finish (read: chic, durable, and easy to clean!). Gracefully tapered legs are capped with hand cast metal sabots for a touch of glamour. The crisp design and solid Asian hardwood construction make this table a timeless and versatile investment piece.

What is shagreen, you ask? Shagreen is stingray skin, a material which has been treasured since its decorative uses in the earliest days of the Chinese Han dynasty. In the seventeenth century, Europe began importing the exotic skins from Asia; Mme. de Pompadour became a frequent collector of what was soon to be called shagreen. These days, with the species threatened, a new highly sought-after art form has emerged in creating faux shagreen. Our artisans cast resin on a vintage skin and then painstakingly mold it to achieve the exact feel of natural stingray.

Available in - Grey and Ivory faux shagreen.

Shop All Tables>

Pillow Personality

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:10:20 +0000

We all love to express our individiality through our homes (why would we be here right?), but what are your homes saying about you? More importantly, what do you want them to say?

Authentic style and design is by far the most inspiring. Like a woman with a calm confidence, personal style is so compelling. One reason interior design is so compelling (and why we create home decor for a living!) is that there is no right or wrong, the possibilities are endless and there is always another room, home, project that opens our eyes just that much more.

Re-decorating an entire space is always fun, but reinventing a room with small changes is a true challenge... So what is your stlye personality? Here are a few of our favorite pillow pairs, picked to inspire your spring refresh, however big or small.

Shop pillows >

Just So Wright

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:44:32 +0000

Wright is the new foundation sofa (or sectional). Like the perfect suit, the perfect sofa should be timeless, sophisticated, and impossibly comfortable. For this anchor piece, we took the spare lines of the thirties and added low-slung elegance and a smart exposed hardwood hand-carved base. Then we brought in the latest “ultra-lux” technology— highest quality foam layered over inner springs and wrapped in down—for luscious cushions that will hold a pristine shape for years to come.

Offered in a range of textured solid fabrics, this sofa pairs perfectly with patterned pieces. Our designers favor a smart microcheck or luxurious mohair, shorn from angora goats, for a piece to build an entire room around.

Wright in Variation Grey

The Wright Sofa is 20% off through April 7th. Quality, design, comfort and style (and on sale!) - what are you waiting for?

Shop the Upholstery Event>

Adventurous Design

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:39:38 +0000

We scour the globe for inspiration for everything from our new collections, to our personal abodes. We love the adventure in finding and cultivating inspiration. Our Galaxy Collection is no exception (not to mention it's 25% off through April 1st!).

While on a trip to Paris, one of our incredible designers saw stars. They were everywhere – in art, on furniture, in books, on posters and in décor. Pulling elements from each she sought to design a pattern that at once invited ideas of space exploration, and gave a nod to the sweet illustrations of children’s books.

We chose to make the Baby Collection a soft grey to keep it gender neutral, and the Kids Collection a dusky blue befitting the bed of a boy of any age. Both colors have a gentle sweetness while maintaining their adventurous and whimsical feel.

Explore the Galaxy>

Chic + Polished

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:34:39 +0000

We fall in love with the details. It's the tuft, sabot, nail head, sheen, material, or pleat that makes something a great design. We feel the same way about our interiors, and love creating detailed moments around the home that speak to our design aesthetics and offer inspiration and beauty. Wonder how we create these details?

Accessories - from vases to objets to bowls - we love to accessorize our homes. Add metallic elements to your bookshelf, top a stack of books with a chic vase, create a considered side table with an objet that inspires you or even makes you smile. There are so many ways to incorporate layers of design in to your home - all you need are a few chic accents to get started.

Sea Star Vase - Matte Silver, Tilted Cube Sculpture, Crosshatch Cone Decanter - White, Diamond Cut Globe Vase, Pair of Metal Peacocks.

Explore Decorative Accessoires>

Nothing like a (Great) Dane

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:39:00 +0000

Truly inspired design cultivates our creativity and makes us down right giddy. From the master woodworking to the clean lines we love Scandinavian and Danish design. They have perfected the art of creating furniture that is all at once minimal, clean, current and timeless. The Erikson bench is an homage to these great designs.

Seen here with our Brown and White Cowhide and Modern Square 3 Artwork.

Our obsession for Scandinavian design extends beyond the aesthetic. We appreciate the attention to quality, the tradition hand-crafted woodwork, and the overall attention to detail. Our Erikson bench is made with a solid wood base that is hand carved with beautiful horn shaped legs. Finished with a leather cushion, featuring button tufting, elegant piping and a semi-attached cushion that delivers style and function.

Upholstered with the softest, luxe leather, Erikson is welcoming in an entryway, comfortable and unexpected at a dining table, convenient at the foot of the bed.. the options are endless.

New! Pouf Perfection

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:26:37 +0000

While pulling together our Spring Collection we wanted to include a versatile piece that would add a layer of texture, color or pattern to the home. The piece would be not too big, but not too small either, something versatile, timeless (with a twist) and a bit unexpected. While looking through pictures from a trip to Morocco it clicked – the Pouf. As with most great ideas it fit so perfectly we wondered why we hadn’t included it before.

Image via DwellStudio Instagram

The Pouf offers easy, flexible seating – “it’s a little bit of a chair and a little bit of an ottoman,” says one of our designers. Arranged around a coffee table they are the perfect casual seating; add a tray and it’s a table, place one next to your favorite chair as an unexpected footrest.

The chicest layer for indoors and out, our Marrakech Cocoa and Braided Wool Poufs fit with any palette. Decorate with our Stripe Lemon or Souk Melon for a summery pop of color all year round.

Shop all Poufs>

Spring Nursery for Baby

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:10:01 +0000

We love our baby collections, they are just so fun to design and play with. Our favorite bed and play rooms are the ones that allow the tot-sized tenants to play, dream and decorate all on their own. We love adding touches of whimsy with new bedding, nursery items, papièr-mâche wall art and, of course, with the little’s own masterpieces.

Our Meadow Nursery Collection is a favorite of ours, so we have created a chic and cozy nursery around this springtime pattern to inspire your own interior projects.

Paint the walls with our baby-safe Breeze Lullaby Wall Paint, and decorate with our dreamy papièr-mâche clouds. Dress the Mid-Century French White Crib with the Meadow Powder Blue Canvas Crib Skirt and Matchstick Blossom Fitted Crib Sheet. Add practicality with the topped with the Changing Station in French White. Create a corner for lullabies and story time with the Thompson Glider in Linen Natural. Layer in cozy moments with the Meadow Powder Blue Night Sack and Multi-Stripe Blossom Knit Blanket. Finish the floor with a Sheepskin Rug-Double.

With the longer, sunnier days we are excited to add layers of colors and pattern to give our kiddos a fresh space this spring.

Chère Simone

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:07:28 +0000

New to our collection, Simone is the sophisticated salon sofa we have been missing. With subtle elegance, Simone marries uptown chic and European classicism. The refined details of this timeless beauty are what make her just so perfect. The gently scooped arms, the graciously curved silhouette, the sleek bench cushion, and the quietly hidden feet all come together to create the ultimate in understated glamour. Dress Simone in linen to complete the look.

