I saw this on Inhabitat recently and thought this was brilliantly innovative. These Solar Lily Pads, inspired by nature, involve placing large solar panel discs on the surface of the River Clyde. The "lily pad" discs were created by ZM Architecture to aesthetically blend into the river ecology in Glasgow, Scotland.

The solar lily pads are equipped with an integrated motor and sensor which allows the discs to rotate toward the sun. The solar lily pads would therefore receive maximum exposure to the sun's rays.

The energy generated from the solar lily pads would be transferred to the city's main grid. Additionally, the plan could potentially be a catalyst for increased urban development and tourism. The proposal has been submitted to the Glasgow City Council for a trial project.

I just flipped through the June issue of Metropolitan Home, when I landed on this page stopper. Number 49 on the Design 100 list was none other than Hotel Le BelleChasse. This immaculate hotel is located blocks from the Musee d'Orsay. The decor is seemlingly straight out of a Tim Burton movie. Fashion designer, Christian LaCroix, has created such a striking and diverse palette of imagery with antiques, contemporary art, playing cards, and Renaissance architecture. The colors, angles, textures, and styles are blended seamlessly to form a visual tour de force.

I'm pretty happy driving my Toyota Prius. Of course, my perspective is not of one that is a "car aficionado." Hybrid cars are becoming a much more relevant topic, especially due to higher gas prices and greater concerns for the environment. I tell people all the time that they should consider going with a hybrid, but the main objection I usually get is either price, style, and/or driving muscle. Well, Inhabitat has posted their "Top 5 Sexiest Sustainable Sports Cars". I can't say that these green machines address the price issue. But the cars are definitely stylish, and they'll be able to get you some speeding tickets.

Whether you are decorating a new house or redecorating an old one, it's sometimes hard to know where to start. When customers call our store in search of some guidance, one of the first questions I throw out is, "What kind of colors do you like?". Most people have some idea of what color they want to focus on, even if they don't know where to go from there. Wear Palettes will be your new best friend. They take cool photos and translate them into color palettes, giving you instant inspiration for your next interior undertaking. You can flip through all of their ideas or browse by color. Here are some of my faves:








The nice thing is that you can find neutral palettes, punches of color, really bold combinations- basically, whatever floats your boat. So try it out and get ready to be inspired!

Julianne Moore is a pretty good actor! Her body of work is quite diverse and highly acclaimed with four Oscar nominations to prove it. But her most unexpected role might just be "Interior Decorator". She's been featured in this month's Domino magazine. It highlights her working with a very modest $15,000 budget (at least for celebrity).

For my final installment, I'd just like to show y'all a few things that really caught my eye. Market is a time when people bring out their best creations. For some companies, that is the new "It" sofa. For others, it is something creative and wacky that they just had to create. But whatever it is, market is a time for showing off. Here are my favorites:


I am obsessed with this ottoman. I know my Weekly Obsessions are usually things that I see in the store, but I am still obsessed with this ottoman- just from the pictures. It's the perfect size for coffee table use, the fabric is so cool and fresh in a vintage way, and the legs are the icing on the cake. I may have to hunt this one down if it doesn't come to our store.


Talk about urban cowboy. This rug is just awesome. Squares of hide patched together to create a hide over rug look. Pure genius.


I don't think this picture does this desk justice. But put this desk in a room with white walls and delicate slipcovered sofas and something magic happens. Great for a beach inspired home.


We already have a piece similar to this one in our store, but the antique white finish doesn't have the bang that the dark finish with pink interior piece does. You can even use this piece as an inspiration for something you already have.


Antiqued mirror is my best friend lately. I would love to put the Donnabella Chest in my entryway with this mirror over it. Too much? I think not.


While I wouldn't consider myself modern by any means, I love adding modern touches to my home and this light fixture would be a nice addition. It looks ethereal with the light streaming through the slits. Hot mod!

Katie Stassi was featured in the April issue of Domino as one of the top interior designers to keep your eye on. She also happens to reside in our very own Houston, Texas. Stassi only started her business 3 years ago by just helping some of her friends decorate their homes. Her business took off soon thereafter. She largely credits a higher source for her immense talents. "It was a gift from God," she says. "Some people can sing, some people can dance—I can decorate." Stassi's style is elegant and traditional combined with a minimalist twist.

What is there to say about occasional tables? Do they rise to the occasion when they are needed for drink holding? Do they celebrate the occasion during the holidays? Do they occasionally bore you to death? These occasional tables certainly will not. Read on...


I think the reason I like so much is it reminds me of an antique fridge my parents have in their living room that is used as their liquor cabinet. It has a couple spaces for storing food and one small space on the bottom for a block of ice to keep the food cold. How cool! So anyways, this chest/armoire thing reminds me of that. When it came to our store, it turned out to be much larger than I expected, but it's adorable nonetheless.


I like the look of combining two materials into one piece like this inlaid coffee table. Two contrasting finishes mean a more versatile piece for you. And, while they shape itself is plain, the contrast adds interest.


Another piece I fell in love with when it arrived at our store. I just love the unique shape of the corner doors. This would be perfect for a large entryway or a dining room. Say goodbye to your boring rectangular buffet and bring this in...



Unless the rectangular buffet happens to be this! Mirrors make a buffet lively and make your room look larger by adding depth. Another vintage modern piece that strikes gold!


Speaking of vintage modern, the white laquered top on this bar table would be perfect if you're looking to inject a little 60's into your home. Personally, I've been hoping to find the perfect white laquered piece to bring into my eclectic apartment for a while now and this just might be it...

Or I could forgo that and bring this in! Now this is a well done ottoman. Ignore the fabric if you don't like zebra because you can choose from, like, a bajillion fabrics. The delicate turned legs, sophisticated tufting, and extra large size make it perfect for that boudoir you've been working on! I would lounge on it with one of those long cigarette holders in my mouth blowing smoke rings... if I smoked... which I don't because it's gross.


For the final installment: Best of the Random Things That Don't Really Have A Home, But Are Great Anyways And I Have To Show Them To You. (I'll think of an alternative title before I publish that one.)