Design Crush: Dwell Studio

Most everyone knows about the fabulous-ness that is DwellStudio.

I have featured numerous pieces on this blog, and Target sold a lovely affordable line this year!

But after spending some time on their site recently, I absolutely HAD to do a post on the company and current line.

DwellStudio was born as Dwell Home Furnishings, in 1999. Founder and Creative Director Christiane Lemieux, a veteran of the worlds of fashion and home retail, wanted to offer the discerning customer a range of vibrant and modern textile designs.

The Canadian native is inspired both by travel (most Canadians are; it's so cold up there they're always on the road in search of sun), literature, the art world, and anything and everything to do with design, from flea markets to estate sales, design magazines to reality television.

Okay first things first...let's look at some of the products I am absolutely in love with!!

ROMAN SHADES

 MOBILES

 KIDS BEDDING

THROW BLANKET

 PLACE MATS

PILLOWS

Now onto the really cool part...DwellStudio has a feature on their website called Inside The Studio, where they take you behind the scenes of their catalog photo shoot, and product development.

How cool does this office look?

Umm...yes please!

Holy Grail of Textiles

Beginnings of an Inspiration Board

Inspirational Products

How charming is everything about this company?

Inspiration Board: Bridget's Bedroom

My friend Bridget and I are always comparing design notes, so I was so excited when she asked me to do an Inspiration Board for her bedroom.

The only direction I got was...her walls are a light blue, and she has a fabulous linen covered, nail-head trim Colette bed:

And here is the inspiration board I created:

I first set out to find an inspiring pattern. I have loved this peacock duvet from Dwell Studio forever. And although they are currently sold out (probably when featured on top blog Elements of Style) they are getting new stock in 4-6 weeks...totally worth the wait!

With such a bold pattern on the bed, I wanted to go light and airy with most of the furniture. I love the white mirrored pieces from Z Gallerie.

 This gray gourd lamp from West Elm would look fabulous on the mirrored dresser:

Although you can always go a little more romantic in a bedroom than other rooms, I wanted to ground the room with slightly masculine grays. This Target chair is the perfect pewter gray. It complements the gray in the duvet, and actually makes the white pop and appear brighter.

I also love the idea of having thick gray velvet curtains for when you need to sleep  on the outside of sheer paisley panels when you want light to stream in--both from West Elm! Plus the sheers offer a great subtle texture:

How amazing will this Bombay piece from Crate and Barrel look next to the Colette bed as side tables. Especially with these quirky white owl table lamps from West Elm and beautiful glass vases from Potterybarn.

Since the walls are a light blue, we can go a little darker with the wall art. I love the vintage / masculine feel of both the subway signs & horse photo from Z Gallerie.

And with all of the beautiful glass and white lamps, I really wanted to bring in some gold. Nothing goes more beautifully with dark gray and light blue...than gold. I love this mirror from Z Gallerie.

The last touches that really make the room complete, are the sparkly pillow and chartreuse cashmere throw.

The distressed metallic pillow is from Dwell, and brings a romantic element to the room. And the chartreuse throw from Ikea is the pop of color the room needs to really sing!

Bridget--I hope you love this. Call me if you want a shopping partner :)

GUEST BLOG: Laura from Boston goes window shopping in Beacon Hill

Not only is Laura one of my best friend's in the world, she is also one of the funniest people I have ever met. I'm always telling her she HAS to do a blog. It could literally be a blog of her Facebook status updates...because they are...wait for it...LEGENDARY!

So I was thrilled when she agreed to do a guest blog post on Falls Design. Enjoy! (And let's all persuade Laura to do a blog!!!)

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Hello Falls Design Readers!

This is Laura in Boston, guest blogging while Heather is in wonderful Rome. Heather and I met in college (which I cannot believe was over ten years ago) and have remained the best of friends ever since. Here are some pics of the two of us, taken when Heather visited Boston last year.

While I don’t have Heather’s eye for home design, we share our passion for fashion…and shopping! So I thought I’d take you on a window shopping tour of my adorable neighborhood in Beacon Hill (with a few stops for delicious food and drink along the way). Hope you enjoy!

First, there really are few places more beautiful than Boston in the Fall. While anyone who knows me well knows I’d rather be in New York or Paris, it is pretty fab here, too. Here’s some snaps from my neighborhood:

Ok, let the shopping begin. In Beacon Hill, Charles Street is really the place to be – boutiques, antiques, restaurants, bars, coffee shops…and not to mention an oddly high number of both liquor stores and manicure salons (druken mani/pedi anyone?). Plus it’s minutes away from the Charles River Esplanade, the State House and Boston Common and the Public Garden.

Start the day off right with an almond or cinnamon croissant and a chai tea latte (yes, Heather, the GOOD kind) from the super cute Café Vanille, winner of Boston Magazine’s Best Pastry Shop in 2010.

As you stroll along Charles Street during the month of October, you’ll notice many of the stores decorated for Halloween, a major event in this ‘hood: literally hundreds of children and their families, many decked out in elaborate costumes, visiting the even more elaborately decked-out homes. But I spied a few Halloween goodies I’d wear year-round. (You know, when I’m feeling all goth rocker chic). The below spooky baubles are from E.R. Butler and Co, and the sparkling tarantula cuff from Holiday.

 

I’m also having a sort of nature/wildlife-inspired moment right now. Obsessed with these framed butterflies from good, this turquoise bird plate at Marika’s Antiques and the vibrant bouquets at Twig.

And what about this whimsical giraffe-print shift from North River Outfitters? NRO is typically a little too prepster for my tastes but I’d rock this with some black opaque tights, motorcycle boots and a leather jacket (maybe the tarantula cuff as well.)

 

Time for lunch. Picnic on the Charles or in the Garden with some provisions from Savenor’s? Savenor’s, truly a Boston institution, is a butcher shop and local market where the lovely Julia Child used to shop while filming The French Chef on PBS. Not much of a cook myself, I love stopping in for gourmet cheese and crackers, fresh fruit and veggies and the occasional chocolate fix.

 

Um, P.S. – really check out that sign. When’s the last time you had Bay scallops with Applewood smoked bacon and lion (yes, lion – love the RAWR!) for Sunday game day? Maybe that would get me more interested in football…

Sustenance = time for a major purchase. I absolutely love this painting in the window of Boston Art and Framing. The yellow and orange are striking against the dark background, and the light/shadow in the folds of fabric really caught my eye.

 

Last but not least on the shopping front, a few must have Fall accessories. The picture below is slightly blurry, but the sky-high grey suede booties and leather messenger bag with gold hardware in the window of moxie are to die. I’d pair them with some skinny jeans and a long chunky sweater.

 

And…this funky gold necklace plus Asian-inspired earrings from Twentieth Century LTD, a vintage jewelry shop.

 

And…I never leave home without an armful of bracelets. The more noise they make clanking around, the better (to the delight of my coworkers, no doubt). I’d layer all six of these from Regency Antiques (if only I had the cash).

 

And now, finally, a girl’s gotta eat (again). I enjoy having a delicious glass (or two) of French wine at Bin Enoteca, followed by pizza at Todd English’s Figs. My favorite is so simple – arugula, caramelized onions, parmesan and mozzarella on thin crust. I’m in heaven!

Well, everyone, I enjoyed guest blogging for you! I hope you found my random musings entertaining…or at least interesting enough to consider a trip to Boston. I had fun writing and now want to go on a shopping spree (or at least buy a treat or two, followed by a nice Cotes du Rhone).