#Acid Brights | Ask Kent and Co.

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Overall it’s been a summer for the record books. Stifling heat from mid-June until mid-July slowed everyone down, a reservoir full of rain fell (the trees say “thank you” and promise a glorious display for fall), followed by a month of what my mother would call “Resort Weather.” Delightful and cool without humidity works for me! And through it all, I survived a novel full of personal loss, injury and road-blocks that would fill a Movie of the Week! Who needs political revelation and reinvention, racially-driven shootings and more bad behavior perpetrated by…as well as on…children?

That said, this month celebrates the first anniversary of DESIGN DISCOURSE!

I can hardly believe it!? In 12 months, through “wild weather,” busy days, busier nights, project work, marketing campaigns, writing and presenting a class called “The Real Business of Interior Design: how to set up, manage and run your own interior design practice”…and submitting it for IDCEC approval I’ve have managed to create no less than 47 posts!!!

I’ve earned a vacation…and I’m taking it!

But before I do, I wanted to let you know that kicking off our second year -beginning in September- I have, for a change of pace and perspective, asked several guest bloggers to answer some of your questions. This group of queries will focus more on specific issues like, “I have a trapazoid-shaped living room: how should I arrange it?” and “What should I do with the room recently vacated by my children?”

I look forward to continuing to provide “useful” information and to helping you solve some of your design dilemmas. PLEASE CONSIDER BEING PART OF THE DISCOURSE! Send me your questions and comments. Remember, it’s only a discourse if YOU participate!!

Here’s to the change in season!

Best,

Kent

TRENDS FROM THE NY NOW, SUMMER 2013 GIFT SHOW

This was not the season to show on the West Side Piers. Only Pier 94 was up and running…and only 2/3’s full at that; And you could have shot off a cannon, there was so little foot traffic!

Comprised mostly of small gift items like jewelry, scarves and handbags, there was little for me here. In fact I walked the entire Pier in 20 minutes!

Even the small handful of home furnishings firms, including one from Ecuador and one from Viet Nam held little interest.

Boarding the shuttle bus for the Jacob Javitz Center, I held my breath. Why did I come?

There’s something to be said for seeing our tasks in life through to the end. The Javitz Center was jumping and full of merchandise, shoppers and vendors, all of which got the juices flowing.

Perhaps because I chose to go on a Monday, I didn’t see any of my “usual suspect” colleagues trolling the aisles. The one person I did see rather unexpectedly -and only because she called out to me- was P.R. Gal Carol Vanderkloot. Familiar faces are always a comfort at a large trade show. Thanks Carol!!…and thanks for the project lead too!!

So, what did I see?…who made it?…and how much did it cost?

I walked this show for no less than 5 hours…never sat down…and didn’t see it all. BIG…really BIG. And yes, my dogs were barking by the end of it!

While I saw many familiar vendors and plenty of new ones, it wasn’t WHO was showing so much as what I saw from booth to booth…COLOR. Color everywhere. Eye-catching and Eye-Popping color! It was glorious after so many years now of “brown” furniture and accessories…YUCK.

Almost every booth had an entire spectrum ranging from purple to yellow and everything in between. There was a veritable rainbow of color across all categories. I had to ask myself, is this consciously or uncosciously political? Is it in support of marriage equality? Or, are people just tired of beige? You tell me!

I saw it in woven throws –