Books
The Nate Berkus Show Debut
Sorry friends it’s been a few weeks since I last wrote. Getting used to a new job and juggling life again. I was excited today when I got home after work today to find my PVR had kindly recorded the first episode of The Nate Berkus Show. I eagerly sat down and waited till Nate’s beautiful smile appeared. I must say, he does exude positive energy. I was pleasantly happy the show was a hit. The first story was of a single mother who had been going through a rough time and it was her dream to have her kitchen renovated. The team did not disappoint and of course did a beautiful job. Another segment which I thought was a clever one, was to help you find color combinations that couples could agree on. With a number of questions such as what was your first date outfit color, what color was you childhood bedroom, what color suits the other person etc… a color board of choices was eventually defined. I really liked the photos from Elle Decor that were shown using the colors from the exercise to help viewers picture what you can do using the colors as accents in your own home. Here is the clip:
Overall it was a great show and I look forward to coming home every evening and watching this show. I think we are lucky to have a positive, kind and superbly creative talent like Nate Berkus gracing our television. We need more of this kind of programming, so thank you Nate!
If you already haven’t done so, have a look at Nate’s book Home Rules: Transform the Place You Live Into a Place You’ll Love. A wonderful book to take advice from the master himself.
Book Description: Nate Berkus, regular contributor on The Oprah Winfrey Show, contributing editor of O, The Oprah Magazine, and nationally renowned decorator, has created a book inspired by his belief that everyone should love the way they live. This step-by-step guide to achieving your own beautiful rooms is based on Nate’s signature style and innovative approach to design. As a small boy, Nate could often be found rearranging his room (as well as helping his mother and the other neighborhood mothers rearrange theirs). Throughout the years his passion continued to grow, and soon Nate was heading his own award-winning firm with an elite roster of clients. But it was Oprah Winfrey who gave Nate the chance of a lifetime-the opportunity to go into millions of homes around the world and join her mission to help people live their best lives. It has been a dream come true that has absolutely changed my life, explains Berkus. Not only has working with Oprah helped me redefine my own vision and purpose-but she continues to challenge me to use my own life to help others live better. And there is nothing that makes me happier or more grateful than to be a part of that. As Oprah always says, -your home should be a reflection of who you truly are. Nate says, no matter how much money you have, he believes that is so very true. I am honored to share my love of design to help everyone make that dream real for themselves with this book.
He also has a home collection available, here are tons of great finds on eBay.
I would luv to hear what you think….
Talk to you soon,
Chantal
{Book} Print & Pattern
I’ve been inspired by the lovely blog by Marie Perkins called Print Pattern. It’s an amazing collection of everything that is in print and that is patterned. A wonderful place for inspiration too! And best of all, you can have her book to read over and over again.
Book: Print and Pattern
Book Description: Pattern is everywhere. Years of minimalism have been superseded by a riot of color and shape, whether on walls, fabrics, clothes, or signage. Print & Pattern is a visual celebration of contemporary surface design.
Compiled by the creator of the cult blog of the same name (http://printpattern.blogspot.com/), this book documents the work of the best surface designers from around the world and features products that have been embellished with a surface print or pattern, including graphics, cards, gift wrap, stationery, textiles, ceramics, badges, stickers, and wallpaper.
As well as successful commercial designs, the book also showcases previously unseen pattern designs from designers’ portfolios. Accessible but with a cool edge, the book will appeal to surface designers, graphic designers, designer-makers and craftspeople, illustrators, and fashion and textile designers.
A sneak peak inside…
{Image credits: Print & Pattern book}
Karl Lagerfeld Paris Studio from The Selby Book
I stumbled upon this unique website call The Selby a few months back and I remembered they were putting together a new book {The Selby Is in Your Place (Hardcover)} and wanted to check it out. I found a page full of sneak peak pictures and of course I was intrigued with the photos of Karl Lagerfeld’s studio photos in Paris. What a treat!
Book Description: The Selby Is in Your Place was conceived when fashion and interiors photographer Todd Selby began taking portraits of dynamic and creative people—authors, musicians, artists, and designers—in their home environments and posting them on his web site. Nosy by nature, he wanted to see how personal style was reflected in private spaces. Lucky for us, he found his answer in the color-rich and eclectic quarters of a diverse group of subjects, including Simon Doonan and Jonathan Adler, Faris Rotter, Andre Walker, and Olivier Zahm, in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney, and London. Each profile is accompanied by Selby’s watercolor portraits of the subjects and objects from their homes, and illustrated questionnaires, which Selby asks each sitter to fill out. This book consists of over thirty profiles, many of which have never-before-seen, selected exclusively for the book. The result is a collection of unique spaces bursting with energy and personality that together create a colorful hodgepodge of inspirational interiors.
About the Author: Todd Selby is an interiors, fashion, and portrait photographer and painter. His photographs can be regularly seen in British Vogue, Vogue Hommes International, Dazed and Confused, Another Magazine, Nylon, New York Magazine, and the London Sunday Times.
Lesley Arfin is the New York-based author of Dear Diary and the former editor of Missbehave magazine.
