The Color Purple

Purple is a regal color. Its richness comes from the blending of red and blue, which immediately makes it a versatile hue that pairs well with warm or cool colors. Combined with a persimmon orange you have a retro-inspired, yet modern palette. Paired with blues and greens the color takes on a fresh, natural tone.

I recently came across one a gorgeous Kitchenaid mixer swathed in a shiny purple coat (above, $399.99 at Macys.com), and fell in love with the idea of using this shade throughout my kitchen. It pairs beautifully with all colors of cabinetry–espresso, natural pine, walnut, and tones of cherry–and is equally at home in a contemporary setting as it is in a more traditional design.

Here are a few of my favorite kitchen pieces in this fabulous hue:

Dualit Purple Toaster
$319.00
It might be difficult for most of us to justify spending more than $50 on a toaster, but this baby is incredibly sturdy, can adjust to toast almost anything. With more switches and buttons than a 747 jet, this toaster is definitely the creme de la creme of kitchen appliances.

Microfiber Cleaning Mitt
$7.00 each
This plush mitt in a delicious lavender hue is an all-purpose cleaning workhorse. It can dust your furniture, polish windows, wipe up messy spills, and cleans metal surfaces without scratching. After use simply throw in the washing machine, and its microfibers emerge squeaky clean and ready for the next round.

Purple and Liliac Silicone Trivet/Pot Holder
$9.99
Silicon is an incredible kitchen material. This trivet/pot holder can withstand extreme heat, and the non-porous finish won’t retain odors or flavors. It is dishwasher safe and will definitely bring a punch of color to your culinary craftroom.

16-piece Translucent Purple Cutlery Set
$120.00
If you share my wacky design sensibilities then you will love this translucent purple plastic cutlery set designed by Donata Paruccini and Fabio Bortolani. However don’t be fooled by the word “plastic”, these utensils are dishwasher safe and decorated with a floral motif that was typical of 19th-century Italian silverware. A fitting twist on the family heirlooms.

Technorati Tags: purple Kitchenaid, purple Dualit toaster, purple kitchen utensils, purple kitchen appliances, Williams Sonoma cleaning mitt, microfiber cleaning mitt, purple plastic cutlery

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Sometimes it’s the smallest details that have the largest impact!

This weekend I was reminded of something that I think is genius. Okay, maybe not genius, but it’s something that makes me so happy ever time I spot one in a hotel bathroom. It’s a curved shower rod. I’m sure they’ve been around for a long time, but many of the hotel chains have recently starting installing them. These rods increase your showering space and they completely improve your shower experience. No more claustrophobic showers with clingy shower liners closing in on you!

Installing a curved rod is an easy and inexpensive change you can make at home, too. Inspirations by Moen offers stainless steel fixed and adjustable curved rods in several sizes and finishes.

Visit Moen’s website for all of the details and to find out where you can purchase.

While you’re doing a little bathroom spruce-up, why not indulge and treat yourself to a new shower curtain. Here are some temptations:

India Rose (my favorite!)

Freedonia Shower Curtain, $97 and Lady Lady Shower Curtain, $100

Ah Hua Shower Curtain, $100 and White Devil Shower Curtain, $110

Anthropologie

Flamenco Shower Curtain, $118 and Sundew Shower Curtain, $88
Garnet Hill

Eileen Fisher Home Sheer Linen Shower Curtain, $128

Izola

Venice Shower Curtain, $29

Happy Showering!

—Jennifer Kopf

Technorati Tags: shower curtain rods, shower rods, shower curtains, bathrooms, Moen, Anthropologie, Garnet Hill, India Rose, Izola, Eileen Fisher, curved shower rods

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It’s getting hot out there…really hot if you live on the East Coast, blazing hot if you live on the West Coast, and, unless you are situated in the far reaches of Alaska, then you know that the next few months bring very little reprieve. What’s a girl to do?
Central air conditioning is only truly necessary in areas where the damp, muggy heat can quickly turn you into a sopping mess, within five minutes of getting dressed. For the rest of us, those who live in drier areas, a swamp cooler can often provide help, but they are not exactly stylish and can quickly ruin your decor.
My favorite alternative is a cool (no pun intended) contemporary ceiling fan. Not heavy, ornate wooden styles from the ’80s, but rather the latest renditions from some very talented designers. Many of the newer models are Energy Star certified, which means that you are helping to maintain a greener earth.

Cirque Ceiling Fan
G2Art.com
Price Upon Request
A gorgeous, sculptural piece with large and small blades and low energy consumption.

Artemis Ceiling Fan
G2Art.com
Price Upon Request
Winner of the Good Design award from the Chicago Athenaeum, the organic blade shape creates zero noise. The fan, designed by Mark Gajewski of G Squared, is crafted from recyclable materials.

