Get ready Fall Market, these bloggers will be taking over!

Get to know yet another four bloggers, their blogs, their mission and how they make design come to life on the web.

Here we go:

Barbara H. Karpf for DecoratorsBest

For the past twenty years Barbara, NKBA Kitchen Designer, has worked in NYC, The Hamptons, and the entire Metropolitan area. She is in “Who’s Who in Interior Design” and was selected as one of the “Great Designers of the World 2000.” She has also participated in many decorator showhouses, her work has been featured in numerous national publications and she has been a guest lecturer at The Architectural Digest Home Show in NYC.
When surfing the web she noticed a real niche to fill “To the Trade Only” designer fabric and wallpaper was unrepresented online. It was up to her to bring this industry into the 21st Century – thus DecoratorsBest was born.



Raina Kattelson for A Stylist’s Life

Raina was 21 when she started Woojee Wear, designing and manufacturing her own line of hip, European influenced kids clothes. It was sold across the country in boutiques and department stores including Henri Bendel’s.

After a while she felt the lure of the image and decided to take up the life of a stylist-styling fashion, beauty, still life and interiors. This work has brought her commissions as display designer, location scout and interior designer, designing homes as well as several restaurants. When not off on a styling gig Raina can be found with her husband and two daughters in New York's Hudson Valley gardening and renovating old houses.



Marni Elyse Katz for Style Carrot

Marni describes herself as a writer and editor living in Boston, obsessed and affected by the aesthetics of life. She had the chance to work for Rolling Stone Magazine and was an editor at a travel magazine and a woman’s magazine. These days, from the sofa she writes about the (material) stuff that life is made of. Wrap dresses, platform sandals, shimmery lipstick, dewy skin, shiny hair, green weddings, zebra skin rugs, modernist furniture, cavernous closets, emerging artists, bauhaus architecture, japanese gardens, kissing, and fantasies of all types.



Carrie Leskowitz for Carrie’s Design Musings

Having been in the fashion and design business for many years as a stylist, fashion show coordinator, and now the principal of Carrie Leskowitz Interiors, Carrie describes herself as passionate about all forms of design and fascinated by those who create it. She loves the design process and being challenged by design dilemmas. Her motto is: "A dash of drama goes a long way.”

Take a look back at this week’s previous posts to meet other great bloggers: Part I, Part II, Part III, and check back tomorrow for our final blogger round-up as we prep for Fall Market.

For live feeds and updates during Fall Market follow the DDB and our guest bloggers on Twitter:
#ddbmarket @danddbuilding @godesigngo @DecoratorsBest @astylistslife @stylecarrot @cleskowitz

Decorators Best on John Robshaw's latest

Always one to make our hearts skip a beat, not to mention inspire a new bed or table setting, John Robshaw recently branched out with a collection designed for Duralee. Designer and blogger Barbara Karpf, of Decorators Best, recently posted about her visit with Robshaw, and we are thrilled to share her insider's tour with you. Thanks, Barbara!
Click here to read about the new collection, and what challenged and excited him most about the process...

Bloggers cover DDB Spring Market

Here's what some of the bloggers participating in today's Spring Market at the DDB have been saying in anticipation of the big day.
Here in this House
Nest by Tamara
Carrie's Design Musings
Quintessence
Don't forget to follow along on twitter (hashtag #DDBMarket), since it's impossible to make it to all of the happenings! Check back soon and we'll share our bloggers market recaps.

Meet Maryam Montague, international blogger

We caught up with Maryam Montague, the Marrakesh-based blogger, before she joins the bloggers lounge at the DDB Spring Market.

-What set you off as a blogger?
I have been blogging since 2006 (Incredible! Time passes so very fast!). I was born in Cairo to a mother from Tehran and a father from Manhattan. I grew up in Chappaqua, New York and Wellesley, Massachusetts. I went to Smith College where I studied literature and international affairs and then went on to get a Masters from Johns Hopkins in international affairs. After graduate school, I moved overseas for my work as a human rights and governance specialist. I have traveled to over 70 countries but currently live in an olive grove in Marrakesh where I have a B&B called Peacock Pavilions that I designed, built and decorated from scratch with my architect husband. I also have an online shop called Red Thread Souk. Over the last couple of years I have worked on a coffee table book for Artisan Books, Marrakesh by Design. It’s just hot off the press!


-What’s your blogging schedule like?
I typically blog two to three times a week, often writing in the evening and photographing by day. I’ve been lucky enough to have my blog voted Best Blog in Africa in the Annual Weblog Awards (Bloggies) for the last two years.

-Favorite showroom at the DDB?
Because I have lived overseas for years, I haven’t spent time at the DDB. I can’t wait to see it with fresh eyes! I am going to scout goods with a modern global or tribal feel--my personal leaning in design.

-All-time favorite designers or designs?
I love black and white photography, and if I win the lottery, I plan to collect Photographer Albert Watson’s iconic images of Morocco.
I’m also crazy about this Moorish bed from Martyn Bullard and his line of Moroccan fabrics – although I live in Morocco, I can never have enough of fresh interpretations of Moroccan design. They are so rich and usable.

