I am so pleased that Domino magazine talks about the new revolution of fabrics and wallpapers in their current issue -- I love that they term this fresh idea in design as 'So Right Now' (Domino, Democratic Decorating, pages 39-40, June/July issue) and that they highlight the work of independent designers Erica Wakerly, Twenty2, Of the Young and the Restless, and Rubie Green referring to them as the new revolutionaries. Yay!

With a voice as influential as Domino giving this new design revolution their stamp of approval, perhaps things will continue in this direction and designers will consider producing collections that aren't to the trade only, something I've been hoping would occur for many years now. It's one of the key reasons why I started writing this blog, I was frustrated with interior design because it was quite inaccessible a few years back, most felt so shut out by their local Design Center and had to work only with professionals for quality materials. This bothered me because I knew that there existed more and I wanted to showcase that, but how? I figured talking about it here would help and so did many other bloggers. I think it was around '05 that Domino premiered its first issue. Etsy opened its doors. Craft fairs grew in America quite rapidly. More blogs popped up with strong, encouraging voices written by passionate authors. And together, only a few years later, we have all made a difference. Independent designers are challenging the traditional approach to the buying of designer goods, including the availability of quality products like fabric.

I guess you can say that when I opened Domino this weekend and read Democratic Decorating, I felt amazingly proud of us all. Bloggers and designers, book publishers like Chronicle who push so many lesser-known talents into the world, Domino who came in and changed the face of American design magazines (at least in my opinion), Etsy and other indie shopping sites, we should all partake in a global group hug for a moment because our work, our voices, are making a difference. One design blogger or a single magazine would not have brought about this change. We need our global community currently in place to launch our ideas and watch our seeds take root and grow into change. What a great feeling. Can I get an Amen!?

Textiles from Of the Young and the Restless.

The very thing many of us want are beautiful products not intended only for the pros. This want creates a constant need for a new design mentality resulting in products that meet our needs. And though to-the-trade has its place in design and may stay on the scene for years to come, at least we have more alternatives. Many indie designers and artists are finally able to make a difference, turn a profit, support themselves, and do what they love in the process. Now that we are here, and continuing to make advancement in this area, would you ever go back? Never!

(photograph: holly becker for decor8, fabric from of the young and the restless)

http://www.decor8.blogspot.com