Solar Lily Pads

I saw this on Inhabitat recently and thought this was brilliantly innovative. These Solar Lily Pads, inspired by nature, involve placing large solar panel discs on the surface of the River Clyde. The "lily pad" discs were created by ZM Architecture to aesthetically blend into the river ecology in Glasgow, Scotland.


The solar lily pads are equipped with an integrated motor and sensor which allows the discs to rotate toward the sun. The solar lily pads would therefore receive maximum exposure to the sun's rays.

The energy generated from the solar lily pads would be transferred to the city's main grid. Additionally, the plan could potentially be a catalyst for increased urban development and tourism. The proposal has been submitted to the Glasgow City Council for a trial project.

French Decadence: Le BelleChasse

Hotel Le BelleChasse

I just flipped through the June issue of Metropolitan Home, when I landed on this page stopper. Number 49 on the Design 100 list was none other than Hotel Le BelleChasse. This immaculate hotel is located blocks from the Musee d'Orsay. The decor is seemlingly straight out of a Tim Burton movie. Fashion designer, Christian LaCroix, has created such a striking and diverse palette of imagery with antiques, contemporary art, playing cards, and Renaissance architecture. The colors, angles, textures, and styles are blended seamlessly to form a visual tour de force.

Who really thinks of incorporating insects and geometric shapes on wall paper? It works.

Beautiful pinks, blacks, and whites are taken straight from Lacroix's apparel fashion world.

There are so many rich visuals going on, yet there is an underlying calm to the room.

Clean, modern aesthetics combined with a Bohemian feel.

Gorgeous, velvet tufted chairs in the lobby.

I had to look twice to make sure the lush visuals were actually real! The mix and match dining chairs should be more utilized in the home decor world.

The illustrations do a wonderful job in capturing the exaggerated beauty of the hotel.

Top 5: Green Sports Cars by Inhabitat

Eco-Luxury Driving.

I'm pretty happy driving my Toyota Prius. Of course, my perspective is not of one that is a "car aficionado." Hybrid cars are becoming a much more relevant topic, especially due to higher gas prices and greater concerns for the environment. I tell people all the time that they should consider going with a hybrid, but the main objection I usually get is either price, style, and/or driving muscle. Well, Inhabitat has posted their "Top 5 Sexiest Sustainable Sports Cars". I can't say that these green machines address the price issue. But the cars are definitely stylish, and they'll be able to get you some speeding tickets.

1. The Tesla Roadster

2. Toyota FT-HS

3. Citroen C-Metisse Concept

4. Venturi Fetish

5. Saab Aero-X

The Search for Inspiration

Whether you are decorating a new house or redecorating an old one, it's sometimes hard to know where to start. When customers call our store in search of some guidance, one of the first questions I throw out is, "What kind of colors do you like?". Most people have some idea of what color they want to focus on, even if they don't know where to go from there. Wear Palettes will be your new best friend. They take cool photos and translate them into color palettes, giving you instant inspiration for your next interior undertaking. You can flip through all of their ideas or browse by color. Here are some of my faves:

The nice thing is that you can find neutral palettes, punches of color, really bold combinations- basically, whatever floats your boat. So try it out and get ready to be inspired!

Store Display: Yellow Wall

Here is our latest store display located on the 3rd floor from our visual design team. The bold yellow color with the Hollywood Glam elements makes for a very striking statement.

The Bovary Dining Table has a patterned limestone top with antique brass legs.

When there are 15,000 fabrics to work with, it allows you the chance to put up gorgeous drapes wherever you want.

The Chandler Leather Sectional in a new, true white leather.

Undercover Decorator: Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore is a pretty good actor! Her body of work is quite diverse and highly acclaimed with four Oscar nominations to prove it. But her most unexpected role might just be "Interior Decorator". She's been featured in this month's Domino magazine. It highlights her working with a very modest $15,000 budget (at least for celebrity).

Before and After: Adding punches of color transforms the room from boring to chic.

Amazing what blue flooring can do for a space. Adding books always helps.

For some reason, everything becomes a little more glamorous with fur.

The Rochelle Sofa is a great mid-century modern furniture piece!

Before and After: Went from an Ikea Sofa to the Rochelle Sofa from Crate and Barrel.

