Design Trends 2012- Black Chandeliers & Bright, Bold Colors

When your room is nearly complete, done with subtle touches of splendor, nothing says DONE like the crowning jewel of the perfect light fixture. Chandeliers have been gaining strong popularity over the last seven years or so in the world of design, but the last few years have really brought about show-stopping forms and colors- especially bold and beautiful black.

My trip to the World Market Show in Las Vegas did not disappoint, providing me elegant shapes, lots of hanging crystals and textural twists in glass that dazzle your eyes. Take a look at some of my favorite black chandeliers from the show and then a special treat from my friends at www.Black-Chandelier.com.

A black rectangular shade with see-thru pattern houses lovely shaped dangling clear glass.

Want drama? Got it with this massive black chandelier- 8' wide and 7' tall, adorned with clear crystals and a price tag of $40,000.

I love the twists and turns from this black shaded chandelier with ribbon striped clear glass. FUN!

This was one of my husband's favorites of the show. Black, floral stems and bright up-lighting.

Black chandeliers add a classy, elegant feel to ANY style of decor. It can be a statement piece in a simple, clean lined contemporary space, add drama to a traditional room or quirk to Mediterranean decor. A black chandelier can be demure and understated or powerful and fierce, gothic and mystical or just plain sexy! Everything looks better in black. 

Take a look at some of the most popular pieces from Black-Chandelier (www.Black-chandelier.com). Their display at the January 2012 JA Jewelry Trade Show at the Jacob Javits Center in NY showed off their best sellers in style. You have to love the impact of placing these black beauties in front of a red, showy background. AMAZING! 

The shades on these chandeliers are SOOOO darn sexy in any room!

I'd love to work with this fantastic company on your space, so if you are ready to move your home to the next level of luxe, call me and we can throw drama into your space with an amazing chandelier from this great company!

This Murano glass chandelier is one of my most favorite pieces by Black-Chandelier for $889.00

Scared to get into the trend? Start with this elegant 3 Light Black Chandelier for $289.00.

Besides "Anything but Basic" black, the World Market Show gave us fun shapes and colors that can punch up your room with bold beauty. Here are two of my faves...

This bold blue piece by Cyan Design boasts ribbon-like curls of glass and comes in other colors as well.

Loving this wacky fixture by Bel-Air, a well priced lighting company I carry.

Lighting has really stepped up a few notches to becoming a focal point and not just a way to illuminate your space. Black chandeliers are a safe, timeless addition to any room. For more information or to purchase the fantastic pieces by Black-Chandelier, go to www.Black-Chandelier.com. For more information on how to put together a great room design using these pieces, contact me at 480-227-1832.

Design Trends 2012- What's Hot This Year in Upholstered Furniture

For upholstery, my favorite design trends were the unique shapes in chair frames and the great colorful prints. My most favorite (and many other designer's favorite too) way to style a living room grouping reared it's beautiful head during this World Market Show. If you still have a matching sofa, loveseat and chair, you are behind the trend about 10 years! The look of ultimate home fashion is solid colored sofa and patterned chair. Here are some of my favorite examples of this look.

This traditional lined sofa gets a fun slant with a more contemporary streamlined chair. The high back is a current trend which bodes well for taller people who desire comfortable, yet hip seating. This bold stripe is still neutral, yet fun!

I love that this style of sofa, around for a good 6 years now, has finally gotten a modern update by Lazar. The straight, high sides give it pizzazz and, when paired with this great printed wing back chair and solid, modern ottoman, it's gorgeous!

One of my favorite vignettes at the market. This set up by Robin Bruce features a stately worn leather contemporary sofa with more traditional details and accent chairs. The fun print on these aqua chairs says "look at me", yet the more laid back squares on the opposing chair are just as great to look at. 

Tangerine tango at work in a traditional living room with modern touches.

Unexpected Details-

One of the most fun and unique looks at World Market 2012 were the unexpected touches and the expected ones used in new, refreshing ways. The two most exciting ideas in design for 2012 are door knockers and nailhead, but...it's not your girlfriend's old Tuscan style nailhead! 

Nailhead is being use in everything from contemporary pieces to mirrors to creating fun designs on accent cabinets.  

Gold nailhead trims the edges only on a Lazar contemporary sofa.

Door knockers were one of the most fun and exciting elements to see on furniture at this year's show. At first glance, they may appear to be circular pulls, but these door knockers were everywhere from cabinet drawers to my favorite and completely unnecessary yet "gotta have it" spot--- on the backs of dining and accent chairs! Too fabulous!

Here are some of the other design trends for upholstery I found at the World Market Show 2012:

Acrylic

Embossed or stitched patterns in leather

Bling by way of crystals

One trend that has been a personal design staple of mine is uniquely shaped pieces. I love an interesting carved leg, a funky frame or exaggerated back on a piece of furniture. Here are some of the greats!

Shaq would just love this!

You can sleep in these!

I'm sexy and I know it!

I love unusual backs on chairs and bar stools. What a cute, tiny tuft of leather!

Another fave from the show. I love the lines of this piece and what better way to show it off, then to repeat!

How to get these looks: Take a risk. It will pay off because designers have been creating these looks for years and they aren't going anywhere. Replace your boring living room "set" by breaking up the monotony and investing in a fun, bold print chair or two. Then accent your plain sofa with colorful pillows, using hues you find in your chair's print. It's just that easy and looks AMAZING when you're done! If you need help with any of the looks you've seen on this post or any other new styles featured on my World Market Show posts, please call me at 480-227-1832 and let's schedule a consultation to discuss your needs.

Design Trends 2012- What's Hot This Year in Beds

Hello and welcome to my annual design trends post. I'm fresh off my visit to Vegas and have returned with so many exciting photos and design ideas that I am segmenting this post into several, just to give you every delicious morsel of design scoop to be had!

The most important buzz word for this season is "TEXTURE", whether it's embossed leathers in geometric patterns, rich crocodile prints, or raised organics, the look for this year is adding interest with layering textures and raised tone on tone prints.

Let's start by talking about beds. Headboards are dramatic and exaggerated to new heights of sexy with stitched designs in leather or blingy crystals! Check out these fab finds by Global Views, Lazar and Christopher Guy.

Hubby is looking a bit too relaxed in this one... sorry Jay, you're in the shot!

How to work these looks into your current room:

I love to talk most about trends that will last for years to come. Timeless looks in design are the easiest and most important looks to incorporate into your home, because the investment in one quality piece will earn it's price tag as it will be less likely to go out of style. The way to get this look is to invest in a high quality, patterned headboard and coordinate it with your current dressers and nightstands. If you love the bling and don't mind it being a passing phase, go for the big statement crystal studded headboard or sun ray flair of Christopher Guy's piece for Robert Allen. Gorgeous!

next up: Wood Furniture