Happy New Year!

I can hardly believe that 2010 is coming to an end.  It has been quite a year.  It was just fourteen months ago that AphroChic expanded beyond being just a blog and dove into the world of textiles.  And this year we went even further to offer a new collection that's expanded to wallpaper and other home accessories.  The year has been full of highs, and has also been a time of great transition.  I started this year in San Francisco, and am ending it back on the east coast, and am ready to start life as a full-time designer.  This year has also been a great time to connect with so many of you.  I have enjoyed meeting friends of this blog in person through tweet-ups, events, and even chatting more on Twitter and Facebook with many of you.

2011 holds so much promise.  I am ready for a year of renewed creativity, and am excited to move into working on design full-time, and bringing you more incredible posts on this blog.  You can expect more Style Talk interviews with some fabulous folks - our first being Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan of Apartment Therapy; a new blog design; and some expanded products in our AphroChic shop!  It's going to be a fabulous year ahead.

What are you looking forward to in the New Year?

P.S. - for a fun weekend read check out my latest post on HGTV.com all about classic black and white design.  Enjoy!

{Image: Opening Ceremony Confetti System Window Front}

Fabrica Verde {Sponsored Post}

Fabrica Verde is one of the latest sponsors on the AphroChic blog and the go-to place for cool Diana and Lomo Film cameras.  A New York-based company with a passion for lomography and creative photography, their selection of cameras is mod, cool, and just plain fun.



You can take funky photos, fisheye photography, and action portraits with the cameras in their collection.



I'd also recommend exploring the variety of colorways.  My favorite - the black Lomo Fisheye No. 2 camera with a full metal jacket stripe going across it.  So chic!



Explore more fun finds at Fabrica Verde.  Enjoy!

{Images: Fabrica Verde}

22 BOND ST.

22 BOND ST. in Los Angeles, CA is an interior design firm and showroom that offers what they call "The New Modern".  Designers Dana Solomon and Sherry Joniff-Solomon infuse home furnishings from London and Paris with American modern and industrial elements, to create the firm's edgy and eclectic style.



The shop offers one-of-a-kind finds like this Globe Bench.



And gorgeous modern lighting like this Halogen Glow pendant.



I am fan of their custom sofa bar.  You can order any sofa, chaise, ottoman or chair in your favorite fabric.  I love this gray sofa with white piping.



See more from 22 BOND ST. on their website or if you live in LA stop by the showroom.

Winter White At The Pratt Student Exhibit

As the snow continues to fall here in Philadelphia where I'm spending Christmas with my family, I can't help but think of this exhibit featuring the work of students from New York's Pratt Institute.  These mannequins are sporting some gorgeous paper creations in winter white.



The creations are on display for Pucci's Spring 2011 Girl 2 mannequin exhibit.  You will also be able to see pieces from the exhibit in Macy's windows in New York in January.





Visit Interior Design Magazine for more info on where these lovely ladies will be traveling to next.  Enjoy the snow day!

{Via InteriorDesign.net}

Happy Holidays From AphroChic!

I would like to wish you all a wonderful holiday season.  I have just arrived in Philadelphia to spend Christmas and New Year's with my family.  I'll be popping in and out on the blog over the next week, but while I'm on vacation you can be sure to find me over at Twitter and on HGTV.com.

From everyone at AphroChic - Happy Holidays!

{Image: Melanie Acevedo for AphroChic}

Ted Baker Brings London to New York City

London-based clothing label, Ted Baker, just opened a new store in New York's Meatpacking District.  The new store sports not only wonderful clothing, but some lovely interior decor as well.



Exposed brick, subway tiles, and wood floors with steel inlays are all a testament to the building's industrial roots.



English antiques and apothecary jars dot the space to add a vintage feel.



Stop by Ted Baker this weekend to check out the beautiful interior and enjoy the minced pies and mulled wine they'll be serving to celebrate the holidays.  Enjoy a little bit of London in NYC!

{Images: Ted Baker}

Supporting Blog For Digs

The holiday season is the season of giving.  We are all excited to give and receive gifts, and we can also use our love for gift giving to help those in need.  Today I want to let you know about Blog for Digs.  It's an effort lead by interior designer and blogger, Claudia Clobes.  Working in partnership with Dwell with Dignity, and designer Beth Dotolo of Hello Splendor, Blog for Digs is an opportunity for bloggers and readers to give back.  Over the next few weeks you will see over fifty of your favorite bloggers posting about the Blog for Digs effort and supporting Dwell with Dignity's mission to help families escape poverty and homelessness through design - one household at a time.  Bloggers will be spreading the word about this effort by writing about one of their favorite spaces - their childhood bedroom.



My childhood bedroom was pink.  It was the first room I ever decorated.  The theme was Strawberry Shortcake - my favorite doll at the time, and lots, and lots of pink.  It actually looked a lot like the photo above.  Totally 80s, definitely over the top, but extremely cute.



