JUST IN CASE: A BOOKCASE NOT TO BE MISSED AND MY REPORT OF TRENDS TO KNOW NOW

photos courtesy of Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams

Sometimes a piece is so good, I fall for it instantly. This is the case with the Jules brass etagere from Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams. With its intercepting lines, mid-century modern feel and vintage-inspired high shine brass finish, the bookshelf is both a modernist art and functional piece, yet the classic scale makes it very fresh and now. It has a lightness that comes from its open back and glass shelves, so it could be used to separate spaces, but also surround doorways, or line the walls for a an instant library.

Full of books or arranged with decorative objects, the bookcase can look completely different depending on how you choose to style it.

ON ANOTHER NOTE...TREND FORECASTING:

Speaking of brass, it has been everywhere as of late, which makes me happy because I think it is incredibly chic. If you want to see more brass, and other designs currently trending,  I have created a Market Report, highlighting the best designs at High Point and trade shows I have recently attended. If you did not get the chance to hit the shows and are in need of great sources and directional pieces, reach out to me to learn more about acquiring the report.  If there are specific styles or pieces you are looking for, I can create a report specially tailored to your needs. Leave me a comment below, and be in touch. I have many exciting finds to share.

STYLEBEST- A LITTLE LOCAL COLOR: INDEGO AFRICAN BASKETS

I love a good pop of bright color, pretty much anywhere.  A shot of color adds a bright ray of sunshine to a room needing a lift. All of January has been a deep freeze, so it makes me like it even more. Decorative accessories like bowls and trays are an easy way to inject a room with a shot of uplifting color.  Woven by skilled women in Rwanda, Africa, Indego artisan baskets have a wonderful graphic geometric pattern, painstakingly woven out of fine threads of dyed plant material. The effect is smile-inducing, making an age-old traditional craft modern and fair trade in today's color palette.

Photos courtesy of Indego 

Burst Plateau Basket in red white and blue.

Color The World Platter with handles makes it great for cocktail hour hors d'oeuvres.

Orange Burst Plateau Basket paired with a zesty teal 

Olive Burst, in a chic olive drab and cream combo

CONTAIN YOURSELF!

With the arrival of spring comes cleaning, changing over to the spring wardrobe and bringing fresh colors into our homes. Here are some ways to get it together, and store your stuff in style.

Powder coated metal baskets from Lostine keep small things in order. The tri-level baskets keep things at eye level. These age great for fruit and vegetables in the kitchen.

Lostine also creates larger baskets that resemble those farmers have used for ages to collect potatoes, these in bright colors to add some zing to office or children's rooms.

With a large caning pattern,  nesting Skalny baskets have a delicate look and do their job with elegant ease.

Photo courtesy of West Elm

This dipped basket from West Elm is terrific looking. Made of rattan that is dipped and woven together, the baskets have a fresh take with an ethnic and modern sensibility.

Bamboula Ltd Turkana ethnic woven baskets are made in Kenya. These richly textured baskets come in a variety of colors and can be used as waste baskets or to store tools. They add such a great dose of pattern.

 Bamboula's red and white Sisal Cylindars in Poppy come in a set of 3 and work well for small things.

 Teal is such a popular color this version would be at home in so many interiors.

The orange is pretty great too.

Using mod geometric fun patterns to create tabletop items and cotton canvas storage bins, Pehr Designs creates square and round bins to keep it together, and even fit on Ikea shelves.

KEEP IT TOGETHER

Photo from Organize.com

If your office needs a bit of sprucing up, you have to get this hanging lifesaver. The Corky Wall Organizer from Organize.com is an adorable way to as my mom likes to say have "everything in its place and a place for everything." It has multiple embroidered pockets to hold everything, including pens, pencils, scissors, keys, glasses, and more. Corky also can hold photos and notes in transparent sleeves, and there is room for invitations on the cork board. But wait, it gets even better-- there are media pockets with hidden cord slots so that you can store and charge your gadgets at the same time.