As an interior designer, style is always of the utmost importance…but as a mother of two my kids ALWAYS come first! At this time of year, I am running around getting my kids ready to go back to school and of course this means getting their “back to school” supplies.

However, being a designer, I am thinking about how to inspire my kids to engage them to do their homework and excel in school…all through loving their environment. I have learned the best way to do this is to create a special space within your home, just for kids and created with your kids, where they can concentrate on work while having fun.

Here are some of my ideas to help you get started!

1. Always keep COLOR in mind! Fun, vivid colors will make your kids feel like their study room is a place they can happily escape to. Try a nice playful rug like this, to liven up your space! If your children are anything like my daughter, they will love reclining and reading in a comfy egg or bubble shaped chair. Just go with bold accent colors to add your child’s own style and flair.

Chair featured from moderndose.com

2. Incorporate your children’s interests into the furniture. For instance, if your son enjoys baseball, purchase a comfy baseball bean bag chair! Freshen up the room with colorful modern furniture that you and your children will both enjoy. Shelving is a great way to get creative. If your child is a fan of skateboarding, they will love these funky shelves to rest their books and school supplies!

As distracting as it may seem to us, some kids love to listen to music while doing school work (like my son). Incorporate what helps them focus into the room’s décor. Make the room fit their personality with a nice sound system and fun design! These cool iPod dock stations come in different styles and colors on speakal.com.

3. Encourage creativity! You want to create a space that makes your children focus on school without feeling like they are in school. Try wall paints that can turn a wall into a magnetic board or chalkboard that your kids can write on.

PB Teen has adorable colorful and patterned tiles that can be arranged into boards for your children to post their work and schedules in style. This would make a great addition to a study area and is available in patterns for both girls and boys.

Accessories are of course important additions to any home décor, and it holds true here. Everything from notebooks and folders, to magnets can add stylish flair to a study area. Find patterns that rock your kids’ imagination, like this tote from Gallison.

4. Keep things in reach. When designing a work space for kids, remember that your kids may not be as tall as you! Everything should be accessible to your children and at their eye level, not yours. Even a hook to hang their jackets on or a cork board to post their homework should both be within their arms reach.

I know my kids can be a great source for design inspiration, so listen to what your kids like, and your end result will be fabulous! Happy “back to school” shopping!

I had a blast at one of NYC’s Farmers Market last weekend! For me, farmers markets are fun because I love the hunt, whether it’s for design accessories, jewelery, or fresh produce. The afternoon also reminded me how easy and affordable it is to the bring vibrant colors of the season into your home.

I’m always thinking about how everyday items can be repurposed, and I include fresh vegetables and fruit in that thought. Here are some of my ideas to keep in mind next time you spend a Saturday at your local market.

1. Try taking an antique bird cage and filling it with your favorite produce.  If you can’t find a bird cage, you can use any interesting basket or decorative plate. Red apples are great for the fall!

2. Use produce to add to existing accessories. Once, I came across two fabulous candlesticks and used grapes to fill in the middle section. The grapes draped beautifully and brought more attention to the candlesticks.

3. Farmers markets normally have a wonderful selection of fresh flowers and plants. For something unexpected, create an outdoor garden in any room by placing bunches of flowers in a desk or buffet drawer.

4. If you are looking for an inexpensive home decor accessory that will last, I love fresh lavender! You can normally find a large selection of lavendar at markets. Place a bunch of lavender in a silver canister for an intoxicating aroma and interesting detail.

The inexpensive nature of these ideas gives you the liberty to play around and try new things! To find a market near you, check out  www.localharvest.org. If you live in NYC, I hope to see you at the market soon!

Art is exciting, reflective, visual…and the NYC art world is never dull! I love fine art and feel it is integral to the work I do as an interior designer. New York City is home to many talented artists giving me an abundance of works to see, artists to meet, and studios to visit. As much fun as this is, it is a big world to navigate, so I often rely on art consultants who know the artists and their works intimately. One of my favorite art consultants to work with is Elizabeth Sadoff. Elizabeth is fun to work with and her knowledge of the NYC art world is remarkable. She knows the scene and introduces me to the city’s brightest and most interesting emerging artists. Here are a few artists that I’ve come to know through Elizabeth.

Bobbi Van:

As coincidence may have it, I have actually known Bobbi personally for years through mutual friends. Bobbi paints on the reverse side of Plexiglas, and her work is comprised of multi-layered and richly-textured passages of color. Elizabeth describes the way in which Bobbi works as “purely intuitive.” While her work is very complex and seems exact, Bobbi can paint in an unpremeditated state of mind because she knows her painting method so well.

