If you are looking for highly sustainable and unique furniture pieces then consider furniture made from bamboo or chamcha. Both are made from plant species that grow extremely quickly and as a result can replenish themselves rapidly.

Bamboo is able to grow more than three feet in a day while chamcha, which comes from the Acacia Tree and is found in warm tropical climates, grows to be nearly 200 ft tall.

Many chamcha pieces retain the Acacia tree’s likeness such as the Chamcha Wood Console. This piece makes a big statement with its distinct wood grain and its heavy, tree-like appearance. It can be mixed into the decor of many different homes whether they’re traditional or modern. Other chamcha options make use of the wood in a more typical way, shaping it into standard sized and shaped furniture.

Unlike chamcha’s more spiraling, rich grain, bamboo is very geometric in shape and pattern which inherently gives it a very modern look and feel.

The use of bamboo for home decor took off in 1939 in San Francisco when architect William Merchant commissioned an entire room to be decorated out of the material. This look helped define the era’s decor and continues to have an influence as more and more items from clothing to furniture are being made from bamboo.

To keep bamboo furniture in tip-top shape, dust it regularly and keep it out of the sun. It should be washed occasionally using a soft cloth or sponge and gentle soap, lots of water and a bit of ammonia. Make sure after washing bamboo that you let it dry thoroughly. Rough spots can be treated with fine-grain sandpaper and then sealed with paste wax. To keep it shiny, polish bamboo with linseed or flaxseed oil. To care for chamcha furniture, keep it dust free using a soft brush or damp cloth.

Both bamboo and chamcha offer the durability and beauty of the natural grains found in many other wood species. As an added bonus, these products are highly sustainable, eco-friendly and they continue to gain popularity as homeowners and consumers in general become increasingly environmentally conscious.

Images courtesy of Phillips Collection, The Home Co. and Dida Home

Summertime in South Florida and not only is the living easy – the living is hot! Temperatures hover at a pretty constant 90 degrees – depending on the humidity level and the amount of breeze we have the “feels like” temperatures can be anywhere from 88 to 98 degrees. Any way you look at it – it is hot.

Our Design Team have taken this theme and run with it choosing some of the best fabrics, wall coverings and metals we have available. Kartell’s Louis Ghost chair done in gold as part of their Precious collection is HOT – their ice bucket in the same tones will still look hot even when it is filled with ice. Bright gold fabrics used on accent pieces and draperies add to the heat but don’t despair – the cool is coming.

White laser cut fabric was chosen to cool things off – white makes you think of ice and the thought of the breeze blowing through the holes should drop your temperature a bit. As well the introduction of the bright blue in both fabric and wall coverings is another attempt at cooling things off and it does work. Think of the beautiful blues in the ocean – and if that wasn’t enough the breeze that is almost constant around the water will lower your temperature.

All of our Design Team are excellent at pulling together a mood board just like this with any color combination you love – and some you may not have thought about. Watch for the next one!

Images courtesy of Romo

The international languages being spoken, the sophisticated women dressed impeccably at the front door and the undertone of an excited buzz let you know you were in the right pavilion – Maison and Objet was here!

The show was wonderful! The vendors were – without exception – happy to be in Miami and the best news we heard was that they have already booked for next year and have enough requests from vendors who want to participate that it will be twice the size.

Eclectic can be an overused word but that is what I thought of with the variety of exhibitors. There was sleek, cool, ultra contemporary including in outdoor furniture. There was gilt and gold and patterned rugs. There were lights and rugs and wall art. There were porcelain hearts and bronze sculptures and metal dishes. There were a few familiar faces but mostly we met new vendors. Many of them have small family businesses and felt obliged to get to know us since they are used to that way of conducting their business partnership.

We bought some unusual accessories and pieces of art and have been promised them very quickly so the showroom will be even more fun! Doesn’t mean I want to miss Maison Paris but it sure is a treat to have this venue in our own backyard!

There is great excitement in the design community these days in south Florida. Maison and Objet the famous design show started in Paris is coming to Miami Beach May 12th through 15th. Do yourself a favor and if you are anywhere within a 200 mile radius get yourself there.

Maison and Objet started 20 years ago in Paris with the tag line “Essential International Inspiring”   The show happens twice a year in January and September and has grown to be one of the most important shows in the world for emerging trends and Designers. They pride themselves on being a springboard for brand growth. They are current and futuristic – they are very tuned in, as they say on their site, to “future atmospheres”.