Like true beauty, great design is not just about what you see on the outside, the inside is just as important. So, as with all of our upholstered furniture, Simone is made in North Carolina using sustainable methods in compliance with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and CARB requirements.

Come see Simone at our flagship store at 77 Wooster street in Soho.

Bonjour Martine

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:55:05 +0000

Martine is the newest gem in our coveted furniture collection. Like a swipe of red lipstick or piece of statement jewelry, the Martine Settee is a polished and glamorous moment for the home. The word settee originates from the Old English "setl," referring to any bench with a high back and arms. Today, settee is synonymous with sofa or love-seat - as they are typically designed for two. This amorous sofa dates back centuries and has had many design lives.

We culled inspiration for the Martine Settee from the roaring twenties, classic nineteenth century French design, and just a touch of Mid-Century modern (we can't help our selves!). We started the design with a hand-channeled back, a unique curved shape and gracefully flared arms. The bench seat, popular during Napoleon's reign, is clean and comfortable - as a love-seat should be.

To finish off the design, Martine has slender cone legs, the simplicity of which highlights the rest of her charms. Then we dressed her in rich cotton-velvet, the lofty pile of which highlights the beautiful channeling and subtly catches the light. Martine's heirloom quality and impeccable design adds drama to any room.

Trompe L'Oeil

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:58:32 +0000

We love the era of the decorator (think Dorothy Draper, Albert Hadley, and Big Edie at Grey Gardens) and culled inspiration from that time period for our Spring Collection. The central piece showcasing this influence is the Hadley Pillow. Paying homage to Parish Hadley's custom lattice and trellis murals that brought exterior architectural details into interior decor, we too wanted to create something special.

First the design is completely hand-drawn in our studio, a detail common to the era of the decorator and rarely seen today. Second, to gain the architectural effect we desired we used a trompe l'oeil technique. What is trompe l'oeil you ask? Literally meaning "deceive the eye," it is an optical illusion used to give depth and dimension to a flat image.

Available in Mist and Mustard - two colors popular in 50's decor, finish the look.

Meet Astor

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:35:16 +0000

Our new Astor Sofa has finally arrived - both online and at 77 Wooster. The perfect marriage of masculine and feminine, Christiane says, "it's like a British guy dating a French girl."

The Astor is our neo-traditional take on the Chesterfield: we updated the traditional high back and rolled arms with a low, straight profile and perfectly pleated bolster pillows (see the Wall Street Journal article Supporting Rolls featuring the Astor Sofa). Clean lines and sharp English tailoring showcase the time-honored handiwork of button tufting—even the generous seat and deck are exquisitely buttoned up.

Rich, tonal neutrals highlight the craftsmanship and perfect proportions of this foundation piece. Available in any of our custom upholstery we recommend outfitting Astor with a neutral palette in either our luxurious velvet Banks or linen-like Kendrew fabrics. Both fabrics highlight the impeccably tailored design, while a neutral color fits Astor's sensible character.

Modern Border Smoke

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:09:03 +0000

Our love for great design is not relegated to the striking accent chair or bold pattern. We believe quality and impeccable design should live in every layer of life and home – from the down pillow insert to the shagreen finish on a table. For this reason we introduced our Modern Border Collection last fall. Classic, refined and just a bit bold, this bedding was inspired by our favorite hotels around the world. We started with the finest 400-thread count supine cotton percale we could find, then combed each side of the fabric three times to give it an extra sumptuous feel. To finish off the look we chose four colors, two of which are bold and unconventional.

The latest addition to the collection is the Modern Border Smoke. We chose this soft, rich grey because it looks stunning on its own, and compliments a myriad of duvet sets (think Peacock Dove, Sonia Floral Marine, Graphic Stripe Ink, Batavia Dove and Batavia Citrine).

In this room we decided to let the Modern Border Smoke Duvet and Sheet Set be the focal point, accenting it with blues and metallic. Do you see the chic mirrored screen to the left of the bed? It is a one-of-a-kind screen we had custom made by Asian artisans. The antiqued mirror is adorned with a delicate hand-painted chinoiserie motif. To see this gorgeous screen in person come by our flagship store at 77 Wooster, or call the store for additional information.

The Barnett

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:46:52 +0000

Our versatile Barnett Side Table is a DwellStudio favorite for many, many reasons. From the hexagonal shape, to the hidden door, to the Art Deco inspired finishes this table is the accent for any room in the house. The inspiration behind the design started with the hexagon. Seen in designs ranging from Moroccan to Art Deco to Modern, we were drawn to this unusual shape for two reasons: the symmetry lends itself to pairing for a pulled together look and the six sides offer ample space for storage.

Next we chose French Oak and Parchment finishes with hand-cast solid brass pulls – giving it a distinctly Art Deco feel. The French Oak Side Table has a warmth and luster that accentuates the grain and beauty of the wood. The Parchment Side Table has a refined and extravagant feel. Parchment (aka goat skin) is also known as vellum and predates paper as the writing material of choice in England and France during the Middle Ages.

The final touch to the exterior of our Barnett Side Table is the hand-cast solid brass pull. Designed in an elongated trapezoidal shape, this pull was obsessed over until it was perfect. To fit the Art Deco vision and compliment the French Oak and Parchment we knew solid brass was the only acceptable material.

Lastly, the brilliance of the design is not immediately apparent – it has a hidden door. The entire piece doubles as storage, just pull the brass handle to see the convenient space and shelf.

Now do you see how the design, materials and details make this the perfect table?

Year of the Snake

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:48:27 +0000

It's the Year of the Snake! But for us, the snake has been a long-time creature of choice we love the edge it gives to a classic look.

Christiane is partial to the new Snake Chain Dove fabric. "It has a vintage Hermes feel similar to a scarf, it's chic. We've been saying the snake is the new bird for years - now it's official."

Would you design with snakes or snake skin? We are loving them from pillows to rings to ottomans, browse our Year of the Snake board on Pinterest for inspiration.

The Sabot

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:38:19 +0000

We obsess over every element of our designs - no stich, tuft or pleat is too small. An inspired detail we have loved for years is the sabot. What is a sabot, you ask? Sabots (pronounced pronounced “sa-boh”), sometimes called ferrules, are in the same hardware family as casters – they are both fittings found at the end of a furniture leg. The key difference is casters have a wheel, while sabots do not – hence the literal French translation of sabot is shoe. Casters and sabots were born out of necessity as they both protected the wooden floors, and the chairs themselves - repeated dragging loosens the joints between the legs and the seat. The sabot has seen many stylistic trends over the years - from the decorative claw foot seen in the late 1700’s and 1800’s to the clean brass cap seen in mid-century furniture.

Our love for mid-century furniture is no secret, the clean lines and details, like the sabot, are what make this period of design so timeless. The genius of the clean-lined sabot is that it added detail, interest, and polish all while keeping with the simplicity of the design. Seemingly trivial, the sabot is anything but – it’s the details that matter, so it’s the details that we obsess over.

