I recently discovered the online shopping site of Studio Pennylane and love the concept behind it: an offering of Jewelry, Candles, Glassware, & Paper Goods that promote gratitude, hope, and well being.

Why the penny?

​We say, “Every time you see a penny think of something you’re grateful for”. A simple penny becomes a sign to choose our thoughts consciously.
For some finding a penny is "lucky." For others it's an affirmation of abundance. Many of us have stumbled on that "penny from heaven" that provided comfort and direction just when we needed it most.

Regardless of what resonates, pennies have stories and our company was birthed from one.

The simple fact is when we focus on things that energize us, empower us, or create harmony in our hearts, our world changes.

When we spot a Penny on the ground, in that moment lives both Gratitude and Mindfulness. We see the penny, it has our attention, and we are Grateful that the Penny has come to us.

We smile.

When we feel good it affects our actions and behaviors and that generates a ripple effect of goodness out into the world.

Studio Pennylane’s Mission:

​Change your thoughts, change the world, one penny at a time.

​Vision:

Studio Penny Lane was created to promote a global educational movement fostering Mindful Awareness for children. The goal is to positively reset the direction of how we teach our children by eliminating patterns of negativity, fear, and helplessness, and to replace them with the tools to love without condition, dream courageously, and recognize and nurture each child’s true gifts. Their intention is to empower youth to create positive change in their own lives and ultimately their families, schools, communities, and the world.

The Apothecary Jars collection: Pennies From Heaven Apothecary Clear with Gold print

Petite Penny Collection: 2 Petite Pennies in Yellow Bronze

Coffee Mugs: Be You...Coffee Mug

Mindfulness Tool Kits: Gratitude Giving Bank Tool Kit

Phukit Collection: Phukit Apothecary Jar Clear

Kraft Cards Collection: Trust the process card on Kraft

Journals: Four Score Leather Journal

Candles: Be Brave…it takes courage to change and follow your dreams 3 oz. Lavender Scent

With Spring / Summer around the corner, comes home renovations conducive to optimizing your outdoor or exterior designs. A product that architects, designers, and contractors use for pool covers, pergolas, carports, and awnings is: Azenco International.

Azenco imagines, designs and manufactures a range of high-quality outdoor and pool cover systems. With unique designs and recognized knowledge, Azenco constantly improves the technicality of the pool covers, bioclimatic pergolas, carports and awnings. The company innovates by developing patents each year to bring new contemporary outdoor designs, exclusive options and more safety to any outdoor living space. From inground pool automatic solar covers or pool decks to modular pergolas, Azenco’s products are fully adjustable and fits all types of spaces. Additionally, the outdoor layout specialist innovative outdoor solutions are wind-resistant and don’t rust.

Created in 2011, Azenco Groupe became fastly one the main company providing pool enclosures, slatted covers and outdoor layouts in Europe and in the United States.
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With its unique design and its recognize knowledge, Azenco develops every year new patented with new finishing touches, contemporary designs and exclusives options to bring more pleasure, comfort, and security to your outdoor space.

The R-Shade pergola fits any outdoor space and suits all styles of architecture: modern, contemporary or classic. R-Shade protects from the sun, the rain or the snow. The insulated sandwich panels regulate the outside temperature. R-Shade is also waterproof and wind-resistant.

The R-Blade pergola protects from the sun in summer and allows the light and heat to penetrate in winter. R-Blade can be equipped with an automated solution allowing better climate management with a sensor system: rain sensor for automatic closing, wind sensor for automatic opening in case of strong wind and temperature sensor integrated into the Automatic opening in case of snow or frost conditions.​​

Additionally, some of the key benefits are that the R-Blade is fully modular, made of high-quality materials, and has automatic climate control. Options include: infrared heating system, wind and/or rain sensors for automatic closing, LED rail climate control.

Azenco aLOS obtains new patents every year and some of the unique features offered are:

​1. No visible hardware.
2. No apparent gutters (located into the posts for better evacuation).
3. Fully adjustable to any outdoor space.
4. Twin-wall louvers for the R-BLADE (unique in the market) for better sealing, resistance, and longevity.

Azenco’s carports are ideal for parking your car outside your home, in your garden, or driveway. The carport is made of a thermolacquered aluminum structure certified Qualicoat Qualimarine with slabs treated of alveolar polycarbonate Anti-UV double face. The carports are also ideal for multiple vehicles.

Pooldeck is a clever solution that transforms your pool cover into a deck or patio with its discreet and contemporary design. It’s a 3 in 1 solution that fits most pool sizes. Options include an internal motor, gray or black colors, & a Qualicoat aluminum structure guaranteed for ten years. The benefits provide effective thermal protection, variety of configurations, space optimization, & a solar powered motor.

Neo is a telescope pool enclosure consisting of nestled panels of different widths that fit into each other. This allows for you to uncover your pool as you wish, either module by module or entirely.

