The Colors of Water
Watercolor has become one of the biggest home décor trends for 2019. The options for brightly hued rugs, wall-paper and tabletops with these designs are plentiful, and notable home brands have jumped on this ethereal trend:
Safavieh has debuted an entire collection of watercolor carpets and rugs (above) in an array of colors, all inspired by mid-century artistry. Available at Safavieh.
Le Creuset’s limited-edition ombre collection is almost too pretty to use; your favorite kitchen staples get an updated look in stunning shades cascading from light to dark. Available at Williams-Sonoma.
John Strauss’ Salon collection, featuring cabinets and armoires with digitally printed watercolors, can be customized to different colors and sizes.
What’s for Dinner?
If Mariela Schwarz Montiel has her way, it’ll be rhododendrons and magnolias. Colorful flowers and foliage complement the designer’s woven-look geometric forms in dinnerware by French porcelain maker Raynaud Limoges. Pieces in Trésor Fleuri are designed to work with the previous Trésor Collection and are dishwasher-safe. But because they feature gold embellishments, keep them out of the microwave
Bubble Bath
Boca Do Lobo doesn’t believe bubbles should stay inside the tub. The designers defied the laws of physics with the invention of the Newton bathtub, crafted in black lacquer and brass that harkens back to Studio 54-era luxury. Matching side tables, a pedestal sink and wash bins are also available if you really want to have a ball. To order, visit bocadolobo.com.
Fall is Fair Weather
Get a head start on holiday gift shopping—and support small businesses while you’re at it—by stopping by one (or more!) of these seasonal Jersey craft fairs:
More than 140 exhibitors will display their fine art, photographs, jewelry, clothing and pieces made from glass, clay, wood and leather at the 35th Annual Fine Art & Crafts at Anderson Park in Upper Montclair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 15 and 16. The FREE event will feature demon-strations and specialty foods. More details at rosesquared.com.
Five buildings are filled with more than 150 exhibiting artists from across the country for the 47th Annual Peters Valley Fine Craft Fair at the Sussex County Fair Grounds in Augusta. The juried show, Sept. 29–30, is the largest fundraiser for the Peters Valley School of Craft. A day pass is $10, a two-day pass $15; children under 12 FREE. For more info: petersvalley.org.
South Jersey Fall Home Show at the Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees is the place to be if you’re doing work on your home, whether it’s a minor renovation or a total gut job. The interactive Oct. 5–7 event will have home improvement professionals on hand. Admission: FREE, as is parking. Visit njhomeshow.com for hours of operation and more info.
Morristown CraftMarket, now in its 42nd year, is one of the longest-running fine art exhibits in the country. Slated for Oct. 19–21 at the National Guard Armory in Morristown, the CraftMarket caters to affluent northern New Jersey buyers but features artists from 25 states. Admission: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors. Children are FREE. Learn more (and find out hours of operation, which vary by day) at morristowncraftmarket.org.
Get a jump on your gift list at the Holiday Sugarloaf Craft Festival at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison. Check out thousands of beautiful pieces made by talented professional artists. There’s also a children’s theater group and gourmet foods. Tickets are $10 ($8 online) for the Nov. 9–11 event. There’s more info at sugarloaffest.com.
The Magic of 3D Printing
If you want a hand in the design of your next chair, bench, coffeetable and more, step into the world of DIY custom furniture making via 3D printers. This doesn’t mean printing the entire piece, but using the printer to make brackets, connectors, fasteners or joints that are then fitted with standard-dimension lumber of your choice to assemble the designer pieces. Consider Control DIY Furniture by Jack Holloway, which merges open-source digital design and DIY, providing (FREE) downloadable files of custom furniture joints for 3D printing (nylon plastic, acrylic-based polymer and metal are recommended choices). There’s also PlayWood, which offers a collection of colorful 3D-printed connectors by Italian designer Stefano Guerrieri that may mean all you need is an Allen wrench at most to create your masterpiece.
Sweet Ceramics
Your “World’s Best Boss” mug is getting old, isn’t it? Ditch the generic kitchenware for handcrafted works of art from these New Jersey sources:
Jono Pandolfi: This Union City-based artist has designed dinnerware collections
(pictured) in collaboration with famous chefs, but even novices will appreciate his fine craftsmanship and timeless pieces.
- 600 Palisade Ave., #105, Union City. 201.442.0172; jonopandolfi.com.
John Reinking: The Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Artsalumnus has set up his ceramics studio in Pittstown, where he uses all-natural materials to create minimalistic mugs, bowls and more.
- johnreinking.com.
Source and Tradition: There’s no better place to spot uniquebeach-feel finds than Alexandra Vaga’s studio/retail shop in Bay Head. The skilled artist—along with Shayne Boyle, her lead sculptor—creates each made-to-order piece using glass, metallics and white porcelain.
- 524 Lake Ave., Bay Head, 732.841.1243; sourceandtradition.com.