This is a cool find that comes courtesy of Tim, my husband and business partner.  I will readily admit that he’s got a pretty good sense of style and this is one of his better picks.  DNA 11 is a company founded by Adrian and Nazim, who refer to themselves as “Design Guy” and “Biotech Guy.”  They had the brilliant idea to take the information from your DNA code and print it in graphic form to create your own personalized piece of art. 

According to the site:

Here’s How it Works
01. Go to our e-store to begin customizing your art piece.
02. Order your complete DNA collection kit.
03. Collect a cheek cell swab using the swab we provide. It’s painless & effortless.
04. Send the sample to us. We take care of the rest.

You can create a customized piece using the DNA of 1-4 people (might be a fun family gift).  There are many sizes and colors to choose from and you get to keep a digital file of your artwork.  They have an unconditional money-back guarantee, so it’s hard to go wrong.  They recently added Fingerprint Portraits (for you CSI fans) and Kiss Portraits (for the Romantics) to round out their offerings.  Go to the site and check it out!  These one-of-a-kind images speak for themselves.

Visit DNA 11 on My Design Secrets!
 

Have you heard about Etsy?  Well, if you haven’t, it’s time for a long overdue introduction.  This is a cozy corner of the Internet where crafty and highly creative people connect with you.

In their simple words:

Etsy is an online marketplace for buying & selling all things handmade. Our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers. Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice: Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade.

The site was launched in 2005 and now has over 100,000 sellers.  You are walking into the world’s best art and craft show that is open 24/7.  You will quickly become hooked, but never fear.  There are many affordable items as well as some real splurges.  I love the jewelry and purses but since I am guiding you in the world of home design, I am going to point in the direction of Art, Housewares and Furniture.  Inspired oil painting and photography, finely upholstered vintage chairs and sublime ceramic work.  It will be hard to choose once you get rolling.

It’s like receiving a handmade gift from your most talented and creative friend (not the kind that you only pull of the closet when they visit)!

Visit Etsy on My Design Secrets!

Sitcoms frustrate me with their goofy depictions of Dads pining for talking Bass plaques and basements complete with fuzzy rugs and ragged recliners.  What woman wants to live under those conditions?  Well, there is a way to give the man in your life a great home-related gift, without spoiling your carefully crafted decor! 

Women and men definitely have different priorities when it comes to home design, but that doesn’t mean you cannot wend your way to a cozy compromise.   When I work with my clients, I often find that it’s merely one or two items that are the key to a man’s heart.  They realize that decorating the house is a top priority to their lovely ladies, so most times they don’t say much and happily go with the flow.  But in the name of Father’s Day, I would like to introduce you to some ideas that will let Dad know he is top notch and that his personal preferences are a priority in your home.

The New York Times store has an exquisite collection of photography with a wide variety that is sure to tap into Dad’s interests.  From iconic sports and history figures to landmarks and science, they have it all.  The photos are available with or without a broad selections of mats and frames.  In particular, the sports photos capture remarkable moments that are full of emotion and detail.

The recliner.  A long debated and often rejected piece of furniture.  Men want them, women hate them.  But there is hope on the horizon.  Many companies are making recliners that meld the style and comfort that you are both looking for.  Being a designer, I cannot help but choose a timeless classic and a stylish runner-up.

Slam Dunk.  Cut him a little slack by the pool.  Stop fooling around with those dinky pool toys that are demolished in one afternoon (while you coyly smile). Step up to the plate and buy him a real toy that will foster poolside fun and a little exercise (with bragging rights later). 

Disclaimer:  I know we have a great group of design conscious men out there who put great effort into the decoration of their homes.  They can ignore this post and go directly to My Secret Database to find what they need!

Happy Father’s Day to all you great Dad’s out there; especially mine!

Just like a fine quality spice in your favorite food dish, a little Exotic influence in your decor goes a long way.  Exotic is one of the 7 Styles we feature on My Design Secrets and it can be incorporated into virtually any other style.  It features fresh colors and striking designs from faraway places including locales such as Asia, the Middle East, and South America; to name a few.  Today I will run down some Exotic tips that will bring zest to your nest. 

• Modern interiors come to life with vibrant animal-themed artwork.
• An old leather chair ups its hip factor with a painted Moroccan side table.
• Light and airy draperies add romance to your bedroom.
• A colorful lantern makes an indoor or outdoor conversation area warm and cozy.
• Intricate wood work on a headboard (or room screen hanging above a bed) adds interest and a focal point for the bedroom.

Exotic design comes in many forms; from hand carved and inlaid woodwork to vibrant textiles and unusual accessories.  Introduce a bit in your interiors and I bet you will never turn back.

Explore the Exotic Style in My Secret Database!

