ShareThisHIGH POINT, N.C. - Christiane Lemieux, author of "Undecorate: The No-Rules Approach to Interior Design," was dispensing gems of wisdom and displaying new products during the Fall International Home Furnishings Market in North Carolina.
"'Undecorate' is really the celebration of a movement I see emerging in interior design," she explained.
"Undecorate" explores homes with personality, designed by owners who trust their instincts to create interesting but livable spaces. "Because of the advent of the Internet and design blogs, we are sharing information and our spaces ... the result is we get to see amazing personal spaces that defy the rules of design."
The New York City-based designer knows what it means to forge your own path. She is the founder of DwellStudio and the driving force behind the designs of DwellStudio for Precedent. Debuting this market were several new additions to the collection, including the whimsical Gazelle occasional table. With its linear profile and transitional quality, it was a big hit with market-goers.
"The Gazelle table is our fashion statement for this collection. We are known for our love of animals," said Lemieux. "I love it in gold leaf or the black iron."
It won't be in stores until the spring, but it is worth the wait. Inspired by modernist sculpture, it is the definition of a statement piece.
Versatility is a key component in the fall furniture designs if you plan to go off the grid while decorating. Good examples are the Selma dining chair with an X-back detail and the Finn sideboard in rosewood and black lacquer. Both would be at home in any environment, from classical to contemporary.
Known for graphic design, color textiles and rugs, Lemieux introduced in this market sleek mid-century profiles as well as new fabric patterns, including Magnus Mineral Green, a Scandinavian-inspired large-scale botanical.
The Odin side table, which comes in rosewood with antique gold leaf, ivory shagreen with antique gold leaf or gray shagreen with black lacquer, is an example of the way one piece of furniture can take on many personalities.
Introductions from last spring's market are now available, including the clever Haviland bunching tables, which can be used separately as end tables or together as a coffee table. As the latter, the legs create a signature DwellStudio pattern.
Echoing that design is the fretwork on the Gate armoire. It was inspired by one of Dwell's popular fabrics, the Belle Porte, and comes in French oak with a cream interior or Belgian gray with a silver-leaf interior.
The gold- or silver-leafed Franklin media cabinet with "Jetsons"-style legs is all "Mad Men" Hollywood glamour. Complementing it will be the recently introduced Axel dining table, with its grained rosewood top and hourglass base.
For sitting back, martini in hand, there is the upholstered Irving lounge chair.
(Contact Patricia Sheridan at psheridan(at)post-gazette.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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