My Design Secrets

Silverado Round Dining Table - Hi-yo silver. No lone rangers here. Two sleek chrome modern "sawhorses" partner with crisp, clean clear glass tops, round or rectangle—your choice. For more leg room and stability, we suggest the chrome-plated iron structures meet in the middle (shown). $279.00

Teepee Dining Table - Natural blonde. Four solid natural white oak legs starburst from a central axis under clear glass. Recessed base for lots of legroom and up to 4 chairs. Clear bumpers protect glass. $369.00

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Indie Dining Table - Communal table. Hot trendy new place to gather food, friends, conversation. Tropical mindi wood is all drama in a dark, rich stain that reveals organic grain. Major construction in mindi solid wood and veneers. On Sale $449.00

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Sidecar High Dining Table - Counter culture. All-in-one, two-party dining table/cocktail bar/storage cabinet is white-hot with legroom and legions of stash space. Sleek, hi-gloss white lacquer unit free-floats or goes up against the wall. Storage on one end stocks bottles, barware, gadgets, dinnerware, flatware, cookbooks, magazines. Format Magazine Holder sized to fit cubbies. $399.00

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Odyssey Dining Table - Space odysseys. A high styling, hardworking table for all your spaces: dining, kitchen, living, office. Walnut veneer disc beveled at the edge floats on a nickel plated metal pedestal that seems to emerge from the floor. Also available with white top/base. On Sale $199.00

Are you following me on twitter?  You should be!

~ Lorrie

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This rocker can go from a very chic nursery to your living room in snap. The PK 20 is available in Wicker $1250 or Leather $1450. Stainless Steel. Brushed finish.

Modular - $495

This copy of the 670 lounge chair and ottoman is constructed exactly like the original. Prices range from $2200 to $2600.

Are you following me on twitter?  You should be!

~ Lorrie

The Ice Chair by Kasper Salto is stackable. Made of light aluminum, it is available in chairs or stools with separate seat and back, with or without arms. The backrest and seat are made of synthetic material; the aluminum frame and armrest have a satin matte surface. Seat frame and arms are powder-coated in a silver grey or black grey color. Available in a variety of colors!

SUITE New York is Manhattan’s foremost contemporary furniture and design store. Since the company’s founding less than three years ago, SUITE New York products and projects have appeared in over sixty high-profile magazines and newspapers. Kris Fuchs (Principal and Public Relations and Marketing Director) and Maria Isabel Sepulveda (Co-Principal and Chief Executive Officer) prioritize quality products and superior customer service, and have traveled the world sourcing pieces for their showroom. Creative Director Chris Kraig brings his wealth of knowledge in architecture, art history, and contemporary design when selecting manufacturers and designers for the company. For more information on SUITE New York’s products, please visit their website or visit the showroom at 625 Madison Avenue, Suite 218.

The following outdoor items from SUITE New York will help you usher in the summer months in style! 

Have a great weekend! 

~ Lorrie

The Havana Collection by designer Joseph Forakis is an outdoor lighting collection with polyethylene shades which come in white or yellow. This sleek design can be either suspended with lacquered metal supports, used as a floor model, with an underground box or repositionable base.

The Ice Table is available in stackable circular, square or rectangular shapes. Top in sliver grey or dark grey compact laminate. Base offered in satin matte or mirror polished aluminum.

The Uto Light by Legranja Design is a pliable lamp made of a silicone rubber. It comes in white, yellow, or orange, and may be used both inside and outside.

The Silver Chair by Vico Magistretti stacks up to 6. Magistretti was a master of simple and elegant solutions to domestic needs. The seat and back is made of polypropylene material in black, white, grey, orange or cobalt blue. The frame has a satin polished anodized aluminum. Available options include a 5 star swivel base on coasters, tablet arms, seat cushions, or configuring to a tandem system.

The eco-friendly Plateau Quadrant bench from designer David Scott would be a great addition to any backyard!

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Win a $200 JCPenney Gift Card!

Love the high-end look but not the price tag?  I thought I would put my skills to the test and custom design a living room for under $5,000.  This modern/casual living room has all the basic elements you need with most of your budget going to investment pieces such as uphsoltered furniture, rugs and artwork.  I am open to suggestions for future posts, so lay it on me!

