Global Style with Novica and a giveaway!

Are you familiar with NOVICA, the on line retailer of artisan wares? Until recently I was not, but after being contacted by a NOVICA representative and reading a few articles around the internet, I can now tell you how impressed I am not only with the products available on the website, but with the mission of the organization:

We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow.

At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe.

We want you to know about who you're buying from. We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it.

In the spirit of the Internet, let us bring you together.

NOVICA. The World is Your Market.

 I have always believed in the idea that traditional arts and crafts are incredibly important to the survival of cultures around the world, but also to the well being and livelihood of individuals and families within those cultures. The premise that these people have another opportunity to sell their products in a more global way through their affiliation with NOVICA, while allowing the purchaser to know about the artist, is fantastic. The artist is able to display their products on the NOVICA site for free and the company makes money only when a product sells. In an NPR interview, here is what NOVICA's Catherine Ryan (aptly named "The Wander Woman") says about the connection between the artist and buyer:

  "If you go to a chain store world-art mart, you can buy a gorgeous piece of decor for your home, but it's just a pretty piece – whereas if you buy a piece from Novica, you know about that particular item, you know who made it, where they made it, how they made it. You've actually seen pictures, usually of their workshop, and certainly pictures of the artist. And you’ve read something they've written about – their dreams, their hopes, their goals, their history, their family."

The NOVICA site offers an amazing array of wares for the home and individual from scarves to jewelry, rugs to champagne flutes. Unique and intriguing pieces not found elseware.  Here is a sampling of the home decor pieces I am smitten with, items which will add a Global Style to any room:

Click on the icons below to go to the link on the NOVICA site:

Amazing right? Well today is your lucky day, because I have a wonderful GIVEAWAY for you!!!
After you have gone on NOVICA's site to see what inspires you, I want you to come back here for a chance to win a
$75 gift card to NOVICA.

Here is how to enter:

1) Leave a comment below about what you love on the NOVICA site.

2) Become a follower of Room Rx

for additional entries:

3) like Cathy Wall Designs on Facebook

4) like NOVICA on Facebook 

5) Follow Cathy Wall @ Room Rx on Pinterest 

6) Follow NOVICA on Twitter

7) Follow catwdes on Instagram

Come back and comment to let me know you have done each of these!

The giveway will be open until midnight on Thursday, November 29th and I will announce the winner in a post on Friday November 30th, just in time to get some holiday shopping done on the NOVICA site!

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx.

A pretty little powder room

My designer friend Cynthia, of Wanamaker Designs in Des Moines, shared this photo of her recently wallpapered powder room with me....
Swoon....

This bathroom was renovated many years ago and Cynthia wisely chose timeless finishes and materials. The addition of the gorgeous wallpaper gives the space a fresh, yet classic look. I am literally green with envy over how it has been transformed by the paper.

Last year I shared another room in Cynthia's charming home, you can read more about it here.

If you live in the vicinity of Des Moines and are looking for help designing a room as swoon-worthy as those above, Cynthia would love to hep you. Just let me know by leaving a comment or sending me an email and I will put you in touch with my very talented friend.

West Elm love

Have you ever been to a West Elm store? Living here in Madison, we have access to lots of great culture and shopping, but let's face it, due to our size, we just don't get all of the "good stuff" like in the  nearby large cities. Yesterday my client consult was in the Chicago area and while it was "quick-in, quick-out," we managed to find time for a stop at the nearby West Elm store. In fact it was such a whirlwind visit that I did not have time to get my camera out of my bag and snap photos! Let me just say this, I could have spent hours there! It was fun to see many of the pieces I have been eying on line, in person. The "kitchen tweaking" project I am working on involves an eating area and opens up into the family room, so our work extended that far. Here are a couple of the goodies we are incorporating into these spaces....

Loving the fresh look of the classic Windsor chair.... we'll have these paired with a great table my client found on Craigslist for $20 (of course it needs a little face lift, but for 20 bucks, we couldn't pass it up)!

This little bath mat may just be perfect for in front of the sink.... we'll see!

Basic but beautiful, the ivory pillow will show up in the family room.

We also brought a sample of this rug home, it is a gorgeous steel gray kilim rug and should be perfect in the foyer.

Yes, we were "coloring outside of the lines," our "tweaking" extended to other rooms on the first floor and involved moving lots of furniture, re-hanging pictures, moving lamps and accessories and the like.  Why not? We had a blast and were able to accomplish an amazing amount in a few hours, I can't wait to share the "before & after" photos.

