AROUND TOWN: SPRING IN BLOOM IN THE TRIAD

Last week, I not only got to spend the week visiting with my mom who flew up from Miami, but I also got to experience doing a little "East Coast Spring." Although it not quite as warm as springtime was living out west in Arizona, or living down south in Miami, bulbs such as daffodils and tulips plus trees filled with flowering blossoms plus bushes of yellow  forsythia are blooming all over the triad area of North Carolina! Since my mom flew in on the very first day of Spring, I popped into a local Lowe's garden shop to familiarize myself with this region's selection of blooms - different from the cacti, impatiens, and bougainvillea flooding Phoenix!) and also to hopefully pick up a few fresh blooms to welcome my mom to our new home. After a hot summer in Phoenix brown, and cold winter Carolina greys, it was refreshing to see the fresh greens and pops of color for Spring...

My go to color faves for Spring (and Summer) are fresh greens, bright whites and deep purples... sometimes with a pop of hot pink... I used this combination frequently when I'd spruce-up our front stoop for Spring in Arizona (see here) or when I'd fix up the (small) front yard of our Florida townhome (see here). Since winter is still lingering, I just picked up two ferns for the deck, and two purple flowering plants for the front - both easy to bring in overnight for a freeze...

 

Loved the beautiful blooming hydrangea! My aunt Mary in Leonia, NJ used to grow these in an English Garden she had for her back yard...

 

Loved this Vaulted Metal Garden Arbor at Lowe's, Greensboro...

 

 Pretty pink roses and calla lilies...

For mom's visit, I picked up flowers in her favorite color, purple - I wanted to have gotten her an African Violet, but that's not exactly travel friendly to take back on the plane...

While we roamed around the Triad during her stay, we did have some pretty clear days to enjoy so many white blooming trees in the area...

 

These were really pretty - looked like daisies, and were blooming in Grace Court, West End, Winston Salem. We had eaten lunch nearby, on our way to the historic Reynolda House - which has a gorgeous garden I'm looking forward to seeing in full bloom, later this Spring!

 

 

 

these blooms were at the Greensboro Coliseum for the Southern Ideal Home Show... 

 

Not all of the trees are in bloom yet - although since many people had fertilized their grass back in the Fall, the grass sure is lush and green as it is at the Pat Plaxico Gardens of the Bienenstock Furniture Library in High Point! (Something the hubs & I need to learn about and work on here at Harmon House!) And speaking of Harmon House, one day during mom's visit, she wanted to pop into Lowe's / Home Depot to look at ceiling fans (she wants to replace 2 in her townhome), and while we were in Home Depot, I spotted a great deal on (real!) topiaries, so I picked up two for the front of the house...

Thankfully, one of the associates at the store (in High Point) was nice enough to ask if these were for a showroom (for HPMKT), but when I said no, they were for the front of the house (facing south) she advised bringing them in when we get a freeze because they cannot take the cold because they aren't boxwood, but a more tropical or indoor species of plant. 

We also saw these amazing indigo orchids - I'd never seen any so blue! My mom grows orchids on her patio (facing a lake - they love the humidity!) and she said they must have added food coloring to the water they drank to get them this rich color (good idea - especially for those showrooms setting up vignettes with blue & white pottery + textiles!)

 

And over the weekend, after my mom left Friday, the hubs and I went to the Southern Ideal Home Show in Greensboro, where they too featured orchids, from the Triad Orchid Society...

 

I can hardly wait for it to warm up outside, and start some container gardening plus also landscaping the walkway, painting the shutters, pressure clean the house and stain the deck -- all to enjoy some outdoor living! 

How is Spring by you? Has it warmed up or is it STILL snowing? I feel really blessed to have lived most of my life in resort climates (Florida & Arizona) for Spring. One of the stories my mom shared during her visit was the year she put me in my Easter dress to go to church & grandma's -- and also had to put me in a snow suit! (You know the one from Christmas Story? "I can't move my arms!" lol) Thankfully, although it is still bitter cold here in NC, it's not the piles of snow people are still enduring further north.

