March Favorites: Our Top 5 in Italian Design

For Italians, style is a way of life. Walk on the streets of Milan or Parma and you'll see an unmistakable sense of fashion and personal comportment missing on most American mainstreets. D2S editors wanted to pay tribute to the Italian verve in home furnishing by selecting 5 of our favorite designs. Click on each photo for more information.

Binic lamps by Ionna Vautrin for Foscarini

D. R. D. P. two seater by Roberto Lazzeroni for ddc

Cenedese Glass Sink from Seguso

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February Favorites: Top 10 Accessories

Janet Ramin - One of the questions I get frequently asked – how can I perk up a room without spending too much money? My answer? Accessorize! Find something you really love and see if you can work it into your room. 

Now, this doesn’t mean you should bring home that life-size taxidermy trophy of your favorite wild animal or the blinding multicolor needlepoint wall hanging that doesn’t go with anything. You should take a snapshot of your room first with your digital camera before you head out to the stores and find that special accessory. This will prevent any buyers’ remorse later on. 

Here are my top 10 accessories – I picked a favorite in each category. 

1. Afghan Pillow from Wunderley - The pattern on the pillow is from an old Afghan pattern, but it's been modernized with a bright pink pop of color - great for brightening up an old tired sofa or bed.

(Afghan Pillow from Wunderley)

2. Glass Vases from The End of History - If you have anxieties about committing to a color, try just buying colored glassware. When you group glassware of different heights with similar color, you bring instant elegance and dramatic color to any room. The soft purple bottles are designed by Carlo Moretti and the teal vases by Empoli - all from the store The End of History.

(Glassware from End of History)

3. Moroccan accent lights from VivaTerra - While lighting isn't really an accessory, it becomes one when it's just an accent light.  Accent lights don't provide enough functional light but they do set the mood to the space and provide spots of light for added visual interest.  These Moroccan lanterns are pierced and will provide wonderful patterns of light on your walls and floor.

(Moroccan lights - Viva Terra)

4. Prisca Mirror from Hayneedle - These antiqued mirrors have a distressed silver finish and a baroque shape, lending a contemporary room a whisper of age and sumptuousness.

(Prisca Mirror from Hayneedle)

5. Baskets from Crate and Barrel - Baskets are very multi-functional. They can hold a bouquet of flowers, bringing nature into the room, or they can organize loose items such as your magazines. These rattan baskets, the Galang and Hiriwa, are available from Crate and Barrel.

(Baskets from Crate and Barrel)

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