Inspiration paintings alongside Lulu DK fabric "Dancers"

On a grey February day, stopping by Design San Francisco was as invigorating as a scoop of lemon sorbet. Which, by the way, is also the name of Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year.

Benjamin Moore’s Mary Hoffman shared the news about “emerging pastels” and the “softening of the palette”  at the beginning of this three day design conference formerly known as Winter Market and held at the San Francisco Design Center. Here are a few other highlights from Day 1.

Celebrity designer and potter Jonathan Adler says that “every home should have a classic foundation and eccentric punctuation.”  When talking about his “Muse” vase–one of his favorite punctuation pieces–he said that once he’d created it, he just knew it was right. “When a design is good, it looks like it was always supposed to be that way.”

Designer Lulu deKwiatkowski of Lulu DK showed some of her exquisite fabrics at Donghia and said that her best collaborations have come when she hasn’t initiated the partnership.  “I’m like one of those girls who never asks a guy out first—I find that works best.”

Attendees were in good spirits—perhaps because their clients are starting to commission projects again? At least the treats offered in all the show rooms seemed to indicate a move towards prosperity.  After recession-inspired years of bottled water and a tastefully displayed bowl of nuts, showrooms rolled out the hospitality.  For example, these French macarons at Kneedler Fauchere were as pretty as the beautiful new Rizzoli book on designer Rose Cumming, who at the beginning of her illustrious career charmingly said, ” I might become a decorator, but first tell me what that is.”

Here Chuck Comeau of  Dessin Fournir shows off some beautiful Rose Cumming fabrics and wallpapers.

Speaking of beautiful fabrics, “Rusty” came to Market all dressed up in this adorable Fortuny frock–which would also be showcased later on at the fundraiser doggy fashion show “Haute Dog.”

I ended the day at Hewn–an elegant new showroom opened just this past year after owners Kathleen Navarra and Jeff Holt closed their fabulous retail shop JAK Home–for a presentation on luxury mattresses from the Swedish company Hastens. Promising a better night’s sleep for the price of a luxury car, these handcrafted mattresses with their signature blue and white checks seem absolutely divine for a long winter’s nap—which is something the Swedes probably know a little something about.

On my way out the door,  I stopped at the cheery Eric Brand pop-up shop and took in the clever display of exquisite finishes. After starting with some “lemon sorbet” and ending with a little “orange sherbet,” I left Design San Francisco thoroughly refreshed.

Some non-quilter friends were touring with me and they were suitably wowed by the colors and patterns, but for this quilter, seeing all the precise points in Mathieson’s quilts made me want to weep.  (Mostly) for joy.

I’ve been quilting for over 20 years now.  Long enough to recognize that I really don’t have the skills or the attention span to create complex patterns like this. Which means I can relax and admire Mathieson’s beautiful patchwork without worrying about whether this should be my next project. Instead of trying to figure out how to finally master Y-seams, I kept gravitating to simpler patterns like this “Spider Web” by Mickey Beebe. If I put my mind to it, I could probably execute this. Maybe rendered in a rich mix of plaids like Mathieson’s “Plaid” quilt above.

I loved the clean graphic of this “Color Shotz” quilt by Jennifer Rounds (see more of Jennifer’s work over at See How We Sew .)

And this simple Log Cabin variation “Courtyard Steps” by Virginia Alexander.

As well as these basic squares cut from floral prints, framed and turned on end in Jill Orr’s “Prismatic Blooms.”

No matter the pattern, there was something magical about all these quilts swinging from the trees overhead.

And look at this charming dress made from sewing supplies. Project Runway runaway?

Check out the bustle in back!

Looking up at all these gorgeous quilts fluttering in the sky made me want to go home and stitch up my own heavenly patchwork.  Something simple, though.  I’ll let the pros like Judy Mathieson shoot for the “Cosmoti Stars.”

Like this vignette from Manuel Canovas. Look at how peacefully the ethereal blue butterflies flit among the urns.

Ready to add a touch of sea and sky to your own decor? Consider a few more baby blues and mature midnights, like those found in these vibrant patterns from Jane Churchill.

 Named after the Mahalaxmi neighborhood in Bombay, this blockprinted and hand-embroidered cotton fabric by Seema Krish sparkles like a September sky.

Fashion trends tend to lead the way for home furnishings.  Here, Knoll Luxe introduces home textiles from the fashion house Rodarte.   The textured “Byron” is inspired by the 2008 Rodarte collection and the indigo color is supposed to recall ink spreading through water.

Traditional Ikats like this one from Kravet continue to be popular.

As do aviary prints like the “Birds Silhouette” from Galbraith & Paul.

Living with kids? dogs? sunshine?  Bravo! To keep maintenance worries to a minimum, consider using outdoor fabrics indoors like “3624360 Outdoor” from Cloth.

For more fabric news, check out my latest BANG story on what’s new in fabrics this fall.  Then consider attending one of the many design lectures offered this month at the San Francisco Design Center’s Fall Into Fabrics event. Whether you leave tangoing with tangerine or singing the blues, you’re sure to come away inspired.