Carrie's Design Musings

Something Old, Something New

The folks at One Kings Lane, who not only inspire us daily, have beautifully curated sales and take us along to shop marketplaces around the globe, have now gone a step further. Look for Hunters Alley, debuting in June.

Hunters Alley came to life when home decor enthusiasts repeatedly reached out to One Kings Lane co-founders Alison Pincus and Susan Feldman, asking if they could sell their pieces on the site. From there, they decided to create a way for anyone with a great eye and a passion for design to sell directly to like-minded individuals.

Many a client has asked me, "How can I sell my furniture?" Short of Craig's List, Ebay, and the consignment stores with their high fees and hard to navigate sites, it proves to be difficult, and you had to weed through more than anyone's fair share of junk! Now Hunters Alley solves the problem, and may be a blessing for high end furniture resale and design lovers. Each seller gets a bio page. Buyer and seller can communicate, and a loving home can be found for the cherished item.

Check out the details and sign up today, to sell (or buy) your treasures tomorrow.

The Eye Has To Travel

I think traveling is one of life’s great gifts. To learn about other cultures, while experiencing the sights,

sounds, and smells of far flung lands opens us up to a richer life.

Whether you’re scaling a mountain,

negotiating in a busy marketplace,

or flea market

immersing yourself in oceans deep;

Do it with your eyes wide open, because inspiration is everywhere!

Traveling eliminates the predictable and transforms the mundane. Our minds are quieter, so we’re free to notice things that we either take for granted or that are not part of our everyday reality.

The ebb and flow of water leaves beautiful lines in the sand that may trigger a fabric pattern

Local decorative art becomes a design element we may incorporate in a design project

The orchard of palm trees lined up like soldiers in front of a desert mountain range may suggest a color combination you’d like to paint your walls.

The fanciful birds of the rainforest may inspire a color palette you might not have thought of.

The marbleized pattern in the stone and the color in the caves of Petra will surely find their way into a future project.

“ A traveler without observation is like a bird without wings.” (Moslih Saadi)

Be open to the beautiful (and not so beautiful) that surround you. Drink it in, make a mental note, take lots of photos. Bringing home a trinket from a trip is great (I highly recommend it), but bringing home an idea that somehow translates into a design element can be transforming.

Hmmm... Where to go next??

You're So Transparent

Stella McCartney

Acrylic and lucite ~ barely there accouterments take a backseat to those around them, but that doesn't mean they should be any less stylish! In fact, they almost shine brighter but in an inconspicuous way ~ that's irony!

Clothes are a no show as well this season. Many a designer showed sheer for spring 2013

Emilio Pucci

In clothing and accessories, whether it is futuristic PVC, chiffon, silk georgette, or gazar, be it panels or the entire outfit, this is one trend you cannot hide behind. Architectural in design, high in style, these transparent players are sticking around.