Tag: interior design

5 Bedroom Design Tips from Daun Curry

Post author By Nicole Haddad
Post date July 20, 2020

Since most of us are spending more and more time at home these days, we tapped award-winning interior designer Daun Curry for some advice on how to design a bedroom that feels like a sanctuary. See below for some of her tips on how to create a space that most works for you!

Design by Daun Curry; Photography by Emily Gilbert.

5 Bedroom Design Tips from Daun Curry

“Your bedroom is the most intimate, personal space in your home. It should be a place to unwind, relax, and disconnect from the world at large. The design should also most embody what encompasses a sanctuary to you. While there are a range of tips to recommend when creating your own personal haven—such as investing in luxurious linens and bedding—your bedroom should reflect your personality, unique sensibility, and the colors and design elements that best help you recharge.” – Daun Curry

1) Introduce Elements of Whimsy

If whimsy is what you gravitate towards, embrace it. From light and airy drapes and swirl-laden painterly pillows that recall the colors of the sea to wallcoverings with a sense of movement, these rooms exude a gorgeous flight of fancy. Despite their differing color palettes, each design incorporates layers and gradations of the same color family to create a soothing ambiance.

Design by Daun Curry; Photographs by Emily Gilbert.

2) Infuse Your Vacation Home’s Bedrooms with a Lighthearted, Playful Feel

When you’re on vacation, your environment should reflect your state of mind. Designing for different age groups and/or a personal room or guest room should all take different factors into account. For kids’ rooms, fun furnishings such as bunk beds and geometric rugs in eye-popping, complementing colors are the perfect way to create a playful ambiance. Meanwhile, in a guest bedroom, it’s important to keep an air of sophistication while also instilling a more carefree, insouciant ambiance into the space. Perfectly tailored, layered bedding in shades of sunny colors, a defined area rug, elevated artwork that recalls beach house living, and linen upholstered beds create a picture of relaxation with a big dose of finesse. In the main room, make sure to take advantage of any natural light and the views. Next, focus on comfort—layer your bed in fresh, luxurious bedding, add in bold pops of color, soft carpet underfoot, extra seating, and lighting for all needs.

3) Create a Luxurious Seating Area

Your bedroom should be your escape—so whether it’s a seating nook, window seat, or adding in plush chairs, swivel chairs, or a bench, including this essential element in your bedroom will offer you just that extra bit of comfort. From having a cozy place to perch while getting ready for dinner to curling up in a reading nook or enjoying a morning coffee (or a nightly glass of wine) while in your pajamas, you’ll be surprised at how much enjoyment you’ll gain from this simple addition.

4) Incorporate Texture

Incorporating texture into your design scheme can add visual interest and a sense of warmth—especially when it’s tone on tone. From silk-textured and grasscloth wallpapers, to ceilings finished in shimmery Venetian plaster, metallics, dimensional paintings, and antiqued mirrored furnishings, each well-placed inclusion will add depth, tactility, and a sense of balance. Texture can also facilitate in creating a seamless flow—drawing your eye exactly where it should go.

5) Pattern, Pattern, and More Pattern

Don’t be afraid of using multiple patterns at once—you can easily layer varying designs that work well together rather than fight each other. Unexpected pairings in fashion are considered daring in the most stimulating of ways, and the same can be said when it comes to design. While you might not want to go completely bold and vibrant in the bedroom as lighter colors create a more restful ambiance, differing patterns in neutral shades and lighter hues create visual appeal.

Design by Daun Curry; Photographs by Matthew Sandager (left) and Emily Gilbert (right).

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Designer Daun Curry’s 5 Tips to Turn Your Home Into a Sanctuary

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Sauda Saleem Brings Her Signature Bold Palette to Housing Works’ Design on a Dime

Celebrate July 4th with American-Made Products from True Residential and Room & Board

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Tags Bedroom Design, Daun Curry, decor, Design Tips, Designer, Home design, interior design, Interiors, living

Design Featured Outdoor Uncategorized

Celebrate July 4th With American-Made Products from True Residential and Room & Board

Post author By Nicole Haddad
Post date June 30, 2020

As we all ready ourselves for the fun festivities and fireworks that accompany the Fourth of July, socially-distanced outdoor barbecues, pool parties, and backyard soirées rank high on everyone’s mind. In celebration of one of America’s most red, white, and blue holiday, we thought we’d spotlight some of our favorite products from two American-made brands: True Residential and Room & Board! Replete with designs made for creating the ideal outdoor retreat, we’ve included everything from stools, to ottomans, to beer beverage dispensers, and wine cabinets to boot. Happy Fourth of July!

