Santa Barbara Umbrellas - Designer Market Umbrellas

These are so hot! Check--it--out! Santa Barbara Designs - Mission Terrace, Mirasol Flamenco, Santa Barbara Mission Terrace's octagonal or square canopy is supported by a post and spokes in American oak, weatherproofed with marine-grade varnish. Ruffled Mirasol Flamenco comes in powder-coated aluminum in five colors. And the octagonal vented Santa Barbara's five natural-wood options include teak. 805-683-9464; Santa Barbara Designs - Umbrellas

Awwwwwww .......... just so fricken' cute! The Lilypond.........

Click here to see the many many magazines and media sources (such as House and Garden Magazine, above) that have featured this great product.

Design Tips Ballards Style

Ballard Designs has a Style Studio section with ideas and inspiration and I especially enjoyed the following. This is an actual submission from a client who used Ballard Designs products to create beautiful design vignettes. I so love this one, because she got drama using a select few items which with Ballard Designs equaled minimum investment. That's a win for everyone.

"Wanted to show you how I used your great products in my narrow hallway. I didn’t want to just hang art and be done, so I added your Benedetta Console under the Chocolate Blossom Prints with a tall skinny lamp I found on your website. I love that it adds a lot of drama, but doesn’t take up a lot of space.
Thanks!

Elizabeth from Olympia, WA"

Elizabeth - you rock! Good job!

Kips Bay Decorator Show House Opens April 17

The April 17 opening of the 37th annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House is a much coveted date on interior designers' schedules. An annual rite of passage for A-list designers, and an eagerly awaited event for their devotees, this year’s edition will makeover the doublewide limestone mansion of real estate tycoon and art patron Aby Rosen, located at 22 East 71st Street on the city's Upper East Side.

The official opening night gala is scheduled for April 16, but the festivities will kick-off two days earlier with a tribute to this year’s Design Icon, legendary designer Albert Hadley. The Interior Design Hall of Famer will be honored at the traditional black tie president's preview and benefit dinner on April 14.

In a nod to the honoree, the Show House will feature designers who studied with Hadley, the creative force behind the homes of Brooke Astor, Babe Paley, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The list of participants includes several design legends in their own right, from Gloria Vanderbilt and Amy Lau to a trio of Interior Design Hall of Famers: Jamie Drake, Juan Montoya and Bunny Williams.Lau's contribution will also recognize another luminary, Maya Romanoff, who is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his namesake wall covering company. Lau will collaborate with paper artist Jo Lynn Alcorn on an installation that will utilize Maya Romanoff products in a three-dimensional display that will transform the core of the mansion, a skylight-topped spiral staircase between the second and third floors.Running through May 17, the event raises over $1 million annually for the Kips Bay Boys & Girl Club, a non-profit organization that provides after-school and enrichment programs for over 14,000 youths between the ages of 6 and 18 from ten locations in the Bronx. The Show House sees as many as 20,000 visitors during its annual four-week run and has raised more than $16 million since its inception in 1973.

Exterior image courtesy of the Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Maya Romanoff images courtesy of Maya Romanoff.

William Garvey Helio Teak Bathrooms

I love this freestanding round teak Helio bathtub by William Garvey. The Helio is absolutely an extraordinary piece of timber engineering, each one made to individual order. Note the wall features that complement the bathtub including an inset television.

The bathroom is perhaps a new frontier in home design. We're busy, we're blended families, we're going green and we want to get the most out of every part of our homes. We want our bathrooms to be both beautiful and functional, easy to clean. A refuge from our busy lives. The photos here show more features, the use of teak an alternate material and these bathrooms are certainly more fun to look at and above all, more pleasant to spend time in.

From a design standpoint, I note the wash area - built into a wall recess - is almost absolutely symmetrical. If you draw a vertical line down the middle of the photo, each side is a mirror image of the other side - except for the shampoo bottles. Their sizes are the same but vary in color causing the eye to move rhythmically to the right. Symmetry is a beautiful concept, but sometimes a slight bit of variation keeps your vignettes from being boring and adds interest.

Function function and beauty - this bathroom has it all. I want to visit this home's personal spa at the end of a busy day and replenish, everyday.

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Can you get over this, bathing along the ocean. This is not a dream, this is a dream bathroom. If you live in a mild climate, why not have an outdoor bathtub and/or shower. If you have a great full view of the ocean, place your shower area (like the one here) so you can lather and enjoy the view. THIS is the way to live, baby.

William Garvey manufactures furniture since 1971 and also specialize in unique projects and designs. They work closely with architects, engineers, interior designers and private clients. Click here to go to the Company's website.

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Sometimes developing an interior design style for a bathroom or any room of your home, can be overwhelming. If you are in need of some professional interior design assistance, our Directory of Designers can help you locate a professional in your area. Working with an interior designer helps assure you get the look you desire while helping eliminate costly mistakes.

Ethan Allen Boasts New York Store, New Web Site, Contract Line For Designers & New Modern Living Furniture Line

1010 - Ethan Allen opened up a flagship store - right where fashion and style meet - New York City. Located at 1010 Third Avenue, in the heart of the decorative arts and design district, the innovative three-story Design Center is intended to bring their most modern, progressive ideas to life for urban style-seekers.

1010 is designed to inspire clients and design professionals alike. From fashion-inspired wallpaper to palettes that captivated, 1010 quickly established itself as a home furnishings destination for the stylish set – and those who were simply looking to be inspired by great design. To see more info on the Ethan Allen New York flagship design center, click here.

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Ethan Allen Modern Living Furniture Line

Ethan Allen is using a rocker chic as their icon for the company's new "Ethan Allen Modern Living look - interesting. . . . Click here to go to the new modern living line.

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Ethan Allen New Contract Division - Interior designers have taken note also because the company is now not just a furniture manufacturer and retailer but a design resource. For industry professionals, Ethan Allen announced the new Contract Division earlier this year.

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Not to be forgotten however, Ethan Allen wants homeowners to enjoy their stores but see them now as “design centers” emphasizing complimentary in-house interior design services, as well as the quality furniture and accessories.

Check this out, this is so true: the company is recognizing that when it comes right down to it, we all want beautiful things, but we want them to be reflections of where we’ve been, who we are, and who we strive to be. Whether you decide to work with your own professional interior designer through Ethan Allen's Contract Division or take advantage of the store's complimentary in-house interior design services, you will love working with the store in creating a beautiful environment.

I personally love the Ethan Allen Maison Iron Scroll Bed. I imagine this romantic bed in a lovely room. Opening the door to find the bed dressed in fresh creamy linens like the Company's Linen Pleated duvet cover and shams ; I think I would start dreaming in French!

In our busy homes and lives, with style, we want living rooms that can be both eclectic and serve as the family hub. We want dining rooms able to host impressive dinner parties while still being the hot spot for laptops and homework. What we want is to live and function better within the smartest projection of our personal style. That's it, what we want to project our personal style in the best way possible. To check out the new website, it rocks. Click here.