Good. I'm sure if you're up north, you're needing some laughter right about now.

Happy Spring!!

 

Fashion & Decor - Style & Trends From NY Fashion Week

Many styles from the runways of New York Fashion Week this past February will be, if they haven't already, not only wondering into our wardrobe this coming Fall, but also merging its way into our home's decor. For starters: What had to be the most dominate color of designer collections was black - From the colorful designer Thom Browne to Donna Karan, to Alexander Wang to Calvin Klein, which in home furnishings, will appear as ebonized furniture finishes and black lamp shades. Other color palettes dominating the Fall / Winter 2015 runways were shades of grey - including matte silver and white, winter whites, hints of harvest gold,  black and gold, shades of teal and olive - sometimes paired together, and probably one of the most controversial colors this year - Pantone's Marsala, but bolder, richer, deeper shades of burgundy, merlot, along with a few red carpet moments with garnet...

 As with home decor, black and gold continues to make a strong statement on the runways. The more brushed metallic finish gives this look a more vintage feel -- and can also become beautiful inspiration for wall-coverings, especially for a statement powder room. Some terms of these applications you may hear are foil, flocked, brocade, lamé, jacquard. 

 NYFW - FW 2015 - Black On Black

Achieved through finishes and texture: Matte vs. Shine - Sheer vs. opaque - Flocking and Patchwork.

 Fashion & Decor - Design Duet I created for my weekly blog contribution at Hadley Court design blog. You can read the post + see more Fashion & Decor room pairings at:

Dazzling Decor - Kitchen + Dining Rooms Paired With NYFW.

NYFW - FW 2015 - Elegant Red Carpet Reds

Although some designers such as Tory Burch and Tommy Hilfiger, gave a rebirth to the 70s, the style was more modern bohemian than than hippie chick, the most notable nod to a style of years past  had to be the minimalism of the 90s - sharp, clean lines - more linear and almost architectural in their structure and design. Where previously we've seen more graphic patterns, now patterns are more 'tone-on-tone' for a cleaner aesthetic, leading the way to monochromatic wardrobes - and I'm sure will translate into into home furnishings, textiles, and interior design. 

 Southwest and Aztec influences styled Bohemian Chic.

 Architectural Linear With White

 Matte Silver Minimalism 

Monochromatic styling is excellent to use wen you want to create a soothing, tranquil, and sophisticated space, such as a master bedroom or master bathroom - and save the more graphic patterns for  common areas, such as a family room - unless you're wanting to make a big statement in a small space, such as an entryway or powder room.

Modern - Masculine - Monochromatic

Soft hide prints in a patchwork, such as this pencil skirt from Oscar de la Renta,  can also inspire a tile pattern like this marble one used here in this bathroom designed by Kelly Wearstler - featured at domainehome.com.
This patchwork technique from the runways, can also be applied a technique in home decor called marquetry and parquetry - which is saw strongly featured during Las Vegas Market, and I'm curios to see if it makes its way over to the east coast for HPMKT...

Heading into a more minimalism direction for interior design, expect to see fewer stripes, including the over-used chevron. En lieu of stripes, the runway featured more of a play on high gloss vs flat finishes - including fur on metallics, and even tone-on-tone fur patchwork from techniques such as shreading & shearing - which is perfect for coats skirts and handbags, or for home furnishings as rugs, pillows or ottomans - I'm sure will be featured at retailers and High Point Market, come Fall. 

 As seen on the NYFW runway - Patchwork Fur.

 The softer side of some of the more masculine runway looks were seen playful but sophisticated rose patterns, which although these are for Fall, I believe will also transition in Spring 2016.

 NYFW - FW2015 - Rose Patterns

 Fashion & Decor - Design Duet by Lynda Quintero-Davids for Hadley Court design blog.

