A SOFT LANDING: BUNNY WILLIAMS RUGS FOR DASH AND ALBERT

When it comes to creating relaxed, warm and comfortable interiors, Bunny Williams knows how its done. So its no surprise then, that when shooting her collection of new rugs for Dash and Albert, she chose her Dominican Republic home as the setting. Complete with dogs, the amazing island setting served as the perfect inspired backdrop for her easy to live with assortment of casual indoor/outdoor and jute rugs. When starting to design a room, Bunny begins with the rug. This collection is sure to inspire others to do the same.

Photos courtesy of Annie Selke Co.
Bunny Williams and Annie Selke of Dash and Albert at Bunny's home in the Dominican Republic. These ladies understand livable soft color and interesting patterns, and the rugs are made with vegetable dyes in earth-friendly and recycled materials.

The verdant entrance to the house

The Marco jute rug in Oak 

Clarence in Blue is indoor/outdoor

Lucy in Juniper is great on a loggia and can be used indoors or out

Cleo in Blue, an other outdoor/indoor, is one of my favorite patterns. I think Lucy likes it a lot too, even though her namesake rug is above. 

Elizabeth goes outdoors or in, here in Blue, with Bunny's frolicking dogs. They have a pretty sweet life, getting a vacation too.

Cleo in Moss

Blanco, a jute woven in Moss

Cooper, also of jute, in Red

Marco in Oak

An assortment of striped rugs sit in a giant clamshell

Ever the consummate hostess, Bunny on the loggia with a few of the rugs strewn about

A RECAP OF THE 2013 DESIGN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT: KNOWLEDGE AND INSPIRATION

Photo courtesy of John Calabrese and DLN

DLN founder Peter Sallick, (the CEO of Waterworks and interiors website Dering Hall), along with co-hosts John Edelman, (President and CEO of modern furniture store Design Within Reach), and Kate Kelly Smith (SVP publishing director and chief revenue officer of Hearst Design Group) on the 2nd day of the Summit at Hearst Tower.

This past November, a large group of interior designers, architects and landscape designers descended upon New York City for three days of design lectures, filled with meaningful moments, great takeaways and endless inspiration at The Design Leadership Network Summit, now in its 8th year.  I had the great pleasure of attending the event, and to be part of the of-the-moment design dialog was nothing short of incredible. Having designers come from all over the globe to gather in New York City provided a valuable sense of community and closeness, not to mention the jaw-dropping New York institutions where the events were held.

This year, a wide variety of  areas from inspiration to technology, culture, media and beyond was discussed, under the theme of Knowledge and Inspiration. Containing hot topics relevant to the design world and business endeavors, the days were divided into the following areas of exploration-- Technology and Design, Fashion, Art and Culture, Marketing and Media, closing with Residential Meets Commercial. Each day was punctuated by a designer sharing a personal moment of inspiration in their career. Here are some of the highlights of the first day. 

Dinner underneath the New York Public Library's magnificent dome

The first evening, event hosts founder Peter Sallick, CEO of Waterworks and Dering Hall, Kate Kelly Smith, SVP publishing director and chief revenue officer of Hearst Design Group, and John Edelman, president and CEO of Design Within Reach started things off with the Keynote, Lord Norman Foster discussing Knowledge + Inspiration with architecture critic and writer Paul Goldberger over dinner in the depths of The New York Public Library.

Sukhinder Singh Cassidy spoke on shippable video and user experience online

 The first day, held at the modern white Frank Gehry-desgned AIC building downtown,  started with a deep dive into the world of Technology + Design, beginning with my new tech idol, former CEO of Polyvore and founder of shippable video site Joyous, Sukhinder Singh Cassidy discussing boundary-pushing shoppable video and how big data allows us to be known holistically.

Next up was a look at how 3D printing is poised to change the rate at which products are produced and how they are experienced.

French wunderkind Jean-Francois Chianetta and Mickaël Jordan showed us their augmented reality 3D app, Augment, where you upload 3D images and view them in a 3D space. Following the look at 3D, Finn  Mikko Martikainen of Sayduck showed us how their app placed scanned furniture into settings, in real time.  Showing how new furniture would look in a home setting, it's fair to say that this blew our minds. As much as I wanted to use this right away, I think it is going to be some time before it makes its way beyond big companies.

Then Ron Croen showed us Volio, his program that allows users to interact and converse with a video, where the person on the screen provides answers to a set of problem-solving questions. It was amazing, like Siri with a human face.

Closing out the morning was inventor and Priceline.com founder Jay Walker, the now Chairman of TedMed, the popular health and medicine talks.  He reminded us of the power of design for health and wellness, and that "data will control the biological world."

