d*s mini trends! [delft blue]

i'm often drawn to colors in a magnetic way- a deep cherry red, a great mustardy yellow and most recently, warm, rich grays. but over the past month or so i've noticed that delft blue, a beautiful color that has its origins in 17th century holland, popping up all over the place. delft blue (sometimes called danish or dutch blue) was created by calcinating cobalt ore with quartz sand and potash- an extremely expensive process for artisans of the time. using paint grinding windmills, dutch artists would create the paint to decorate various porcelain vessels used for tableware. the city of delft had a high concentration of factories specializing in this process; during the 17th century they produced tiles and tableware with this unique blue color that was most often used to depict religious and floral motifs (often in a style similar to toile). [photo above, clockwise from top left: roses are blue dinnerware by rosanna inc. $30-$40, tablestories plate by tord boontje $312 for two 5-piece settings, cup by hella jongerius $360 at moss, delft candleholder by hella jongerius $580]

today delft blue is popping up in tableware (where it's always been popular), fabric, home accessories and art. contemporary dutch artists like hella jongerius (one of my personal favorites) are revisting the traditional artform, as are designers like rosanna bowles (whose blue dinnerware is a wonderful way of updating the color for the modern table). while the shade and hue may vary slightly from the original color, the influence of delft blue can be seen in a number of home designs this season. whether it's a bold blue pillow or elegant modern ceramics, everyone can afford to bring a little bit of delft into their house. check out these options above and below for some fun ways to bring holland's favorite blue to your home. [photo above clockwise left to right: modern delft paintings by douglas walker, paper napkins at sprout home $3.95 for 20, midsummer light by tord boontje $75, salad plate at sprout $15.50]

[photo above, clockwise from left to right: leaves decals from blik $36, urban tableware by stella in israel]

[photo above, clockwise from left to right: antique lace dinnerware by rosanna inc. $20-$40, not neutral pillow at 2modern $48, delft bowl by hella jongerius $550 and new 2006 fabric by teresa moorhouse for marimekko]

d*s mini trends! [faux bois]

faux bois, "fake wood" in french, is all the rage these days. the look of wood grain- in textiles, papers and furniture- has been popular throughout the history of interior design, but lately accessories styled to look like actual wood, or with a wood grain "look" are everywhere: at most good design shops around the country and in the pages of the shelter mags in the us and abroad. i find the look has to be done with nicer materials to look polished and modern- cheaper materials and poor finishing will have you saying "tacky" instead of "tasteful". the key to any trend is mixing in new pieces among an existing collection- so try adding a wood grained pillow to your couch, or a faux bois pendant lamp in the kitchen or even some faux bois bedding- but be sure to keep in in check, the look is about adding modern faux textures, not recreating your neighbor's basement from the 70's. so, check out these fun faux bois options and have fun! and while you're at it, check out it's (k)not wood- a whole website devoted to everything faux bois! [top picture: pendant lights at 2modern $180, faux birch light trio $425 at lekker home]

[woods wallpaper by cole and son, faux bois mirror $1300 and faux bois vase $125 at koo de kir]

[faux bois journal $13.95, faux birch lamp at anthropologie $248, wood grain sheets at urban outfitters $40-$60]

["wooden" stools by courtney skott, barnwood pillows by thomas paul at velocity- limited amounts left $80-$104]

[faux bois runner at viva terra $89, hemlock chandelier at anthropologie $1200, branch napkin rings at lekker home $10]

d*s mini trends! [pop your cork!]

i've wanted to write a little roundup on cork for some time now- this spongey, eco-friendly material has been all over in the design world for the past season or so and is starting to catch on in a big way because of its environmental attributes and ability to mold well to create various forms used commonly in design like seating and flooring. not only is cork a fully renewable resource, it can also be super cute when molded into pieces like chairs, stools, floor tiles and accessories like modern cork boards and wall tiles. [photo above, clockwise left to right: jasper morrison stools/tables at dwr: $298, notneutral wall panel at dp: $32, cork bowls at branch home: $88]

my favorite use of cork revolves around using it ways that allow its natural beauty to shine through. whether its in a form of a small round stool or a child's chair- or even tabletop accessories like salt shakers- cork has a beautiful color and texture that's begging to be touched. not to be outdone by the design world, fashion has been picking up on cork by using it for jewelry and accessories like earrings and bags. my favorite pieces are my designer jasper morrison- his stools are adorable in their cute, squattyness that are perfect for impromptou gettogethers that require extra seating or room to place plates, drinks, etc. oh! and don't forget, cork may look thick, dense and heavy, but it's actually quite light! prices for cork are all over the board- smaller pieces like cork tiles are more affordable, larger pieces like stools and seating can be around the $500 area. so, check out these great options above and below and see if cork is right for you! [photo above, clockwise from left to right: notneutral cork panels at dp: $32, cork salt and pepper shakers by tonfisk (see local retailers for prices)]

[photo above, clockwise left to right: tonfisk tableware (see local retailers for prices), cork coasters by dinner-ware: $30 for 4, cork children's chair at branch home: $138, cork stools by jasper morrison at hive modern: $425 each (i know, ouch!)]