This weekend marks the unofficial start of the much anticipated Summer season (at least for us living in the U.S since we're celebrating Memorial Day). With it, comes breezy days at the beach, fabulous family get-togethers and delicious afternoon barbecues in the backyard. So why not get your grilling started right with the chic Eva Solo Grill Globe. Following the simplicity of Danish design, the integrated lid incorporates a thermometer, which saves having it hanging on the grill or lying on the ground. The black bottom half of the grill is made of aluminium, while the lid and the four-legged stand are made of stainless steel. Also, the stand is designed so a table and a holder for various grill utensils can quickly be attached. Happy grilling!

By the way, if you want to set a special mood to your evening barbecue, you can introduce decorative lighting in selected parts of the garden, patio or driveway with a few of these Eva Solo Garden Torches. They can be used with either the Eva Solo Oil Burner, a mosquito-repelling candle or any other type of candle. They sort of remind me of an Olympic torch.

There's nothing like creating art for your own home, but this London-born artist has taken this idea a step further. Well, actually, several walls further. Shantell Martin has made it a project to cover the whole top floor a Brooklyn brownstone with her whimsical line drawings. When she first moved in, her intention was to limit her drawings to parts of a wall in her room, but inch by inch her art spontaneously took over her office and laundry room walls. Apparently, she draws on everything that comes her way, which explains her crazy fun refuge. She's even taken bottles she found on the street as canvas to display her freestyle drawings. I wonder if her mom ever let her paint on the walls when she was little. She's definitely getting away with it now. And I'm glad she is, since I'm really digging her style. Have a designful and relaxing Holiday weekend!

One of the many finds that caught my attention at ICFF this year, were these fun eco-friendly, handcrafted cardboard and paper wall clocks made by Tendo Studio. The Amarillo Clocks´ colorful hands break up the concentric rings and angles that look almost hypnotic, creating a fabulous design ideal for homes and offices. The hands are totally customizable. You get to choose from orange, green, blue, white, red or yellow so they can match perfectly with your decor. Aren't they fun?

Somewhere between soul and Art Noveau, the stunning Hotel Wiesler enjoys a privileged location in the dynamic center of the charming city Graz, Austria. The hotel consists of five former guesthouses converted into what the Wiesler is today. But between 1945 and 1954 the building was used a accommodation for British Army officers until it got renovated again into its original splendor in 1986. The successful combination of beautiful vintage fixtures and modern design symbolises the philosophy behind the new Wiesler—a surprising and exquisite choice of detail which makes this hotel so special. All 21 refurbished room offer plenty of space for new thoughts and an unforgettable stay.

“Your home defines who you are, and who you want to be,” proclaims fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. And I second that way of thinking. Through decor and artwork you can easily infuse your personality and style in your home. This Parisian flat is no exception to the rule. It's the striking artwork by young artists that provides a perfect framework for this eclectic home in the French capital. An open floor plan houses the kitchen, the dining room and lounge area, all surrounded by bold and fun pieces of art that most certainly make a statement about the owners. I truly belief artwork should reflect your spirit and not just something to fill your walls with. You honestly can do it without breaking the bank. All you need is a little imagination.

Once a year, New York City welcomes furniture and home decor designers and manufactures from around the world to showcase their new creations at ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair). So yesterday afternoon I headed over to this great spectacle ready for a design overdose. My expectations were surpassed. I was excited to see a lot of new talent among the veteran design houses, especially in wall coverings. The variety of materials and interpretations in wallpapers, tiles and finishes was quite extensive—actually more than I've seen in previous years. Another biggie was lighting (or maybe it was just me since I have a weakness for everything that illuminates). But seriously, the array of alternatives and designs was glorious. Last but not least, I was very happy to see a great deal of attention paid to the outdoors with a gorgeous and stylish selection of furniture and accessories for the patio and backyard. Overall, I spent a delightful afternoon drooling over such wonderful and inspiring work, but the cherry on the cake was running into design guru Karim Rashid. The fair will be open until tomorrow, so if you happen to be in this part of town, I recommend you stop by and see for yourself what's new and happening in the world of design. If not, here are a few of the many things that really caught my eye. Enjoy!

I'm a firm believer that one should do what makes us happy. One of the things that makes my world go round is to find out what's next and best in the world of furniture design. So today, I'll be going to ICFF (New York's International Contemporary Furniture Fair) to see all the new and cool stuff we'll be seeing in stores soon. I'll  be in the look out for new trends and hot decor designs, so don't miss tomorrow's post where I'll be sharing the ins and out of this much anticipated event. 

Everything great always starts with a vision, like this fantastic lofty home in San Francisco's Mission district. Originally a Lucky Strike cigarette warehouse, the 1925 concrete building was converted into this sweet nest for British-born electrical engineer Clive McCarthy and his wife. After seeing the potential of the structure, he decided to buy it with hopes of transforming it into the contemporary home it is now. The whole building was gutted to create spacious areas for each room of the house, leaving the rawness of the original architecture seep through the design. How's this for industrial chic? Happy weekend!

The Armory Show is a staple in New York's art scene. Considered one of the most important events in the city, The Armory is the leading international contemporary and modern art fair showcasing works from the 20th and 21st centuries. Bade Stageberg Cox has developed “Street Seats, a furniture project created for the Pier 94 Coffee Bar at The Show. The 50 chairs, found abandoned on the streets of New York, were repaired and given a new life with a coat of taxi cab yellow paint. Like the city’s residents, the chairs are an eclectic mix, migrating throughout the fair during its five-day run. The bottom of each chair is stamped and documented with the date and location it was recovered.” Aren't these awesome? These are just a few of the chairs from the project, but if you want to see all 50, you can do so here. Which one is your favorite? Actually, I have a couple. This would definitely be a fun DIY project to take on—of course, on a much smaller scale. BTW, you can get your hands on any of these as the chairs are available for purchase.

Are you mad about color but find yourself doubting how to inject it to your living room? Well, doubt no more. Here's a quick guide from our friends at House to Home that will demystify color for you. If you're in a monochromatic mood, mix textures, patterns and different shades of the color of your choice to add interest to the room. Also, with the large variety of fun wallpapers available to us now, you can pick a feature wall in your living room and use a colorful wall covering to create a focal point. One last but important tip: don't be afraid to be bold as bold can be a good thing. Dare to use combinations of colors you might have never thought of using. Accent pieces are a great way to introduce this color-blocking concept. Are you feeling adventurous now?