North Carolina, Award winning, "Green" AP , on a mission to decorate my house, while cleaning up my neighborhood through recycling rescued roadside finds. Join me as I recycle items into something modern, elegant, and absolutely DIVA!
All posts are not about home decor, but most are. Either way each post is ECO-nomically friendly and will assist the environment.
Happy recycling!~Kindle
I have been wanting a circular rug forever! I have been looking for a design and colors that intrigue me. I also wanted to add color to my living room. I searched high and low for something cream with purple but no luck. I could not find anything that I liked.
I finally found a nice cream shag carpet remnant at the Habitat for Humanity restore. So I made this...
From this...
I am very pleased with how it turned out. It satisfies my desire for a one of a kind rug with vibrant color, as well as my uncontrollable urge to have the perfect circular rug. It took about three days to make, only because the dyed pieces were set outside to dry and it rained while I was away....FRICK!
Total cost for this rug, $40.
Because I love the paisley shape, the design in my rug was inspired by what was floating in my head...but here is the inspiration for my next rug attempt....I tore this from a magazine(inspiration is everywhere!) I am thinking of doing the Frisco rug, it is going to be an adventure.
Now for some High Point Furniture Market eye candy, featured by Global Views...guess what people? GOLD IS BACK!!! I know right???...
Green was poppin' too!
Check out the faux malachite table and magazine rack...me likey!
Avocado green is back... for accessories,not for appliances...
This window display is stunning (go ahead click on it for a larger view)
Here is a background from a random window of another vendor... Green +Copper= Dreamy!
More Furniture Market pics soon! What do you think of the return of Gold? Hot or NOT!
Guess what peeps? I finally found two "mates to my soul" while at market this year. I will share them now as they make me light up and smile.
The first is Joe Manus of Shine International, He is an eco -friendly, down to earth, genius! Why genius? Because much like Van Gogh and Vincente Wolf, he didn't finish high school, but his work is simply amazing and will tell a story for years to come. He truly inspired me, with his background. He explained how his initial business was going under, but he had employees to consider, a family to support, and a plan. Together they implemented that plan and there he was...at the High Point Furniture Market. It was more detailed, but you get the jist. I will include a link to more of his story at the end of this post, so you don't go anywhere just yet...
I took a few pictures, they do not do his work justice, but they belong to me (so wadda ya gonna do, right)? Here are a few of his lights, made of recycled cardboard. All of his work is handmade. Shiner International is 100% recycled, sustainable, and produced right here in the USA baby. I love it!
The funny thing about this story is a cool chick named Robin introduced us, and while we were talking she was making lists of places for him to go find more cardboard! Here are some more photos... rocking bench which is quite comfy, btw.
Lots of his items rock! Literally!
This is my favorite the rocking bed. Folks, it is so comfortable it is unreal. I will be honest and say I forgot what it is made of (he was gone when I went for pics) but it is also sustainable and recycled.
Did I mention how comfortable this bed was??? WOW!!
Ok, for my girl...
I met and snapped some photos of Ms. Kelly Neumann, of Preen Furniture Design, in Milwaukee, WI. This was her first time at market and she wowed me! I was wondering if I would ever see a vendor with truly recycled and redesigned furniture, you know the one of a kind stuff that is unique and not manufactured in an IKEA-like capacity? The kind that uses frames and hard work from a previous life and revives it? Meet Kelly...
Honestly when I saw this chick, I thought, cool pants! Then I got closer to see the furniture and was blown away!I was thinking oh another cool look, but manufactured in bulk somewhere for sure...NOPE! ONE of a kind, originals, redesigned by Ms. Kelly herself! She is standing in front of her graffiti couch inspired by designer Rachel Zoe. (Looking at these pictures, I definitely need a better camera, sorry folks.) Below, she is sitting on a lovely cream and green couch, which matches the color of the pattern, in the middle lamp shade perfectly!
This blue trimmed settee/loveseat is going to be featured in a New York mag next month...
Do you see the silver flecks in the fabric? You likey the nail head detail on the side?She uses some of the most intriguing fabrics in her designs, and the couches are uber comfy!
This couch went with my gray sweater, it had a real executive look and was like a girlfriend couch.
Now, if you're thinking all this color was too much, honey think again! It was beautiful and flowed nicely. I didn't want to leave. Plus Kelly's hospitality was genuine, she answered a TON of my questions with the same excitement I had in asking them. We were bouncing off of each other, it was LOVE!...lol
In this photo, can you see how the cushions can be turned over for a new look? Most of their designs are like that! All of their furniture is from the 1930's to 1980's and is exotic and custom made...NICE!
Kelly co-founded the company with Kim Pollard, who says of their designs, " We wanted to go so far that we wanted people to wonder if we went too far. We're right on that edge." In this blogger's opinion, they are and it works.
Ladies you are starting a new sustainable trend at High Point Furniture Market, that I and hopefully some of my fellow D-I-Y designers will join you in. Thank you Kelly and Joe!
*** 10/29/10- I went back, the day after I posted this and there was a pro photographer there. She allowed me to snap a photo with her setup. I think it was the lighting in her booth that prohibited the pics from translating.**
I have been inspired so, as of now, my goal is to post at least twice a week...no matter what!
I am at the High Point Furniture Market this week and am being inspired in so many ways! I have met the future president of the AIDP, Ms. Adrian Small, who claimed we are going to present next market (laughable/possible?)
I had lunch with Eddie Ross and Jaithan Kochar, who gave some of the best advice on business how to be found and how to stay afloat in the design business. They shared positive and negative stories of lessons learned, I will not soon forget. They are absolutely real and also coming to Charlotte soon!
(they did a tag team presentation, funny how this pic came out looking like they were tagging each other)
I went to the White Trash Fashion show given by my good friend Donovan Swick and have partied with Kansas like a rock Star! And this is just my third day!
I have not snapped any great furniture finds as of yet and am taking a quick break, in one of the buildings, to keep from falling asleep. I am exhausted, but will sleep when I'm dead(which may be soon).
I wish you could be here! It is so inspirational! I will share more soon!
My next three days will be spent finding eco-friendly vendors for my Spring class to visit (I know I haven't mentioned it here, but I am teaching a class at a local college, I will I promise). Do you have anything in particular you would like for me to check out? Let me know.
