Young House Love Celebrates the DIY Life (and Halloween)

Irwin Weiner ASID - It's really wonderful to see the variety of interior design and decorating blogs online! You can find snarky, funny takes on design, inspirational posts from top designers, and amateur "I love to decorate!" folks who blog about the evolution of their home building or remodeling or decorating. Young House Love is a great blog, and if you haven't seen it, click on the link and experience it now. Sherry and John Petersik share their DIY adventures in Richmond, VA, turning a ranch home from bland to hip, fab, West Elm-y cool.

They shop at Michaels and Target and other stores, and they get inspiration from home decor gurus like Martha Stewart (just like the rest of us). And they put out some fun videos, like today's featured duo of vids where they share some original Halloween decorating ideas, tricking out their home in black and white, and then paint pumpkins in a very artistic and creepy-crawlie way. Click here to learn more about their new book, too: Young House Love book.

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Amazing French Sculptural Fireplaces from Focus Creation

Irwin Weiner ASID - Creative fireplace scuptor/designer Dominique Imbert has a talent for crafting suspended, telescoping, and otherwise gorgeous modern fireplaces.

The French company Focus Creation is now distributing its products here in North America through Canadian custom fireplace distributors CF + D. Click on each beautiful model for more product designs and specifications on their suspended, built-in, and wall mounted fireplaces. 

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The Bright Future of Lighting: Charles Loomis

Irwin Weiner ASID - When home goods are created by true artists, we all have cause to celebrate. In a recent trip to The Bright Group showroom at the New York Design Center, I was struck by the incredible sculptural beauty of their Charles Loomis lighting line. First, let me say that it's smart for Bright to carry product lines with an ethos similar to their in-house Bright Chair line: lines created primarily in America that are manufactured with skilled craftsmanship, artistry, responsibility, and one-of-a-kind attention. 

Scala Sconce

The Organza Pendant in the top photo, is a great example of that ethos in action. Loomis is the artist and master craftsman of his own line. He based the overall design of this piece on his daughter's wedding gown, and his kiln-formed diffusers (in blue glass version above) mimic the diaphonous gown she wore when he gave her away. A father's love for his daughter became a craftsman's inspiration, and that is precisely the kind of story I want to tell a client who's looking for a new light fixture! The piece has passion and vision, and that will help me convey its ultimate value. Here are some other favorite pieces; click on the photos for more information, or visit one of The Bright Group showrooms to be dazzled by the bright future of lighting. 

Zaffiro Sconce

Dahlia PendantStix Pendant

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Hooked on These 6 Wild Modern Rugs

Irwin Weiner ASID - Rugs are truly becoming works of art lately. They're no longer meant to cushion high-traffic patterns or provide a cozy island to group furniture around in a room. The rugs I've chosen to share with you today are true works of art. They make statements, like the Wrinkle rug (see top photo) from Beglium vendor Papilio, made from recycled denim jeans. Click on each photo for more details.

Bubbles rug by Sonya Winner

Mambo/Gaudi from Tapecarias Ferreira de Sa

Submarino rug by Igloo for Odabashian

Death on the Dancefloor rug by Marta Baganta for cc-tapis, Milan

Boro1 silk mix rug by Jan Kath

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