Luxury home refrigeration brand True Residential, which launched in 2008 as an offshoot to its American-born, family-owned parent company, True Manufacturing (1945), has stayed on its American-made path. Room & Board, named as one of the “Most Innovative Companies in Retail” by Fast Company in 2019, also adheres to True Residential’s focus on handcrafted and quality materials, the American-made model, and on good design with some serious functionality. With a vast selection of indoor and outdoor furniture for modern—and most important—summer living, it remains that more than 90% of the company’s products are manufactured in America. Likewise, everything at True Residential is done in-house—from the coiled rolls of steel to the final powder-coated finish. Each with a large repertoire of products that are perfect for creating the ideal outdoor retreat!

Montego Sofa from Room & Board; Undercounter Refrigerator Drawers from True Residential.

From benches and sofas to under-counter refrigerator and freezer drawers, True Residential and Room & Board combined can cater to all of America’s favorite summer pastimes. Whether the focus is on barbecuing, summer poolside parties, and/or backyard soirées and more, all of their made-for-outdoors products will ensure one sublime Plein-air experience.

Entertaining preferences run aplenty, but from adults-only affairs to watching kids run wild, Room & Board’s versatile Brook Counter and Bar Stools, which come in a range of eye-catching colors and are made from recycled milk jugs, sit at the perfect height to pour the perfect draft pour from True Residential’s single or dual tap Beverage Dispenser—also available in a beautiful assortment of color combinations.

For those that lean towards a more relaxed outdoor ambiance yet with a more sophisticated palette, going with a black and metal theme might just be the ticket. Room & Board’s Aria Outdoor Table—shown in a graphite base topped with a marbled black ceramic composite—melds perfectly with True Residential’s easy-access Undercounter Refrigerator, which is shown in a striking matte black finish paired with gold hardware.

Then again, pure relaxation isn’t for everyone. For a more laidback vibe with a touch of fun, opt for Room & Board’s Boyd Round Ottoman in Phipps Spa Mist and True Residential’s Clear Ice Machine—the most efficient ice machine on the market—in the brand’s cheerful new saffron finish. Boost that sense of liveliness with some visual cues!

We all know the matching game can run strong so if that’s the inclination, run with it! Shades of blue are always beautiful, especially in the summer, and when one of the designs actually provides some shade. Room & Board’s Pacifica Square Patio Umbrella in Sunbrella Awning features a 60 mph wind-rating that will keep it in place to sunburns while True Residential’s Dual Zone Indoor/Outdoor Undercounter Wine Cabinet in Cobalt does the highly important job of keeping guests sated and bottles cool and protected.

Tags American-Made, American-Made Designs, chairs, fourth of july, Furniture, interior design, Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living, refrigerator, Room & Board, shade, Sunbrella, true residential, Under Counter Wine Cabinet

Design Featured Lifestyle Uncategorized

Designer Daun Curry’s 5 Tips to Turn Your Home Into a Sanctuary

Post author By Nicole Haddad
Post date April 28, 2020

Design by Daun Curry; Photograph by Emily Gilbert.

Since we are all adjusting to working from home these days, we tapped award-winning interior designer Daun Curry for some advice on how to balance it all. As Daun is currently operating her design business from home, she’s reflected on the importance of making your space a sanctuary while in quarantine.

Interior Designer Daun Curry’s 5 Tips to Turn Your Home Into a Sanctuary While in Quarantine

“A sanctuary should be all about personal preference and livable luxury. There is nothing more comforting than curling up in fresh new bed linens or on that lived-in piece of furniture you have loved for years. It’s surprising how much the energy of your space can change by simply livening it up with warm, earthy palettes, and infusing it with soothing scents, fresh-cut flowers, and cozy throws. Below are some of my easy-to-accomplish tips on how to turn your home into your own personal sanctuary.” – Daun Curry

1) Throw Family Dinners and Brunches

A formal dining room or any dining vignette and/or breakfast nook in a home can form a beautiful focal point, but it needs to be used! One of life’s great pleasures is bringing people together to share a meal, and it’s a shame that so many dining rooms sit unused. It’s tempting to keep a dining areas perfectly styled and photo-ready, but as we are all confined to our homes, it has become increasingly apparent how important breaking bread with family can be. A beautifully designed room really shines when it’s full of people to bring it to life—this is the time to be grateful and share with the ones we love. You won’t regret the wonderful memories you will create.

