Have you ever been to Merci in Paris? You know that lifestyle store that has a cult following from all over the world… which I guess Includes me!!
Take a detour, you will be happy you did! Located at 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais in Le Marias.
Merci never disappoints because they are on the cutting edge of style with fashion as well as Home Decor.
The vibe; bustling with trendy people from all over the world coming to see the newest textures, substrates, colors and style updates.
Today they were making custom chair tops from a powdery substance that allows you, the consumer, to design your chairs on the spot! Right in the store! Pretty awesome! Pretty millennial! And Pretty Fast!!
The beauty of these custom chairs is that no two are alike since each one is individually made. With the various color combinations and ombré effects that you can create using these powder substrates…it’s an instant DIY! Each one is an original work of art and a true one of a kind… I am ready to create mine!
Sharing some seasonal favorite finds with Harvest hot color highlights! Truly some global greats from 2016….
Organic HarvestGaleries Lafayette Home Spice Market, ParisMedellin Colombia, South AmericaArtisan Ceramics Santiago Chile, South AmericaInspirational Fall BeddingRustic and RefinedRustic GlamRoberta Schilling MiamiRoberta Schilling MiamiOrganic ColorTwins, Fall in NYC Central ParkEast Quogue Long IslandFarm Fresh East Quogue Long IslandSouthampton Long Island
Thankful for this rainy Saturday so I can catch up on life….seems like the past 28 years of growing Design Works International, our NYC based design studio, has been a non-stop labor of love…and on Monday August 1st we are officially in our new location at 494 8th Ave. (entrance on 35th street on the 12th floor)…phone number remains the 212-594-0777.
This labor of love is proud to acknowledge our amazing team of sales consultants, textile and graphic designers, interior specialists as well as trend, color and fabric liaisons.
Our new location is a state of the art “play house” for us and we could not be happier in our new home…even though it will take us a few weeks to finish the design details within the studio!
When we started out 28 years ago our focus was mostly in the fashion arena and today we are truly a lifestyle studio working with top brands, retailers and celebrities in both the fashion and home sectors.
Kelly Ripa Home Fabric Collection at JoAnn Stores
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Most recently I have collaborated with CAA and Beanstalk on the Kelly Ripa Home Collection Exclusively at Macy’s in bedding, area rugs and furniture (upholstery and wood) with a collection of over the counter fabrics at JoAnn Stores.
Kelly Ripa Home Upholstered Furniture at Macy’sWorking along side Kelly on the KRH Collections Season 1
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HGTV Knoxville TN
Collaborating with the talented HGTV HOME team in Knoxville TN we created a licensed line of home decor products which we are thankful for winning the LIMA award for best corporate licensed program in 2015 and best paint program in 2016.
Trend Spotting at High Point Furniture Market for HGTV HOME“Fire and Ice” at KBIS for HGTVFilming at Design Works International for HGTV digital.Filming at ABC Carpet and Home for HGTV DigitalJohn Gidding for HGTV HOME Outdoor Living at HSNHGTV HOME FabricsLIMA Award 2015 and 2016HGTV HOME Plant CollectionGAF Style Guide Refresh
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Everyday Design Works International has the design pleasure of working with companies like Kimberly Clark, GAF, HGTV, Kids 11 and Dollar Tree/Family Dollar on new design strategies and trend lifestyle updates!
Creating Shingle Color Palettes For GAFColor Palettes for Roofing ShinglesKBIS 2016Style Guide Trends GAFStyle Guide Trends GAFStyle Guide Trends GAF
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Our digital printing facility has allowed us to move forward on product based samples while working with some of the top talent from runway to retail! More to come on this in the coming months….introducing Studio NYC!
Our textile collections are seen at Designer Show Houses as well as retail chains across the country…from tissue boxes, baby bouncers, fashion accessories, back to school supplies, wallpaper and the product list continues….
Our “passion for products” is never ending and we look forward to another “decade of design”.
We appreciate your support and design ❤️ over the years and look forward to seeing you at 494!
Most of us might not have an “Artisan” La Cornue Kitchen Range in our home…but let’s just imagine for a minute we did….how does one decide on the color and finish they would want…let alone the style of range?
Just returning from the KBIS {Kitchen and Bath Show} show in Las Vegas this month I saw these “Artisan Appliances” up close and they are beyond beautiful.
The image of our kitchens has really changed over the years because today appliances have become the focal point of the kitchen. Even your basic stainless steel appliance now is accented with knobs in various color choices from primary red and blue to pastel pink.
The mixing of substrates like stainless steel mixed with wood crafted storage options gives these applicances a “nature’s bounty” feel by mixing man made materials with natural materials, giving these artisan appliances more dimension in style and contour.
Let’s just say….I will continue to dream about what color and style my La Cornue Artisan Range will be when it’s the focal point of my kitchen!!
Excited to share that HGTV HOME was awarded “Best Corporate Brand Program” at LIMA this year and yesterday on Instagram we hit 50K in followers! Proud to be affiliated with such a creative and dedicated team at Scripps Networks Interactive and of course all our HGTV HOME Partners! As Design Director of HGTV HOME, as well as Creative Director and Founder of Design Works International NYC, I am blessed to be working with such creative, talented and dedicated individuals!❤️
Trend Alert “She Shed”….call me ol’ fashion but I have been “in vogue” for a while …..my “She Shed” has existed for the past 14 years… Just in the form of my “Potting Shed”!
Who knew that the space we built many years ago to hold my garden tools, miscellaneous containers, books and various garden gadgets would soon be called “She Shed”! Perfect name for a perfect place because that is where I love spending my “free” time…repotting, planting and planning for more pretty and colorful flowers and shrubs…after all, it’s a labor of love so why not give it a “Trend Right” name!
Last week I attended the HSN Awards Gala with HGTV in Saint Petersburg Florida and was captivated by this magical evening! The event is held to honor some of HSN’s clients, or should I say family…because the feeling of this “Enchanted Evening” was truly like one big family! The warmth of the evening in celebrating some of HSN’s greats was something like the Academy Awards of HSN. It was one of those parties that everyone including the host and hostess were having “A Ball”, no pun intended! The theme which emulated the sensibility of the new Disney Movie, Cinderella was, how should I say, spectacular!
In this day of retail sales weather it be brick and mortar, on-line, catolog or television it’s nice to see cohesiveness when it comes to retail partners and the respect each has for one another!
Kudos to Mindy Grossman and Bill Brand for creating this “Enchanted Evening”, it was truly enjoyable!
While in Paris on a trend shopping trip I came across these “Sassy Suculents” and immediately fell in plant love! I mean these guys just had it going on…perfect color, perfect texture and of course perfect pot!
I love this “Rustic Glam” style, mixing smooth surfaces, beautiful tinted colors with the texture of these lava pots.
I wonder if a person not in the design field would feel the same way about these sassy suculents and fall in plant love like I did!
We all know that suculents are trending now but like anything else when a trend hits you need to rethink your strategy so that you can reinvent your product in a more “trend right” sensibility!
I think these “Sassy Suculents-Parisian Style”…did just that!
Color, Chaos & Creativity 