Today, I think I wouldn't go so kitschy with this room, but instead would bring in some of my favorite elements to express my Strawberry Shortcake love.  A cute daybed with pink cushions would do the trick.



Or some striking pink and white wallpaper would look gorgeous in my modern Strawberry Shortcake bedroom.



And if there was just one decor item I wish I could have had as a kid in my room it would have been a bunk bed just like this.  Part bunk, part little girl play castle, I would have spent hours playing here.

Tomorrow, learn about Helena from A Diary of Lovely's childhood bedroom.  And please take a moment to visit the Dwell with Dignity website and donate to help create beautiful rooms for those children and parents in need.

{Images: Flickriver; Living Etc.}

Felicia Shelton & The Trip To Paris

Sometimes a little thing like blogging can bring about the most incredible experiences.  Things can happen that you least expect, and you can be taken to places that you thought you would only see in your dreams.  That's what happened here just a few weeks ago when I met photographer Felicia Shelton.



An American living in Seoul, South Korea.  Felicia has traveled the world, her camera in hand, capturing interiors, travel and still lifes through her lens.  Her love for travel and capturing the moment can be seen throughout her portfolio.  I like to think of it as "soulful photography" as every shot immediately evokes an emotional response.



When I was first introduced to Felicia's work it was after I had read a comment she left on the blog about a favorite artist of mine.  Elle a Seoul was featuring Stina Persson's work on the cover of the magazine (you must see Felicia's review here) and Felicia offered to send me some issues.



Soon, we were writing emails back and forth.  For the first time I had an actual virtual penpal, and then the topic of Paris came up.  Felicia is attending Maison & Objet in Paris and asked if I woud like to attend.  Within just days my husband and I found an apartment to stay in, booked our flight, and we will be off to Paris next month for what is sure to be an incredible show.



Like I said, you can never imagine the experiences that blogging will bring.  I can't wait to take you on the wonderful adventure to Paris and Maison & Objet.  And I also can't wait to meet a reader of the blog, who has become a friend, and who's work is absolutely inspiring.



Visit Felicia's site to view more of her work and visit her blog, This Time Now, to experience what life is like for this amazing photographer who travels the world.

{Images: Felicia Shelton}

HGTV's White House Christmas Special

I really love all of the holiday specials that come on this time of year.  One of my favorites is HGTV's White House Christmas special.  It's so much fun to get a look at the White House holiday decor, the beautiful Christmas tree and how it all comes together.  This year's special premieres on Sunday on HGTV at 8pm ET/PT.  Here are a few behind-the-scenes photos of host Genevieve Gorder and the volunteer team helping the White House prepare for the holidays.

This year many of the decorations are made from natural materials.  You'll see wood, paper, leaves, fruits and vegetables, interwoven throughout the stately space.  Two doorways in the visitors’ entrance area are decorated with surrounds of roses which are handmade from dried oak leaves collected from the homes and neighborhood parks of volunteers. 

There is also a new Military Appreciation Tree, an idea from the First Lady Michelle Obama that is designed to honor America’s military personnel. 

And in the kitchen, Executive Chef Cris Comerford showcases the holiday menu, while Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses displays a magnificent white chocolate replica of the White House and other holiday pastries.  Isn't this pastry amazing?! 

With my move to DC just a few weeks away, I really need to find out how I can get on the volunteer committee next year.  How fun would that be!

Here are some other happenings going on this weekend:

- My latest HGTV Design Happens post - Ikat Accessories

- We're hosting a giveaway of our Fort Greene pillow on Digital Dollhouse.  Check it out and enter to win!

- You can also get 20% off AphroChic items over at CulturePOP.  We have some perfect gifts for the holiday season.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, and enjoy getting ready for the holidays!

{Images: HGTV}

Style Talk: Jamie Herzlinger

Today I'm excited to bring you a style talk interview with interior designer Jamie Herzlinger.  Jamie's portfolio is an impressive one.  Known for her ability to design high-end spaces with that special mix of the modern and luxurious, Jamie blends diverse elements creating absolutely breathtaking interiors.  The daughter of fashion designer Nan Herzlinger, Jamie brings her exposure to the fashion world into her designs, adding elements that make a unique statement.  This Arizona and New York-based interior designer has some must-see spaces that you are absolutely going to love!

Tell us about your design philosophy?
My work is inspired by the life and innate style of my craft. Quintessential hallmarks of my design aesthetic are the sense of hip, and luxury with great attention to detail. My philosophy does not encompass chasing the latest trends, but instead places a sharp focus on classical lines within a modern sensibility. Great design and passion for ultimate style is what inspires and fuels everything I do.

After growing up in a fashion industry family, surrounded by such greats as Andre Courreges, Paco Rabanne, Sonia Rykeil, Anne Klein, and my mother Nan Herzlinger, I could not help but embrace and enjoy my design-based roots.



