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 […]
READ MORE
During the pandemic, I discovered (and instantly binged) The Great Pottery Throwdown on MAX. In the throes of uncertainty (pun intended), it was the kind of relaxing television I found soothing. Nice people making stuff in a beautiful setting. What’s not to love? I’ve always loved pottery and appreciate the skill involved in making it. […]
READ MORE
Winter is my favorite time of year to spend in the studio working out new ideas. If I’m lucky, it’s also a time to travel and find inspiration beyond the studio walls. This winter, Team Design Pool had the opportunity to travel to two very different places. I spent a snowy weekend bundled up at the […]
READ MORE
Lately, we’ve been getting a lot of requests from visitors to our site asking if we can knock off a design. As we’ve explained on our FAQ page, we do not knock off the work of other designers. Since we’re being asked about it a lot, I thought I’d take a minute to explain why […]
READ MORE
This week, Design Pool turns 5! I launched Design Pool back in 2019 so I could bring the magic of digital, on-demand printing to the commercial interior design market. As I’ve learned these past few years, owning your own business is full of peaks and valleys. And those peaks and valleys are all the more […]
READ MORE
I am so excited to let you know that I’m heading back to Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program May 10 – 12, 2024, to teach a block printing class. I hope you’ll join me! In this class, I’ll be teaching students how to carve and print with blocks and will also dive into […]
READ MORE
This December, we added a new collection of designs sure to jazz up any room: The Zecchino Collection. This group of thirteen patterns adds sparkle to a room without the abrasion issues or added expense of actual sequins. This collection was inspired by Kristen’s enthusiasm for Italian history and hand embellishments. Additionally, she is always […]
READ MORE
As 2023 winds down, I’ve been looking ahead toward 2024 and looking back on 2023. This year, I chose two colors as Design Pool’s pick for 2024 Color of the Year: Energizing Orange and Balanced Blue. Why two? Initially, I had chosen Energizing Orange because I wanted an energetic color. Yet, I also know that […]
READ MORE
I just returned from an inspiring three days in Atlanta at the Printing United Expo. I was thrilled to present How Digital Printers Can Work Effectively with Interior Designers to attendees. When I wasn’t presenting, I walked the exhibition hall and have to admit, it’s hard to attend a show like this as a designer. […]
READ MORE
This summer, I have been hard at work with my web developer, making improvements to the Design Pool website. I am so excited to let you know the website is now faster and easier to navigate. Whether you’re a printer licensing designs, or an interior designer looking for the perfect pattern, we think you’ll enjoy […]
READ MORE
This year’s Wide-format Summit hosted by Printing United was an inspiring and informative three days. The team who puts it together is fantastic! I’m so grateful to have been invited back to speak for the second year in a row. As a designer who connects printers with the interior design market, I always have my […]
READ MORE
I am endlessly fascinated by creativity and constantly look for new books about creativity. It doesn’t even have to be a creative field I can relate to. I just love learning about other people’s experiences and how they channel their creativity in exciting ways. I’m particularly interested in learning how people got from point A […]
READ MORE
Who doesn’t love a farmers market? I don’t think I know anyone! While living in Providence, Rhode Island, I visited the Hope Street Farmers Market on Saturday mornings to buy fresh produce, flowers, and seafood. (And, of course, pet other people’s dogs.) I loved supporting the local farms and small businesses and buying what was […]
READ MORE
In late March 2023, I exhibited at the Lindenmyer Munroe Wide Format Expo at their Wide Format Experience Center in Trenton, New Jersey. This was their second time producing this event, and they described it as “two days of innovation and inspiration, where you can discover the latest in wide format printing technology, explore new […]
READ MORE
Thank you so much to EFI for inviting me to an afternoon at the Museum of Print in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Spending the afternoon with a fun group of print lovers and gawking over machines was such a treat. I have been to the museum a few times before (I’m lucky to live close by) and […]
READ MORE
Thank you so much to the team at Ultrafabrics for inviting Kristen to talk about color as part of their Poetry of Color series. Any day I get to talk about color and trends is a good day! Especially when I get to do it someplace beautiful. Thanks so much for inviting me to be […]
READ MORE
You’re invited! Join me in May 2023 at Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program to learn the art of needle punch. I first learned needle punch on a trip to Scotland. Ever since, I continue to create unique pieces, many of which have been exhibited in galleries around the United States. This year, I […]
READ MORE
Each December, we reflect on the previous year and take stock of our experiences. We also look ahead at what’s to come and think about how we can express these feelings through color. What is our pick for Color of the Year 2023? These past few years have been unpredictable, to say the least. At […]
READ MORE
The word cornucopia comes from two Latin words: Cornu, meaning horn, and Copia, abundance. How did a horn come to symbolize abundance? It comes from a Greek myth. Amalthea, the name of the goat which fed Zeus as a baby, broke off. In its breaking, it was endowed with the power to be filled with […]
READ MORE