Dress design: House of Oscar de la Renta, Creative Director, Peter Copping – Room design: Classic Black & White Celerie Kemble Interiors ~ Hand Painted wallpaper by Fromental, Rene Drouet chairs, Black Lacquered demi-Lune table attributed to Jansen, belted stripe rug, and silver coffee and tea set. Photo by Hulya Kolabas
 

 I know I'm inspired to once again get my wardrobe and home in sync! Since some styles are re-born of years gone by, one destination source sure to already carry some of these silhouettes will be consignment and thrift stores. Knowing these looks ahead of time can help when seeking refresher pieces for your wardrobe - as well as act as act as an style indicator when sourcing pieces at the upcoming High Point Market this Spring. High Point Market is Fashion Week for the home furnishings industry. Since I'll be attending HPMKT for the first time, I'll be curious to see if some of the trends from the west carry over to the east...

 

 Earthy & organic weathered woods vs. High style & High gloss 

 

Ebonized and black painted finishes...

 

Black shades, especially with gold interiors, for lighting design

 

Elegant white and gold...

Speaking of Spring, which will officially start by the end of this week, be sure to visit the Hadley Court design blog, to view my design duets from NYFW Spring 2015 Collections, which were shown this past October...


New York Fashion Week: Spring Trends Translated Into Timeless Interiors

Thanks for stopping by!

All New York Fashion Week - RTW FW2015 fashion images collected from Style.com and NowFashion.com - These images and more can be found on my Pinterest board: NYFW FW2015.

2015 Spring & Summer Market & Design Industry Events

There is a light at the end of this heavy snow burden winter: Upcoming Spring & Summer trade shows plus design industry events to attend. Time to get your head out from being buried in the snow, and mark your calendars with these upcoming market events happening in 2015! From trade-shows in New York City to Las Vegas and East coast showhouses -- to the largest interior design industry event - High Point Market in North Carolina, here is a list of a few events to save the date on - at least for the first half of 2015. For additional information on each of these events, just click their title to link to their site. And whether attending or not, you can usually also follow the events, by following their unique hashtags (provided if applicable)...

Save these dates!

MARCH

ADAC - Atlanta Decorative Arts Center

Atlanta, GA

9 Events happening from March 5 - March 26 (see site for details)

Atlanta Spring Gift, Home Furnishings & Holiday Market #atlmkt
Americasmart - Atlanta, GA
March 13 thru March 15 

Great American Bargain Book Show #GABBS
Americasmart - Atlanta, GA
March 13 thru March 15

High Point Market - Product Preview - TwitterChat #HPMKT
Global 
March 18 - 6pm EST

Charleston Symphony Orchestra League’s 38th Annual Designer Showhouse
Charleston, SC
March 19 through April 19

Architectural Digest Home Show #ADHS
New York City
March  19 thru March 22

Design Camp #DesignCamp #ADHS
New York City
March 18 & 19 at the Architectural Digest Home Show

DIFFA #DIFFA
New York City
Preview Party March 19 - Public viewing March 19-22 - Gala Dinner March 23

ASID Design Summit 
Chicago

March 26 

APRIL

Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club Decorator Showhouse - Presidents Dinner
New York City
April 1

Houston Design Center Spring Market
Houston, TX
April 7 & 8

ASID - Design To Lead Summit
Washington, DC
April 13

Dream Home 2015 - Grand Opening
Design Center - Merchandise Mart - Chicago, IL
April 16

ASA 2015 Decorators Showhouse & Gardens - Château Soleil
Atlanta, GA
Open to the public from Saturday, April 18 – Sunday, May 10

High Point Market - #HPMKT 
High Point, North Carolina
April 18 thru April 23

Junior League Showhouse  #HPMKT
High Point, North Carolina
Preview Party April 17 - Public viewing April 18 - April 26

Design Camp #DesignCamp #HPMKT
High Point, North Carolina
April 20 & April 22

Design on a Dime - Housing Works Charity Benefit #DOAD
New York City
Preview Party April 23 - Public sale April 24 & 25

Dwell With Dignity - Pop-Up Thrift Studio #ThriftStudio2015
Dallas Design Center
Preview-Party: April 24

MAY

2015 Metro Designer Showhouse
Edgewater, New Jersey
Opening Gala April 30 - Open to public May 2 thru June 28

Legends 2015 - La Cienega Design Quarter #LCDQ
West Hollywood, CA
May 6 - May 8 

Brimfield - Spring Antiques Market #Brimfield 
Brimfield, Massachusetts
May 12 thru May 17

