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
Loved spending time in Lisbon Portugal this past week and look forward to returning to this charming and historic city. Since it was my first time in Lisbon, I did what everyone says you should do while visiting…wander the narrow streets and enjoy discovering all the different areas of this wonderful city!
While wandering I kept noticing all the colorful laundry hanging in front of, above or behind the homes in Lisbon Portugal that were colorful and creative…most of the time complimenting the tile or paint color of the exterior….I know this sounds a bit odd, but it’s true as I spent 3 days hiking the steep streets of Alfama, Bairro Atlo, Principe Real and Alcantara only to be in awe of their laundry!
Loved seeing all the colorful and fun loads of Lisbon Laundry drying naturally outdoors. Such a beautiful and charming city…and I feel that their laundry lines are truly part of this charm. I guess it’s the designer in me…but I started to see color palettes, not laundry!
Check out my laundry list below…
Looks like this load of laundry truly matches the azulejo tiles on the house! “Denim Delight”
You gotta love tonal 💙 laundry, talk about color coordinating your style! “Feeling the Blues”.
Love these brilliant brights framed by the terra-cotta tiles and deep blue sky. “Primary Power”.
Nice to see Millennial Pink as the backdrop to this load of Lisbon laundry! Tonal reds and pinks play nicely with gray and black BUT love that pop of neon yellow! “Millennial”
Inspiration is everywhere!!!
Now I am heading back home to do my laundry and I can promise you it will NOT be as interesting or inspiring!
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.
Last month in NYC I spoke about print, pattern and color trends at Surtex NYC, representing our design studio, Design Works International, a lifestyle/product design firm specializing in the home, fashion and accessory industries.
Out Of This World…literally..we are talking Galaxy inspired prints, patterns, embroideries with an iridescent sensibility and style. Nocturnal tones of deep purple, indigo and magenta are part of the color plan to heighten the vibe of this celestial superstar.
Even after a year of playful pineapples…we are still craving for more…NEW this season…the use of millennial pink mixed with metallic and textural accents.
Somewhere Over….yes it’s all about iridescent finishes and rainbow colorways in fashion, home and decorative accessories. The more color…the better and these saturated shades are cross generational…NOT only for the millennial crowd.
Boho Style continues to increase as a lifestyle look and we are seeing the resurgence of Folk Florals..[did they ever go away] as wallpaper, clothing, home accessories and garden tools in Americana color combinations that coordinate beautifully with denim…another trend that has cross generational appeal.
This is the last of a 3 part series …so if you missed part 1 and 2 please take a peek either at Color, Chaos and Creativity or at Design Works International’s blog.
All prints and patterns designed by Design Works International are property of our studio until a purchase agreement is signed. If interested in purchasing prints, our website is Designworksintl.com or call our studio at 212-594-0777 ext 112.
Stay tuned for our next series on new color combinations…2018
Surtex NYC Trend Updates From Color, Chaos and Creativity….Part Two
Colorful Contrasts highlight this season by adding fresh and fun color to an assortment of products from paper goods, tabletop, fashion as well as home decor accessories. Do not be afraid of positioning primary colors together especially in full coverage patterns. Royal blue, teal, red and fuschia are leading the pack with a powerful punch of color!
Jewel Toned Textures keep our textured trend alive in 2017-18 with a shift in color to a warmer color palette. Fuschia, tangerine, golden yellow with accents of blue are updated color combinations for the season.
Mostly in home decor we are still seeing soft pastel shades mixed with deep accents trending in fabric prints and patterns. Millennial Pink continues to take the lead with lilac, grey and yellow creating this Soft Edge update!
It’s back, looks like Seaform of the 80’s is back with a vengeance looking new and updated mixed with black and white.
Transitioning from Millennial Pink to Mauve/Lavender will be a trend we will be watching as pinks transition over the next few months.
All Design Works International Prints and Patterns are owned by our studio until time of purchase. To purchase designs log into designworksinternational.com and click on shop prints…you will need to sign into your account or create a new account. Any questions e-mail nfire@designworksintl.com
Sharing some seasonal favorite finds with Harvest hot color highlights! Truly some global greats from 2016….
A quick trip in London before heading to North Devon today….wanted to share some “Global Greats”. Always love being in London especially when the sun is shinning  and the sky is blue!  
 Mesob Baskets and Kilim Rugs from Liberty of London and embroidered pillows from John Lewis Oxford Street.
 Fabrics, pillows and lampshades from John Lewis Oxford Street.
 Everything Home at John Lewis Oxford Street
 Berners Tavern at The London Edition
Berners Tavern at The London Edition
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
Color, Chaos & Creativity 