-What’s on your coffee or beside table?
My coffee table (and, indeed, many of the surfaces of my house) is like a flat surfaced cabinet of curiosities. The table itself is made of a handmade Moroccan ceiling panel. Right now I have on it, old finely carved stools from Mali, a fossilized whale vertebrae found in the Sahara desert, and a set of three vintage handmade Mauritanian wood bowls made for serving camel milk, each filled with strands of glass African beads, some 100-200 years old. You can see my home at Peacock Pavilions in the April 2012 issue of Elle Décor.

-How do you get your news?
I use Twitter to aggregate my news feeds. So I get global news in headline form in a flash.

-What are five bookmarks you check at least once a day?
I’m on the road for my work a lot and have several side projects on tap right now. But when I have time I like to check out the following: Indagare.com: I love this beautiful travel and shopping site! http://indagare.com/ The latest digital travel issue is on Morocco. Ebay: I admit that I am an ebay addict! Ebay’s blog, the Inside Source, profiled some of my Moroccan picks. French magazine Cote Sud always has inspiring homes, many in Morocco. I check it out regularly to see what’s new. I’m a huge fan of the Moroccan artist Hindi Zahra. I obsessively check her website concert schedule in case she is coming to Morocco. I saw her in concert when I was at the Salon du Livre et du Presse in Geneva. I now officially consider myself her disciple. Brownbook: An urban guide to the Middle East. Perhaps the most beautiful paper magazine I’ve ever seen. And it has a great website.

-What’s the best thing/discovery/source/person you’ve found this week (or month)?
I am really enjoying Sibella Court’s book, Nomad: http://tinyurl.com/d9mkzf5. I flip it open to random pages for inspiration. Also, as a present to myself for finishing my book, I recently bought this beautiful watch. It’s a daily reminder to me that anything’s possible.

-Tell us something interesting about you?
I’m fascinated by symbols and meanings, magic and the supernatural. In Moroccan design, many things aren’t simply beautiful -- they do double duty by warding off the evil eye and sending pesky genies running. I love magic and supernatural I’ve been to witchdoctors and fortune tellers in multiple countries, including Senegal, Morocco, Benin, and the Central African Republic.

Meet Style Carrot, pre-Bloggers Lounge

We wanted to know more about Marni Katz, the Boston-based blogger who will be among participants at the DDB's Spring Market Bloggers Lounge.



How long have you been blogging?

I started StyleCarrot in February 2009, not long after Domino folded. People had asked me for a while prior to that why I didn’t have a blog. Basically, I felt like I was already writing all day, and got paid for it, so why would I want more work for no money? But with all the magazines going under I was like, “Fine, already, if this is the only way this sort of content can get out there, then fine, I’ll help!”


Where are you from? I grew up in coastal Connecticut and I live in Boston, after spending 10 years in New York City and several in D.C. Boston is really lovely, and wonderful for raising kids, but for me personally, New York is home.



What in your background prepared you for blogging?

I studied Mandarin at Connecticut College and have a Master’s from Columbia University in Indian art history (I wrote my thesis on the cross-dressing antics of Radha and Krishna), so I have no real academic background in journalism or design. However, I knew since I was about six years old that I would be a writer and/or magazine editor. My first internship was in the fashion closet of Rolling Stone. My first job out of college was as the Maps Editor for a travel magazine. I was also a model editor for a women’s magazine, which I loved. (I met—and booked—Heidi Klum when she first came to the States!). I started working online quite early, in 1994. I was an editor at one of the first original content online fashion magazines. It was a ton of fun, we got a lot of attention. I was in heaven, going to all the fashion shows, going backstage, interviewing Amber Valetta and Donna Karan. I visited a lot of designers back then too, trying to teach them about the Internet, and how what we were doing was a magazine; no we weren’t trying to sell them anything. I got to chat with Marc Jacobs, before he was MARC JACOBS… he was just in his studio, with his long ponytail, totally laid back. I eventually worked for larger companies, like Time Inc New Media (I helped launch Dr. Ruth’s site there) and America Online. Eventually I had babies, started freelancing, and got more interested in home décor than fashion, though I still cover both.


What’s your blogging schedule like?

Well, as my family and friends will attest, I am never without my computer. Well, not totally true. . .  when I FINALLY go to bed for the night, I don’t bring any electronics with me. But I do tote my MacBook Air to school assemblies, the movie theater, you name it. Last weekend I worked at Fenway Park throughout an entire Red Sox game. My blog takes a lot of time. There’s a new post every day, and three of those days are quite intensive. I try to get them done in advance, so I’m not up until midnight, because you know, something else always comes up, and the work I owe to other editors has to come first. I’m the Features Editor of Design Milk, a regular contributor to The Inside Source, and also write regularly for Boston Globe Magazine and Boston Home. I also wrote one of the articles for the new digital edition of Traditional Home Magazine, TRADhome. I nominated Palmer Weiss as one of the New Traditionalists, and she won!



