Designer

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.

Color, Chaos & Creativity…India

| Design Works International

I had the pleasure of spending a week in India and my journey was really incredible. I was there on business and between our travels throughout New Delhi and Jaipur I was looking through my lens at this fascinating culture. Feeling blessed to travel for my job but even more blessed that I get to experience a country through color, food and the fabulous people I came in contact with.

Jaipur Market

Jaipur Roadside Flower Market

New Delhi Farmers Market

Photobombed by a Drongo while photographing New Delhi

Street Art New Delhi

Tricked Out Trucks..love all the decorative tassels and pom poms!

In preparation for Karma Chauth..celebrating health and happiness in honor of your spouse by fasting for an entire day.

An artists resides in all of us…Long Live Rembrandt according to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

| Design Works International

Imagine…seeing your art hung at one of the most prestigious museums in the world! I was pleasantly surprised when I visited the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam to see the “Long Live Rembrandt” Show.

Not realizing that the show was a juried exhibition of 575 people who told stories about their relationship to Rembrandt and his art. Each contributor has his or her own view of the great master. Many painters feature Rembrandt as the main character in their narrative while others have shown him with other icons.

More than 8500 people from 95 countries sent in their work of art, young and old, professional and amateur! Side by side, these generations of artists pay tribute to Rembrandt. The youngest artist is three while the oldest artist is in her nineties.

What an awesome way to bring a bit of Rembrandt into all of our lives, the people looking at this unique collection to the 8500 participants that felt compelled to enter their work that was inspired by the greatest Dutch artist of all time.

Below are just a few pieces from the “Long Live Rembrandt” exhibition, showcasing various techniques from painting, torn paper, fabric manipulation, plaster and sculpture.

To quote Pieter Roelofs, chairman of the jury and head of the Rijksmuseum’s painting and sculpture department, “In Long Live Rembrandt we see the master through the eyes of the makers. The exhibition is not only about Rembrandt, but also about ourselves.”

Inspired!!!!!

I am going to get in touch with my Rembrandt in hopes that one day my artwork will inspire others like I was inspired by this creative and collaborative exhibition.

Lots of color, a bit of artistic chaos and a whole lot of creativity.

Leaving Amsterdam and heading to Paris hoping to seek out more creativity in the art world.

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.

Mod Moments in Palm Springs California

| Design Works International

Modernism Week-It’s a thing in sunny Palm Springs California where refurbished Mid-Century homes are open to the public to tour, and quite frankly drool over…because their interiors are awesome and the architecture is truly amazing! Bold color, fake fur, pattern play, substrate mixing and fun furniture seems to be the standard in each home.

Paying homage to the great architects that turned Palm Springs into the Mid-Century Mecca it is today…are names like: Albert Frey of the Raymond Loewy House, Michael Black of the Shapiro House, E. Stewart Williams of the Frank Sinatra House and Richard Neutra of the Kaufman Desert House.

During Modernism Week, designers open up their homes for the public to view and this year we toured the Moroccan House, Maison a l’Orange, Hidden Frey House and the West Elm Pool House…each with a different sensibility and style, but all Mid-Century in their roots!

Maison a l’Orange Pictures 1-4

Moroccan House Pictures 5-8

Hidden Frey House Pictures 9-12

West Elm Pool House 13-16

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/

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!!!!

Artisan Aesthetic Lisbon Style

| Design Works International

Bucket List Worthy!

Inspiration is everywhere in Lisbon, especially if you love Azulejos Tiles. Today these tiles are dominant in every Portuguese city and embedded in its history and culture.

The word “azulejo” means “small polished stone” and although they are not a Portuguese invention, by the 18th century no other European country was producing as many tiles as Portugal. Over the years, azulejo tiles have become an art form used for a variety of design applications both in exterior and interior home design.

Spending time in Bairro Atlo and Principe Real, two older areas of Lisbon, I spotted various azulejo tiles on homes in different color combinations and patterns. Below are a few of my favorites.

Heading back to our art/design studio in New York City, Design Works International, feeling inspired and excited to create our newest textile collections….and we just might have the perfect name….Artisan Aesthetic!

Graphic Greats…Black and White Prints and Patterns in Paris

| Design Works International

Bold bedding geometric inspired prints in black and white in BVH department store in the Marais section of Paris.

Gift set mug collections in black, white and gold featuring text graphics in various type fonts.

This teal color [on the blue side] is the second largest influential color behind black at retail in Paris.

Over scaled geometric prints lend a graphic vibe to any sofa, bed or chair.

At the Merci Concept Store in the Marais section of Paris, tabletop was truly a trend to be reckoned with adding mini dishes and plates to the mix.

This bed set at Conran’s on the left bank of Paris was just one of many graphic inspired beds throughout the city.

At Galleries Lafayette Maison, these graphic towels in black and ecru have a tribal vibe that coordinate well with the graphics aesthetic of the season.

At Le Compagnie Francaise, graphic one color ikat patterns compliment this mixed substrate chair of leather and vinyl cording.

This woven bench detail at BVH is not only trend right, it’s a practical solution for expanding seating in your home.

At Merci Concept Store, it’s all about the graphic and global mix, showcasing authentic woven baskets in black and white, mixed with rustic matte and glossy black ceramic vessels.