Modern wallpaper is bursting with non-traditional subjects from bold geometry to gradient effects to customizable drawing surfaces.

Elegant shimmer, hologram foil, mixed with colour, bold prints, copper details — I love the rise of metallic wallpaper patterns and finishes.

One of very favourite uses of wallpaper is small but mighty applications. From one feature wall to a nook or cranny that is now memorable, it is a brilliant way to bring pattern to a space.

Until recently, wallpaper was refereed to as a thing of a past. Yep, we had all supposedly moved on and become strictly focused on pure painted walls. Like most things in design (especially those with historical roots), wallpaper has modernized and evolved in a new direction. Bold patterns and unique treatments have replaced the wallpaper of yesteryear. In my latest post for Rena Tom, I talk about the various elements of this wallpaper revival including the general pattern direction, popular new finishes, interior use, wallpaper as a styling tool, art possibilities and even exterior products that are emerging. From home to retail, this new direction of wallpaper is worthy of exploration. Who doesn’t love a pop of pattern? Read my full post here.

(modern pattern photographs via: black. white. yellow., apartment therapy, hygge and west, design is mine, designers guild, studio ditte, desire to inspire and house to home; metallic wallpaper photographs moffat, jill malek, apartment therapy, afflante, hygge and west and michele varian; small application photographs via see that there, homedit, edison avenue, poppytalk, more delisious, houzz, mor til mernee and lorenzo castillo)

Statistics are just better when you add colour, yes? I love this data visualization of interior design colour statistics by designers Mie Frey Damgaard and Peter Ørntoft for global paint brand Jotun. A seamless combination of handcrafted design nd consumer data. I’m not completely certain about the colours selected but the diagram concept and its styling are fantastic…

(photographs/video via behance)

More cool toned, rosy and clear “modern gold”.

Copper has really jumped into the 2013 spotlight. Unlike the very orange or brown copper of years gone by, this “modern copper” is more cool toned and clear in colour (also inspired by the popularity of rose gold). Streamlined shapes, cutting edge applications and more matte/hammered finishes are also making copper of any shade feel more modern. In my latest post for Rena Tom, I discuss this shift and the many trends and possibilities it has created. Mixed with other colours and materials, exposed piping, used in print – the article is rather plump with inspiration. I have always liked copper but I am officially in love with modern copper. Read my post here if you fancy…

(photographs via: acrimony, analogue life, magpie studio, poppytalk, lettered olive, stockholm street style and stylizimo; interior images: remodelista, dwell, real living magazine, and homelife)

Intriguing lights, mattress box spring inspiration boards, neon pink desks, pegboards, layers of design details…

Studios under the stairs or in attics, all white spaces with pops of colour, half walls of hue, huge blackboards, bins of supplies…

Supplies organized by colour in bins, shelves and stacks…

I really love studio spaces. Yep, I even have a Pinterest board devoted to them! How can you not love seeing the environments that inspire people, the supplies they use and all of the interior details that make a space one-of-a-kind? In my latest post for Rena Tom, I showcase studios and some of the facets that make them efficient and artful. Designer, accountant, candlestick maker — we all need a creative spot to call our own. Whether you build an entirely new studio or simply buy a desk chair you really love, the new year should include the creation of a space that truly inspires you. Take a peak at my post here if you are interested…

(images via/ first set:lovely shelter, desire to inspire, apartment therapy, smäm, remodelista, sf girl by bay; second set: practically modern, sf girl by bay, sa decor, vtwonen, fjeldborg, ikea family live; third set: the design files, martha stewart, i art u) 

I have a fetish for well-designed cushions so these handmade Kisshions by the fabulous British shop Room39 make me giddy. I love the unique shapes and overall combination of vibrant colour, metallic pattern and metallic leather piping. Two very different but equally great sides make for twice the interior design options. Pink or jade with gold, tangerine or vert with silver and a dual-sided charcoal denim pattern… One of each please?

(photographs via room39)  

I stumbled upon Cox and Cox last weekend and I could honestly post just about everything on their website. Fabulous products and gorgeous styling. They seem to seamlessly mix raw concrete with whimsical elements. An opulent industrial look perhaps? Just a few examples: 50-50 Pencils, Corkboard World Map, 20 Small Ink Pads, Leaf Chocolate Moulds, Zinc House Tea Lights and Fancy Pants Crackers. I better look into Canadian shipping ASAP…

(photographs via cox and cox)  

Two handsome home objects caught my eye today and both feature streamlined white with pops of colour. The first is the Excel Perch by Rich Brilliant Willing, an unconventional five-leg piece on which to hang your coat or perch upon. The second, Sugarchain Light by Kirstin Overbeck, whimsically nods at candy necklaces with a pendant cord of painted wooden beads. Both would be welcome additions to a joyful studio space or home…

(photographs via rich brilliant willing & kirstin overbeck)  

I seem to be finding more uses lately for trays and these Kaleido Trays by Hay are pitch perfect. Powder coated steel crafted into hexagonal-shaped handsomeness, I love the fresh yet unexpected colour palette. Available in many size and hue options, the tray shapes were created to fit into each other for easy storage and unique tangram arrangements. I think I can find a use for one or seven of them…

(photographs via nordicthink and tas-ka)   

I always love when the IKEA catalogue arrives and there are millions of new products and interiors to pore over. I am particularly loving how IKEA has embraced the DIY trend and the many ways their pieces can be customized. For example, their blog features PRANT boxes painted and clamped together in beautiful style. I might “need” the new MALM mirrored drawers and turquoise RASKOG trolley. Oh and how about that TARVA set of drawers customized in vibrant paint? Time to dream up new projects to DIY and studio objects to fill that handsome cart…

(shown: RASKOG trolley, TARVA drawers (painted), MALM mirrored drawers, MARIUS Stool (wrapped in fabric), HEKTAR clamp light, PRANT boxes (painted & clamped together); photographs via IKEA & IKEA Livet Hemma)

Single Strip of Colour: I love this method of colour blocking books because it is subtle yet bold and looks smashing in neutral and colourful interiors alike.