Pensi
ModernFan.com
Price Upon Request
Spanish designer Jorge Pensi created a fan with minimal design and incredible performance. Part of the collection from The Modern Fan Company, the Pensi model reveals curved molded blades and an optional light.

Acero Fan
$345.00
RestorationHardware.com
Another winner of the Good Design award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum, this retro-industrial style fan also includes a reverse direction to recirculate warm air during the wintertime.

Rocket Remote Fan
FanWorksOutlet.com
$653.00
I am a big fan (sorry I had to…pun intended) of retro design, so this is definitely one of my favorites. 1950s styling meets modern amenities such as remote control and integrated lighting

–By Kate Bailey

Technorati Tags: fans, stylish fans, ceiling fans, chic ceiling fans, Modern Fan Company, Restoration Hardware, G2Art, smart ceiling fans

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Last week, I wrote a little about my trip to the BKLYN DESIGNS show in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. What makes this show worth the trip is that, while it’s small, it covers the gamut of modern home design and has a little something for everyone.

Here are a few more of my favorite finds from the show:

For the decorator:
Jill Malek is a graphic designer known for her custom invitations, stationery, and packaging designs. She recently expanded her offerings to include home design with a collection of hand-screened wallpapers.

As I walked by her booth, what caught my eye were the beautiful colorings of her metallic papers. On closer inspection, you can see her unique patterns of flocking birds and transforming leaves. Her designs are subtle so you don’t notice the individual images, just a pretty canvas of color and pattern. A touch of metallic is great in a room to reflect light and add a little bit of sexy shimmer. I loved her maidenhair design.

Visit her website to see all of her papers.

For the kids:
Even kids could get in on the modern design game with the colorful and clever furniture from iglooplay by lisa albin design. They had lots of seat and table configurations, but I really liked their new craft/work table + chair. It’s made with resource-efficient molded ply construction and durable enough for contract use. The lime green finish is so playful and the removable divided tray adds a great practical detail. It’s also available in poppy orange!

Learn more on their website.

For the renovator:
If you’re looking for a new countertop or sink idea, I loved the custom concrete installations from oso industries. Of course, they have lovely gray and tan colored concrete available, but their 10 available colors also include a softer palette of green, blue, orange, and yellow. Very fun! For those of us not in the remodeling mode, I loved their rollerboy, below. On recessed wheels, this piece could easily be used wherever you need an extra surface. Try it as a side table, ottoman, or even a stool. It’s handmade with trowel applied colored concrete over the shell, so it’s actually quite light. It’s 19wx16.5h and costs around $575.

Visit their website for more options.

—Jennifer Kopf

Technorati Tags: bklyn designs, brooklyn, new york, dumbo, modern, kids rooms, wallpaper, countertops, concrete, iglooplay, lisa albin design, jill malek, oso industries, bathroom, table

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The Museum of Modern Art Store is one of my top go-to spots for some of the most innovative, useful and stylish products in the world.

Recently they began a series that showcases emerging designers and design themes from around the world. Each one spotlights a different city or region–such as Finnish design, Danish crafts and Argentine design–and the revenue from the series supports programs and exhibitions at the museum (always a good reason to buy).

MoMA’s most recent series, Destination: Japan, highlights “lifestyle products” that are usually only found in Japan. Many of the pieces are playful interpretations of everyday objects, and all were created by established or emerging Japanese designers.

With more than 100 items in the collection I only have space to showcase a few of my favorites, but definitely check out the website for many incredibly kawaii (cute in Japanese), pieces.

Apple Jar with Spoon
$55
Made by Tatsuya Okazaki, 2006, this hand-made, apple-shaped sugar pot includes a wooden spoon as the apple core. Clever isn’t it?

Chat Plates
$45.00/set of three
Designed to resemble conversation bubbles from Japanese comics, these quirky ceramics are sure to spur conversation at your next dinner party.

Twisted Chopstick Rests
$30/set of five
These funky little chopstick rests have a slit in the middle. You twist one end and insert it into the slit to complete the shape. Made of silicone for max durability. A very cool gift idea for the sushi enthusiast.

Soy Sauce Dispenser
$40.00
A much more elegant soy sauce dispenser than the usual American-Japanese restaurant version we are used to. The spout and glass body are ideally designed to perfectly control the pace at which the liquid is poured.

Recycled Dish and Bowl
$10.00-$15.00
Made from potter’s clay and 20% recycled clay, this durable, heat-resistant recycled dinnerware is made by collecting used ceramic goods and incorporating them into new products. Made by Noriyuki Matsubara in 2001.

–By Kate Bailey

Technorati Tags: Museum of Modern Art Store new products, Japanese design, modern Japanese, Japanese decor, MoMA design store, Moma home design, chic home design, chic japanese design

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