When your acting career consists of over 50 movie roles, you'd be smiling too!

The HF List: High Point 2008: Best of the Rest!

For my final installment, I'd just like to show y'all a few things that really caught my eye. Market is a time when people bring out their best creations. For some companies, that is the new "It" sofa. For others, it is something creative and wacky that they just had to create. But whatever it is, market is a time for showing off. Here are my favorites:

I am obsessed with this ottoman. I know my Weekly Obsessions are usually things that I see in the store, but I am still obsessed with this ottoman- just from the pictures. It's the perfect size for coffee table use, the fabric is so cool and fresh in a vintage way, and the legs are the icing on the cake. I may have to hunt this one down if it doesn't come to our store.

Talk about urban cowboy. This rug is just awesome. Squares of hide patched together to create a hide over rug look. Pure genius.

I don't think this picture does this desk justice. But put this desk in a room with white walls and delicate slipcovered sofas and something magic happens. Great for a beach inspired home.

We already have a piece similar to this one in our store, but the antique white finish doesn't have the bang that the dark finish with pink interior piece does. You can even use this piece as an inspiration for something you already have.

Antiqued mirror is my best friend lately. I would love to put the Donnabella Chest in my entryway with this mirror over it. Too much? I think not.

While I wouldn't consider myself modern by any means, I love adding modern touches to my home and this light fixture would be a nice addition. It looks ethereal with the light streaming through the slits. Hot mod!

Domino's Top 10 Interior Decorators: Katie Stassi

Katie Stassi: Domino's Top 10 Designers in 2008

Katie Stassi was featured in the April issue of Domino as one of the top interior designers to keep your eye on. She also happens to reside in our very own Houston, Texas. Stassi only started her business 3 years ago by just helping some of her friends decorate their homes. Her business took off soon thereafter. She largely credits a higher source for her immense talents. "It was a gift from God," she says. "Some people can sing, some people can dance—I can decorate." Stassi's style is elegant and traditional combined with a minimalist twist.

The HF List: High Point 2008: Best of Occasional Tables

What is there to say about occasional tables? Do they rise to the occasion when they are needed for drink holding? Do they celebrate the occasion during the holidays? Do they occasionally bore you to death? These occasional tables certainly will not. Read on...

I think the reason I like so much is it reminds me of an antique fridge my parents have in their living room that is used as their liquor cabinet. It has a couple spaces for storing food and one small space on the bottom for a block of ice to keep the food cold. How cool! So anyways, this chest/armoire thing reminds me of that. When it came to our store, it turned out to be much larger than I expected, but it's adorable nonetheless.

I like the look of combining two materials into one piece like this inlaid coffee table. Two contrasting finishes mean a more versatile piece for you. And, while they shape itself is plain, the contrast adds interest.

Another piece I fell in love with when it arrived at our store. I just love the unique shape of the corner doors. This would be perfect for a large entryway or a dining room. Say goodbye to your boring rectangular buffet and bring this in...



Unless the rectangular buffet happens to be this! Mirrors make a buffet lively and make your room look larger by adding depth. Another vintage modern piece that strikes gold!

Speaking of vintage modern, the white laquered top on this bar table would be perfect if you're looking to inject a little 60's into your home. Personally, I've been hoping to find the perfect white laquered piece to bring into my eclectic apartment for a while now and this just might be it...
Or I could forgo that and bring this in! Now this is a well done ottoman. Ignore the fabric if you don't like zebra because you can choose from, like, a bajillion fabrics. The delicate turned legs, sophisticated tufting, and extra large size make it perfect for that boudoir you've been working on! I would lounge on it with one of those long cigarette holders in my mouth blowing smoke rings... if I smoked... which I don't because it's gross.

For the final installment: Best of the Random Things That Don't Really Have A Home, But Are Great Anyways And I Have To Show Them To You. (I'll think of an alternative title before I publish that one.)

How To: Shop For Leather Furniture

I'll be honest. Shopping for leather can be a daunting task. A leather sofa isn't just another sofa. It's an investment. However, if you shop smart, you can enjoy a piece that will last a lifetime. A prime example: my parents have had their leather sofa for over 20 years! While other sofas have come and gone, been recovered, and given to Goodwill, that leather set has stood the test of time.