You will certainly see an overview of excellence and innovation – the best of the best as far as Designers and their ideas and products they support. In Milan several of the accessory vendors said they will be at Maison and Objet Americas (as it is called) and see us there. Yes they will! Based on the success of the Maison and Objet Asia which had its first show in March 2014 this too will become a force of its own.

Look for pictures on our Facebook in a couple of weeks when we report back.

There are lots of reasons to be happy about the arrival of Spring and none more so than the Milan Furniture Fair that happens once a year in April. 

The place is buzzing with excitement! There are people everywhere, the showrooms are packed with new designs and just about everywhere you look there are new ideas to stretch your imagination and stimulate your creative juices.

We come to markets for just that reason and the combination of perfect spring weather and the beautiful showrooms has everyone incredibly happy and optimistic about our industry (this is Italy so there are olives and wine too to aid in the optimism).

What are we seeing consistently? The colors are still soft warm neutrals but the accents are bright and cheerful – strong yellow almost in the citron family, orange, spring green, and gray. The metals are a bronze color softening to a brushed brass. The woods are still walnut, tobacco and open pored very light oak we have seen in past markets. This year there is also open pored elm which is quite unique and beautiful. We are seeing a lot of items that have used metal, wood and marble together – the coolness of the metal and marble combined with the warmth of the wood makes for a beautiful marriage in these pieces.

Lastly in a tip of the hat to the “transformers” many of the companies have product that is one thing at one point in the day and Shazam! The next thing you know it is hidden away or folded up and the room looks completely different. We all know that homes and condos in general are not as large in Europe but there is certainly a market for this in the United States with all of our Boomers thinking about downsizing. We looked long and hard at all of the vendors presenting this type of product to us.

We felt that the Design Industry, designers and manufacturers alike had really upped their game in the Contemporary market. If you asked us to use one word to describe the fair this year – Fabulous!!

Next up – High Point! Stay tuned, it starts for us on Saturday.

If you want a durable piece of furniture with some true history to it, consider investing in a piece made from reclaimed wood. Most reclaimed wood comes from timber that was used to construct old factories, warehouses and barns that have since been torn down. Woods like longleaf pine, redwood and American chestnut, once plentiful and used widely for construction are now only found in large quantities when sourced from old buildings. Reclaimed wood goes through several processes including cleaning and drying to ensure its quality.

Whether it’s being infused subtly into a room through an accent item, or being made a focal point through a substantial piece like a table, reclaimed wood has the ability to both ground a room and make a statement.

The mixed modern eclectic look is one that we continue to revisit and refer to on this blog – the notion that today’s rooms bring together a number of influences and styles into one space. This is great news for the modern homeowner and collector because it means furniture once designated to a particular set or room is no longer mismatched when brought into the mix in another.

Reclaimed wood as a textile exemplifies the mixed modern eclectic look because it can be sourced from a number of places and comes in all sorts of conditions, yet it can be paired with something as classic as the Ponti Dining Chair. When combined with the right accessories and palette, reclaimed wood can give a room a real modern edge.

The Sorrento Buffet embodies today’s mixed modern eclectic look. Made from reclaimed wood and metal, with lines inspired by mid-century modern design it has the feel of a 1960s buffet but it’s materials make it modern and fresh. Pair it with a glass dining table like the Policleto Ellittico Extendable Glass Dining Table for a truly fresh look.

When you think of reclaimed wood one of the first pieces that comes to mind for many is the farmhouse table. Their scale allowing the wood to be fully unveiled; it’s imperfections, grain, and knots on display, telling the story of where the wood came from.

If you don’t have the opportunity to buy a table made of reclaimed wood there are many options on the market that allow you to incorporate the trend into your home in more subtle ways. Coat hooks made from planks of reclaimed wood look wonderful in entryways and mudrooms, greeting people with a great deal of warmth and charm.

The first Design a Pet Bed Contest was a great success and showcased the creativity and originality of all who entered it—-Design students, Designers, and animal lovers.

Done in conjunction with the first annual “Love your Dog Day” these beds were on display at the store for several days and will now be auctioned at the main fundraiser of the Tri-County Animal Rescue, the 13th annual Doggie Ball on Sunday March 22nd 2015.

Tri-County Animal Rescue (TCAR) is a no-kill, non-profit animal shelter working to prevent the killing of over 170,000 unwanted pets in Miami, Broward and Palm Beach Counties each year. Since their inception in 2001 they have saved over 50,000 domestic animals from being euthanized and this has been due to their very strong record of placing animals in homes through their adoption process. The second main arm of the organization is education through awareness and this includes businesses and the local schools.