​The shapes of the telescopic pool enclosure are made of aluminum thermocoated Qualicoat QualiMarine label and the plates are made of 8 mm alveolar polycarbonate treated double-side anti-UV for the roof and transparent polycarbonate 4mm on the sides. The profiles have also a ventilation canal which limits and evacuates the condensation of the polycarbonate plates. The EPDM seals between the profiles and the plates ensure an excellent water tightness.

R-Design is a “bubble for your pool”. The pool enclosure is ideal for making your pool a pool yiu can use year round, essentially an indoor pool that can still be open to your garden or backyard.

A true living room, the Azenco’s high pool enclosure brings a real added value to your house and your garden. Offering a wide space enough to circulate around the pool, you can arrange it as you wish (shower area, relaxation area, garden garden furniture, etc.)

Last month I attended the annual Heimtextil trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany. Heimtextil is the largest show for home and contract textiles and takes place at the third largest convention center in the world. Messe Frankfurt are the organizers of the show and are responsible for over 150 trade shows that take place in the city of Frankfurt yearly. Another major home design show of consumer goods, Ambiente, also took place this past week. Frankfurt just so happens to host two major design shows at the start of each year! My trip last month included a brief visit to this industrial city, along with three days attending the trade fair, and also a very special celebration of the fair’s 50th anniversary. The major focus for this years show was on the ever important topic: sustainability.

The trend space area of the fair also addressed five major trends (which I also posted about here), they include:

• ​Maximum Glam
• Pure Spiritual
• Active Urban
• ​Heritage Luxe
• Multi-Lucas

We were provided with an overview, for each of the trends outlined above, as part of our tour of the trend space on display at Heimtextil.

The luxe fabric trends on display.

Lots of vibrant color seen for trends!

Color and earthy, “local” pattern.

Texture and faux textiles.

Color and richness.

Shiny and glam seen in both fabrics and wall-coverings.

The bold colors of “Active Urban”.

Cool high performance fabric of the Active Urban display at the trend space.

The trend space display was well organized and a highlight of the show. It encompassed trends and what is on the forefront of design in addition to being as very well designed space to engage visitors of the fair.

Beyond the trend space, the convention halls are categorized into various sections including art, wallpaper, thematic regions for fabrics, contract fabrics, and window coverings. It’s an extensive show with much to see. During my visit, I took to the wallcovering section of the show. Above are glittery wallpapers in a range of fun colors on display.

Across the board, from fabrics to wallpaper, there was a lot of pattern of all varieties - like this from Design ID.

Loved the vignette - and again, patterned wallpaper - seen in the Graham and Brown display.

There were so many pretty papers at the Ted Baker booth - I really loved them all and are a new favorite!

Another very pretty wallpaper from Ted Baker.

Art Deco seems to be having a resurgence, now that we are in the 20’s again! I happen to love it! It’s one of my favorite eras in terms of architecture and design - so I was very happy to see this “Deco Gatsby” wallpaper by Ted Baker.

I also came across these textured fine Belgian wallcoverings and thought they were quite interesting.

The topic of green and sustainability were also seen in the booth displays.

While color and pattern were popular trends to see, classics and soft colors still remain. These fabrics from Bartolini Home exude luxurious to me.

More from Bartolini Home.

I was really impressed with the quality and feel of their fabrics.

I also discovered a new (for me) company from Spain, Castilla Textil - that I really loved! Their booth was full of lots of fun, and often, playful and cute patterns.

Pattern and a graphic mix on display.

They also carry a tablecloth collection.

A themed Cuba series from Castilla Textil.

Among the many exhibitor halls of Heimtextil. The show is truly the largest textile show with so much more to see than I’ve included here.

Thank you to Messe Frankfurt and Gita PR for hosting us in Frankfurt.

A beautiful evening with the most magnificent views: that’s exactly what a visit to the iconic Stahl House with Design Within Reach and Pommery Champagne included. Last week I was fortunate to visit the landmark Case Study House 22 by architect Pierre Koenig. Design Within Reach hosted an event with Pommery Champagne featuring furniture designs made entirely of champagne bottle materials (cork, foil, cage, labels, etc). It was amazing to see the designs - which included replicas of some well known furniture designs and the winners were announced during the event as well!

The entrance of the landmark Case Study House greets you with its expansive city views and a pool. Design Within Reach supplied the outdoor lounge furnishings.

The house is furnished with cool mid-century modern furnishings from Design Within Reach. While public tours are available to visit the home, private events are currently exclusive to DWR.

The living room with its floor to ceiling glass enclosure and beyond is the corner spot of one of famed photographer Julius Shulman most well known photographs (taken from a different angle from the exterior).

As the sun was setting, we got to witness the ever changing views from the property.

And enjoy food and champagne from Pommery Champagne - with clear skies and a beautiful sunset.

All the miniature chair designs were on display to preview before the winners were announced. It was amazing to see the creativity involved - making furniture from champagne bottle materials!

A close up of some of the innovative designs.