Last year, I spoke at several printing shows, such as the Printing United Expo and the Wide-format Summit. Each time, printers are energized to start selling directly to the interior design market, but many don’t know where to begin. I often recommend they start by familiarizing themselves with the industry. Attending industry trade shows such […]
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Back in September, Kristin Crane highlighted the design and color trends that made an appearance in Fall 2023. Some key trends she noticed included cozy colors, lush textures, and the return of “art prints” on the runways. These trends have influenced interiors over the past few months – with a few additional trends also popping […]
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Design Pool is excited to announce the newest printer licensing our patterns, Lucent Graphic Solutions. Based in Costa Mesa, California, LGS helps businesses stand out from the crowd with high-quality graphics. We sat down with LGS founder Edmund Karam to learn more about his business, the types of projects they take on, and how a […]
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Using Design Pool as a starting point makes it easy for interior designers to customize projects big and small for their clients. Recently, we worked with a designer from Change Up, a design firm in Ohio, to develop a new pattern for custom upholstery. The upholstery was slated for Six Point Brewery, a new restaurant […]
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A variety of sounds surrounds us in our everyday environments. We experience sound at home, running errands, in healthcare settings, at work, and more. Though it might not be the first thing that comes to mind, the importance of acoustic design in your interior design process is imperative. Noisy environments or poor sound quality can […]
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In a world transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic, employee health and workplace wellness are getting more attention than ever. According to a 2021 study by McKinsey & Company, one in three workers said returning to in-office work negatively impacted their mental health. With such a high number of employees preferring to work from home, companies […]
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Well-designed spaces in healthcare environments have been known to have a positive impact on patient outcomes. Similarly, educational spaces with well-designed spaces promote positive outcomes for students. At this particular moment in time, many educational spaces are rethinking their environments. As we’ve seen in most public spaces such as hotels and restaurants, COVID forced […]
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At NeoCon 2023 we continued to see biophilic design becoming more and more important in commercial interior design. That is because experiencing nature is good for our physical and mental health. Over the past century, humans have moved from areas surrounded by nature to more urban environments with less access to green spaces. However, studies […]
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Step aboard a cruise ship and you’re stepping aboard a floating city. Like any city, these cities need to function independently at a high level and look good while doing it. We recently sat down with interior designer My Nguyen, who specializes in designing for cruise ships, to learn what it’s like and what trends […]
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Researchers, architects, and interior designers consider a wide range of design challenges when designing healthcare facilities. They also need to adapt quickly to changing situations. Today’s most significant challenges are an aging population and the strain on the industry from the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, healthcare facilities continue to advance in many ways with the […]
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In this month’s trend letter, we’re talking all about layered, chunky textures. After years of grey, sleek minimalism, maximalism is making a comeback, and it feels cozy. People spent a lot of time at home during the pandemic, and those homes needed to offer a sense of safety and security, as well as comfort. Many […]
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In 2020, the pandemic through a massive wrench into the hospitality industry. Many restaurants had to pivot quickly just to keep their doors open and their staff employed. Restauranteurs adapted to the demands of outdoor dining, social distancing, and increased take-out. For many, the changes they made as a way to survive have become permanent […]
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When discussing the hottest trends in outdoor living, Japandi kept popping up. Japandi isn’t brand new. It’s a trend that has been gaining popularity inside for the last couple of years. Recently, it’s starting to migrate outside into our outdoor spaces. So, what exactly is it? Japandi is a cross between Scandinavian and Japanese […]
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Aga Artka is an interior designer who believes every business has a story to tell. Her passion for branding mixes with her work as an interior designer in her projects. The result is interiors that fully tell her client’s story. Recently, she completed a large-scale project designing Badger State Lofts in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Their goal […]
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I recently attended a reunion for graduates of Cranbrook Academy of Arts who studied under Gerhardt Knodel in the fiber program. I graduated in the class of 1993 and attended the reunion with one of my classmates and good friend, Paula Stebbins Becker. Paula and I decided to use the reunion as an excuse to […]
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Last month we exhibited at the HCD Expo + Conference in Cleveland, Ohio. This event was a great opportunity to meet with lots of people working in the healthcare design market. We were excited to introduce them to Design Pool and our new R&R Collection. While exhibiting, we also spent time walking the Expo Hall […]
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Designers Today is a digital and print magazine that promotes itself as the link between interior designers and the home furnishings industry. As part of their goal in pushing the envelope to make the interior design profession stronger and more transparent, they are hosting a yearlong webinar series that interviews experts on their business practices. […]
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Recently, I interviewed Lisa Lev, of Lisa Lev Design based in Toronto. I asked her, “What is your most challenging, yet satisfying, project to date?” She replied, “the Clarendon job.” This modern rehab of a heritage home for a repeat customer, was challenging for her. This client has a bad reaction to color and Lisa […]
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Denyne Sanville is the founder and luxury design specialist at Denyne Designs, a full-service, residential, interior architectural design firm. Founded in 2003, Denyne Designs is located in Dunstable, Massachusetts. An award-winning design firm, they specialize in kitchen and bath design and remodeling. Yet their service offerings don’t stop there. With over 40 years of combined […]
