Issue: February 23, 2012   (Archive)
Tuesday, May 21, 2013   

Must haves
Smaller houses are in demand and US homeowners are willing to remove some of yesterday's most popular rooms - such as home theaters - in order to accommodate changing lifestyles, said consumer experts.



Let there be light
There's something nostalgic about Niche Modern's new series of handcrafted pendant lamps and contemporary chandeliers. The sleek hand-blown glass shades look thoroughly at home in a modern setting but the filament bulbs and the way they're suspended make them look vintage.

Bear essentials
Two iconic german brands, Severin and Steiff, get together to mark the 110th anniversary of the teddy bear.

Modern talking
While giving a tour of her family's Marmol Radziner-designed house, Megan Schoenbachler notices the light and the angle from the second-floor master bathroom, looking over the courtyard hot tub and toward the kitchen on the first floor. "That would make a great shot," she suggests in a friendly tone to the photographer.

Where do you begin?
When it comes to decorating, six little words often stand between dreams and reality: "I don't know where to start." It's inertia rooted in fear - of making mistakes, wasting money or being judged unfavorably, interior designer Lauri Ward said. "People are terrified of decorating," said Ward, who pioneered the concept of interior redesign, or decorating by rearranging the decor people already own.

Know your leather
Aniline: a hide that has been treated with aniline dye, either organic or inorganic. The dye is transparent and allows the grain and natural characteristics to come through. If you scratch it, it should retain the top color of the leather. It feels buttery soft to the touch.

Skin deep
Whether it resembles a well-traveled saddle or a buttery smooth burst of cherry red or lime green, leather furniture is classic and strong. As upholstery, leather lasts four times as long as fabric, according to American Leather, a Dallas-based manufacturer which creates furniture in fabric and leather for stores.

Create your own art
What does the art you display in your home say about you? If they're dime-a- dozen prints, they might scream: "I have no imagination" - especially when personalized options are readily available.

In a fog
You may think I'm all wet, but I've decided to talk about condensation, only because I receive a lot of questions about foggy windows in the winter. Apparently, I'm not the only one.

Store up luck
The Lunar New Year is traditionally the time to revamp your home decor. Red is always an auspicious color for the Chinese and for inspiration you can pop down to local brand Tequila Kola, one of Hong Kong's largest home stores.

Talking to wood
Ted Fehn could be called an artistic pioneer, popularizing a new home decor called "rustic chic." But instead of major alterations of wood, Fehn lets the rugged uniqueness tell its own story. "If I have a rough piece of wood, I like to retain its original charm," he said. "Something can be both creative and have character. I'm trying to bring nature and the outside inside."



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