Favorite designers or designs?

I can’t possibly. My taste runs the gamut… one minute I like color and pattern the next, a rigid starkness, the next, the simple white spaces of Scandinavian design. My living room in Boston has a green and blue Angela Adams rug, Jonathan Adler pillows, vintage Danish armchairs, and TONS of artwork. Our house in Cape Cod is white, white, white, very spare, no art, just flowers from the garden, a few ocean colored accents, and Eames, Saarinen and Noguchi furniture mixed with white sofas.How about I give you my favorite designer in Boston? Definitely Frank Roop.



What’s on your coffee or beside table?

I get a lot of design books to review, so on my coffee table (a round Heywood Wakefield snagged from my husband’s grandparents’ country house), are the newest ones that I still have to blog about. Let’s see . . . right now there’s: Susanna Salk’s Be Your Own Decorator, Kelly Hoppen’s East Meets West, Pantone: The 20th Century in Color, and Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Work of Julien Vallée. I can't wait to get my hands on the Domino! What's your favorite news source? New York Times’ breaking news alerts land in my mailbox; I figure that takes care of anything important. I also get updates from the Wall Street Journal, though those tend to be more lifestyle focused. I also get WWD headline email every morning, though again, not exactly hard news. And as long as we’re on the subject, I get daily emails from Styleite and Refinery 29.



What are five bookmarks you check at least once a day?

I spend way too much time on Pinterest. Quite a bit of time on Facebook, and try to check Twitter at least once a day, if not twice. About once a month I spend an entire Saturday morning/afternoon going through all the home décor sites in my Google reader. I’m all about the photos. Some of my favorites are Desire to Inspire, The Coveteur, The Jealous Curator, Sous Style, and of course, Design Milk. And I still subscribe to all the real magazines, especially the home design titles.



What’s the best thing/discovery/source/person you’ve found this week (or month)?

Donald Judd, Untitled, 1968 at MoMA, a seafoam green Rolex and the white powder coated candelabra designed by Ehlén Johansson for the IKEA PS Collection 2012.



Interesting fact?

I hate stepping on LEGOs and since my son insisted on getting a cat, I fear I might have become a crazy cat lady, as I dote on the furry guy to no end.We wanted to know more about Marni Katz, the Boston-based blogger who will be among participants at the DDB's Spring Market Bloggers Lounge.



How long have you been blogging?

I started StyleCarrot in February 2009, not long after Domino folded. People had asked me for a while prior to that why I didn’t have a blog. Basically, I felt like I was already writing all day, and got paid for it, so why would I want more work for no money? But with all the magazines going under I was like, “Fine, already, if this is the only way this sort of content can get out there, then fine, I’ll help!” Where are you from? I grew up in coastal Connecticut and I live in Boston, after spending 10 years in New York City and several in D.C. Boston is really lovely, and wonderful for raising kids, but for me personally, New York is home.



What in your background prepared you for blogging?

I studied Mandarin at Connecticut College and have a Master’s from Columbia University in Indian art history (I wrote my thesis on the cross-dressing antics of Radha and Krishna), so I have no real academic background in journalism or design. However, I knew since I was about six years old that I would be a writer and/or magazine editor. My first internship was in the fashion closet of Rolling Stone. My first job out of college was as the Maps Editor for a travel magazine. I was also a model editor for a women’s magazine, which I loved. (I met—and booked—Heidi Klum when she first came to the States!). I started working online quite early, in 1994. I was an editor at one of the first original content online fashion magazines. It was a ton of fun, we got a lot of attention. I was in heaven, going to all the fashion shows, going backstage, interviewing Amber Valetta and Donna Karan. I visited a lot of designers back then too, trying to teach them about the Internet, and how what we were doing was a magazine; no we weren’t trying to sell them anything. I got to chat with Marc Jacobs, before he was MARC JACOBS… he was just in his studio, with his long ponytail, totally laid back. I eventually worked for larger companies, like Time Inc New Media (I helped launch Dr. Ruth’s site there) and America Online. Eventually I had babies, started freelancing, and got more interested in home décor than fashion, though I still cover both.


What’s your blogging schedule like?

Well, as my family and friends will attest, I am never without my computer. Well, not totally true. . .  when I FINALLY go to bed for the night, I don’t bring any electronics with me. But I do tote my MacBook Air to school assemblies, the movie theater, you name it. Last weekend I worked at Fenway Park throughout an entire Red Sox game. My blog takes a lot of time. There’s a new post every day, and three of those days are quite intensive. I try to get them done in advance, so I’m not up until midnight, because you know, something else always comes up, and the work I owe to other editors has to come first. I’m the Features Editor of Design Milk, a regular contributor to The Inside Source, and also write regularly for Boston Globe Magazine and Boston Home. I also wrote one of the articles for the new digital edition of Traditional Home Magazine, TRADhome. I nominated Palmer Weiss as one of the New Traditionalists, and she won!



Favorite designers or designs?

