And The Winner Is...

Congratulations Lisa A.!  You are the winner of the CSN Giveway.  You can now put that $70 giftcard towards the rug you wanted for your home.  How exciting!  To claim the giftcard, please send your email address to aphrochic{at}me.com.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the giveaway.  I'll have more coming up soon.

Happy weekend!

Note: Winner was entry number 23, chosen randomly using random.org.  

The AphroChic Foundary Sale Has Begun!

I wanted to let you know that the AphroChic The Foundary Event has begun!  You can view it here.

P.S. - Also, don't forget to enter the CSN giveaway by 11:59pm PST this evening.

AphroChic The Foundary Event!

I have some super exciting news!  The AphroChic sales event on The Foundary starts tomorrow!  Have you heard of The Foundary?  It's a members-only site that offers great deals on luxury items.  Starting tomorrow they're offering great discounts on AphroChic pillows and table linens.  So, if you've been saving up for new items for your home, stop by this sales event.  You can join here to participate in tomorrow's sale.

Secrets From A Stylist Premieres Saturday

I had so much fun being able to guest judge for HGTV Design Star last year.  The whole time I was rooting for stylist, Emily Henderson.  Her work was fun, pretty and very chic.  And I was absolutely thrilled when she won!  Now it's time to see Emily's design show in action.  Her new show, Secrets From A Stylist, premieres this Saturday, and I can't wait to see it!





You can visit HGTV to get a look at Emily's portfolio and her first Secrets From A Stylist special that premiered last year.





Congratulations Emily!  I think this new show is going to be a wonderful addition to the HGTV line-up.  Will you be watching?

{Images: HGTV}

CSN Giveaway!

For those in the U.S., Happy President's Day!  I thought I'd start the week off with a fun giveaway to brighten your Monday.  CSN Stores, the home shopping site that offers everything from swing sets to high-end modern decor, is offering one lucky AphroChic reader a $70 gift certificate that you can use towards any purchase!



You can choose products from Areaware, Kartell, and so many other great design houses.  There are literally millions of items to choose from.



So, what do you have to do to enter?  Leave your first name and last initial in the comment section, and let me know how you would put the $70 gift certificate to use.  You have until Thursday at 11:59pm PT to leave comments.  One lucky winner will be chosen randomly this Friday.



Good luck!

{Images: Ghost Chair, Bourgie Lamp, Brush Vase, My Brother's Frame all at CSN}

Contest rules: Limited to residents in the United States and Canada.  Gift certificate does not cover shipping costs.


Update: This giveaway is now closed.  The winner was announced on February 25th.  

African-Americans In Design

Last week, in honor of Black History Month, HGTV did a fantastic post recognizing the contributions of African-Americans in design.  I was honored to be mentioned among a list of incredible designers, including Sheila Bridges, Kim Myles, and so many others whose work I admire.



You can view the complete list of designers here, and also visit Tina Shoulder's beautiful blog, Design In Color, a daily affirmation of the works of people of color in the design field.

Happy Black History Month!

{Image: Sheila Bridges portfolio; HGTV Design Happens}

Original Art: Moxy Creative House

Andre 3000

My sister recently introduced me to Moxy Creative House.  A hip firm that creates original prints based upon iconic characters and events.  My favorite is the Ensemble series, featuring the stylish dress of some pretty cool musicians.

RUN DMC


PRINCE

Marvin Gaye

The best part, these prints are an affordable $30 a piece, and would look fantastic in some simple black frames.  I think I might get a few for the apartment.

{Images: Moxy Creative House}

HGTV's "Home by Novogratz"

I received some exciting news in my inbox this morning.  HGTV is bringing the Novogratz family back to TV this summer in a brand new show - Home by Novogratz.  I'm sure you remember this quirky family with seven kids from their one season stint on BRAVO - 9 By Design.



The new series will follow design couple Cortney and Robert Novogratz of SixxDesign as they take on residential design projects, customize eclectic finds, and show off their most innovative designs.



Expect to see custom projects, and beautiful design that will inspire every week.



I am thrilled that the Novogratz family will be back on TV, and can't wait for the series to launch this summer!  What do yo think?  Will you be tuning in?

{Images: SixxDesign}

A Sweet Treat

Happy Valentine's Day!  I am going to be spending the day with the hubby and enjoy the warm-up we're having here in Philadelphia.  But before I get going, I wanted to share with you something new at the AphroChic shop, our online catalog!  This was such a fun project, to bring the Brooklyn Renaissance Collection together in one flippable online catalog that shows how the pieces relate to each other.  You can view the catalog here, and please let me know what you think.

