A huge trend at High Point Market? Rope! The nautical accent took center stage at the world’s largest furnishings industry tradeshow, making a casual appearance on everything from  lighting to accents–and just in time for summer. When you begin daydreaming of warm, ocean breezes, turn to furnishings with a distressed, coastal flair, and simply add rope accents here and there. The attention to detail will create a rustic, laid-back ambience reminiscent of life by the sea, no matter where you live.

We were delighted to join our lovely friend Molly Sims in celebrating her baby-on-the-way! Molly’s garden lunch baby shower was filled to the brim with love and well wishes, good conversation and an abundance of deliciously sweet treats. 

The beautiful mom-to-be was positively glowing! And to make guests feel extra special and loved, the hostesses treated each and every one to a goody bag chock full of her favorite Layla Grayce products!

If you missed Molly’s garden lunch baby shower, don’t despair… We saved a goody bag to give to one lucky winner! For your chance to win the gift bag guests received at Molly’s baby shower, leave a comment on this blog post with a link to your favorite baby product from Layla Grayce.

Valued at $1,195, the favor bag includes a Mor candle, Kendra Scott Kavita earrings, a bundle of Skip Hop items including a Pronto Changing Station and Diaper Bag Duo, a collection of products from Lollia, a collection of candles and fragrances from Tocca, a Petunia Pickle Bottom Wistful Weekender and matching Powder Room Case, a Serena & Lily Moses Basket, a Melissa Green Lullaby CD and a Kashwere travel-size blanket.

The giveaway ends at midnight PST on June 4, 2012. We’ll pick a winner at random to announce on June 5, 2012. Limit one comment per entry, per day. View official contest rules.

Good luck!

Clockwise from top left: Capel Rugs Indigo & White Willoughby Indoor/Outdoor Rug, Large BlaBla Doll in Socks and Monkey Mozart, The New Traditionalists Regency Crib, Bungalow 5 Orange Melrose Table Lamp

Clockwise from top left: Bennett Bed, Bungalow 5 Orange Melrose Table Lamp, Worlds Away White Lacquer 4 Drawer Werstler Dresser, DwellStudio Home Tangerine Zebra Pillow, Trina Turk Embroidered Orange Linen Palm Springs Block Pillow

Clockwise from top left: Jonathan Adler Mrs. Godfrey Chair, Suzanne Kasler Athene Greek Key Cream Rose Hand Knotted Wool & Silk Rug, Bungalow 5 Orange Melrose Table Lamp, Malibu Loft Mid Century Vanity

Meet the Melrose Table Lamp from Bungalow 5! Its simple shape makes it an easy addition to any room, and its bold color will quite literally set the space aglow! Try this porcelain beauty on for size in your own home with our ideas for incorporating it in a living room, nursery, bedroom and office. Use our guide as inspiration and let the styling begin! View the entire Bungalow 5 collection.

Headed to the beach this weekend? Staying home? Either way, we’ve got you covered! From monogrammed ice buckets and serving trays (great hostess gifts!) to the perfect oceanic pillow – make sure your summer kick off is not only fun, but stylish too!

How we adore Kelly Green! And how thrilled we were to see it trending at High Point. What do we love most? Well, depending on the application, it can be so many things: Fresh, vibrant, preppy, glamorous or dramatic. The list goes on. Coat an entire room with it, look for it on lighting and fabrics, or take a noncommittal route and incorporate it in your wardrobe. One thing’s for sure: Your friends will be green with envy.

As featured in: Expressen

As featured in: Expressen

As featured in: Expressen

As featured in: Expressen

As featured in: Expressen

As featured in: Expressen

Clockwise from top left: Eloquence Louise Upholstered Chaise, DL Rhein Mustard Mod Link Embroidered Pillow, DL Rhein Robin’s Egg Tile Embroidered Pillow, Gabby Furniture Garland Pedestal Table, Jonathan Adler Nixon Blue Throw Blanket, White Rose Taper Candleholder

Clockwise from top left: AFK Grand Armoire with Caning, Fuzz Fabric By The Yard in Pool and Candy, White Maurice Side Chair, Aidan Gray Decor Circular Crox Mirror

Vintage pastels are perfect for spring in this home full of elegant comfort (originally featured in Expressen). The combination of beautifully worn eighteenth-century finds and fresh, delicate pillows and throws creates a look that is inviting, personal and heavenly to relax in.

