TASTEMAKER

Interior design for everyone

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Designing for Entertaining

It’s not everyday you have 12 guests over for dinner, or a cocktail party for 20. This time of year it’s hard to get through the season without hosting a shindig at your home. But how do you make your interiors work for parties? We’ve got a few pieces that are must haves in making the transition between daily living and entertaining.

If you think a yearly family holiday gathering will be in your future duties, look for a dining room table with leaves. This is the easiest and most efficient way to turn your compact daily table into a long banquette. The distressed, French table above from Wisteria is perfect for nightly dinner in its smallest state at 43” x 43”, and can accommodate large dinner parties with all five leaves extending up to 131.75”. For safe storage keep your extra leaves in the closet, garage, or under the bed in the cardboard boxes they came in.

Set up a bar area away from the food table. This will keep guests rotating around the party space. A bar cart is the perfect piece for daily chic and nightly entertaining. Park it in your kitchen, living room, or dining room for liquor storage and organization, and wheel it out to center stage when you’ve got a house full of people. The rich wood bar cart from west elm (above) offers a sturdy and classic design.

Seating is always a concern when entertaining. To make sure you have enough seats at your fully extended dining table opt for a bench on one side and fill the other side and ends with your dining chairs, like the Pier 1 bench above. When you pop your table back to its daily size, keep the bench against a wall in a hallway or entry way.

Get creative with extra seating for cocktail parties and game nights. Poufs and stools are great pieces that work as ottomans on a daily basis and double as seating when accommodating for larger groups. Jonathan Adler’s Happy Chic pouf for J.C.Penney (above) has a great pattern and offers a comfortable perch.

When setting up for parties take all the chairs away from the table, and stage them around the room as extra seating. Group chairs in pairs or sets of threes to encourage conversation among seated guests. Keep your table floating the the room with all sides accessible so guests can move around the table, access it from all sides, and mingle as they do.

Have any other tips on furniture that transforms for entertaining? Share them with us.

-Alessandra

Alessandra Wood is Tastemaker’s resident design historian. Obsessed with everything vintage, she’s working on her PhD in design history. Animal prints, mid-century chrome lighting fixtures, and reclaimed wood furniture set her heart aflutter. Wondering how to judge the quality of of a piece of furniture, what to look for in buying an antique, how to date your finds, or which current trends have resurfaced from the past? Email your questions/comments to [email protected]

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Online Shopping Gems

Navigating online home decor stores can be tricky. With seemingly endless places to shop and an infinite selection we thought we’d highlight a few gems you probably don’t even know exist.

Zara Home

Serpent Frame, $29.90; Monarch Pillow Cover, $35.90; Acrylic Tray Table, $189.00 Looking for on trend, fashionable interior decor at a great price point? Then don’t miss Zara Home. Recently introduced to the online market in the U.S. (you’ll find brick and mortar stores in Europe), Zara Home has an extensive collection of trendy and slightly over the top decorative accessories and small accent furniture.

H&M Home

Cotton Dog Pillow Cover, $9.95; Floral Duvet Set, $29.95 If you’re lucky to live in DC or New Orleans, you’ll be able to shop H&M Home in person. If not pop online and view their huge accessories collection. With IKEA price points, but slightly more popular styling, this is a great resource for pillows, throws, and small decorative items.   

Terrain

Cedar and Salal Wreath, $108; Vintage Steel Dairy Crate, $78 This is one of my favorite places to find unique and extraordinary accessories and seasonal decor. The two stores in Westport, CT and Glen Mills, PA are a must visit if you’re in either area. If not, shopterrain.com offers beautifully constructed, rustic yet modern home accents. Many of the pieces are made by artisans or small shops in the United States.

shop ten 25

Lacquered Tray with Gold Antlers, $425; Amethyst Lamp, $550; Rosewood and White Lacquer Desk, $1820 Looking for modern and chic furniture and accessories with a glam vibe? shop ten 25 offers bold, statement pieces in an easy to digest, curated fashion. This is the site to visit when you’re looking for that piece that all your friends will admire. Pops of color, metallic highlights, textured materials and distinct forms, shop ten 25 will leave you with a wish list longer than you can imagine.

