NY Now Re-cap Part 1..Plus a giveaway!

So it took a week (or two) but I'm finally back at my computer to do some re-caps of NY Now: the Market for Home + Lifestyle. It was a great market filled with amazing vendors and products- in fact there is just too much to highlight in one post so I am going to share some of my favorite finds over the course of the week(s)!

 

Javits Center NYC

Since I arrived in the city a little early, I decided to walk across town to the Javits Center. I cut right through the Fashion District, where I spent a lot of time while studying at FIT, so it was nice to wander around those streets for a little while. There is such great energy there- you can feel the creative juices flowing all around...and you just never know what you're going to see there!

 And you thought you would only see this in the 80's...but in NYC nothing is a surprise!

One of my first stops at the Javits was to the Go Home Ltd. booth. I just love this company- they have such unique products. I feel like their style is a great blend of rustic, industrial and sophisticated all rolled into one!

Go Home Ltd. Display at NY Now

 Thank you Go Home Ltd. for this Mercury Glass deliciousness!

What can I say....Gorgeous Go Home Ltd!

My second must-see was the Dash & Albert booth. I just can't get enough of these rugs and have used them on so many projects. Their colors are spot-on...their patterns are current yet classic and the quality and workmanship is just amazing. In fact, they  have some rugs that can be hosed down and bleached! These are great for my clients with homes filled with kids and dogs.

Sorry, I didn't get great shots of the rugs  (visit their site for that www.dashandalbert.com) ...but I did snag a shot of this new product (can you tell they are a dog-friendly company?) called the WAMP. Its an amazing ramp for doggies! Must get one for Fergie so she doesn't hurt her knee getting on and off our high bed!

Now this I wouldn't mind next to my bed!

Then off to Two's Company. The Two's Company booth is like the mecca for accessories. Their booth was so unique- it just seemed to draw a crowd...plus they were giving away free tote bags and everybody loves freebies:) Their product and displays were stunning.

Two's Company

Do I spy more mercury glass? And look at the back wall- that is so achievable on any budget! You don't have to spend tons of money on a large mirror- buy less expensive small ones and group them together. Love.

Brilliant.

Next week I'll share some of my great vendor finds from NY Now- companies that I just discovered for the first time. And there were lots of them!

After NY Now, I walked over the the HGTV Magazine's Blogger's Block Party. This was an all-day event dedicated to blogging, tweeting and crafting. There were some great crafting projects going on, and some amazing refreshments, too! Thank you HGTV for always supporting us bloggers when we are out in the trenches!

Loved their display of front doors...for those of you who read HGTV Mag you know that they feature a front door every month in the magazine- unique colors, numbers, styles, etc...one of my favorite regulars because it shows how creative you can be in the details of your home! (For those of you who don't read HGTV Magazine, I'm done speaking with you until you get yourself a subscription! And HGTV is not sponsoring this post...just love the mag:)

While there were presentations going on all day, I was there for the Kitchen Art DIY presentation. Sara Peterson (my BFF in my head...you know when you feel like you know someone- but you don't- and you feel like you could be BFFs if only you did know each other..well, Sara Peterson, the Editor-in-Chief at HGTV Magazine is one of those BFFs in my head.)

Anyway, Sara, along with one of her fabulous craft editors, demonstrated three different DIY projects to create your own kitchen art. Here is a picture of my favorite art created at the event but you can find all the deets in the September issue of HGTV Magazine. Can you believe this is just an Ikea frame, some wooden spoons painted with craft paint and some linen fabric glued to the mat! GENIOUS!! Love this one! But be sure to go to the September issue-its all about kitchens!

Blurry iPhone photo of my girl, Sara Peterson showing off some DIY kitchen art!

There is another great piece they demonstrated using a blank canvas, some paper napkins and stencils on their site. Very cool stuff!

You can check out step-by-step at HGTV Mag.

If you've made it all the way here to the end...I commend you. I think you should get a prize or something. Maybe I'll give away a copy of the September issue of HGTV magazine! To enter just follow me on Twitter here or Facebook here or subscribe to the blog. Then leave a comment on this post telling me what you did to enter. The winner will be selected randomly. You have until 9/10 to enter. I believe this is the longest post I've ever written....thanks for staying with me...more to come on NY Now once I've recovered from writing this monster post!

