About 4 hours in to our first day at the Dallas Market Center Total Home & Gift Show for Fall 2010, we realized that we had not yet seen any furniture.  We had already salivated over showroom after showroom of lighting and accessories, packaging and holiday items.  That had all taken place in the annex of the World Trade Center.

Finally, we crossed the bridge into the main building and formulated a plan to see as much as possible without wearing right through our shoes.  We decided upon a top down approach.  The first couple of floors were filled with clothing (primarily womens).  My wife had a great time and found a few items for herself in the sample sales.  The next big stop was in temporaries.  These vendors display their goods only for the duration of a given show.  The temporaries is a mixed bag of tricks.  Some of the items were very interesting and will be covered in future posts.  Much of what was there was... well, let's just say not Lola-worthy.

At last we moved on to furniture.  There was some really terrific stuff this year.  Without a doubt, the show stoppers for me this year were 18 Karat, Contempo Designs, Global Views, and Cyan Design.  You will see some of my favorites below in the new series NineFinds!.  Check the key below the diagram for details.

One last thing... I cannot say enough good things about my new friends at Global Views.  Their line is real, modern, and inspired.  I could absolutely move in to the showroom.  Be sure to check out their goods through dealers online or contact your favorite decorator/designer.

savour... new friendships

1.Mu Chair - 18 Karat (18 Karat - $400) 2.Dining Table - Contempo Design (Trade Only) 3.Babar Barstool - Contempo Design (Trade Only) 4.Claes Lounge Chair - Thayer Coggin for Contempo Design (Trade Only)  5.Dark Walnut Swoop Media Cabinet - Global Views (Accent Furniture Direct - $8798) 6.Quilted Leather Headboard - Global Views (Accent Furniture Direct - $4398) 7.Wrightia Wood Stool - 18 Karat (18 Karat - $549) 8.Anjuna Outdoor Bed - Zuo Modern (Madison Seating - $1825) 9.Leather Chaise -  18 Karat (18 Karat - $3600) 

We continue our coverage of the Dallas Market this week with a review of accessories and lighting.  There was a tremendous amount to see.  Here are some of my faves.  Follow the flight plan and check the key at the bottom for specifics.

savour... new finds

1.Chloe Accent Tray - Accent Decor (Trade Only) 2.Felt Rose Pouf - Global Views (Accent Furniture Direct - $438.00) 3.Climbing Man Wall Sculpture - Global Views (Amazon.com - $82.00) 4.Mirror Wall Flowers - Cyan Design (Trade Only) 5.Komaki Ball Pillows - Global Views (Living Comforts - $324.00 for pair)  6.Glass C Chandelier - Global Views (CSN Lighting - $2857.80) 7.Silk Pillow - Aviva Stanoff (some varieties at artfulhome.com 8. Dandelion Chandelier - Cyan Design (Lighting Universe - $2647.50) 9.Layla Vase - Accent Decor (Trade Only)

Some of these items are available to the trade only.  However, a quick search revealed many of these items available for purchase online.  Contact me or your decorator/designer for more information regarding the Trade Only items.

Here is a short video highlighting products from one of the contemporary product lines.  The Cyan Design line encompasses far more than I could cover here.  Check their website at www.cyandesign.biz for more products.

Happy Monday!

It was a long weekend full of fun, and design, and walking.  The Dallas Market Center is huge.  We walked miles of hallways and display areas all in an effort to bring you what is new this fall in home fashion.

Today's post is simple.  I just want to share a few of the photos we collected over the past couple of days.  The rest of the week (except for Friday's TOTW) will be dedicated to highlighting a few of the more memorable folks we met while we were there.

You may notice an ongoing theme throughout the photos.  There was a great deal of orange this year.  Lucky for me... I love orange!  Enjoy the photos.

savour... up and coming

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I'll bet that way back in the 80's when Bill Cosby was doing those chocolate pudding commercials he never dreamed that there would be a National Chocolate Pudding Day.  Alas, there is, and it is tomorrow.  To celebrate (sort of) I submit my cooked chocolate pudding recipe.  To be clear, this is no boxed chocolate pudding.  I have eaten plenty of that stuff in my life and I promise you it cannot compare. 

 Like so many things we tackle here, I think you will surprised at how easy this is to make... and with good results.  The hardest part is that with pudding you really have to be prepared and present for the entire process.    We have become so accustomed to purchasing instant pudding mix that many of us have forgotten how our mother or grandmother made this stuff.  The good news is you have control of what goes in the pot.  Best of all, you probably have most or all of the ingredients in your kitchen right now.

