• Take a familiar shape and cast it in an unexpected material, like Erich Ginder’s Ghost Antlers (these also double as coat hangers) or Urbana Design’s Teardrop Vases.
• Use wood with a beautiful grain, but keeping modern lines
• Animal shaped pillows are eclectic and fun, and are a fresh take on typical cabin cozies
• Bring in a little camouflage, whether it’s via a big fat beanbag chair or a chic little boat tote.
• Use branches from the woods to create beautiful arrangements.
• Keep a simple color palette that lets the wood be the star. Think Scandinavian simplicity – warm wood floors, spartan decoration and white walls.
• Use table lamps, chandeliers and floor lamps to create a warm glowing lighting scene.
• Bring back cozy plaid blankets and throws paired with plain and light bedding.

Here are a few products from our site that will help you get the look:

Modern Rustic by thebubbreport on polyvore.com

Much in the same way, today’s designers are taking the trend and embracing it in contemporary ways. Here’s a look at how some of our designers are playing with tufted furniture in 2012.

TrueModern has several fresh takes on tufting. The Luna Sofa has just one simple row of buttons that create a subtle tufting across the back cushions. These buttons also emphasize a horizontal line:

On all versions of TrueModern’s Dane Sofa, the back pillows just a hint at tufting. It hints at a less-rounded grid pattern and there are no upholstery buttons required.

The One-Night Stand Sleeper Sofa from Blu Dot only has four buttons but they all stand out and are a wonderful graphic touch:

Blu Dot also applied some tufting fun to an armchair. The Animal Lounge Chair has four simple dots on the seat that play off its blocky shape.

The OFFI Perch Lounge Leather Chair pays homage to Mies van de Rohe’s Barcelona chair, complete with sleek tufted leather (and a handy shelf on the bottom):

Fatboy’s Avenue First Blocks have a grid like pattern of stitching that’s a modern take on tufting.
Wondering exactly what these pieces are? They come in different shapes and colors and can be used singly as ottomans or seats, or put together into all sorts of  configurations, from a big square to the letter “f”. Here it’s kind of like a snake:

Has tufted furniture caught your eye or do you like your upholstery strictly streamlined? Please weigh in in the comments section!

She uses tah-ah-ah-an-ger-ines…I’m never going to get that stupid song out of my head now. Thanks a lot Pantone. I have no idea what exactly inspired their pick for 2012, but as someone whose high school and college colors involved orange, I’ll take it. Wish I still had my tangerine Guess? jeans from the ’80s, in fact. Yeah right, as if those would still fit.

Anyhoo, wondering how to get in on some tangerine action around the house? Check out these colorful products.

Love this fun Tiki Stool by Offi. The best thing about it? You can move it from room to room and out to the deck or patio.

Add this fashionable hue to your tablescape with Chilewich’s Rectangle Spun Placemats.

Get coastal with tangerine with this grahpically stunning coral rug from Thomas Paul.

Nothing’s more fun that pops of tangerine in a a pop floral print. Check out Three Sheets 2 the Wind’s Ani Wildflower pillow.

You can touches of tangerine via these eye-popping shower rings from Kontextur. They’re like the earrings of the bathroom.

Kiddos like tangerine too. We love this colorful bus frame from DwellStudio.

Bend seating is a new classic modern line of chairs that I love, and no color can top this happy orange.

A clockwork orange? Sorry, you know I can never let a dumb pun or reference pass by me. This ingeniuous little alarm clock by ANYTHING will brighten up your nightstand or desktop. Speaking of desktops, ANYTHING also makes a bright stapler, tape dispenser and scissors to help perk up your workspace – check them all out here.

Fido needs to be fashionable too! Why not pick him up a fresh Fatboy Doggielounge to start the new year off right?

How will you be incorporating tangerine, or better yet, how do you incorporate it now? Do you wear it proudly on your nails everyday, or do you rather hate it in general? Let us know in the comments section!

Top image from pantone.com.

It reminds me of Kelly Killoren Bensimon, who has this horse from the Met  in the middle of her Manhattan living room:

• image one by Todd Selby for Harper’s Bazaar
• image two from here.

But I have to say what caught my eye the most, besides Michael Bay’s house, which made me think “hey, that’s the house from Hogan Knows Best!”, which immediately filled me with deep shame, were these animals. Were they donkeys or mini-horses? Turns out, they are mini donkeys. Yup, a couple of asses, just hangin’ around the perfectly manicured pool in the Hamptons. Are miniature donkeys the new trendy pet? Should the pot bellied pigs be worried? It says the owner/designers, Amy and Todd Hase are Francophiles. Does this mean miniature donkeys are all the rage in Paris? Will Kanye get one and get it platinum horseshoes from Jacob the Jeweler? Time will tell.