You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘pillow’ tag.
This is for those of you who are passionate about color. Christian Zuzunaga is a graphic artist who uses pixels to create stunning visual designs, usually representations of cityscapes.
Zuzunaga’s designs have been turned in various textiles, including rugs, scarves and cushions, many of which are available for purchase in his online store. My favorite are these cushions. Such a simple concept yet it needs flawless execution and artistry to work – both of which these textiles clearly have. There are several collections: Fire, Soul, Spirit, Luna, Venus and Mercury. I’d opt for the warm and harmonious tones of the Soul collection (above and below):
Zuzunaga has also designed unique textiles for brands such as Ligne Roset and exhibited his work in galleries as prestigious as the Tate Gallery.
If you’d like a little pixel art in your living room, this is an affordable and unique option. Personally, I will be finding a space for the cherry red and pink versions as soon as possible…
If you appreciate hand-crafted textiles and furniture, then you’re in for a treat at Niki Jones. This British-based web site is a relative newcomer and has just launched its second collection. There are mother-of-pearl inlaid cabinets, Javanese cushions, Moroccan rugs and embroidered headboards in shades of gray, gold and pink. There are butterflies, pompoms and sequins. There’s sheesham wood, pale nubby linen, glossy fucshia lacquer and rose-colored silk. It’s a little bit Anthropologie, a little bit Graham and Green – and browsing the collection is a bit like being a kid in a candy store.
Oh, and it’s not part of the new collection, but have you ever seen a bed as stunning as this?
Likewise, also from the previous collection, are these spice pots. These would look great in my new all-white kitchen (the one I will have one day when I get around to it, that is).
Although a British company, it will ship overseas. I wouldn’t like to see the cost of shipping a bed or dresser, but a small beaten metal bowl might be worthwhile… Meanwhile, enjoy all the eye candy at the Niki Jones site.
I bought some coral-colored parrot tulips the other day. As I watched them change from bright orange on the first day to faded apricot at the end of their life, I was reminded of how amazing coral can look in an interior scheme. It’s been a sadly neglected hue in the past few years, but recently I’ve spotted a few rooms that combine coral with totally-now gray – to fantastic effect.
This was Coco and Kelley’s room of the week recently.
The splashes of orangey-coral look great against the neutrals and grays. This would work well in both summer and winter.
This coral bench is a good way to punch up the delicate grays of the sofa, wallpaper and flooring. Via Peacock Feathers.
This coral borders on orange but the tones are still soft rather than citrus-y. Via Style at Home.
Remember this outfit-to-room story from Domino? I was reminded it of it looking through an old issue recently. This coral has pinkish tones and, with wool, fur, felt and tweed, makes a cozy space for winter.
Looking through my files I also found this coral and gray montage from Coco and Kelley last year. If you needed proof that these colors are fabulous together, here it is…
(Tulip photo by my husband).
When I posted about this lovely ocean-front home, one of the aspects I loved about the place most was the use of interesting textiles. Erin over at Slipcover Your Life asked where the Suzani pillows in the living room were from. While I haven’t been able to track down the exact source of the ones in that house, I have been finding numerous examples of rich Suzani embroidery everywhere. Of course, Suzani has been a hot trend for some time now, so it’s hardly a surprise to find that so many retailers have brought out their own versions. But these beautiful textiles still have the ability to inject warmth and personality into a home and, perhaps, will be an enduring feature of design for many years to come.
I’m sure you’ve seen these memorable rooms with Suzani textiles:
Via Decorpad.
Via Elle Decor.
So, now, how to get the look cheaply by adding a pillow or two…
I love these slightly off-center versions from the ever-stunning Graham and Green collection.
UK-based Niki Jones has perhaps my favorite selection of Suzani cushions in off-beat pinks, purples and grays.
For a more traditional look, try Wisteria, which is always good for reasonably-priced ethnic textiles.
This one is from Area Home.
There’s a huge selection of antique textiles form around the world at Tessera. Uzbekistani pillows come in all sorts of colors and designs, like this stunning pink and coral one. The site also has Ikat textiles and pillows from Turkey, Tibet, Peru, India and all over Central Asia.
And, of course, Madeline Weinrib has a selection of attractive Suzani pillows, including more unusual designs like this one.
