Snow. Do. Not. Enter.

| Design Works International

Photo by @nancy_fire

I know the two words that we all want to say today “Happy Spring” might have to be on hold for at least tomorrow due to a pending snow storm on the east coast today!

Guess we have to remember that it’s only March 20th and we have had our fair share of snow on the east coast through April in past years.

The chaos for NYC will be the crazy commute home tonight as the storm should hit its stride by rush hour, BUT the creativity will come from yet another amazing photo op that NYC has to offer when it’s color is a blanket of fresh white snow!

Trying to stay positive….”TGIF”!❄️❄️

Opposites Attract 

| Design Works International



Photo Credit @nancy_fire

Does “Black and White” really ever go out of style?

No matter what trade show I might be attending, or country I might be traveling to, I always seem to find products in black and white refreshing.

 It might be a resting point for my eye or a way to wipe my overstimulated mind clean after viewing so many patterns and colors…but wherever I am and whatever I post on social media I always seem to get an overwhelming response to black and white imagery!

Do some see it as a safe way to add print and pattern in their lives without too much chaos over adding color? 

Do some favor the simplicity of a graphic statement without color?

Do some see it as a secure way to decorate because it never seems to “Go out of Style”?

In my humble opinion…it could be “all of the above”…..because I personally look forward to finding my next resting point during my upcoming travels…and this is coming from a person who lives in a world of color and pattern!

Trend Shopping in Shanghai 

| Design Works International

Someone has to do it….so why not me?

Often I am asked why I love what I do everyday for a living and as the old saying goes…”Find a job you love and you”ll never work a day in your life”….25 years in my design studio in NYC with some of the most talented and dedicated designers, amazing clients and friends, my husband Neil as my business and life partner and two kids that are well on their way to creating their own path in life…sounds easy right…nope lots of hard work, dedication, long days and nights in the studio, PTA meetings and more! 

My point…it takes time to build ones career and good things are worth the wait. This is my mantra during the many interviews I conduct in my studio because I feel it so important today to be realistic about ones professional path. It took years of hard work to build our business and today we are humbled to still be in business in one of the greatest cities in the world!

So trend shopping in Shanghai…..why not, after all “Find a job that you love and you”ll never work a day in your life”!



Photo by @nancy_fire

Making Memories

| Design Works International

Looking back at my lifetime of memories I cherish those times that we actually took the time to capture life in the making.

Back in the day of film, sepia prints, and art filled family photos, images were heartfelt and meaningful……I am happy to see a resurgence of this sensibility and style!

Everytime I see this image it brings me back to that day on the beach with the people I love most in this world!

Keep making those memories as creative as you can and they will last a lifetime.

Watercolor Wednesday

| Design Works International

Trending at my NYC based studio, Design Works International these days is the return of watercolor and original techniques that relate to a more artsy style and sensibility!

Exciting to see the return of dimension in design by creating imperfect layers of color…we love that “imperfect is the new perfect”! 

Knowing that blues are trending again in home lifestyle products we felt that this nice touch of warm rust complimented our original tile design.



       Image from our Design Works International Home Collection NYC. All rights reserved. 

Playful Products

| Design Works International

So nice to find playful products on my travels these days…really love the spontaneouty of these ceramic bowls for their color and imperfect pattern design. I am not a fan of matching patterns but I do love collections of similar objects….hence loving this ceramic collection!

Photo posted by nancy_fire

     Tile…Texture…Turquoise

| Design Works International



          Photo credit @nancy_fire

Tile: Just love this multi-color herringbone tile floor from The Bon Marche in Paris. Nice alternative to just a black and white floor!

Texture: Perfect update to tones of neutrals when it comes to different wood and wood textures…dyed wood accent colors like this turquoise, indigo and marsala.

Turquoise: With the return of the blues (did they ever leave) Turquoise seems to be the universal tone of the season mixing well with Indigo on the cool side and its compliment Orange on the warm side.

A Few Of My Favorite Things!

| Design Works International

Tiles, Tones of Green and Patina…all design elements that make me smile. This season be on the look out for these trending and beautiful details.

Tiles are now seen in many rooms and not just the bathroom or kitchen…be creative in your design experience!

Tones of green this season are off beat tones of different shades of green working together! No more matchy-matchy hues….

Patina makes me think of aged beauty, but this season it actually takes on a more modern style.



   Trend Board and Photo nancy_fire

Inside Out

| Design Works International

Inspiring to see a shift in trends where color can be used in a non-conventional way…from the inside out. 

For many of us dinnerware and tabletop products have been white on white for years so it’s refreshing to see these serving bowls that I spotted in Paris at The Bon Marche last month…updated with a colorful surprise!



           Photo Credit @nancy_fire