I can’t possibly. My taste runs the gamut… one minute I like color and pattern the next, a rigid starkness, the next, the simple white spaces of Scandinavian design. My living room in Boston has a green and blue Angela Adams rug, Jonathan Adler pillows, vintage Danish armchairs, and TONS of artwork. Our house in Cape Cod is white, white, white, very spare, no art, just flowers from the garden, a few ocean colored accents, and Eames, Saarinen and Noguchi furniture mixed with white sofas.How about I give you my favorite designer in Boston? Definitely Frank Roop.



What’s on your coffee or beside table?

I get a lot of design books to review, so on my coffee table (a round Heywood Wakefield snagged from my husband’s grandparents’ country house), are the newest ones that I still have to blog about. Let’s see . . . right now there’s: Susanna Salk’s Be Your Own Decorator, Kelly Hoppen’s East Meets West, Pantone: The 20th Century in Color, and Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Work of Julien Vallée. I can't wait to get my hands on the Domino! What's your favorite news source? New York Times’ breaking news alerts land in my mailbox; I figure that takes care of anything important. I also get updates from the Wall Street Journal, though those tend to be more lifestyle focused. I also get WWD headline email every morning, though again, not exactly hard news. And as long as we’re on the subject, I get daily emails from Styleite and Refinery 29.



What are five bookmarks you check at least once a day?

I spend way too much time on Pinterest. Quite a bit of time on Facebook, and try to check Twitter at least once a day, if not twice. About once a month I spend an entire Saturday morning/afternoon going through all the home décor sites in my Google reader. I’m all about the photos. Some of my favorites are Desire to Inspire, The Coveteur, The Jealous Curator, Sous Style, and of course, Design Milk. And I still subscribe to all the real magazines, especially the home design titles.



What’s the best thing/discovery/source/person you’ve found this week (or month)?

Donald Judd, Untitled, 1968 at MoMA, a seafoam green Rolex and the white powder coated candelabra designed by Ehlén Johansson for the IKEA PS Collection 2012.



Interesting fact?

I hate stepping on LEGOs and since my son insisted on getting a cat, I fear I might have become a crazy cat lady, as I dote on the furry guy to no end.

Guest Blogger: Jessica Williams Shares DDB Student Day Experience (Part 2)

Group member Jessica Williams was another group member on the winning team during ASID's Student Design Day Challenge at the D&D Building. Jessica is now telling us more about herself and shared her designing experience throughout the competition.

By Jessica Williams

The group challenge win for the Art Institute made me proud of my team and myself. The room was interesting at first glance, complete with cohesive, functional, and comfortable pieces. If I could have, I would have put all of those pieces in my own living space!

One of our objectives was to really make the two functional pieces (dinning table and couch) work together in two adjacent spaces. The other objective was to make it visually appealing. Different members of the group chose different pieces, and when our time was up, the room came together well because we quickly became a unified team. I had met my group members only a few days prior, which made us even more proud of our quick ability to become a team.

I will be graduating this December and will take with me the experiences that this competition has given me. I was recently just elected to serve as student president of ASID NY Metro Chapter at the Art Institute of New York, which will start in April, so I look forward to spending time at the D&D Building!

Guest Blogger: Kristy Boyd Shares DDB Student Day Experience (Part 2)

As part of the winning team at ASID's Student Design Day Challenge at the D&D Building, Kristy Boyd is sharing her experience in the competition and telling us about a few things she loved at the DDB.

By Kristy Boyd

Since the two pieces our team was given to design the space around (the dining table and couch) were both brown, we decided to stick with neutral colors and a splash or orange. We worked together bringing chairs, tables, and accessories throughout Artistic Frame over to the designated space, and piece-by-piece we made it work.

We knew we wanted to bring height to the room, and since we couldn't hang anything on the walls, we knew that might be difficult. We found a long vertical piece of plexiglass that we covered with a fabric that went with our design and placed it on a buffet to draw the eye up in the space. I think that was very successful in the design.

What was truly helpful to our team was being sure not to be afraid to tell one another if we didn't like something. It's easy to tell your peers what you like in their choices, but it is much harder to tell them you don't like something. We put all personal feelings and judgment aside, and if even one of the group members didn't think something worked with the design, we didn't use it. Communication is important in any field, but if you can't communicate in design, you can't bring your vision to life.

It was really a fun experience, and I'm so glad that ASID and the D&D Building could host such a wonderful event. It was so nice to visit the open showrooms throughout the day, and the lectures and lunch were super helpful!

Guest Blogger: Jessica Williams Shares DDB Student Day Experience (Part 1 of 2)

Jessica Williams was another group member on the winning team during ASID's Student Design Day Challenge at the D&D Building. Jessica recently told us more about herself and shared her designing experience throughout the competition.

By Jessica Williams

Having started school at the Art Institute in July, I was excited to start the competition, but I had no idea how fast the experiences I have encountered would come leading up to the challenge! The Student Challenge hosted by the ASID NY Metro Chapter definitely brought more than I anticipated.