Van, Marrekesh, mixed media on plexi, 24" x 36"

Peter Margonelli:

Elizabeth finds the painterly quality of this photographer’s Blur series very intriguing, and I couldn’t agree more! Peter’s works have a mysterious quality and leave the viewer in contemplation…his photographs spark the imagination and spur creativity. In response to his blurred work Peter says, “The photographs suggest space without describing it. Out-of-focus photographs become more about the act of perception and interpretation than a literal reading of the visual elements.”

Margonelli, Untitled Snow Blur, digital photograph, 16" x 20"

Gregory Hilton:

Gregory Hilton looks at his paintings and their simple composition as a “catalyst for interaction.” I love this idea and think that a work that sparks desire, thought, and conversation is absolutely perfect for living spaces. What better place to be inspired and catapulted into thought than in your own home?

Hilton, Untitled #1, pigment and varnish on lutrador, 38" x 48"

Glen Brunken:

Brunken is a painter and printmaker. What I find to be most interesting is that Brunken loves jazz and blues music and is deeply influenced by it. Brunken says, “I believe the rhythms in my pictures relate more to my early exposure to music. The feelings engendered in the music, the time and space they create, are what I try to parallel in my pictures.”

Brunken, Bump and Run, etching, 11" x 30"

Marc Van Cauwenbergh:

This Belgium-born painter creates wonderful abstract works and paints with oil on raw, Belgian linen. I love the movement in his paintings and the look of the pure color on the natural linen.

Van Cauwenbergh, Untitled Black, Gray, Yellow, oil on linen, 24" x 20"

Integrating works of art into your home is a fun yet challenging process. Art can become one of the focal points of a living space and create drama and interest in a room. I love placing works of art in my clients’ homes and think every home should have at least one dynamic piece that spurs conversation and inspires the soul. Stay tuned for more posts on NYC artists!

Happy Friday, everyone! I love working as an interior designer in New York City! I have at my fingertips some of the most fabulous and interesting shopping spots for home decor! If you are lucky enough to live in New York or are visiting soon, you must make a stop at The End of History…it’s one of my personal favorites! Located in the West Village, in and of itself a wonderful place to spend time, The End of History has a stunning collection of vintage, hand-blown glass, rare ceramics, and mid-century modern furniture. It’s my go-to stop for beautiful glass pieces of any kind including vases, lamps, and decorative objects.  Everything is beautifully displayed by color making for an incredible treat to the eyes! This store has been a great resource for many of my design projects, and I find myself returning often to buy gifts and things for my own home.

The End of History: 548 1/2 Hudson Street, New York, New York.

Phone: (212) 647-7598

Business Hours: Monday – Friday 12 – 7pm Saturday & Sunday 1 – 6pm.

In honor of Earth Day, I would like to introduce you to a vendor that serves as a wonderful resource for environmentally-friendly design. Stone Source carries stone, tile, and wood for home decor and offers over twenty product lines featuring sustainable qualities. Among its offerings are porcelain tile made from 50% recycled content, Boneyard brick made from 100% recycled content, Glass Mosaic tiles made from 98% recycled content, and reclaimed wood. I also must mention how beautiful stone and tile look in a home! You can really get creative with the products that Stone Source offers by mixing different colors and textures. The wealth of options offered by the company will surely help you make your home truly your own!

Calling all Kindles, old-fashioned hardbound books are here to stay! If you have a love for books and have always wanted your very own library, take a look at these bookshelves via Desire to Inspire!

One of my talented designers has a friend that designs for a wallpaper company that really jazzes up traditional wall coverings. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, Flavor Paper produces vintage, contemporary, and custom wallpaper. Flavor Paper’s team of designers use vibrant colors that really pop and design according to themes such as floral, geometric, funky, and traditional.

Last summer, the company opened a showroom and studio in Brooklyn. Here are just a few of their patterns, and they customize too! You can also visit Flavor Paper’s Web site here. Have fun!

Wallpaper Patterns by Flavor Paper

These Dali Decals are so fun and will definitely make your home dreamlike!

The 2010 Architectural Digest Home Design Show at Pier 94 was a feast for the eyes!  My staff and I had a great time and left inspired!  Here are a few highlights:

I love these fabulous and interesting ceramic vases, especially grouped together!

An innovative exhibit from DIFFA’s Dining By Design, which was exhibited at the show’s end

A wonderful source for orchids…that’s all they do…from Orchids by Karen!

Two fabulous light fixtures from one of our very favorite vendors, Tanmatra!

These sculptural walnut chairs from Wren & Cooper are beautiful.  I love the “laced up” feeling of the chair!

Innovation from a new company…Mudwall!  Mud room on the wall designs that are both stylish and functional!  They come in many variations and can even be customized.  Perfect for any Manhattan apartment!