All posts tagged: Design

CB2 x Kravitz Design Limited Edition

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CB2 is one of my favorite stores to find affordable modern furniture. CB2 teamed up with Lenny Kravitz’s design firm to introduce a limited edition collection available in stores and online starting October 1.  The collection’s price point is slightly higher than the average CB2 furniture and the aesthetic has a strong 70’s vibe.  Check out the collection and let us know what you think. For related articles, visit the DESIGN page. Author:  Chau Hoang Featured photo: CB2

Season Favorites: Fall/Winter 2015-2016

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Fall is almost here and we thought you might want to know about this season’s top colors and other essentials for inspiration. Here are some examples of what is currently trending for the fall. Colors It is all about deep colors and contrast. You can pick strong tones for key pieces or walls to make a contrast with a more neutral palette. Nature is the inspiration like the deepness of the ocean, a sunrise, a foggy forest, etc. The scandinavian combo: black + white + wood is still in the spotlight. Materials Metals, stone, ceramic and glass. Fabrics and prints Play with colors and textures. Wool is a big favorite and velvet is back. Plaid is here for the season but also look out for abstract designs which are trending. Overall, I would say this season is about connecting with nature and the basics. I hope you can find some interesting pieces and create that perfect atmosphere for your interiors. For related articles, visit the DESIGN page. Author: Daniela Olmedo Feature photo:  Thefreshexchangeblog.com

Key Piece: Sofa

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I have been working as an interior designer for 15 years and I can tell you that sofas are a crucial decision to be made for your place. You will spend most of the time there, reading, watching tv, relaxing or sharing with friends and family.    Budget and Plan Plan how much you can spend and go to the stores you can afford. Research online for the available brands, their reviews and prices. Go and sit on them. Feel. When you sit, can you feel any of the structure? If you do, my suggestion is to keep looking since that can only get worse with time. Is it too tight or too soft? Do you like it with legs or without? Size and shape First measure your space and pick your sofa based on what it can handle. Also, decide if you prefer a sectional or a single piece.     The piece that sets the tone in a space. Which style is it? Contemporary Classic Function Is it for watching TV? Is it for …

Styling: Coffee Table

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You finally found the perfect coffee table and now you understand how a painter feels staring at an empty canvas. Where do you start? 1) Start with the geometry What shape or shapes do you have?  If it is a rectangle, many designers suggest dividing it in three.  If it is a circle, divide it in four.  There is no real rule but this is a good start. 2) Play with materials If your table top is wood, give it a contrast with a different type of wood, or even better, metals, stones, acrylics or glass. 3) Elements that work -Trays -Books and magazines -Flowers and plants -Sculptures, vases or bowls -Candles -Collector elements You can even add table games or interesting objects bought in museums or antique stores. 4) All about balance Start with a balanced layout. The largest object will dictate most of it. Decide if it is going to be asymmetrical or symmetrical. Will it part from the center? Are you highlighting the corners? Bright colors or neutral? 5) Don’t forget what …

My Favorites: Knobs

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I am obsessed with pretty and whimsical objects, especially knobs.  They are an inexpensive way to upgrade IKEA-like furniture by jazzing up any furniture or room. For my own apartment, I used modern brass pulls and knobs to customize my kitchen.  Here is my current selection of favorites. 1)  Anthopologie Anthropologie is a great source for colorful and unique knobs and pulls.  You do have to pick and choose because the quality of these items vary.  Their current line is inspired by equestrians which would fit right into any country style interiors. It will even bring a bit of warmth and personality to a modern interior that can come off cold. Crystal Bar Knobs $18/each Tanga Toggle Knob $18/each Santiago Horseshoe Pull $2.95/each Gramercy Knobs $10/each Telescope Knobs $10/each Swirled Geode Knob $24/each 2) Nest Studio These knobs are like jewelry, expensive but worth it.  The style is  modern and veers toward geometric lines. Brass and acrylic handle $80/ piece Octogonal pull $90/peice Hexagonal bar pull $80/each 3) Edgar Berebi This line is more ornate and …

