Cacti and Succulents are trending in home design

MoD Must Haves

stylish, tactile, novel 

for plant lovers

Mini Geo Terrarium

Succulent and Cacti plants are the hot plants that you will start to see more of in home design. These types of plants are easy to care for and are great looking alone or in multiples. Colors and shapes range. There are many different color variations like blue-green, variegated, red and chartreuse. Shapes of leaves may be rounded, needlelike or spiky. Ouchy but who cares!

Home design has been popping up with unique ways to showcase these beauties. 

The glass Cube Terrarium clusters together so you can assemble an array of cacti and succulents. Love it!

Trio Faceted White Wall-hanging 

At the Bethel woods 2016 Hudson River Exchange Harvest festival, an event by creatives for creatives I met LandMstudio. I love their porcelain work! They have  some interesting porcelain planters that can hang or be bunched together. The slip cast on the back makes it really easy to install on the wall. Below check out the glazed black set of three for succulent planters -  made of hollow porcelain and have holes on the bottom for drainage.

Succulent Rock Trio Planters in Black

Carved by artisans, the Adia geometric sculptural planter is great for shelf styling or just arrange a grid on your kitchen table. 

How about a block of wood by JKCustom furniture to display your cactai or succulents? 

Mini Geo Terrarium

I love this brass faceted glass Terranium by Urban Outfitters. Has good energy.

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HGTV Magazine Blogger Block Party 2016

Image Credit: Andrew Federman

I attended a SUPER fun and informative event hosted by HGTV Magazine this week at the 404 Event Space. Guests and bloggers were busy with crafty demonstrations and inspiring talks by excellent speakers such as Genevieve Gorder, Rachel Faucett of Handmade Charlotte, Style by Emily Henderson, Marketing manager Emily Bidwell  of ETSY, and John and Sherry from Young House Love. I went to the event with my pal Deborah Von Donop of Blissfully Domestic.  Here are some of the highlights we shared in video format.  (pics are my own):

Image Credit: Andrew Federman

Sara Peterson HGTV Magazine Editor in Chief introduced each speaker. Deborah and I made sure we said hello to all the  speakers when we had the opportunity. Sara was lovely to chat with!

Sara Peteron, Michele Alfano (Me) and Deborah Von Dunlop

Image Credit: Andrew Federman

Genevieve Gorder inspired us with upcoming trends from Africa, Indonesia and Cuba. New heavy textiles and patterns we will be seeing more of in 2017. Genevive is so down to earth and we discussed our love for the color black!

Michele Alfano, Genevieve Gorder and Deborah Von Dunlop

Image Credit: Andrew Federman

Rachel Faucett of Handmade Charlotte had tons of energy and was a positive force. She explained how important it is to network and told us all to meet every single person in the room! I spoke to her later about my dream to start my own product line and she gave me a perfect little nudge in the right direction!

Image Credit: Andrew Federman

Jackie Haus of haus2home, Michele Alfano, Deborah Von Dunlop, Young House Love

John and Sherry of Young House Love told us to always know our purpose in blogging so you can enjoy and love what you do. They explained that they lost their way a bit but are now rediscovering their passions and just designed a coloring book that brought them much joy!

Image Credit: Andrew Federman

Emily layed down the secret to her successes as a mom, blogger and designer. She said, "be uniquely yourself and take risks!" Love it!

Deborah Von Dunlop, Emily Henderson, Michele Alfano, Jackie Haus

 The Agenda was a jammed packed:

Fun to meet new people! The fab 5!

Fun to meet Jana Phipps Trim Queen, Ruth Olbrych of AntiquesbyZaar, Barbara of One2OneNetwork, Michele Alfano and Deborah Von Dunlop of Blissfully Domestic

The best way to end an event is with some cocktails- The Passion Fruit Margarita presented by Sauza rocked!

Image Credit: Andrew Federman

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MoD Must Haves: Wüd GOTHAM Furniture design collection

MoD Must Haves

stylish, tactile, novel 

for furniture lovers

Have you seen the new GOTHAM collection from Wüd Furniture design?  I have been watching this Brooklyn-based design and manufacturing studio over the past few years and they stay true to heart fusing artistic innovation with classical joinery. Wüd’s tagline is "LIVE WITH IT," - hand crafted with elegant details that endure. You can experience luxurious design without the worry! 

At the past Architectural Digest 2016 home show, Wüd showcased the new Gotham collection which uses materials like Oxidized Ambrosia Maple, Bronze, and Blackened Steel. I fell for it! The Gotham Dining table incorporates Corey Springers unique and indestuctible PB-r material. You  cannot scratch or stain its surface because it is embedded in a case of resilient, smooth resin. Great for any type of countertop! It’s both sleek and industrial-looking! The metal finishing is also amazingly beautiful!! Below are some of my faves from the line:

Gotham Lamp

Materials: Oxidized Ambrosia Maple, Bronze

Gotham Console

Materials: Oxidized Ambrosia Maple, Brz-R (Bronze encased in epoxy resin – dark patina), Bronze, Blackened Steel Base

Gotham Oval Mirror

Materials: Oxidized Ambrosia Maple, Bronze, Bronze Leaf

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Evening Picnics are Magical

AK47design

An occasion for a picnic can be special whether its planned on a beach, under the stars or set within the landscape of your home. But there is nothing like an evening picnic with shimmering lights. Your lighting element whether it be beachy, modern, industrial, romantic or vintage will bring a bit of magic! Here are some finds which can inspire your next nightfall picnic:

This industrial Zero firepit by AK47  has some beautiful stud connections while functionally storing wood underneath. A+ design and perfect for a summer picnic with some edgy friends. Some smores please!

 

The Saratoga lantern is so chic with its rugged leather handle strap contrasted with the sleek metal base. Its made of brass and is a great centerpiece standing at 17" X 10" X 10". The juxtaposition of flowers, colorful food and a patterned blanket against the hard lines of the metal could be really beautiful. 

For a romantic picnic, how about Glass Mason filled jars hanging from trees? So charming who needs the stars? The extraordinary can happen at night under twinkling lights. 

Are you now inspired for a picnic!! Yay, buy your tickets for DIFFA Picnic by Design 2016, an annual summer celebration highlighting design, food and fun for a worthy cause! Guests on September 7th are invited to the Mercantile to sip cocktails while savoring picnic fare from fab NYC restaurants and bidding to win one-of-a-kind designer picnic baskets! I will be one of twenty designers participating for my fifth straight year! Thank you to DIFFA and the wonderful sponsors that make this event happen!!

Visit HomeYou to read a translated version of this article in Portuguese.

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