Thursday, December 30, 2010

Ring in New Year with style

by Heidi

While Christmas may be over, the holidays are anything but! Just as you are getting rid of the Christmas wrappings and bows and boxes, it is time to think about how to decorate your home to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

You don't have to get rid of all your Christmas décor, just make a few changes, and add some touches of glitter and glamour for your New Year festivities.

Here are some simple tips & tricks:

- Remove all the red or green candles and replace them with silver or gold candles.
- Tie silver or gold bows on candlesticks.
- Remove red or Christmas design ribbons from garlands, railings, mirrors, swags, or anywhere else and replace them with silver or gold ones
-Place silver or gold pillar candles on silver plates or platters.
- Get out any white or clear dishes you might have. If you have to buy dishes for the party, consider inexpensive disposable tableware.
- Use silver serving pieces for the party.
- Use table linens in white, black, silver, or gold.
- Tie napkins in sparkling wired silver or gold twists or ribbons.
-sparkly and festive centerpieces are great vocal points, but if you are planning a sit down dinner, avoid having tall centerpieces.
and although silver and gold are festive colors and thus suitable for New Years celebration, there are other great colors you can use as well.

and here are some sample images of New year's decor (click on the images to enlarge them)



I really like this more modern take on New Years decor. Not a lot of sparkle, but very stylish and creative.



You can achieve the festive mood with both subtle & simple and sparkly and elaborate.
I really love the hanging clock collection!



Blue and gold is very festive color scheme.....or go with pink, silver and clear glass





I love how the clock/time scheme is incorporated throughout the space



simple clear bottle candleholders and gold/silver ornaments in a glass can create a lovely atmospehere



all clear glass, but in various scale creates a lovely centerpiece



Fun idea of hand made popcorn containers from festive paper



Make the centerpiece an interesting vocal point



Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

The Merry My Kind of Christmas











Merry Christmas to you and yours!!

-Heidi & CoLab

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Bring the holiday celebration into every room

by Heidi

Kitchens and bathrooms are a great place to put scented candles and smaller seasonal knickknacks.

Here is an example how you can show season changes in your powder room



....or a little decorated bow on your dining room chairs.



Bring in some branches, spray paint them white and decorate them for Winter and, with just little changes, for Spring.



I personally love to add little simple touches to existing accessories to celebrate each season


photos: Heidi Mendoza and Pottery Barn

Design Fortune Tellers

Last night my design partner Snow and myself attended a fun networking event, Douglas County Divas and had a vendor table with big screen to show some of our design work. We also made some party favors for people to take home with them. Remember that fun little folded fortuneteller from your childhood?
our little "event favor" was a design fortune teller, giving little design tips & tricks







by Heidi Mendoza
Fortune Teller design: Snow

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Top 10 Favorites – December 2010

by Heidi

click the images to make them bigger

1.Mrs. Robinson 2010

Mrs Robinson
chest of drawers
maple, mdf
www.pudelskern.at



"Mrs Robinson has found her place in life and has learned to stick to her principles. Mrs Robinson knows how to dress – and she very much knows how to keep her secrets. Mrs Robinson wears a bright outfit. Six fine lines form rectangles on the front side, slightly displaced but never misplaced. The overall impression is discreet, a perfect outfit for many occasions. With a light touch the rectangles on the front can be opened and Mrs Robinson reveals her inner life. Colourful patterns adorn the sides of containers giving order, guidance and diversification. Every thing has its place in Mrs Robinson’s life."

2.the Loopy Light by Jane Blease



crafted from 1.5mm Plywood. This flexible plywood lampshade has an internally routed lily pattern which grown through the wood when lit. Simply screw into your existing lampholder, bend into form and hold in place with the metal dowel provided. The veneer lights go into much greater detail, and include beautifully wood burnt holes and intricate hand embroidered red thread detail.


3. Transcluent wooden panel


With breakthrough in technology, we now have a see through translucent wooden panel. With the core technology now developed, almost any material can be made to let light pass through it irrespective of density and thickness of the materials. Sandwiched between series of thin, narrow pieces of wood, the vertical strips that help light move from one face to the other are visible as tall thin bars. In spite of the image composing of various vertical pixels, the mind stitches the image back together when viewed from a distance. Designed by Luminoso, just imagine the utilities this high- tech hybrid material can be deployed to from structural walls to room dividers etc.





