More Oscar Fun with Architectural Digest & Roger Thomas

Click on the arrow to view

Well I teased you in my last post with the beautiful rendering by Jeffrey Schneider and now I have another special treat for you!

This time lapse video, so generously provided to us by Architectural Digest, provides a fascinating look into the real life step by step process of interior design construction and installation! It takes a village to raise a child and a huge team of very talented artists and craftsman as well as creative manufacturers and vendors to decorate this green room.

You can see Roger hard at work, arm in arm with his team, putting everything in it's place. He's the very distinguished looking gentleman with the white hair and although I couldn't see them ,I am sure he is wearing one of his signature pair of colorful shoes. Constructing and installing all at once in such a small space must have been particularly challenging. You can see the work table still busy as the furniture is already being brought in. This type of install is like a complicated symphony and it takes and experienced and talented conductor to pull it off.

The room looks stunning and has Rogers usual flair for the dramatic while at the same time addressing the purpose of the room which is to provide a quite, calming, space for nervous nominees! It is a room that could be installed in any home as a main living space. It's not overly themed or kitschy as some rooms have been in the past. I love the reference to the golden age of Hollywood with the painted floor, use of mirror, and formal seating arrangements. Perhaps I am a bit biased being a Las Vegan but I believe he has done a fantastic job!

What do you think?

Read More

Roger Thomas Does The Oscars!

Rendering by Jeffrey Schneider

Roger Thomas, my fellow Las Vegas designer and hospitality designer par excellence has been tapped to deck out this years Oscar Awards , Architectural Digest Greenroom! Thomas single handedly revamped Las Vegas style with such properties as The Golden Nugget, Mirage, Bellagio, Wynn, and Encore among many others all over the world.

He brought sophistication, class and distinction to a world formerly filled with plastic afrontery. Las Vegas owes much of its succes over the past twenty to Thomas and his muse Steve Wynn. I am so thrilled to see AI tapping into his incredible talent. Congratulations Roger - it's about time!

Read More

FREE 30 Minute Webinar – JVT Designs at Work in Studio Graphic Design Software

If you heard my recent interview on The Skirted Roundtable or read some of my posts about design software you may be interested in learning more about how my designs are used in STUDIO graphic design software.

My friend Merlyn (yes, that is her real name) who is the official wizard over at Minutes Matter and I would like to cordially invited you to attend a FREE, 30 minute webinar sponsored by Minutes Matter Solutions on Thursday, March 4 at 1 PM Eastern. You’ll see Merlin use Studio, our graphic design program, to translate the fabulous draperies and valances from my book, The Design Directory of Window Treatments into elevation renderings filled with fabrics, colors, and textures. These complete designs can also be broken apart quickly and mixed and matched for an infinite variety of styles. Never be stumped again how to treat your client’s windows – watch how easy it is to drag and drop these beautifully illustrated images to create drawings that your clients will want show their friends.

To register for this free event on March 4 at 1 PM EST , please click here:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/240892040

for more information, please visit the Minute Matter website:

www.minutesmatter.com

Read More

Get Your Bliss Cheap at One Kings Lane

Bliss Living on sale at deep discount on One Kings Lane -- LOVE this site!

Hurry - Ends Soon

Read More

Jackie Von Tobel – LIVE!

I’ve got some shameless self promoting to do this month to promote several seminars I will be giving in Atlanta, Charlotte and Las Vegas. If you’d like to come meet me in person and learn a few things about window treatments and emerging trends in interior design for 2010 here are the details of my appearances for March.

First, I was thrilled to be asked to be interviewed by some of my favorite bloggers, Joni Webb, Linda Merrill, and Megan Arquette for their fantastic blog The Skirted Roundtable! We did the interview last night and I had so much fun I forgot what I said! I’ll have to listen to it myself to see what I talked about! You can listen to the interview at The Skirted Roundtable later this week.

They are raffling off one copy of my book, The Design Directory of Window Treatments, and one copy of my new book, The Design Directory of Bedding so get on over there and sign up to win!!!

Next, I’ll be the featured speaker at the Las Vegas World Market Design Centers First Friday event on March 5 at 10:00 am. Here is a brief description of the topic:

Design Trends 2010

Bestselling author, product designer and blogger Jackie Von Tobel brings you the latest trends in interior design straight from the winter Heimtextile, IMM Cologne and Maison et Objet interior trends tradeshows. Join Jackie as she gives you a visual tour of these influential shows and breaks down the emerging trends in color, style and design for 2010.

