Saturday morning, Boston welcomed back one of our own, Decor8‘s Holly Becker!

Holly came to Boston from her home with her husband in Germany in support the launch of her first book, Decorate: 1,000 Design Ideas for Every Room in Your Home. The event  started with Holly giving a how-to all about mood boards. I missed this part but was told that the second floor of Anthropologie was PACKED — an impressive fact, given that the Back Bay is more a place for brunch on a Saturday morning than a place for design discussion.

Following the mood board event, Holly signed books. The book signing was scheduled to end at 12:30, but the line just wasn’t having it. I picked up my copy of Decorate and got in line around 11:45, and ended up in front of Holly about an hour later. As I got to the head of the line, Holly greeted me with a, “Gradon?”

Yep, six years after first becoming blogging friends — starting in the same city — we finally got to meet each other!

She stood up, walked around the table, and gave me a hug. We had a quick chat (as quick as you can have with a pack of ravenous fans waiting in line) about the book, about loved ones in other countries, and about starting families — at least Holly and her husband starting a family. That’s the plan for the Beckers shortly after Holly gets back from tour (so exciting!)

I had to run off to spend the day with my family, and now Holly’s on her way to Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and finally, New York… before going back to Germany and her husband.

It was a shorter visit than I would have liked, but it was great to finally meet one of my first friends from the blogging world.

5 Under 40 is New England Home‘s annual celebration of young talent, and this year’s awards ceremony is coming up.

On Thursday, September 15, join New England Home at presenting sponsonr Landri & Arcari‘s showroom on Stuart Street, where they will honor this year’s winners:

Architecture

• Jinhee Park, AIA – Principal at Single Speed Design
• Nima Yadollahpour – Founder and Principal at ONY architecture

Interiors

• Rachel Reider – Founder of Rachel Reider Interiors

Furniture & Home Accessories

• Debra Folz
• Kelly Harris Smith – Co-Founder of FilzFelt

Each winner was given the chance to design a custom rug, which was then produced by Landry & Arcari. The rugs will be auctioned off at the event, with the proceeds going to benefit Barakat, Inc., a Cambridge, Mass.–based charity promoting educational opportunities for women and children in central and south Asia.

I’m excited about this year’s event, as I’ve been a big fan of two of these designers for some time. The work Jinhee and her partner John Hong have done around the region — particularly the modern residences throughout the suburbs — are outstanding. Their Big Dig House is an icon of modern (as in of the present time) design.

Always a collaborator, Kelly’s been involved in the Boston design community for many years. I first came to know her through Etcetera Media, a textile product company she started with her husband, Chris Grimley of Over,Under. Then there’s Design Nearby, an annual holiday sale she curates with Ann Karash (of smartdames and the 47th.)

Tickets are available for $35 in advance, or $45 at the door. This is most certainly a can’t-miss event, and I look forward to seeing you there!

I love Reside. Walking around the Huron Ave/Concord Ave/Fresh Pond triangle, Reside is a standout in an already outstanding area. Which is why my initial reaction to the news of their new location on Washington St in the South End was a mix of excitement and apprehension.

How would the cutest, nicest store with the most fantastic furniture in the prettiest part of Cambridge do in a new neighborhood, let alone the South End?

Not that I have anything against the South End. It’s one of the most vibrant design neighborhoods in the city, and I often spend time there. But it’s a bit… fancy compared to Fresh Pond. How will Reside hold up?

I headed out to Washington St to find out.

All in all, Reside holds up well in well in the South End. The space on Washington St feels like a perfect fit for all of the twentieth century modern furniture and accessories.

Yes, I said “twentieth century” and not “mid-century.” The range of options at the new store expands beyond the mid-century focus of the Cambridge store. The space is packed with furniture, yet not so much that you can’t browse. I think this is one of owner Pamela Watt’s special abilities — filling a space without overfilling it — and it’s something that not every vintage retailer grasps.

Aside from the furniture, Reside South End seemed like it has more accessories than the original store. There were vases, a bunch of glasses on a shelf unit when I visited, as well as a case of jewelry handmade by Pamela’s daughter Nicole.

