Don’t Underestimate Your Dining Room Table’s Decorative Power

The dining room table is not only the centerpiece of the dining room, but it is also the focal point of family gatherings, holiday meals, and celebrations of all kinds. The dining set that you have in your home should fit the style, personality, and the décor of your home. Carefully consider your options when the time comes to choose a table. The trend today is to mix different styles together, and even to mix different colors of tables and chairs. The trick though is to do it with class and style. A balance between too many pieces and too few pieces must be achieved.
There are many factors to consider when it pertains to the design of dining room furniture. Shape, size, material, finish, color, and design are important. Also, you will need to decide on any accessories you would like to add, such as table pads, chair pads, or table cloths. Whether you purchase a set or individual separates to mix and match, what you use for your dining room will depend ultimately on your tastes, personality, and your budget as well. A good tip is to search in places that you may not have shopped at before to find different looks. Many people are surprised at the nice selection of retro furniture that they find in resale stores and second-hand furniture stores that fit smoothly into the contemporary decorating styles of today. Don’t be afraid to try something new! If you have had a square, wooden table in your home for twenty years and you are looking for something more contemporary, don’t be afraid to look at glass or metal oval tables in bright colors, for example.
Be careful that you choose furniture that is the right size for your dining room. Tables that are too small make a room look unnecessarily empty, and those that are too large clutter a room up and make it difficult to maneuver around. If your dining room is smaller, you may want to choose a table that is oval or round to save floor space. Rectangular tables usually are able to seat six people, so if you only have (or want) four chairs, you may want to choose a table in a different shape.
Finally, consider the room that you will need for any other pieces of furniture you want in your dining room. Many people add a buffet, a hutch, a sideboard, or even a chair in the corner. Make sure that you will be able to have ample room for people to walk around in the dining room, even when there are people sitting in the chairs. Following these tips will help you choose the perfect dining room table for your home.

Incorporating Luxury Furniture into your Modern Décor

Contemporary styles and modern furnishings today incorporate stylish, comfortable, and elegant furniture and accessories into the homes of people that appreciate the smooth lines and clean details that décor brings to the ambiance of a home. The furnishings in a home are only a part of a luxurious look. The other part depends on the placement and positioning of such furniture and accents as well. These two aspects of home decorating combine to bring modern luxury to contemporary homes.
The beauty of it all is that every home can achieve this look, whether they are newly constructed or they are a century old. The current trend in decorating is to mix and match styles. Almost everyone has some things that have sentimental value to them that may not “fit” into their décor in their home. Many people make the mistake of stuffing these trinkets on shelves where they sit for years. The idea is to either tuck it away to bring out only every so often or display it as an active part of your décor. Stuffing too many things on shelves quickly can make even the most fashionable room look cluttered and tacky.
Fortunately, the trends in home décor today follow the pattern of modern combined with classic looks. For example, contemporary chrome floor lamps are in style and in high demand for rooms of all kinds today, and for those who love the retro look, the origins of lamps like these emanate from the 1960s. This is one example of how retro, old furnishings are revived to make a statement of luxury and fashion in today’s homes. Other examples of this combined retro/modern style include things like slip covers on sofas with bright, bold accent pillows, faux-fur blankets, Louis XV style chairs, and classic chaise lounges.
Don’t be afraid to incorporate bold designs in glassware in your modern luxury home, either. Glass-cut chandeliers with droplets are radiant when used with high ceilings, and mirrors are other items that can turn the look of any room from drab to fab. Using mirrors can make a room look much larger, adding width and/or depth to it, and they also add dimension and style as well. Today there is no such thing as going overboard with mirrors, so you can have fun with ornate wooden-framed ones or gold Baroque styles too. From mirrors to lamps and everything in between, modern home décor is anything and everything, as long as balance rules in every room.

