Category Archives: trends

The Great Gatsby-inspired Style

The amazing F. Scott Fitzgerald story of decadence and excess of the 1920′s could not have found a better director than Baz Luhrmann, known for his epic films (Moulin Rouge is still my favorite). But the look of the time is a character all its own: the angles of Art Deco design and the sway of beaded fringe dresses are mesmerizing. Today’s mood board is filled with modern vintage looks to inspire you get a little decadent and jazz up your everyday. And of course, we all love to dress up for a glamorous party!

Decadent desserts, Sounds of Champagne, Candice Olson wallpaper, Emerald Gucci Pumps, Green and Gold art deco wedding cake, Gorgeous vegan wedding cakes, Wanikkos side table, Pale pink cake with black and gold art deco accents

Interview with Kelly Edwards Author of Design Cookbook

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This week I had the pleasure of interviewing the amazing Kelly Edwards. She is the co-host and design coordinator of HGTV’s “Design on a Dime” as well as STYLE network’s “Tacky House”. Next month Kelly’s book, Design Cookbook: Recipes for a Stylish Home will be in bookstores and we have your first exclusive look! Check out my interview with Kelly after the jump -

Jada: First off, not really a question, but a shout out because you are from Chicago too and that is always exciting!

Kelly: So great to meet you and so excite to hear your from Chicago. Love the city. I’d move back in a second if I wasn’t doing the whole TV thing!

Jada: So how did you come up with the cookbook approach for a design book? It’s so different, but makes total sense!

Kelly: It was actually my dad that came up with the idea. I told him I was wanting to write a design book and he said, “Why don’t you make one that looks like a cookbook?” I thought, ” that’s ingenious!” Truth is… people love cookbooks even if they can’t cook. It’s such a great approach to design. If you give someone a photo, a recipe and a list of ingredients it makes it so much easier to complete a room!

Jada: Okay, here’s a design scenario: I want to spruce up my living room in 2013 for less than $200, what should I invest in to really make my home special?

Kelly: An amazing rug, lighting and some great pillows. An inexpensive sofa can be dressed up with great pillows. Texture is everything. Velvet pillows will make any sofa look and feel more expensive. Lighting is the most important thing in any design as well. The better the lighting, the better the room will look. You MUST invest in great lighting.

Jada: Anyone who’s seen you on television knows you’re amazing at repurposing. How do you approach turning something most people see as trash into some great treasure?

Kelly: Yes, this is definitely my favorite thing to do. If something has great bones, then it will look even better with a fresh coat of paint on it. A can of spray paint is every repurposer’s best friend. I always look at the integrity of the piece first. If it has character, it will look good in any color.

Jada: We are super stoked for entertaining this summer. What are some of your foolproof design tips for our readers to create an amazing space for their guests?

Kelly: Make it comfortable. Guests love feeling comfortable in a space.

1. Have great lighting. Lighting creates and sets the mood. I like to make sure everything is on a dimmer and there are plenty of candles floating around.

2. There is ample seating and it looks and feels comfortable. For instance, all of the chairs in my dining room have a faux sheepskin throw over them.

3. For years the big thing is the indoor/outdoor entertaining. I keep my decor flowing from indoors to outdoor to give my guests the chance to mingle in and out. I like the open space.

4. Music can make or break your party. Consider your guests taste when doing your playlist. My personal favorite [is] having all our guests pick an album from our collection. We love to play albums at the end of the night.

5. Make a self-service bar complete with your best glassware and nice fresh flowers. Let your guests know to help themselves. It eases the pressure off the host from having to keep refilling glasses all night.

Jada: What are the 5 things you are most excited about for 2013?

Kelly: 1. Traveling. I have the travel bug this year! I want to go everywhere and anywhere!

2. The book. My first book is out in May. Couldn’t be happier!

3. Getting married. We are working out the details now. Wish me luck!

4. Starting a business with my friend Jen Porter from Chic Living LA.

5. Learning to cook more vegan and vegetarian dishes. I’m kind of obsessed with it right now. Oh, and to make my own Chicago hot Giardiniera. I want to jar it and sell it I love it so much! You can’t find it here in LA.

Best wishes to Kelly on her book launch and upcoming wedding! Make sure to check out the look book for Design Cookbook before it hits stores. If you’re feeling lucky, enter to win a free copy at Goodreads.

Seeing Spots!

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Apartment Therapy named polka dots as the interior trend of 2013, and it’s not hard to see why. Classic, contemporary, retro, and whimsical, peppering your walls with these spots can liven up any room while reflecting whatever your style may be. Check out some styles and get sprinkled with inspiration!

Classic: Whether creating a luxurious bedroom for you, a clean and individual space for kids, or a sleek guest bathroom, polka dots take the lead in creating a classy and classic atmosphere.

European style fairy tale via

can’t decided? do both! via

retro and glam! via

Monochromatic: Subtle polka dots can create a contemporary and slightly seductive look with barely any color.

manly and contemporary dots via

a whisper of polka dots via

Bright and White: Make an accent wall pop while tying the entire room together

Going green never looked so trendy! via

Make that accent wall stand out! via

A Few Freckles: If you’re not able to commit to a full on polka dot room, a few dots to highlight an area of a room go a long way.