D&DBuilding - Spring Market 2015 
Upper East Side, NY
May 13 & 14

18th Annual Newport Harbor Home & Garden Tour
Newport Beach, CA
May 14 

International Contemporary Furniture Fair #IFCC
Javits Center, NYC
May 16 thru May 19 

JUNE

Canadian Home Furnishings Market
Toronto, Canada
June 4 thru June 7 

NeoCon 2015 - Largest Commercial Interiors Market Event
Merchandise Mart - Chicago, IL
June 15 thru June 17

Summer Luvin' - Sweet Salvage 4-Day Pop-Up Vintage Shop
Phoenix, AZ
June 18 thru June 21

JULY

Atlanta Summer International Gift & Home Furnishings Market
Americasmart - Atlanta, GA
July 7 thru July 14

Brimfield - Spring Antiques Market #Brimfield 
Brimfield, Massachusetts
July 14 thru July 19

Coastal Living Hamptons Showhouse #CLSHOWHOUSE
East Hampton, NY
July - September 2015 (check site for date & time updates)

Collaboration Nation - LVMKT & Design Camp

AUGUST

Las Vegas Summer Market #LVMKT
World Market Center - Las Vegas

Design Camp#DesignCamp #LVMKT
Las Vegas World Center
August 4 & 5

Happening Date of post:

Dwell With Dignity Thrift Studio - Kick-off Party #ThriftStudio2015

at Pirch - Dallas, TX

March 5 - 7pm-9m

By no means is this every industry event - but most are the pretty heavy hitters from around the country. Now the object is to fit in all the wonderful design events into your busy schedules - And check you area for local events to support, connect and be inspired by - for example, an art walk.

Thanks for stopping by!

Note: Lead image from Monika Hibbs - Design Love Planner

Home Tour & Dinner with Vern Yip Celebrating Vern Yip for Trend

Wow!! What a week! But before I share with you my experience at the Design Bloggers Conference this year, I'd like to share with you a rather unique experience I'm grateful to have had, along with 22 other conference attendees - thanks to Fabricut. Fabricut - Trend, a brand with beautiful fabrics at exceptional value, was one of the many fantastic sponsors of the Design Bloggers Conference in Atlanta this year, and they had several great giveaways at their conference presentation area. To enter their giveaways, attendees just had to place their business card in a white bowl, for a chance to win one of 3 prizes: an autographed Barry Dixon book, a Vern Yip scented candle, or a private dinner with Vern Yip. Never imagining I'd win the dinner, I entered my card during the Design Bloggers Conference Welcome Reception, sponsored by Benjamin Moore. During the conference, attendees and vendors tweeted messages, using the hashtag #dbcatl, so we could all see the tweets in the thread, displayed on a large backdrop screen in the conference hall. While I was sitting in the conference on Thursday, Leslie Carothers, who also attended and I was sitting next to in the second row, noticed a tweet saying - "Congratulations Lynda @nyclq for winning dinner with Vern Yip - come to our table for details!" When I went to the table, I received an invitation from Jen Yeung, the Fabricut Social Media Marketing Specialist, and it said we (as in a group of us) would meet in the hotel lobby at 6:15 that evening. Later I saw my friend and designer, Jackie Von Tobel, attending all the way from Vegas, had also won!

 Just one of three tables set in Vern's home, featuring his Collection collaboration with Trend.

After all of us selected 22 Design Conference Bloggers + Designers loaded a private shuttle bus, Jen announced a surprise: this wasn't just a dinner with Vern Yip at just any restaurant: we were going to a private dinner he was hosting in his Atlanta home! 

 

 Having dinner at Vern's house was an excellent experience, and a much more intimate means of sharing his recent design collaboration with Fabricut. When we arrived, of course the first question many asked was 'can we take photos?'  Although he said yes, he did kindly ask that we just please not open any closed doors - which was fine because there was oh so much beauty to see, I don't think I could have taken seeing any more rooms than what we saw - plus, three creatively decorated tablescapes for us to dine at, with Vern, Jen and Rebecca of Fabricut rotating time spent with smaller groups at each table. Here are the tablescape textile details - with links...