Have any favorite places to shop you’d like to share? Let us know!

-Alessandra

Alessandra Wood is Tastemaker’s resident design historian. Obsessed with everything vintage, she’s working on her PhD in design history. Animal prints, mid-century chrome lighting fixtures, and reclaimed wood furniture set her heart aflutter. Wondering how to judge the quality of of a piece of furniture, what to look for in buying an antique, how to date your finds, or which current trends have resurfaced from the past? Email your questions/comments to [email protected]

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Design Highlights 11/12

Dining Room Design Tips for Thanksgiving

If you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your house, you'll need some impressive interior decor to go with those delicious scents coming from your oven. The Kitchn compiled their best table setting tips, including borrowing a friend's eye for design, and hints for decorating on a budget, such as strategically using candles and table runners. Here's my tip: Make sure you get a few photos of your picture perfect table before your guests ravage it as they pass the potatoes at dinner!

Staying Trendy and Timeless

In a post that made it to "best of" status, Freshome makes it easy for you to try out the latest interior design ideas without having to make major updates every time the trends change. Curious how this works? You just need to learn the differences between timely and trendy, cheap and thrifty, and tacky and chic! Prepare for your mind to be blown or you know, just be ready to gain some insight into interior decor on a budget.

Strategies to Use When Adding Some Color to Your Home

Before you splash paint on your walls willy nilly, make sure you really know the right way to brighten up your home using your favorite hue. Apartment Therapy has five new tips for using color. For example, less is more, when you paint an accent wall your favorite color or toss a few bright pillows onto your beige couch. This article will also clear up some age-old questions about warm vs cool colors and dark vs light shades. 

-The Tastemaker Team

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Faux Fur Throws

It’s November. Winter is coming. An absolute staple for the cold months this year is a faux fur throw. Plush, luxurious, and warm, faux fur throws are the perfect accessory to winterize your home and elevate your interiors.

Fur throws have majestic roots, once owned only by elites and royals they symbolized status and style. In this portrait of Napoleon’s wife (above), Joséphine, painted in 1808 by François Gérard, she is sitting on a black and white, ermine, fur throw lined with a deep red velvet fabric. Imagine wrapping yourself in that!

We can all channel our inner royals with this soft and supple material. For an amazing selection of faux fur throws, check out Frontgate. With white fox (above), timberwolf (first photo), mink, and chinchilla all priced at $79.50 each, the extra large throws are a must for keeping warm and staying chic. Use them in bedrooms to add a little drama to your linens or in living rooms for high-fashion comfort. 

Looking for a little more pattern or texture? west elm also has a line of faux fur that will leave you feeling luxurious and like you belong in an Aspen ski resort. The Ombre throw above has light and dark gray gradations. Or, for a hint of color, you can even get one in a turquoise dip dye (below)!

Drape your faux fur on your sofa, fold it over an accent chair, or layer it on your bed for the ultimate pop of luxury.

-Alessandra 

Alessandra Wood is Tastemaker’s resident design historian. Obsessed with everything vintage, she’s working on her PhD in design history. Animal prints, mid-century chrome lighting fixtures, and reclaimed wood furniture set her heart aflutter. Wondering how to judge the quality of of a piece of furniture, what to look for in buying an antique, how to date your finds, or which current trends have resurfaced from the past? Email your questions/comments to [email protected]

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Mood Boards We Love

The mood board above by Tastemaker decorator Katherine O’Keeffe was created for a client who needed to spruce up his space without changing any furniture or painting. Katherine drew on the client’s fondness for the color orange to create a bold and cheerful palette utilizing warm shades of the hue with hints of reds and yellow. “To tie in the darkness of his furniture, I added masculine touches of gray and black,” she notes.

To personalize the space Katherine incorporated the client’s love for art and travel into the accessories selection. Without creating a kitschy souvenir shop, Katherine tapped into the client’s particular fondness of Spain, with a modern black, white, and orange print of the Salamanca skyline, handmade on etsy (above). The patterns on the pillows also evoke the architecture and design of Southern Spain without acting as literal representations.