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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work with an interior decorator? We have, so we found one to talk to about the process. New Hampshire interior decorator Kelly Murphy of Décor&You has been practicing interior decorating in the Granite State for over a decade. She gave us the scoop her turnkey process to […]
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2020 has been nothing if not unpredictable. It wasn’t that long ago the major trend in office design was for open concept plans, with lots of opportunity for social contact. The Covid-19 pandemic pressed pause on that trend. Forever? That remains to be seen. Many designers speculate more of a hybrid in the future. The […]
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At all of the meetings for the Building on Hope construction project, Lisa Law exudes a calm and measured energy that pulls you in and instantly sets a comfortable vibe. Lisa is an Essential Feng Shui practitioner volunteering her time to create outdoor spaces for the Nashua PAL. We caught up with her to talk […]
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Decorative vinyl flooring continues to grow in popularity for use in both commercial and residential interiors. As print-on-demand manufacturing capabilities have grown, so have the possibilities for more interesting designs on vinyl flooring. Previously, design options were limited to those meant to mimic traditional flooring, such as hardwood or tile. Today, customization makes the design […]
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Interior designers have more flexibility than ever now to customize projects. Yet, many don’t realize just how easy (not to mention affordable) it is thanks to advances in print-on-demand technology. What used to be reserved for big projects and big budgets is now accessible to anyone and for any project. There is one problem though. […]
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As we move through different spaces and environments throughout the day, our experiences are impacted by color choices made by the designers and architects who created that space. How we experience and perceive color can impact everything from our moods to our buying habits and even our healthcare outcomes. As healthcare facilities rethink the way […]
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Team Design Pool was already working remotely from our homes in East Hampstead, New Hampshire, and Providence, Rhode Island when stay-at-home directives were issued. BUT….our husbands hadn’t been. It was fun to watch them create workable spots in our homes. And then, over the weeks, to see how they’ve adapted to remote working. How did […]
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“I always like to start with the story,” said Resa Gray, partner at Honeycomb Design + Build, a collaborative group of design and construction professionals operating out of Winchester, Massachusetts. And Resa was handed one of her favorite stories to date in 2012 when hired to design Cakeology, a brick and mortar shop for Cupcake […]
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Usually, spring is when we all start crawling out of hibernation, at least here in New England. Spring fever 2020 edition though – well, it has more of a #StayHome vibe to it. In fact, spring cleaning took on a whole new meaning for me this year. With more time and no places to go, […]
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If it wasn’t obvious by now, I’m a pattern lover! I love designing patterns and surrounding myself with them in my home. (Not to mention wearing them!) As a result, I often get questions from friends and clients about how best to coordinate patterns in a room or project. I’m not an interior designer, however, […]
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If you are a subscriber to our monthly trend letter, you have already seen our round-up of the biggest trends from the Fall 2020 Ready-to-Wear runways. (Not a subscriber? Subscribe today and you’ll receive our most recent trend letter.) After poring through photos of fashion, it got us wondering which trends seem ready to start […]
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When friends ask me what they can do to give their space a refresh, one of my favorite design tips is to believe in the power of a pillow. Even one new pillow in a bedroom, living room, or study can suddenly make a space feel fresh and bright. Pillows don’t need to break the […]
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As we all adjust to the new reality of social distancing, a lot of people are suddenly working from home. We feel for you, it is a challenging transition. The Design Pool team all work remotely and know it takes a while to feel productive working from home. Not to mention, also keep your sanity […]
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One of my favorite ways to freshen up a room while trying to stick to a budget is with a statement-making accent wall. You get so much bang for your buck! With a little creativity, you can create an accent wall that you can refresh seasonally or whenever you need to breathe a breath of […]
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There is no doubt that good design makes for a positive aesthetic experience, but does it make for a healthier one? As hospitals and healthcare facilities look to build new spaces and upgrade existing ones, they are more often requesting that these spaces be more humanized. Good design in healthcare environments can have a positive […]
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I’ve spent my whole career immersed in the world of home furnishings, commercial interiors, and fabric design. As a result, I am often being asked for advice when people are making design decisions in their interior spaces. (Trust me, you don’t want to invite me over to look at paint chips unless you really want […]
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Using data to support decision making is a trend in nearly every industry. Big brands use data to decide where to open new stores, how to market to their customers and how to get everyone to keep scrolling, clicking and buying. DRRP Arquitectura, an architecture firm in Lima, Peru, is designing buildings with data. DRRP […]
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Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is not the typical high school. It’s a private boarding school founded in 1820 on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. When the school was looking to move its admissions office from an old New England house on Main Street to a state of the […]
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Paul Lewin was a designer at Tivi in Chicago when he and his partner Ryan Wither got the project of their dreams, by sheer luck. In 2013, their friend and restaurateur Peter Verrill asked them to design his new restaurant Outliers Eatery, in foodie heaven Portland, Maine. What happens when a designer is given complete […]
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Paul Lewandowski, the architect at Paul Designs Project, was design principal at SMRT Architects and Engineers when he got the opportunity to redesign the St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. A building that he felt a personal connection to. In order to bring this project to life and be meaningful in the community, Paul utilized custom […]
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