DOWN TIME

Sorry I haven’t posted all week but I’ve had a dreadful cold and couldn’t think straight. (I did get lots of knitting done, however!)

The good part of spending a week with a box of tissues is that I finally read lots of magazines and newspapers that had been piling up.

I’ve been an editor long enough to know that everything in the style world is cyclical. Whether fashion or home furnishings, a period of spare, sleek, minimalist styling is always followed by a more lavish looks. In my opinion, a major shift is due shortly.

The first wave of the tsunami of intricate designs has already arrived with the renewed interest in toiles and gorgeous swirls.
In the Sunday Style section of the NY Times dated November 18th (I told you I had fallen behind on my reading), Guy Trebay wrote an interesting story on revisiting California interior designer and set designer Tony Duquette.

The gist of the article was that it’s time for Duquette’s over-the-top sense of personalized style to make a comeback. The late designer's web site is full of gorgeous images. With a big new coffee table book about the designer being published next month, I predict you will be hearing a lot more about him soon.

(Above three photos courtesy of www.tonyduquette.com)


PATTERNS, overall, are what I predict will be getting a lot of media coverage in the months to come -- especially interesting, quirky patterns that can be customized.

Although patterned wallpaper is not news, wall patterns you can put up and take down on a whim are noteworthy. One of my favorite sources for fun designs is Blik.
(Above photo courtesy of www.whatisblik.com)

The company describes its products as surface decisions for people who like to change their mind. While many are geared toward kids' rooms and the under 30 crowd, their chandeliers are perfect for the romantic home.

Flavor Paper is another fun source for wall patterns. Their distinctive designs and vibrant colors are sure to add a little spice to your walls.


Yes, those are crawfish (aka crawdads) on that psychedelic wallpaper. Flavor Papers are printed in New Orleans 9th ward. Your purchases help support artists affected by Hurricane Katrina. (Above two photos courtesy of Flavor Paper)

*** BLOG DU JOUR ***

And, speaking of good deeds… today, instead of leading you to a blog, I'd like to tell you about a search engine.

By using GoodSearch you can raise money for your favorite good causes. And, it won’t cost you a dime!

Here’s how it works:
1- Go to GoodSearch and designate a charity.
2- Every time you search the Internet using GoodSearch, your charity or school earns money and the more you search, the more they make.
3- It’s that easy.
4- You can even divide your donations between different organizations.