2) Invest in Quality Textiles

Nothing lets a room down more than tired linens and textiles, and a great way to kick off a fresh new vibe is by giving your bedroom a refresh with new bed linens. You spend a third of your life sleeping, so don’t cut corners with this—go with serene neutrals and interesting textures for a calming and restorative night’s sleep.

3) Declutter the Closet

It might sound like a cliche, but our new home-bound reality offers the perfect opportunity to give your closet some long overdue attention. We’re not talking about a once-a-year purge—but a commitment to maintaining a closet that’s chic, organized, and a place where you actually feel inspired when getting dressed in the morning. There is nothing more important than keeping to a healthy routine right now—and that involves getting dressed for the day. An organized closet will offer a simplicity of ease in selecting an ensemble to start the day off on a positive note.

4) Bring in Biophilic Design Elements

Incorporating nature into the built environment is a primary tenet of biophilic design. With an increased focus on wellbeing and the effect on the population at large by incorporating these design elements, it’s no wonder the trend is here to stay. While we don’t necessarily have every option available to us, the simplicity of adding in fresh cut flowers—even wildflowers—adds a surprising amount of cheer. In addition, don’t take the benefits of natural light for granted. A sunlit room can make all the difference—open your curtains! Rearrange your workstations so that the sunlight pours in and livens up your mood and your space. There is a reason light therapy lamps are made to combat winter blues and darker days—light helps your body stay in tune with the natural rhythms designed to inform your internal body clock.

5) Aromatherapy

There are a multitude of studied benefits in regards to the use of aromatherapy to enhance your psychological and physical wellbeing. From including droplets of serenity-enhancing essential oils, such as lavender on pillows, linens, and in baths, to the aroma of fresh flowers and scented candles, it’s all about creating an inviting ambiance to promote relaxation and rest.

Tags Daun Curry, Design Tips, home, Home design, interior design, Interior Designer, Interior Designer Daun Curry, Interiors

Design Entertainment Events Featured NYC

Love Setting a Table? Participate in the Dining for DIFFA Design Challenge!

Post author By Nicole Haddad
Post date April 14, 2020

Get your cameras ready! The Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) is launching a new social media campaign to raise funds for a very important cause—and sparking a seriously fun design competition while at it! The first-ever Dining for DIFFA Design Challenge offers tabletop lovers a chance to showcase their creativity by creating an out-of-the-box dining experience at home. Inspired by DIFFA’s signature annual fundraiser—which always featured incredibly inventive dining vignettes from New York’s most talented designers—the Dining for DIFFA Design Challenge will run through April 25th. Submissions can range from luxuriously indulgent breakfast-in-bed set-ups, a decked-out holiday-themed setting, a decadent picnic in the living room, and a tablescape gone mad—in the best of ways of course.

How does it work?

Post your designed area/dinner on your Instagram feed and/or story and tag @diffanational with the hashtag #diningfordiffa and include the donation sticker linked to DIFFA on Instagram. Tag three or more friends and encourage them to participate as well! Follow @diffanational on Instagram to be eligible to win.

A jury of design professionals will vote on their favorite dining experience and the winner will be announced on/around May 1. The prize includes a $250 gift certificate for a future meal at home, inclusion in a press release sent nationwide, and a feature on various Instagram platforms including @DIFFANational, @DesignStandsTogether, @DesignCalendar and @NovitaPR

Support DIFFA’s grant-making efforts, by making a donation here. For more information on the Dining for DIFFA Design Challenge, click here.

Tags Design Challenge, Design Industry, diffa, Dining for DIFFA, interior design, Social Media Campaign, Tablescape, Tabletop Design

Design Events Featured Lifestyle NYC

6 MAKER MEN TO 💘 AT THE AD DESIGN SHOW 2020

Post author By Nicole Haddad
Post date February 13, 2020

Since we’re quite enthused over Valentine’s Day, but don’t necessarily crave flowers, chocolates, and all the other love tropes adorning every aspect of our daily commutes, we thought we’d bring you something a little different this year to properly channel your ardor. Design ardor that is. This year’s Architectural Digest Design Show (held March 19–22, at Pier 94), is chock-full of gorgeous designs, featuring everything from furnishings, to accessories, art, appliances, and shops full of beautiful merchandise—where, yes, you can purchase a coveted piece and take it right home. While you can peruse the aisles by section, including REFRESH, SHOPS, FURNISH, and MADE, we are turning the tables this Valentine’s and focusing our love on the stylish men of MADE and their show-stopping designs.