To decorate with plants without looking too Victorian or using fake flowers, consider terrariums or succulents. The rustic wood trough filled with succulents, brings rich and earthy notes inside while offering a focal point on the mantle.

For a bold statement, especially when painting the walls is not an option, Katherine suggests a large piece of artwork or a gallery wall. For this room, Katherine selected a large Mark Rothko print from art.com to create a focal point above the sofa and harmonize the room’s color palette.

If you're looking to refresh your space and create a finished look, a total room rehab isn’t always necessary. Instead of starting from scratch, use accessories and artwork with your existing furniture to create a color palette that will elevate the look and feel of your space.

-Alessandra

Alessandra Wood is Tastemaker’s resident design historian. Obsessed with everything vintage, she’s working on her PhD in design history. Animal prints, mid-century chrome lighting fixtures, and reclaimed wood furniture set her heart aflutter. Wondering how to judge the quality of of a piece of furniture, what to look for in buying an antique, how to date your finds, or which current trends have resurfaced from the past? Email your questions/comments to [email protected]

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Happy Birthday Mr. Loewy!

Today marks the 120th birthday of industrial designer Raymond Loewy. A mid-century design genius, Loewy greatly influenced the look and feel of tons of objects and spaces in the American landscape. 

Always looking to improve the style and function of things in our daily life, Loewy's motto (and also the title of his autobiography) was "never leave well enough alone." He designed airplanes, trains, department store interiors, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, automobiles, corporate architecture, company logos, and even furniture. 

The ombre, gray chest above was designed by Loewy in the 1960s. It has a high gloss plastic front with handles that seem to morph out of the drawers. This drawer shape was incorporated into many furniture models, like the bench below, and can be found in red, yellow, and green fronts as well. 

These pieces have a spectacular vintage flair only found in the Atomic age. Dying to get your hands on one? Check out Etsy, ebay, and 1stdibs for original pieces because these designs have yet to be reproduced by modern sellers.

-Alessandra

Alessandra Wood is Tastemaker’s resident design historian. Obsessed with everything vintage, she’s working on her PhD in design history. Animal prints, mid-century chrome lighting fixtures, and reclaimed wood furniture set her heart aflutter. Wondering how to judge the quality of of a piece of furniture, what to look for in buying an antique, how to date your finds, or which current trends have resurfaced from the past? Email your questions/comments to [email protected]

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Design Icon: LÖVET

Design icons usually command a premium price. But this is one that you can afford to buy two of!

Every time you go to IKEA and grab a few flat boxes off the shelf, stuff them in your car, and drive away, you are paying homage to the LÖVET table. IKEA’s first piece of flat pack furniture, the LÖVET altered the furniture design industry and how we shop. Legend claims Gillis Lundgren, the Swedish designer of the table, tried to fit an assembled table in his trunk, but couldn’t, so he sawed off the legs to fit it in his car. Lundgren’s improvisation inspired him to design the LÖVET, and create IKEA’s first flat pack design—a design at the core of IKEA’s business model, and practiced by many other affordable furniture retailers.

Original Swedish catalog description, 1956.  

In celebration of their 1956 classic, IKEA has released the LÖVBACKEN.  Finally available in US markets, you can take the LÖVBACKEN home for $59.99. Evocative of the original table design, this piece also appeals to mid-century modernists in general.  The organic, leaf shaped tabletop has a warm and bold poplar grain pattern. It sits on three tapered, black legs with gold tips. Perfect for just about any space where you’d like to see a little vintage flair.

-Alessandra

Alessandra Wood is Tastemaker’s resident design historian. Obsessed with everything vintage, she’s working on her PhD in design history. Animal prints, mid-century chrome lighting fixtures, and reclaimed wood furniture set her heart aflutter. Wondering how to judge the quality of of a piece of furniture, what to look for in buying an antique, how to date your finds, or which current trends have resurfaced from the past? Email your questions/comments to [email protected]

[tastemakerinc-blog]

Foolproof Paint Colors

One of the hardest decisions to make when redecorating your home is what color to paint the walls. With thousands of choices it’s tough to figure out where to start. Even after you’ve spent days agonizing over which tiny paint chip to choose, you still need to hold your breath until the job is done. We’ve heard countless stories of clients who have painted rooms two and three times over because the colors never seemed right. To eliminate the stress of choosing a shade, we polled our decorators to find out their foolproof colors and tips on picking paint. 