I have made two variations of the same pudding here for some contrast.  The layer between is ground up chocolate cookie.  I topped it off with some fresh whipped cream, grated coffee bean, and a chocolate covered espresso bean.  Caution...it is rich and certainly not for the faint of heart.

Because I had two flavors I layered them in a glass and chilled them, but it would have been equally good served warm on it's own or over a piece of cake.  Additionally, use this pudding for a pudding pie.  Just make and blind bake your crust and then fill with the pudding and chill.  This will absolutely take you back.  Happy Chocolate Pudding Day.  Celebrate responsibly.  

savour... smooth and creamy

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Nothing brings on the flowers like summer.  They are popping up everywhere you look.  But don't let that be the end of your enjoyment.  Be sure to take some inside to brighten up any room.

  
Today we offer up a couple of ideas for adding a little zing to your summer floral design.  To make your floral purchase easier you should follow a couple of simple tips:

• Purchase just a few complimentary colors.
• Look for color combinations that may be unexpected.
• Get some textures.
• Think sculpturally.
• Choose interesting vessels.

One of my favorite things to use in floral design is a simple receipt holder.  I have about ten of these which I purchased from an office supply store for just over one dollar each.  In this case, I have put hulled out lemons on them as the vessel for the floral arrangement.  In the fall I frequently put apples or artichokes on them and line them up on a counter or window sill. They can be invaluable if you are creating a tablescape and want to give some elements a little height.

The other thing I used here as a "vase" is a watermelon.  Not only does it naturally hold water well, but the colors and striations add another very special dimension.  Not to mention, we got to eat the watermelon...so win-win. You must make sure that you determine how the melon "sits".  When it is in a natural position mark your line and cut off the top (use a serrated knife here for best results).

In America, June is officially Rose Month.  For that reason, I felt compelled to squeeze them in somewhere.  Adding some dimension and keeping the overall palette simple really showcases the wonderful color of these roses.  Beyond the roses, I tried to choose flowers that offered a great deal of color or texture.  As a final note, I like to have something bright (in this case, baby's breath) to accentuate the flowers around it.  No matter what you choose, summer flowers are sure to add some life to your rooms.  Enjoy!

savour... petals and stems

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I am a huge fan of graphic art.  I have painted large graphic patterns and designs on many walls.  Most of them were successful...some, not so much.  Despite my careful planning and sketching, I have been forced on occasion to repaint and start from scratch or abort the mission altogether.  Fortunately, I found Blik, and with it some alternative decorating solutions.

Blik is this amazing collection of graphic art available right at your fingertips.  And here's the best part...they are removable.  Apartment dwellers rejoice!  As they say on their site, these are wall graphics for the commitment-phobic. If you have anything in your house that looks like a teen you will know exactly what I mean when I say "moods change".  You are sure to find something to suit your needs and liven up a corner or make a big splash.  There are loads of designers and designs for you to peruse at www.whatisblik.com.  

One such designer is Ilan Dei.  Ilan is an award-winning designer from Venice, CA.  His work is best described as natural meets modern.  Dei's designs for Blik are bold, usually inspired by nature, and  always lovely.

Just a few days ago Blik released new designs in the Ilan Dei line.  They are Calla and Rose. These two are sure to be a hit as part of the already successful line.  Dei has added some extra dimension to the Calla graphic through the use of color.  The graphics are tall with Calla standing just over 6 feet.  They could be perfect in so many spots to make a real statement.  I have already started thinking of placement ideas.

savour...movable art 

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 Maybe you remember playing lawn darts in your childhood.  Our set included two plastic tubes that you shaped into two hoops.  The darts themselves had metal pointed tips with four plastic "fins" off the back for aerodynamics.  You would place the hoops at opposite ends of the playing area and toss your dart into the air in an effort to land the dart in your opponent's hoop.  As you might imagine, there were some safety issues.  In fact, I am fairly certain that they stopped making those.

I first learned about bocce in Europe.  I was immediately enamored with the tradition of it.  This game has been played for centuries.  Although it has often been regarded as a game for the common people, there was a time when it was reserved strictly for nobility.  These days in parts of Italy, it is commonplace to see groups of people playing bocce in the park.  In recent years, bocce has slowly gained popularity in the US.  You can now purchase sets at most discount department stores. 

 The sets come in a variety of colors and styles.  There are some very nice metallic ones and I found this clear bocce set at Amazon.com. Lastly, in the event you get one of those rare rainy summer days I hunted down this indoor bocce set at uncommongoods.com.  They are fun-colored and have a very modern sensibility. 

There is something really fun about bocce.  If you haven't played before you should give it a shot.  This might just become a summer standard at your house.

savour... playtime

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