Michael Devine

Michael Devine has just launched his new 2008 fabric collection at the prestigious Maison & Objet Editeurs, which is held in Paris twice a year (in January and September).   Michael has been getting quite allot of press in Domino, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful & Veranda to name just few for his striking hand screened fabrics.  This master bedroom of Aerin Lauder's in her Long Island master bedroom featured in House and Garden 2007 features
Michael's fabric.

  

Domino

House Beautiful

Patricia Gray writes about Interior Design inspirations, emerging trends, and the world of Design. 
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© 2007-2009 Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog

Brunschwig & Fils

I just got my Brunschwig & Fils Fall Advertising package in the mail today and it is, as always, gorgeously illustrated. I was quite interested to see 3 themes running through the images:
1. Birds
2. Fashion
3. Dogs

Take you pick and tell me what your favourite is. Scroll to the end to see my favourite.
PS The fabrics are beautiful too.

The Winner!!

Think Pink

David Hicks circa 1970's
I love the mirrored panel between the windows, and this bed was before pillow top mattresses and duvets. Talking about duvets my last two clients have done away with their duvets and requested a Bedspread with blankets.

Ruthie Summers circa 2007

Pink has been showing up everywhere for me lately. Dianna Vreeland was famous for her saying that "Pink is the navy blue of India". I don't know what decade that was, but I have never seen a resurgence of pink for interiors like this for the last several decades. Maybe the 80's was pink, but it was more of a dusty rose, not the clear pink we are seeing now. I love this new clear pink. It makes a great backdrop for dramatic furnishings. If you are a feeling a bit intrepid about using it in massive amounts, there a few pictures here that show it used for accessory items: artwork, cushions, chair upholstery even pink mirror. Think of pink as a happy, fun color.

Ruthie Summers showroom in LA
fabric on the chair seats Lulu DK: Chant

Ruthie Summers fabric Quadrille Lyford

Mondrian Scottsdale Hotel designed by BNO Design
Notice the pink in this picture is actually pink tinted mirror

David Hicks textile design The above 2 photos are from the David Hicks Archive.
It reminds me of Dianna Vreeland's saying: "Pink is the navy blue of India"

Suzani Fabric Madeline Weinrib

House Beautiful

House Beautiful

House Beautiful
Chairs and Curtain in Deauville by Alan Campbell for Quadrille Ikat Pillow Madeline Weinrib

Miles Redd House Beautiful

(unknown)

BNO Designs

John Stefanidis - notice the great lamp with tassels
House Beautiful Mary McDonald

Pink & ivory birdcage wallpaper Wandrlust

Antonia Hutt

Color Meaning of Pink
Cotton Candy and Little Girls: Pink is a softer, less violent red. Pink is the sweet side of red. It's cotton candy and bubble gum and babies, especially little girls.

Nature of Pink: While red stirs up passion and action, studies have shown that large amounts of pink can create physical weakness in people. Perhaps there is a tie-in between this physical reaction and the color's association with the so-called weaker sex.

Culture of Pink: In some cultures, such as the US, pink is the color of little girls. It represents sugar and spice and everything nice. Pink for men goes in and out of style. Most people still think of pink as a feminine, delicate color.

Using Pink: Both red and pink denote love but while red is hot passion, pink is romantic and charming. Use pink to convey playfulness (hot pink flamingos) and tenderness (pastel pinks). Multiple shades of pink and light purple or other pastels used together maintain the soft, delicate, and playful nature of pink. Add strength with darker shades of pinks and purple and burgundy.

Feng Shui of Pink:The right Feng Shui color use can bring a strong shift of energy into your environment. Pink color is the universal color of love, which makes it a perfect feng shui color to soothe the energy. Its gentle and delicate feng shui vibrations have a proven soothing effect on one's behavior. You could almost say that, as a feng shui color, Pink literally soothes the heart and fills it with love!

Language of Pink: The use of pink in familiar phrases can help a designer see how their color of choice might be perceived by others
In the pink - healthy
Tickled pink - happy, content
Pink - cut, notch, or make a zigzag

Pink Words: salmon, coral, hot pink, fuchsia, blush, flesh, flush, fuchsia, rose.

Is Pink Your Favorite Color? Take this great, fun, easy Color Quiz
It's advertised as "the 5 minute personality test"
I just took it, quite fun!

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Patricia Gray writes about Interior Design inspirations, emerging trends, and the world of Design. While you're here, subscribe to this feed so you don't miss out.

Ikat Textiles

I love using Ikat patterns in my design jobs. Ikats are available in a wide product range: fabrics, wallpapers, carpets, cushions, wallhangings. Ikats are classic and never date themselves.

