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Every turn of the home offers new delights, from a black-lit laundry room to a tricked-out children’s bedroom, complete with a seven-foot-tall giraffe and a giant cobra lamp that once belonged to Sir Elton John! The very best part about the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse, however, is that it raises approximately $1 million annually for the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club! Below are a few photos from my quick tour of the space. For more photos from the show house, like Robin Baron Design on Facebook and check out the Kips Bay Show House album!

Richard Heller of Greener by Design‘s “Wu Wei” outdoor space refers to the cultivation of  a state of being in which our actions are quite effortlessly in alignment with the ebb and flow of the elemental cycles of the world. Very Zen!

Amanda Nisbet custom designed the wallcoverings for her glammed-out master bedroom.

I was absolutely loving the outdoor spaces of the show house! This outdoor terrace, designed by Alec Gunn of Gunn Landscapes, and Robert Stilin, creates a cozy oasis to relax and lounge around. Talk about outdoor entertaining!

Brad Ford‘s Stereo Lounge seems to be a crowd favorite! Low laying couches and table (yes, that’s really a record player built-in!), paired with a massive Noguchi light fixture, give it a 70s vibe.

Note: You don’t need to be able to identify a Swedish antique from a Ming Dynasty relic to enjoy the scope of this show. The dealers are friendly! Pop in, ask questions, take photos and walk out with a new appreciation for the history of interior design. Below, a few of my favorite things from the show:

The design on this cabinet from Hostler Burrows in NYC is actually a depiction of the Garden of Eden made from brass nailheads. What sort of sinful vices could be awaiting inside?!

I found Sonia Delaunay’s wool Automne tapestry to be quite groovy hung above this pair of chairs at the Vojtech Blau booth.

Jeff Bridgman’s booth had plenty of antique flag eye candy for the American historian.

I loved the juxtaposition of new and old at Iliad’s booth. Here, this cut paper collage from 2004 looks right at home with an army of Asian antique statues.

At one point, I looked up to check out a string of bulb lights (calling attention to a 3-piece jazz band and the bar) and I noticed the old Tiffanys clock mounted on the wall. A little slice of Armory history, for sure.

Finding a common thread between who we are (or who we want to evolve into), and how we keep our personal space, is an eye opening experience. Seeing Birger’s artistic vision come to life through her personal spaces and her international fashion and accessories line alike is a true testament to the communicative power of art and design!

To see more images from the book, check out Amazon or Habitually Chic.

What I don’t understand, then, is how a pet’s accessories are often allowed to be exempt from a home’s overall decor. Remember: If you’re putting it in your house, it is part of the decor! Think of your pet’s accessories as a seamless part of your home’s design. And though it may seem as if well-designed or nice-looking pet accessories may be hard to find, it all comes down to where you look.

The fabulous Chilewich, which has transformed vinyl into a material du jour, honors animal lovers with adorably tounge-in-cheek pet mats. Spillage from Mitten’s water and food bowls can be contained on an easy-to-clean, and pretty stinkin’ cute, fish mat. Atop his own bone-shaped placemat, Fido can chow down on his Kibbles n’ Bits without having to worry about his manners.

Nice materials, cute shapes and modern colors…that’s what I call doggie (and kitty) style!

I recently wrote an article for Ecoplum.com called “Greening the Nursery” where I talk about creating an environmentally friendly space for your little bundle of joy. With babies and Earth Day on the mind, I want to highlight one aspect of nursery design that deserves the utmost attention: the bedding! Your baby will spend over 5,000 hours sleeping in his or her first year alone. This means that he or she will spend more time in the crib than anywhere else! At the risk of sounding preachy, I want to reiterate the importance of the bedding chosen for your little babe, as they will be inhaling anything that may be omitted from the fabrics.

There are now lots of options for organic baby bedding, so it shouldn’t be a stretch to find something to fall in love with. I find myself attracted to DwellStudio’s fun, funky patterns. To my delight they have begun to offer several lines of organic cotton baby and children’s bedding.