You have a knack for mixing styles? How do you bring varying styles together to create a single, unified look?
The key to combining styles is to make sure that the furnishings stay true to the time period of the architectural style. My work always has a specific time period as the foundation, and the contrast is added in varying degrees. If there is a solid foundation then your statement piece or pieces can receive the attention they deserve.



What are some of your favorite design trends right now?
I don’t like to follow the interior design trends, as they wind up being a costly short -lived experience. Rather, I look to trends in fashion and lifestyle to help inspire contemporary design decisions. For example, the eye make up trend with long lashes and subtle lining inspired thin panel molding in a current client’s house. The detail of lining the walls made all the difference, the same way false eyelashes can complete a look.





Your Casa Blanca project is so impressive. Can you tell us about the vision for this space?
The inspiration for the Casa Blanca project was my client’s absolute obsession
with Bel Air homes in California, especially the ones from the 1960’s. Her wish was to live in a glam resort. My approach was to reinvent the design slightly to be contemporary while remaining completely true to the style.



It looks like you’re also working on starting your own shop. Can you tell us a little bit about this latest project?
We are working on the design of a product line that will give clients around the world the opportunity to experience the energy and attitude of what it is like to have front row access to the current trends in interiors and fashion, from vintage to haute couture.



The holidays are almost here! Any tips for readers who are decorating their homes for the holidays?
Absolutely.  The big thing in holiday decorating this year is the color gold with feathers. You can go to your local art supply store and buy boas and use them in place of garland. Glam up the holidays, luxury at its finest!

{Images furnished by Jamie Herzlinger}

Mix And Mingle With Kate Spade

Have you seen the Kate Spade holiday campaign this year?  Aren't these photos just delicious?  Bright, colorful and filled with holiday cheer, I definitely want a little Kate Spade in my Christmas stocking this year.

A few of the things on my Kate Spade holiday wishlist include the Ticker Tape Mug (in the photo) and the Jane Street Creative Passport Holder.  My husband and I just booked a trip to Paris next month, and this passport holder will definitely come in handy.

Oooh, and I think I'm also going to ask Santa for those Snowball Mittens.  Perfect for our holiday spent on the east coast.  

I would also love to meet their stylist.  The Christmas tree in a silver clawfoot tub is too cute.  Love it!

So, what's on your Christmas list this year?

{Images: Kate Spade}

AphroChic Twitter Launch Party Today!

Today we're hosting an AphroChic twitter party!  Join AphroChic and our friends at Nesting Newbies for some fun conversation and chic giveaways just in time for the holidays!

How can you join the chat?  Follow @AphroChic and @NestingNewbies.  Then go to  Tweetchat and enter #AphroChic to follow the conversation.  The party starts today at 12pm PT / 3pm ET.  Feel free to jump in and ask questions as we go.  I can't wait to chat with you!

{Flier created by Lea McIntosh}

Adore Home Features AphroChic!

We are so excited to have the first international feature of our Brooklyn Renaissance Collection in this month's issue of Adore Home.  This Australian magazine is one of my favorite e-mags!  Offering a glance into the beauty of Australian style, Adore Home is filled with amazing home features, and a look at new products from around the world.



You can see our Brooklyn Life Runner on page 6.



And spot our Haze Wallpaper in the Exotic Ikat feature on page 10.

Thank you Adore Home for featuring us!  And Aussie designers, we love you!  Keep sending us your inquiries.  We would love to see AphroChic products in Australia one day.

{Images: Adore Home Magazine}

A Brooklyn Launch Party (on Twitter)!

The last few weeks have been an absolute blast!  Our Brooklyn Renaissance collection has received so much incredible support from all of you.  To celebrate the new collection, and just to have some fun before the holidays, we decided it was time to host a launch event!

Since I'm about to move in two weeks (crazy!) an in-person event isn't possible, but a Twitter party sure is.  So, join me and my wonderful friends at Nesting Newbies, who are co-sponsoring this event, for a virtual Brooklyn launch party!  There will be some great giveaways (including an item from the new collection), I'll be sharing the background on how the line came together and can't wait to answer your questions.  

I can't wait to chat with you on Twitter, Tuesday, December 7th at 12pm PST / 3pm EST.  Use tweetchat and follow #AphroChic to join the party!

{Flyer designed by Lea McIntosh}

Do You Rue? AphroChic Does

Have you seen the latest issue of Rue Magazine?  One of my favorite online magazines, Rue's second issue is absolutely fabulous, featuring even more gorgeous interiors and some fantastic giveaways (including our Brooklyn Life Pillows on page 294!).



One of my favorite articles in the current issue is this one featuring the office of lifestyle expert and event planner extraordinaire, Kelley Moore.





Kelley's brand new office space is to die for.  Ummm, can I work here....please?



You can also find a write-up about our new collection on page 294.  Find out how you can win two of our pillows!  Have fun exploring.

{Images: Rue Magazine}