Reed Hansuld and Joel Seigle of Harold

Reed Hansuld and Joel Seigle of Brooklyn-based Harold, took their love of industrial design and high-end chair building to create gorgeous furniture—candelabras, coffee tables, and sconces included—that stands the test of time. Their new sconce—which was inspired by the duo’s admiration for the setting sun—perfectly recalls the beauty of a sunset at its prime. Fun fact? Both Seigle and Hansuld had grandfathers named Harold.

Piet Houtenbos

Piet Houtenbos’s career began at Modernlink—a purveyor of Midcentury Modern masterpieces—where he honed his understanding of proportion and the ideals of modern design with an award-winning collection, Onelink. Today, his sculptural designs each feature unexpected moments, intriguing shapes, and elements of whimsy. The Halsey Fracture Dresser, which comes in various custom finishes and hardware options, is one of our favorites.

Justin Nelson of Fernweh Woodworking

Justin Nelson started Fernweh Woodworking in 2015 with no formal training in woodworking. When his first furniture line item debuted in 2017, he took the world by storm. His award-winning design for the Sling Chair came next, and the rest is design history. His Oxbend chair (above left) was born from a desire to create an elegant yet organic dining chair that exemplified the beauty of simplicity. From this design, the Oxbend Bench was born. It’s subtle, handcrafted tubular curves showcase just how adroit Nelson is with his hands.

Brett Miller of Jack Rabbit Studio

Did you ever think you would absolutely adore stumpy furniture? Neither did we, but Brett Miller’s Hudson Valley-based furniture design studio, Jack Rabbit Studio, is putting forth some incredibly beautiful (and comfortable) thick-lined furniture. From the aptly named Chubby Chair (shown above) to new two-leg dining chairs that form part of his Funky Bunch collection, these are some elegant yet whimsical designs.

Andrew Finnigan Works

Andrew Finnigan, a studio furniture maker in New York’s Hudson Valley, continues the tradition of handcrafted work. Through his eponymous studio, Finnigan Works, he puts designs forth that not only employ traditional methods of construction, but relay both a classic and unique appeal at the same time. Finnigan’s simple yet inviting oiled maple desk is enhanced by chestnut bridle leather.

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Tags architectural digest design show, design, Design Fair, interior design, Interior Design Trends, Interiors, Makers

Design Featured

Pantone Color of the Year 2020 is Here and We Are SO Blue

Post author By Deb Martin
Post date December 7, 2019

Custom color by Martin Kesselman, for Michele Mariaud Gallery at the Affordable Art Fair

The Pantone color of the year 2020 has arrived, and it is Classic Blue. More specifically, it is Pantone 19-4052, and we are all about this calming, elegant shade. For the past 20 years, Pantone has selected a color based on trends in art, interior design, fashion, automotive manufacturing, and tech, and this year they chose a reliable color, popular the world over, to offset the unrest in the world during these trying times. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone’s Color Institute says, “When we look at the world around us, we know that we’re living with a lot of unrest, where some days we don’t feel quite as secure. Blue, from an emotional, psychological standpoint, has always represented a certain amount of calm and dependability. It’s a color that you can rely on.”

Color expert and Downtown entrepreneur Martin Kesselman (INCOLOUR) says, “When times are a struggle, call on old reliable. Dress yourself, your space, your world, in that staple color suite. Decorate it with white clouds or a crisp top. Accent it with a brightly painted contrasting ceiling or skirting. Take a step outside, out of your box, out of your dwelling, out of your head. Return to nature and look up in sky for a sign of hope. Ironically, blue can be perceived as cool but it can also be heartwarming. The cure for a case of the blues seems to be Pantone Color of the Year 2020, Classic Blue.” He continues, “Our state of mind, and the State of the Union is looking bleak. Let’s go from seeing red and running hot to embracing blue.”

Product designers have always embraced the color, which works in modern, contemporary, and traditional settings.

You can add Pantone Color of the Year 2020, Classic Blue, with some of our favorites from Larq, Tom Dixon, and The Invisible Collection.

Our editors agree, Pantone Color of the Year 2020, Classic Blue, is the perfect addition to your wardrobe and your home.

Tags art, classic blue, color, design, Fashion, graphic design, incolour, interior design, martin kesselman, paint, pantone, pantone color of the year 2020