/Kelly Wearstler

Top Trends In Kitchen & Bath Design | Highlights from KBIS 2016

I’m still fresh off my recent trip to the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show with Modenus a couple of weeks ago and excited to talk with you today about some of my favourite trends.

TEXTURE TOPS THE CHARTS


texture-kbis-2016



One of the strongest trends I saw at the show was texture. Clockwise from top left, we are talking about:

1/ Stunning Ann Sacks tiles inspired by Kelly Wearstler’s iconic string art
2/ Top Knobs‘ newly released faceted Serene Collection, which I’m dying to use on a project. The pulls feel so good in the hand.
3/ Thompson Traders‘ gorgeous hammered brass pedestal sink that simply has to make its way into one of my designs very soon. I thought I’d died and went to hammered heaven when I found this booth!
4/ The new Litze Collection from Brizo which is on my personal Lust List for my Designer Dream House. The perfect brass finish with articulated details and a touch of industrial texture on the valve makes me swoon.

Textural elements were everywhere to be seen, offering designers the opportunity to awaken the senses in fresh ways. While texture is nothing new, we’re seeing unexpected applications in 2016, as with these carved panels on the face of Thermador‘s culinary preservation centre (below).

thermador-textured-refrigeration-panels

More than the texture, it’s the technical details that get me excited with Thermador‘s integrated refrigeration. Sometimes it’s what you don’t see that counts, like the hidden hinges (see below) that make it possible for the panels to be perfectly flush and fully integrated with surrounding cabinetry. Finally. No more working around unsightly hinges in cabinetry design.

(Cue: Designers everywhere rejoicing!)

thermador-hidden-hinge

PRETTY GETS PRACTICAL

Not surprisingly, brass and gold finishes and fixtures were stronger than ever at KBIS this year. Rest assured that brass is still boss. If you’re looking to integrate a metallic finish on custom cabinetry and want it to be as pretty as it is practical, you’ll need to know about Wilsonart‘s new metallic aluminum laminates. Available in sheets as large as 4’x10’ and in several colours and textures, the applications for this line are truly endless. I’m thinking a previously budget-busting custom modern brushed brass range hood becomes a designer’s best kept secret when created using this innovative surface.

Wilsonart-aluminum-sheeting-brass-brushed-brass-corrugated-brushed-brass
From Top To Bottom: Polished Gold Aluminum, Satin Brushed Gold Aluminum, Ribboned Satin Brushed Aged Gold

Also in the pretty and oh-so practical category is Blanco‘s latest introduction. The Ikon sink is made of SilGranit, the hardest composite material available on the market in sinks today. You can literally take a fork to this surface – with elbow grease and evil intentions – and still not leave a mark. My favourite colours in the Ikon are the Anthracite (below) and classic White.

blanco-ikon-sink-anthracite

Another innovative feature of the Ikon sink is the floating grid accessory, which can be used in a number of other sinks in Blanco‘s line up as well. From resting a colander on it (to keep food from sitting in liquids at the bottom of the sink while straining) to using it as a discrete perch for dishes to dry, the floating grid is a genius little accessory.

blanco-floating-grid
Last but not least in the pretty gets practical category, I’d say this is more of a practical gets pretty turnaround story. As a designer, I’ve always specified wool broadloom for both its hypoallergenic properties and its naturally stain-resistant nature. Until recently, most reasonably priced wool broadloom has only been available in very staid colour palettes and patterns, but Karastan‘s selection of wool broadloom makes the thought of creating a custom bound area rug or stair runner a much more enticing prospect. I mean, how gorgeous is the Cosmopolitan dove grey flame stitch pattern below?

karastan-wool-broadloom

Taking in the latest trends can prove daunting for some, leaving you overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. Stay tuned for my upcoming posts on where to begin when designing a new kitchen or bathroom.

xx
s.

By |February 9th, 2016|0 Comments

DESIGN EXCHANGE | MY CURATED AUCTION PICKS + A GIVEAWAY!

