Design Works International

Reboot/Rethink/Rediscover

| Nancy Fire

My self quarantine started 14 days ago when I flew back to NYC from the Netherlands Antilles, better known to most as St Maarten. My sunny sky and turquoise water memories seen like a distant dream already! Usually (nothing seems usual these days) when one returns from vacation within a few days your memories start to fade, you jump right back into your routine (nothing seems routine these days) and life goes on as expected (nothing seems expected these days)…but my return was far from usual, routine or expected, quite frankly it was scary.

I was actually on my original scheduled flight back to JFK one of the last flights out of St Maarten before the flight ban was enforced. I was one of the lucky ones who had a ticket and did not have to wait on standby to try and leave this beautiful island to return to the rumored chaos at JFK customs. Adorned with a face mask (I actually always travel with an emergency one that a friend gave me a year ago when I returned home sick from overseas…which was never used until 14 days ago) and plastic gloves that I picked up in a grocery store in St Maarten! I felt like an alien coming back to my own country! I left 10 days prior to my return and honestly I arrived on what seemed to be another planet!

Fast forward 14 days….where I have been self quarantined 60 miles outside of NYC in our home that I adore! A place usually where family & friends visit and enjoy cookouts, kayaks, beach adventures and more…but this visit was different, it was indefinite and not in a positive way..not in a vacation type of way and not in a “let’s have friends over way”! This was serious as I needed to sequester myself into my own room and bathroom, eat separately and maintain my distance from my husband and son (my daughter is sequestered in Holland due to her studies and could not get home in time before the chaos started) Our lives were not usual, routine or expected anymore!

Looking back during these past 14 days…and looking ahead to when life will return to a more usual, routine and expected way..I realized that I will not return to my usual, routine and expected life…the world has changed and so have I….here’s where the “Reboot, Rethink & Rediscover” awareness comes in…I keep asking myself what can we all learn from this, is this an opportunity to change our thinking…and I believe it is. I know that I feel I can live with less, make food last longer while not wasting any of it. I tried new recipes, read many books and cleaned my home like I never did before! I am teaching myself new computer programs and zooming with our designers all over the country and overseas! We are all nervous with the uncertainty that lies ahead but are up for the challenge of coming back wiser, stronger and more compassionate. I have to BELIEVE that my design team will return to our beautiful design studio in nyc where we can once again collaborate in person and learn from each other…but until that time I am rebooting, rethinking and rediscovering…My new attic office that I created today with items from other rooms in the farmhouse. I dreamt of doing this for years… I am so excited to work in this space tomorrow surrounded by many of my favorite things. This farm table was a find from the Brimfield antique market from 20+ years ago, our antique chair has been in the family for the past 30+ years and recently was reupholstered with my Studio NYC Design fabric and of course our rattan ottoman from Home Nature in Southampton that will serve as another work space for my desktop computer!

Prior to my attic office I was using our guest room as a work space before realizing that this quarantine will last many more weeks and I needed a larger space to work and create!

I do not see a Dead End…I see New Beginnings🙏🏻and I am grateful to the frontline heroes who are helping our country respond to this pandemic, every healthcare worker, EMT, police officer, firefighter, grocer, trucker, store clerk, mail carrier, hospital staff and nurses/doctors and countless others who have stepped up during these uncertain times.

Other imagery:

East Quogue Rainbow Chalk Drawing

Beach Wave Walk By Myself

Brimfield Desk Cleaning

Homemade Goat Cheese, Spinach, Leek and Mushroom Quiche

Social Distancing Seagulls

Remnants Of The Day Sandcastle

Nature Walk By Myself

New Beginnings

All Images Property of Color, Chaos & Creativity.

Sustain+ability in Products at NY Now

| Design Works International

Sustainability and Wellness in products seemed to be on the rise at this weeks NY Now Show at the Javitz Center. Many artisan inspired brands that are new to market were showcasing various beauty, wellness and food related products. Companies had to submit their brand statements and prove that their products were sustainable in order to showcase their brand at NY Now!

The passion behind these products and the artisan-ship in creating beautiful brand stories made my daily 10k steps worth every move! Oh…and the buddahbooth…quiet space for noisy places…was pretty cool cause you got to zone out most of the surrounding chaos!