Soane Co UK
Black lacquer faux bamboo chair in hazelnut daphne ikat fabric

Ikat chocolate runner
Various Ikat Pillows

Ikat fabrics made into pillows & carpets at
Madeline Weinrib Atelier

Teahouse collection by Thibaut

Ikat Textiles Traditional Weaving Method

Traditional Ikat weaving in Thailand.

Photos courtesy of Mekong River Textiles

Spinning
Local cotton is grown and handspun into thread using a teak and bamboo spinning wheel.

Tying Weft Ikat Threads
The designs in the ikat fabric are the result of using narrow pieces of plastic or banana fiber to bind groups of weft thread which when dyed will resist the color. Here the tying frame holds enough weft thread to weave a skirt or "phasin" about 3.7 yards. After completion of the tying, the threads go into the dye bath. Complex patterns involve adding more resists to preserve a hue, then overdyeing to create multiple colors.

Indigo Dyeing
The stems and leaves of the indigo plant are chopped, tied into bundles, then soaked in earthenware jars to ferment. Snail shells and male urine activates the dye bath. The dyer controls the depth of the indigo blue color by the number of times the cotton threads are dipped—the more dips, the darker the color. This dyer is holding the weft ikat threads in the air to oxidize, a process called "blooming". She continues dipping until the desired color is reached.

Ikat Resists, Untied Threads and Threads Wound onto Bobbins
This photo shows the weft pattern threads still bound in the plastic resists on the left. In the middle section you can see some of the plastic removed revealing the white undyed areas underneath. Once all the plastic resists are removed, the thread is wound on bobbins for weaving (as shown on far right of photo). These must be kept in order so that the design reappears when woven.

Thai WeaverIn N.E. Thailand
Women weave on teak looms kept under the house. This weaver is working on an indigo-dyed weft ikat cotton "phasin." Traditionally worn by upcountry women, this tube skirt can be easily adjusted to any size when worn with a large fold in the front and turned at the waist. As she weaves, she arranges the weft thread at each throw of the shuttle so that the pattern design emerges.

Here are two links for traditional weaving techniques of Ikats in India sent to me by Design Flute

Patan Patola

CBM Photo

Green Chic

The color green is timeless. Green is life. Abundant in nature, green signifies growth, renewal, health, and environment. I have just painted a client's entry and dining room Benjamin Moore Jalapeno Green. It is a wonderful color and I accented the room with white and dark wood. The color I used is almost the same color as the sofa Vincente Wolf used in the room he did below. I was looking through some archives of rooms that David Hicks had done probably 30 years ago and I was quite taken with the two rooms of his, shown below, as they are so current now. The first room is a match to BM Wales Green 2028-60. Notice how he has used a splash of neon yellow and turquoise to add a punch to the room.


The room above of David Hicks was done years ago and the two pictures below are current. Quite similar use of colors.

Eileen Kathryn Boyd
Antonia Hutt
Mary McDonald is a master at using color. This room makes me feel happy.
Sheila Bridges This room has a wonderful soothing quality.
Eileen Kathryn Boyd
Eileen Kathryn Boyd I love the touch of Schiaparelli Pink in the two chairs and flowers on the mantle above. Schiaparellia was a French fashion designer, born in Italy who lived 1890 - 1973 and made this color of pink her signature color.

This chair is similar to the one that Kelly Wearstler has on the front cover of her book Domicilium Decoratus. chair Jayson Home and Garden


LuLu DK fabric
Mary McDonald Shelley Gordon Love this Billiard Room Green

Kelly Wearstler Queen of Green

Tessellations tile

Le Gemme glass tiles Bisazza Bisazza tile is all the rage right now. This one has touches of mustard yellow to accentuate the green more.

Treillage The inexpensive and ever so chic and timeless ceramic stool

Kelly Wearstler Imperial Trellis Wallpaper

Interesting facts on the color green:

Nature of Green:
Green is a restful color with some of the same calming attributes of blue. Like blue, time moves faster in a green room. Green of renewal, fresh energy and new beginnings. Green is very nourishing to to your health, it calms your nerves and balances your whole body by bringing healing vibrations from Nature.

Culture of Green:
Because of all the green in nature the color is reminiscent of Spring. Coupled with red it's a Christmas color.

Language of Green:

Good green
Green light - go, permission to proceed (with a task)
The green room - in theater or televisions it is the room where performers and guests go to relax
Green thumb - good with plants
Greenback - US dollar bill, money
Greener pastures - something newer or better (or perceived to be better), such as a new job

Bad green
Green-eyed monster - jealousy
Green with envy - jealous or envious
Green - inexperienced, untested, untrained

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