The Design Daily

From runway to giving Renoir a run for his money, Dorothy Willetts’ design prowess knows no boundary. Her latest work, a sixty five million dollar Coachella Valley showpiece on 37 acres, comes replete with furnishings and art which she fearlessly conceptualized. An eleven bedroom, 40,000 square foot residence boasts almost every imaginable luxury amenity, (think expansive guest quarters, golf course, horses, helicopter pad, pool & spa), plus a few imaginative ones like a date farm, canals, lake, petting zoo (every home should be so lucky), and Margaritaville, the large outdoor bar complete with custom surfboards which bear the property’s logo. Read the full article here.

Though Chris Mercier, AIA, is inarguably a masterful architect, as someone who has worked alongside greats like Frank Gehry and Daniel Libeskind, he is a visionary; not one to be constrained by walls. Founder of (fer) studio in Inglewood, CA, Chris is literally an out of the box thinker: “If you only engage with the interior, you’re limited to square footage, but if you engage the exterior, the whole footprint of the house changes.” He applies this "architectural fluidity" to entire communities and specifically, Inglewood, a city primed for renewal. As the community anticipates the arrival of professional football and the light rail, Chris and (fer) collaborate with the city, local businesses and artisans to bring a fresh blueprint to live / work and retail, one that blurs the lines between buildings and environment. Read the full post here.

Christopher Grubb is the Founder and President of renowned Beverly Hills based Arch-Interiors Design Group. Kitchen & Bath Design News named him a Top 50 Innovator, and he is the creator of two product design studios, The CG Collection, and Autograph by Christopher Grubb. This influencer, go-to presenter and HGTV personality can itemize the “ins and outs” of design direction with ease, yet he’s someone who pays higher homage to an intrinsic element of design, often overlooked. Christopher tells us what's new and next, with an emphasis on the evolution of experiences. 

The best of two worlds converge when the design prowess of Michael Amini meets the marketing ingenuity of Kathy Ireland and the young consumers who’ve come to trust her  brand. Artistry and authenticity underscore their collections, answering the call for sophisticated, accessible design.

“Art” can be perceived as one of those rare languages, spoken and reserved for translation by a discerning few, and meant for the “hallowed halls” of luxurious environments. Not so, says acclaimed interior designer, Dorothy Willetts, someone who speaks the language with fluency. With A-List clientele, and a background rich in art, antiques, and architecture, she’s east coast grounded, west coast spirited and a vibrant proponent of great art’s ability to “live” in diverse settings. Dorothy was a key contributor at Las Vegas World Market’s Art Expo, and panelist for Start With the Art, and 60 Tips in 60 Minutes. She is Founder of Willetts Design & Associates, based in the Coachella Valley.

Nestled is the name of the game, now that sunlight wanes to a crisp chill. Time to grab a warm beverage and cozy up to the comforts of color, furnishings and linens that lend themselves to a good book and a fireside reprieve.

Since Pantone introduced Greenery as 2017’s Color of the Year, we are finally falling for shades of green in furnishings, accessories, and even as a new neutral for walls. Boxy silhouettes give way to soft, swooping shapes with high end details from designers like Adriana Hoyos and Kenneth Cobonpue. The return of natural elements like rattan, caning and coconut shells keep our fondness for nature in the spotlight, and in our homes.

Ronna Griest, furniture and fabrics aficionado, and Design Director for Paul Robert, walks us through the restored 1920’s hosiery mill in High Point, NC that houses a 20,000 square foot menagerie of head turning design. The stage is set for three very different, fully customizable furniture stories: one which leans maximalist, warm minimalist, and one with a modern twist.

A page (or several) from a vintage Parisian journal sets the story line for a newly imagined furniture collection. French Modernism’s beloved simplicity and curves meets California’s iconic, artful ease in the Consort Collection by Mat Sanders and Brandon Quattrone of the celebrity design firm. Read more here.

With zero notion of a "glass ceiling," Florence Broadhurst brushed bold, new strokes across the landscape of midcentury wallpaper and textile design, and her brand is still ahead of its time. Interior designer Holly Hollingsworth Phillips, owner of The English Room in Charlotte, NC. has been named by Signature Design Archive as the first US brand ambassador for the iconic brand, focused on the Florence Broadhurst: Fearless Design campaign for 2018. A maven of maximalist sophistication herself, Holly talks about the brand's fresh appeal, her role as ambassador and her own "buy what you love, do what you love" signature style.

Shades of terra cotta’s warmth are everywhere from walls to refined leather pieces, balanced by a range of blues. These set the stage for storied patterns in textiles and soft furnishings, against more modern frames. Rustic gives way to polished relaxation, like the soft suede Camber chair with it’s lower arms, from Four Hands. Natural materials keep things casual yet on cue in lighting.

These two lighthearted. visionary college buddies are actually highly successful influencers, and creators of comfort. They are the Founders of Comfort Research, an industry leader in lifestyle furnishings. Their story begins with an innovative overhaul of the bean bag chair, which went from college campuses to space (yes, space), then back to earth to retail outlets everywhere. Most recently, they've addressed the growing trend toward indoor - outdoor living with a versatile and affordable line of modular seating featuring Sunbrella fabric. Read the complete post here. 

Furniture innovator 1429 Manufacturing take their modern, digitally infused designs to wall panels; bring west coast influence in a new collaboration with textile designer Victoria Larson. Badgley Mischka Home launches four new, complete collections, inspired directly by their Fall & Winter 2018 runway looks. In a debut collection with Arteriors Home, Interior Designer Celerie Kemble brings Midcentury Italian and French inspired shapes and finishes to occasional and lighting. 

<figure data-test="image-block-v2-outer-wrapper" data-sqsp-image-classic-block-layout="card" class=" sqs-block-image-figure image-block-outer-wrapper image-block-v2 design-layout-card combination-animation-none individual-animation-none individual-text-animation-none image-position-left " data-scrolled > mini episode NOVEMBER 30, 2017 DIGEST: Design that's Hand Made for the Holidays The Design Daily Episode notes:Taking a break from tech: what's hand-made is topping design direction and gift-giving this holiday season. Plus, shimmery (and reusable) glam for small spaces.&nbsp; links:Aviva StanoffNgala Trading CompanyTempaper Designs see more daily digest episodes:

Colors & materials warming, head to the beach for all that's mod.

Julia Buckingham's unexpected and masterful mixing of modern and vintage elements is renowned and has evolved into her signature style and brand, aptly named Modernique. Her designs appear in fine homes and hotels, collaborative collections, and top shelter publications. More than a success story, Julia shares how story translates to success. We join her on site in Phoenix as Modernique prepares for its west coast debut.

When e-commerce giant, Amazon collaborates with internationally known design duo, and HGTV hosts, Robert and Cortney Novogratz, the result is a win for consumers who seek highly curated, yet accessible design in home furnishings and accessories. From the launch of the Novogratz Collection at the 2017 Las Vegas Summer Market, Lisa spoke with Robert Novogratz and Amazon’s Director of Home Innovation, Kristiana Helmick.

Do vintage pieces have soul? How do their stories translate to design? From the Summer 2017 Las Vegas Market, Paige & Smoot Hull, curators of Modern Vintage Design, and the talented duo behind The Vintage Round Top in Round Top, TX, explain the important connection to these "time traveled" elements.