Ann Sacks is one of the most innovative tile lines in the world. With everything ranging from simple square tiles to incredible mosaic art, Ann Sacks has got the corner on the market. With so many choices in color and style, her product line is unparalleled. If you are thinking of making over a powder bath, secondary bath or kitchen, let Colby Design help you to make it spectacular. For more, visit www.annsacks.com
When you think of prefabricated homes, you might think inexpensive or undesirable. Rocio Romero is one of many who are going to make us think twice before judging pre-fab as less than desirable. The LV Series of homes (the original model is pictured below) is modern and sleek. You can purchase the kits at a base price, and then hire general contractors to assemble the home on your site (or for the really daring, construct it yourself). Customize this home with your own finish-out (meaning you have to supply the tile, flooring, plumbing, lighting, paint, ect.), and it could be stunning. Interior designers love doing unique applications, and the LV home is certainly that…it even looks like it belongs in Austin. Our hat is off to you, Rocio, for changing the way we think about pre-fab.
There aren’t a lot of building materials out there that can do what Carrara Marble can for a home. It is classic, contemporary, glamourous, sophisticated…it can even go country chic. With so many sizes and shapes to choose from (including large slabs), the possibilities are endless. A good interior designer can get you exactly where you want to be using this material, no matter what your style, and Austin, Texas has an abundance of resources who carry Carrara.
For those of you who long for the warmth that a fire can bring in your home, and don’t want to pay for an expensive remodel, consider the Ecosmart Fire. These fireplaces do not need to vent, so they can go into any room in the house, without the need for a chimney…a stroke of genius in the world of interior design. They burn ethanol, clean and hot. There are inserts that can go into a tradional fireplace or there are stand alone models….there is even coffee table (see below). If you would like help getting an Ecosmart Fire model for your home, Colby Design. We’d be glad to help!
Smooth beveled glass rods and hand-polished stainless steel work together to create this fantastic chandelier. Inspired by glamourous stilettos and the fashionabale women who wear them, Charles Loomis’ design is a celebration of style, which is what interior design is all about.
“To the Trade”
This limited edition cast silicon bronze coffee table by Chista is eye-catching. The piece below could “anchor” any interior. The New York based company’s design “explores the roots of primitivism and modernism, the found and the sculptural.” Their inventory is nothing less than fantastic, and their ability to combine the everyday with surprise has us smiling. For more, visit www.chist.net
“To the Trade”
When considering contemporary interior design, one doesn’t often think of porcelain, but perhaps we should. Lladro is a Spain based company that has been creating classic and modern accessories in porcelain since the 1950’s. Their new take on Rococo style mirrors is fun and creative. Framing mirrors in lacey porcelain and then placing them in contemporary settings feels unexpected and fresh, which is something that the people of Austin love…the unexpected.
Manipulating scale is an interesting concept that interior designers love to engage in. By exaggerating certain elements within a space, a designer or architect can make people take second looks, when they might not have before. It can create a fun, almost whimsical feel, or it can be used to create a feeling of grandeur. The image below is a major exaggeration of scale (but we love it for what it is!). Objects that are clearly too big or too small are great conversation pieces, but beware not to overdo it. They say everything is bigger in Texas…especially in Austin!
Whimsical Scale
This laminated-cherry chair by David Upfill-Brown has us inspired. This elegant piece looks more like wooden sculpture than a piece of furniture, and with good reason: David Upfill-Brown is a wood sculpture, turned furniture maker. The chair’s fluid design and asymmetry add interest, while the gentle curves give this chair a feminine appeal that could compliment most interior spaces.
