Leopard Love

It started in high school.

I found a silk leopard printed scarf and it became my signature bit.

tied in my hair, on my bag, as a sash..

that scarf could have told some stories :)

Oh yes, the knee-length faux leopard coat was so hot in 1999..

moving from the city to the burbs, I still wore it out to the grocery store,

much to our neighbours amusement.

Onward to my first apartment, which looked nothing like these spaces below, LOL.

 My first purchase was a leopard carpet - I was sleeping on a futon, but had my carpet!!

 There is always a few leopard pillows floating about our place..

it never fails to impress me how versatile this print is - 

moving from room-to-room with ease..

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Currently, I am trying to convince D. that the old Chippendale sofa 

sitting in our bedroom could really use a little leopard love..

It may just skip off to the upholsterers one day, ready to be re-invented...

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I like animal prints when used with RESTRAINT- 

they add that bit of kitsch and take the edge off.

Do you use any?

Which is your favourite?

on a side note, I was trying to find an example of a chippendale sofa done up in leopard to sell D.,

and have learned that searching chippendale leopard in google will bring up many results,

 most of whom are male and scantily clad :) 

didn't impress him, for some reason!

til next time..

Can This Paint Change Design?

Does anyone remember those hypercolor t-shirts that changed color with body heat?

Memories of kiosks in the mall heaped with garishly colored cottons

 and people huggingt-shirts to their chests gleefully experimenting..

This trip down memory lane was courtesy of

The Alsa Corperation - 

who are manufacturing a paint that is heat reactive.

It begins as a base coat of white,

with either black or blue eclipse on top.

As the paints heats, it will change from the black or blue color to white!

If you like, you can add a "candy coat" on top of the eclipse paint -

which will result in the black or white becoming the other color you have chosen.

There are also glitter options! (do not, under any circumstances, tell Coco!)

While this is a wee bit gimmicky, I wonder if it harkens to future possibilities..

imagine a room that can change color to repel or absorb the suns rays as we choose..

Energy efficient walls?

There are huge design considerations here as well,

imagine the ability to have different colors in a room dependent on the time of day.

Obviously the color options would have to be expanded hugely,

the current finishes look like something you would find on a bike frame, not a wall -

 but still..

 thoughts?

Oh, yes, and thought you may get a kick out of these options that are floating around..

I see dorm room possibilites..

synthetic snakeskin Please Touch Pillow..

You have all seen this one, I'm sure..

and Shi Yuan also made a fading calendar and interactive art..

Apartment Therapy found this Yala Sofa by Elliat Rich that I quite like -

some people at  Moving Color that are exploring ideas..

and there is a really lengthy article here about the technical side

 if you need to know how it works - I admit I did not read it well.. visual learner :)

Are we going to find tasteful way to use this technology to our advantage in interiors?

Or will it remain relegated to baby spoons and gimmicks?

til next time..

The Humongously Talented Amy Butler

Some people are brimming with creativity..

you know the ones, always a project on the go - 

they despise the common, always preferring the original and unusual.

If they are fortunate and extremely hard-working, 

they find vehicles for their creativity and they flourish, 

their passion showing through in all they achieve.

Amy Butler is such a woman.

Her company is overflowing with beautiful and inspired creations.

She spent time as a contributing editor for Country Living magazine,

but her real story is about making..

everything!

Here are some of the treasures you will find at her site..

 Amy Butler Design is hugely diversified,

so go and explore to see more of these wonderful goodies..

dreamy fabrics..

   

              

               

Rugs, oh these are really too lovely to walk on.. art for your floors..

                

                

did someone mention art?

This is just the tip of the iceberg.. 

Amy Butler is very obviously humongously talented

I am in love with her craft papers..

and organic bedding..

and now I find out she is delving into wallpaper!!

can't wait!

hope you have fun poking around on her site,

it always make me smile :)

til next time..