BEST NEW TABLETOP TEXTILES AT THE GIFT SHOW: VIRGINIA WITBECK DESIGN LLC

What a breath of fresh air! A discovery like this makes the whole trek across the trade show well worth it. VW's stand at the show was a cozy mecca of prints.

All Photos Courtesy of Virginia Witbeck Design LLC
Virginia Witbeck is a renaissance woman. As a former creative director at Ralph Lauren, she has an eye for style and understands the importance of details. She travels India, designs wonderful jewelry, and is now launching a home collection of soft goods for the table.
Virginia Witbeck Design LLC is located in New York City. If you are interested in finding a shop that carries the collection, please email her at vmwdesign@aol.com.


This collection will win over Porthault aficionados near and far. Young and kicky, it will not produce sticker shock (like the P word often does). Printed on soft cotton that gets better with age, you will want to give them to all your friends in warm climates. Each piece is trimmed in a solid piping that ties the colors together nicely. This pattern would make a great plush towel. Virginia, consider it for the next collection!



Leopard is hard to get right. A suggestion of an animal print, rather than an all out onslaught is so much nicer. The soft lavender and pink shades are delicious.



A royal blue colorway looks great with a touch of gold as shown above.



Ikat in a punched-up yellow would look great with royal blue china and sunflowers.



Primary colors suit this Ikat. I am glad to see the chocolate,since it has become a neutral and beloved part of today's palette.



Arabian horses march across cocktail napkins. What a good conversation starter these make!



Tutti fruti colors are sure to match most Jack Rogers sandals.



Graphic and patriotic in red and navy, this set a must if you live in the DC area. Get it now and you will be ready for July 4th.



Sweet dahlias and climbing vines would work nicely at a spring shower or tea.



Embroidered linens with a scallop edge are not too fussy and will match almost any china.

HELLO FROM THE NY GIFT SHOW: CATCHING UP WITH THE DESIGNERS THAT SET THE TONE

Meet some of the great designers at the New York Gift Show. These creators have influenced trends, silhouettes, materials, finishes, patterns and colors. Here is a behind the scenes look at what the talent is up to at the Piers and Javits Center. More to come-- so much ground to cover...

BUNGALOW 5

You know the highly publicized Jackie table, now meet the man behind it! Luca Rensi (above) and John Roudabush (busy with clients) made this company hot. Luca came from an interior design background, having been at Mark Hampton, David Kleinberg and David Easton as a senior designer. He and his partner wanted to create furnishings and accessories that were well-made with high style. Starting from scratch, they now have a mini-empire, creating great hand-rubbed lacquer furniture, recently added porcelain lamps, eglomise framed art, and other great accessories.

SHOWSTOPPERS:

Chest of drawers wrapped in linen. Interior designer taste without the prohibitive prices.

Subtly channeling the pagodas of Tony Duquette in a lamp.

Track down a lovely home store near you at Bungalow 5.

HOME, JAMES!
David Cipperman and Joseph Schreick know tabletop. For the past twenty years their shop home, james! in East Hampton has outfitted summer houses with beautiful accessories, gift items and place settings. Then, several years back, they created their own line of china, crystal and linens, inspired by the beach, resort lifestyle and travel. Their color choices are poppy and fun, making their designs easy to love.

SHOWSTOPPERS:
Ikat in soft blues has found its way onto the plate. Perfectly summery for Crete to Watch Hill. The all-over pattern is sharp.

Their Chinatown pattern was a great success. Chinoiserie is such an evergreen design motif this new pattern is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Throw a dinner party every weekend with home,james!.

JONATHAN ADLER

Oh, Jonathan! Work the camera. Your energy and talent keep on cranking out the hits. So many new additions- when do you sleep? New orange and turquoise enamel frames and napkin rings round out a great season. Do not fret, tons of pillows and accessories are in abundance too.

SHOWSTOPPERS:

Double-cased bright glasses in candy colors.


JA lacquer is back! The tray table is uber- chic and I was starting to miss the octagonal umbrella holder.

See it all at a store near you or at Jonathan Adler.

JOHN ROBSHAW
World wide travels inform John's design aesthetic. Indian block printing and hand woven details have made his bedding and soft goods a favorite of bohemian chic. A gig with HSN and lots of great press means that his influence on design has really taken hold. The stripes, squiggles and small all over patterns mix really well with each other. Coordinates are the way to go.

SHOWSTOPPER:

Rock the block print at John Robshaw.