The event was well organized, and the staff was really friendly. The participating showrooms were very welcoming to all of the students, and I loved attending the three lectures I made it to, including The Art of Collecting at Agostino Antiques, The Window with Eric Bruce at Création Baumann, and Fabric 101 at Edward Farrell.

I gained a lot of information from every lecture. The saying goes, “You don’t know what you don’t know,” and that really was true for me. There were a lot of details that I will now think about when I start working with clients. I think this event made all who attended better designers; it was exciting to learn from the professionals and to mingle with industry leaders.

Stay tuned tomorrow for more from Jessica and her ASID Student Design Day Challenge experience at the DDB.

Guest Blogger: Kristy Boyd Shares DDB Student Day Experience (Part 1 of 2)

Kristy Boyd was part of the winning team at ASID's Student Design Day Challenge at the D&D Building. Kristy is sharing her experience in the competition as well as a few things she loved at the DDB.

By Kristy Boyd

My experience in the ASID Student Design Day Challenge at the DDB was somewhat unexpected! I was actually an alternate and was able to participate because one of the original team members was unable to make it at the last minute. I was so glad to be able to participate, especially since this is my last quarter of school, thus my last chance to be involved in the student challenge.

My team was the last to take on the design challenge, and after a day of fun and inspiring speakers and lectures in different showrooms throughout the D&D Building, we were tired. Excited, of course, but a little drained.

When the challenge was explained and we were brought into the Artistic Frame showroom, it was a little overwhelming. There were so many accessories, fabric samples, light fixtures, and pillows piled at the end of the room that it seemed we'd never see everything—not to mention all of the furniture on display throughout the whole space!

Stay tuned tomorrow for more from Kristy and ASID's Student Design Day at the DDB.

Guest Blogger: Julieta Alvarez Shares Her Apartment Before & After Design (Part 2)

Guest blogger and DesignIntake writer Julieta Alvarez shares more about her recent budget-friendly design projects at her Upper East Side apartment in Manhattan.

By Julieta Alvarez

Painting the walls was the first task on my to-do list once I had purchased everything on my list. The Benjamin Moore paints that I chose included a teal tone for the living room; a light, cold gray for the hallway; and for the bedroom, a neutral but sophisticated bold Trout Gray, making the bedroom cozy and inviting.

I knew that I had to come up with an idea for the entryway since there was no dedicated location for my keys, coat, or handbag. The solution to the problem became the fabulous wall-mounted shelf from CB2. I positioned a white ceramic stool underneath the shelf, et voilà: the bag goes on top, but the ceramic stool can also be used as extra seating.

I acquired the lithographs during one of my many expeditions to the Armory in Hudson, New York. I urge anyone with an interest in antiques to make a trip up there! You will find an abundance of interesting and inexpensive items, and I promise you will not leave without a phenomenal deal. Each lithograph cost me roughly $50, and I framed them with a simple gilded wood frame. I used Pierre Frey fabric for the pillows and made the art in the hallway, and I also found a few pieces at nearby flea markets that were inexpensive but great-looking items—not to mention easy to find!

All of the pre-drawn designs, laundry lists of products, and time and energy spent working on my “before” landed me with an “after” I'm truly happy with and comfortable living in. It's only a matter of time before another itch comes and I'm back for another redesign!

Stay tuned to GoDesignGo for more from Julieta, and check out her design blog.

Guest Blogger: Julieta Alvarez Shares Her Apartment Before & After Design (Part 1 of 2)

Guest blogger and DesignIntake writer Julieta Alvarez recently spent some time staying up with her housekeeping. Now she shares her design renovations at her Upper East Side apartment in Manhattan.

By Julieta Alvarez

Not that an apartment is really ever finished, because progress is timeless! A few weeks ago I spent the better part of my week, amid work and play, working on an apartment design project. My restrictions were only to keep the project on a budget—and a tight one, may I add!

First things first: imagine or draw out a final concept to keep in mind before you start. It doesn't have to be definite or concrete, and it doesn't have to be perfect or finished; it just has to be the foundation of something you know you want and that will help you mush on through the process until you're finished. Think of it as a tiny light at the end of your tunnel.

In looking over my space, I knew that before I was to add anything, I would first need to purge a few things. So, the first thing I had to consider was which items in the apartment I wanted to keep and which items were ready to be tossed. Certain pieces in your living space can be an obvious “keep” or “toss” decision, but if you're like me, many fall into the “know you gotta go but hate to see you leave” category.

The black leather ultra-modern sofa I've had for years as well as the IKEA kitchen table used as desk had to go. The deciding factor on this was simple: they did not complement the final concept I had in mind.

Once this was accomplished, I gathered a list of items I wanted to purchase. These included a sofa from Crate & Barrel, a bookshelf from Target, paint from Benjamin Moore, a wall-mounted shelf, and a ceramic stool from CB2. Also on the list, because it's better to go bigger than smaller, were framed lithographs for the wall that I found at an antique sale in Hudson, a rug from Anthropology, pillows, and other ancillary items.