Baby’s first interior decor via

Sprinkle of dots via

Snowflake-a dots, maybe? via

Whimsical: These imperfect specks are spot on! Create the look of a party that never ends with confetti-style polka dots. Get artsy with water colored, hand painted dots, in your favorite color. Or take it to the next level and bring polka dots to the third dimension!

Like glitter in the air! via

Watercolor Polka Dots via

3D Polka Dot Wall via

Check yourself

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One of the hottest trends in fashion and design this year, I am having a love affair with checkboard patterns. Highlighted in bright colors by Louis Vuitton’s spring-summer 2013 campaign, a inspired by the swinging 60s, checkboard patterns are looking sexier than ever.

Fashion, footwear, home accessories, wallpapers, heck, even on manicures, I am seeing this pattern everywhere! Im dying to create a tablescape in checkered pattern and play it up with stripes or polka dots.

What do you think about this trend? Checkmate?

Happy Monday.

Decorating Style: Industrial Glam

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Hello Monday!

One the decorating trends that I want to see more of in 2013 is industrial glam. Resilient industrial materials softened by plush and luxe textures like velvets, suede, and shiny decorative elements. Very close to my own style, I love how versatile this look can be. And dont be fooled, there is more to this style than a chandy above a farmhouse table. Think Restoration Hardware meets Kelly Wrestler.

I would love to see some new takes on this trend this year and hopefully less shabby chic versions mistaken for industrial glam. How do you feel about this look?

Dip Dye: Round Up

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As we hit the end of Summer I felt a round-up of my favorite dip dye projects was in order. I often wonder how long a trend will stick around before it fades out. I love seeing this trend evolve and extend beyond staining fabrics to wood, paper, metals, plastics, canvas and even hair!

Remember this from my Spring tablescape 101 over at Bright.Bazaar? I had so much fun making these fuscia ombre napkins.

did you try dip dying? how did it turn out?

trend alert: faux bois

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From cakes to invitations, ceilings to walls, side tables to bed frames, tableware to pillows, rugs to fabrics, fashion to laptop sleeves, faux bois (wood grain) pattern is everywhere! And I like. Easy to DIY, this textured finish looks great in vibrant colors too.

Martha Stewart takes up a level by crafting chocolate in faux bois pattern.

I’d love to give it a try on a small surface like placemat or runner. I took a textures and finishes class at NYU and faux bois was one of many that we learned to create. Wonder if it will come back easily to me. This tutorial should serve as a handy refresher.

How do you feel about this trend? Like? No like?

via martha stewart, bhg, elle decor, pinterest

hello monday + decorating stats in UK

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Happy new week friends. Trust you had a fantastic weekend. I spent mine crafting pieces for my next Bright.Bazaar tablescape and an exciting feature for hgtv.com. Cant WAIT to share these looks with you. Despite being busy with work, I did make time for a little fun. Went shopping for tablescapes, enjoyed cocktails on the waterfront and on my rooftop with friends, and caught up on some of my favorite shelter mags.

Loved this display at Anthropologie made with dip-dyed plant grow pots.

As a special treat I took Dexter for frozen-yo. (You know how much I love spoiling my puppy)

Can you tell how excited he was? The look in his eyes is priceless! I DIE!!

To start this week, I wanted to share an interesting stats about decorating behavior of men and women in the UK. I get many emails asking about trends and stats such as this so I am pleased to finally have some good info to share on this.

A new survey in the UK has revealed that men are more likely to take time off from work to decorate, despite women making the decorating decisions. A nationwide survey conducted by online interior specialist Wayfair has found that over half of those who admitted to taking more than a week off work to decorate their homes were men. Gentlemen in the UK, is this true?

The research, which involved almost 800 respondents from across the UK, also found that 48 per cent of women make home decorating decisions as opposed to only 26 per cent of men.

Further findings include 66 per cent of people are looking online to purchase items for the home, with the majority of these between 18 to 24 years old. The average spend in the first month of moving into a property is between £1,000 and £3,000 while those aged 35 to 44 are more likely to spend up to £5,000 in the first month.Owners of a home are more likely to take time off from work than those who rent.

It also revealed that older age groups not only spent more in the first month but that they prefer new furniture as opposed to second-hand. 63 per cent of people over the age of 55 buy new as opposed to just 36 per cent of those aged 18 to 25.

The priority of rooms was also highlighted in the survey with the kitchen rated as the most important room to decorate while the dining room and hallway are the lowest on the list of priorities.

John Kennedy, managing director at Wayfair UK said ”It’s interesting to note the commitment that people show to improving their homes. When you consider the difficult economic climate we are currently experiencing, I think it just goes to show how much value people place on having a happy and comfortable home from which to have their lives.”

A more detailed info-graphic highlighting these trends can be found here.

I always find it helpful to know this sort of information and hope to continue sharing such stats with you in the future. With two photoshoots and a trip to San Francisco to celebrate my sister’s birthday, this is going to be one packed week for me. I wish you a happy, powerful and productive week ahead.

Striped up

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A huge lover of stripes, I am loving how this graphic pattern is all over design world, lately. From dress, design, decor, stationery, tabletop and even food, stripes are everywhere! While black and white stripes are a classic, I am totally digging navy and white too. My take on this chic graphic trend? Add a splash of gold to the mix.