Your Guide to DwellStudio Contemporary Modern Designs

DwellStudio has more than just an incredibly popular bedding collection, although it is their bedding that they are most popular for. The company is known for reducing decorative design to its minimal and essential elements. The contemporary style of today is all about smooth lines and simple accents, which the design studio has put them at the forefront of. The detail is not in the form of loud prints or tons of colors. Instead, the company makes a name for itself by using the best high-quality fabrics, beautiful woven linen trims, and the finest tailoring.
Not only that, but DwellStudio uses prints that are made with beautiful dyes that are low impact and fiber-reactive. The dyes that they use are formaldehyde-free and also meet all of the criteria for eco-friendly pigments. One of the most popular recent collections is the Botony Collection from 2008. Including Hedgerow and Thicket, this collection represents the company’s latest incarnation of their signature look and has been made to perfectly mix and match with many of their other bedding styles.
Dwell Pin Dot Home Furnishings is a design house whose philosophy draws from a global style that envelops both modern pop culture and timeless classic luxury. This modern collection includes Dwell Pin Dot, which is a contemporary adult bedding line, DwellBaby, which is baby bedding and accessories for the little ones, and Dwelltable Pin Dot, which is a collection of mix and match table linens.
DwellStudio is a design firm that was founded in 1999 by a lady by the name of Christiane Lemieux. This designer wanted to bring modern design in textile to the home, and she is the former design director for Portico New York. Portico New York is a luxury home furnishings company. She is also a former fashion designer for Isaac Mizrahi and the Gap. In 2000, Lemieux was joined by Jennifer Chused. Chused is a former managing editor of Room, which is a modern home furnishings catalog. She was also a fashion stylist for VH-1 Music Television as well.
The most popular way to describe the designs of DwellStudio seems to include the words “modern” and “classic”. The young company is already known around the world for their modern take on traditional design that surrounds and decorates many different rooms in the home, and with those designs and home fashion statements they make, DwellStudio shows no signs of slowing down.

Good Day New York Takes a look at Magniflex Mattresses

Check out Good Day New York as they talk about our Geo-Ethic Magniflex memory foam mattresses at the Bobby Berk Home in Soho.

Look for Bobby Berk Home Furniture on Broadway

Check out Wild House Productions 'Shrunken Heads' on Broadway and while you're there look for Bobby Berk Home furniture and designs on stage.


Psychiatrist Robert Hyde anticipates a weekend of rest and romance with his perky young wife at his country house – but their peace is soon shattered by the frantic arrivals of his caustic ex-wife, their disenchanted daughter who is fleeing college with her boyfriend, a hysterical patient, and her gun-toting husband. Hilarious chaos and comic confusion ensue. As Dr. Hyde tries without success to control the crisis, we learn who truly has insight into humans, nature, and human nature.

Spotlight on Design - Photographer John Paul Tran

Fashion photographer John Paul Tran was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Inspired by his mother's involvement in theater, John Paul began acting at a young age with performances including Wes Anderson's Rushmore. His interest in working behind the scenes followed shortly thereafter and John Paul began shooting at age 15 with his 35mm. A career in Art Direction began only one year later as he worked on various fashion shoots in the Lone Star state.

After moving to New York, John Paul worked in PR with Miguel Adrover and was a Project Manager at Bozell Advertising, while attending the Fashion Institute of Technology for Fashion Design. His experience at Studio PSD led him to full-time art direction at Estee Lauder, including the launch of three Sean John Fragrances. Since then, he has been a freelance Art Director working on several large fashion brands including Simply Vera by Vera Wang, Cole Haan, Freddy & Ma, and Claude Grant.

Returning to his initial passion, John Paul enjoys shooting for the fashion industry while residing in Chelsea.





Shirt and Leather Jacket by Aeleis. www.aeleis.com

New Organic Duvet Covers by Amenity Home

For the bedroom that looks and thinks modern, Amenity is proud to offer a collection of incredibly soft, purely organic duvet covers and shams. Each limited-edition, large-scale image is printed individually onto skal-certified, 300 thread count cotton that's been organically grown and organically processed.
Design: The deep shades and unrestrained forms of two layered parrot tulips create an ethereal painterly effect in the birdseye design.
Materials: Printed with non-toxic, water-based, eco-friendly dyes on 300 thread count, certified organic cotton percale.
Dimensions:Queen size: 88" wide x 98" long King size: 106" wide x 98" long(fits king and california king)
Manufacturing: Printed domestically and sewn locally, in Los Angeles.
Care: Machine wash cold in eco-friendly, mild detergent. Air dry or tumble dry low.

