Video: Jack Lenor Larsen, Fabric Designer

Irwin Weiner ASID - Elle Decor magazine recently featured short quotations from fabric design icon Jack Lenor Larsen, and it became immediatley apparent why this creative man became so successful. For those not entrenched in the interior design industry, his signature Larsen Fabrics company is now owned by Colefax and Fowler. Here are a few of his gems of wisdom, which I find very inspiring.

Sparrows build their nests to suit. Homes should be like birdhouses: Build them out as needs arise.

A common problem is that someone will have a blue rug and a blue sofa, and the two shades don't go together. What do you do about it? I would buy five more shades of blue, in pillows and other things. Pretty soon you'll have a color symphony.

If you want a color contrast, do it in small quantities. Take risks, but ones that can be changed.

It's more important to reinforce one's identity than to worry about taste. You won't learn taste until you've made some mistakes. Be courageous. Experiment. It's much more fun.

Click on the Jack Larsen link above to see the Elle Decor article, and enjoy today's featured video, an earlier "Handmade in America" interview, to learn more about his process.

 Click here to subscribe to our daily design videos and features.  

3 Cool Design Apps We Just Discovered

Irwin Weiner ASID - I can imagine a very special 12 Step program for me. Here's how one of my meetings would begin.

My name is Irwin.

Hello, Irwin.

I'm an Apple-holic. I admit to being completely obsessed with my iPhone and my iPad. I look at the bright screen in the dark, in bed, at stop lights when I'm driving, and during my client appointments - because there are so many great apps that help me with my interior design business. What did I do before Apple came along?

If you're an Apple-holic, too, you can relate. Or any other tablet and SmartPhone user as well (Android apps are great, and I admit I'm addicted to them when we use our Google TV). I ran across these three relatively new (to me) home design industry apps that continue to add to the growing functionality of mobile devices and their many uses in everyday business and residential life - including inspiration and generating great ideas.

Click on these links for more information on Edition29 ARCHITECTURE, the Schumacher App, and SnapShop Showroom.
 
 

 
 

 
 

Bonus

Click here to watch more design videos on our feature There's an Interior Design App for That.

 Click here to subscribe to our daily design videos and features.