Then I’m off to Atlanta for the DWC Spring event. See the full post about it here.

4000 Summit Blvd.
Atlanta, GA 30319

www.villachristina.com

I will be presenting Emerging Design Trends for 2010 and Selling High End Looks in a Down Economy. Also, be one of the first to see highlights from my groundbreaking new book and graphic software supported marketing system in collaboration with Minutes Matter, The Power of I, due for release in January 2010. I’ll also be showing my new line of eco-friendly fabrics and pillows.

After that I’ll be in Charlotte, NC for the WCAA and AIDP Spring event. This will be an all day seminar covering a wide array of subjects. I’ll be giving away books, and Minutes Matter & Studio gift certificates!!

I may be stopping by the Custom Home Furnishings Academy in Charlotte on March 27th for their open house weekend.

A big thanks to the great editors over at Drapery & Design Professional Magazine for using my Angelica fabric as the background for this years calendar. If you didn’t get your copy be sure to subscribe today!

Read More

Troubling Trend? Taxidermy

I think most of you know that I adore peacocks. I even included them in my pillow collection as I adore the coloring and the regal beauty of the birds. I was troubled to see that many vendors at the winter shows where highlighting taxidermy as their dominant accessories.
Dead, stuffed animals were everywhere: under glass domes, on decorative pedestals, framed as art, and posed on all fours.


Peacocks were the leader in this disturbing trend. But birds of all sizes and varieties were available in abundance. The collection of dead, stuffed aviary specimens at Guadarte was beautiful but creepy.



This trend was not limited to fowl, large mammals were also in vogue with lions, tigers, giraffes, and even elephants available for sale.



It was sad to see these proud, beautiful creatures reduced to elements in a visual display selling fabrics.



The most disturbing was a display by a famous window designer for Hermes that portrayed a luxury campsite filled with Hermes products that was stuffed full of exotic animals including an elephant. I just don't get it!



All of this is in answer to the resurgence of the Cabinet of Curiosities a trend that began in the Victorian area. Personally I think it should have stayed there.



While many of the items in this new decorative category are not as disturbing as stuffed tigers or cheetahs they were all once living creatures who were killed for our need to decorate our living spaces. This is a trend that I just cannot get behind and I find it odd that it is becoming so mainstream. In a world were you feel uncomfortable wearing fur or exotic leather I wonder why there is not an outcry against the killing of these animals for decoration.

What do you think?

Read More

Trend Report: Limed Wood

The second most dominant trend that continues to gain steam at the international markets is limed, bleached, natural, or white washed wood. It was everywhere shown in hundreds of different subtle hues of grey, tan, taupe, and white.

Patinas were boldly distressed, sleek and shiny, and everything in between. Virtually every vendor highlighted some shade of grey or mushroom wood with oak and teak being the raw material of choice.

I know, white washed oak !! – it makes me shiver just thinking of my old pinkish whitewashed kitchen cabinets that I hated with such a passion back in the 80’s! But this new oak is tinted in sophisticated shades of dove grey, tin, gunmetal, lichen, frost, and many others that lend a sophisticated edge to the rough luxe movement.

Pale woods in all hues of whites and creams were also abundant, many mixed with the color of the moment – mauve.

Grayed woods mixed with bright bluish purples were also on display in many showrooms.

This photo shoes the range of tints available at this vendor of teak furnishings.

Kitchens were shown decked out in grey distressed woods that gave them almost a menswear vibe. The perfect compliment to the soapstone countertops and farm sink!

Grey and mauve were the accompanying colors to this new pale wood.

It doesn’t matter if you’re into classic lines -

or a more contemporary aesthetic, the palette is the same.

White on white was also a popular combination with lots of play on texture and sheen for variety.

Super rustic was still on view but for the most part a more sophisticated take on the rough woods was the norm.

This roomscape was the piece de resistance of the show, combining rustic finishes, gilded accents, limed case goods and that fabulous real fur throw as a centerpiece. For me this room really summed up all of the trends at the show in one well designed package. Pale vertical stripes on the walls gradiated from a deep grey to a light lavender at the ceiling. Many subtle variations of grey on the chairs all on men's wear inspired wools welted with patent leather in bright shades of purple and fuchsias. A super pale bleached out repurposed carpet (another trend here) was the base of the display. Wish you could have all been there in person because it was spectacular. My photography does not do it justice! ( I had to sneak this one and actually got thrown out of this show room for taking pictures even with a press pass)

Photos: Guadarte, Provence & Fils, JVT

Read More