Trending…”Cozy Comfort” and Texture!

| Design Works International

Its no surprise with the weather this winter that “cozy comfort” is trending in the home category! Textures have become the new chevron of the season as we are seeing them in various shapes, size and color. In fact, this season it’s the layering of textures especially in bedding that people are gravitating towards. I especially love this natural throw @homenaturestore because those tassels are awesome…and the weave detail is beautiful. If your looking for shades of grey this season (which is also trending for other reasons) these throws from @westelm are another option for “cozy comfort” this winter!
Stay warm!

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New Perspective NYC

| Design Works International

Had to share this Central Park West photo I took from the frozen reservoir in the park yesterday. Love the new perspective the snow-field creates in the foreground of the CPW Skyline! It might be freezing outside but the park is so enchanting with all the snowfall this winter….

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Trending Colors Even in Succulent Plants!

| Design Works International

Funny how “what comes around goes around”, even in plants these days. Heading back from Paris last month I was elated to see that the softer side of color was out and about in many product categories…even in the composition of these beautiful succulents!
The beauty to me was the addition of the lava planters used to offset the feminine pastel coloration of the plants. Nice display of the trend “Rustic Glam” that I wrote about a few weeks back in one of my posts!
Beauty comes in many forms and these succulents sure prove that through color and texture.

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Indigo, Shibori & Block Printing

| Design Works International

This season “Feeling the Blues” in print and pattern is super creative because it’s all about different artistic techniques like Shibori and Block Printing. Patterns are imperfect because each print takes on its own personality and style due to the technique being used.
Colors range from deep dark indigo to powder blue with accents of teal creating unexpected highlights.

It’s encouraging to see these patterns at retail that look updated and fresh. When styling prints like these it’s best to introduce enough white to help the pattern from becoming over saturated. It’s refreshing to see the clean blue and white stripe in the mix which acts as a more traditional addition to the variation of techniques this season.

At Design Works International, my design studio in NYC, our print collections are looking like a creative mix of Shibori, block printing, tie-dye and watercolor. As designers we are so excited for this very innovative print and pattern season!

We are always looking for freelance and full time designers to join our talented team, if interested please e-mail us at careers@designworksintl.com

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Finding the Beauty in a NYC Winter!

| Design Works International

It’s that time of year in NYC when even the strongest of “New Yorkers” are trying to keep their NYC spirit alive!

Waiting on freezing subway platforms for the train that never seems to arrive or fighting the slushy sidewalks of commuters or those client cancellations due to mass transit delays.

Take some advice from a “Native New Yorker”…enjoy the rustic glam that NYC has to offer…the lighting this time of year reflecting on buildings is incredible, Central Park is truly a winter wonderland and a photographers paradise both in the day as well as the early evening!

The skies might be grey, the buildings might look a bit dodgy from the winter weather and the streets might be full of debris from past storms but it’s all part of the NYC winter experience!

Try looking at our “Rustic Glam” sensibility like a ” Native New Yorker” and enjoy the beauty of a New York City winter!

Photography-Nancy Fire

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The “Coolest” Guy I Know! Jeremy Scott!

| Design Works International

In 2007 my Design Studio in NYC, Design Works International had the pleasure of working with a fashion designer from LA named Jeremy Scott.

At that time Jeremy was getting ready for a show in LA and Paris and needed help with an idea that he had for a “juke box” dress. We looked at his amazing sketch and created the actual graphic in CAD and printed it on digital fabric at First2Print, the digital printing end of our studio….we were thrilled to see this dress allover the media in Paris as well as LA especially with M.I.A. wearing it!

Fast forward to 2015 where Jeremy Scott is now Design Director for Moschino and is designing clothes that musicians and models are wearing to award shows, red carpet appearances, super bowl half time, TV interviews and of course walking the cat walks at his fashion shows…we are so happy for Jeremy as he has always stayed true to himself as a designer, trend setter and stylist.

So excited for his success…I follow him on Instagram…I e-mailed him…(still having his e-mail in my phone…not knowing if it was still working…it’s been 8 years since we last spoke) and a few days later I received the most humble e-mail in return…talk about a welcomed response! Just proves that if you stay true to yourself…dreams do come true…dream on Jeremy…you are a super star and a super nice guy!
Love from NYC….

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Valentines Dream Home

| Design Works International

Well it’s that “day” of the year again #love, when we all overload on everything red, beautiful flowers and various types of chocolate surprises…but for those more interested in “one of a kind homes” check out my house spotting find in Wales last October…Sending a different kind of #love this year! Lots of color and creativity but no chaos!

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Home Sweet Home…NYC

| Design Works International

Always great to come home after many weeks of traveling for business…cannot complain when my travel was to Germany…Paris…Las Vegas…and sunny Tampa…but returning to NYC is an adventure in itself!
Wanted to share this beautiful NYC greeting….it’s nice to be back in NYC and to take the time to appreciate the natural beauty that we some times take for granted!

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“Rustic Glam”

| Design Works International

Trending at retail, in restaurants and in many homes these days is a sensibility I call “Rustic Glam” It’s a mix between “glam and raw materials”. Best to think of this style as “the new industrial” something I have been talking about for the past two years!

Coming off of a two week trend and research trip both overseas as well as in the states…I really am enjoying this universal sensibility and style.

The first photo is a great example of using metallic accents as the “glam” against wallpaper that has a more rustic style…shown here from the KBIS Show last week in Las Vegas!

The next photo was taken in Germany at the Heimtextil Show which received 615 likes on my HGTVHOME Instagram!

The brick, mirror and light fixture are from a very groovy resturant that I visited while art directing our HGTV photo shoot for HSN IN Tampa…called “Oxford Exchange” located downtown at 420 West Kennedy Boulevard!

Yes, it’s in the mix and this season it’s refreshing to see different substrates
like wood, metal, sequins and texture working together in the home.

Enjoy the mix and “make it your own” by combining techniques and textures that are inspiring!

Happy Designing!!!

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