 

Trend - Vern Yip Collection

Linen - Geometric / Abstract

Trimming

Embroidery - Circle Lattice

Linen - Asian Floral

 

  Vern Yip Collection - Grey / Charcoal

Linen - Diamond Ogee

Trimming

Linen - Contemporary Chevron  

Linen - Animal / Floral Print

(note: the dog in this print was actually inspired by a tattoo!)

Vern Yip Spiced Poppy Collection

Chenille / Woven - Modern Geometric

Trimming

Woven - Contemporary Circles

Global / Ethnic Print Pattern

From custom window treatments finished with elegant ribbon details, to durable and comfortable upholstered chairs to the 3 creative tablescapes, layered with the stunning patterns Vern designed for Fabricut's line called Trend - grab yourself a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, and enjoy this home tour & dinner at Vern Yip's home...

 Me with friend, Jackie Von Tobel (we met at Design Camp in Vegas last Summer!)

 

 Formal Dining Room...

 

 

 

Casual Dining room, with drum shade light fixtures, also covered in Vern's Trend line...

 

Napkins, runner, and menu easels all created from Vern;s new line...

 

 

 

 Library Dining (and table I sat at) - Light fixture above was also designed by Vern, for one of Craig's shops called Wag-A-Lot...

 

 

As a keepsake of the moment, we each got to take one of the customized menu easels from our placesetting...photo by Cheryl Draa

photo by Cheryl Draa

 

You may wonder why I took a pic of these coasters - But they caught my eye because I have them too! (A Phoenix thrift find!) 

 

 

Closet love!

Master suite... with sitting area and fireplace inglenook...

 Daughter, Vera's room...

 

Contemporary collage art in the hallway...

 Son, Gavin's room...

 

A guest room...

 The playroom...

 

 View from inside the foyer out the front door...

 Son & Daughter - Gavin & Vera - awaiting the arrival of the 22 Design Bloggers - photo by Craig Koch, Facebook

 

Vern Yip & Craig Koch (photo by Jackie Von Tobel)

Vern and his partner Craig elegantly and meticulously have curated an amazing contemporary art collection from their travels around the globe, which harmoniously compliments not only the architecture of their historic Atlanta home, but also works with the playful patterned layers of Fabricut textiles used throughout - creating a warm and cozy environment for their family. 

The photo shoot for the Trend ads & graphics were actually shot in Vern's home too!

See the entire collection at Fabricut - Trend: Vern Yip Collection

Story behind the collaboration - Inspired by his world travels and background in architecture, Trend collaborated with interior designer and HGTV personality Vern Yip to create an eclectic and inviting collection of fabrics and trimmings. Vern Yip’s global aesthetic, paired with his precise and clean lines, has set him apart as a leading trendsetter. The environments he creates are always warm, timeless, and livable. Vern’s extraordinary technique, dynamic personality, and sophisticated style have made him a nationally acclaimed interior designer, columnist, and TV superstar.

 All three tables - filled with happy designers & design bloggers at Vern's for dinner!

(photo by Fabricut)

About Fabricut Inc. - Fabricut, Inc. is a second-generation family-run and employee owned company, devoted to supplying beautiful fabrics, trimmings, decorative drapery hardware and wall-coverings to the interior design trade. Established in 1954, the Fabricut brand has grown into one of the largest, most progressive distributors of decorative fabrics in the world. With its commitment to quality products and extraordinary service, coupled with a knowledgeable worldwide sales force, Fabricut Inc. provides fabric, trimming, hardware and wall-covering solutions for everyday decorating. Follow their blog at BE home - and from there, join them on all of their social channels such as Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

Thank you for the invitation Fabricut! And also a special thank you to Vern Yip and Craig for graciously hosting dinner in your beautiful home!

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you enjoyed the tour!  

Note: With the exception of the photo shoot & ad photos clustered towards the end, and unless noted, all photos and collages by Lynda Quintero-Davids.