In other news, because I know you are wondering, my "Indy race car computer" is one more day away from being ready to use.... I am hanging in there (kind of....).

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? 

If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Design Concept Board or a complete Room Rx.

Smitten: Ombre

The French word ombre literally means shadow, shade.  In design, it is gradation and shading of color on fabric, walls, furniture or any other medium and has been quite popular for a couple of years now.  Maybe it is the "Bohemian" side of me, but I love it, it is fresh, colorful and fun and reminds me of tie dying as the basic process is similar.  My attraction to it probably goes back to the rust colored, ombre knit, wool sweater I had as a teen, which I thought was "all that." Considering that sometimes I can't remember what I wore 2 days ago, it must have been!!!

Ombre can be casual and a bit kitschy.......

2 images Sweet Paul

House Beautiful

 
Ombre also has a more sophisticated side, like this painting as the focal point in the room below.

{via} Blossom Interiors

Or these amazing curtains...

{via}

More ombre wall art, lighting and hurricanes, so cool!

3 images Martha Stewart

There are many ready made ombre products available via the Internet these days, check out a few I found, like this stunning rug.....

Overstock

Or this amazing bench.

Anthropologie 

Laundry bags never looked so good!

Container Store

Though I would probably not have this on my bed, I love the look of this duvet cover and think it would be darling in a girl's bedroom, so fun and feminine!

Urban Outfitters 

Of course, anything can be made into a pillow!

Capella Kid on etsy

Or for those of you motivated "Do It Yourself-ers," of course the Sweet Paul magazine article has instructions for doing and ombre dye using natural dyes, in addition, here is a Ombre Dip Dye tutorial, as well as some instruction from the Queen of DIY, Martha Stewart. Whichever method you choose, you can dye anything from your own fabric, to sheets, shower curtains or clothing, just imagine the possibilities! 

Thoughts?  What do you think of the ombre look?  Have you used it in your home decor? Is it "been there, done that" or still looking fresh to you?

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? 

If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx!

Smitten: Caldwell Flake - Interior Design

Looking for a little inspiration for a post, I was drawn to this image I had saved a while back.  While I am not generally a huge fan of accent walls, this one really spoke to me because it is upholstered, quilted, textural and acts more like a headboard.  I am in awe of the gorgeous sconce lighting and the simple, well edited look of the room as a whole, not to mention the color palette.

The room was done by the Birmingham, Alabama firm Caldwell Flake, a mother and daughter team of talented designers. Well crafted rooms with an amazing attention to detail seems to be their M.O. I am completely smitten with their work and aesthetic, it is bold yet clean and simple, impressive yet livable, modern yet traditional.  I could go on and on, but I'll just let the photos do the talking, see for yourself....

all images Caldwell and Flake

How's that for some Wednesday eye candy, pretty impressive right?!!! Which room is your favorite?? To find out about Caldwell and Flake and see more of their work go here.

On another note, yesterday's field trip to see the baby Herons was a bit disappointing as some predator had eradicated every last chick....so our job was to look for clues as to what had happened.  Feathers, egg shells, scat and chick carcasses were among the clues, interesting science for 7th graders when they weren't complaining about the hike, the heat or the bugs!!!! I'd say it beats being in a hot school on the 3rd to last day before Summer break.....!

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? 

If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx!

Smitten: Trunks

Years ago, my friend bought the coolest trunk at the Kane County Flea Market which she used as a coffee table in her living room.  It was a large piece, quite rustic, and really added to the eclectic look of her room.  Lately I have been seeing trunks everywhere, in many variations, from wood to leather, metal to wicker, both new and vintage, rustic and clean lined.  Not only are trunks good looking, but they are useful as storage pieces.  Here are a few I have rounded up:

 Napa Style

Jayson Home and Garden

Restoration Hardware

overstock.com

Anthropologie 

So now, how to use them?  You could go tried and true, and use as a coffee table, a side table or night stand.  How about as a console in the front hall or under the console, at the foot of the bed, or stack a few and use instead of a chest for storage?  The possibilities are endless, and it is a high impact, take notice piece as you can see from these photos:

The Inside Stoop 

Emily Henderson 

 via

dear lillie 

 via

22 Bond Street 
What do you think?  Is there a trunk in your home's future? 

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me,
I would love to help!