Color Trends from the New York Gift Fair

Sick of your chocolate-brown-and-sea-blue color scheme? We are, too.

And if the recession’s got you spending more time at home it’s only natural to want to freshen up the place. Check out my latest post for Richmond Home magazine about color trends for 2009/2010. This week, I’ve revived my When in R•Home blog to report on what’s happening from the New York International Gift Fair, a twice-yearly trade show for interior designers, shop owners and other tastemakers in home design.

Things got exciting on Tuesday, when I spied designer/potter/reality-show host Jonathan Adler hanging out near his booth. [Remember my post about how Adler designed the Barbie Dream House for the doll's 50th birthday?] Ah, the glamorous life …

Adler Gets in Touch with His Inner Barbie

This morning on NPR, they did a segment on the real Barbie Dream House in Malibu, Ca., designed by chipper designer Jonathan Adler. While I love radio, there is that one big drawback. So I scoured the web looking for an image only to turn up just one nugget, the living room shot below.

One of the more creative elements is on the wall just over the feather explosion; a mirror made of 64 Barbies (below). According to the AP, after a big 50th birthday party for Barbie tonight in the house, the custom furnishings will find a home at the Palms casino resort in Las Vegas where they will decorate a pink Barbie Suite available for bachelorette parties and other girly events. Other pieces will be available in September when Adler launches a “Jonathan Adler Loves Barbie” collection. Wow. Not sure about that one.