Just a few products that sustained my attention…but honestly they all did. Happy to see a bigger shift towards companies caring about their carbon footprint and our planets future🌍

Jungle Jute Tote by America & Beyond

Bambooless Incense by Maroma

Herbal Healing

Wellness Displays Exfoliating Soaps

Therapy Dough

Sophie Ottaner Felt Pillow From Peru

Rescued Wine

Buddahabooth RELAX RESET RECHARGE

Dining By Design DIFFA

| Design Works International

Spring is in the air…well maybe today it actually felt otherwise, [raining all day in nyc] but the Architectural Digest Show and DIFFA Show opened today so for us designers…it’s pure sunshine🌞

Honored to be a judge for the IFDA [International Furniture Design Association] naming AVO best in show for their textile collection at the Architectural Digest Show. Hand woven leather textiles, hand-painted techniques combined with textural leathers represented an true artisan vibe…congratulations to Brit Kleinmann, founder and creative director of AVO @_avoavo_

Verto Vero, the award winning glassblowing studio based in Pennsylvania was showcasing glass vessels in contemporary styles and colors. Always a favorite of mine at the Architectural Digest Show!

Jan Kath’s rug collection showed a bit of whimsy with a subtle skull design woven into her more traditional line of rugs.

Bringing the outdoors indoors continues among many home product categories especially within the kitchen industry. Signature Kitchen showcased a green inspired vibe with a variety of plants as the focal point of their products.

Speaking of green….Opiary incorporates natural elements into every piece created, bringing live greenery and organic shapes into sleek highly crafted furniture, planters and sculpture. Every piece is hand crafted from recyclable and natural materials by artists and craftspeople at their studio in East Williamsburg, NY.

London Basin Company is bringing back the beautiful basin offering so many creative basin options through color, pattern and texture.

A sunny shoutout to Hesten for making us all smile with their yellow appliances!

The AD Apartment is an awesome collaboration designed by Sasha Bikoff, presented by Gaggenau, featuring Ad Pro, Brizo, Calligaris, Dekton by Cosentino, Dyson, Emtek, Lenox, Livex Lighting, Lumber Liquidators, Mayflower Wallpaper, Reform, Shimmerscreen and Tuft & Needle.

Photos below: Living Room, Dinning Table, Bedroom, Sasha and I, Sasha, Gaggenau Master Baker Ingo Rasche.

Next Up….DIFFA

Lucinda Loya Interiors @lucindaloyainteriors

Studio TK + Tarkett + Huntsman @studiotksocial @tarkettofficial @huntsmanmag

Felderman Keatinge + Associates @feldermankeatinge

Black Artists + Designers Guild @badguild

Interior Design Magazine “Together In Unity”

Gensler+ Knoll + Evensonbest @gensler_design @knollinc @evensonbest

Walker Ridge Construction & Development & Madera Management @walkerridgeconstructionllc

Stacy Garcia Home X Crypton Home Fabric @stacygarciainc @cryptonfabric

David Scott Interiors For Roche Bobois @rochebobois @davidscottinteriors

Damour Drake Presents Kingston Design Connection @kingston.design.connection

Mckenzie Liautaud Robert Verdi @mckenzieliautaud @robertverdi

Herman Miller + Studios Architecture + WB Wood @hermanmiller @studiosarchitecture @wb_wood

Us Is More

Rockwell Group

IA Interior Architects Past + Present + Future @iaarchitects

Patrick Mele For Benjamin Moore @benjaminmoore @patrickmele

Pratt Institute Stronger Together Mentor Marks & Franz @prattinstitute

School Of Visual Arts Mentor Coffinier Ku @svanyc

Parsons School Of Design Mentor Kati Curtis Design @parsonschoolofdesign

New York School Of Interior Design Reshaping The Perception Of HIV/Aids Mentor Shaver/Melahn @nysid

Ultrafabrics Designed By Stonehill Taylor Journey @stonehilltaylor @ultrafabrics_inc

Roric Tobin For Modern Luxury A Night In Korakuen @manhattan_magazine @rorictobindesigns

Tito’s Handmade Vodka @titosvodka

The Balance Of Black and White in Interiors-Paris

| Design Works International

As we see certain trends in color this season we are also experiencing graphic great trends in black and white that have been consistent with previous years statistics. This classic and sophisticated style adds dimension and drama to any interior space.

