New patterns for SURTEX

I have been madly preparing for SURTEX- the Surface design show in NYC May 19-21st.

Here is a new Vintage ornaments pattern in pink colourway.

Here it is in Blue colourway. 

I'll have many more brand new patterns available which I'll reveal at my booth. 

If you're in NYC do pop by Booth 340 and say hello 

or send me an email to set up an appointment.

New Greek Vase pattern

This is a reworking of a pattern I originally posted about here.


Greek vases in Cerise
copyright Alanna Cavanagh 2012


Greek Vases in Limey green
copyright Alanna Cavanagh 2012


Above is my original pen + ink sketch which I used to created the patterns.

*If you would like to license this pattern please contact my rep Shelley Brown at i2i art.
shelley@i2iart.com www.i2iart.com 416 505 - 9522

Great bathroom + paint colour

Great bathroom of Illustrator Sandra Dionisi found in back issue (May 2011) of Covet garden magazine. Love the paint colour - so serene + looks great contrasted with those bowling pins! Sandra let me know the colour is Para paint B748-1 Jadeite.

ps. Speaking of bathrooms... Reno update: Last week I painted my bathroom. I chose Ben Moore Florentine Plaster and it was a Disaster! (that rhymes) so it's back to the drawing board. These pics inspire me to try a jewel tone...

Juicy pinks

I've got pink on my mind this week.
First this gorgeous ad from Madeline Weinrib resurfaced in my inspiration pile.

I just love the mix of ikat, zig zags and dots - all in varying shades of pink. So juicy.

Then I saw this freshly painted column in a friend's house. It added such dimension to the room + provided such a nice background for the artwork.

Then I found this great hallway in an issue of House Beautiful entirely dedicated to pink!
The paint colour is Ben Moore Razzle Dazzle.

I think pink might be the perfect colour for my kitchen wall. It'll join my other zingy shades of lime green + red which pop off the Chelsea grey in the hallway so nicely.

What I've been up to: Lots of Limey Green

Choosing colour for my kitchen + part of studio
Beautitone's F 130 Cactus: A great limey green - also known as chartreuse!

Starting the job
The green works really well as a zingy complement to the subdued chelsea grey in the space.

Alas this is not my kitchen but it was the inspiration for the colour.

I couldn't spend 10,000.oo on new cabinetry so decided to bring this hue + quirky vibe to my space with a 26.00 litre of paint. :-)

After pics coming soon!
ps. am very happy with this green however if you'd like something more yellowy I've also used Ben Moore Eve Green + Citron. Both great too.

Inspiring visitors: Janice Lindsay + daughter Caroline

Colour expert + writer Janice Lindsay and lovely daughter Caroline


Janice's book

Yesterday Colour and design expert Janice Lindsay paid a visit to my studio along with her daughter Caroline who writes a blog called The Good.

In addition to colour consulting + interior design Janice also writes for many publications including House + Home and The Globe + Mail. For me it was both thrilling + comforting to be around someone who is just as obsessed about colour as I am - maybe even a titch more so!

Janice has written a fantastic book called All about colour. In it she draws upon history, science and interior design to elucidate the wonderous mysteries of colour and to explain it's effect on everyday life. Highly recommended for all you designers out there and "anyone who loves colour or thinks they might if they could just figure out how it works!"

When in Doubt... Paint it Black

Before - Ick.


After - Slick!

I felt my front door just wasn't working - especially with the grey painted walls - so last night I painted it black. Kim advised me to also paint the trim and it was great advice - really worked.
If you've got an unloved chair or book shelf sitting around... consider giving it new life with a coat of black paint. Hits of black can really anchor a room.

Done.

Finally finished painting the wall in my entrance way. This is Beautione Light House Red and this sucker took 4 coats.
Painting note: Red is is the toughest colour to paint with. Difficult to get good coverage. Not for the faint of heart!

Little Home Reno update + Some thoughts on Colour

We started with this....

and now it's lookin' like this

I know i know... it looks like my last bedroom!
Walls are Ben Moore Chelsea grey
Pillow by Judy Ross

Ok so it has been ages since I posted a reno update so here's a peek at what's been going on Chez Alanna. I put in two walls to create a private bedroom and a large vestibule. Painted the bedroom Ben Moore Chelsea grey as usual and got a new bed! Next step is to get an upholstered headboard which I'm hoping will pull the room together.

Isn't this stunnning?! LOVE the mustard headboard.

I was gonna go very neutral with the headboard in a nice grey in felt or linen but after seeing the beautiful photo above i'm inspired to do the headboard in a fun colour that will really pop off the grey walls. Am thinking either a mustard as in the Judy Ross pillow or my all time favourite colour: limey chartreuse.