Thread Count Revealed

The most important thing to understand about thread count is higher numbers do not mean better quality. In fact, there is an argument to be made that a lower thread count may be a more comfortable sheet. Let me explain.

First, you have to understand thread count. The right way to calculate this involves adding up all of the vertical and horizontal threads (warp and weft) in a square inch of fabric. There are only so many threads you can realistically fit into a square inch and generally speaking, anything over 300 is more perceived value than real value. Many companies exaggerate the number by counting the number of ply’s in a yarn, so a 300 count sheet using a 2 ply yarn may be promoted as a 600 count.

The key element most people don’t think about when purchasing sheets is how they sleep. Everyone perspires while sleeping, so ideally you would want a sheet that is breathable and absorbent, as well as being soft and comfortable. Higher thread counts mean a tighter weave and consequently a sheet that does not breathe as well, or a hotter sleep. If you live in a warm climate already, sleeping with a higher thread count may just make your nights even warmer.

Selecting a good quality sheet involves looking for a brand that uses 100% cotton. Cotton is still one of the best fabrics when it comes to comfort, durability and care. In August 2005, Consumer Reports issued a report about high thread count sheets from nationally known brands and concluded; “Two hundred is typical and perfectly fine; 400 may provide a finer, softer sheet. Above 400, the only difference is likely to be price.”

Blissliving Home selected our 100% cotton 300 thread count sateen for our sheets. The yarn is soft to the hand and the thread count provides a comfortable sleep in almost every environment. Sateen provides a smooth hand through a weave of four or more vertical threads over a single horizontal thread. We add deep 18″ pockets with elastic all the way around the fitted sheets for a more secure fit on most mattresses. We invest a great deal of time selecting the best fabric to meet our standards, and confident you’ll enjoy a Blissful sleep.

The WOW! Of Contemporary Floor Lamps

If you are trying to find a way to update the rooms in your home without spending a ton of money or getting rid of all of your current furnishings, you may want to consider adding some contemporary floor lamps to your rooms. There are dozens and dozens of different kinds available that can complement any kind of décor. There are many different sizes, shapes, colors, heights, styles, and strengths available, so all you have to do is decide what kind is right for your home.
Although everyone needs light in their home, finding the perfect type of lighting takes a little bit of patience and a bit of research too. You’ll want to first assess your needs. Is one corner of your living room just way too dark? Do you want to highlight some of the art that is hanging on your walls with track lighting? Do you need better light over your desk? Maybe you just really need to get rid of the old table lamps that your grandmother passed down to you so that you can update the look of your room. Whatever your needs may be, stick with those when you are looking for lamps. Stick with what you know you need.
Contemporary floor lamps are really popular because you can change the entire lighting look of your home without rewiring the entire thing for new light fixtures every time you want to change the lighting. With the floor lamps, you can frequently change the lighting without huge hassles or expenses. Many people like to add the lights to create layers of light in combination with other light fixtures that are already there. A functional light, like one for reading, can also
Lighting is a really important factor in creating a certain ambiance in a home. From torchieres that light from the bottom up to the track lights that shine down, the choices for lighting are immeasurable. The contemporary floor lamps come in so many styles that you may have a lot of fun shopping for them. There are gooseneck lamps that have the heads that move, halogen lights, tree lights that have three or more individual heads, movable swing arm lamps, and those that are height-adjustable.
If you think you’ll need a contemporary floor lamp for a variety of different uses, be sure that you purchase one that is a multifunctional lamp. For example, you might want one that combines a goose neck light or a swivel-type armed lamp for reading with a halogen torchiere for general, bright light for everyday use. Another example is a smaller reading lamp with a nice soft lampshade with a swivel arm for flexibility of use. Dimmer switches are wired to many outlets in homes, which is another option for greater variety and flexibility for your contemporary floor lamps.

What Makes Luxury Bed Linens so Luxurious?