The Rundown:

1. Bellacor Pebble Table Lamp  – Made of shapely ceramic in a pebble finish, this table lamp exudes charm. It is crowned by a paper bag hardback drum shade. – $120
2. “Call” Acrylic Painting from the Artful Home - Created by Amy Bouse – One of a Kind – $350
3. Orange Cased Bowl from Bellacor – $43
4. Martine Sofa from Crate & Barrel – Fabric:  Como-Olive – Eco-Friendly construction – 76.5″Wx36″Dx34.75″H- $1,499
5. Slab Coffee Table from Z Gallerie- Chamcha wood, sourced from the trunks of naturally felled trees in Northern Thailand – 50” x 27-29” x 16.5”H – $549
6. Cira Silk Pillow – Aqua – Shimmering dupioni and mulberry silk combine in a beautiful accent pillow with self-welt finishing – Feather Down Insert – 2@$49.95 each – $99.90
7. Jasper Chair from Room & Board- Dorien/Oatmeal fabric – pre-washed 100% cotton microweave – $799
8. Dandelion Persimmon Rug from Company C - A soft, modern look with incredible texture. Hooked yarns accentuate this tufted rug to create a landscape of color you can actually feel. 100% wool, tufted – 6′x9′ – $1,125
9. Galerie Side Table from Crate & Barrel - Three tiered round side table in Espresso Stain – 23.75″dia.x23.75″H – $199

The Grand Total: $4,783.90

Did you enter our Free Giveaway today?

Hi everyone! 

Lorrie was kind enough to pass over the reigns to me today so that I could introduce you to Benjamin Heinrich, a friend of mine that creates beautiful, custom-made modern furniture.  Benjamin resides in Berlin, Germany and translates his love of shapes and forms into fantasic, sculputural pieces made of exotic woods, high gloss finishes, stainless steel and LED lighting.  The effect translates into graceful forms that are truly amazing and very unique.

I hope you enjoy these pieces as much as I do.  If you would like to see more of Benjamin’s work, please visit his website, which is in German.  There is no need to worry if you can’t read German, there are plenty of photos that speak volumes.

Enjoy!

~ Tim

Modern furnishings add simple sophistication and interest to any room. The clean lines, fresh colors and simple details are very pleasing to the eye.  In recent years we have seen very heavy traditional looks emerge from the major furniture manufacturers.  I feel that the Modern style is a welcome change. 

Today I am going to highlight some of the great modern pieces I have spotted in My Secret Database as well as give you some guidelines on how to add the Modern Style to your own home.

1. Jump In- Select one modern piece that appeals to you and you will be on your way.  Don’t be intimidated by mixing traditional with modern.  Think of it as a piece of artwork that is an accent in your room.
2. Look for Quality – Some people may think that buying modern furniture is going to cost them less money because the pieces are not as intricate or heavy.  This is simply not so.  Because the pieces are simpler, flaws are harder to hide.  Make sure the pieces have a high quality finish, hardwood elements(nothing is made of fiberboard – like drawer bottoms or the back of the piece) and that nothing creaks or wobbles when you sit on it.
3. Seek Antiques – Most people do not think of antiques when they think of modern furniture, yet there are many mid-century modern pieces that are very popular these days.  From newly made reproductions to antiques on eBay and 1st Dibs, you can discover a high-quality piece and start your own collection.
4. Start with Art, Lighting or Accessories- Test the waters with something small but noticeable.  In my home, the most modern element is the artwork and I really love it.  Modern paintings and photos with simple black frames add a bold accent to your room.

So whether you have always been a fan of the Modern style or if you are considering your first piece, I am confident that with a keen eye and the tips above you will find the perfect addition to your home.

Search My Secret Database for Modern Style furnishings!

Perhaps you have seen the names Charles and Ray Eames when flipping through a Design Within Reach catalog and wondered who they were.  This immensely talented couple were responsible for major contributions in the world of furniture design, industrial design, art, graphic design, film and architecture.   The pair married in 1941 and lived their lives in Los Angeles where each of them used their particular talents to form a dynamic duo. 

Charles’ early background lie primarily in architecture; though his talents ran the gammat.  Ray was an artist and filmaker with a keen eye.  Together they are best known to the wider population as the designers of timeless, beatiful mid-century furniture pieces whose original designs and reproductions are still in demand.  Originally the furniture companies and catalogs only gave Charles credit for the designs but eventually it became clear that Ray contributed equally.  Many of the fabric designs on the pieces were her exclusive designs. 