*Dear Readers - Your feedback is most welcome in this serious matter.*
(Please note the irony of that statement)

Now that's a grey!
Photo from the marion house book

Colour note: The Chelsea grey is ok but am now wishing I'd gone with a more dark slatey grey like in the dreamy photo above. I think the paint might be Farrow and Ball's Down Pipe.
Looks much better huh?
I say Learn from my mistakes Dear Readers!

ps. I very much wish I didn't have a mind that obsessed about colour so much... but alas I do.

and pss. I found the bathroom photo on a great new blog The Marion House Book which is written by an Exhibit/ Interior designer and fellow West - Ender Emma Reddington. Emma has really great style - reminiscent of what one finds in the British Decor mags like Living etc + Elle Decor UK plus... she loves greys + blacks! Highly recommended.
(Thanks Kim for turning me onto Emma!)

Inspiration: Textile designer Lourdes Sánchez

WOW
I love how the colours bleed

Love these dottie dottie dots.

Very Paul Klee-ish

What stunning colours in this IKAT pattern

Bull's Eye Rug designed for West Elm

I'm working on some surface design samples this week so have been researching textile designers.

One favourite I've discovered recently is Lourdes Sánchez . I spotted the very colourful rug she designed for West Elm on the back page of the catalogue and immediately needed to know more about her. She is a Cuban born artist and textile designer who grew up in Queens + New Jersey. She works in hand painted watercolour media which gives her designs a beautiful fluidity. There is incredible variety within her textile line: including designs with dots, stripes, ikat patterns, and vintage florals. Her client list includes Crate and Barrel, Graphique de France, Clinique and Diane Von Furstenberg.

(Would love to know more about her creative process. Have added her to my list of people I'd like to interview for uppercase magazine!)

ps. I think it's really great that West Elm does so many collaborations. It gives the artists great exposure and adds a juiciness to the company. Have noticed that many other shops including Anthropologie + J. Crew are following this model.

Sketches: Tea pots

Below:
Experimenting with some pattern ideas
Lime green + grey = favourite colour combo

Delicious fabrics

mmm.... what a great colour combination

I love this bold graphic print - and the colours are so juicy.

Some gorgeously vibrant fabrics found at Designer Fabric Outlet on Saturday with lovely friend Kim.
Both these fabrics would make great pillows or perhaps a screen or room divider thingy.

This was my weekend: Cloud White

I painted my bathroom white this weekend. Benjamin Moore's Cloud White to be exact. (CC40)
There was lots of trim and details so it was a big job. Oy vey.
Cloud White is a huge favourite amongst decorators
In this Macleans article Designer Jan Brown explains some of the reasons why:
1. It's a bright white but doesn't scream like a builder's white.
2. It has a soft edge to it.
3. It has the ability to stay white and not take on blue, pink or yellow tones when placed beside another colour.

And now here's a great tip which I picked up from my talented decorating friend Kim Taylor:
Most paint shops can mix Cloud White for you! I had mine mixed at Home Hardware and it looked dandy.

My Apartment

For years I've painted almost every wall in my apt grey.
It makes colours like pink, yellow and orange really POP.
On wall: My Penguin book cover silk screen print

I like the look of these three IKEA Ringun rugs together - juicy.

Some art on display in the stairway.
Large painting by Shannon Greene.
Illustration by Carey Sookochef
Alphabet legs and n is for novel prints by me.
ps. Yes yes I'm aware the Keep Calm poster is so "OVA!"

One of my favorite pieces: A decoupage plate by John Derian

The needlepoint shoe pillow I designed and stitched

My office
On wall: Franny goes to school and Large Red Tea pot

My map drawers (Essential for any printmaker and an unwelcome sight for any movers!):-)

Shelf from a former shoe factory purchased at Chair Table Lamp

Day bed in office to lie on when in need of inspiration
On wall: My Big orange scissors print

Vanity table in bedroom
On wall: My Room of One's own silk screen print

Designer and Style writer Arren Williams has asked me to submit some pics of my apt for his 5 Quick Questions series so this weekend I held a little photo session with my apt.

The grey obsession continues

Don't you just love this unexpected combination of warm grey and yellow? Delicious and sophisticated.

A gorgeous deep shade.

This is Benjamin Moore's Kendall Charcoal.

Always looks so much lighter in the can!

My grey obsession continues.
Have finished painting office and livingroom -- both in grey.
There are so many beautiful shades - so deep and soulful - and they make everything you put on the wall (especially pink, orange and yellow just POP!) I just don't see how anyone would want to use another colour?

Duxbury grey, Coventry grey or Florentine plaster?

Sadly this is why i haven't been blogging lately!
Am obsessed with choosing paint colours for my office and livingroom.
It'll be great to have my brain back soon.

ps. The secret to a nice warm grey is to add yellow to it. Otherwise it looks cold and battle shippy. This I learn 4 walls later. Oy vey.
See I told you -- obsessed.

NYC Day 3: Lotta Jansdotter Workshop

Took part in a surface printing workshop today in Brooklyn with well known textile designer Lotta Jansdotter. Lotta is originally from Aland a small island near Sweden but now lives in Boreum Hill in Brooklyn. I have long admired her economical designs and wonderful colour combinations. She was a fantastic teacher and very fun.


Lotta talking about her inspiration.



Lotta's "Tang' design.



The pear apron I made using a stencil technique.
One of the biggest lessons I took from the workshop was that simple shapes can look very sophisticated when repeated.