Every time I walk into Reside Cambridge, I fall in love with a different piece of furniture, and this was no different in the new space. This time, it was this Scandinavian teak dining table. Utterly gorgeous, and it would look great in our new dining room (more on that later.)

All in all, Reside holds up well in the South End. It’s different than the space on Concord Ave, as it should be. Now the only problem is deciding which one I want to visit more.

Reside South End
1409 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
857-350-3594

Jill Rosenwald is Boston’s favorite potter — or at least DesignBoston’s favorite! Since I first met Jill (I think it was at an event at Vessel), I’ve loved Jill’s sense of style and craftsmanship, and her ability to mix Yankee preppiness with the clean lines of modern design.

Jill recently launched a new website. Along with the bio, catalog, and contact information, Jill’s now offering e-commerce, meaning you can order her lamps, bowls, vases, and more with just a click.

But what if you’ve already bought a piece by Jill? Well, there’s something for you, too. Between now and October 31, take a photo of your Jill piece and send it to her for your chance to win a custom monogrammed mug!

We spend three weeks sculpting, painting and caring-for each item so, when we box up the finished piece it is a bittersweet goodbye. What comforts us is knowing it arrives at a stylish pad. Show us just how stylish! Whether you fill it with sunflowers, stir cookie dough in it, or simply place it on the mantle for all your guests to gawk at… let’s see your Jill in its new home!

For all the details, check out the giveaway page on Jill’s site. And, while you’re at it, Like Jill on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

Since moving his studio from Fort Point to Milton, Quentin Kelley’s been busy introducing new pieces to Infusion Furniture, his line of handmade, modern furniture. Quentin was nice enough to send over photos of his newest pieces, continuing on his theme of clean, modern lines built with old-world craftsmanship.

I especially like the Glass Top Dining Table (above). With a clear, glass top, the focus of the table is the four legs and connecting cross-beam, especially paired with Kartell’s Louie Ghost chairs.

Quentin’s new pieces also have an added functionality, adding to their modern appeal. Take, for instance, his Transformer Dining Table . An elegant piece available in a variety of woods, the Transformer would make a beautiful anchor point for a dining room. Hold up, you say, you live in a small apartment without a dedication dining room — it’s more like a dining space — what then?

Simple. You just fold the table up and it becomes a nice sideboard.

His new Media Cabinet has a more straightforward functionality, and equally direct aesthetics — the strength and quality of the woods he uses are first priority, allowing them to tell the story of the piece.

The story of the material is even stronger in the Slab Coffee Table. With simple footing underneath, the focus is on the grain and coloration of the single slab of wood that is the top.

It’s been over three years since I’ve first met Quentin Kelley, and it’s great to see him continue to produce quality, unique pieces that represent his day-to-day inspiration as a craftsman.

Pretty in 672 C pastel pink to be precise.  The first pieces that struck my eye at this year’s ICFF were the Pantone Folding Chairs produced through Seletti of Italy.  I’m normally not one to gush over a folding chair but this is pretty neat.  These metal and synthetic leather chairs utilize the Pantone color system to great effect.

Stacked together they present a bold statement rather than a utilitarian eyesore.  Yes they are still folding chairs, but their clever use of color and branding adds a bit fun and humor.  Available in 672 C pastel pink, 186 C ruby red, 377 C macaw green, 14-0848 mimosa, 268 C royal purple, and cool gray.

ICFF 2010 has come and gone and it was quite a show.  Gradon and I went down on Saturday and managed to do the show and five parties in under ten hours.  We saw the good and not so good.  I think it’s important to highlight the contrasts between this year’s show and the last.  Gone were the dour faces and downtrodden spirits of 2009.  This year was all about optimism.  Last year, the idea was survival.   It was about weathering the storm by getting back to basics in silhouette, functionality, and safe color choices.  Not the case this year.

This year, there was an abundance of color.  Highly saturated and bright pieces littered the Javits Center like pieces of candy.  Some subtle and some not so subtle but refreshing nonetheless.