Ally Kim “You're either a white wall person or you're not and I'm completely in the former camp. And my go-to white is Benjamin Moore White 01. I find it to be the perfect, pure white - not too warm, not too cold and without any funny undertones. I've painted entire houses in it because it’s so versatile. It works in any room, for any style and with any other color, making it the ultimate blank slate. I can't say enough about it.” Ally's fireplace design above shows just how modern and fresh white can be.

Mindy Miles Greenberg “I tend to favor Benjamin Moore. I find the light grays tend to be the new neutral, so they’re always my go-to color. Unlike blues, which tend to look juvenile, light gray works well with every other color, particularly silvers, and works well for both men and women. I pair that with warm beiges and it’s a home run. Topped-off with crisp white accents, no other color combo looks more fresh and inviting.” The room above with gray walls was designed by Mindy.

Laurie Betz, Betz Design Studio “As far as no fail color goes: Benjamin Moore Shale #861 is my go-to color for clients who are looking for a modern taupe color (pictured above). It's not too grey and it's not too brown, so it pairs nicely with warm and cool colors.  Most recently I have paired it with dark grey and mustard accents, along with a mix of contemporary and vintage pieces, warm woods, and white trim. It is a fantastic shade for living rooms and entryways, and is a foolproof paint color to freshen up any space.” Laurie shows how great this color looks in her design above.

Lauren Borisoff “One of my favorite shades is Benjamin Moore HC-166, Kendall Charcoal. It is a beautiful, deep, luxurious, grey. It’s not too dark, and has a sort of softness to it that makes it a great neutral for a living room, hall/entryway, bedrooms, or kitchens. I pair it with crisp, bright white trim and white accents that really pop against it, like a white lacquered picture frames or a white Saarinen dining table. I also play it up with textures; think knubby sweaters, heathered cashmere, natural sisal and woven upholstery.” Lauren uses a charcoal shade in her bedroom design above.

Rachel Blindauer “My favorite neutral paint colors are Rockport Grey by Benjamin Moore and Urban Living RLUL215 by Ralph Lauren. Rockport Grey is a gorgeous warm grey and Urban Living is a beautiful khaki color. Rockport Grey evokes a buttoned up elegance. It creates a gorgeous backdrop for jewel tones, or pair it with white to make the room brighter. Urban Living is a khaki shade that lends itself to industrial, ethnic, or preppy looks.” Check out how Rachel pairs a gray wall with white furniture and a necklace display for a chic yet fun space.

Whatever you choose for your paint colors, hands down our decorators favor Benjamin Moore for its quality, ease of painting, and hue. Next time you need to pick a paint shade consider one of our foolproof colors. Need a few more tips on paint, check out our post on buying paint. 

-Alessandra

Alessandra Wood is Tastemaker’s resident design historian. Obsessed with everything vintage, she’s working on her PhD in design history. Animal prints, mid-century chrome lighting fixtures, and reclaimed wood furniture set her heart aflutter. Wondering how to judge the quality of of a piece of furniture, what to look for in buying an antique, how to date your finds, or which current trends have resurfaced from the past? Email your questions/comments to [email protected]

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Quick Fix: Cable Organizers

No matter how great your room design is, a messy web of cables will steal the spotlight. To keep your living room or office in order, it’s essential to wrangle your cords. There are a slew of labels, ties and DIY solutions but they don’t eliminate the cords from view. Our favorite new fix: Poppin’s hide-and-keep cable boxes. We were turned onto these by our decorator Katherine O’Keeffe, when she specked them for a client who needed help with a mess of cables in his living room. Available in modern gloss white or a rainbow of Poppin’s signature bright colors, the small box includes a 4 socket surge protector inside. While the large box, available in black and white, doesn’t include a surge protector, you can fit an extra long or wide one inside. Both have room to wrap excess cordage and hide it in the covered box. But it gets better, you can even fit you modem and router inside!

