Designer Spotlight..........Samantha Pynn

One of my all time favorite shows on HGTV is Pure Design with Samantha Pynn. Alas the show does not seem to be running in the US anymore but if anyone knows any differently please let me know! I was able to watch all of the 1st season and a few episodes of the 2nd season though to share some of that inspiration with you. There are so many things I love about her designs. First of all the focus is on environmentally friendly design so Pynn tries to reuse and repurpose as many things as possible. Anything they decide not to use they are sure to recycle in some way. She also has some do-it-yourself project ideas that I have loved each and every one! Plus some of the products are from Ikea and I can actually afford that right now. Take a look at the pictures below from one of my favorite episodes where she re-decorated a living room dining room for a single mom and her adorable daughter.

The china cabinet in the back of the room was actually 2 separate mismatched pieces. Pynn had it all repainted and it looks spectacular. They found it for a low price at a used furniture store.

I just love the girly colors she did for them. They did put in these new dark hard wood floors that are just beautiful. The faux fireplace is filled with cut off logs since it isn't very deep. I just loved that idea.

Here is another DIY project. She took japanese paper and lined the back of the china cabinet with it by using some eco friendly glue and a little paint brush to stick it on. She recommended wallpaper or even gift wrap paper. It really adds a personal touch to the cabinet.

This photo wall is fantastic! All of the frames are from Ikea. It worked perfectly for all of their family photos. Pynn had them all printed in black and white.

I love this window seat here but the curtains are my favorite thing. They are again inexpensive Ikea curtains that she added grosgrain ribbon to. I have searched and searched for this wide grosgrain ribbon and have only been able to find 2". If anyone knows of where to get some please let me know! I also have these curtains in my own home. Just minus the ribbon unfortunately.

I hope you have been inspired to try some DIY projects and to repurpose some old furniture to make it your own. I'm sure I will be adding some more of Samantha Pynn's designs again soon.

Lonny Magazine

I can pretty much sit down and devour any design magazine out there lately! They are filled with inspiration and just pretty pictures I can't get enough of. There has been a lot of talk lately about Lonny an online interior design magazine that is just fabulous. I mean just check out the picture below that inspired me from their site. I am in love with wallpaper and all the modern fun prints and here is an amazing one. Paired with this glam tufted headboard I just can't get enough. I have always been drawn to somewhat casual decor myself but this totally makes me want to glam it up and go totally girly! And why not! Life's too short to play it safe :) Check out Lonny magazine for yourself. I only wish it could come to my mailbox each month. There's just something about actually flipping through a magazine in your hands sitting in a comfy reading chair. But I guess I will certainly enjoy it online as well.


The wallpaper, the headboard, the matching lamps, the glam roman shade you get just a glimpse of! I die for this room!

New at Waterworks!

Of course I must share with you the new fittings just launched at Waterworks! They are inspired by the work of German modernist Walter Gropius and would work in any home. Personally I think they look rustic or industrial but still looking modern. They would be fun in a more rustic style home mixed with the new brick tile (pictured on wall in 2nd photo). Just some more amazing design shown at Neocon! Hope you like!

Neocon

I am so grateful to be working at the Merchandise Mart and had a bit of time to check out a few things at Neocon this week. Neocon takes place each year at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago and design professionals come together to network and see the showrooms and amazing new designs. One of the showrooms I visited was Haworth and it looked pretty spectacular. Take a look at the bright graphic colors below.

This picture is also of the Haworth Showroom.

Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec are the designers of what I have to say was my favorite finding at Neocon this year. They created these amazing Kvadrat clouds that you see hanging from the ceiling at the Haworth Showroom. I imagine them being used on the ceiling or wall of a babies room or as an incredibly fun and interesting piece in a restaurant as pictured below. The best part is that you can piece them together any way you want, so you get to be the creative one! If you'd like to learn more about them go to http://www.kvadratclouds.com/

Stay tuned for more posts on Neocon. I better get to sleep so I can be alert and ready for another big day tomorrow at Waterworks! Waterworks also has great new product I will post on soon!

Designer Spotlight.....Dorothy Draper

Just recently I found out about the amazing designer, Dorothy Draper. A sales consultant at Waterworks told me about all these amazing designers I am ashamed to say I didn't know much about. The pictures below of Dorothy Draper's work make me want to go out and become a hotel designer! They are utterly amazing.

Dorothy Draper was the 1st person to even start such a thing as an interior design company in the US in 1923. This was also at a time when it was considered daring for a woman to start her own business. Another reason to be awed and inspired.


As you can obviously see Draper used vibrant mixes of color that were not seen before. She mixed aubergine and pink with turqoise and chartreuse.
Draper daringly used cabbage rose chintz paired with bold stripes. I love stripes painted on the wall and a mixture of patterns and textures.

She was also known for eleborate and ornate plaster designs and molding over doors, on walls, and on ceilings.

One of my favorite looks is a black and white checkered floor. I hope to have a big eat-in kitchen with that type of floor someday.

So many designers are inspired by Dorothy Draper today. Take a look at the Dream Home blog I posted before.

http://tutu-style.blogspot.com/2010/04/dream-home.html

The foyer (last room on post) looks like it is very much influenced by her style.

Just can't get enough of Sex and the City 2!

I have found a few additional pictures to inspire you from Sex and the City 2! Here is one of the moroccan hotel room. I love the bright colors - in particular the tufted bench at the end of the bed.

Here's a couple more views of the living room in Big and Carrie's new apartment. The colors aren't done justice in these photos, but it still gives you a great view of the furniture pieces and layout. Still loving the ottoman!

A great view of the kitchen!

I just love this bedroom, so cozy and welcoming. I'd love to relax there after a long day of work!

Sex and the City!

My favorite part of Sex and the City 2 movie was definitely Carrie and Big's apartment. It was so beautiful and glamorous. I love the colors and textures and just about everything. While watching the movie I was wishing I had pictures of each room for inspiration. Well, here they are! If you felt the same way watching the movie or if you haven't gone to see it yet, you must!


The lovely living room filled with a bright blue sofa and light blue side chairs. I love the combination of blues. My favorite piece in the whole apartment is the bright blue ottoman pictured below. I would love to have that.

This wallpaper and gold mirror just gives the place a warm comforting glow.

This is the entrance into their bedroom. I love the table here with just a simple vase of flowers on it.

Here is the glamorous bedroom with the most perfect headboard. I love how so many textures, patterns, and colors are thrown together here.

The gorgeous dining room table. I prefer either round or rectangular tables myself but the chairs are adorable.

Check out this amazing blue backsplash!

Here's the new apartments closet. I would die for a closet like this!

This is the old apartments closet. Also, pretty amazing.

This is the old apartment. I love the combination of the beautiful fabric on the chair, the bright blue walls, and the bright white curtains. That would be so wonderful to come home to every day.

The fabric reminds me of the Serafina fabric from Pottery Barn that I have been coveting for quite some time.

I hope you enjoyed a longer glimpse into these fabulous apartments! Which is your favorite?