4.Oak bench by Designers at large




5.The handmade Oak Box lights by Jane Blease



When the light is switched off they appear to be solid cubes, but once the light is turned on, pattern emanates warmly through the smooth exterior, giving the effect of a projection. Glowing teardrops flow down the sides of the cube

6. Marble Inlay Flooring and Walls by Italian Budri



Put some pizzazz onto your flooring and walls with this amazing marble inlay by Budri. The Italian company began as a small artisan workshop for floors, walls and building materials, founded in the ‘60s by Enzo Budri. As the company grew and techniques evolved, so too did the products gain sophisticated in their materials and methods. These unusual, inventive flooring and wall inlays combine time-honored traditions with innovative ideas – and of course, the touch or a true artist. Highlighting the natural beauty potential in stone, these marble inlays feature amazing modern patterns, and vibrant colors that can only come from nature, polished to a glossy finish that is as luxurious underfoot as it is from afar. Some designs are by Patricia Urquiola

7.Modern Contemporary Fireplace by Modus Design




6. Chair by Christopher Guy



Add modern sophistication for the living area or sitting room. This chair is a great functional piece that doubles as art. It features a unique circular backrest detailed with rustic wooden rods, in contrast to the seat, which is upholstered in fabric with a refined sheen. (Measures 93 by 71 by 100 cm.)

9.Designer Solid Wood Bed by Ign.Design



Aptly dubbed “Dream,” this dreamy, natural bed design by Andy Ehrensperger features a low-profile, freestanding frame of solid wood that looks as great pushed against a wall as it does front and center in your room. The mattress and frame are perched on a smaller, stepped-in base which creates the illusion of floating in mid-air. The smooth, curved lines of the frame echo in the integrated bedside table – an ingenious pair of trays, made of the same wood and carved to a rounded shape for your favorite bedtime reading and a lamp.


10. Stainless Steel Door Knobs and Pulls by Martin Pierce



These unusual stainless steel door knobs and pulls by Los Angeles-based furniture designer and hardware artist Martin Pierce are like jewelry for your home. The new Morphic luxury organic hardware series will dress up even the most ordinary room, adding some oomph to your kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and living areas. Dress up your kitchen cabinet doors with this contemporary line of knobs and pulls, featuring a modern brushed stainless steel finish and a freeform web motif inspired by nature. Continue the same decorating theme in the bathroom, with these beautiful pierced steel hardware accessories.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Design-minded Holiday Gift Guide

For Her





From left to right: Gorgeous, danish design from Menu - a mirror finished aluminum jewelry tree ($85) - available for purchase here. "Hand thrown porcelain straight from the Bronx," Kim Westad's ceramic goodness ($15 - $200) can be found at her Etsy shop. Finally, Moxie & Oliver produces handmade, intricate leather goods from jewelry to wallets to purses ($15 - $460) to accessorize the most discerning rustic gal.



For Him







From Gus Modern, a sophisticated and stylish acrylic wine rack ($155). Unique bowls made from records for the audiophile in your life ($25), from Odd Bob. For the sleek geek, a binary wall clock ($80)!



For the Kiddos







Teach the kiddos some fiscal responsibility with Mint's super cute Coink Piggy Bank ($36). Always winning design, Fred & Friends brings fun with food via Chimpsticks ($7). Wham-O's got the perfect solution for winter break mayhem - the Snowball Blaster ($30).



Budget Friendly Gifts for All







Available in a wide variety of subjects, Table Topics ($25) are a fun gift for all ages and all occasions. Amusing pot holders from Fred and Friends called Hot Heads ($10) keep things quirky in the kitchen.The endlessly fascinating Buckyballs ($30) provide entertainment for kids and adults alike.



For the Reader







A fantastic read for just about anyone, spanning everything, Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything" ($12-$20) is a home run. Putting a magnifying lens on everyday products, Humble Masterpieces ($15) is a quick and surprisingly informative read. Newly released, David Sedaris brings together humor and heart with Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk! ($22).