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Monday, September 12, 2016

Handcrafted Batik and Mudcloth Textile trend in Home Design



Elaborately patterned handmade textiles for 2017 home design are forecasted according to celeb designer Genevieve Gorder. At the HGTV magazine NYC Blogger Block party  she discussed the kind of prints that we have been noticing on the runways with bold, repeating, intricate motifs set against backgrounds of varying hues. 


Derek Lam 2016 Fall Fashion Week

I love the bright colors but I am definitely favoring the black and white palates with tighter patterns and geometric shapes. These patterned influences are from the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). The Dutch went over to West and Central Africa where they took a liking to the local handicrafts and brought batik back to Indonesia. That's how the crossover happened. Batik textiles come from an old technique of wax-resist dying. The process is basically applying wax to a cloth and then dyed over that wax to create a pattern.  



In home design we will be seeing different textiles like Mudcloth, Batik, and Barkcloth. Take a look at some cool ways these textiles can be used.



The 19th century wing-back chair renovated by Patina rentals in NYC was recovered with a beautifully textured Mud Cloth from Mali. 






African  Mudcloth

Mudcloths are handwoven in Mali Africa. These authentic decorative textiles can be hung on the wall, placed on a bed, a pillow, a chair or thrown over a couch. 




Love the Mali textile especially on a dining table with accents of pink and rose!!



TableScape with African Mudcloth



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Sunday, September 4, 2016

PICNIC BY DESIGN 2016 AT MERCANTILE ANNEX NYC


Design, Food and Charity is a great combination for a Fall event. It will be my fifth year participating in DIFFA's Picnic By Design. I am very connected to this charity and was able to work behind the scenes on the steering committee too. What an awesome event 2016 will be.... amazing sponsors, donations and designers! Picnic By Design redefines the concept of a traditional picnic where 20 designers come together to create innovative picnic basket experiences that are sold online in advance with proceeds benefiting DIFFA. Thank you to the sponsors for making this event happen!! 



SEPTEMBER 7, 2016
6PM-9PM
MERCANTILE ANNEX
517  WEST 37TH STREET NEW YORK, NY



Here is a sneek peek of my Molecular basket design for this years event:




The Molecular basket represents how we are all made out of atoms -  our bodies and the universe.  There is more to the universe than meets the eye.  It is by following the light that the vast universe is made of 5% atoms, 70% dark energy and 25% invisible dark matter.  We stand on the brink of great discoveries and we always will as long as we keep exploring whether it be the unmeasurable unknown or debilitating diseases like AIDS.  The basket stands as a beacon of hope.

I will be taking over DIFFA's Instagram account on TODAY Sunday September 4th. Please follow along and give me a shout out: @DIFFANATIONAL.

Special thanks to the following sponsors: DXV, DRS and Associates, Corbett, Troy lighting, Mr. Bing and Regal Wine Imports who so generously donated to the cause and event!

Thanks! Michele






To get a daily dose of design, find MoD Design Guru on