Eclectic Retail in Vancouver

It's trendspotting season! We're covering cities from coast to coast, looking for unique trends, retail, homes and communities that are on the leading edge. Our trip to Vancouver was really surprising, with lots of unexpected design and architecture styles, as well as inspiring communities and very cool retail. For example, we love this very traditional looking store "Front and Company" with a welcoming collection of eclectic displays, new products and consignment merchandise inside. Stay tuned... Lots more from our spring 2011 Ten City Trendspotting tours yet to come!

We Love Color....

... so, doesn't this collection from Company C at High Point Markets this spring really sum up our our passion for all things bright and cheerful? In case you missed last week's newsletter, it was all about things we love, so this week here on the blog we're going to continue that theme with a collection of things that make us excited each day. And, color is probably one of our most inspiring topics - enjoy!!

Color Caffeine - Sandbox

It's Color Caffeine time.... We really must be thinking spring, because this week's palette, Sandbox, makes you think of enjoying your backyard with family and friends with sand between your toes and sunshine above! Simple, warm and comforting, this color is a fresh take on neutral tones for the season. Enjoy!

Trendspotting Vancouver - Smallworks Homes

Our 10-city tours are back and first up this week - Vancouver!! We're traveling around the country scouting trends in unique cities and communities - have a tip, a place we should see, a secret hot-spot to share? Let us know!

Small, beautiful and sustainable - homes by Smallworks in Vancouver, Canada aren't just cute as a button, they're fabulously functional! Specializing in small scale and "laneway" (backyard) homes this boutique builder turns traditional home plans into modest footprint designs perfect for urban living and family happiness. Here are a few of our favorite small home pictures from our time spent here during our trendspotting trip to this great city:

High Point Markets - Trendwatch! Coral

Rowe Furniture featured the creative use of cheerful coral hues across their showroom at the recent High Point Furniture Market that welcomed in spring with a breath of fresh air. We love their bold use of the color as an accent for leather, bright pops of pattern against warm mocha brown and in combination with crisp sky blue and pea shoot green. This is truly a color to watch this season... Enjoy!

Color Caffeine - Stonewashed

Spring really hasn't "sprung" yet here in Michigan and we've been treated to lots of chilly temperatures, a sprinkling of snow and lots of gray skies so I wasn't surprised when our Creative Collective Design Team here at Sphere Trending sent me this week's Color Caffeine - Stonewashed. A moody gray with subtle undertones of blue and violet, this hue is perfect for chic home interiors with a hint of subtle sheen and makes a stunning impression as an exterior color. Enjoy this weeks weather-inspired palette and hopefully the sun breaks through the clouds up here and next week's color will be reflective of sunny skies and daffodils!