The Style Center
The $tyle Center
Welcome to the $tyle Center! Why does style matter? Having style or a particular point of view on style can make you and your business stand out from a sea of "same-ness" and equal money in the bank. This blog presents creative observations of style and inspirations. I will be including photos of trends and emerging trends in color, interiors, products, and anything that looks new and exciting. It may also include photographs of unusual, creative and dynamic stores, and inspiring store windows. I welcome feedback as well as your own creative ideas and suggestions. I hope you will find this an inspiring place to visit!
Bridget Kelly
Owner & Designer of The Little Acorn,
where kids Grow up Happy!
Visit me on Facebook!
More from the ABC show
I’m sure you all know of Skip*Hop, the "New York City company devoted to designing groundbreaking products for a new generation of parents" as they say on their website. I love their Zoo Packs and Zoo Lunchies. Zoo packs carry little ones treasures and books, (above) while Zoo Lunchies carry snacks and lunch in an insulated pack shaped like a cute characters to match the backpack. (below) While S... Read More
Comments (1)The ABC show
It was my first time being on the “other side of the booth” (so to speak) at the ABC show. I was there to help buy an assortment of USA product that could be exported to the i-baby stores in China. I was also there to look for products that excited me enough to write about them here at the Style Center. So here goes… Let me start with (Helen doodle): At first, I was mesmerized by the subject matt... Read More
Comments (6)News from China
Sitting in my hotel room here in Shanghai, while listening to CNN, I feel the news in not complete without updating my blog the "Style Center". There is opportunity in China! All right, this is not news, we all know there is opportunity in China, but exactly what smart companies are jumping on this? I am here in Shanghai to help make a company, a new company. I am the Design Director for "i-baby";... Read More
Comments (14)No wire hangers!
Walking through Barneys home department in uptown NYC, I stopped dead in my tracks… What is that?? Do my eyes deceive me? There is the wire furniture from my kitchen when I was 8 years old. There it was: coated, colorful wire chairs and tables. When I was a kid, we had green wire kitchen chairs, with flower shapes and a glass top table - I often wonder who is sitting at that table now. Is that... Read More
Comments (14)Flights of Fancy
Birds are classic, they never go out of style. They may go extinct, but in fashion they are here to stay. My trip to NY revealed what I see here in the SF bay area; nature in many forms appeals to us all. Summer is upon us, so we like to see garden and outdoor influence for the interior- but birds by far, fly the highest! Here are some photos of what I have seen in the past few weeks, confirming... Read More
Comments (10)botanicals everywhere!
I was in NYC a week ago to see my neice’s graduation from NYU- While there I took a few days to look and see what’s happening in the stores. One of the recurring themes was Botanicals, other themes were Birds, wire furniture, reclaimed and naturals materials furniture… and so much more. It was a bit sad to see some stores I had always visited in the past were closed. But inspiration was still ever... Read More
Comments (4)Bold and Brave
In these cautious times, it is easy to back off from taking risks and instead tiptoe carefully around style… But everything I see that really makes a statement and is exciting is doing just the opposite. Here are a few of my favorite statements for this Spring. Bold black and white. Yes, I still believe in Black and White-look! if Chanel (above) can do it forever- so can I. These blod graphi... Read More
Comments (4)Africa in Fashion
On my recent return trip from China, waiting in the airport lounge, I picked up the April Fashion supplement to Time magazine- & was thrilled to see it was all about Africa’s influence on Fashion. If you went to the Kids Today Conference, you saw my trends slide show and know that I predicted that African influence is something we will see much more of as we move forward in the coming seasons a... Read More
Comments (11)Giggle in San Francisco
Well, it seems appropriate to post about our local Giggle store here in SF. I have to say, Ali Wing is the former owner of my family’s house in Calistoga, so I feel a certain kinship to her store and respect her drive to make Giggle what it is today. I remember when the store opened in San Francisco. I was working for Pottery Barn Kids as the Director of Design- and was thrilled to see a children’... Read More
Comments (7)China- the future
At the Kids Today conference, there was a very impactful presentation about how fast the world is changing. The most important part of this was how fast CHINA is changing. I’ve been watching this change for the past 10 years. I’d like to share photos from my recent trip to Shanghai, because it’s an inspiring place to visit! Yes it really is! Love this facebook poster! Most people think of Shangh... Read More
Comments (14)Suzani furniture & more at the ABC Store in NYC
Imagine a marriage of modern and ancient- that is what you get when you visit the ABC store. They have been famous for their suzani upholstered chairs and tuffets for years now: a perfect marriage of old fabric uphostering a more modern or fashionable furniture shape. This idea never seems to get tired for me because each Suzani is so unique. What is a Suzani? you might ask, Ok here goes: The gene... Read More
Comments (7)A peek inside ABC Carpet & Home in NY
This is one of my favorite Stores in the world. Feast your eyes on the wonders of a magical place… I am going to show photos of ABC Carpet & Home from kids, accessories, bedding, and more within the next few weeks. The themes of nature, conservation and sustainability were constant on all floors of the store. Mingled with tribal & nomadic, whimsy & elegance, with strong emphasis on textures, soft... Read More
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