ROOST
Roost Co. is located in Sausalito, CA. Each and every show Scott Donnellan wows crowds with inventive glassware, wooden pieces, furniture, tabletop, accessories and other goodies. Handmade pieces with an artisanal feel put Roost above the rest. They set the trends with the material selections, finishes and shapes.

SHOWSTOPPERS:
As I like to say, one can never own too many trays! The metal edging makes them campaign -style- meets- nautical.

Cherry blossoms have been in the mix for some time, but on glassware they look fresh.

Find out where to buy it at Roost Co.

DRANSFIELD AND ROSS

Dransfield
+

Ross, in his killer suit. This man loves fabric.
John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross made pillows fashionable again. We want to switch out the throw pillows at the end of each season, thanks to them. They are known for their fashion-forward materials, working with grosgrain ribbon, preppy prints, ikats, embroidery, velvet, feathers, and patchwork. In addition to place mats and napkins, their line includes small tables, bath accessories and bookends.

SHOWSTOPPERS:

Lime green and turq, a perpetual spring favorite.


Pop art is an inspiration in home right now. Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein are influencing. Fashion design Lisa Perry does mod dresses that would go well with the puddle side tables shown here. Louis Vuitton's Stephen Sprouse brights came out at just the right time.


Hand-painted scenics in blue and white are a nod to tradition. And in case you did not sense it, traditional is back in a big way. In a down economy, comforting and classic are the way to go.


The multi-color painted patchwork with dragged finish is so chic.

Feed your inner color muse at D and R.

AND FINALLY:


The showdog! Winnie has her own buyer's pass. At Chelsea Textiles she welcomed everyone and kept them smiling.


Global influences and embroidery are still hot. The Moroccan star pillow from CT is graphic and chic.

See more embroidery in soft colors from Chelsea Textiles.

Stay tuned for more design picks from the show...

SALE FEBRUARY 2ND: GRAPHIC IMAGE BRIGHT LEATHER DIARIES AND ACCESSORIES AT LEAST 50% OFF!

Sale! For the first time ever, luxury leather items from Graphic Image, a company whose products you will recognize, but not necessarily know the source of, is having an e-commerce sale. The sale will go live on February 2ND and continue for the month. Items will be marked down at least 50%. Diaries will be added the second week, so check back often! Leather diaries, journals, luggage tags, measuring tapes, coin purses, picture frames, and more will be available. I love the their patent collection travel wallet in bold brights--guess I will have to wait and see if it is included. Follow my lead and shop away!

CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THIS GREEN

Soft green florals are making a comeback. Greens of every shade have been popular for the past few years, often emerald and kelly green used in a mod way. This green is calm and conservative. By bringing nature inside, you can incorporate lush green on the dining table and in your window treatments.

Photo Courtesy of Gien
Gien China is known for multi colored floral designs. They make more casual French china, great for everyday because it is earthenware. Fleur de Chine is a great two color pattern that is not too busy, just enough going on. From Gien.

Photo Courtesy of Colefax and Fowler
Embroidery is everywhere I turn. This seems to be a new technique of weaving-- it appears lighter and airier pattern . Beautiful. Through designers from Colefax and Fowler.

LIBERTY OF LONDON FLASHBACK

Shake off the winter cold with some floral prints! Look back at Liberty of London's iconic bright florals and the great retailer with the new book from ACC Editions, Liberty and Co. in the Fifties and Sixties: A Taste for Design, by Anna Buruma. J. Crew embraced liberty prints recently in their button down shirts. I am always pleased when companies rejuvenate the pastel prints. I have the stuffed fabric frogs from London, cosmetic bags I cannot get rid of, headbands and the like all in my favorite prints of yore. We need more Liberty in interior design! This is a good push for a revival, fashion and home are so intertwined. Some of the prints in the book are shown below:


Wear it and live with it, nothing is wrong with that! Stephen Stolman created clothing from Scalamandre prints in a similar way. Someone should do this silhouette- 50's and fabulous.





Wild and crazy.



Great colors for Palm Beach.

Photos Courtesy of Antique Collectors Club Editions
A cute print for a girl's room.

PRODUCTS FROM THE ORLA KIELY LINE FOR TARGET

Here's Orla:
Below are most of the tabletop items and a few of the storage pieces....
Stylized flowers, a nod to fellow Brit Mary Quant, fruits in apple green, bright orange and teal make this collection really pop. Target loves melamine--- this is the perfect excuse to stock up the picnic basket for the dog days of summer:

Photos courtesy of Target

Photos courtesy of Target

Photos courtesy of Target

Photos courtesy of Target



Photos courtesy of Target

Photos courtesy of Target

Photos courtesy of Target

Photos courtesy of Target