Photo courtesy of John Calabrese/DLN

Oscar de la Renta chats with Bunny Williams

The afternoon topic, Fashion Art and Culture, led by the warm and wise designer Bunny Williams chatting with longtime friend, Oscar de la Renta. They both advised to, "Train with the best in your field," and that curiosity is one the best assets you can have." 

Photo courtesy of John Calabrese/DLN

Andy Spade in conversation with Elle Decor's Michael Boodro

Then came one of my quirky favorites, Andy Spade of Partners and Spade. His ironic sense of humor and great storytelling had the room in stitches. From leaving the ad world to creating Jack Spade and helping brand companies like Warby Parker, he is in the business of "creating desire" with an emotional connection, especially nostalgia.  His latest product introduction is sleepwear company, Sleepy Jones that fuses insouciance with cool.

Photo courtesy of John Calabrese/DLN

Then the American artist Richard Philips revealed what is behind his large scale 70's-inspired celebrity culture- infused paintings and movie videos. He revealed his photographic process and showcased how he works to create his hyper-realistic images (mainly of women of Hollywood), which was fascinating.

Tyler Florence followed, discussing what it means to be a name brand. He advised to, "Keep your eyes peeled and pull inspiration from unusual places" and that to him, "Luck is opportunity meets preparation." Great advice for a room filled with inspiration seekers.

The evening session, held at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall's Grand Promenade, featured an all-star art panel comprised of real estate and art collector Abe Rosen, designer and architect Bill Georgis, and inventive artist Tom Sacks, moderated by The New Museums's Lisa Philips. Talking The Importance of Art in Public Spaces, Rosen has helped better the art landscape in New York, with art on display outside his landmark building, Lever House.

The first day left me feeling so informed and inspired. Stay tuned for more on day 2, covering media, the New York real estate climate, architecture, and creative inspiration as well as designers reactions to the summit.

BOSTON! JOIN ME FOR MY TREND TALK "THE LOOK" AT THE BOSTON DESIGN CENTER THIS THURSDAY OCTOBER 3rd

Photos courtesy of The Boston Design Center

Trends are constantly evolving, helping inform the look of the design world we live in. Want to find out what trends and design influences are on the horizon for 2014? Join me this Thursday, 10AM at The Boston Design Center, as I share key key trends to look out for, and how you can apply them in your interiors.  

I look forward to seeing you there. Boston is such a great design town, so livable-- full of charm, history and classic architecture. I can't wait.

Please RSVP: HERE.

ASH POP UP STORE IN NYC'S WEST VILLAGE IS A TINY TREAT

It's all in the mix. This is a phrase worth repeating, for design today is not about a cookie cutter samey look, it's about pulling inspiration from a wealth of different eras and sources. Take Ash, for instance. The new appointment-only pop up shop created by youth-quake design duo Ari Heckman and Will Cooper, takes up all of 480 square feet in the former Abingdon Guest House in the West Village. It feels like a well-layered living room, and with such as small footprint, is a microcosm of their Williamsburg Brooklyn-based design studio/shop.  A mix of up and coming artists and mid- century finds live well together here. Cooper, who got his retail chops in Ralph Lauren store visuals started Ash with Heckman in 2007.  The diminutive shop at 13 8th Avenue is there until June 27th so get there while you can!

Ari Heckman and Will Cooper, two design guys to keep an eye on.

The latest design books from Rizzoli artfully arranged with a specially created Le Labo candle.

Chrome-legged sling chairs around a studded black pedestal table get an infusion of traditional design with the crystal ship chandelier.

An all-white moment comprised of white nude sculptures and modern coffee tables.

Prints from photographer Adrien Mesko line the wall. Custom Ash pillows and upholstery mingle with other pieces that have strong, clean lines. Designer Anna Karlin created the cool stools shown above.

More of the mix. The black and white painting is fantastic- I wonder if it's still available?

LACQUER AND CLEAN LINES: WELCOME TO 2013 KIPS BAY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB DECORATOR SHOWHOUSE

Filling a 7,000 square foot Federal townhouse in the East 60's, this year's Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse is big on art, less so on color. There are a few colorful broad strokes, but for the most part, the majority of spaces pay homage to the neutral color palette.  Where have all the printed and patterned wallpapers gone? Beige, greige, cream, gray and other soothing tones provide a backdrop to beautiful decorative details, shiny hardware, a mix of vintage and antique furniture and streamlined upholstery. Take a look at the rooms that stood out, designed by a crop of establishment, new guard and long distance decorators. Let me know what room you feel delights and inspires. That is, after all, the ultimate goal of showhouse spaces. The townhouse at 161 East 64th,  is open now through June 4th Monday through Saturday 11am - 5pm Tuesday and Thursday evenings until 8pm Sunday Noon - 5pm (No entry 1/2 hour before closing).