We design from head to sabot. See how we use them on our Mid-Century Crib , Crosby Library Table and Emile Dresser .

What do you think of the sabot?

Get the Look - Downton Abbey

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:43:24 +0000

Are you watching Downton Abbey this season? (We are!) From the drama to the pitch-perfect period outfits to the Victorian manners and those stunning interiors, we can't get enough of this deliciously British show.

Dying to recreate some of our favorite rooms from the Grantham's stately mansion, we turned to our amazing design team for tips on giving your home the Downton Abbey treatment.

Tip 1: Bring about a shot of patina elegance with an antique-style mirror.

Tip 2: Outfit your room with gold and brass accents.

Like our collection of glam-inducing decorative accessories.

Tip 3: Upholster dining room chairs with luxurious fabrics in ornate patterns.

Tip 4: Pick up ornately carved frames and vintage valises from flea markets like Brimfield.

Tip 5: Pull a boudoir chair into your dressing room and cover it in a floral fabric.

Like our Calvin chair upholstered in a modern botanical like our Landsmeer Currant fabric.

Tip 6: And of course wallpaper is always proper ode to Brit-style.

Setting the Modern Thanksgiving Table

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:00:58 +0000

Thank you to everyone who entered this year's Modern Thanksgiving contest! We received some amazingly creative boards. Along with our lovely judges Happy Mundane, MStetson and In Honor of Design, we're reviewing your entries and will annonce all three winners on Monday, right here on the Studio blog... so stay tuned! As we're looking through your boards, we've been thinking about what makes a Modern Thanksgiving table setting: The color palette, natural elements, pretty lighting... what do you think? To get our inspiration going we rounded up some of our favorite tablescapes spotted on your beautiful Modern Thanksgiving boards!

Crisp white pumpkins and speckled squash is a fun way to design a natural centerpiece. Image via Centsational Girl.

A table filled with beautiful blooms, lined with a silvery tablecloth and a mix of candles is elegant with out feeling overly formal. Image via Rosemary on the TV.

Orange and rust feel seasonal and on-trend. Image via The Decoist.

Pretty and inviting: we love tall candles in glass wine bottles. Image via This is Glamorous.

Fresh cut florals, wooden serving trays and tea lights look simply elegant. Image via Savvy Young Something.

Modern Thanksgiving: Black, White + Gold with MStetson

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:32:09 +0000

We adore the graphic content on Lindsay's blog MStetson Design. Recently we featured her black + white with a pop of citrine room redo in our How You Dwell section! We're thrilled to have Lindsay serve as one of our judges for this year's Modern Thanksgiving contest. Her eye for contemporary design paired with her editorial aesthetic on Pinterest is a go-to hub for inspiration. We're loving her fresh take on the classic black, white + golden palette in her Modern Thanksgiving board that we had to share... Happy pinning!

Have you entered our Modern Thanksgiving contest? Enter for a chance to win a $1000 shopping spree on DwellStudio.com, ends this Thursday, 11/15! Enter here >

Modern Thanksgiving - Meet Jonathan

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:46:25 +0000

We're having so much fun looking through all of your Modern Thanksgiving boards on Pinterest! (have you entered yet?) For this year's contest we asked 3 of our favorite bloggers to pick 3 different winners! So this week we're introducing our lovely judges to you. First up is Jonathan Lo of Happy Mundane. We love his everyday musings about the design elements that are often right in front of our eyes. We also asked our judges to design their own Modern Thanksgiving boards to give you all a little inspiration. You can see Jonathan's board here > and make sure to check out all of his impecable curations on Pinterest—we're obsessed!

Without further ado... Meet Jonathan!

What’s your 9-to-5?

I'm the Creative Director and founder of J3 Productions, a design/marketing agency... and I'm also editor of Happy Mundane.

Where are you from originally?

I was born in New York, but grew up in Orange County, California.

Where do you live now?

Irvine, CA

What’s your decorating style?

One part graphic/modern, add a dash of mid-century vintage, and filter it all through the playful and relaxed Southern California lifestyle.

Tell us about your Modern Thanksgiving board.

Thanksgiving for me is all about feeling warm and cozy. I was imagining a home filled with rustic charm, but accented with modern pieces. The color palette is a mix of deep prussian blues, rich shades of green glass, rust oranges, and little hits of black and walnut wood tones. Thanksgiving is also all about the food, so I definitely included some yummy recipes!

Any tips for holiday entertaining?

Don't get too stressed out about needing to have everything perfect. The holidays are all about enjoying time with friends and family, so don't be afraid to use a little help! Ask friends and guests to help set the table, or utilizing some pre-made goodies from the store instead of having to make everything from scratch. It's important to stay relaxed so you can enjoy the moment!

What’s your favorite DwellStudio product? How does it fit into your décor plan?

I really love all the decorative accessories that DwellStudio has right now. The Tubular burst objet is such a statement piece and very glamorous and chic. However, it's the new Art Shop that really has my attention. I find that I usually use a piece of artwork as the starting point when I start to decorate a space. I love all the colors in any of the abstract watercolor pieces (peach pink, citrine green, black orange). They would totally be the crown jewel of a room.

How about styling the holiday table? Any good tricks?

I like to keep things simple. The food should be the star, so you don't really need much on the table. A small cluster of votive candles in clear glasses can give just enough of a glow and give the table some sparkle. Also, don't forget about varying the heights of items on a table. Use cake stands or other items underneath plates to not only add visual interest, but maximize table space.

We love this Fall centerpiece by Jonathan that carries from Halloween through Thanksgiving!

Any go-to host gifts?

I usually grab some yummy cookies and goodies from a local bakery. If you don't end up eating them at the party, then it becomes a nice "thank you" treat that the host can enjoy afterwards.

What are the 3 things you cannot live without?

My iphone, yummy food, and music that has a good beat.

Current inspirations:

I'm currently obsessed with a lot of design and craft books from the 1970s. Even though I lived through most of it, I don't think I was old enough to really appreciate what was happening. I'm finding so many of the ideas and concepts that were being explored then stll so relevant to the times we live in today.

Enter our Modern Thanksgiving contest for 3 chances to win a $1000 shopping spree on DwellStudio.com... ends this Thursday, 11/15! Enter here >

How would you dress Mallory?

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:41:26 +0000

We adore our Mallory chair! Her curvaceous lines, roomy seat and sloped arms, make her the perfect boudoir companion. Everyone needs that chic extra piece of furniture in the bedroom to drape clothes, bags and scarves on, don't you think? So how would you design our favorite chair?

A. Glazed Linen Pearl

B. Landsmeer Citrine

C. Dotted Diamonds Ash

D. Banks Smoke

(Clockwise from top left)

See how our Facebook friends would design Mallory >

How would you dress Anderson?

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:35:05 +0000

We asked our Facebook friends how they would customize our Anderson bed. Now we want to know what you think?

A. Banks Pool

B. Glazed Linen Pearl

C. Chelsea Ash

D. Glynn Linen Charcoal

(clockwise from top left)

Take 20% off all upholstered furniture during our Upholstery Event!