We all know that this look can easily go rogue, but along our High Point travels we discovered that the animal print trend has never looked so modern and fresh! From tame to fun, here are some easy ways to add some excitement to your home décor. For the bedroom: Add a layer of luxury with this Leopard Throw from Giraffe at Home. For the office: The Jonathan Adler Zebra Rug comes in a variety of bold colors to add energy to your workplace. For the living room: Change out an existing lamp shade with this sophisticated Striped Shade from Jamie Young.

The national organization Foster Care to Success is dedicated exclusively to promoting the success of foster youth through higher education. And throughout the month of May, you can help support the cause! We are thrilled to announce that this month, 10% of all profits from all Clairebella kids’ plates, bowls and plate/bowl sets will go to Foster Care To Success. Visit fc2success.org to learn more. Click here to shop + browse Clairebella

It’s Kate Landers here, sharing a personal interview with Amy Atlas, sweet stylist extraordinaire. Sweet tables have become quite trendy at celebrations across the globe. Amy is one of the pioneers who started turning a simple table of desserts into a stunning work of art. You may recognize Amy and her work from her appearance on NBC’s The Today Show, or from her many features in several print publications such as Real Simple, Martha Stewart Weddings, O Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, as well as thousands of blogs. She has been a personal inspiration to me and my work, I am so grateful she has shared such talent and inspiration with us all!

Photography: Gemma Comas

Photography: Gemma Comas

Photography: Gemma Comas

• Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business. What is it about designing sweet tables that drove you to start a business out of it? My father was my original partner in sweets and then there was my grandmother who was an incredible baker – I learned how to bake in her kitchen. So for me, desserts and sweets were always a source of happiness. Originally it was a hobby and then it organically grew into a business through word of mouth. Because no one had taken the Viennese table to the next level, I recognized that there was a niche that could be filled. Since dessert is the final vestige of a lovely gathering, I thought it should be the most memorable.
• It is apparent from your blog and across the web that sweet tables are increasingly popular at all sorts of celebrations worldwide. What do you think sweet tables add to events making them so popular?
  It is a fantastic way to send your guests home with something sweet to remember the night.
• What was your inspiration for writing your new book?
  A few things inspired this book, the first being my love for baking (and cookbooks). I’ve had ideas of dessert tables that I wanted to create for years that I needed to get on paper. My readers were also a big inspiration to me – I wanted to give them a step-by-step manual so they could create their own dessert tables at home.
• Any hints you can share with our readers of what to expect to find in your latest labor of love? I wrote my book to give people approachable tips and tools to create their own memorable dessert displays. It is a baking book, paired with crafting instructions and styling tips. I deconstruct each of my displays so readers can see how they are made. Readers can use the book as inspiration, mix and match recipes and crafts from different sections, or recreate the entire displays. There are displays for intimate parties with a few friends all the way to to large, extravagant weddings. It makes a wonderful gift!

For a sweet ending, a surprise giveaway! One lucky reader will win a copy of Amy’s new book, Sweet Designs: Bake it, Craft it, Style it. Leave a comment on the blog and we’ll choose a winner at noon on Friday, May 4.

Thank you for your participation, the giveaway is now closed!

Twice a year, design professionals flock to High Point Market in North Carolina, the largest home furnishings industry trade show in the world, to showcase and view the latest in home furnishings and accessories. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with friends in the design community and also to see what’s in store. Stay tuned for a series of trend posts in the coming weeks! In the meantime, we wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes view of our trip… and let you know that we rounded up our favorite products, which are now available to you on our Layla Grayce web site! See and shop our market finds!