One of the common themes at the Wide-format Summit, presented by Wide-format Impressions in July, was that at the start, no one really knew what to expect. The summit was a unique format and a new event. Guests were invited to attend, at no cost to them, and the attendee list was limited so as […]
READ MORE
In the spring of 2022, I went on a creative trip to the Netherlands with a group of women led by Lauren Pignatello of Swallowtail Farms. While this was technically a vacation, life as a creative entrepreneur means that even my vacations usually influence my work. Planning for inspiration, I made sure to pack my […]
READ MORE
The Museum of Printing “is dedicated to preserving the history of the graphic arts, printing equipment, and printing craftsmanship.” I visited this museum this spring with Color Karma’s Shoshana Burgett and quickly realized I could have spent hours getting lost in this museum. Located in Haverhill, Massachusetts, this museum has small exhibits and extensive special […]
READ MORE
In the spring of 2022, I joined a group of thirteen women on a Local Flora Field Guides trip to Holland. The trip was led by Kimberly Becker, Lauren Pignatello, and Susan Becker with the goal of experiencing the country while learning about the local flora and creating field guides. Each of the three hosts […]
READ MORE
I am a sucker for a good documentary, especially ones focusing on creative people. Fashion documentaries in particular are one of my weaknesses. I find it fascinating to see how creative people work and build a business. Plus, fashion designers are inspiring on so many levels – visually, creatively, and professionally. As an entrepreneur, I […]
READ MORE
This spring, I had the opportunity to participate as an artist in residence at Snow Farm, The New England Craft Program in Williamsburg, Massachusetts, for two weeks. It was the first time since graduate school that I had an extended period devoted solely to being creative. There were no limitations or requirements. I spent two […]
READ MORE
This International Women’s Day, I’m thinking of the women who inspire my work. In The Woman Who Smashed Codes, by Jason Fagone, I first learned about Elizebeth Smith Friedman. She and her husband invented the modern science of cryptology and used it to crack enemy codes during both world wars. Elizebeth was a true trailblazer. […]
READ MORE
On a recent visit to North Carolina, I visited the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh to see their exhibit Alphonse Mucha: Art Nouveau Visionary. This exhibit is on display through January 23, 2022. When I lived in North Carolina in the 1990s, this museum was one of my favorite spots to visit for […]
READ MORE
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 […]
READ MORE
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 […]
READ MORE
This past year, I have been volunteering with Building on Hope’s renovation of the Nashua PAL Youth Safe Haven. I was inspired to join the project when I heard about the work the Nashua PAL does for the kids in Southern New Hampshire. As well as their need for an upgraded space in which to […]
READ MORE
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 […]
READ MORE
I’ve written before about how much I love working on the the Building on Hope Nashua PAL Youth Safe Haven project. The renovation and big reveal was supposed to happen over a two week period back in May. And, well, you know the story. As with most things in 2020, the original timeline went out […]
READ MORE
The technology of digital textile printing is changing at an incredible pace. As technology improves, so does capability and quality. It truly is an exciting time in the print-on-demand industry. With advances happening at breakneck speed, it’s a challenge to stay up to date. But before you even get to that, you need to know […]
READ MORE
Growing up one of three girls, time alone with my mom was not something that came in big doses; but was always savored. Our interests didn’t always align perfectly, but browsing through dusty antique stores or wandering through museums were always activities we could count on doing together. So when we first started thinking about […]
READ MORE
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, […]
READ MORE
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 […]
READ MORE
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 […]
READ MORE
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 […]
READ MORE
At Design Pool, we love tracking trends, and color is one of our favorite trends to track. Color is such an integral part of our day to day business and color trends are constantly providing direction and inspiration to our designers as they color designs for the market’s end-use. Over the years, we have learned […]
READ MORE
About three years ago, I learned of a company called ACE Camps through a colleague. I describe it as an adult creative summer camp. It has always been a bit of struggle for me to find friends with similar vacation interests, but when I heard about ACE Camps, I decided to step outside of my comfort zone […]
READ MORE
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]From high print resolutions to limitless creative possibilities, digital textile printing opens up a world of opportunities for DIYers and businesses both small and large. But the textile printing process can be a bit more comprehensive than printing on materials like vinyl or paper, so it’s important to have a solid grasp of the basics. […]
READ MORE
Overview It was another fun June in Chicago! Neocon 2019 was my 20th, so I probably need to stop counting. No matter how many times I’ve been, I’m always inspired and I truly believe the show is still the best way to see all the latest products in one location while packing in as many […]
READ MORE
If you are interested in getting involved in the print on demand business and are in need of printing equipment and inks, InPrint is the place to go! This unique show is highly focused and very well organized. Admission includes access to all the presentations and the chance to network with a wide range of […]
READ MORE