Anyone else found a good source for these textiles? I don’t currently have a place in my home for a Suzani throw or pillow, but I’m definitely going to try and find a little corner somewhere one of these days…. Perhaps even for outdoor seating when the summer is fully upon us. I’ll keep you posted.
Oh, and by the way, apologies for the cheesy title of this post – I just couldn’t resist!
There’s something very satisfying about using natural materials and textures in design.
Take this room, via Kika Reichart, for instance. A simple color scheme and sparse furnishing leap into life with the use of tactile surfaces and fabrics made from linen, wool, plywood, sisal and hessian. I’ve always loved this look and longed to have the discipline to carry off an all-neutral space dressed with with scrubbed wooden tables and white linen upholstery.
No surprise then that the trend toward using burlap in the home has had me intrigued for a while. Of course, designers, and the more adventurous amateurs among you, have used burlap, linen, hessian, rope and similar materials in all sorts of unusual ways for some time. But now it seems that even the major home stores are going wild for the look. And it’s not just plain linen drapes that they’re pushing. I’m talking straight-from-the-flour-mill, shake-out-the-sawdust, sackcloth-turned-decor here. Welcome to the era of Hopsack Chic.
Take these pillows from Restoration Hardware, for example. Now this is a store that is known for polished fixtures and sumptuous leather sofas. But here we have what appear to be converted (wool?) sacks?
Pottery Barn continues its love affair with numbers and text, this time with a distinctly agricultural feel.
And even more so with these pillows, seemingly made from coffee sacks (also Pottery Barn).
Anthropologie keeps it feminine with these pillows which, despite the floral emblem, still look like they were made from something altogether more utilitarian.
So, if you like the look of Hopsack Chic, what else can you do to apply it at home?
Some simple linen tablecloths would be a good start (via Katy Elliott).
Or, if you want to push the boat out – an elegant chair recovered in coffee sacks, anyone? Via Sumner Design.
A stamped burlap headboard might be more your taste. Via Poppytalk.
Personally, I’d opt for a less literal interpretation and fill my place with beautiful linen tufted sofas like this one from Anthropologie.
Then I’d go for some tree stump side tables, like these from West Elm.
And a twine lamp from Anthropologie to complete the look. And there you go – Hopsack Chic!
What do you think? Chic or eek?
I’ve finally done it. I’ve introduced some yellow into our house. If you recall from this post, yellow has been my nemesis for years. But, I’ve taken the plunge and bought……..
….a pillow and a poster.
I know, pathetic isn’t it? It’s just a color so why all the drama? But, before you give up on me for good, hear me out. I tried for ages to find a Chinese cabinet in bright yellow lacquer – to no avail. Then I realized it probably wasn’t smart to splash out a ton of money on something I might very well want to smuggle down to the cellar and bury among the recycling three months later. So I’ve take some baby steps instead. Here’s the result.
The poster in question is an original, advertising the 1963 movie Charade with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. We found it in Westhampton. It’s a bit battered – it still has tape on the corners, presumably from when someone once stuck it to their bedroom wall. The pillow is from Target.
This is actually our sunroom – all the Edwardian houses in the area have this senselessly tiny room at the back of the house. It’s impossible to decorate and even harder to photograph. We use it as a playroom in the day and a kind of reading area in the evening (the toys are all stashed in the cube on the left and the baskets on the right). It has to be able to withstand a toddler hurling himself at full force around the place. (Yet another reason why a pricey chinese cabinet probably wasn’t a good idea – best to stick with the IKEA bookcase).
Anyway, so that’s my first foray into yellow. Hope you like it!
One of my favorite sources for shades and drapes, The Shade Store, has just introduced a new line featuring Robert Allen textiles. If you aren’t familiar with it, The Shade Store allows you to order custom window treatments, in a range of styles, fabrics and colors and have them shipped to your home – for a decent price too. It was an absolute life-saver for us when we moved into our house: 26 windows and a baby on the way, we needed nice window coverings fast!
Anyway, I’ve always liked the fact that they have great fabrics from designers like Dwell and Maharam – like this:
The Robert Allen range is full of very simple, subtle designs in a choice of solids, prints (mainly geometric) and sheers. There are lots of color options: grays, golds, lilacs, creams, taupes, mossy greens – you get the picture. You can also buy pillows in the same fabric.
If you want something fairly neutral, but a custom size, this is a great option. How sad that I have sorted all my windows now….
Recent comments