I am a big fan of Canadian designer Avril Loreti and her home decor and accessory creations. From moustache handkerchiefs to lobster bibs, I just love that her pieces always combine true design talent with clever ideas and wit. On one of my many visits to her Etsy page, I discovered Avril’s new product – Paint Chip Placemats. Designed to look like one my favourite items, the placemats are available in six colour ranges, are a linen/cotton blend and feature fun colour names in French and English. Yet another fantastic design from Avril that would make the perfect gift for any colour lover. I also think they would make a perfect housewarming gift as paint colours are an inevitable dinner conversation topic!

If I lived in the United Kingdom, I think I would visit home design store Habitat on a daily basis. Their products are always colourful, modern and playful. Photos of Habitat’s Spring/Summer 2011 collection only underline those unique qualities. The pieces and the gorgeous ways they have been styled are so vibrant and delightfully British. In lieu of a jump across the pond, I think a couple visits to the Habitat website is the perfect way to make it through a rainy Wednesday. Colourful summer days are on the horizon!

(via we heart)

I feel like 98% of shower curtains are really unattractive. It’s as if bad patterns go to die in the shower curtain sector! Perhaps Ty had the same feeling when they created the brilliant DIY Shower Curtain. Using a breathable, high-density polyethylene and permanent market, you can create the shower curtain of your dreams. Words, illustrations, patterns, sports stats – the options are endless. Now your bathroom can have a custom piece of design!

I’m a big sucker for stationery and desk supplies. Well, I should clarify – I’m a sucker for colourful and unique desk supplies! Those standard yellow Post-it notes kinda give me the creeps. These Sushi Memo Blocks are so handsomely designed and colourful that they can only induce happiness when sitting on your desk.

(via unplggd)

Within the objects of desire feature, I am hoping to showcase not only enticing, colourful items worthy of being eye candy but also brands and companies who use colour in an innovative or dazzling way. Colour psychology is a pillar to marketing and tests have shown that 85% of shoppers place colour as a primary reason for buying a specific item and that colour increases brand recognition by 80%. Just think of the red Campbell’s soup can, Starbucks brand green or famous blue TIffany’s box. Colour can help make a brand or product iconic and ultimately, help decide its fate. I often feel that companies undervalue colour in their design – preferring a safe route to a striking one. Whether it is a whole brand colour palette or simply vibrant packaging, I hope to use this special feature to showcase those who celebrate and highlight the wonder of colour.

One of those products that always catches my eye on the store shelves is Belvoir Fruit Farms Cordials, Pressés and Fruit Juice drinks. They really utilize the full colour spectrum and highlight their British roots with whimsical and handmade feeling labels. I love the handwritten typography, slanted labels and brilliant colour palette. The playful packaging of these juices is fantastic and I would love to have a fridge full of the bottles if only for eye candy! (By the way, don’t the bottles seem like a perfect vase for flowers of a contrasting colour?)

Call me a nerd but these CB2 digi pop bed linens are pretty fantastic. I have a feeling they would inspire some colourful dreams. (p.s. fellow designers, they look like Illustrator swatch palettes don’t you think?)

A2 is a Swedish furniture company that makes bold, colourful and unique designs. Unlike a lot of furniture companies that rely heavily on neutrals, I like that A2 isn’t afraid of using bright colour. I especially love their textured and patterned chest of drawers and cabinet pieces. They would bring a fun pop of colour to any room!

Denmark kitchen and tableware company rice dk creates such fantastic, vividly-coloured products. While they feature a zillion prints, it is the solid colour pieces that always catch my eye (especially when they are so gorgeously styled and photographed like above!) I just think everyone would be happier with a bright coloured spatula in their kitchen.

(images via rice dk)