Going Global in Your Home

The global/ethnic craze that started a couple of years ago with Ikat fabric and Moroccan rugs is still going strong -- and we are glad! Check out the new book by Australian designer Sibella Court, Nomad: a global approach to interior style. It's packed with textures, patterns and colors from around the world, all incorporated in brilliant ways within the home.

This book it truly a feast for your eyes, and inspirational beyond belief. It's making us look at our artifacts in new ways. And even if you've never traveled farther than the next state, you can find global treasures in antique stores and flea markets everywhere.

The new West Elm catalog, called roads less traveled, features goods handmade in Morocco.

The photos are breathtaking and just invite you to jump into these rich colors and luxurious textures.

Of course, it's always great to see how real people incorporate these trends within their own homes. The new Elle Decor features the space of designer Steven Johanknecht. Look how he carefully combines the kilim rug, a throw from Mexico, Navajo-inspired pillows, and raw wood.

And his outdoor space is just as inviting, with an eclectic mix of copper bells, colorful pillows and bright globe lights.

Yesterday we found our own great example of a global-chic Indian-inspired pillow at Nest, a unique boutique on Fillmore in San Francisco. We love the little shells at the corners and the tiny mirror sewn in the middle.

What do you have hidden away in your cupboards that might make interesting decor? Textiles, knick-knacks and ceramics from your travels might be just what you need to bring more individuality to your home.

Loving a Little Lavender!

As much as we love bold, bright colors, we appreciate the power of more soothing hues too. Right now we're noticing lavender -- everywhere we look.

Photo from think Color by Tricia Guild, still one of our favorite books.

The cover home in the February 2012 issue of Elle Decoration UK features the iconic Egg chair and a simple pillow in lavender.

And the relatively new HGTV magazine showcased a beautiful lavender sofa in a recent story.

Even Ikea is showing the lavender love via their Isala laptop table:

In our own home, our cozy lavender cashmere scarf has been keeping us warm. Here it's shown with a vintage Takahashi laquer tray we just picked up at the Alameda Flea Market. Love the contrast of the orange with the lilac!

And the vintage stools we sit on every day in our office (also from Alameda Flea) have subtle lavender cushions.

Don't be afraid to combine this soothing shade with brighter elements, as we've done above. It's the mix that makes it fun.

Color Trends for 2013

Last week we attended the Color Pulse 2013 presentation at the Benjamin Moore showroom in the San Francisco Design Center. These yearly Color Pulse shows give a fun preview of what colors will be most prominent in the design world for the year ahead.

The theme for 2013 is Intersection, broken down into four categories: Interflow, Intercycle, Interanimate, and Interconnect. The colors are inspired by art, design and architecture from around the world, and have three-dimensional references within each group.

Interflow is all about reintroducing colors and textures of the past in a new and modern way, retaining what is comfortable and familiar. Think colorful chunky knit pillows and quilts made in a fresh way.

Intercycle refers to upcycling “disposable” materials, repurposing elements through unusual pairings of color and material. Some examples are structures made out of old tires, and artwork from discarded license plates.

Interanimate is about play – using bold and dynamic color to escape the everyday life and connect with our inner child. This category is inspired by bright legos, marbles, and comic books.

Finally, Interconnect explores the juxtaposition of what is virtual vs. what is real. Color strikes a path through the virtual, illuminating the familiar and material world. Think digital photography and computer graphics.


So what colors will be "hot" in 2013? According to Benjamin Moore:

• Reds -- those that are sophisticated, with blue undertones
• Pinks -- both soft and feminine and bright pinks
• Oranges -- deep corals and camel tones
• Yellows -- when offset by red and oranges
• Greens -- darker kelly green and very pale green
• Blues -- watery blues, soft blues are starting to trend (influenced by popular website colors)
• Purples -- smokey, almost mauvey, purples
• Neutrals -- animal prints contrasted with bright colors

And what colors won't be popular next year?

• Black and white -- this harsh contrast is going away
• Metallics.

It will be fun to see how these predictions play out!

Bringing Color to the Table

This week we spent some time in Ikea, where the Reidar chair really caught our eye. It comes in 4 colors, including this vibrant blue -- and it's a great deal at $49.99.

It's no secret that we love color, so the idea of bright chairs around the dining or kitchen table really appeals to us. You can even mix an assortment together for a really fun look, as shown here:

image via Pinterest via Summer Allen

If you want to achieve this look in your home, here are some other great options for colorful chairs in stores and online right now.

These are both from CB2: the Echo Orange Chair is $89.95 and the Fleet chartreuse chair is on sale for $129 (regularly $149).

If you're ready to make more of an investment, Design Within Reach offers the 111 Navy Chair for $260; or the Era Round Armchair for $225 (both chairs are available in other fun colors too).

And for a nice shot of Kelly green, try the Ming Green side chair from Crate and Barrel, $199.