A favorite find at Pinto Paris today is this white chair accented with black piping and black metal arm detailing with accents of cork.Black based cocktail tables with marble tops by Sarah Lavoine Interiors. Importance here is the varied heights in the collection of tables that work as one style statement.

Textural black and white textiles at LE BVH in the Marais. It’s truly about the dimensional aspect of the weave this season in creating these updated graphic patterns.

Terrazzo Containers at LE BVH [trend watch 2018-19 products made with terrazzo]

Textured bathroom tile slabs in an updated chevron pattern in black, white , gray and taupe.

Designers Dream de Gournay Paris

| Design Works International

Current Situation…meet my new friend Taylor [bucket list worthy] unrolling the archives for me this morning…could not be more thankful and appreciative of my VIP tour..so get this..I walk in, totally waited for Deco Off Paris to be over cause the crowds are crazy…and this awesome, yes awesome young lady opens the door and after hearing my American version of “Bon Jour” says welcome…this 24 year old superstar has been living in Paris and working there for 6 months before she heads back to nyc to work in the de Gournay Showroom in NYC..exciting Design events coming our way New York City.

As a designer with a BFA degree, the artisan techniques still used in the de Gournay wallpaper collection allows one to appreciate every detail. From tea stained paper to silk ombré subtleties their style is forever timeless. Here are just a few delightful images from my behind the scenes tour…thanks Taylor for making my trip to Paris a designers dream!

Flamingos Collection Eclectrique

Palms Collection Eclectrique Colors Gaugin

Temple Newsam Collection de Chinoiseries

Portobello Collection de Chinoiseries

Silk Tree Collection Japonaise + Coreenne Colors Blossom

Deco Monkeys Collection Of Panoramiques

Portobello Collection de Chinoiserios

Textile Treasures at ‘Paris Deco Off’

| Design Works International

What better way to add color and style to a rainy, cold and grey day in Paris…by visiting Deco Off, an international textile event that takes place once a year in the interior design district on the left bank of Paris.

Global, Graphic and Tropical inspired patterns were among the most popular in many of the textile showrooms. Most featured embroidered accents, appliqués and textured printing techniques.

More information regarding Paris Deco Off can be found at http://www.paris-deco-off.com/

KBIS Creativity

| Design Works International

Fun filled day at the Kitchen and Bath Show at the Convention Center in Orlando. Creative home products that embrace new style, substrate and design produced by a multitude of amazing manufacturers and designers.

Ann Sachs “Green With Envy” at Koehler.

Bertazzoni Red Stove

Build A Hood

Matte Black at Wilsonart

Thermador Freedom Kitchen

Zac Posen For Momogram

Mixed Metals at Delta Faucets

Koehler Minimalist Sink

Creative Color Lisbon Style

| Design Works International

So this happened…a few days ago I was in a city that inspired me on so many levels…Lisbon.

First let’s start with the obvious..it’s natural color, Terra-cotta from the intricate tiled rooftops to its original azulejo tiles…

Lisbon sunny skies are an inspiration to all, known for its amazing weather, azulejo tiles favoring blue color combinations as well as vibrant painted blue doors…Lisbon is feeling the blues.

Next up, golden yellow…like Lisbon’s weather..this sunny shade of yellow ripples throughout this beautiful city, emulating its sunny and energizing weather.

Green paired with coral and yellow create a light citrus palette perfect for Lisbon’s creative charm. From interior design stores to green inspired subway tiles…it’s a sea of green!

Red, being a color of passion and adventure, was spotted in some of the most famous areas of Lisbon and entrances to many historic sites.

And of course Millennial Pink…this shade of pink was here long before millennials were born…truly makes the city have an antique color quality among its long history!

Inspired yet….Portugal’s capital truly inspires on so many levels, especially if you are a creative soul…it’s creative color, terrific textures and wonderful weather are the perfect blend for an inspirational adventure.

Obrigado!!!!