At $30 each, we won’t be surprised when you say “I’ll take two!”

-Alessandra

Alessandra Wood is Tastemaker’s resident design historian. Obsessed with everything vintage, she’s working on her PhD in design history. Animal prints, mid-century chrome lighting fixtures, and reclaimed wood furniture set her heart aflutter. Wondering how to judge the quality of of a piece of furniture, what to look for in buying an antique, how to date your finds, or which current trends have resurfaced from the past? Email your questions/comments to [email protected]

[tastemakerinc-blog]

Tastemaker Travels: Palm Springs

This weekend, I took a quick trip to Palm Springs, a mecca for lovers of modern design. Palm Springs is the perfect getaway for anyone who needs a break from city living without compromising style and taste. It’s hot and sunny, a slower pace, and filled with design treasures to marvel at and take home. A few highlights from my weekend.

If you’re looking for great decor for your home, both contemporary or vintage, Palm Springs needs to be on your travel list. A couple of my favorite shops (who also sell online!): PELAGO palm springs and just modern. Both situated in the new design district, PELAGO palm springs (pictured above) focuses on contemporary pieces that blend modern styling with organic forms. With a great selection of furniture, as well as a curated line of home decor and accessories, PELAGO is a go-to spot for contemporary, fresh, and unique gifts for a modern city dweller. One of my favorite pieces in the store: oxidized zinc hanging lamps (pictured on the right), and they’re a bargain at $155 each.

just modern (above) defines their collection as “new century modern.” Taking most of its inspiration from mid-century modern the collection showcases beautiful woods, boomerang forms, and pops of color through new pieces that have storied backgrounds. The shop also has a fantastic collection of art. The walls are stocked with lithographs, silkscreens, mobiles, and paintings, most by California artists and all affordably priced for young collectors.

As I strolled down Palm Canyon Road, I stumbled into the Lon Michels Gallery. I popped into the the open door just as Lon and his partner, Todd, were setting up for their grand opening. They invited me in anyways, and I fell in love with their artwork. The bold and colorful works beamed positive energy. In addition to paintings on canvas, Lon also paints found objects; his collection of painted taxidermy lends a fresh take on a popular trend. My favorite: Glamour Deer (above).

The Parker Palm Springs (above, below, and first picture) If your heart skips a beat for vintage decor, this is your place. Designed by Jonathan Adler, The Parker’s eclectic interior speaks to a number of vintage design movements while remaining tastefully modern and chic. You’ll see nods to the decades that hosted the Rat Pack, the Atomic Age, and the flower children all existing together in one fresh and contemporary setting. Adler’s signature color pops and bold styling are evident throughout.

So if you're looking for a fabulous weekend design destination pop over to Palm Springs and let me know what you find!

-Alessandra 

Alessandra Wood is Tastemaker’s resident design historian. Obsessed with everything vintage, she’s working on her PhD in design history. Animal prints, mid-century chrome lighting fixtures, and reclaimed wood furniture set her heart aflutter. Wondering how to judge the quality of of a piece of furniture, what to look for in buying an antique, how to date your finds, or which current trends have resurfaced from the past? Email your questions/comments to [email protected]

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Reupholster or Reshop

It’s hard to know when it’s time to give up on a sofa. Since it’s such a huge investment to purchase a quality piece, you might wonder if it’s worth reupholstering an older sofa. We’ve already taken a look at why sofas are so costly in an earlier blog post. But the question “to reupholster or buy new” comes up constantly with our clients, so we’ve put together a guide on reupholstering furniture. I chatted with Joel of Joel’s Upholstery in San Francisco to get some ideas on labor and materials cost.

The first thing you should know is that you’re probably not actually going to save a lot of  money. But you’ll likely get more for your money in the long run. Let me explain. If you’re looking to purchase a new wing back chair, you’re going to spend about $800 on a quality one like the chair above from Pottery Barn. To have a similar chair reupholstered, you’ll spend about $450 in labor; fabric might range anywhere from $200-$400 because you’ll need about 6 yards.

