CasaSugar

This Just In: Target Takes Manhattan With Bullseye Bodegas

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 06:15:10 -0700

Target has launched four limited-time-only stores, pegged Bullseye Bodegas, throughout Manhattan to celebrate its pioneering designer partnerships, during one of the biggest design bonanzas: New York Fashion Week. Today through Monday, Sept. 15, those of you in Midtown, SoHo, the East Village, or Union Square can shop fab deals on home items (as well as fashion, accessories and beauty) from Target's team of design partners. Notables include Thomas O'Brien, Isabelle de Borchgrave, Michael Graves, Christiane Lemieux, Rachel Ashwell, Victoria Hagan, John Derian, and Sean Conway. And, in the case of John Derian, whose new line of home accessories hits stores next week, you'll have the exclusive privilege of shopping JD before his full inventory hits the stores. My girl FabSugar has already stopped in, and since I can't make it to NY Fashion Week, I'll have to shop vicariously through you!

Ask a Designer: Mixing Designs in the Bedroom

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 04:30:45 -0700

Christiane Lmieux, the founder of DwellStudio, has kindly offered to answer several reader questions. Here's our last one.

Hi Christiane,
How do you feel about mixing designs in the bedroom? I love having several graphic patterns, but my husband thinks that this looks too busy. Any way to make different graphic patterns work together?

Thanks!
Chell Belle

Hi Chell Belle,

Mixing is great. It shows personality and strong conviction. There is no right and wrong in design because it’s just another form of self-expression. I do think a good way to mix without it seeming overwhelming is choosing a color palette and sticking with it. So if you have a whole bunch of blue patterns- mix them together and add a pop of color. However, mixing too many patterns in too many competing colors can be tricky.

Hope this helps!
Christiane

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Ask a Designer: Color Inspirations?

CasaSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:15:03 -0700

Christiane Lemieux, the founder of DwellStudio, has kindly offered to answer several reader questions. Here's our next reader question.

Hi Christiane,
What colors are you excited about for upcoming designs?
Wondering,
Grumpalita

Hi G,

Color this season is really being driven by the art market. I am really excited about big bold color – like the pigments used to make paint. I am feeling cobalt blue and vibrant lemon yellow. That is the way design is going – pure, strong saturated colors without being grayed out.

Cheers,
Christiane

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Ask a Designer: Origins and Influences

CasaSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 04:30:09 -0700

Christiane Lemieux, the founder of DwellStudio, has kindly offered to answer several reader questions. Here's our second one.

Hi Christiane,
Where did you grow up? Were you influenced by any designs in your childhood?
Just curious,
FinnLover

Hi FinnLover,
I grew up in Canada. Canadians have a sort of Scandinavian, European, and American mix thing going on. I also traveled a lot growing up and I think that has really influenced my designs. I have put all those influences in a mental blender and then made it modern.
Cheers,
Christiane

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Ask a Designer: How Do You Start Your Own Business?

CasaSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 07:45:06 -0700

Christiane Lemieux, the founder of DwellStudio, has kindly offered several reader questions. Here's our first reader question.

Dear Christiane,
I love the patterns and the printmaking influences in DwellStudio's textile designs, they are gorgeous and playful when juxtaposed together. As a young graphic designer, who loves interior design and fashion, do you have any advice for somebody like me who is just starting out in the business?
Thanks,
Tina1012

To see Christiane's answer, just read more.

Dear Tina,

Get as much diverse experience as possible. Work in as many different places as possible. Each place you work in will help you refine your craft. The more you are exposed to, the more you narrow down what you want to do with this passion of yours. I started out designing clothes but ended up in home through a series of interesting jobs and internships. All of the steps I took along the way helped me to get where I am.

Good luck!

Christiane

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Ask Christiane Your Textile Questions!

CasaSugar — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 05:23:53 -0700

This past week I interviewed Christiane Lemieux about her company, DwellStudio, her new line for Target, and her inspirations. DwellStudio is well known for its vibrant, well-designed textiles and modern baby and children's products. During the interview, Christiane offered to answer five reader questions about textile and design. Do you have a question for Christiane? You can ask it in the comments, or private message me with your question. Your questions could be about anything from how Christiane got her business started to textile trends for 2008. So ask away! If your question is chosen, you'll see it, along with Christiane's answer, in an upcoming Casa post.

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Casa Interview: Christiane Lemieux of DwellStudio (Part 2)

CasaSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:30:18 -0700

Yesterday, I introduced you to Christiane Lemieux, the founder and creative director of one of my all-time favorite textile companies, DwellStudio, in the first half of my interview. Dwell Home Furnishings, her original company, was founded in 1999, and later joined by partner and vice president of sales Jennifer Chused and Joshua Young, who is president, CEO, and also Christiane's husband. The company is well known for its vibrant, well-designed textiles. Recently, DwellStudio partnered with Target to offer a less expensive line of textiles. Recently, Christiane took the time to answer some of my questions about her company, her new line for Target, and her inspirations.To see the second half of my interview with Christiane, as well as to find out how you can ask Christiane your own question just read more.