There are all kinds of fabrics and materials that are used to create comfortable sheets and pillow cases, but only the finest are used to create luxury bed linens. From Egyptian cotton to pure silk, these are the materials that give us the most luxurious night’s sleep. Material is not the only thing that makes luxury bed linens so fabulous though; there are other factors involved as well.
First of all, the thread count of some fabrics is influential in the comfort that people get from sleeping with them. The higher the thread count, the more tightly knit together the fibers are and the softer the material will be. High quality bedding will have a thread count of 180 at the very least, and often is higher.
Another factor is the quality of the yarn that is used for the bedding. Egyptian cotton, which is known as one of the highest-quality fabrics in the world, is grown on the banks of the Nile River. This type of cotton yields the longest staple cotton in the world. The staple is the individual fiber or “hair”. Egyptian cotton sheets that are produced in Egyptian cotton mills produce fine fabrics that ensure superior quality of cotton that is created. The long staple cotton can be spun into much stronger and smoother yarn than other types of cotton. This means that it is possible to weave more threads per inch into the fabric which results in the higher thread count.
Quality of Construction is another factor that determines whether or not bedding will be classified as luxury bed linens or not. The expertise and skill of the craftsmen enables them to select the type and fineness of the yarns, they must choose the diameter of the yarn to create the desired hand (such as crisp percale, jacquard, or silk sateen), and they must have the knowledge of how to best put everything together for the highest quality of linens.
A final factor in the quality of luxury bed linens is the quality of finishing. Beyond selecting the right fibers and then spinning and weaving the fabrics, craftsman must have the skill to also finish the fabric and to sew it to completion to produce the absolute most luxurious bedding. Some Egyptian cotton sheets are mercerized, which makes the fibers plump up and fill out to strengthen the fabric and give it the ultimate look of luxury bed linens.

Avoiding Mistakes when Decorating with Unique Home Décor

There are some common decorating mistakes that people make when working with unique home décor, and these are things that can ruin the look of a room, no matter how much or how little money is spent to decorate. Keeping these mistakes in mind and avoiding them can really help you be successful in your interior decorating efforts, so follow closely!
The first common mistake that people make with unique home décor is spending a ton of money on furniture that does not fit the room. That which looks too small can keep a room looking empty and unfinished, which leads to another common mistake: filling rooms with too many accessories. This then leads to clutter and making the room look junky. Furniture that is too big makes a room look crowded and diminishes the floor space and moving area significantly, so be careful. Make sure you can picture the furniture in the room, and don’t try to compromise on space.
The next mistake that is made often is leaving rugs “floating”. This simply means having a rug in the middle of nowhere with nothing “connecting” it. Everything in a room should be connected physically and visually. A lot of rugs that are lying on the floor can not only trip people and injure them, but they slip, slide, and sometimes make it look like you are just trying to cover up some stain on the floor! Tuck corners of rugs under sofas and tables, and you’ll be good to go.
Next up is the common pattern problem. A lot of people pick up everything and anything that they find for a room, no matter what pattern or print it has, thinking that they are sure that they’ll find a way to make it work. Do not underestimate the power of solids! Easy on the patterns- too many create havoc in a room.
Probably the most common mistake when decorating with unique home décor is to have all of their furniture pushed up against the wall. Many people think that the room will look largest when they leave the middle of the floor open, but it is pretty effective to group furniture into little conversation groups or to tilt a table and rug in the corner instead of pushing it up against the wall. Keeping everything against the wall makes a room look very stiff and square- liven it up some! Put a table behind a couch with a lamp on it- tilt a chair so that it sits at an angle. You may be surprised at how different a room can look with the furniture a little bit askew.
The final big mistake that way too many people make with unique home décor is displaying every knick knack that they’ve ever gotten from every place they’ve been. This is never a good thing. Just like anything else in a room, there must be some degree of conformity. Don’t place a group of ten ceramic clowns alongside your china dishes- it doesn’t make sense. Choose a similar group of pieces to display and stick with that and that only, and you can rotate the groups that you put out every month or couple of months.