Happy VDay everyone!

{Image: Melanie Acevedo for AphroChic}

Contemporary Furniture At Rowe

I am a furniture addict, so it's always nice to discover a furniture company that creates quality work and that has an interesting story.  Rowe Furniture is a US-based furniture manufacturer out of Virginia that has been producing high-quality and sustainable pieces for over 60 years.



Working with big retail chains like Raymour & Flanigan and Scandinavian Designs, Rowe offers a variety of beautiful pieces, like that tufted blue sofa above.  I just love it!



And I also love hearing about furniture that's produced in the United States.  It's rare to hear that we build anything these days, yet more and more, we're hearing about companies that produce locally as part of their dedication to environmental sustainability.  Quality furniture that's also eco-minded.  What could be better?

{Images: Rowe Furniture}

Dynamic Ikat

This gorgeous Dynamic Ikat Duvet from Anthropologie is a nice pick-me-up during these cold winter days.  The ikat print in a sophisticated color palette of coral, purple, magenta and egg shell blue, is all any bedroom needs to create a warm and cozy environment with a global feel.



This bedding set is definitely on my wish list for spring.  I hope it arrives soon!

{Image: Anthropologie}

Welcome New Sponsor: The Shade Store {sponsored post}

I love new collaborations, and connecting with stores and boutiques that offer great items and value to AphroChic readers.  That's why I'm so excited to announce AphroChic's partnership with The Shade Store.  Bringing you beautiful custom window treatments for your home, you can now visit the AphroChic page on The Shade Store to save $50 on any order over $500.  And if you want to figure out which items are right for you, The Shade Store will send you up to 30 samples for free!



From custom panels to cool drapery, The Shade Store has everything you need to dress up your windows in style.



And they also have a great photo gallery for inspiration.  Check it out and click here to get your special AphroChic code.

{Images: The Shade Store}

More From Maison (& Elle Decor!)

Here are some final pics of my favorite items from Maison.  I hope you enjoy them!

Sparkly details from ETANDART



I fell in love with these beautiful textiles made in Tunisia.  So much so, that I ordered a carpet for my bedroom.  The bits of gold and silver woven into each piece are stunning.



Obama At PO PARIS



These icon pillows are absolutely fantastic!  The Obama one is my favorite.  If you live in the states you can find these pillows at ABC Carpet & Home.



Cool Floor Decor at THOTMEA



Designer Aziz Ndiaye makes the most awesome indoor/outdoor carpets.  He asked me if I thought he should display his work in New York - all I could way was yes, yes, yes!  The colors, the patterns, they're completely original and fantastic.



The highlight of my trip was hanging out with photographer Felicia Shelton on our final day at the show. She's the whole reason we were able to come to Paris, and she was such a delight.  I can't wait to see all of the fabulous photos she took of the show.



I also wanted to let you know that you can see me on ElleDecor.com this week!  Check what me and 10 other bloggers are excited about for 2011.

Happy Friday!

{Photos taken by Jeanine Hays}

Beautiful Textiles From Maison

I posted daily about my experience at Maison + Objet over at HGTV Design Happens, but I did keep a couple of photos to share with you here on the blog.  Some of the things I fell in love with while at the Paris trade show were the beautiful textiles that could be seen throughout the many halls.  Gorgeous upholstery from Designers Guild, SZALAY, and JNL Collection caught my eye.



Suzani and ikat fabrics stole the show.  These chairs from SZALAY showcased Suzani prints in a whole new way.  I love the upholstered chairs.



Bright upholstery is always a nice surprise.



Designers Guild mixed some great prints and patterns including this oversized ikat print.



And this floral sofa from JNL Collection made quite an impression.  Have you ever seen something so lovely?  I would love to see this piece in a mod white loft.   It's super long and super gorgeous.

{Images taken by Jeanine Hays for AphroChic}

MIYO Home

I was recently introduced to MIYO Home, an eclectic Miami showroom that blends contemporary style with global accessories.





With a collection of pieces from Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America, MIYO Home's furniture and accessories create warm spaces that tell a story.





If you're in Miami, plan a visit to view MIYO's newly expanded showroom.  They have a beautiful Zen garden to showcase their outdoor items.  It's definitely worth a visit.

{Images: MIYO Home}