Looking Good

I have been reviewing my finds from my trip to Las Vegas Market and still am finding a lot of inspiration from these great items.  Let me share some of the good looking pieces I am loving:

Which is your favorite?

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Photos by Rebecca Ward

Went To Market

I made a whirlwind trip down to Las Vegas to see what's new from my vendors and then find some new vendors. Success on both accounts! I just wish I had more time to spend there, but alas, with all my client projects I could only afford to spend two days out of my busy week down there.
Besides visiting showrooms and taking a few CEUs, the market kept us designers well fed and entertained. Monday night had a circus in the breezeway complete with carnival food.
I will go into more detail about my great finds at market in the posts to come. In the meantime, have a great weekend!

Chan Residence: Before and After

I spent Monday down in Las Vegas at the World Market Center looking at some great furniture and accessory vendors so I haven't had a lot of time to edit photos.  However, I did a quick pass on a few from the Chan Residence to bring you the beloved Before and Afters! It really is all that anyone asks to see anymore.  It gives the viewer such a great grasp as to the extent of the remodel.  This remodel included replacing the carpet with hardwood floors, a custom hounds tooth rug (love!), built-in cabinets, mixing new and existing furniture and accessorizing.  Take a look:

Before View 1

After View 1

Before View 2

After View 2

Before View 3

After View 3

Before View 4

After View 4

Before View 5

After View 5

Photos by Rebecca Ward

Going to Market?

 I won't be heading down to the winter market in Las Vegas next week since I know I have to go in the summer.  I am also planning to attend KBIS in Vegas in April.  However I took a look and the style file on their website just to see what trends are happening right now.  You can read the style file for yourself here to discover what is happening with the lively colors, bold damasks, subtle yet exotic hues and shining silver accents.

You can also check out some of the featured exhibitors here.  They have many inspiring photos such as these:

Linon Home Decor Products, Inc.

Star International Furniture

Asian Art Imports

Midwest-CBK

Are any of my readers planning to attend Market next week?

Images from www.lasvegasmarket.com

Reclaiming Wood in Interiors

I am loving the look of reclaimed wood furniture and flooring.  It's so natural and "green" that it makes me happy to simply see the wonderful pieces cropping up everywhere.  I noticed the reclaimed wood being featured all over the Las Vegas Winter Market this year.  I particularly loved everything in the Dovetail Showroom, which featured much of this style.  Some of it is very rustic and provencal while others look cleaner and washed in the Scandinavian style.

Image from Dovetail

As I looked through my magazines this last weekend, I especially liked the spread in the April issue of House Beautiful called "The New Look of Wood" with categories of reclaimed, washed, tinted, graphic, and white.  The pictures are so inspiring and exquisite that I recommend picking up this issue.  I give you just a sampling here to whet your appetite.

Images by Rebecca Ward

Why Green? Why Not?

While I was at Market, I attended a symposium on sustainable design, as I mentioned in my last post.  I wanted to find out more about this subject since, whether my clients are asking for it or not, it is good to be informed about the products I specify.  I firmly believe that we should be good stewards of the resources we have and maintain a eco-friendly balance so we can at least leave our future generations with as many natural resources as we have had available to us.

The panel of discussion was hosted by the Sustainable Furnishings Council.  Questions were directed to the glamourous Kath Ireland, HGTV star Angelo Surmelis and the President and Publisher of Dwell magazine, Michela O'Connor Abrams.

They all took turns giving valuable and heartfelt answers about what they are doing with their own company to produce a sustainable product, not only meaning the materials used, but how they are made and the conditions under which they are made. 

Kathy Ireland pointed out that she will frequently make surprise visits to her factories to ensure that her standards are being met for her product and the working conditions.  She has made efforts to see that her products are never made by children. 

Angelo explained the efficiency of his packaging for his furniture, there is little waste and all packing products are recyclable.  He also emphasized that even in his shows, partly due to limited time and budgets, he seeks to reuse as many pieces of furniture and fabrics as possible. 

Michela pointed out Dwell Magazine's continual effort to support and encourage green products.  The magazine holds valuable sources for designers and consumers to find products that are certifiably "green".  Dwell also showcases many projects that use green means in the design and building process.

The symposium was very informative and inspiring!  I realize that I need to be more responsible in finding more green products and asking my vendors for them.  The more companies are asked for green products, the more motivation they have for making them since they are driven by their buyer's needs and demands.  Thankfully, there are many more options for specifying green now than there ever has been and hopefully we will see this trend became the standard for the industry across the board.  Many sources can be found at the SFC website.

It was also a plus to be able to meet these inspiring and famous people!

 

Photos by Rebecca Ward

Went to Market

I got back from a quick trip to the World Market Center in Las Vegas where the winter furniture market is going on right now.  I had never previously had a chance to go see the showrooms so I thought this was as good of a time as any.  It is quite the ordeal!  Three buildings comprise the Market with the Las Vegas Design Center and its permanent showrooms with many temporary exhibits there for the market week.  I traipsed up and down the 11 floors of building A and the 16 floors each of Buildings B and C which left me exhausted by the end of day 2.

I did get to sit in on a synposium put on by the SFC on green design with a panel consisting of Kathy Ireland, Angelo Surmelis from HGTV and the president and publisher of Dwell magazine, Michela O'Connor Abrams. But more on that later.

Overall I think a great introduction for me to Market for when I need to return with specific needs for my clients.