Photo Trevor Tondro for NY Times
New York/Palm Beach- based Nievera Williams Design  turned the outdoor space on the ground floor into a sanctuary, complete with cream colored walls, lanterns and manicured green boxwood poufs making an urban outdoor room.

Robert Brown, the Atlanta-based interior designer created a pretty little sitting room punctuated by touches of brown and gray.

Fabric- upholstered walls in a fabric that resembles skin added a textural backdrop.

Clean forms and luxe finishes are well-placed around the seating areas.

A moment featuring modern abstract art and a klismos chair.

Color is Andrew Suvalsky's bag. When I walked into this two-tone turquoise powder room, I was taken with the glowing luster the high gloss lacquer band on the walls.

A mod loungey  foyer tied the turquoise into the space from the powder room. Vibrant blue cabinet doors and lamps added a sense of fun. The gold gleam of Odegard's lotus table balances the jewel tones from the red velvet sofa and pink and yellow pillows.

Ford Huniford has had a busy spring. He focused his talents and efforts on making April's Housing Work's Design on a Dime fundraiser a smash this year. Then, he turned his attention to creating this Kips Bay living room on the first floor. A custom high-backed mustard yellow sofa designed by Huniford dominates a long wall in the room.

Minimal shapes and maximal finishes make his room a triumph of luxury simplicity. I mean, how amazing is the vintage bone and brass coffee table from Mondo Cane? Exactly.

Majestic modern triple height glass windows frame the wall and bring tons of light into the space.

An enormous Pat Steir painting dominates the wall across from the sofa

Books play an important roll in a room, adding personality of the person who lives there. This is a nice way to display them with simple stacks.

Oh, this mirror! A Jansen octagonal mirror that has not been seen for years grabbed my attention.

Ever-inspired by her creative coterie of friends in the fashion and art worlds, designer Kristen McGinnis wowed. Her friend, the hot artist Elliot Hundley created a mixed media neon and wood chandelier to hang over the mid-century modern dining table. Walls buffed to a high gloss sheen were lacquered in the darkest shade of gray. A gold leaf paper from Romanoff glistens above, the perfect foil for the shiny surfaces below.

Black glass  adds another glam shiny, solid surface.

 It's all in the details. Matte gold flatware and subtle gold porcelain china paired with gold-flecked Nason and Moretti glassware.

 Another view, picking up the 1930's Bruhns rug from Beauvais.

 Two large Al Held paintings from 1966 ground the corners of the room.

 A gleaming matte gold amoeba-like Wendell Castle bench sits between the chartreuse Claremont curtain panels through which you can see Huniford's space.

A killer black buffet that looks like it is exploding in the center is from a New Zeland artist.

Giant lacquer doors lead into the narrow room by Dineen Architecture and Design PC.

Their objet selection and placement made the space a cool mix.

I'm not the biggest fan of sheers, but these graphic, soft geometric panels made me a convert.

 The most divine metal tree sculpture sits on a round table in Mariette Himes Gomez's cream sitting room.

Sexy and swank, Garcia Maldonado created a space for chillaxing.  Walls covered in light suede and silk window treatments kept the feeling airy.

Maximalists rejoice, Jack Levy is in the house! Including the latest Fornasetti Blowfish wallpaper as a backdrop, detail enriched every surface.

Some of my favorite Swedish porcelain vases from dealer Berndt Goekler.

British LA-based designer and funny gal Kathryn M. Ireland designed a bedroom around her new  French-inflected Scalamandre fabric collection. The Anglo Indian bed is just awesome. I get a headache thinking about that installation feat.

A mod world with touches of lilac as created by Sara Story. Black and white is a big color story right now, so I am glad someone went there. Playful and art-filled, the room's walls are papered in Bamboo, from her new paper line available through Holland and Sherry.

A series of 6 scribble paintings add this wonderful sense of humor.

The bathroom she tiled in strong black and white squares as an homage to the great Andree Putman who passed away this year. The Cubistic vanity base continued the purple theme.

Palm Beach-based designer Stephen Mooney designed a space his clients probably know and love. The lady's writing room. Gotta have a room of one's own.

 Barbara Ostrom created a stunning display of architectural detail through beautiful millwork.

These books love these nooks.

More high shine surfaces on the recessed ceiling in Eve Robinson's polished family room. Soft gray hues and yes, more lilac. She uses striking pieces and lets them do the work in her spaces; they have good "flow" to them.