In honor of Halloween, I’d like to show off some “spooktacular” bedding we have on our showroom floor right now.  It features a midnight blue velvet coverlet & yummy orange pillows.  So stylish it’s scary…

BTW, don’t forget to come by IBB today for some trick or treating!

Save the date my fellow charitable citizens!  You definitely do not want to miss this amazing evening for a wonderful cause.  This swanky soiree is relatively new to Dallas, with last year being its inaugural year and it’s a Must Attend for your social calendar.  The Diamond Empowerment Fund requests the honor of your presence at Dallas Rocks for a fun filled evening in support of Empowerment Through Education for Africa hosted by non other than mega-mogul and philanthropist Russell Simmons.  Honorees for the evening include Marilyn Augur, Barbara Bush, Jenna Bush-Hager and Dikembe Mutombo.  Co-chairs for this star studded event include my very fabulous friend D’Andra Simmons, April & Ray Crockett, Neal Goldberg, Angie & James McNamara, Joe Pacetti and Heidi & Bill Dillon.  Don’t miss the special performance at the Diamond Dinner by Smokey Robinson  and special guests including Rev Run and Justine Simmons (and its Rev Run’s Birthday!).

Event Details:
Dallas Rocks 2009
The Diamond Dinner
Dallas’s Historic Union Station
Cuisine by Wolfgang Puck
November 14, 2009
5:30 PM – 1:00 AM

Click Here to purchase tickets.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Simmons recently in the green room at Good Morning Texas.  His passion for this cause is infectious.  This man means serious business about raising awareness and helping to “empower through education in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource”.  He is enlightening and refreshing.

If you are unable to attend, you may want to consider showing suport by getting yourself a green bracelet.  Russell was wearing his when I met him & explained the significance begind it.  I got mine.  Now go get yours!

I hope you are busy finding all sorts of wonderful ways to light up your life!  As we discussed previously, lighting is a key element to a well-designed room.  During my recent trip to the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina, I found some marvelous way to add style to your home through great lighting.  Check out some of my favs…

Amber Chandelier from Bella Rosa

How cute is this?  So frilly & girly!  I love the elongated shade.

Pure fabulosity!  I call these the “bubble pendants”.  So many creative ways one could use these!

A little glitz.  A little glam.  A whole lotta style.  Love the shape of the shade.  Makes me feel all sparkley just looking at it!

This is totally on my wish list!  It’s a chandelier inside a floor lamp!  One of my very favorite finds at High Point this year.  My wish is to one day place this beside a beautiful baby grand piano in my home.

After choosing furniture, colors and accessories, if you’re room still feels lacking the problem may be the lighting. Lighting is a crucial part of home decorating. Beyond helping you see, proper lighting can add beauty and drama to a room. When used properly, lighting enhances color, highlights texture and creates just the right mood for any room in a home.

There are many ways to light a room, and the room’s function greatly determines the way it should be lit. Mixing natural and task lighting makes a room visually interesting.

Natural light: Sunlight, candlelight and firelight. This is light that moves and is sometimes referred to as kinetic. The quality of natural light, sunlight in particular, depends on many things–time of day, weather, what season it is.  The setting sun gives a different kind of light than midday sun.

Task lighting: Task lighting is just that; lighting that’s used to perform daily activities such as reading, cooking, shaving, putting on makeup, etc. Effective task lighting enhances visual clarity and keeps the eyes from getting tired.

Now that we’ve concluded today’s lesson in lighting.  Take a look at some stylish ways to light up your life…

The transparent lamp base was a big trend at furniture market in High Point this fall.  This beauty is from Barbara Cosgrove.  Available at IBB Design Furniture Showroom.

SO stylish!  Perfect task lighting for a desk in a home office or study.  Rectangular shades like this fit so nicely up against a wall because of their flat sides, so this could also work for an entry or hallway on a console.  Barbara Cosgrove.  Available at IBB.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this lamp from Jamie Young!  The shade is made from cork.  Again, we see the transparent base, but with a tinge of yellow this time

Fabulous floor lamp from Jamie Young.  Great scale & style.  Suitable for a wide range of homes.

Colorful pendant lighting from Jamie Young.

Chatting with designer Jamie Young at furniture market in High Point this fall.  Such energy & spunk ~ which is obviously carried out through her fabulous designs.  I love that you can mix & match all of her shades with any base.  We had fun playing & buying for IBB Design Furniture Showroom!

Come by IBB Design Furniture Showroom on Friday, October 30th & Saturday, October 31st during normal business hours for fun & trick or treating! Each guest through the door will walk away with an IBB goodie bag filled with loads of treats including a $100 gift certificate to the store! Drop in your business card or enter to win one of the door prizes drawn each hour.  Costumes are optional Please join us! Happy Halloween!

Friday, October 30^th & Saturday October 31st
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Door Prizes every hour!

No Tricks, Just Treats! at IBB Design Furniture Showroom!

On Saturday, November 7th join Star Children’s Charity for the Star Winter Ball as we journey back to the classic 1940s era in New York City, a time when Big Band Sound and Supper Clubs were the traditional weekend affair.

As guests walk through the front doors they will embark on an experience not to be forgotten.  Dance the night away with the Big Band Sounds by The Ricky Derrick Band, place the winning bid in the silent and live auction or try your luck at the casino and the Neiman Marcus Raffle.

