CHAIR OF THE WEEK...

...Oscar Tusquests Blanca; Gaulino 1987 Stained oak frame with moulded plywood seat upholstered in leather. So simple but so cool!

"I believe in doing the thing you feel is right. If it looks right, it is right."
Dorothy Draper

The color of the day is True Blue! Blue is the most widely accepted color out there. It can be either masculine or feminine depending on how it is used. For a more masculine take, use a navy shade paired with dark grays, crisp whites, and warm wood tones – envision the New York Yankee’s uniform. For a more feminine flair, use lighter shades – soft blue (like the color of beach glass), soft yellow or green (think nature inspired), light or dark wood tones, and light gray. Stay away from using light pink when using light blue or else your space will feel like a nursery. When in doubt, use three different shades of blue (light, medium, dark) mixed with neutrals and your space will look great every time!

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/trueblue

"Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment."
Claude Monet

The color of the day is Gypsy Pink! This shade of hot pink has just the right amount of attitude and demands attention without being overbearing or too sweet. A room painted white with pops of this shade will read as modern and ultra-cool. When put with white, black, and gray it is classy and confident. Pair it with light pink and brown if you want a softer approach. Either way, this color is sure to seduce anyone who is exposed to it!

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/gypsypink#ce_s=2077-20

THINGS WE LIKE...EASTER

Easter is a special time of year. Not only is it an important religious holiday for Christians, but to me it also signifies the coming of Spring. Growing up in Baltimore, I was never one for the cold weather. While some embrace the four seasons, once the leaves started turning brown, Fall always reminded me of death and the impending Winter. Like a bear, I would not have minded curling up and hibernating all winter. But school stood in the way of that. I remember counting the days until the ground hog came out and couldn’t wait until the first crocuses started to burst thru the thawing ground. Spring was always the beacon of light that got me thru the winter. Now living in South Florida, I am fortunate enough to mark the year with celebrations, not weather changes. This Easter, I was not able to make it home to spend it with my family, so I hosted a dinner for 7 friends. I love to entertain. It is the perfect way to bring a group together and to enjoy the company of old and new friends. It is also the perfect time to try new recipes and new holiday décor ideas. And this year was no different. Each person was asked to make something or contribute in some way. This is my favorite way of gathering, as it makes each guest feel more connected to the celebration. Prior to my friends arrival, the table décor was decided. After trying a few different options , from my Mother’s Spode to my Grandmother’s Noritake, then my Raynud, I opted for the whimsy of my Margherita pattern by Missoni. The bright colors were perfect for my Easter tablescape. After setting the table and adding my mother’s silver and crystal that I pilfered when she and my Dad downsized, my friend Andres added two large centerpieces bursting with colorful tulips. For hsi finishing touches he placed his freshly dyed Easter eggs( his first time dyeing eggs!) to complete the "Easter Extravaganza". My friend Whitney did an amazing job with her shrimp cocktail and crab balls. Whitney has a special recipe for her cocktail sauce that gave both the shrimp and the crab balls some added “ zing”! Nisi arrived with the perfect plated tray of asparagus and a surprise tray of deviled eggs. She uses capers for a twist on the classic. Darin and Pablo outdid themselves with a pot of fingerling or “salt” potatoes and Frank amazed us all with a Pavlova that would have made Martha smile. Joseph supplied the wine, an amazing Salmon and just in case, a tray of mini pastries. I had great luck with a summer salad with jumbo lump crab meat, papaya and avocado, but the lamb was a little stubborn. We had a great time laughing about it though! Everyone parted with leftovers for lunch today…and an Easter basket filled with some of my childhood favorite candies!

CHAIR OF THE WEEK...Alessandro Mendini's Proust's Armchair, a very fun and funky hand-painted chair from 1978

FAVA AND FASHION...THE COLORED JEAN

What's hot this season? Color... and specifically the colored jean. Orange, teal, purple, yellow...You name the color and most likely there is a jean to match it. I love Burberry Brit's faded lilac jean becasue it adds a pop of color while maintaining a worn and broken-in look that a favorite jean should have. J Brand spices it up with a pale orange that looks great with khaki or white and even Dockers is on board with a crisp green that is the perfect counterpart of a navy or purple Polo. Whatever your budget, there should be a colored jean in your Spring warbdrobe!

"An interior is the natural projection of the soul."
Coco Chanel

Electric Orange

 A pop of this shade brings a sense of fun and whimsy to any space. It is best viewed as a true, deeply saturated orange so stay away from the yellow-orange family – nacho cheese only looks good on nachos. The look can be sophisticated when used with navy or gray with white to add balance. For a bold look, it looks amazing paired with hot pink and would make a great scheme for a girl’s bedroom. Used with turquoise it becomes energizing. And of course, the vibe can go retro when paired with brown or yellow. A high-gloss or lacquered finish will make this color even more spectacular. If you’re looking for a color to add personality to a room, this is the one!
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/electricorange

Joseph C Fava chosen as one of DCOTA's "Star on the Rise" - Read more about it here!

Joseph Fava - Rising Star

What the Rising Star Award means to Joe Fava

THINGS WE LIKE...STEVE JOBS

THINGS WE LIKE...

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson...fascinating, motivating, inspiring...these are but 3 words that I think of when I reflect on the biography of Steve Jobs. Nothing short of a genius, Jobs was an innovator who would settle for nothing less than perfection. A visionary, he thrived when he was surrounded by his "A" team. He challenged others equally as he pushed himself, to be their best "selves". He believed that when we as individuals strive to be our best, "we contribute back to our species" and "add something to the flow". He recognized that we all have different gifts, and when we nurture those gifts, we not only benefit ourselves, but we have the power to change the world.

Some may scoff at Interior Design as superfluous, and to be honest sometimes I have wondered myself  if I should be doing more 'important' work. But each time I see the smiles and tears of joy on the faces of my clients as they walk into their new homes for the first time, I realize that I am doing my part to change lives one project at a time. And in my own way, I am changing the world. Jobs believed that "design is the fundamental soul of a man-made creation that ends up expressing itself in successive outer layers".  And I believe that each project that I complete has a part of my soul embedded into it, shown thru each layer as they all come together to create the whole.  That "whole" is my reward. What can you do to change the world? What is your "whole"?