How would you design our Larkin Sofa?

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:43:48 +0000

We asked our Facebook friends how they would design our Larkin Sofa. And we would love to hear your thoughts too!

A. Medallion Band Mineral

B. Hatta Flannel

C. Flanders SandMagnus Mineral

D. Magnus Mineral

(Clockwise from top left)

Get creative with your fall redecoration during our Upholstery Event! Take 20% off all upholstered furniture...

Shop the sale >

Related Posts

How would you dress Calvin?

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:08:09 +0000

We asked our Facebook friends how they would dress our new Calvin Chair. The Snake Chain Dove fabric was the Facebook favorite... We would love to hear which fabric you like best too!

A. Glazed Linen Pearl

B. Landsmeer Red Currant

C. Snake Chain Dove

D. Glynn Linen Charcoal

(Clockwise from top left)

Plus: Take 20% off all upholstered furniture! Shop the Upholstery Event >

Get the Look - Tailored Living

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:45:25 +0000

Our designers find inspiration everywhere—from the font on a menu to a graphic Andy Warhol floral spotted in a gallery. This season our team was enamored by the fashion world's "borrowed from the boys" instincts. The mix of menswear basics and feminine flourishes has a sophisticated edge that was begging to to be translated for the home this fall. This chic trend is illustrated handsomely in our new Fall Catalog on page 3. We love this look so much, we decided to deconstruct if for you... Here's how to Get the Look!

We started by pairing tailored accents like the fitted pleat at the corner of our Sabine Ottoman with the sharp suiting of our Hatta Flannel upholstery on our Bancroft Sofa. We softened the masculine tone with the painterly botanicals of our Vintage Aviary artwork and flanked our Bancroft sofa with gilded pieces—our Franklin Side Cabinet with a Gold Leaf finish on one side and our Gazelle Table in Antique Gold on the other—for a touch of graceful gilt. To polish the look we added the shapely silhouettes of our decorative vases and pulled the room together with our Mini Stripe Rug. We adore this menswear-inspired room... what do you think?

Browse our new Fall Catalog for more interior design inspiration!

Object of Affection - Meet Mallory

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:34:36 +0000

We love the curvy lines and lavish comfort of our Mallory Chair. Our designers were inspired by opulent boudoir seating made famous by the baroque lifestyles of 18th Century Versailles. We dressed Mallory in our graphic Casablanca Geo Citrine but dressed in any fabric, our favorite chair adds a dash of glamour to the everyday.

Find your seating style with our collection of well-crafted and customizable chairs.

An American Tale – DwellDialogue with… Woody

Sent via Twitter - A DIY Menagerie

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:26:14 +0000

We had to share this adorable nursery DIY project that our Twitter friend Peggy shared with us. She handmade a menagerie of felt animals based on her DwellStudio cribsheet!

And here's a peek at her initial sketches...

Thanks for sharing!

P.S. see our whole line of modern baby bedding >

Object of Affection - Les Toiles du Soleil Tote

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:03:50 +0000

We teamed up with French-based Les Toiles du Soleil (literally translated as the cloth of the sun) to design our version of the essential weekender tote.

Crafted in classic sailor stripes (one of our current Pinterest obsessions) with 100% cotton canvas on traditional looms for sun-stain and water-resistant durability and designed with packability in mind—the roomy interior makes stashing everything from flip-flops to weekend reading a breeze. Our new go-to tote will carry on all season.

Bonus: Pair it with matching mini pouches for an extra dose of organization.

Shop the full summer collection>

DwellDialogue with... Meyer Davis Studio

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:40:31 +0000

We're so lucky to share a floor with the incredible architecture firm Meyer Davis Studio—they're right next door to us (and even worked on Christiane and Josh's SoHo loft—as seen in Undecorate). So when we decided to open our first brick-and-mortar store in Soho, we didn't have to look very far to find the perfect team to collaborate with on building out the space at 77 Wooster. And it doesn't hurt that we count this world-renowned design duo as close friends of the Studio—it really made everything from the creative brainstorms to the operations to the logistics of mounting our flagship store more personal.

Just before the store launch, we managed to snag a few moments with our awesome architects to chat about the design process behind the DwellStudio Flagship store…

Meet Gray Davis (R) and Will Meyer (L) of Meyer Davis Studio.

Tell us about your relationship with DwellStudio and Christiane.

GRAY DAVIS: We originally met Christiane and Josh when we helped them with their loft in soho. They just have a great energy about them. We had a lot of fun working with them on that project, and when they needed to expand we ended up helping them on the design of their new DwellStudio offices here on 6th Avenue as well. It's a really natural team effort with them. Their aesthetic and our aesthetic mesh well together.

WILL MEYER: We've developed a long term relationship with them. We're always recommending DwellStudio textiles and products to our clients, and they have used us to design their apartment and their beach house, so this has been the natural next step. We do a lot of specialty retail design.

(View of the DwellStudio flagship from Wooster Street.)

What was the overall concept for the space?

WM: We do Oscar de la Renta's stores and the John Varvatos stores—which have very different atmospheres, but they are very specialty environments. For Oscar's stores, his sales environment represents his personality and for John Varvatos who is this rock-n-roll personality—we wanted that to come across in the retail environment. With DwellStudio it was really important to have their personality and sensibilities speak through the design.

(Overview of retail space.)

GD: I think one of the things that's important to create in a store's retail environment is to have it feel like a real residential environment. When you go into a lot of stores and see product lined up you don't really get a sense of how the things will feel in your home. That is one of the things we worked hard on—to design the space with nice lighting and good finishes so that the space has an authentic residential quality. That's one of the things that will really set the DwellStudio store apart—that the store feels more like a home with the beautiful Farrow and Ball finishes on the door and the lacquer and brass detailing and the mixing of all the different metals and these vitrines that we've had custom made that are based on vitrines that Christiane had found in Paris and then we had them custom made.

(One of the custom-made vitrines.)

WM: Everything in the store is custom made—it's all functional. There's a real beauty to the design. The details of the space were really thought out. If you look at the DwellStudio collection, it's referential to many different periods. One of our goals was to really let that come across in the store.

GD: It's very tailored, very timeless.

Any interesting anecdotes from the design process?

WM: It was really pretty smooth—we really like working together—it's just fun. We have a lot of the same design values, and there's a real harmony there.

(Inspiration board for the store layout.)

GD: Typically when you're working with someone on the design of their house or store or restaurant, a lot of the effort is getting them on board with your concept, but with Josh and Christiane and Jen you're already on board and you can really focus on fine tuning all the details.

WM: When you're in tune with each other, you leap frog that whole initial concept, and you immediately go into the meaningful and tactile details that will make store timeless.

(Custom-made counter and hand-sewn upholstered wall.)

GD: Working with them and with them being so design-savvy, you can really push the envelope and take more risks than you would normally. You really want to create this store that's unlike another store, and I think thats what was really fun with this project—the amount of risks that we were enabled to take. We did all these really dark finishes to get it to look very luxe. They would throw out an idea, and we would pick up and run with it, or we would throw out something, and they would tweak it to their aesthetic. It was a really fun process. It's just a really nice relationship.

