Lori's List » New Year

Interior Design Trends 2012-2013

Lori — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:34:58 +0000

Last Week at the Metropolitan Builder’s Association Expo, I revealed the latest and greatest for 2012- 2103 interior design trends.

1. Man Cave moves from the basement and dominates the entire home.

We’re seeing a James Bond sophistication with plenty of menswear inspired fabrics and accessories. The spaces are filled with over-scaled, comfortable furniture upholstered in English styled, cigar leathers.

2. Personalization of a homeowner’s own style is seen in natural curiosities (found objects like bones, animal skins, drift woods), monograms and chalkboard paint. These elements allow a space to reflect the personality, history and daily experiences of its homeowner.

3. Indoor Outdoor continues to thrive. Front yard,edible and roof top gardens are popping up all over urbanity. The line between indoor and outdoor continues to blur with live wall planters and interior planters that occupy entire rooms.

4. Nostalgia via old time transportation(railway, air and ocean liner) reigns supreme in today’s interior. As times have been tough for the last few years, people recall “the good ole days”, when American industry was at it’s zenith.

5. Jewelry expressed in precious metals (gold, silver), gemstones and jewel tones are being used on every space imaginable from fabric to furniture to accessories to wall cover to murals. This trend is the glamorous Yin to the Man Cave’s Yang.

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Green Dining Al Fresco

Lori — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:52:40 +0000

A few days ago we headed out to Franklin Canyon for a New Year’s, first birthday celebratory picnic. While having a picnic certainly isn’t a new idea, doing it without disposables certainly did drawn some attention.

Our lunch consisted of free range, beef fillet sandwiches, beans, green salad, custard with blueberries (everything organic, of course) and a bottle of Champagne- not organic, but French- and we all know Europeans have higher eco standards for things that go in their mouths. It was served on 19th century Limoges china, an antique table cloth, with matching cloth napkins, silver utensils and hand blown glasses. Instead of cut flowers, we brought two pots of fragrant herbs to decorate the table. (Later that day they were planted in the ground at our house).

At the end of the picnic, we had almost no trash, which delighted everyone at around the table. Everything we brought was eaten, reusable or recyclable with the exception of the champage cork/wrapper and a little plastic wrap used to cover the custard ramekins. Soon we will be able to buy biodegradable plastic wrap and we can walk away as if we never visited.

THAT’S IT FOR THE TRASH!

After our lunch, we loaded up the car, left the herbs in the baby stroller (because it looked cool) and circled the lake for some more fresh air and exercise. Europeans aren’t the only ones who know how to enjoy a civilized outing.

And now we can enjoy our “decorations” for many meals to come.

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Happy New Year

Lori — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:34:56 +0000

2009 was a sweet challenge…had a baby, traveled around the globe, filmed three tv shows, wrote a book, finished two huge projects, won an award, got no sleep, joined DAR, participated in a show case house, visited with friends and family, attended all “the events” -baby in tow and survived a recession. Looking back at the year reminds me that you can do anything. Here’s to 2010 and our new ventures, GreenDesign.org, retailing, book tours, MORE design and awards, a new home, Ford Motor Company and maybe, just maybe… another baby in the making. Success, health and happiness to all of you!

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