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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)

Sometimes, it seems the many options that brands have for displaying colourways are sort of neglected. That’s why I’m always thrilled when colours are not only displayed but showcased in design-focused and 3D ways. J.Crew is tops in that department. I love how they cut squares from actual fabrics, pop in real pins and snap a photo (allowing one to see texture and hue). I made the above mashup of their Spring 2013 and Holiday 2012 wedding hues. So many fabulous palettes for fashion, home and design (and some great colour names too)…

(images via j.crew)   

Yes, the festive season is officially here and since I am holiday bonkers, expect some posts devoted to the topic! In my latest post for Rena Tom, I focused on how festive details can be applied to retail (online or brick and mortar). Holiday shopping can be stressful but with the right atmosphere, any retail space can be full of joy and striking creativity. Packaging, seasonal photo styling, welcoming decorations, online details, window displays, interior installations – the post is plump with inspiration. Oh and it can certainly be applied to home holiday decor too! Take a peek here if you are interested…

(photographs via confetti system, cox and cox, habitually chic, real simple, martha stewart, a beautiful mess, platinum blonde life, CAMP and black eiffel)

Great styling by BHLDN for a feature on signature cocktail recipes. I love how different size vessels of luminous, sheer colour frame the featured drinks (while also highlighting the company’s glassware and bar accessory products). Colourful, well-styled cocktails? I’ll drink to that…

(photographs via bhldn) 

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)  

In my latest post for Rena Tom, I explore the details that turn online retail from good to great. While lacking the tactile quality of brick and mortar stores, online shops have complete control over how they are presented aesthetically (a rather rare creative opportunity!) With careful attention to even the smallest design elements, a shop can turn into a unique corner of the web that features mindful navigation, striking design and its own style voice. Community building via a blog or Instagram, creating a unique shopping cart style, highlighting colourways, art directing fabulous opening photography – great online stores are all about the details. To read my post, head over here.

(shops featured above: j crew, douglas + bec, leif and field)  

A fluttering swirl of origami butterflies, I love this fusion of design installation and styling by Elixr and Dream Interiors. Created for annual design event Saturday in Design, the butterflies make a striking piece of art but also highlight the clean lines of Dream Interiors’ white furniture collection and Kiki K’s storage boxes. Neutral yet lushly vibrant, it’s a match made in styling heaven…

(photographs by adrian koh, via elixr and ad week)

To me, styling has two roles: it supports and enhances how a product is viewed and it presents a larger sense of the maker or brand’s soul. It’s a huge topic but in my latest post for Rena Tom, I explored areas of styling including unique backgrounds, detail stacks, showcasing colour palettes, monochromatic styling, vignettes and artful approaches. Your product or collection may be fantastic but if it is not presented well, potential customers will never know. Plus, styling is a pretty inspiring facet of photography and design. Take a peek here if you fancy a read…

(photographs via maria grossmann, natalie shriver, herriott grace, scandinavian deko, falconwright, dezeen, daniel carlsten, yatzer and michelle armas)

Who doesn’t like a clever household tip? And if those tips are presented with fantastic style and colour, even better. I love the photography and object arrangement of Real Simple’s ongoing collection of “New Uses for Old Things”. Who knew household tips could mingle with modern art? Seriously, that orange piece showcasing baby oil’s use as a paint remover looks like it should be framed and hung on a gallery wall…

(photographs via Real Simple; photography by erica mccartney & styling by linden elstran)