 

NY NOW, The Market for Home + Lifestyle and the HGTV Blogger Block Party!

Getting out early this morning on the Metro North headed into NYC for a super exciting trade show: NY Now, the Market for Home + Lifestyle at the Javits Center. This trade show is open to the trade, including designers, buyers, retailers, press, etc and features over 100,000 products and 2,800+ exhibitors. Let's just say I'll be wearing my comfy shoes!

And as if that isn't enough excitement (because it is!) I am also going to head over to HGTV's FIRST EVER Blogger Block Party! Yes, I know....I love my job! This is an all-day event dedicated to meeting, tweeting and crafting! And I have experienced an HGTV event before when I attended BlogFest 2013 and boy can they host an event! Love me some HGTV!

Join me tomorrow for my first re-cap of the things I loved most at NY Now, the Market for Home + Lifestyle and for some dirty deets on the HGTV FIRST EVER Blogger Block Party! Or, if you just can't wait that long, follow me on Twitter for instant updates or Instagram (Homestyling101)...I promise I'll accept your request! Get ready for some pretty things!!

BlogFest 2013: Day 1

So on Monday and Tuesday I had the pleasure of attending BlogFest2013- a conference of Interior Design Bloggers brought together for some fun, learning, networking, touring, lots of laughs (and some food and drinks...and gifts!). Over the next few posts I will share all the wonderful things I took away from this whirlwind of a time!

The first day started bright and early with an opportunity to tour the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse privately with the other bloggers (sans the public!). The Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse has been around since 1973 when it was started to benefit the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club after school programs for NYC kids. It was such a treat and truly inspiring! I took some pictures but the professional ones on the Kips Bay site are much better so here are a few teasers compliments of Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse site:

This dining room was probably one of my favorite spaces. It had laquered blue walls, yellow-ochre curtains, a deconstructed metal buffet and the one gem you can't see in this photo....a gold-leaf wallpapered ceiling that was hand-painted over. I COULD DIE! It was amazing! And the designer was in the room to greet us and she was so lovely. Kudos to Kristen McGinnis- you killed it! 

 

 Dining Room by Kristen McGinnis

 I believe this room below is the Lounge Suite by Garcia/Maldonado, Inc. It was such a gorgeous and serene sitting area. I loved the unique color combination...so pretty!

Garcia Maldonado Lounge

Here is the Master Suite compliments of one of my favorite designers, Kathryn Ireland. It was a beautiful combination of antiques and her always unique play on patterns and colors.

Master Suite by Kathryn Ireland

AMAZING Laquered powder room on the main floor.....love the play of two-toned turquoise and gold!

Foyer/Powder Room by Andrew Suvalsky Designs

I have to say- the outdoor areas in this Decorators House were unbelievable...each one more enticing than the next. I don't have a photo of the sitting area on the first floor but it was serene and sophisticated done by Nievera Williams Design....and then take a look at this....imagine bathing right outside in NYC! The fifth floor terraces featured amazing work by West Chin Architects & Interior Designers.

Fifth Floor Terrace by West Chin Architects

We were also treated to a lovely breakfast compliments of Doodle Home in this amazingly sophisticated yet rustic kitchen by Christopher Peacock. The wood can't be appreciated in the photos but those cabinets and the hardware were just divine. And Doodle Home had the most delicious breakfast set up for us to start off the day. For those readers who are designers- definitely check out Doodle Home- it is the wave of the future in how you will run your business and purchasing!

Kitchen by Christopher Peacock

After touring the beautiful Kips Bay, we headed on buses over to the Hearst offices which sit high up in NYC for a festive lunch and speaker time! Ok, you've been reading long enough...I think you've earned something....how about some HGTV goodness?

HGTV was so generous in offering the bloggers at BlogFest and our readers a 69% discount on a subscription! Just visit subscribe.hgtvmag.com - I am already a subscription but make sure you visit to be able to get your own monthly treat in your mailbox! Stay tuned for the next post on the HGTV lunch and the hilarious speakers.....