In honor of this amazing couple, I thought I would do a little shopping on Ebay to see if I could spot a few of their original pieces and others inspired by them.  Personally, I think their partnership worked so well because they had complimentary talents and respected each other.  They were forward thinking, socially responsible and upbeat.  Plus, he listened to her

I hope you enjoy the eBay slide show.  Also, please write to me and let me know if there are any particular topics you would like to see more of.  I have lots of design secrets, just let me know what you need!

Thank you for your tremendously positive response to the fabulous bathroom makeover last week.  My friend Amy is now a celebrity in the most prestigious circles of New Jersey!  I hope that you will be able to use my valuable tips for your own project.  Now I am back with more insider guidance to take you every step of the way in designing a beautiful living room.

Today I am featuring a project I completed on a very tight schedule.  Normally, after carefully considering my client’s wants and needs, I order custom furnishings that take at least 3-4 months to be fabricated and delivered.  In this instance, my client needed to move into the apartment within 2 months and he wanted a Modern look.  With a little ingenuity and a lot hard work, the project was successfully completed in 2 months flat, from start to finish.  For 90% of the project I used the very same retail sources that you have access to in My Secret Database.

Here’s an easy way to successfully furnish a fantastic living room:

1. Have a clear vision of the look you are after.  Look through magazines and at photos online.  Be honest with yourself.  Trends are tempting; but will you still love the look a few years from now?  Keep these photos with you at all times as a guide.
2. Look at the bones of your project.  In this project the carpeting and the walls were drab.  We changed the carpeting from a flecked Berber to a solid one and then choose a warm celery color for the walls that was used throughout the whole apartment.  A small space feels larger and more unified with one color.
3. Furniture first – the rest later.  You might be inspired by a pillow, but that should not be your first purchase.  Select your furniture and then move on to pillows, window treatments and accessories.  They are the icing on the cake.
4. Be patient – If you you find a sofa and chairs you love at a great price, but you have to wait a couple of months for delivery, then wait it out.  So many people will drive themselves crazy for the next two months looking for a replacement that can be delivered immediately, only to come back to the original choice in the end.
5. Great design is in the details.  This project is 3 years old, but you would never know it.  Here are some affordable tips to get the designer look.

• The custom-made draperies shown are white cotton panels with silver grommets.  Lately I have seen many low-cost imitations at JCPenney, Restoration Hardware and Linens-N-Things.
• One of my great designer secrets is that Crate and Barrel has a phenomenal selection of pillows with down fillers at great prices. 
• The lamp shown is quite expensive, but I wrote a post in January showing an affordable replacement.

I hope this inspires you to start your project and to move forward with confidence.  Explore My Secret Database to quickly find the treasures you seek!

I call it “Mod-tique”.  Combining timeless beauty with a fresh new twist.  A classic sofa with a contemporary fabric.  A loft decked out in ultra-modern furnishings with a reclaimed wood floor.  State of the art kitchen cabinets with rustic, hand-hewn knobs.  These are choices that are the hallmark of professional designers.  The ability to select items that combine timeless beauty with a bold new look.  It lends an air of sophistication to your design that takes it to a whole new level.

Here are a few items that fall into the “Mod-tique” look.  Check out the colors, finishes and shapes and you will start to see the light.

Create your own Mod-tique look by searching My Secret Database!

I am not talking about a dog but rather something that could make your home just as warm and inviting.  Stray Dog Designs carries a stellar selection of home furnishings and they have a unique back-story.  Bill Pritchard and Jane Gray were newly-weds in Mexico in 1994 “figuring it out” when they came upon a small, sad looking pup that needed a good home.  They took La Princessa in as their first joint project and things just took off from there.  They started importing pottery to the States and that soon evolved into having a tinsmith bring Jane’s artistic visions to life in the form of lamps, mirrors, urns and other cool stuff.  In 1995 they were very warmly received at the Atlanta Gift Show and the rest, as they say, is history. 

They now live on Lookout Mountain in Tennessee with 3 kids and a houseful of pets which of course includes a former Stray Dog (a Great Dane named Big Girl).  They carry accessories, lighting, furniture and cool holiday stuff.  I would say their style has a Dr. Seusslike quality to it but with a bit of modern polish.  In their words: “Stray Dog Designs’ core design principles are simple: all items are handmade with careful construction from quality and recycled materials, melding quirky charm and true artistry, and providing fair wages for local workers.”  The vivid colors and whimsical shapes are the product of two people who run a company with a lot of heart and soul.

Come Visit Stray Dog Designs on My Design Secrets!