We're very excited about out new Soho address (77 Wooster!). How does the location of a space inspire and influence the design?

GD: It's in this beautiful, old iron facade loft-like building. It's kind of that classic Soho building and some of the elements had been really stripped down. We added a brick wall to bring back that sort of loft-like feel with the original tin ceilings—we repaired them and added new lighting but we wanted to be respectful of the type of lighting that you might have seen in that space originally—with industrial looking lights. We brought in more modern layers by having the lights lacquered with this high-gloss finish, so there's this juxtaposition of the industrial feel with these really nice finishes.

(Products displayed in the window.)

WM: The design of the store is very respectful to DwellStudio's aesthetic and marries well with the design of all their furnishings.

(Dark shelving with gold accents.)

Tell us about how you find inspiration.

WM: On our travels—we have projects all over the world, and we so we travel all the time. We get to see and have exposure to a lot of different environments.

GD: In Hong Kong you might see something, or if you're in some great little shop in Belgium you might see some beautiful finish or a quirky piece, and your mind just starts spinning. You can really jump off from there.

Thank you Meyer Davis Studio for taking the time to chat with us... We love our Soho shop on 77 Wooster!

An Abstract Affair - In Black & White

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:03:22 +0000

We love the idea of designing a room around abstract artwork. This room from the Spring 2012 catalog was styled around black and white prints from our debut art collection.

Our design team layered coordinating accents into the space—like the Jack Iron Objet and the richly lacquered Sebastian Pedestal Table—to highlight the graphic gradients in the artwork. All the black, white and gold tones create a bold statement—making the room feel modern and pulled together.

Shop The Room>

Spotlight - Chester Sofa: Now in Leather

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:49:12 +0000

This spring we're excited to announce that our Chester Sofa is now available in two buttery soft leather options! Giving this statement-making sofa a sturdy luxe appeal.

From design scouting, to sketching, sample testing, to mood board presentations and final product reviews, the life cycle of the design process is a storied affair. Our designers delve into archives, travel the globe and sift through flea market finds to craft beautiful pieces of furniture that compliment a sophisticated and modern sensibility. Our Chester Sofa draws on a classic Mid-Century aesthetic—clean lines, sharp seams, tufted buttons, exposed legs and softly curved arms. Every detail is studied, considered and perfected. Peep our design road map below!

Style Chester your way>>

New Pillows Are Here!

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:25:24 +0000
Our new pillows just arrived! The bold patterns, geometric prints and rich colors have us pondering quick and simple ways to update the home. We'd love to hear about your design tips!

Inspired Interiors

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:57:10 +0000

We're very excited to share this latest labor of love with you - our Inspired Interiors digital catalog. Those of you who are on our mailing list should have received this newpaper-style look book by now. Those of you who aren't? Get on it!

It's full of inspirational images that we hope will guide you to some new ideas for your home. It also goes into a little more detail on each of our furniture lines so you understand why we think these pieces are so special.

All you do is click on the little circles to shop the items in the catalog - they will take you directly to the product page. Go ahead, start shopping!

Would LOVE to know what you think!?

Bold Color / Graphic Stripes

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:23:31 +0000

We love how this unknown person brought the bedroom to life with great modern art, clean lines and (of course) our Draper Stripe Poppy bedding.

via Modern Findings Tumblr

Design Dilemma

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:34:45 +0000

Yesterday one of our Facebook fans posted a design question on our wall - we opened it up for general discussion among our design savvy followers, and have quite a lively convo going!

Here's the question: "I bought the Big Floral Citrine rug and am looking to plan my living room around it! Which fabrics coordinate?"

And here's the rug - with some of the suggested fabrics. What would you recommend?

1 - Shadow Trellis // 2 - Ikat Dot // 3 - Shifted Stripe // 4 - Ikat Trellis // 5 - Almonds // 6 - Masala

Get The Look

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:08:20 +0000

Have big plans to re-make your home in 2012? (We're always dreaming about new ways to decorate our houses and apartments!) We love this look, from our Fall Catalog, here's how to get it in your home...
1 - Chelsea Stripe Pillow // 2 - Hans Chair // 3 - Franklin Media Cabinet // 4 - Loop Texture Rug // 5 - Tubular Burst Objet

Crazy for Colored Tape

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:10:54 +0000

We spotted these pictured from the Toyko MT Expo opening on Hello Sandwich and had to share them - how amazing is that car covered in colored masking tape?

It's like the real-life version of our cardboard castle...

Design History: Pendleton Woolen Mills

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:16:36 +0000

Pendleton is like the Chrysler of textile companies – almost wherever you look in the 20th century, you can find a colorful Pendleton wool blanket, shirt or jacket. It is the ultimate American company.

Pendleton Woolen Mills was founded in Pendleton, Oregon, in 1863, the only American mill dedicated specifically to producing Native American trading blankets. Native Americans in the West had always used woven, patterned blankets for shelter, warmth, ceremonial use, and as a kind of trading currency. When white settlers came along, the Native Americans came to favor European-style woolen blankets, especially if they had vivid colors.

Clockwise from top left: The women’s 49er, introduced in 1949; Designs from Pendleton’s 1915 catalog. (via Slate.com); Pentleton for Opening Ceromoney; Pendleton for DwellStudio, The Beach Boys.

In the 1920s, Pendleton expanded their production to men’s virgin wool sportswear, including classic plaid work shirts. After World War II, they introduced womenswear, starting with the classic 49er jacket (from 1949) that became a runaway success.

By mid-century, Pendleton was well established in the American popular consciousness, worn by housewives and surfer boys alike. In the late ‘50s, a surfer boy band called the Pendletones came on the scene. They later changed their name to the Beach Boys (have you heard of them?), but continued to wear Pendleton shirts over tee-shirts, including on their album covers!

Recently, Pendleton has managed to stay totally relevant, especially for a 100-year-old company. This is partly because of a renewed interest in Native American patterns and designs; it’s also because of a recession-era desire for solid, well-made goods; and of course it’s because you can’t beat a classic. The company has kept itself fresh by teaming up with various exciting brands. Some of their collaborations include Ace Hotels, Urban Outfitters, Levi’s, Shwood eyewear, Comme des Garcons and Opening Ceremony and of course DwellStudio!

Get the Look

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:07:44 +0000

Loving this chic room by Jessica Gersten Interiors (that features our favorite - the Urchin!) Here's how to get this look for your home!

1. Room by Jessica Gersten Interiors, 2. George Sofa in Linen Ash, 3. Urchin Objet, 4. Turner Chair in Kerala,
5. Ogee Ash Pillow, 6. Labyrinth Persimmon Pillow

Spotlight: Urchin Objet

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:44:36 +0000

One of our favorite new decor pieces is our Urchin Objet. In fact, it is quickly becoming the mascot of the Studio. The Urchins look great by themselves or in a group! They add style to your shelves or tables, and just think how festive they'll be for the holidays!