The Vivian Sofa by American Leather

First of all, you should be prepared to pay more for a great leather sofa. Don't be lured in by promises of an $800 sofa. That is not a good deal! Why? Because it probably isn't constructed well and the leather itself is probably poor quality. Sometimes things are too good to be true. A good leather sofa that will last needs to be built well and covered with a good quality leather. Here are the things you should look for:

1. Full Top Grain Leather: This type of leather is the strongest, best quality you can get. That's why it's more expensive. It has natural markings on it's surface even if it's been aniline dyed. A sofa made of full top grain leather will last. What you don't want is a sofa made of split leather. The split is the underlayer of a cow's hide. It has no natural grain, so any markings will have been embossed. It is weaker and less durable than full top grain leather.

The Dexter Sofa by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

2. Aniline Dyed Leather: Aniline dyed means that the dye is dispersed throughout the entire hide. Translation: if you scratch a black sofa, the layer underneath will not be white- it will be black. Why is this important? Anyone with pets or kids (well, anyone) knows that leather will not remain untouched unless you cover it in plastic. Scratches happen. The best thing you can do is disguise them. What to avoid? Painted leather. Not only will it make you sweat (pores closed by paint won't let air circulate around your bum) but it will also show wear more quickly. That would be less bang for your buck.

3. Kiln Dried Hardwood Frames: Having the best leather in the world on your sofa won't mean a thing if the frame falls apart. Make sure your frames are kiln dried (meaning they suck out most of the moisture to stop your frame from rotting or warping) Hardwoods will last longer than softwoods (do I need to explain why).

4. Slipcovered Upholstery: I'm not saying your leather sofa should be slipcovered. Because that might be kinda weird. Great upholstery is put on using a slipcover technique. That means the manufacturer sews the upholstery like a slipcover and then slides it onto the sofa. It is then fixed to the bottom and voila! Your sofa. The pro to this method is that the seams will not break open like they do using the other method. That other method is closing the upholstery at the back seam using a tacking strip. Imagine spikes poking through your seams. Not awesome.

The Jonathan Lounge by Oly Studio

5. Padded Frames: There's nothing quite like using your knee to help you push a chair foward and having said knee poke right through the back of the chair. Awesome. Luckily, there is a simple cure for that. Make sure the entire from of the piece is padded. That means the frame is closed all over the piece and padding is attached to the frame. No gaping holes!

6. Quality Suspension: When you buy a piece of furniture as expensive as leather, you want it to last, right? Right. So make sure the suspension system will withstand all of the sitting, and getting back up, and flopping down, and kids jumping, and so on. There are a few options: Eight way hand tied has the popular vote. Many people are familiar with this kind of suspension and it certainly is high quality. Unidirectional webbing is another good option. High strength webbing is lined up front to back so when your pervy Uncle Lou sits next to you, you won't fall into his lap. You could also try sinuous spring suspension. Thick gauge S-shaped wires curve over seats and can definitely take a beating.

7. High Density, High Resiliency Foam Cushions: Sure, cushions can usually be replaced pretty easily, but why would you want to? Make sure the cushions used in your leather sofa are high density (meaning: more molecules packed into a smaller space) and high resiliency (meaning: the cushion will bounce back for a long time). Be careful when dealing with soy cushions. Some companies haven't gotten their mixture right and what was springy on day 1 will be flat by day 30. You'll want you cushions to last- especially if your sofa has a tight seat.

The Laguna Swoop Chair by Maria Yee

The HF List: High Point 2008: Best of the Sofas

Well, tomorrow took a bit longer than I expected. You know how it is, things get busy, new furniture comes in , and before you know it, tomorrow turns into a week. I haven't forgotten about the High Point Previews. At long last, here are the best sofas from High Point 2008:

Dost mine eyes deceive me? Could this be the Keaton disguised in a slipcover? Um, yes it could. Sure, the nailheads are gone, but the frame remains, and it looks casual and beachy draped in a slipcover as opposed to the traditional, formal upholstered Keaton. Nice move, Mitchell and Bob.

Simply clean. No frills. No extra details. Just a plain jane sectional awaiting the fabric of your choice to gussy it up for the ball, ahem, I mean, for the journey to your living room. If simplicity is what you crave, this one will do the trick.