Are you ready to unleash your creativity?  I know, I know…your half-finished scrapbook sits up on the shelf and somehow that inanimate object has the ability to make you feel guilty.  Well, worry no more.  I have an easy project for you that makes the most of family photos by transforming them into clever artwork to hang on your walls.  The fantastic and fool-proof website, Picnik, will guide you through the process step-by-step.  Actually, it’s so much fun that I bet you will spend a lot more time than you need to! 

Go to www.picnik.com and easily upload your photo.  You then can Edit the photo by cropping, rotating or removing red-eye.  Now comes the fun part: Create.  Here you can apply any number of effects to make-over your photo. I chose a photo of my dog, Emma, and applied some technicolor.  You could also go with a simple black and white or sepia tone for an old-fashioned or “gallery” look.

At the end of the process you can save your photo to work on later, print it, email it or make a slide show.  It’s fun to apply different effects or colors to the same photo.  Or if you have several photos, it would be nice to apply the same effect to three different photos and hang them up in a group.  By using the same style, it will unify them.

To finish off these photos I would recommend a simple black frame with a large white mat that you can pick up from several vendors in My Secret Database.  Your friends will be impressed, your photos will come out of the box and your walls will be fashionably decorated.  Who could ask for anything else?

Any day is a good day to pick up a bargain!

Many of the websites I include in My Secret Database have a “Sale” or “Clearance” section where they feature items that have been marked down.  This is a fabulous place to find some incredible value for your money.  Whether you are searching for the finishing touch or seeking a treasure that sets the tone for your room, you are bound to find some awesome deals that are hard to resist.  Here are a few incredible items that are easy on your budget:

First is the Tenpo Open Console Bookcase from Room and Board.  I love the simple lines of this piece which could be used in many settings.  It would be at home in your office, dining room or at the foot of your bed as a bench/storage piece.  $499 (was $999)

Second, while browsing through the Horchow website I found this beautiful Cherry Blossom print that is textured to look like a painting.  The vivid turquoise sky against the delicate pink cherry blossoms would be a fantastic focal point in any room.  The frame alone is worth the price.  $299

Lastly, these elegant Portico Crystal Lamps from Restoration Hardware are one of those great design classics.  Crystal lamps are at home in Modern and Classic homes and I can guarantee you will hang onto them for a long time to come.  Pop a new lamp shade on and you have a whole new look .  They offer two shade styles in ten different colors!  $214.99 (was $444) At this price you can get two for the price of one.  (A little feng shui hint - try to accessorize in pairs in your bedroom to enhance harmonious energy.)

Make sure you read the fine print. Sometimes marked down items are not returnable.  Also, don’t wait too long to make a decision as many of these items are in limited quantities.

This is affordable luxury at its best!

Sometimes you hear a quote or the lyrics to a song and they just ring true. You want to put them in a place so you are reminded of them often.

Well, here is one super cool way to do it and incorporate it into your home design. The company Wonderful Graffiti makes removable letter transfers to put on your walls. They have a variety of great quotes to choose from or you can make up your own. You can choose different sizes, colors and fonts to really personalize it. Lately they have added 2 more products. The first one is called Blank Canvas and you can have anything you like transferred to an artist’s canvas to display as artwork on your wall. The second item is called Graffiti 3D and you can have your words in 3-D enamel letters in Lucite or brushed aluminum.

They have also just added another website tailored specifically to weddings. It is called Wonderful Graffiti Wedding. You can use the lettering for wedding favors, cars, dance floors and place cards. The options are endless. Have fun:-)

“At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe.”

As many of you may know, a devastating earthquake hit Peru on Wednesday, August 15th, and they experienced another one on Friday. I have received an email indicating the employees and families of that NOVICA office are safe but there is much structural damage and they are trying to locate several artists who lived near the epicenter. In the spirit of lending a helping hand, 10% of the purchase price of items from Novica Andes will be donated directly to affected artisans as well as to UNICEF’s relief work in Peru. So if you feel inclined to purchase something, now would be a great time!

Thanks for caring!

Mohena and leather box, ‘Royal Butterfly’
Abel Ríos selects prized Peruvian mohena wood for this design. Crafted by hand, the box is covered with tooled leather. A butterfly graces the lid and the chest features an ornamental bronze clasp and handles.
Your Price: $157.95

To complete this room I would use the Benjamin Moore Paint color Waterbury Cream as a neutral wall color and then paint the ceiling Blue Allure for a celestial feel. Add some great little art pieces from the Yuki Lau Gallery on http://www.art.com/ and you are all set. When selecting the type of paint, you may want to consider using Benjamin Moore’s new EcoSpec paint. It has low VOC’s (volatile organic compounds). That is what causes the “paint smell” that lingers. Even after the smell is gone, these compounds continue to damage the environment, not to mention your babe’s little lungs. Children are more sensitive to chemicals when they are growing so why not try to avoid all the chemicals we can!