7 Fresh Home Decor Ideas Via California And Dwell on Design

Recently I attended the Dwell on Design show and did my own little design tour around Southern California and brought back some interior and outdoor design ideas plus a bonus garden idea worth sharing.Dwell on Design is America’s largest event dedicated to modern design as it relates to home products, materials, home decor, furnishings, accessories, appliances and even home building.  Sounds massive doesn’t it?

First let’s set aside any misinformation about the concept of Modern.  Modern just means current, of the times.  Just like one doesn’t want to wear the same clothes they did in high school, items for your Home Decor need to be of modern vintage.  Capiche?

#1 Modern Fireplace

The fireplace of today offers many more options than the big old options of yesteryear.  Fireplaces are shorter and longer and much more visually flush with the wall.  Lights?  Notice the color changing LED lighting in this two sided version from Napoleon Fireplaces.  No longer do fireplaces start at the floor and hearths have gone the way of the tube TV, a rare sight.

Not that I don’t love me a real and historic wood burning fireplace.  But let’s face it, carrying all that wood indoors is a pain in the a$$ and dirty.  The modern fireplace is clean and looks chic.

#2 Power and Color in the Kitchen

This professional quality range from Capital Cooking Equipment puts out major BTUs and it is in color.  Hmmm, an emerald green appliance?  Could lead to some zesty dishes.

#3 Interior Wall Planters Cover an ugly interior wall, add greenery and have order at the same time.  Urbio has the urban gardener’s answer to need more space to plant.

#4 Statement Chair By know you might know I love a statement chair.  They can act as art and (sometimes) seating at the same time.  Dual purpose, love it.  This particular one by Rhode Island School of Design student Laura Kishimoto also reminds us wood has inherent beauty.

#5 Bold Texture Rules How cool is this?  Wherever one looks, interior design elements are all about texture.  This is only made better when found or waste materials can be repurposed into really stunning applications for an interior wall.  I’m thinking DIY – worthy.

#5 Creative Lighting  & Landscape Art Art or light fixtures?  We needn’t quibble over an item so incredibly cool and creative.  Artist and landscape guru Margaret Joplin is one heck of a creative chick.  Need a little outdoor landscape porn?  Check out her Design Collaborations website. Get a napkin, you will be drooling.

#6 Technology Can Be Pretty  It was only a matter of time before the end to the big black box for the big speaker.  Enter Urban Fidelity, making great sounding speakers which are as vibrant to look at as the music you play.  Very cool.

#7 Go For Bold In Outdoor Rooms Bold in color and bold in shape, elements for the outdoor rooms are made to catch your eye.  In the Pacific Design Center I was mesmerized at the Giati showroom by this leaf shaped sun shade and this velvet-like blue outdoor fabric… yummy.

The Modfire outdoor fireplace was one of my cool fireplace picks earlier this spring.  But with the founder and creator in the picture you can get a better idea of scale.  Still super cool.

BONUS garden idea:  California design is alive in the front yard…This trellis is one of the most ingenious ways I’ve seen to grow pumpkins.  To keep the pumpkins from falling to the ground as they get heavier, they are encased in a mesh bag while still on the vine and attached to the trellis.  Gold star for creativity.

Whether remodeling or just decorating these seven (eight) ideas offer a little something for everyone.  Can you go modern?