_{Photo: The home of Malene Barnett by The Selby}

Hi everyone! It’s Nicole from So Haute – a blog about decorating and living with style- and I’m excited to be guest blogging for Ally today! She asked me to talk about a favorite design trend or obsession and I immediately thought of the home of my friend and carpet designer Malene B. Recently I was perusing the blogs and came across photos of Malene’s Brooklyn brownstone which was featured on The Selby a while back. Malene’s home is vibrant and colorful but what really gives her space its personality and soul is her amazing collection of African sculptures, masks, textiles and other objets d’art. It reminded me of how much I love traditional African textiles and accessories. From Kente and Kuba cloths to tribal prints and batiks, the rich and vivid patterns of Africa are truly beautiful and totally inspiring. Above is a perfectly composed vignette from Malene’s home and below are 10 ways you can bring this look into your own space. Enjoy!

1 & 3. Josef Chair – Anthropologie, $1698

2. Dutch Wax Ottoman in Green Diamonds – Anthropologie, $198

4. Kuba Cloth Pillows – Wisteria, $229

5. African Graphic Printed Basket – West Elm, $99

6. Iman Home fabric collection – Calico Corners, from $24.99

7. Bamileke Juju hat - Table Tonic, $650

8. Walof Rug – Malene B – Maleneb.com for info

9. Africa by Herb Ritts (One of my favorite photographers and favorite books ever), $61

10. Hand Carved Stool - Overstock.com for similar, around $65

Hi there, I’m Christine from Bijou and Boheme and I am so excited to be here today talking about one of my favourite design trends.

When Ally asked me to participate, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to choose from my list of absolute favourites…those being (in no particular order) pink, gold and leopard. For those of you who know me, you might be surprised to find out that I didn’t choose to feature my love affair with pink… I just thought the umbrella was a little too huge to delve into. In the end, I chose leopard because it’s just quite simply the epitome of fabulous…according to this humble blogger anyway.

Perhaps my favourite thing about this trend is how it bypasses any self imposed borders between fashion and decor…it’s all one in the same when it comes to this vintage print.

Leopard has a chameleon quality that I adore.

It seems right at home in both modern…

and traditional settings.

It has a definite vintage appeal.

But also resides comfortably in the present.

In the end, when it comes to leopard, it’s all about the glamour.

{pictures via Fashionising/Mert Alas & Marcus Pigott photographer, The City Sage, MFMAB, Carolines Mode/Artur Wesolowski photographer, Inspired Decorating, The Decorista, The Zhush, Elements of Style, fffound, The Love List, Shelter, Doucette Duvall}

Thank you so much to Ally for having me- it was such a delight to be here!

xo

Hello, fellow FTRB fans. I’m Chedva from Belly’s Interiors with a Story, and I’m thrilled to fill-in for Ally while she’s away.

Ally asked me to come up with a design trend close to my heart, and while I’m not sure this is big enough to be considered a trend, i’d definitely like it to be; You see, with all the feminine and preppy interiors we’re seeing lately (which I love, by the way) I feel like some contradiction is needed. These anatomical or medical prints fill that void for me.

Appropriate in a medical clinic designed by Israeli interior design duo TaGa.

Clustered elegantly above the entrance of designer and blogger Lauren Liess‘s home

(photo: Helen Norman)

This kind of prints can be found quite frequently on One Kings Lane for a few hundreds of dollars. You can find some on ebay (though the search may turn out scarier than the actual print). Here’s another source I found today- has anyone ordered from them? the price is approachable. For a little less, I found a treasure trove of vintage prints of the same nature in Alenbi street in Tel Aviv (not far from my home) and I’m sure there are many like these around the globe.

Or you could do what Lauren did, and buy a book like Leonardo’s Notebooks and use its pages.

Hi there FTRB peeps!  I’m Claire (from High Gloss Blue) and here on the Right Bank today I’m rolling out my FAVORITE NYC SHELTER SHOPS.  When Ally asked to me guest post last week, I had just returned from The Big Apple-so many thanks to Ally for indulging my excitement here today.  Oh and even if you’re not traveling any time soon, a few of these places have really great online stores.  Links will follow…

1. Fish’s Eddy:  One step in this dinnerware dynamo and I’m in love.  Whether it is a cake stand, jadeite anything or a rubber hand mold you fancy, Fish’s Eddy has it.  Gorgeous glassware and gifts galore, Fish’s Eddy takes the cake as my favorite shop in NYC.  Rock your dinner party.

2. ABC HOME: Sure you’ve known about this one for years, but does it get any better than ABC HOME? No, it does not.  One thing that could get better, their online shop.

3. The Conran Shop: A modernist mecca of all things design, the Conran Shop is much an interactive museum as a shop.  Sit on PANTON CHAIRS and play with PAINT CAN PIN HOLE CAMERAS (great gift idea, right?).  I’ve been looking for those GOLD SCOURING PADS since my boyfriend’s grandma forgot where she bought the ones she gifted him last Christmas.  Oh and let me introduce you to my newest obsession, GLOBETROTTER LUGGAGE.

4. The Future Perfect / A+G Merch: 2 stores/1 Williamsburg Street+Owner.  Opened by David Alhadeff, The Future Perfect and A+G Merch both serve up a heaping dose of witt with their high design offerings.  You might remember David’s apartment from its feature in NYMagazine (bright pink bedroom anyone) and I remember this awesome set of dinner plates that stack up to form a palace. PALACE DINNER PLATES by Alessandro Zambelli for Seletti.  I want ‘em.

That’s it, but here are a few more links to wet your palette.

Imports from Marrakesh
Ochre
Interieurs

Big thank you to Ally for letting me hang out with you guys today!