Robin Baron Design

Robin Baron is one of the newest members of VandM.com‘s DESIGNinTELL inSIDER team, “a coveted visual directory of industry influencers” handpicked by the VandM team.  As a part of this “inspirational [group] of style setters in design, fashion, fine art, and collecting,”Robin shares her favorite selections from VandM’s ever-expanding collection of well curated vintage and modern furnishings, jewelry and more!

See her profile here!

Each year, I love to check out the good, the bad, and the far-out-there room vignettes featured in the annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House on New York City’s Upper East Side. This year, a four-story, 16 room neo-Federalist style home plays host to the interior design dreams come to life of 22 interior and landscape designers.

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.

New York City’s Art and Antiques Week kicked off last night with the preview of the Spring Show NYC. The Park Avenue Armory plays host to this trade show of sorts, featuring fine and decorative arts and antiques from galleries and dealers from around the world. If you happen to be in town this weekend, add this show and some of its accompanying lectures, to your list of “must do’s!”

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.

We’ve got babies on the mind lately here at Robin Baron Design. No, no, none of the ladies here are expecting, but it seems that many of our loved ones are! I had a lovely catch up dinner the other night with my former employee and expecting mama Andrea, and my marketing manager Mollie is in the midst of planning her best friend’s baby shower next weekend. The spring seems to be the most appropriate month to celebrate all of these expecting mothers: it is, after all, the season of life, beginnings and Mother’s Day celebrations!

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?

Repurposing an item or piece of furniture gives it new life. Repurposing is one little shade of green in the eco friendly spectrum, but it’s one shade that can make a big design impact. At the recent Architectural Digest Home Show, I came across Norwegian furniture company Hodnebo‘s Spinnaker chair. With a back crafted from repurposed sailboat sails, the Spinnaker blends comfort and style with an eco sensibility.

What I love about repurposing is that you can really customize your design.  In this case, if you grew up sailing, have family who do, or just have a love for all things nautical, you can order the chair to be made from your own sails.

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

It’s always such fun to see which big home decor brands Tar-zhay partners up with to stimulate the interiors mainstream.  Hot off the press is the lookbook for the new collab between the bullseye and island-living inspired Calypso St. Barth. The collection features not only funky homewares, but women’s and children’s frocks and accessories as well.

Seemingly Moroccan-inspired poufs, tie dye trays and jewel-toned bud vases are the highlights of the new Target/Calypso St. Barth home line. And though I may already have enough melamine plates and tumblers to host a pool party for the entire Royal wedding, at these price points there is always room for more!

(Head to Target’s Web site or stores May 1st to get your fill!)

Pillows, $24.99 each

Glass Bud Vase $4.99 each

Serving Tray, $12.99

When it comes to grocery shopping, I am a strong supporter of buying seasonally and buying local. You can imagine my joy when I spotted a series of gorgeous “Buy Local” prints and tea towels by Brooklyn illustrator Claudia Pearson at a recent West Elm/Etsy event here in Manhattan. These combine my love for beautiful art and objects with my personal values and ideas.

I truly believe that it is important to surround yourself with items that make you happy and are reminders of not only how you live your life, but how you want to live your life! These whimsical illustrations are great reminders to keep this mantra in mind when heading out to the grocery store or green market. It’s also fun to switch out your towels or artwork from time to time to add some fresh, seasonal life into your home!

Image courtesy of Claudia Pearson

"Buy Local" print image courtesy of Claudia Pearson

Visit Claudia’s Web site and blog to see more of her lovely work, or her Etsy site to get yourself something nice!

This morning I stumbled upon the deliciously cute blog How Sweet Eats and was excited to see an adventurous recipe for cake batter pancakes. I would cook these up as a random surprise for my kids–who needs a birthday to celebrate? While these sweet treats are on my cooking queue, here are some plates and platters to satiate my appetite for a party!

Image via Howsweeteats.com

Burlap and Blue cake stand, etsy.com

David Stark for West Elm, westelm.com

Bowls with Lids from target.com

Jane Jenni plates, janejenni.com

Calling all interior design commitment phobes! Allow me to introduce Blik, the SoCal removable wall graphics company that will help you unleash your inner design wild child. As soon as you’ve had enough excitement, these temporary decals peel right off the wall, giving you a blank slate to start all over again.

Blik offers up endless wall graphics from the newest Disney movies (perfect for kids bedrooms) to special edition series by celebrity designers (perfect for college dorm rooms). I, naturally, gravitate towards their series of silhouetted furniture graphics. These temporary headboard wall decals would add color, personality and whimsy to the bedroom without much time, effort and money. If only everything in life was so easy!

Nessa Headboard, photo: Blik Surface Graphics

Nico Headboard, photo: Blik Surface Graphics

Olivia Headboard, photo: Blik Surface Graphics

Wrought Iron Headboard, photo: Blik Surface Graphics

Most architects these days use computers to create blueprints rather than drawing them up by hand. As practical as that technology is, there is something so wonderful about the craftsmanship that goes into crafting the traditional blueprint. This sentiment came over me last week at the Architectural Digest Home Show when I spotted Cleveland-based industrial furniture designer and artist Kevin Busta‘s Birds on Wire panels, below.

Busta silkscreens images of birds and other animals on vintage blueprints, melding his industrial aesthetic with a sort of dreamy nostalgia for the days of architectural yore. Busta will also create custom pieces from your own blueprints; a great re-purposing idea if you do have some vintage blueprints that were passed down or spotted and “had-to-have” at a flea market. I think that this is a wonderful way to turn your personal history into art!