I’M DELIGHTED to be curating some of my favourite pieces today for the upcoming May 29th auction in support of Toronto’s Design Exchange. This live and silent auction will feature a stunning collection of furnishings and accessories, and the proceeds all help to support the work of the Design Exchange, Canada’s Design Museum. To say there are some gems in the mix would be a major understatement.
What is the Design Exchange, you ask? Located in the Historic Stock Exchange Building, the Design Exchange {DX} is a registered charitable, not-for-profit cultural institution, and Canada’s only museum dedicated to the pursuit of design excellence and the preservation of our design heritage. From furniture and architecture to graphics and fashion, DX exhibitions and talks are curated to reflect what is most current in contemporary culture, while reminding us of the relevance and importance of design in everyday life. Guest curators have included Pharrell Williams and our very own Canadian fashion icon Jeanne Beker.
ONE: This Dorwin Chair from Bernhardt is a classic revival of a mid-century design that is utterly timeless, while the brass frame makes it entirely fashion-forward and of-the-moment. I’ll take a pair for my soon-to-be redecorated family room, please and thanks!
TWO: Gone are the days of the eyesore of a doggie day bed in some bland brown microfibre. Jo Alcorn has brought her fresh edge to the realm of home decor and honours our four legged friends in style. You’ll be happy to coordinate your throw pillows with your pooch’s perch when they’re this hip.
THREE: Madeleine Weinrib’s rugs and decorative accessories have graced the pages of luxury shelter magazines such as Elle Decor, Dwell and Coastal Living. Her designs epitomize relaxed elegance at it’s finest.
FOUR: I adore anything paying homage to the beauty, vastness and wonder of our Canadian terrain. The Landscape Tableware from Drake General Store more than fits the bill. I’m hankering for a full set to use for endless summer entertaining.
FIVE: What can I possibly say about this iconic design classic? Eero Saarinen’s earlier studies in sculpture reveal themselves in this side table’s fluid form. Truly timeless, the Saarinen side table is equally at home in an otherwise traditional space as it is in a restrained, minimalist environment. 
SIX: The Dream Chair looks like a modern invitation to the imagination, the sensual curves ready to embrace and the subtle pillow ready to support your daydreams.
SEVEN: Doesn’t every dream home need a touch of Kelly Wearstler? Strong and graphic, this electric sculpture would bring dynamic energy to any room in the house.
EIGHT: I’ve been crushing hard on Sebastian Herkner’s bell tables for awhile now, and his Bleeker Street Table only confirms my design crush. Simple, timeless and elegant. The man can do no wrong.
These eight pieces are my design favourites, but there are even more amazing selections up for grabs at the auction. I’d love to know which pieces you love most!
Fancy the opportunity to see them all in person and bid on one {or all} of them for your own nest? Well here’s your chance! I’m giving away one ticket to a lucky reader to attend this design event on May 29th from 7-10pm at Toronto’s Design Exchange. Rub shoulders with the who’s-who of design and design media and try your luck at picking up an iconic design treasure while you’re at it!
Here’s how to enter:
1. Follow The Curated House on Instagram
2. Follow The Design Exchange on Instagram
3. Save and share the photo of your favourite piece from this post on Instagram using the hashtag #designexchangeXthecuratedhouse
The winner will be announced on Monday, May 25th on Instagram. Good luck!
xo
s.

By |May 13th, 2015|3 Comments

Getting Sexy + Bold with Black and Gold : How to Infuse Some Glamour Into Your Interior

Confession time. I have found myself increasingly drawn to the bold and sexy palette of black and gold of late, and here’s my theory: Knowing that I am about to have a second boy and will thus be officially outnumbered for the rest of my life, I’ve been craving ways to infuse more femininity into our home. Not the typical pink and frills, though. No, the kind of femininity that is strong and sexy and holds its own when married with masculine details as well. The kind of feminine that makes both men and women feel strong and safe in its context. So, I thought I’d pull together a little inspiration board of a living room concept that has all the elements I’m looking for.

First, the art. Art does so much to set the stage. It is really the soul of the space in so many ways, and I’m in love with these pieces I found at Art Interiors, especially the dramatic flowers on the black canvas by Madeleine Lamont.

{Painting by Madeleine Lamont}
{Painting by Maya Foltyn}
{Painting by Lindsay Chambers}
{Painting by Lindsay Chambers}

There are so many amazing pieces in this inspiration board! Take for instance this stunning Matis armchair from Brabbu.

There are so many details about this piece that have me swooning – the curvaceous lines, the tufted outside back, the Macassar Ebony deck and legs, the dramatic reptile print velvet. To my eye it marries masculinity and femininity in one sexy statement piece. Spectacular!
I’m also completely head-over-heels in love with the organic yet utterly dramatic Sequoia Center Table, also from Brabbu. Like any strong woman, this piece is a force of nature and glamour.

Inspired by the largest and tallest tree in the world, the wood veneer top and brass “bark” are nothing short of drool-worthy.
Next, the Cobblehill Sofa from ABC Home – it is both soft and modern with its clean lines and decadent velvet upholstery and the soft gold offers the perfect feminine contrast to the dramatic black chairs.
Toss on a couple of black Mongolian lamb fur pillows, add a hit of studded leather for good measure and then create a custom cushion with this stunning Kelly Wearstler gold serpent linen from Groundworks to finish the bold and sexy look.
{Mark my words, I will be working this Kelly Wearstler print into my home in the coming days!}
For side tables, I love the bold yet simple Martini Side Table from West Elm…
…offset by the tribal Abaidoo Stool from Pfeiffer Studio.
Throw in a hit of animal magnetism with sexy legs with a pair of Neta Benches from Oly Studio:
Light it up with the organic, edgy and glamorous Linden Chandelier by Charles de Lisle {already on my wish list}…
…and then ground it all with a classic Moroccan Ben Ourain rug
…and I’d say you’ve got yourself a pretty darn sexy, feminine and fabulous space!
What do you think? Are you into the high-contrast and drama of a black and gold palette? What are your favourite ways to infuse femininity into your space without going all pink and frills?
Hope my musings have left you inspired and thinking about what it means to be a strong, sexy and feminine woman. 
xo
s.
By |October 15th, 2013|2 Comments