Hot Home Decorating Trend - African Style

Irwin Weiner ASID - It's not just that I'm noticing this trending towards all-things African in interior design just because I'm from Africa. It's fairly obvious that something has trended towards the masses and it's a big story when you're seeing the front of Home Goods stores plastered with African accessories and tabletop items.

Vernacular African decor uses lots of hand-carved wood, beautiful lacquered finishes, large scale, bold design, and bright prints ranging from overscale florals to metallics and animal skins. "Natural" is what it's all about, but I'd say it's more "super-natural," a bit larger than life, yet still warm, generous, and inviting.

There are colonial influences in traditional African design along with the dominant native motifs. You'll enjoy the following video we just took in my native Cape Town. Jay spent time interviewing Moenieba and Lesley at Colonial House Design. The interior design house and manufacturer typifies the trendiness of the African design movement in everything they create and customize for their clients. Some of their iconic furnishings and accessories are shown in the above photos and in our video. Enjoy!

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Home Decorating Tips - Pay Attention to Your Floor Show

Irwin Weiner ASID - If you're inclined to neglect the decorating and design contributions that floors and floor fashion con bring to a room, please reconsider. What's often underfoot when you step into any room will create first and lasting impressions.

• The flooring material itself should be durable and beautiful. (Keep up with floor fashion trends as well.)
• Match flooring to your traffic patterns and room usage. Will you need a washable surface to easily clean spills? Is your flooring durable enough to stand up to muddy and snowy boots and shoes tramping in from the outdoors? 
• Do you want your flooring to be patterned and call attention to itself ... or fade into the rest of the room?
• Do you want underfloor heating to warm up the room? For instance, there's nothing worse than going barefoot in your kitchen on a cold stone floor!

Once you have your basic flooring materials lined up, it's time to turn attention to what we call "floor fashions." Area rugs and smaller rugs can define a conversation grouping, accent where the family eats a meal together, or even delimit spaces in an open-plan home.

In a recent visit to Cape Town, South Africa, we had the pleasure to interview Pierre Antoine, owner of Fibre Creations. In the following video, you'll hear Pierre's advice for how to decorate with rugs and see some of his latest innovative floor fashions, including a fantastic indoor-outdoor line of soft and durable wovens, the Verandah Collection (see top photo).

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Valentine's Day Special - Vote for Your Favorite Modern Red Home Goods

Irwin Weiner ASID - Our editors have found some fun RED RED RED furnishings reminding us of the passion and fire of Valentine's Day. Click on each photo below for more information, then vote for your favorite at the end of the post. Happy Valentine's Day to you and your loved ones!

1 - Sophie de Vocht Red Lounge Chair

2 - Belly Cabinet by Laurens van Wieringen

3 - Kendo Chair by Allan Murillo

4 - Red Daybed from Dnmark

5 - Decorated Sink by Vitruvit

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3 Things We Hate in the Interior Design Industry

Irwin Weiner ASID - If you've followed our Design2Share videos in the past, you know that we have our own "pet hates" about the design industry. Our Worst Home Design Mistakes video has garnered many thousands of views because people are naturally drawn to worst dressed lists and other industry rants. By and large, we try to stay on a positive, upbeat path, but here are three aspects of the interior design industry that I can't stand ... and I'm not going to take them sitting down any more!

1. Home Goods Shipped in Flimsy Packaging

More designers and their clients are turning to online decorating resources and having merchandise shipped to their homes or job sites. Why do some companies fail to understand that merchandise is fragile and should be well packaged so home goods arrive unscratched, unbroken, unmarred, unbent, and ready to use? I've had mirrors packaged in flimsy cardboard boxes; they arrive with the broken contents tinkling around inside the container. Not acceptable! Advice: Be sure you do not accept any merchandise delivery until you open it up and carefully inspect all items. Do not sign for or accept something that is damaged. Have it sent back and work with your designer to get a free replacement rush shipped in proper packaging - a crate if they have to in order to ensure a better condition upon arrival.

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