As far as sofas go, expect labor to start at $850 for a simple 2 to 3 cushion sofa, like the one above from west elm. You’ll need about 10 to 13 yards of fabric. It’s difficult to find high quality and on trend, upholstery grade fabric for less than $20 a yard. If you’re lucky, you might be able to get away with spending $300 on fabric for your sofa, but a reasonable cost estimate for fabric for a standard sofa is about $500 to $600.

When does it makes sense to reupholster? If you can purchase a new sofa or an upholstered chair at places like Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn for slightly more than it would cost to reupholster an older piece of furniture, then why bother reupholstering? The key lies in picking a great piece to start with. Don’t reupholster a 10 year old mid-grade sofa, rather choose a piece of furniture with good bones, solid construction, and great lines. In doing so you’ll end up with something that has a lot more value in it than a new piece of premium furniture—you’ll have a piece that compares to designer and trade furniture, for a fraction of the cost.

Would you ever believe the sofas above are the same piece? The owner recognized the great bones of the ugly floral print and with a minor investment ended up with a sofa that looks like it belongs in a trade showroom.

If you have a dining chair, a chair with simple, minimal upholstery, a stool, or an ottoman reupholstering is definitely worth it. You’ll only need about ½ to 1 yard of fabric per chair, and labor will cost around $50. With a total cost per chair of less than $100, you’re absolutely saving.

Have your heart on a piece that is broken or needs a little help? Joel told me, “We can fix anything, you’ll just have to pay.” He said they can rebuild broken or rotten frames, make new cushions, restuff flat seats, but that will all add to the costs quoted above.  

Not sure if you should reupholster or reinvest? Drop me a line and I can help!

-Alessandra 

Alessandra Wood is Tastemaker’s resident design historian. Obsessed with everything vintage, she’s working on her PhD in design history. Animal prints, mid-century chrome lighting fixtures, and reclaimed wood furniture set her heart aflutter. Wondering how to judge the quality of of a piece of furniture, what to look for in buying an antique, how to date your finds, or which current trends have resurfaced from the past? Email your questions/comments to [email protected]

[tastemakerinc-blog]

Design Highlights 10/22

8 Kitchen Remodel Trends to Avoid

If you're in the market for a kitchen remodel, there are a few major design considerations to take into account so that your kitchen doesn't become outdated in three years. TheKitchn recently covered a Forbes article from earlier this year. Sorry in advance to all the fans of pot racks, farmhouse sinks, and non-stainless steel appliances. On the other hand, Freshome wrote about the future of the kitchen that could help pave the way for your remodel. It might be a good idea to play the theme song for The Jetsons while you read about the future of the kitchen.

Copper Countertops: Thumbs Up or Down?

Several weeks ago on Design Highlights 9/23, I wrote about the rise of brass. Within the last week, TheKitchn gave some input on the equally aesthetically pleasing cousin of brass: copper. Copper is increasing in popularity as a material for countertops. Check out their article here to get their full opinion.

Tips for Living in a Small Space

If you were a fan of Alessandra's blog entry about small space solutions (found here) you'll be pleased to hear about a video compilation of Apartment Therapy's best small space tips. Whether you need help organizing, making your room feel bigger, or ideas for multi-use furniture, this entry will leave you inspired. Image from Oazi.

- Jake

Jake Bliss is the coffee-fetching, organizationally-advanced, copy machine wizard at Tastemaker. TL;DR He’s the intern. He attends the Academy of Art University as an Interior Architecture & Design major. Strong geometries, modern bachelor pads, and good woodworking gets his blood pumping. Heard about something he didn’t? Drop him a line at [email protected]

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Trends: High Point Market

The Fall High Point Furniture Market is happening now! Twice a year High Point, North Carolina hosts the largest home furnishings trade show in the world. This year the Fall Market runs from October 19th through the 24th. Wondering why this event takes place in North Carolina? High Point has been host to furniture markets and shows since the early 1900s because it was a major center for furniture manufacturing in the United States (and it still is).

The High Point Market is a great place for trend spotting. The first reports are out, and we’ve put together a list of a few notable trends from the show.