What do you think of our Urchin?

Undecorate Inspiration

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:13:38 +0000

We've been sharing some pretty inspiring interiors on tumblr latley. Loving how open both of these spaces are, while still being full of special, personal details...

Gorgeous home in Tokyo from The Selby

The Madrid apartment of stylist Jaime Lacasa via Honestly...WTF?

Check out more great spaces on the Undcorate tumblr!

Spotlight: George Sofa

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:37:30 +0000

George Sofa, as seen in Architectural Digest

The George Sofa is the star of our Fall Catalog - we love it so much we had to put it on the cover! George has a simple, easy-going shape - with a few luxurious details, like the slight swoop of the arm and the extra cushy seat. Here's a look into the design process we went though with George...

What do you think of George? (if you haven't gotten the fall catalog yet don't worry, you can browse online here>!)

Design History - Papier-Mâché

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:39:47 +0000

The literal translation of the French term “papier-mâché” is “chewed paper.” That’s because – you guessed it – it was originally made from chewed up paper (If only we had known that in elementary school!) Papier-mâché is made of ripped or mashed paper, occasionally reinforced with other materials, and bound with adhesive, like glue or paste. Highly pliable when it is wet and very hard when it is dry, it is essentially a method of using paper to produce durable three-dimensional objects. The French term comes from the 18th century, when the technique became popular in Western Europe, but the first instances of papier-mâché actually go all the way back to ancient times.

DwellStudio's papier-mâché animal heads

Even before the invention of paper, the ancient Egyptians had ‘cartonnage,’ which was basically proto-papier-mâché using papyrus fragments bound with plaster. Once paper was invented in 2nd-century AD China, papier-mâché soon followed, a kind of byproduct of papermaking. As knowledge of papermaking spread, so did papier-mâché, and by the 10th century it could be found throughout Western Europe and across the silk route, from Persia to India, China and Japan.

Papier-mâché was often reinforced with lacquer, a varnish that occurs naturally in Asia and yields a durable and hard finish. It produced such a strong material that the Chinese made their war helmets out of lacquer-reinforced papier-mâché. In other cultures, papier-mâché became used for masks and festival goods, penholders and small boxes.

1. A painted and lacquered papier-mâché box from India, early to mid-17th century, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2. A 19th-century Cambodian headdress made of papier-mâché reinforced with leather, glass and wood, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 3. A corner cupboard by Henry Clay, c. 1780-90, made of “japanned” papier-maché on a mahogany carcass, 4. A cake basket, circa 1850, in painted and gilded papier-mâché, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, produced by Jennens & Bettridge, who also made Queen Victoria’s papier-mâché wedding present, 5. An early 20th-century takaan wooden mold for a papier-mâché mask from Paete, Philippines, from Haig’s of Rochester

Papier-mâché became extraordinarily popular in Western Europe in the 17th century, when Portuguese and Dutch traders began importing many objects from Asia. The most sought-after objects were lacquerware, so expensive that they were mostly found in royal and aristocratic collections. So European craftsmen began to imitate these pieces using papier-mâché. An inexpensive and pliable substitute for wood and tole, papier-mâché became a favored technique among designers who used it to make furniture, trays, pianos, buttons, and even horse-drawn carriages. In imitation of Japanese lacquer, many of these objects are inlaid with mother-of-pearl and other exquisite materials.

The Victorians were huge papier-mâché fans, because the material could be molded into all sorts of elaborate shapes and ornaments. Queen Victoria herself received a decorative set of papier-mâché trays as a wedding present in 1840. Although there were many professional papier-mâché artisans, it was also a favored craft for ladies to do at home. The heads of Victorian dolls were crafted out of papier-mâché – you can still see some in antique shops and flea markets.

In some cultures the molds for papier-mâché sculptures are themselves an art form. Since the 16th century, the Philippine town of Paete has been renowned for its papier-mâché scuptures which are built on carved wooden molds called takaans. The beautiful hardwood takaans are now considered works of art in their own right.

Although plastics replaced papier-mâché in industrial production in the 20th century, it is still used in decorative and theatrical settings across the world, and is especially favored in masks, parade floats and other festival ephemera.

Spotlight: Franklin Media Cabinet

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:27:38 +0000

Like a lot of the pieces in our new furniture collection the Franklin Media Cabinet was inspired by a classic Mid-Century shape. We wanted it to feel elegant but at the same time simple enough to fit in with any decor, the gold and silver leaf finishes give the piece a fresh look that works in a laid-back beach house or a modern Manhattan loft... And behind the pretty doors Franklin is practical too with two adjustable shelves and cord management holes!

As seen in Lucky Magazine, the Franklin in French Oak/Gold Leaf

The Franklin in Smoke/Silver Leaf

Furniture: Inspiration to Reality

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:39:00 +0000

I hope you enjoy our new furniture line. What started as an idea two years ago is now LIVE on our website today. What an amazing journey - here is a little peek into the process....

It all started with our Robert Allen fabrics - then sketches and more sketches....

Color groupings, textures, wovens and prints all pull our signature pattern looks together...

We worked very hard to make it easy for anyone - professional or not - to pull together a beautiful layered look.

We also added in a full range of amazing solids and fashion colors - this season we are feeling lavender, aubergine and all shades of gorgeous purple.

The dusty lavenders and purples made a dramatic group...

And room....all of the fabrics are created to go with the furniture silhouettes.

It was incredible to pair fabrics with forms. The furniture came alive.

We hope you get as inspired as we did mixing colors, textures and shapes. Happy designing!

If you need help pulling your whole look together - let us know! We are always available.

Design Hunter: Sollo Rago Modern

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:33:22 +0000

It's officially fall and here on the east coast, it’s foliage season. If you want to be design-y while getting out to see the leaves change this weekend, head on over to Sollo Rago in Lambertville, NJ to check out their annual Modern auction!

Must be something in the air. I did a Style Icon feature on John Dickinson a while ago and now these are up for auction! BID HERE>

Donald Deskey is most known for his streamlined, deco-inspired furniture. But I am loving this bold and colorful abstract oil painting! Feels very current even though it’s more than 50 years old! BID HERE>

I think wall mounted nightstands are a great solution for a small bedroom because they provide a surface without taking up too much space. The combination of walnut and slate is very sharp! I wish I had these right now. They would look perfect with a great pair of vintage sconces. BID HERE>

Beautiful and exquisite silver piece from Christofle but designed by one of my favorite Scandinavians, Tapio Wirkkala. I love how it feels like they are growing out of a mound of sand but it’s actually metal. BID HERE>

These are great chairs. Clean lined but with just enough design details to be interesting. I like how the slats are exposed on each side of the cushion, it feels so graphic. BID HERE>

If I had an unlimited budget with which to furnish my home, these chairs would be in my dining room right now. The leather just gets better and better the older they are. BID HERE>

See: Bertrand Goldberg

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:29:11 +0000

I was fortunate enough to be able to photograph Stephanie Lockeman's apartment in Bertrand Goldberg’s dramatic sculptural “Corn Cob” towers in Chicago’s iconic Marina City (1959-1967) for my book Undecorate. Now through January 15th, The Art Institute of Chicago is celebrating Goldberg’s dramatic sculptural forms and innovative engineering that have long been recognized as seminal contributions to the built environment of Chicago. The exhibition is the first comprehensive retrospective of the architect’s work. For those who can’t make it to Chicago – here is an exclusive glimpse into these amazing spaces that have not been touched since the building was first built. Don't you think the tonal brown tiles in the bathroom are still relevant and amazingly chic still? Great design is timeless. For more read here.