CasaSugar: What do you find most exciting about working with Target?

Christiane Lemieux: The most exciting thing about working with Target is the opportunity to bring my designs to such a large audience. I am so thrilled to be able to offer great designs at great value. Working with Target, I’ve also been able to explore designing new product categories like nursery furniture.

CasaSugar: What trends do you foresee for bedding and textiles?
Christiane Lemieux: I think that interior textiles and fashion are getting more seamless. They are influencing each other much more directly. I think there is going to be lots of color in the near future. Big bold color. That is the biggest trend in fashion now.

CasaSugar: What should readers look for when choosing bedding?
Christiane Lemieux: The most important thing to look for is the fabrication - more than the thread count! I think thread count is so overrated. The feel of the bedding is in the quality of the yarn not the thread count. I think you have to know if you are a crisp person, a soft person, a slippery person, or a fuzzy person. I think bedding is very personal. Some people like sateens that are soft and a little slippery. Cotton percale is crisp and cool. Flannel is fuzzy and warm and gets really soft when you wash it. Linen is great because it’s cool and has a great texture but you have to love the iron. It’s best to start there and then add in your design direction. That way you will still be happy when you are in bed with the lights off and the design of your bedding ceases to matter.

CasaSugar: What’s coming up for DwellStudio and DwellStudio for Target? Anything exciting on the horizon?
Christiane Lemieux: There are exciting things on the horizon for the DwellStudio for Target collection but you'll have to go to the store and see! It would not be exciting if I told you!!

Thanks for visiting with us, Christiane! If you have a question you need answered about textiles, bedding, or bedroom design, just leave a comment below. Five readers will have their questions answered by Christiane in the near future.

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Casa Interview: Christiane Lemieux of DwellStudio (Part 1)

CasaSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:00:48 -0700

Christiane Lemieux is the founder and creative director of one of my all-time favorite textile companies, DwellStudio. Dwell Home Furnishings, her original company, was founded in 1999, and later joined by partner and vice president of sales Jennifer Chused and Joshua Young, who is president, CEO, and also Christiane's husband. The company is well-known for its vibrant, well designed textiles. Recently, DwellStudio partnered with Target to offer a less expensive line of textiles. Recently, Christiane took the time to answer some of my questions about her company, her new line for Target, and her inspirations.To see my interview with Christiane, as well as to find out how you can ask Christiane your own question just read more.

CasaSugar What are your inspirations for your designs?

Christiane Lemieux I look for inspiration everywhere – buildings, billboards, store fronts and people on the street. Living is New York is inspiring because I am constantly bombarded with design, color and culture. This definitely translates into my designs. I am also a hunter – I love to comb flea markets, antique stores, and art galleries for inspiration. When you look to the past you can find really interesting color combinations.

CasaSugar How did you first get interested in designing bedding?
Christiane Lemieux I worked for a home furnishings company as a designer so I was looking at homes and how we live. Bedding and textiles are the blank canvases in a home. It’s on these surfaces that you can add color, pattern and texture. This really interests me because this is where you can add the drama in a home in a way that can be changed. It’s the fashion in a home.

CasaSugar Has becoming a mom influenced your designs?
Christiane Lemieux Absolutely! I know so much more about how kids interact with their environments and how they affect them. The décor of your child’s room has a huge impact. They are taking in this environment on a daily basis. I am so proud of our product because not only do I like the designs but the colors and icons have given me a jumping point for a daily dialog with my daughter (my son is only 5 months so our dialog is mostly laughing). She has learned all her colors and shapes and the animal icons in her room are the starting point for stories every day. I think the great thing about good design is that it changes the way we see things and this is especially true with children.

CasaSugar What’s it like working with your husband?
Christiane Lemieux Interesting, challenging, and rewarding in ways I would never have guessed. It is challenging because work gets mixed up in your personal life. As much as we try – it does come home with us. I also have more time with my husband than I would ever have bargained for so carving out some time for me is important. I think it’s interesting because it is stressful but I really respect my husband in new ways that I probably would not if I did not work with him. I know how competent, intelligent and hardworking he is. That makes me respect him beyond the traditional boundaries of a marriage because I experience it first hand. All in all I think it’s made our marriage better but I think the key with being in business with your spouse is that you have very different skill sets. I think it’s hard when both people are creative or both people want to run the finances. When you have your own space and a well defined role I think husband and wife teams can work very well together.

For the rest of the interview, tune in tomorrow! And if you have a question you need answered about textiles, bedding, or bedroom design, just leave a comment below. Five readers will have their questions answered by Christiane in the near future.

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