Warm to Cool / Cool to Warm - Opposites Attract in Nature's Role Reversal

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Soon as we move from warm Summer to the cool Fall and Winter something odd happens.  We designers & humans in general crave the opposite.  In colors, that is. For example check out the walls  I found at my local Bally Fitness gym.  The blue mosaic tiles feel like a welcome cool relief from our sometimes brutal NY summers!  Yet the warming yellow / orange -terracotta tones are what we seek in the the dead of winter.  But I'm not quite ready to let go of my blue relief just yet, are you??

Just Around The Corner - Crate & Barrel Is Already There

Well most of us will not let the Summer go so quickly but Crate & Barrel is already in full Autumn bloom.  This season their theme is "Plum & Berry" - - slides off the tongue nice 'n easy, yes?  The result is a fairly unlikely combination that works: saturated oranges / terracottas paired with deep lush variations of purples.  See below, and better still go to Madison and 59th and see for yourself.  How many give this a thumbs up?  

Hot, Hot, Hot! - Neuvo Latino restaurant "Cabana" is Very Cool

Because I always like to stay in step with Designer Previews' Karen Fisher her latest blog looked in on Nuela, a colorful new Latino restaurant downtown.  Instantly I was reminded of a favorite haunt of mine Uptown called Cabana.  It happens to be something of a secret.  The decor is also done in a hot color scheme. The food is fresh, imaginative and never disappoints.  You will feast your eyes and your taste buds!

Shine The Light : A Cool Lamp for a Hot Summer

I'm still on lights, the lights are still on, it seems.  Well, small wonder - it IS the summer!  This floorlamp is a classic gone cool.  Cool? Because it is shown in brushed silver rather than polished or brushed brass.  I have to hand it to Pottery Barn for bringing this guy up to date.

The shade is also a bit unusual; blue/green like pine rather than ivory or linen; it feels cool.  The double banding is also a nice simple detail.  Are many of you preferring silver over gold these days?

YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE!! JUST BULBS E. 60 ST. NYC

As the sign in the window says "even dim-wits know to come to this store" filled with over 26,000 light bulbs of every color, size, shape and many you'd never even imagine (strings of mini Ruby Red Slippers!) - -all available both to the trade and to everyone else.  You can't help but smile as you approach the front door and once past the threshold you'll break into a huge grin.  Lights, lights, lights everywhere!  It's carnival, it's festival it's fun!

homenowfinally: The Power of Purple

homenowfinally: The Power of Purple

www.glennlawson.com

The Power of Purple

The Color Purple - Sometimes tabooed, sometimes trumpeted.  Well, it's back in full force!  Just open up September's Traditional Home for the evidence.  3 paint manufacturers are represented, all displaying this timely tone:  Glidden (Purple Periwinkle!), Sherwin-Williams and Valspar.  3 fabric houses are on this same wagon: Osborne & Little's stylized floral/paisley print on Roman shades and a bed,  Kravet's eye-catching full page advert and a Ralph Lauren / Brunschwig & Fils purple-blue & white Living Room. Obviously it's "Purple Haze - All Around"!