Design History - Wingback Chairs

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:57:36 +0000

Wingback chairs may look right at home in mid-century living rooms or Victorian gentleman’s clubs, but the form is actually about 400 years old! But where did it come from?

In Jakob Jordaens’, As the Old Sang, So the Young Pipe (1638-40), you can see an elderly woman in a hooded wicker chair designed to protect the sitter from draughts and chills.

Wingback chairs developed during the 1600s in England and the Netherlands, where cold winters made the hearth the center of the home. There, furniture makers were producing special chairs with little wings so as to protect the sitter from harmful Northern European draughts and, when positioned in front of the hearth, to retain the warmth of the fire.

’Sleeping Chayre’ from Ham House, c. 1670s, with red silk upholstery brocaded with silver thread, and an adjustable back.

In the second half of the 17th century, furniture in England got considerably more comfortable and sophisticated; this was when upholstered furniture became the norm, with armchairs and sofas replacing hard wooden seats. During this era, a new chair type was developed that was so comfortable that it was known as a ‘Sleeping Chayre.’ This chair had wings that helped the sitter stay warm, and its back could also ratchet to different angles for sleeping.

An English Wing Chair, c. 1750-60, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art

In the 18th century, furniture got even more comfortable with the advent of spring upholstery. Easy chairs could be found in English and American homes by the early part of the century, and as designers embraced S- and C-scrolls, these became even more relaxed and cozy.

Hans Wegner’s “Papa Bear” Chair from 1951

The 20th century can be epitomized by the family room, the emblem of a new, informal lifestyle defined by leisure time and the nuclear family. In this context, the wingback chair became a stately 'status' chair for the heads of the household and their guests, but one that still served its cozy fireside purpose. Modern and postmodern designers have enjoyed tinkering with the wingback, exaggerating its curves or its imposing upright back, or adding a touch of anthropomorphic whimsy.

DwellStudio Cooper Chair

DwellStudio’s own wingback chair, Cooper, combines a modern aesthetic with the wing chair’s centuries-long tradition of melding style and comfort. Would you sit with Cooper??

Undecorate Tumbling!

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:37:00 +0000

Here's just a peek at some of the gorgeous spaces we're sharing on the Undecorate tumblr this week >
Head on over for more Undecorate inspirations! Happy Friday!

(Oh, and don't' forget to check out our How You Dwell contest on Facebook! Send your photos to blog@dwellstudio.com to get in on the fun!)

Design Hunter: Sollo Rago No Reserve

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:15:40 +0000

Why do I feel like the Sollo Rago auctions sneak up on me...maybe because they always do!! The preview email arrives in my inbox a few weeks in advance, I put off looking “until it gets closer,” the next thing I know is that it’s a couple of days away. So, without further ado, here are my picks from the fall auction this Thursday!

Been seeing a lot of the Pedro Friedeberg hand lately in a lot of interiors from Jonathan Adler to Kelly Wearstler, but they are usually with the fingers facing up...

...but I have never seen one with the palm completely open. I love this – it’s like a stool or bench instead of a chair. BID HERE>

Haven’t heard of Harris Strong before but am digging this mosaic wall tile! I think it would be great behind a sofa or in a dining room. BID HERE>

Not really sure what a magiscope is but as you all know I am a sucker for all things in faceted metal... BID HERE>

Unfortunately Paco Rabanne got a bad rap from licensing his name too much in the 80s (cologne, anyone?) but he was a design pioneer....and not just in fashion. His interior wall hangings were legendary for their time. BID HERE>

The above photo is hard to visualize, so here is one in situ from Elle Décor:

Undecorate Inspiration

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:47:23 +0000

After spending the morning researching and then singing the Spongebob theme song with my kids...we all decided that we too wanted to live in a pineapple under the sea. Here is a very chic version of sea themed interior and a little undecorate inspiration for you this morning.

This Long Island fisherman's shanty turned summer home is fishy, gorgeous and very fun...a fitting end to this amazing summer.

(Elle Decor via automatism)

Check out more on the Undecorate tumblr>

Behind the Book - Chase and Gray

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:54:28 +0000

When I think back to our shoot with Chase and Gray in Copake Lake, I think of summer entertaining at its best. Our crew showed up in the early evening after shooting all day at Kenyan and Grace's and we were thrilled to see the lake. We had a mind to capture the beautiful sunset with Chase paddle boarding up to the dock...

As soon as we arrived, delicious cocktails were served, equipment was quickly set up, and magic ensued. These gentlemen know how to host...and they know to relax, even with a crew buzzing around to make the most of the beautiful light. After shooting as much as we could, we realized we missed last call at the only local restaurant that could accomodate us...

Blankets were laid out on the dock, music turned up, photo assistants jumped into the water, and Molly and I hit the kitchen to make us a dinner with anything we could find in the cupboard. We ended up with a delicious pasta, crusty bread and a everything-but-the-kitchen-sink salad. It was the best of impromptu summer entertaining.

The next morning, we made our way through the rest of the shoot. It was a rainy day, but we felt like family after our long and merry night together. I love this picture of Melanie and Chase, who were old pals from Domino days...

When you read their chapter in Undecorate, I want you to know how much love and laughter went to each and every picture.

Undecorate - Outdoors

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:56:50 +0000

We can't believe how fast summer is going by! Have you had time to hang out in the garden or on the porch? Hope so! BBQs and outdoor parties are one of our very favorite things to enjoy in the summer. And, as it turns out, most of the people featured in Undecorate are big fans of the outdoors as well. Here are a few shots from our Undecorate archives of the look at work outside...Happy summer!

All images via Undecorate

Vist the Undecorate tumblr for more>

Design Notebook - Labyrinth

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:12:03 +0000

Designers can be inspired by anything - travel, film, a distant memory - the most important thing is what happens next. We were looking at modern art when we designed the Labyrinth bedding. The key was to take all the influences from different art movements, like abstract expressionism and minimalism, in a way that seems relevant today. Labyrinth has a little bit of Twombly, Marden and LeWitt all mixed together. It's subtle, monochromatic but not too quiet because it manages to be a straightforward geometric and meandering maze at the same time!

1. Brice Marden 2. Labyrinth Ash Pillow 3. Labyrinth Duvet Set 4. Cy Twombly 5. Sol LeWitt

Design Notebook - Batavia

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:47:43 +0000

I always love seeing where designers get inspiration, so thought you'd like to see where Batavia came from...

