My husband's birthday is tomorrow. I got him some tickets to the UFC event in Las Vegas...he likes that stuff. I don't all that much. But I wanted to get him something kind of cool and unique for his birthday. I found this really cool light called the Jumping Jack, by David Knott, based in Australia. I wish his stuff was more available in the US.
Every bar needs cool barware! Check out new barware from notneutral. Funky and bold, your martinis will look a whole lot cooler. They are pretty reasonable on the pocketbook too. Are these more George Jetson or Austin Powers?
These amazing silk and linen lamps are perfect to add a warm glow to your room. Galbraith & Paul lighting is designed with an artist's eye and a craftsman's hand. All the the fabrics used to create the shades are hand blocked printed in the Galbraith & Paul studio. Remarkably soft and colorful patterned fabrics are teamed with high quality lighting fixtures to create an amazing statement. They come in so many patterns to choose from, I can't figure out which is my favorite!
Recently, I was visiting family on Lido Isle in Newport Beach
While I was on a walk, one house stuck out. It was a very modern design. Clean lines and finishes. White and black. Cement and Steel. Someone had obviously torn down one of the typical houses and worked with a modern architect to create a very attractive and unique dwelling.
It sticks out like a sore thumb, and the individual I was walking with balked at it a bit, almost apologizing for its presence. I say kudos to the modern enthusiast who had the guts to build the establishment that fit their style within the area they wanted to live.
Funny side note: there were 2 identical white Range Rovers with black trim parked in the front, coordinating directly with the house. If your going to do it…go all the way.
If I ever am invited into the house, I will follow up with some more notes. It looked clean, high ceilings, smooth cement floors and of course, well designed modern furniture.
(pictures to come)…
How many times do we pass by an electrical tower or a shopping cart without a thought? We pick up a fork merely to eat with it, but have we taken some of these items of daily life for granted? Sure, the design of a fork is helpful when we are hungry, but is it possible there is beauty there as well?
intoto, a design studio in New York, has designed some wonderful prints that focus on these everyday objects:
Thanks for taking the time to notice!
In California, summer is finally here! Wait...it's already August! Well, in San Francisco, the fog is heavy in June and July and it isn't until August when we start to really enjoy the heat of summer. Purples, bright greens and yellows, blue skies... Bright colors also happened to be very popular at ICFF and the NY Gift Show this year. Modern Outdoor had a booth full of outdoor furniture that popped out at you. Here is one of the chairs:
If you could imagine the whole booth of complimentary benches, tables, umbrellas, etc., it looked really nice. Quite a contrast for the line which has been traditionally IPE wood on stainless steel.
Furniture/textile design seems to follow fashion design by 6-18 months (or more). The bright colors and pastels which hit clothing lines a while ago are now trickling down into the modern furniture world.
From a textile perspective, look at the colors angela adams introduced in the Jimi Dandelion rug: 
There is nothing wrong with bringing in more color. It has the potential to create a little bit more of a design challenge. Neutral and earthy tones are easier to work with than bright colors. Though if done correctly, or in limited areas, it can add much needed color and character to a space.
We finally got around to creating our Pillow Selector on 2Modern. There was a bit of an issue with users having to cycle through page after page of contemporary pillows looking for the right style, fabric and color. So we banged our heads around a bit and finally created an easy way to search for the perfect pillow. Now users can simply browse through 2Modern's pillow collection by COLOR, FABRIC, or DESIGNER to find the perfect match.
We hope it works! Let us know what you think.
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My friend Andrea is crazy about Thomas Paul Pillows!She can't get enough. I need to tell her to stop before her there is no room on her couch for her family. I don't blame her. They are silky soft and bright with amazing bold designs. 
Every year my neighbor takes a vacation for a month and leaves to me permission to cut from her amazing cutting garden overflowing with roses, dahlias, daisies and all sorts of flowers I have no idea what their names are. I look forward to August when every room in my house filled with amazing color. I love this lemon Blenko Splayed Vase. Looks great filled with violet dahlias.