Unique Colour Palettes: No need to follow the idea of making a rainbow. I prefer colour blocked bookshelves that use unique colour palettes including mixing soft hues with bright ones. In most interiors, it makes the look feel less forced and helps if you happen to have books in one particular colour family.

Gallery White Spaces: Colour blocked books can look incredible in all light interiors especially when the design follows an artful, gallery sensibility. You definitely can’t get away with many ratty books in this approach!

Dark backgrounds: Black, wood or neutral grey shades can make bold backgrounds for books organized by colour. I especially like that first image as it showcases how bright coloured books can look beautifully striking when mixed with many white spines.

Bring up the topic of colour blocked bookshelves with interior design-minded friends and you will find those who adore the look and those who hate it. Design critics can be especially snarky on the topic! Personally, I love it but understand that it can go into cheesy territory fairly quickly. I’ve been searching for images for a couple months that exemplify the colour blocking styles that I love –  a single strip of colour, unique palettes, white gallery settings and dark backgrounds. I find I like the rainbow look less often then a random but organized selection of hues. I particularly like when just a row of colourful books splash into an industrial space. Colour blocked books definitely colour me happy… What about you?

(photographs via the design files, the selby, design*sponge, trendland, decor8, apartment therapy, fjeldborg, easy living, hus & hem, design*sponge, better homes and gardens, the selby, one kings lane, heart home magazine, deco my place, seventeen doors, little green notebook, hus & hem, lonny magazine, terkultura, apartment therapy, yatzer, the design files, lovenordic and chotda)

I love when designers and brands find a way to highlight their colour collections in an innovative way. Case in point: decorative plywood company Ichiro’s 2012-2013 catalog designed by the Irobe Design Institute. A gorgeous collection of nine mini-books, I love the scale of swatches and the way the hues are integrated into images that speak to their inspiration. Also fabulous? The Ichiro Japan Shop 2012 by Torafu Architects – a showcase space of prototypes and plyboard hues. I love the thought of a living, breathing swatch book customers can explore and hope more brands embrace a similar dedication to colour…

(spotted on spoon & tamago) and trendland)

Ecole Maternelle Pajol is a four-classroom kindergarten in Paris’s 18th arrondissement that joyfully showcases how colour and education are a true dream team. I love how Parisian architects Palatre & Leclère restored the 1940′s building. The front retains its vintage brick beauty while the back explodes with vibrant patterns and colourful activities. The interiors are equally joyful with bold hallways, bright furniture/building materials and a dotted ceiling I just love. Even the washroom features fabulous streamlined colour and animal details (love those dividers!) This kindergarten must be one magical place to learn and play…

(spotted on the cool hunter)

Cash desks, sales counters or receptions desks are sometimes overlooked as retail elements bursting with magnificent design potential. I think this area is the soul of a store or studio. It’s where guests are welcomed, a customer turns that sought-after item into their cherished possession and where lasting impressions are formed. In my latest post for Rena Tom’s site, I focused on the design possibilities of cash desks and the functionality considerations that should be kept in mind. It was a hunt but I think I tracked down some inspiring images for your next retail or reception desk creation! To read my post, please take a look here.

(photographs via made by girl, brent comber, arch daily, reception desk world, xnet and decor hacks)

I saw Swedish designer Pernilla Jansson’s ‘A New Proposal’ for the first time yesterday and have completely fallen in love with it. Building on a desire to “disturb the established order”, Pernilla lets the standard office fluorescent light become a playful installation of beautiful neon. Simple and so very beautiful. I would love to see an office embrace this idea. One hanging over a reception desk or main studio table would certainly showcase a culture of breaking through the standard way of doing things…

(images via pernilla jansson and dezeen; spotted on rena tom’s pinterest)

Animals are longtime fixtures of the design world and seem limitless in their ability to inspire home objects, fashion and so much more. Specific animals move in and out of the spotlight and some become the focus of massive trends. Case in point, owls who are critter rockstars at this point! In my latest post for Rena Tom’s site, I focused on animal trends and who could take the throne from owls as the next “it” creature. My money is on foxes but there are many other contenders. Foxes, giraffes, whales, llamas and even snails – will any of these animals reach owl-level popularity? To read my post, please take a look here.

(images via lucky pony, bongo design, madewell, j.crew, rue mag and anthropologie)

In my final guest post for yellowtrace, I showcased the fabulous styling of HAY, a Danish furniture company. The HAY 2012 Catalogue has a behind-the-scenes, raw cement type of vibe mixed with play-like sets of interior design. Their product shots are equally great (check out those artful stacks of boxes). I just love that end shot of all of the catalogue pieces taking a final “bow” in colour-coded sections. I wouldn’t mind framing that photograph! HAY’s 2012 Catalogue is sure to become one of my favourite examples of brilliant styling. To see all of the photographs and read my whole post, please pop over to yellowtrace.

(photographs via HAY)