Pantone announced Dazzling Blue, a rich cobalt blue, as its top color for Spring 2014 fashion, and there is no shortage of this hue in the interior design world. This bold pop of color adds depth to interiors. Put some to your space with the products above: west elm Abacus Dhurrie rug, $49-$749; abc home loft vase, $8; HD BUTTERCUP trio side table, $150.

Studs and rivets are making a good showing this fall—and not just on upholstered pieces. Furniture makers are using metal hardware to add texture and intrigue to cabinet pieces. The chest on the left from Ethan Allen ($1399) uses nailheads to add pattern and texture to the front of the cabinet. The headboard on the right from Urban Outfitters ($429-$529) updates a classic upholstery and stud headboard using a modern pattern.

The mid-century furniture trend of the past 5 years has resulted in an increase in the amount pieces showcasing natural wood graining. It’s no longer necessary to scour flea markets to find a beautiful wood treasure of your own. Above are few of our favorite pieces that boast beautiful wood graining with a soft finish: the Moda cabinet from Room & Board, $649; walnut desk clock from etsy, $25; the Catalina side table from Vermont Woods Studios, $543.

Have a favorite trend? Let us know!

-Alessandra

Alessandra Wood is Tastemaker’s resident design historian. Obsessed with everything vintage, she’s working on her PhD in design history. Animal prints, mid-century chrome lighting fixtures, and reclaimed wood furniture set her heart aflutter. Wondering how to judge the quality of of a piece of furniture, what to look for in buying an antique, how to date your finds, or which current trends have resurfaced from the past? Email your questions/comments to [email protected]

[tastemakerinc-blog]

Last Minute Halloween Decor

It’s not too late to add some festive decor to your home. With Halloween and Day of the Dead just around the corner, check out a few of our favorite must haves that won’t make your house look like an elementary school.

What better time of year to invest in a crystal skull? The Mercury Glass Skull from Pottery Barn (on sale for $18.99) is an excellent choice. But there’s no need to put it away after Halloween has passed. Our UX Designer Maya Shin (the girl who makes our website look so great) says “skulls are the perfect way to add a little contrast and edginess to your decor throughout the entire year.”

Not so sure about a crystal skull working with your design concept? Then why not splurge on a bottle of Kah Tequila or Crystal Head Vodka. Both liquors come in amazing bottles that will add a little festivity to your Halloween and Day of the Dead decor, and when the season is over you can stash them in your liquor cabinet without feeling guilty, or like you splurged on seasonal accessories.

I’m in love with Crate and Barrel’s Morelia Flora and Rico Plates. The petite glass dessert plates are adorned with a simple drawing of a sugar skull. The design is understated, offering a more grown up take on the holiday.

Have any other ideas for last minute Halloween decor? Post them to our Facebook page!

-Alessandra

Alessandra Wood is Tastemaker’s resident design historian. Obsessed with everything vintage, she’s working on her PhD in design history. Animal prints, mid-century chrome lighting fixtures, and reclaimed wood furniture set her heart aflutter. Wondering how to judge the quality of of a piece of furniture, what to look for in buying an antique, how to date your finds, or which current trends have resurfaced from the past? Email your questions/comments to [email protected]

[tastemakerinc-blog]

Quick Fix: Home Bar

Tired of your friends judging your taste in liquor when they come over for a drink? Ok, maybe this is just a problem I have as a lover of Jack Daniels. I’m trying to elevate my palate, but in the meantime I’ve found a great solution: these awesome decanters from Dwell Studio.

The glass decanters (from $149-$175) come in three different shapes with either a white or gold crosshatch design. Modern and geometric, they are the perfect containers for all of your liquor.

It’s time to channel your inner Don Draper. Get rid of the ugly, branded bottles polluting your aesthetic and grab a few modern decanters to create an upscale bar that will impress your guests. And with the holiday season approaching, who doesn’t want their bar in tip top shape, ready for entertaining at a moment’s notice?