1. A Single Man 2. All in the details: Dries van Noten 3. Batavia is born: our Throw Pillow in Azure 4.&5. More Dries via Style.com

A mix of the Julianne Moore's room in A Single Man and the legendary Dries van Noten collection, where he mixed all those great ethnic fabrics with geometrics.

We named it Batavia, after the original name of Jakarta Indonesia, when it was part of the Dutch East Indies trading company.

Check out the full collection here>

Design Notebook - Global Style

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:48:27 +0000

Lately we've been more inspired than usual by the fashion fashion industry's take on textiles. Their interpretation of old world styles has us looking in a fresh new way at traditional print and pattern. Gucci's bold ikat and Givenchy's take Moroccan motifs set us of to comb the globe for new ideas...

(table and lights- 1stDibs, images World of Interiors, Elle Decor)

(our NEW Ikat Dot.... arriving any minute now!)

Design Notebook - Furniture

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 09:56:47 +0000

Bingka and I are out circumnavigating the globe, putting the finishing touches on the furniture line....Where are we and what day is it? We have been on so many planes and to so many countries that I am starting to feel like Angelina. I have seen so much and am so inspired I thought I would share some of the materials and inspiration from our furniture design files.

Bingka loves wings - she is coveting this nickel sculpted bird table leg. We are going to try and use something like this but make it modern.

Here I am going crazy about all the things we could do with etched glass. DwellStudio mirrors anyone?

It's all in the details, so we are obsessed with developing interesting custom hardware. Expect all the same amazing details in our furniture as you have always found in our textiles and accessories.

We found a wonderful source for faux shagrine - all the look with out harming any lovely sea creatures. We are in love with the texture and the way it soaks up color.

A sample of the hundreds of swatches and materials that we have assembled. Everything from stone to sanblasted wood to laquer.

We will keep the inspiration coming as we get more...I haven't been this inspired in ages!

Design Notebook: Mad About Stripes

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:21:52 +0000

Have I ever shared how much I adore stripes? I just love the possibility of stripe designs - from bold and nautical to quiet and delicate. Here are some of my favorite striped items right now.

Top Row from left:
Shower curtain from Brookfarm General Store
Epice tote via evencleveland blog

Middle Row from left:
Madewell striped long sleeve shirt
Agnes Martin lithographs
Turkish Hamman towels from Laviva Home

Bottom Row from left:
Fog Linen trays from Brookfarm General Store
Deck towels available at Partners & Spade

Design Notebook: Rainbow Brights

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:07:07 +0000

Guess which images here are found in nature and which ones are painted by hand? No, it’s not a trick question! Even though these trees look like they are painted by some color-loving abstract expressionist, this is actually how they exist in real life! These Rainbow Eucalyptus trees shed layers of bark and then darken at different times, giving these trees their multi-hued looks. If you want to try crafting your own versions with little branches and twigs, Ginette Lapalme’s painted sticks are good inspiration for a fun diy project.

Images of Rainbow Eucalyptus trees from:
http://www.terragalleria.com/pacific/maui/maui-north/picture.hawa2592.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124573@N00/2324710383/in/set-72157604068292271/

Design Notebook: All Tied Up

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:00:56 +0000

I am loving this trend! It has the ease and just enough slouchiness of someone casually taking off their shirt and tying it around their waist, but these are the more refined, more grown-up versions of that idea. It's quite clever of these designers to focus on a really functional thing on a garment like a sleeve, taking away what it is originally meant to be, and turning it into a design detail.

1. This is my dream sweater right now! I would just live in it all year long! Collection K via Reborn

2. A button down shirt as a skirt? I love it! Alexander Wang via La Garconne

3. A very nice take on a crisp white cotton summer blouse. Slow and Steady Wins the Race via Creatures of Comfort

4. Shini from Park and Cube illustrating how to look chic in a shirt-as-skirt

Design Notebook: Garden Favorites

Tue, 04 May 2010 18:41:23 +0000

Last week I showed you some photos I took at the NY botanical gardens. Now I am going to share with you some gardening-related things that I like!

Pictured clockwise from top left:

Guy Wolff pots- some of my favorite handmade pots. They come in so many different pretty styles. When I went to the botanical garden I picked up a few new ones in the gift shop!

Wire planter from terrain.

Backpack from APC- ok, so I guess this isn't specifically for gardening but I imagine this would be a good thing to have with you while you take a hike to check out the local wilderness.

Pot and plant stands from Campo de Fiore - another favorite of mine. I love these pots because they have been aged in a greenhouse and when you water your plants some moss grows on the surface of the pots.

Celia Birtwell watering can available at Sprout Home. I think Celia Birtwell's drawing style is so charming- she was married to Ossie Clark and designed all the prints for his fashion line. By the way, this is a very nice mother's day present!

Canvas and leather tool bag from Orvis - this is a very handsome storage bag for hand tools and gardening gloves.

This is my fantasy to have a wall of greenery! Picture from Elle Decoration (UK) May 2010 issue

Design Notebook: Lucite Dreams

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:28:20 +0000

I am crazy for the Prada Spring 2010 collection! Even more than any individual piece, I love the spirit of the collection - sparkly and bright but easy and unfussy. This look translates so well into the home - an updated chandelier that adds some sparkly interest while also seeming very down to earth, a modern lucite chair that has an unexpected rustic canvas seat, and a coffee table shaped like a giant gemstone adds glamour. Also, the grayish-blue in the picture on the top right corner would make the best wall paint color, don't you think?

Pictured:

Prada Spring 2010 images courtesy of Prada.com

Giogali chandelier available at Design Within Reach

Prada plexi and leather sandal

Small Montauk Turquoise Drop Pendant from Alexis Bittar

Plexi-craft George II chair

Alexandra von Furstenberg Bullet cocktail table

Design Notebook: Desert Storm

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:19:55 +0000

From Nina's Design Notebook: Desert Storm

This look from Balenciaga's Pre-Fall 2010 look book is so great - the colors of the sweater immediately reminded me of a trip I took to Moab, Utah a couple of years ago. I loved the grandeur of the landscape there and I hope to go back to visit again! In the mean time I will occupy my mind thinking about this cupboard from Nightwood, and desert-inspired tee's from Cavern.

Design Notebook: Miao Miao

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:48:45 +0000

Here is another new column from our studio called Design Notebook. This column will show you a page from our sketchbook, which is where all the creative juices flow. Here you can see what we are looking at when developing new collections from a pattern and color perspective. Sometimes a tiny piece of trim we've discovered will drive an entire collection. Later you will be able to see how we translate and filter all this information into finished product.

This week's post comes from our talented textile designer Nina's book - here's Nina:

The Miáo are a minority group that live primarily in Southern China known for their superlative embroidery, brocading and batik. I first discovered Miao textiles when I was clicking through Fyndes.com. I love indigo batik and I was intrigued by the abstracted, geometric style of this particular piece. I love the colors inspired by the Miao people's surrounding landscape - ranging from dusty, earthy colors, to deep, rich indigos.

Top image:
Miao festival outfit, 20th century, courtesy of Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Various miao textiles:
Folkvision.net & Asian-connections.org