Bathroom Style

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When we are designing our home, usually the bathrooms and powder rooms are left until the end.  However, this doesn’t mean we should not design them.  A beautiful and organized bathroom will help us relax. 1) Let’s pick a concept. Do you want it contemporary, eclectic, minimal, rustic, retro or classic? 2) Take your time to pick the fixtures. Options can include chrome, mate, golden or even black.  3) Lighting  Sconces and wall lamps bring a lot of life and “coziness” to the bathroom. 4)  Floors can be made of stones, tiles or even wood. Here are some inspirations. 5)  Add art!  Framed art brings a new life to the space. A bathroom is not an exception. I would recommend exploring more options than the typical “sea-themed” bathroom. 6) Mirrors Love the “mirror over mirror” concept .  The idea of multiple mirrors in an area works great as well. 7)  Consider wallpaper In the case of powder rooms or bathrooms that have good humidity control, you can add wallpaper to make an impact. Start making some plans and think …

Online Report: Decorative Pillows

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So, how is your online shopping going? Have you found any good pieces? If not, here are some suggestions that I found after checking some of my favorite design sites. Most of the suggestions in today’s post are very accessible in terms of pricing, from $20 to $80.  There are some higher priced items, but you can decide if it is worth spending a little more on some special pieces.  Additionally, sales are happening right now so you might want to take advantage of them. The sites below are listed in alphabetical order: Anthropology Go here for bohemian styles. You can also find great seasonal basics.   Ballard Designs This is a good basic outdoor catalog. CB2 The site has a great selection with a small and manageable catalog.   Crate & Barrel There are a few outstanding options to choose from. I also found really cool outdoor poufs.   Dot & Bo Variety of colors and good prices.   Design Within Reach The site has higher prices and a smaller selection, but interesting pieces.   H&M …

Where do professional designers draw their inspiration? Insight from Bullard & Xenides Interiors

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One of my favorite parts about the La Vie Partagée lifestyle page is the insight to home design it provides to its readers. Recent posts from designers and design enthusiasts offer up the latest trends and design tips to inspire readers to create great spaces of their own.  With such great inspiration so readily at hand for readers, you may have wondered … where do professional designers draw their inspiration as they create new spaces for clients? While it’s true that a creative mind never really rests (I often have dreams/nightmares about client projects), there are times when an extra boost of inspiration from an outside source is just the remedy to reignite the creative process. One such boost can be counted on every spring for people in the design world. High Point Market Week is a mecca for designers, architects and retailers. It is essentially a chance for vendors of furniture, design accessories, artwork, lighting, fabrics, wallpapers and many other crafts to put their best foot forward in hopes of driving popular trends in …

Big Box Scout: Summer Patio Basics

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We decided to do some scouting to show you what is actually available in some of the most popular big box stores. In all honesty, I was surprised to find items exhibiting similarly bright colors and designs. So, for furniture, I would say, let price drive your decision aside from the additional expense of some accent tables.  For pillows, here are a few options for you to try along with some other great finds at the following stores: 1) Cost Plus World Market With solid, bigger pieces of furniture, just add some pillows. How about this fun print for this fabric? It goes great with natural wood colors and bright ones too.    There are more fun patterns, full of color. We found full color metal stools and/or side tables. Here is this classic design in red, blue and brown. We even found a picnic table! My favorite find in this store was this wooden cooler; it definitely makes those ugly plastic cases a thing of the past. 2) Marshalls You need luck and the …

Design Knockoffs: Reading Nook/Guest Bed

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Many people have a small room that is often inefficiently used, but that room can be so much more.  We can see an example of this in this transformative design of a room in the back of a house that turned into an extraordinary reading nook. In today’s post, I will recreate a reading nook for a weekend house that can also double as a “guest” room. It will come in handy when you have too many people in the house and not enough bedrooms to house them.  The goal of this series is to use big box stores that our readers can easily access via online or brick and mortar stores.  The budget will be approximately $1,000 for the bones of the room.  The inspiration for this room is a clean and bright country home. Let’s start with the daybed.  There are many options out there with various prices.  I wanted a backless daybed which looks more like a seating sofa than a bed and infinitely more chic. This is an option from Wayfair. This …