Top Recommended Tips for Purchasing Modern Furniture

Shopping for modern furniture can be a lot easier than you may think if you follow some routine guidelines to help you. You’ll need to consider a lot of different factors when it comes to shopping for your home, so the following tips and suggestions should get you started on the right foot.
First of all, before you buy any kind of modern furniture, have an idea of the arrangements and the colors that you would like for each room. Some people don’t mind going out and shopping for things on a whim, but it is recommended that most people start at least with a color idea. Some others are out and about and happen to stumble on a perfect accessory or piece of furniture that they absolutely have to have, then they decorate with modern furniture according to that one piece. Whichever way you choose to begin, just make sure that you start with something!
You will also need to calculate and find the essential measurements of your room or rooms so that you won’t waste your efforts, time, and money on objects and furniture that is too large or too small for your space. Don’t be afraid to go bold with your designs and colors for a different and freshly new approach to your décor. Don’t over-do it, but you’ll want to make sure that every single thing that you add to a room does in fact add to it and does not detract from your style. Furnishings that are a bit more daring than the norm will make your room stand out.
Make it your priority to look at the prices of your accessories that you think you are interested in for your home. Look online and in traditional stores, and shop around for the best prices for those objects. Many people find it beneficial to take the time to do some research about decorating on their own as opposed to spending tons of money on a professional decorator.
Don’t underestimate the power of paintings. Modern abstract paintings that are composed of colors that fit with your décor scheme can instantly transform the room. Be very careful with objects on the walls, because too many can make the room look unnecessarily cluttered and smaller. The same rule goes for other things as well. Having too many accents and trinkets in a room can take away the living space that a room offers. This is tricky and can be difficult if you have many knick-knacks that you enjoy displaying. However, for your modern furniture to be properly accented, you’ll need to have just the right amount of decorations and accessories- not too little and not too much.

Ideas for Decorating with Modern Home Accessories

Interior decorating with modern home accessories can really be an exhausting and stressful process if you aren’t sure where to begin or you are constantly changing your décor. Whether you are revamping your entire house or just one room, you need to follow some crucial steps and consider certain factors when deciding what to put in your house.
Modern home accessories need to start with design. There are many trends, fashions, and types of modern home accessories that can transform a room, and you’ll want to first decide if there is a certain theme that you will want to follow for your decorating. Everything from lamps to pillows and everything in between contribute to the ambiance of a room, so you need to be careful that everything complements everything else. For design, keep an eye out for innovative shapes and colors that fuse into your window treatments, furniture, and everything else.
Ambiance and atmosphere is always critical to the design and décor with modern home accessories. There is no successful decorating without ambiance. A much-underestimated aspect of ambiance is lighting. Lights can add depth or warmth to a room, or it can brighten and showcase certain objects in a house.
Keep in mind your need for durability, especially if there are children in the house. An entire house full of modern home accessories that are extremely fragile will not be very cost-efficient, and won’t be good for the children, you, or anyone else, either! If you are looking at outdoor modern home accessories, you should only purchase those that are weather-resistant. When you are looking for accents for the indoors, only get those that are scratch resistant. If little items will be sitting on a desk or other surface that can be scratched, be sure that there is a protective covering on the bottom such as felt.
Part of finding modern home accessories is finding those that are energy efficient, especially when it comes to the lighting. It is important to make sure that your energy efficiency is not compromised for the sake of ambiance. The good news is that the typical incandescent bulbs that are used by most people are easily replaced with CFL or LED fixtures.
Going along with the energy efficient accessories for lighting, you’ll also want to use recyclable materials whenever possible. You may be surprised at the number of things in all kinds of homes all over the country that are made using recyclable things. Flower vases in the most contemporary styles are some of the more popular modern home accessories that are recyclable.

Bobby Berk joins with other designers/stylist for Charity Event at Housing Works NYC

Join stylist Robert Verdi for a one-night shopping event at Housing Works in Chelsea, which will feature over 1,000 items donated by Verdi and friends like Jonathan Adler, Steven Alan, John Bartlett, Bobby Berk, Simon Doonan, Carson Kressley, and Richie Rich. 143 W. 17th St., nr. Seventh Ave. (718-838-5050); 8 p.m.