What a pretty little sofa. All tailored and preppy. Perfectly coordinated pillows right down to the matching welt. If your style is more Ralph Lauren than Alexander McQueen, sit your prim posterior in this perfect piece. If you do, I promise not to hit you with that much alliteration again for a long time.

A sharp base and slouchy cushions make this one the perfect family sofa. Three squishy cushions are just made for jumping (while the parents have their backs turned). Everyone can snuggle up while watching Enchanted and scarfing down popcorn. Nailheads add enough class to entertain the poshest of visitors. It's the best of both worlds.

I'm not quite sure who the guy above is, but hopefully he's thinking to himself, "My this is a comfortable sofa. I must pick one up immediately! To High Fashion Home I go!" Okay, so more likely he's thinking about what to pick up for dinner. But this sofa does look comfy. The overstuffed seat! The sloppy chic slipcover! The headrestable arms! Take this guy's word for it: It's fantastic.

Monday's High Point Preview: Best of Occassional Tables.

Notes From The Design Team: AT Smallest Coolest Home Shout Out!

Jennifer's Houston Hottie Hideaway

The HFH design team is obsessed with all things design, especially design websites and blogs. One of our favorites, Apartment Therapy, is currently in the last phases of their 2008 small cool apartment contest. And... (drum roll please!), one of the finalists in the midwest category, Jennifer from Houston, has listed High Fashion Home as her favorite resource for the home. She said "High fashion home in Houston has the coolest selection of fabrics and furniture, its like a candy store for interior enthusiasts." Thanks for the shout out Jennifer! Check out more pics from Jennifer's entry on the Apartment Therapy website. She has an awesome trainer collection and I think I spied one of our Buddha statues in her bathroom!

Earth-Friendly Upholstery by LEE Industries

You've probably seen or heard about LEE Industries. It's hard to get away from these guys. They are featured in every home decor magazine imaginable. Everything from Domino to Metropolitan Home to Elle Decor has featured Lee Industries' eco-friendly, high style, high quality furniture.

Domino Magazine: The Green List / Living Room

Metropolitan Home: Green Solutions

Lee Industries has been working with Crate and Barrel for a while now. The Ross Sofa, Lockport Sofa, and Azure Sofa have been recently featured and heavily promoted by Crate as their eco-friendly upholstery frames.

Crate and Barrel: Ross Sofa - $2299

Our buying team first saw the Lee showroom back in 2004. Back then, they mainly did a lot of cottage furniture. Oh my, how things have changed. They went from outdated manufacturers to upholstery trend-setters. In a few weeks, we will proudly bring Lee Industries into our stable of great American upholstery manufacturers.

Every piece of LEE furniture is made in the USA by craftsmen that are experts in their field and take pride in their workmanship. They only use steel coil springs in their eight-way hand-tied seat decks. Their frames are certified, select kiln-dried hardwoods. The joints are double-doweled and every corner is blocked, screwed and glued. That means that your furniture will not creak, sag, split or warp, no matter what. LEE has a massive selection of fabrics with more than 1000 fabrics and 80 leathers to choose from.

Also, while many companies are adding the "green" label to their name, LEE has a long track record of eco-friendly manufacturing. They use naturalLEE soy-based cushions, certified frames, recycled filling for pillows, water based stains, and offer many organic and natural fabrics. Just by using the naturalLEE cushions, in 2007 alone, LEE Industries has saved over 10,000 gallons of crude oil and has eliminated 54,000 pounds of CO2 emissions.

With their unparalleled quality, style and love of the environment, their introduction at High Fashion Home is highly anticipated. Check out the photos below to see what's coming in:

Gorgeous tufted sofa in a velvet.

The fabric is beautiful up close. Looks close to the Azure Sofa from Crate.

This right-sized club chair features beautiful nailhead detailing on the back and sits great!

A very distinct sectional that looks like it belongs in the lobby of a boutique hotel.

Luxurious crewel fabric in a frame that is very Anthropologie-esque.

The down-seating is phenomenal on this piece. We're bringing it in a rich, khaki linen fabric.

Very handsome piece. We'll floor it as shown.