In addition to punches of color, there was a huge emphasis on natural materials such as wood and stone.

This year saw the return of decoration.  There were a great number of pieces that relied on exaggerated ornamentation and less on form and functionality.  At times, it felt as though designers were overcompensating for the paired-down approach of last year by adding decoration to their designs.  Not all decoration is bad, but it is important to practice restraint.

Remember, less can still be more.

You can do ICFF in a day, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Christopher and I took an early bus down to New York on Saturday for the first day of ICFF 2010, and came back that night, getting back to Boston around 3:00AM. In between those two four-hour bus rides, there was much design to be had.

The general feel of the day — in and out of the Javits Center — was very optimistic. The recession has passed, and we’re on to bigger and brighter things. This was best represented by Kikkerland‘s bright red display:

Hästens had what was probably the most interactive display. They had one of their beds at the front of the display, exploded on one side to show what all of the layers of materials looks like. They also sent two master bed makers from Sweden to show attendees what “hand made” really means. I took a turn doing side stitching, and I can verify, it’s not easy work:

This optimistic vibe was felt in the products around ICFF, too: brighter colors, more ornamentation, and lots and lots of lighting, like these examples from Roll & Hill, Tom Dixon, J Good Design, and WOKA Lamps Vienna:

There’s also a continuing trend of wood in all of its varieties, like these pieces from Iannone Design and Miles & May:

Even though it was smaller than years before — no Kartell or Knoll? — I wouldn’t advise trying to cover it all in one day! Keep an eye for more posts in the coming days about our finds at ICFF 2010!

Week 7 – Bedroom
This past week I shopped a lot for colored accents to use in our bedroom with no luck! I just couldn’t find anything I liked. However upon shopping around in my own home I managed to find enough green accessories like frames, vases, and a pillow to use in the bedroom to brighten it up just a little. And the best part, I didn’t spend a dime! Also this week I finalized the layout of the nursery and it’s pretty much done with the exception of a few baby proofing items we need to take care of and possibly some curtain hanging for some sound deadening. Unfortunately Kevin wasn’t into the green velvet curtains that were donated to us, plus the were not finished on both sides which is necessary since you will see them from the nursery and below from the living room. So we are back to shopping for fabric.

Bedroom After

Week 7
Deep Treatment
- Clean the bedroom and related storage.
- Buy an air filter for your bedroom.
- Buy new sheets, pad, or mattress as needed.
- Declutter the bedroom.
- Arrange the bed against the best wall.
- Make sure your bedroom inspires you.
- Look into ways to improve your sleep.

One-Room Remedy
- Clean all workspaces.
- Arrange furniture and lighting.
- Arrange all electrical cords.
- Hang all art. N/A

Nursery Before

Nursery After

Nursery Before

Nursery After

Week 8- Throw a party!
This one I haven’t quite figured out yet. Although there will be will a few friends and family visiting this weekend so that may qualify as a party. We’ll see!

Deep Treatment and One-Room Remedy
- Find a good recipe and test it.
- Prepare your apartment the day before.
- Get home early on the day of the party.
- Vacuum the entire apartment and clean all windows.
- Do a final purge for clutter and empty the Outbox.
- Arrange the apartment for the best party flow.
- Remove your shoes when at home.
- Consider improving your audio system and making it smaller.
- Buy fresh flowers.
- Turn down the lights and light your candles.
- Choose your music ahead of time.
- Serve cold drinks immediately.
- Cook and eat at home, plan the week ahead, and wake early for a bath.

To follow my progress and see more photos, visit my Flickr site.

That’s right, the last sale.  Vessel Inc is in the process of closing its retail location in Chinatown.

Stefane Smith and Duane Barbeau’s unique vision for a company that sells high design based solely on the usefulness of the design was unique and refreshing.  The store was all fun and function without pretension.

But don’t be fooled, this isn’t the end of the Vessel.  I for one can’t wait to see what comes next.

Vessel Inc.

125 kingston street, ground level
boston, ma 02111 usa
tel 617.292.0982