Once I got all these items, the fun part could start!

Stay tuned to GoDesignGo tomorrow for more from Julieta to see what she does with her apartment's new design. In the meantime, check out her blog.

Guest Blogger: Harry Daniell Takes Us from Runway to Room (Part 2)

Yesterday, Harry Daniell, of Harry Daniell Design, started exploring the evolution of fashion to design with Christina Aguilera's recent collection. Here's more from Harry on Christina's fashion-savvy collection for your home.

By Harry Daniell

In the grander style of Christina Aguilera, she shows off her innate sense of style with pieces that shock you in all the right ways—toning down pieces that might otherwise be loud and sassy, and turning up the volume on other, typically simple pieces. My favorite example of this is in the table lamp chosen for the board mirrors. The lamp is exactly what most people think Christina herself is: a true statement piece.

Without stopping to match or duplicate, Christina's second chosen table lamp connects with the bolder purple. The pairing is genius, and the purple lamp is reminiscent of a pendant or pair of earrings that scream runway, runway, runway! (Not to mention, it’s a perfect pairing with her fabulous purple gown!)

Christina's fabric choices, laden with greens and creamy whites, complement the purple color of the dress and will be used to “pull out” the green embroidered pattern on the waistline of the skirt—after all, the embroidered details in the dress create a dramatic detail essential to the dress and the room.

Christina's room collection could easily be just as fierce as she is!

Check back with GoDesignGo for more from Harry Daniell; in the meantime, check out his blog.

Guest Blogger: Harry Daniell Takes Us from Runway to Room (Part 1 of 2)

Guest Blogger Harry Daniell, of Harry Daniell Design, is back—and this time he's taking us on a tour of fashion and design, from runway to room.

By Harry Daniell

When thumbing through my old magazines, I came across an amazing and tantalizing image of Christina Aguilera. Christina isn't just a singer—she's THE incomparable singer, as varied in her style as she is in the songs she chooses to sing on her many albums. Never failing to open eyes wider and drop jaws lower, Christina goes from practically naked to fully decked out in this elegant Barbie-esque outfit. From fashion to her vocals, she consistently runs the gamut.

The colorful POP of Christina's dress is greatly accentuated by the neutral floral background chosen for this particular shoot. With a fabric not being chosen for the canopy over the bed (see below), without doubt, I would rip that dress right off of her at the end of the shoot and repurpose it for the canopy.

The background of Christina's image is sumptuous yet simple. It drives the neutrality of the items chosen for the room—the rug, dresser, chair and poof—all of which play a part in making the bolder choices “shine.”

Stay tuned tomorrow for more on Harry Daniell's review of Christina Aguilera's collection as it makes its way from runway to room.

Guest Blogger: Harry Daniell Explores Romo's High Society (Part 3)

Yesterday, Harry Daniell, of Harry Daniell Design, started exploring Romo's collection at the DDB. Here's more from Harry on how to make a room fit for a queen using one of Romo's newest collections.

By Harry Daniell

Where is the femininity you ask? Romo's unique High Society collection offers daintily feminine, linen and viscose based fabrics that tell a story all their own. The collection's patterns make an excellent option for throw pillows, which is what I envision using the Garland Autumn pattern for—what a perfect Harry Daniell Design tastemaker combination!

Garland Autumn is light and whimsical while still holding on to its elegant and demure look, so mixing the pattern into a different color palette or design isn't challenging. The pattern is light and simple, making it easy to blend with other patterns, and because of the several colors within the pattern, it's also a breeze to match it with any corresponding color within it.

A final favorite of the High Society collection was one that I couldn’t help but highlight. The Tea at the Ritz Pear features a trilogy of women in their elegant gowns. The pattern is available in six color ways and is nothing short of a clear statement-maker. Buy it now, thank me later!

Check back with GoDesignGo for more from Harry Daniell and make your way over to the Romo showroom at the DDB or DCOTA and tell us what you love.

Guest Blogger: Harry Daniell Explores Romo's High Society (Part 2 of 3)

Yesterday, Harry Daniell, of Harry Daniell Design, started exploring Romo's collection at the DDB. Here's more from Harry on how to make a room fit for a queen using one of Romo's newest collections.

By Harry Daniell

When designing a room, a circle and diamond shaped print adds the initial layering of color, which brings me to the “AHA” moment. Introduce the Delphi Veridian, with teal blue fabric that is perfect for strong colored panels of drapery and throw pillows, for the neutral sofa and chair fabrics. It is in the completion of details that bring this fabric palette full circle. Throw in some teal artwork and table lamps and this room is sexy, chic and sophisticated!

Teal! Teal! Teal! Teal is one of the colors of the season, and with jewel tones trending in hospitality design, it’s not a big surprise that teal is a hot color this season. Loving Romo Fabrics, I challenged my team at Harry Daniell Design to pull teal colored fabrics—simple!

In reviewing the samples, I wanted to pull together a collection of fabrics that read sophisticated and masculine with a touch of femininity and livability. I loved the Shimoda Verdigris pattern, which would not only look phenomenal on a large sofa, but would also be so luxuriously comfortable!

