Monthly Archives: August 2014

We are very proud to announce that you can now view all of our Take Ten, and other videos and content on  The Soft Design Lab Channel on  The Design Network !

The link is:   http://www.thedesignnetwork.com/viewChannel.php?channel_id=56

If you’ve found our Soft Design Lab information, webinars and video helpful to your business, please help us spread the word so we can get more people all of the valuable information we are giving away to help them stay on top of our fast moving industry.

The Design Network is the world’s first video-sharing platform that gives interior designers, architects, home enthusiasts, and video professionals the opportunity to create and share entertaining, engaging, and inspirational content about the home.  Anyone in the design field can create their own channel and post video and static image content.

The Design Network was created for everyone who shares a passion for all things “home.” They are  dedicated to connecting you with the your viewers so you can  serve up entertaining, inspiring and instructional videos about interior design, home fashion and style that can be accessed anywhere, anytime.

You are their Programming Director! They  want to build and customizeThe Design Network based on what you like. The Soft Design Lab  gals see this as the new frontier of design marketing and promotion and we will be posting more in the future about how you can get on board!

Please join us in viewing, rating and suggesting the videos you like best. Help us build your The Design Network , as it becomes a new kind of network spanning all the screens you use in and outside your home.

You don’t have to buy a special box or pay a monthly fee to access The Design Network . All you need is to be online, with your computer, your tablet or your smartphone–anything that has a browser. Just push play to get started …

The Soft Design Lab gals see this as the new frontier of marketing and promotion and we will be posting more about how to get started and capitalize on this powerful tool soon.

We have more Soft Design Lab videos and insights to come so please stay tuned!!!

Thanks,

Anne Spiro

Since the moment, a few years ago, when Kelly Wearstler’s Imperial Trellis hit the scene, the trellis pattern has become a staple for most soft furnishings vendors.  Intersecting lines have intertwined in an unending variety trellis designs ranging form simple to elaborate.  Now, it seems a new trend is emerging of a trellis stripe or chain link for lack of a better name.

In this new version of the classic motif the interlocking pattern runs in a directional stripe as a border or as a repeating stripe.

The overall design of these chain link patterns is more sleek and sharp in its delineation with harder angles and thinner surface width.

Simplicity is the key and these new patterns seem to be more about exploring the relationship between positive and negative space rather than creating an equality in it.

Harder lines and angles make for a more modern look.

Even the DIY world is picking up on the trend with stripes of trellis linking in chains down one wall as a highlight.

Here sections of wood trellis are used to create a striped effect.

Rugs USA

This rug design shows a more rounded take on the design giving it a retro feel.

Alternating shapes run in vertical stripes within the trellis create a strong graphic pattern in this drapery panel.

This pillow follows the trend by using a trellis embroidery pattern to create a stripe as an embellishment.

Although his fabric featured on chairs from CR Laine is a complex pattern the central motif runs vertically creating a striped effect at the center.

Schumacher

This wallpaper pattern overlaps a chain link pattern in a simple graphic design.

Trina Turk

Designer Trina Turk imparts a tribal feeling to this faceted design.  Tribal and modern southwest designs are popping up everywhere and take these patterns in a whole new direction that imparts an ethnic vibe.

This intricate pattern created with the applique of decorative trim on the face of this pillow has an almost aboriginal look that blends well with new emerging trends.

Anne Spiro

This wallpaper from Anne Spiro in Australia also feels as if it were taken straight from a piece of aboriginal folk art. I think we will see the evolution of this chain link look into bolder and more colorful ethnic designs as these design trends come full circle.

I am thoroughly obsessed with the new Sicilia collection by Dolce and Gabbana!  It is a stunning take on handcrafted Italian tile designs and traditional Majolica patterns.   As we all know home décor often follows fashion trends but this time the designers are taking their cue from a traditional home décor theme and imagery.

The fabrics are digitally printed to capture all of the nuances of tile glazing and colors and the designs come to life with the addition of jewels and gilded crowns.  This trend of using bold colors and bright contrast is in line with what seems to be happening now in home décor .  Manufacturers are showcasing bright colors in  primary contrasting hues for a knock out effect that is a welcome relief to the bland color we have been seeing for the past few years as we have dug out of the recession.

The use of bright colors  in fashion and in home décor usually signifies an upturn in the economy and a positive attitude about the future..  Since I am Sicilian I am especially drawn to these motifs and of course to the beautiful scenery captured on the Isle of Capri. .

This particular collection not only shows bold choices in color and pattern but it seems to be a return to classicism and the comfort of deeply rooted cultural design.  It reminds us that the richness of life doesn’t always come with financial excess,  sometimes it is rooted in the simple images of our culture and history.