Trendspotting - Patriotic Color

Best wishes for the long holiday weekend...!! We're celebrating Memorial Day with a colorful collection of trendspotting photos that are a nod to the patriotic red, white and blue hues that are iconic Americana. These colors, whether alone or in combination, remain strong for households across the country. Here are a few of our favorites:

Nashville, Tennessee - Great music, great food and friendly folks made this city on last fall's trendspotting tour a perfect place to spend a few days.

Don't you love this bright and intense pop of red used for the front doors in the Edgehill Village live / work development:
The Lofts at Werthan Mills feature renovated warehouse style, with an infusion of color on the patio with these rich red beams and supporting structures:

Austin, Texas - One of the most hip and happening cities right now in the US, where so many new developments and home renovations feature a style that's reminiscent of the American farmhouse.

Did you catch the "amber waves of grain" (OK, so it's grass, but sounds perfect, right?) in front of this modern farmhouse in the Nine-Sixty-Nine development?

Situated right downtown in an area that's a hold-out for high-rise development where this home on Rainey Street features unique modern angles with a classic lap siding exterior in a patriotic red hue:Las Vegas, Nevada - Surprisingly, the immediate downtown areas near the old strip are finding an infusion of young people looking for urban and loft style living, such as Urban Loft community that features unique and colorful building exteriors:

Trendspotting the Blues

Stemming from a very spontaneous and synchronized twitter discussion this morning, this post came to fruition. The influence of water, nature, sky and the earth elements are apparent across the country as noted in our spring 10-City trendspotting tours. Here are a few examples of cities where we got the blues...

Chattanooga, Tennessee - A quickly urbanizing locale where the vibe is edgy and downtown city living is hot!

Love the hint of steely blue jutting out from the rooftops:
Industrial strength blue:A hint of the palest blue sets the serene tone for this condo:Isn't it lovely how this glass walkway reflects the blue in the sky?Salt Lake City, Utah - Isn't blue the perfect accompaniment to rugged mountains, vast skies, crisp white clouds and snow?

A spa-like blue hue is a welcoming touch at the Daybreak community:
Sometimes.... even schools get the blues!Modern and minimalistic designs get a touch of mineral-like warmth with a fresh blue tone:When you're braving the long, cold Minneapolis, Minnesota winters - adding bright pops of blue to interior furnishings and walls keeps the mood bright and cheerful!

More trends from Salt Lake City - Hip & Humble

Retail does not get any cuter or more colorful than the quirky boutique, Hip and Humble, located in Salt Lake City. From the eye-catching exterior to the adorable and eclectic mix of fashion, home decor and gifts - this is the perfect place to stop for an afternoon of browsing. We're treating you today to colorful products, fantastic displays (isn't that refrigerator the cutest?!?) and an view inside the creativity of Hip and Humble - enjoy!

Gravity Zone Rugs - ICFF 2010

Fun concepts that really break the mold of conventional rug designs - Gravity Zone creates unique and innovative patterns, shapes and color combinations that are truly a work of art for the floor. Of course, we love the circular sphere pattern, but there are many more shapes, styles and concepts at their site, where you might find the perfect one for you!

Kitschy & Cute - Stationery Show 2010

Happy Thursday! As it's a super bright and sunny day outside - and that puts us in such a giggly mood - we thought we'd share some of our favorite cute and kitschy designs from the Stationery Show with you. How cute are birds, owls, ice cream cones, ducks, vegetables and sailboats all in the same place?? Bobbin had the sweetest handmade, hand-sewn and homespun designs this year, head on over to Etsy to contact the shoo for more information.

Home Tour - Patrick Lofts, Salt Lake City

Formerly known as the Patrick Dry Goods building where bulk supplies for the city were stored, the Patrick Lofts are a unique urban development offering artistic living in downtown Salt Lake City. As part of our 10-City Trendspotting tour, we visited the lofts that feature innovative tiered storage spaces, raised offices, stunning views and great open spaces with garage door style access to the balcony. In addition, the community has dedicated space for residents to gather on the shared rooftop terrace and the developers preserved original features, such as the concrete floors and central atrium, keeping the building's style true to it's original warehouse roots.

ICFF - Amy Butler at Graham and Brown

Oh, pretty prints and patterns! We were delighted to meet Amy Butler at the Graham and Brown booth during ICFF to get a sneak peek from her newest designs featured on wall coverings perfect for a fun and modern space. We can't decide which is our favorite, but we're leaning to the eye-catching orange and pink floral...

Graypants - ICFF 2010

A whirlwind trip to trendspot in NYC and cover the Stationary Show and ICFF all in a few days has left us exhausted, but enthused with all the great design, innovation a creativity that can be packed into such a short trip. One such enthusiastic design trio - Graypants - is the perfect example of everything ICFF stands for.Graypants, Inc. was forged by three friends who had a desire to make a difference through design. Their lighting creations featured at ICFF are hand created from recycled cardboard showcasing their tremendous talent and passion for sustainable product innovation. We'll let the pictures speak for themselves...

Colorful Inspiration from Salt Lake City

Lively and eclectic, Salt Lake City is a real melting pot of home architecture and inspiration. Houses, both young and old, are individual style statements with unique color stories, innovative materials, gorgeous gardens and a real flair for interesting entryways and facades.

From the classic family home updated with a stunning coat of color in the community of Daybreak to the metropolitan condos splashed in bright hues to the historic districts with their homes boasting intricate palettes of unique shades - this town is an inspiration for color lovers like us!