flexiblefullpage - default

All Blogs

Kenneth Cobonpue High Point Market
Kenneth Cobonpue
Island Design
As a child in Cebu, Philippines, designer Kenneth Cobonpue created his own toys in his mother’s furniture workshop. Now as a designer, Cobonpue combines the natural resources and craftsmanship of his… more
Kenneth Cobonpue, High Point Market
Lighting-Doctor-Lighting-Design
Good lighting design moves your eye around the room, while offering flattering illumination for the people within the space. The best lighting is subtle — it makes you feel good but you don’t really know why.
Light and Shadow: Great Design Needs Both
TIP 1: Light makes right You can’t understand light without also knowing darkness. It’s like you can’t understand true happiness unless you also experience sadness. The best design comes when there’… more
From-the-Editor-lighting
Inspiration Realized
It’s very timely that I’m writing an editorial for the High Point Market issue, with a special focus on color, after just getting back from a two-week voyage through Vietnamese culture where local… more
High Point Market, Kim Wray, Sunbrella
Lisa-Elkins-2-Point-Perspective-Last-Look
(Photo: Ron Elkins)
Last Look with Lisa Elkins
For Lisa Elkins of Chicago-based 2 Point Perspective, sustainability happens when all the parts of a design contribute. Here the LEED-accredited architect peels apart this Kenilworth, IL, kitchen to… more
Lisa Elkins, 2 Point Perspective, LEED certification, Jenny Lewis-Jones, Chicago Center for Green Technology
Anjay-Chopra-Echo-Design-and-Architecture-Design-Notebook
Photos Courtesy of Echo Design + Architecture
Designing Small

In small space design, interior designers need to maximize space by seeking out furniture and storage solutions.

Ajay Chopra, Echo Design + Architecture, sustainability, Ori Systems, Resource Furniture, LED, Benjamin Moore, Benjamin Moore Natura, Henrybuilt, Lucifer Lighting
Randall-Whitehead-Lighting-Doctor-Lighting-and-Decor
Wall colors, wood finishes and fabrics change in appearance under day and night lighting at very different color temperatures.
How Can You Transform Lighting From Day to Night
TIP 1: Day tripping Color temperature tells you the hue of illumination that a particular light source emits. The two color temperatures that we are most easily able to identify are incandescent (… more
Randall Whitehead, Lighting Doctor, LED, Color Rendering Index, CRI, Martha Stewart
Phillips-Collection-Lighting-and-Decor-September-issue
Photo: Phillips Collection
Eco Thoughts
I have a hard time saying “Go Green,” as the pride for my alma mater Michigan will never fizzle out, but I’ll make an exception for this issue. The environment has been in the news a lot these days… more
Sustainable Furnishings Council, millennials , sustainability
Laura-U-Interior-Design-Laura-Umansky
Laura Umansky of Laura U Interior Design shares how she designed this child's bedroom.
Last Look With Laura Umansky
Known for her “Classically Current” style, Houston-based Laura Umansky strives to create luxurious, livable interiors. Her firm, Laura U Interior Design, won an International Design and Architecture… more
Laura U Interior Design, Laura Umansky, International Design and Architecture Award, Vetrazzo, Crypton
Vietnam mat weaving
My Vietnamese Adventure
I’m home and back to work after a two-week honeymoon through Vietnam via Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hoi An and Hanoi. While this trip was all play, I got a valuable glimpse into one of our industry… more
nicole bowling, Vietnam, Handmade, Artisans, Manufacturing
Boyd-Lighting-Cascade-Chandelier
When working out the lighting design for a room, take a moment to look upward. There is a vast canvas available that could benefit from your inspiration.
Ceilings: The Fifth Wall Offers Great Possibilities

Ceiling lighting can enhance the architectural details of a space.

Boyd Lighting, Beachside Lighting
Houzz-Trade-Program
The Houzz trade program launched this summer offers many ways to save.
A Tale of Two Trade Programs
Scoring great products is essential to any interior designer, and with trade programs through Houzz and Steelyard, finding them has never been easier. If you aren’t familiar with these two resources… more
Houzz, Steelyard, Liza Hausman, Jane Dagmi, Noir Furniture, Theodore Alexander, Sunpan, Oly Studio, Progress Lighting
Showroom-of-the-Year-Awards
We all have a story to tell. In this issue, check out our profiles on the Showroom of the Year Award winners, where they offer their thoughts on the future and share the biggest risks they've taken.
Storytime
"Tell me a bit about yourself.”   No matter how many times I’ve been asked that question (or a variation of it) in networking circles, I will unabashedly say that my inner monologue still hesitates… more
Showroom of the Year Awards, Kimberley Wray, Palette & Parlor, Cynthia Heathcoe, Contemporary Living, IBB Design Fine Furnishings
Goombay Bash 2017
To Cure Cancer
On Saturday, July 29, the 17th Annual Goombay Bash will take over Chicago's Navy Pier Grand Ballroom in Caribbean-style fashion to raise money for cancer research. Organized by nonprofit The H… more
Goombay Bash
Photo by Gregory Han
(Photo: Gregory Han)
Last Look with Michelle Workman
You can take the designer out of L.A., but you can’t take L.A. out of the designer. Even after her big move to Chattanooga, TN, interior designer Michelle Workman finds ways to infuse glamour into… more
Michelle Workman
Whether your entry is small and personal or one of a more grand scale, it sets the tone for the rest of the house. The tall lamp with the clear glass base gives a sculptural element to this more intimate entry, while a cascading chandelier can help to visually connect the first and second floors of a spacious entry.
Whether your entry is small and personal or one of a more grand scale, it sets the tone for the rest of the house. The tall lamp with the clear glass base gives a sculptural element to this more intimate entry, while a cascading chandelier can help to visually connect the first and second floors of a spacious entry.
How Can Lighting Make a Difference in an Entryway?
TIP 1: Create a sense of welcome When people walk in your front door you want to give them a good first impression. You want them to feel invited in. People are naturally drawn to light, so it’s… more
Randall Whitehead
chairs
Under The Covers With Steve Leung
International designer Steve Leung describes his ideal bedroom as calming, personal and cozy. His new collection for Theodore Alexander epitomizes the “luxury of serenity” and brings beauty to the… more
Steve Leung , Theodore Alexander
(Photo: Kim Sargent)
(Photo: Kim Sargent)
Last Look With Jeff Strasser
Wherever Jeff Strasser goes, design inspires him. The travel-loving Chief Creative Officer and Vice President of Interior Design at Marc-Michaels Interior Design Inc. in Winter Park, FL, is a master… more
Jeff Strasser , Marc-Michaels Interior Design Inc.
You can create additional ambient light for a bedroom if closet doors are translucent, such as these shoji panels.
You can create additional ambient light for a bedroom if closet doors are translucent, such as these shoji panels. (Photo: Dennis Anderson Photography)
The Most Effective Closet Lighting

Discover what the most effective closet lighting methods are to get a true reading for the colors of your clothing.

View More
leaderboard2 - default
catfish1 - bottom