Star’s seven beneficiary agencies will be the featured guests and represented in touching performances illustrating the importance of the critical children’s’ services that each provides to the Collin County community.

Join Star for this spectacular event of the season for the children of our community, chaired by Heather Herndon-Wright.

To purchase tickets to the Star Winter Ball, click here.

Use my 2 P’s tip for a quick update for any room in your house ~ Paint & Pillows!  If you have neutral furniture, you can liven up your room by simply switching out your decorative pillows.  Or, if you have some extra time on your hands, try a fun new paint color for your walls.  Starting with a neutral color palette for your basics & introducing color gradually is a great option for those fickle design lovers.  You can easily switch these things out when your mood changes!  And, the best part is that both of these options are easy on your wallet.

See how to create 4 looks for one sofa!  Watch the video here.

**Remember, this works best when your basics (sofa, chairs, etc) are neutral with classic lines.  So, take the time to invest in quality classic pieces.**

Happy decorating!

In honor of Maitland-Smith’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, they are hosting the “One Design Competition”.  The contest is open to designers & consumers.  It’s super easy to enter.  Just log on to their website, create your very own signature Maitland-Smith masterpiece & click submit.  Choose from 500 silhouettes and then customize your piece by mixing & matching finishes & materials.  Here’s a chance to create that very special something that you’ve been searching for to complete your home!

Winners will be chosen in 4 different categories; Best Designer Submission, Best Dealer Submission, Best Consumer Submission & Website Vote Winner.  The winner will have the honor of having their signature design built & shipped to them at no charge.  How cool is that?!  Winners willl also be extended an invitation to an exclusive cocktail party highlighting the winners of the One Design Competition during the April 2010 High Point Market.

For more details & official rules, click here.

So, remember when I was telling y’all that my favorite new color combination is turquoise & tangerine?  Well, I’m just ecstatic to report that it was shown all over the fall furniture market in High Point, North Carolina.  From fabrics & upholstery to pillows & accessories, the eye catching color combo well, caught my eye.  Check out just a few of the ways it’s being used…

Fabulous chair from Hickory Chair.  Soft supple aqua chair fabric with a pop of orange in a throw pillow.  Such a luxurious statement!  This also happens to be one of my very favorite chair frames.

Yummy pillows by Dransfield & Ross

Fun paisley print chair from Sam Moore

This hand blown glass was one of my absolute favorite finds at market this fall!  It’s so affordable too!  Look for it at IBB soon!

Large floral print chair by Century.  I love the detail of the contrasting welt cord on the cushion.  Such a fun look for a family room or sun room.

Sleek bench ottomans from Sam Moore paired with a bright tangerine rug.

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of getting a VIP tour of Hickory Chair during their blogger breakfast.  One of the highlights was getting to hear Alexa Hampton discuss her designer collection of furnishings for the company.  Her style, as well as her energetic personality is infectious.  She has such passion & enthusiasm for this collection she has designed for Hickory Chair.  I could have listened to her describe her pieces for hours.  As the daughter of renowned designer, Mark Hampton, it is no surprise Alexa has such an extensive knowledge of the design industry.  Her inspiration comes from many facets of her life including a passion for antiques, encounters with friends & family & worldly travels.

Her collection is sexy and sophisticated.  It’s not just eye catching, it’s also comfortable.  Alexa explained the lengthy process of perfecting the pieces for her collection and how they re-worked each piece until it was functional, stylish & cozy.  The options in her collection are endless.  That’s what Hickory Chair is known for.  They’ll customize any piece to fit your desires.

Alexa is known for her reflection of classicism.  She joked that when she was pregnant with her twins, that Thomas O’Brien teased her.  He asked if she was going to name them “Neo & Classical” to which she quickly retorted, “No, Vintage & Modern”.  See, I told you she was spunky!  She emphasized her goal to design pieces that would speak to both men & women.  Scale is a huge priority to her.  The room burst into laughter when Alexa referred to what she calls a “chofa”, or a sofa that is so horribly out of scale that it takes away from the beauty of a room’s tall ceilings.

The collection embodies detail and perfect balance.  The use of geometry, fluted feet on some of the chairs, and functionality of each piece are astounding.

Here are a few highlights from the tour & some of my favorite pieces from Alexa Hampton.

Kicking off the tour of Alexa’s collection

Alexa describing my absolute favorite piece from her line!  How sexy is this?  Such a statement!  Definite WOW factor!

Up close & personal ~ This chair is bringin sexy back!

Upholstered bed featuring one of Alexa’s fabrics by Kravet.

My new nickname for this Egyptian revival chair is “The Boyfriend Chair” since Alexa pointed out that it was named after a former ex-boyfriend.  I love the sides & arms of this chair.  Hickory Chair has it set up at the end of a wonderful canopy bed.

The Mark desk.  Named after her late father, Mark Hampton.  Alexa says this desk “epitomizes her hopes & dreams for the collection”.  Considering it’s fabulosity, her future looks very bright.

In the presence of design greatness… Alexa Hampton & I at Hickory Chair.

For more information regarding purchasing pieces from Alexa Hampton collection for Hickory Chair contact an IBB Design Furniture Showroom designer.