-Alessandra

Alessandra Wood is Tastemaker’s resident design historian. Obsessed with everything vintage, she’s working on her PhD in design history. Animal prints, mid-century chrome lighting fixtures, and reclaimed wood furniture set her heart aflutter. Wondering how to judge the quality of of a piece of furniture, what to look for in buying an antique, how to date your finds, or which current trends have resurfaced from the past? Email your questions/comments to [email protected]

[tastemakerinc-blog]

Design Icon: Taraxacum 88

Have you been yearning for an iconic lighting fixture for your space? Take some inspiration from the Taraxacum 88 Suspension Lamp designed by Achille and Pier Castiglioni (you’ll remember the brothers as the designers of the Arco Lamp). They designed this lighting fixture in 1988 as an update to their Taraxacum S2 designed in 1960.

Both are available from Design Within Reach (and on sale at the moment!). While the two lights appear quite different, the Taraxacum S2 (on the left) and Taraxacum 88 (right) were both inspired by the same natural form, the dandelion, and hence bear its scientific name, taraxacum.

Dying for the Taraxacum 88 but don’t want to splurge for the sale price of $4396? Check out these two alternatives from Dot & Bo.

The Dame Chandelier on the left has the same shape and form as the Taraxacum 88, and also boasts 60 light bulbs, but is a fraction of the price at $1299.99. Or consider the Hollywood ‘88 Piccolo Pendant Lamp (half the size of the Taraxacum 88 and the Dame Chandelier) for only $439.99.

Love an iconic piece, but not sure about the price tag? Drop me a line and I’ll help you find a substitute.

-Alessandra

Alessandra Wood is Tastemaker’s resident design historian. Obsessed with everything vintage, she’s working on her PhD in design history. Animal prints, mid-century chrome lighting fixtures, and reclaimed wood furniture set her heart aflutter. Wondering how to judge the quality of of a piece of furniture, what to look for in buying an antique, how to date your finds, or which current trends have resurfaced from the past? Email your questions/comments to [email protected]

[tastemakerinc-blog]

Small Space Solutions

Living in a city has its perks: coffee within half a block, great food, and a never ending list of social events. But one thing is always missing...space. Even the big apartments never seem to have enough room.

But really, where are all the closets? Since so many city buildings are from the early 20th century, our modern expectations for extra closet space and large rooms aren’t always met. Our great-grandparents didn’t use closets the way we do. Instead, they stored their clothing in armoires and chests, and used buffets and hutches for kitchenwares. And, in general, their furniture was considerably smaller, so the rooms didn’t feel quite as cramped.

Even new construction skimps on space to maximize the number of units per building. No matter where you live, you can make the most of your space with a few key pieces.

wall units Get with the 1900s and invest in a large armoire or wardrobe. My personal favorite: the IKEA PAX system. When I moved into an apartment with no closet in the bedroom, I wasn’t sure how I’d survive. With a wall of PAX wardrobes completely customized to hold my clothing and accessories, I can honestly say I don’t miss having a closet.

storage ottoman Who doesn’t love to prop their feet up on giant ottoman. Let yours double as a place to stash your excess throws, pillows, magazine, TV remotes, or anything you need to quickly hide when a visitor knocks on the door. And the best part, a storage ottoman doesn’t have to be a big ugly cube of faux leather; check out the one above from Ballard Designs.    

bed risers For as little as $10 you can maximize your bedroom storage space. I’m going to assume that your mattress is on some sort of bed frame, after all we are grown ups. My motto: the higher the better. Pop a set of risers under the legs and cover it with a bed skirt. Maybe that’s not your style? You can get a bed frame with built in storage too. Under the bed is one of the best places to store off season clothing, gym bags, a vacuum cleaner, the possibilities are endless.

mirrors Adding a big mirror in a small space gives the illusion of a larger space. It essentially eliminates the wall as a confining space and adds light to brighten the room.

Have any more tips? Let me know!

-Alessandra

Alessandra Wood is Tastemaker’s resident design historian. Obsessed with everything vintage, she’s working on her PhD in design history. Animal prints, mid-century chrome lighting fixtures, and reclaimed wood furniture set her heart aflutter. Wondering how to judge the quality of of a piece of furniture, what to look for in buying an antique, how to date your finds, or which current trends have resurfaced from the past? Email your questions/comments to [email protected]