Have a look at these photos and you will see our unofficial judge Max was very comfy in every bed he tried!

The Top Dog Award went to “LoubPawTins” designed by Courtney Thomas and Olivia Marshall from the Art Institute of Florida. Every person, without exception broke into a smile when they saw this wonderful oversized shoe. Complete with a secret door on the back of the heel for treats it was beautifully made and as you can see Max is very comfy!

Second place went to “the Stiletto Stroll” by Roberta Stealy. This bed was both luxurious and tongue in cheek—-we all know the expression “in my next life I am coming back as my dog!”. I guarantee none of us have a bed as wonderful as this! Purple silk on a down pillow tucked into a gold box—-complete with gold stilettos. Again Max seems to be a pretty happy camper!

Third place went to “Dog Chillout Space” by Abdullah Abuhaimed and Manuel Noboa also from the Art Institute of Florida. Key Largo and Jimmy Buffet pop into your head when you see the shag roof and the suspended hammock all tucked into a wonderful frame nicely placed on wheels for ease of moving. Very creative and even though a very large dog would be comfortable in the space Max – once again – was sure this was made just for him!

All the rest of the entries were equally creative and well executed—-we had a baseball bed, we had beds made from frames, shelter glam beds and one with a chalk board for the animal’s name. Scroll through the pictures on our Facebook to find your favorite – enjoy! And remember to join us and support the Doggy Ball on Sunday March 22nd 2015. (561-482-8110)

One of the most exciting and innovative lighting companies we carry, Aqua Creations, was founded in 1993 by the Israeli artist Ayala Serfaty and her husband Ali Serfaty. Ayala studied fine art at the Bezalel Academy in Tel Aviv and then at the Middlesex Academy in London England. 

Her early work – the lights and lamps, are influenced by underwater plants and creatures. This becomes very evident when you stand in a room with her pieces. Her work is very popular in South Florida since we are surrounded by the water and many people spend a great deal of time on, in and under it. 

Described as organic, sensual, and free flowing her lamps will make you just stand and stare. They are so beautiful and because you can chose from a great variety of both styles and colored silks the choices are almost endless. The lamps are made of treated hand dyed silk from India laid over a metal structure. Each lamp is made to order and is truly made just for you. 

Since the factory is in Tel Aviv all of these lamps coming to the United States are packed in a custom made crate to ensure that they arrive looking exactly the same as when they left. Have a look at some of these lamps, once you see them you will start noticing installations in a variety of places. The Seagate Hotel in Delray Beach and the Breakers in Palm Beach both have large installations which always bring lots of inquiries and smiles. 

Because she is an artist Ayala is not content to just keep doing the same things; she is currently working on furniture. Again whatever she chooses to do is very unique, beautiful, and exquisite. 

Muvman – sounds like an order to “get going” when in fact it is a wonderful new sit to stand seating solution.  The center post offers lateral motion and a thirteen inch height adjustment range. This low impact, subtle, intuitive motion makes sitting and standing healthy, dynamic and fun.  It is a great perching stool.

We have all heard about the study of ergonomics – the definition comes from the Greek word ergon meaning work, and nomoi meaning natural laws. It is the science of refining the design of products to optimize them for human use. Human characteristics, such as height, weight, and proportions are considered, as well as information about human hearing, sight, temperature preferences, and so on. Ergonomics is sometimes known as human factors engineering.

Computers and related products, such as computer desks and chairs, are frequently the focus of ergonomic design. A great number of people use these products for extended periods of time — such as the typical work day. If these products are poorly designed or improperly adjusted for human use, the person using them may suffer unnecessary fatigue, stress, and even injury.

Four health benefits from working in an “ergonomic” position are the following

1. Longer life expectancy
2. You burn more calories
3. Improved posture and circulation
4. increased energy and stress reduction.

Say good bye to Radiant Orchid and hello to wine red Marsala. Every year New Jersey based company Pantone picks a new color of the year based on the opinions and trends of fashionistas and on the insiders from the music industry, travel, movies and technology. Radiant Orchid won the honor in 2014 and Emerald was the top choice in 2013.

Quoting the Pantone spokesman, “Marsala is a naturally robust and earthy wine red color that is subtly seductive. Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this tasteful hue embodies the satisfying richness of a full filling Marsala while the grounding red brown roots emanate a sophisticated natural earthiness.”

This year’s shade appeals to men and women alike and tends to flatter skin tone. Look for this color in everything from a coffee maker to evening gowns.