Remaining with the striped theme but in stronger tones of brown and teal, the combination of Viscose and Cotton is velvety soft to the touch and equally easy on ones eyes.

In layering in a teal fabric infused pattern, I imagined for the window treatments the Mazara Veridian pattern as a perfect choice.

Stay tuned tomorrow for more on Harry Daniell's review of Romo's High Society, when he introduces some femininity into the design and enjoys 'Tea at the Ritz.'

Guest Blogger: Patrick J. Hamilton Discusses the 'Little Moments' at Holiday House (Part 2)

Guest Blogger and AskPatrick writer Patrick J. Hamilton is sharing his highlights of Holiday House 2011. Especially taken by the moments captured through design, Patrick continues telling us about the 'little moments' of design he loved at Holiday House and what a few of the best-ceased design opportunities he found.

By Patrick J. Hamilton

Also taking a subtle hand with color, but in a far larger space, was penthouse designer Aline Matsika, with silver, black and white. The space apparently required some major reworking (like flooring and electricity) before the fun stuff could happen. That fun stuff came in the form of Aline’s signature modern organic touches and African artifacts, against billowy white floor to near-ceiling drapes.

In a showhouse, there is no such thing as a throw-away space, just the potential for missed opportunities and Dineen Architecture, like Bryant Keller, made the absolute most of a pass-through space with her “Roman Holiday.” Dineen Architecture didn’t miss a trick or the opportunity to tell a story in the smaller space. Perfectly framed through a doorway leading to a more major room, the small intimate area was defined only by desk, chair, lamp, flokati rug and wall-filling custom painting.

A corally-cognac color (a tamer version of James Rixner’s red and Inson Dubois Wood’s lacquer) on chair and styling details made the tiny space glow, beckon and seduce. Inspired by the Audrey Hepburn film and envisioned as a space where love letters flow with the Campari, it was one of my very favorite vignettes, a romantic story itself told with just a few carefully-chosen notes.

Stay tuned for more with Patrick J. Hamilton and in the meantime, check out his blog AskPatrick.

Guest Blogger: Patrick J. Hamilton Discusses the 'Little Moments' at Holiday House (Part 1 of 2)

Guest Blogger and AskPatrick writer Patrick J. Hamilton is sharing his highlights of Holiday House 2011 with designer's who best captured the magical 'little moments' of design and the design opportunities often missed. Here's more from Patrick at Holiday House.

By Patrick J. Hamilton

Some of my favorite moments in show houses are exactly that: moments. A bit of art or room glimpsed through a doorway; a tiny space made grand; a perfect light fixture; a showstopper painting. There were much more than just a few at the 2011 Holiday House.

Charles Pavarini’s “Opening Night” moment, a celebratory tableau (bon) vivant tucked beneath a grand sweep of staircase is one of them. Just a few pieces paint a vivid picture, a place to gather after an opening night success, martini in hand.

A stunning, grand-in-every-sense-of-the-word (and high tech) piano paired brilliantly with two Jean Michel-Frank chairs, for the perfect Brothers Gershwin collaboration, a brash swath of art against given limestone walls, and an elegant cabinet, sharing a mirror-like ivory to the piano’s ebony, hold their own against the space’s architecture and circulation. The piano’s notes flowed through the house and set the party tone even during a daytime preview, so fitting since Pavarini is the event’s designer event Chair.

Another moment made perfect, in a space and for a holiday somewhat less than, was Bryant Keller's, of Bryant Keller Interiors, take on Columbus Day. A stairway landing/hallway, and a holiday not necessarily known for its decorative sense came to lovely life and managed to enchant with muted color, a stairway-sweeping grisaille mural, drop-dead shell chairs, and exquisite tabletop styling.

One can almost see Mr. Chris himself making the pitch to Isabella to fund his travels, across this very table, in the glow of candlelight and one more glass of Rioja.

Stay tuned to GoDesignGo next week for more from Patrick on the 2011 Holiday House when he discusses more on the designer's who took advantage of every tiny detail.

Guest Blogger: Harry Daniell Explores Romo's High Society (Part 1 of 3)

Guest Blogger Harry Daniell, of Harry Daniell Design, is back and this time he's sharing his High Society afternoon at the Romo showroom.

By Harry Daniell

Sophistication, fun and whimsy all sewn together create the latest collection of fabrics available at Romo. Bearing the fabulous name High Society, the collection offers three distinct looks that I especially adored. First, I loved  the elegant and neutral patterns in the collection because despite a more toned-down color palette, these patterns still impress with a huge POP of color!

What’s one to do with a blank slate for a living room, when designing a space? Well, imagined here is a room fit for a king and queen, as layered with products from Romo.

Imagine Lotus glistening wall covering (LOA-LOA4993) as the backdrop for this magical living room. This paper shimmers like the ocean as viewed while aboard a boat; its presence makes the walls speak and come to life! It really is a must see, in person!