For a little Chiquita, I love the softness in this pink trellis pattern in the Filigree Blossom line, above, and below on the play blanket. For your little gentleman, there are patterns in more masculine colors like Grey, Chocolate and the chartreuse-esque Mesh Lawn.

Now that my kids are grown, I only find myself shopping for baby bedding for expecting friends. I’d love to hear from you, mommy readers! What brand(s) of organic baby bedding you use?

On my way out I spotted the genius green gardening product that I absolutely must share: Woollypockets, modular gardening containers made from 100% recycled materials. Wollypockets come in “Islands,” small standing planters, “Meadows,” larger, sprawling planters (great for patio/rooftop/deck gardens!), or my favorite, the “Wally,” a satchel-looking planter that attaches to–you guessed it–the wall!

Photo by Joshua White

photo by Suthi Picotte

photo by Suthi Picotte

I find the Wally so cool because of the sheer versatility of the looks that you can create with them. Start with one…if you don’t manage to kill the plants, add a few more and create your own custom vertical wall garden. As a disclaimer for those of you who regularly follow this blog–you will notice that the word “customizable” absolutely over joys me. It allows the user to really think about the best way to integrate it into his/her life. The key here is that as your style evolves, as seasons change, as you grow tired of things, you can mix things up with a product that is customizable and multi-functional!

According to Ecoplum.com (where I am the green living expert):

“Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That comes out to over one million per minute. Billions end up as litter each year. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 380 billion plastic bags are used in the United States every year. Of those, approximately 100 billion are plastic shopping bags, which cost retailers about $4 billion annually.”

Pledge to fight this fact when shopping. Say no to plastic! One of the easiest ways to do so is to simply keep reusable shopping bags with you in your purse or car.

Each Baggu comes with a handy little satchel that keeps it contained and easy to tote while not in use. Eschewing the crunchy granola vibe of so many reusable shopping bags, the Baggu features a modern yet utilitarian shape that is cut to reduce material waste. The insanely large color and pattern palette allows for endless personal expression. Browsing through the site I was drawn towards the energy in the pinky neons like Magenta, Electric Purple and Electric Poppy, below. These are a great way to infuse some fun, spring style into your eco efforts!

Photo by Gisel Florez via baggubag.com

Photo by Gisel Florez via baggubag.com

Photo by Gisel Florez via baggubag.com

In honor of earth day, this week’s Daily Designs will highlight noteworthy environmentally friendly products or services. Have a suggestion for Simplifying Fabulous? Email info@robinbarondesign.com

Newcomers on the green design scene may not have noticed how environmentally-responsible furniture designers are now crafting some of the coolest seating around. And though many green designs are ultra-minimalist (to better call attention to the reclaimed-ness of the wood?),  Andre Joyau‘s Cocoon Chair is warm, inviting and, well, embracing. The Cocoon beckons you to nestle up inside of its reclaimed tree trunk body.

What am I doing this weekend? Oh, just sitting in my tree reading a book.

In honor of earth day, this week’s Daily Designs will highlight noteworthy environmentally friendly products or services. Have a suggestion for Simplifying Fabulous? Email info@robinbarondesign.com

Luckily, in recent years, green-minded renovation companies have been popping up around the country with a collective goal to make renovation and demolition projects better for the environment and hassle-free for homeowners.

In the tri-state area, Green Demolitions will come and inspect your space to see if your kitchen is an appropriate match for its charities, and if so, will provide the labor to remove and pick up your old kitchen. (They also provide a donation value and a contribution acknowledgement for tax purposes!)

image courtesy of greendemolitions.org

Though kitchens are the main donations that Green Demolitions receive, they will also accept many more home items that are in good-to-excellent condition, including bathroom fixtures, heating/cooling systems and furniture.

Donating your kitchen rather than scrapping it will make the world of difference to another family, the environment and, not to forget, your tax return!

In honor of earth day, this week’s Daily Designs will highlight noteworthy environmentally friendly products or services. Have a suggestion for Simplifying Fabulous? Email info@robinbarondesign.com