Well it’s that time of year again in my household –spring cleaning! And my apartment could use a bit of an upgrade. As a busy New Yorker I never took much stock into seriously decorating since I was never home, but now that I work out of my apt that’s all changed. And as a bit of a website junky, I’m always looking for inspiration, since I’m a merchandiser, not a designer. What I mean by that is coming up with concepts I’m somewhat deficient in; I never know what I want. But put me in a room full of fun furnishings and I can easily maneuver my way around to achieve the look I never knew I always wanted (I’m that way with clothing as well).
Fortunately, the website Moderndose.com recently entered my life when I met it’s Founder, Estela Lugo, at a Fashion Week event hosted by Robert Verdi (where he called her website, ‘the future of interior design’). I was intrigued to say the least. That’s quite an endorsement from the King of Style, but it seemed like a worthy one considering the array of furnishings being featured on the premises. Estela is also the mastermind behind Chalkals, a new product line of chalkboard wall decals available at Toys R Us.
Spending time with Estela and then visiting the Modern Dose really made the experience come full circle. Brands are generally a reflection of the person behind them and in this case a almost an exact replica. Stylish, welcoming, colorful (all adjectives I would also use to describe Modern Dose), and of course modern. Estela is a “self-admitting design magazine junky” that went on quest to bring all her great modern finds to life minus the hefty price tags many of the looks carry, while still maintaining a high level of quality.
Since her launch in 2005, Modern Dose has received a reputation for being the affordable remedy to modern design. The site has a lot of energy, offering an interesting mix of accent pieces, mixed with functional and whimsical finds. I should also note that I appreciate the way Moderndose is laid out and how easy it is to navigate (user experience is very important to me).
Modern Dose recently added 70 new products for Spring and I’ve enjoyed spending this morning cleaning and imagining the various pieces in different parts of my home. They are also currently offering 10% off plus free shipping with the coupon code, “SPING10’. An exciting offer considering I’m drooling over the Bradshaw Bed, the Fold Louge + Ottoman and the Retro Barrister Bookcase. I need to start small though and work my way up to larger pieces. My apartment is furnished after all, but what can I say? This website makes me want to start from scratch!
Pretty Connected caught up with Estela for a bit of advice on the coming season.
Pretty Connected (PC): What are the more dominant trends for spring?
Estela Lugo (LG): Black & white stripes, chain links, nautical accents and lots of florals!
PC: What do you consider the quickest and best way to accent a room?
EG: Add a dramatic focal piece such as an oversized mirror, lighting fixture, area rug or piece of artwork for a bold style statement. Layer smaller accents such as pillows, photo frames and table lamps to carry the style throughout the space.
For more information visit Moderndose.com