In staying in suit with the textured paper, I imagine the Misa Platinum fabric for a soft and comfortable fabric-covered sofa. This textured fabric creates an ambiance of elegance and refinement, yet does not travel down the path of boring.

Remaining in the gold tones, and infusing the beginnings of the pop of color in the fabric, I meticulously selected the Cybelle Viridian fabric. The fabrics selected thus far will be accentuated beautifully with natural and artificial lighting; this element is essential in capturing the true spirit of these fabrics!

Stay tuned tomorrow for more on Harry Daniell's review of Romo's High Society when he explores the next color palette and patterns for High Society design.

Guest Blogger: Patrick J. Hamilton on Avoiding Design Clichés at Holiday House (Part 2)

Guest Blogger and AskPatrick writer Patrick J. Hamilton recently had the opportunity to attend this year's Holiday House 2011. Yesterday, Patrick began telling us about the fatal flaws of designing clichés and today, Patrick is sharing with us how designers at Holiday House pulled all the right stops to avoid them.

By Patrick J. Hamilton

Holiday House veteran James Rixner took a sweet route for Valentine’s Day, pulling his palette from what he calls “the real reason we all love Valentine’s Day: chocolate!” With nary a heart or cupid to be found (although the large painting could indeed depict a stylized engagement ring), Rixner ran the room through a chic Willy Wonka filter, with milk chocolate walls and white molding that looked like it had been piped on by a cake decorator, and a vanilla-on-chocolate rug, filling the room like frosting.

James even drew from the iconic box of chocolates without getting all saccharine with a sweeping tufted chairs, also evoking a perfect pair of chocolate-covered cherries. James steered clear of the obvious by veering away from construction-paper-red, adding a bit of orange to end up with a deep and fiery color, one notch past coral. (Above)

Andreea Avram Rusu of Avram Rusu Interiors took an even more subtle approach to her holiday’s theme. New Year’s confetti, fireworks, glitz and glamour are all here, but stylized and tempered in a curated mix of antique, vintage and modern, with a dash of organic inspiration. Elements throughout, like the artwork and her custom overhead lights— brass disks shimmering like a party-ready Sputnik— are a nod to sparklers, special occasion jewelry, champagne bubbles, and the Times Square ball drop, but without the slightest tack.

Pieces that shouldn’t work together, do… the DESIGNLUSH Waterfall Writing Desk with French Deco chairs and vintage radio, their three-part harmony facilitated by shared wood tones and elegant curve. Rick Lee’s Media Group sofa (also courtesy DESIGNLUSH) shares an almost 70’s glam vibe with the brassy (in a good way) Carini Lang carpet, looking like slices of geodes or super-sized confetti. All glowing against a moody gray wall paper and floors darkened by the designer, it’s a move-in ready, collected-over-time room that would be a marvelous way to start any new year.

Guest Blogger: Julieta Talks Shop with Bradley Thiergartner (Part 2)

Guest Blogger and DesignIntake writer Julieta Alvarez continues her conversation with Holiday House showhouse designers Benjamin Bradley and David Thiergartner of Bradley Thiergartner Interiors. Here's more with Benjamin and David.

JA: What can’t you live without in your apartment?

BB: My down-filled Bridgewater sofa from George Smith!

DT: My Fortuny dining room light fixture from Stephanie Odegard!

JA: When it comes to holiday gift shopping, where do you go?

BT: David likes to shop year round at small, unique stores searching out gifts that fit each person individually. I [Benjamin] enjoy picking up gifts at antique stores, antique shows and small boutique stores while I travel. We both do a considerable amount of shopping for books, too.

JA: What gift tends to always be a success?

BB: Baked good wrapped in either vintage linens or packaged in vintage tins.

DT: Annie Glass and Roman Antique collection items. They fit most any style of entertaining and are both elegant and informal at the same time.

JA: If you had a “no budget” project with absolute design freedom, how would you decorate?

BT: We would both enjoy a project that is rooted in a traditional style but has an air of “today." We describe our style as Tailored Traditionalism and feel that we create timeless, personal interiors.  Our projects almost always begin with fine antiques as “foundation” pieces, custom upholstery, antique rugs and luxurious fabrics. We also love textures over patterns and use trims in a way that makes them meld into the fabric as opposed to stand out against it.

David would love to use Gracie wallpaper in a project, which allowed its usage in an unexpected, non-traditional manner. I, on the other hand, would love to be able to purchase an entire historic paneled room or boiserie and install it in a new construction project.

JA: What advice would you give people who are starting out in the design business?

BB: Absorb everything around you; there is design in all things that can be folded into your own design philosophy. Listen; it is your client’s home and not your own! And always experiment! You learn things by taking risks!

DT: Have patience, explore possibilities and challenge yourself and your taste level through experimentation.

JA: What are upcoming goals for the company in 2012?

BT: Our goal is to use our phrase “Notable Interiors and Tailored Design” as our guide. We would like to continue to hone our thoughts and visions about Tailored Traditionalism and try to broaden its reach as a legitimate interior design style.