As seen in: Elle Decor

Have a peek at these great discoveries in the May issue of Elle Decor, found throughout the DDB showrooms.
The Holly Hunt shelving (above) is one of multiple picks in their Miami showhouse, as is this chaise:


And a Holly Hunt blue velvet in front of a wall in Ralph Lauren Paint:




Holly Hunt, Ralph Lauren Paint and Jerry Pair:


Sutherland:


Stark and Ralph Lauren Paint:


And fabrics from from Zoffany, Pierre Frey, Fabricut and Osborne & Little:


And that's not all...check back soon to see more great items featured in the same issue -- and pick up your copy today!

Meet the designer: Darren Henault

We asked NYC designer Darren Henault to reveal some of his must-see showrooms at the DDB. Henault, one of the multitude of talented professionals available through the DDB's Designer Referral Program, is known for his luxurious and yet liveable environments, as seen in the bedroom of this NYC townhouse:


-Christopher Hyland. He's got the most gorgeous jacquards and lampas' I have ever seen. If you want super high quality, Old World weaving techniques, this is where to find it. Being a textile fan, it's love love love.
-Chesneys. We're currently installing a beautiful marble mantel into a home upstate New York. Chesney’s has got everything and if they don't, they will make it. They have done a very good job of offering very traditional profiles in a modern way by varying the stone selections.
-David Sutherland. They have got beautiful seating based on Louis XVI furniture. I'm tired of all of the distressed finishes that are ubiquitous and poorly done. They're doing furniture in a waxed, unfinished quality that is more beautiful.
-Farrow & Ball. Finally I can get their gorgeous colors in wallpapers as well.
-Fortuny.  Even before I visited the printing facility in Venice I was hooked.  Now I'm addicted.
-Gracie. We're using their papers in clean monochromatic tones, taking the tried and true and making it fresh and crisp.  The ever-lovely Jennifer Gracie is so nice to work with besides.
-Holland & Sherry. The ability they have to turn anything we come up with into the most exquisitely executed embroidery is unbelievable. I'm, of course, loving their new ever expanding rug collection which includes my own designs, including China Gate [pictured below].

-Jerry Pair & Associates. More and more clients who like traditional are asking for cleaner lines.  The Madeline Stuart collection is perfect and fits to a T.
-John Rosselli. If you are looking for a masterful mix of furniture, Bunny Williams and John Rosselli have done all the work for you.
-Pindler & Pindler. Wonderfully cheerful fabrics. If you're on a budget, you're going to find all of the same basic solids and textures here as everywhere else but for half the price.

Check back soon when we'll share what caught Henault's attention for summer on an afternoon of shopping at the DDB.

Tending Trends: Plethoras of Perforation Pock the DDB (Part 2)

Less is more for our newly spotted design trend at the DDB. With perforated products popping up in showrooms all over the building, we love seeing what creative ways designers are spinning perforations and cutouts throughout collections.

The new Donghia showroom boasts perforated patterns in fabrics such as Mirror, Mirror, which creates a sparkling statement by combining hand-woven silk with small pieces of mica embroidered into laser-cut spaces in the fabric, or Stella, part of the Sahco collection that features a dense white ground weave from which small pieces are cut out by laser. At the same time, the heat of the laser seals the edges of the polyester weave. The effect is lace-like, and the intricate floral design seems like a silhouette.

"Perforated fabrics and products add a new facet to design," said a designer who was shopping at Donghia. "By adding the texture with laser-cut designs, instead of with the more traditional uses of texture, the possibilities within a space widen even further and the whole design process really gets fun and creative. I personally love the way perforated curtains can look, because they affect a room so, so much in every single kind of light the day is giving you outside!"

If you're looking for more perforated perfection in the DDB, you can visit Création Baumann, Donghia, Romo, Jerry Pair, and more. Let us know what you find!

Guest Blogger Julieta Alvarez Shares Her Favorites From the Kips Bay Decorators’ Showhouse (Part 2)

Yesterday, Guest Blogger and Pierre Frey Sales and Marketing Assistant Julieta Alvarez gave us the behind-the-scenes scoop on being a Kips Bay Showhouse volunteer, and today she's sharing a few of the rooms and designs she loved most. Here are a few of Julieta's many favorites.

By Julieta Alvarez

It's hard to narrow down and pick favorites, but one of the rooms that really stood out most was Brad Ford's The Stereo Lounge. I loved how calm and comfortable the room was. It really helped gravitate people to hanging out and socializing in the space, and it even avoided being too masculine or too feminine—which is hard to do!

An oversized paper lantern ballooned over the room and the fabrics that Brad used were gorgeous, soft and sophisticated. A pair of shaggy stools sat near to the natural skins on the sofa and rugs made the room casual and earthy. What a versatile room!

I can see it in a beach house in Montauk, a penthouse loft in Manhattan or anywhere in California. And did you notice the turntable on the coffee table? What a fabulous idea! And while the coffee table isn't from one of the D&D Building showrooms, the stunning beige rug came from Stark Carpet and the sheer, linen drapery fabric hanging as a backdrop are from Schumacher.

I was also a huge fan of the staircase designed by Janet & Carolina Rauber (Rauber+Rauber). This staircase was a beacon of glow! Taking advantage of high ceilings, the sisters upholstered the walls in a large-scale Ikat pattern. Beautifully colored in a graphite grey and mustard yellow, it was just beautiful! Of their product, the wall upholstery 'artwork' is from Dedar, which can be found in the Jerry Pair showroom.

And if you missed it this year, don't stress, there's always next year! And if you doubt a visit or two will give you your fill—then you can volunteer!

You can expect more from Julieta on GoDesignGo, but in the meantime, visit her fabulous design blog.

Stark Dips Into a New Medium

Stark and celebrated European colorist David Oliver introduce 240 chic and sophisticated colours, a breakthrough collaboration between two of the best- known names in contemporary design. With zero volatile organic compounds, Stark Paint will make an impact on your walls, not on the environment.