Photo courtesy of Bill Barnard

Photo courtesy of Jason Loudermilk

I’m most attracted to the collection’s playful pops of yellow and white. I scored this vintage hat, $30, dress, $38 and belt, $5, from one of metro Detroit’s hidden gems: V-Male Detroit Vintage (23902 Van Born Road, Dearborn Heights, 313.846.8243).

Louis Vuitton’s signature Damier checkered print inspired the runway, created by French conceptual artist Daniel Buren, who installed four escalators where model duos made their grand entrance into the middle of the courtyard in the Louvre in Paris.

Check out my Editor’s Choice feature (page 32) in the June 2013 StyleLine issue to see more ’60s-inspired styles that caught my eye. The best part is that all the featured items are from retailers located in metro Detroit. Happy Local Shopping!

All runway images courtesy of Louis Vuitton

There’s no place like home. If anyone can attest to the veracity of that statement, it’s Hilary Farr of the hit HGTV show, Love it or List it. The international home designer addresses her clients’ needs and uses her keen sense of style, as well as her budget savvy skills to successfully renovate homes. Her co-host and real estate agent, David Visentin, encourages families to embark on a fresh start by moving into a new house. While David sees problems with the client’s current home, Hilary sees potential. The friendly rivalry between the hosts keeps audience entertained as they anxiously await for the homeowners to reveal whether they have fallen in love with their home all over again and decide to stay or they opt to reside elsewhere.

Hilary will be appearing at the “Spring into Style” party at Art Van Furniture in Novi tonight at 6 p.m.

RSVP: http://avfspringintostyle.eventbrite.com/

The Toronto native took some time from her hectic schedule for a Q&A session with StyleLine.

Q: How did you begin your career as an interior designer?

A: I was in LA and decorated my own home in a very English way…Antiques, lots of garden designs in chintz and heavy drapes. I mixed that with California chic style of very relaxed informal seating. It was a bit different and led to me being asked to do the same for friends and eventually, to a small business.

When I moved to Canada, I adapted that California chic/informal style to homes here. It was interesting since the climate and lifestyle was completely opposite to California. But I adapted the style to work with the cold weather: different light, grey skies, plus the scale was different. With Victorian architecture, came different proportions. Toronto liked it!  I was dressing my own houses I was flipping to sell, and that led to a client base of homeowners who had liked what they saw when they viewed the homes, and the buyers of my homes wanting me to re-create the look for them when they moved in. Along with that were real estate agents, asking me to dress homes they were listing. That was when I decided to make it a full-time career.

Q: How did the concept of the show “Love It or List It” formulate?

A: That was the brainchild of our producers at Big Coat Productions.

Q: What and who inspires your design aesthetic?

A: I am inspired by new things all the time. When I say new…it often is something old that I see anew and want to integrate into design.

For example, when I was browsing in an antique bookstore recently, I was struck by the flyleaf, with its colours of oil paint swirling on the paper. I have been working with that in another application ever since.

I am inspired by memories of places I have visited in the world, and by other designers. So often I see what they have done and can’t imagine why I didn’t think of that! Barbara Barry is one of my favourites.

Q: Do you have a favorite episode?

A: I have a favourite episode based upon the challenge seeming to be insurmountable and yet we pulled it off. Look for the episode with Sandra who insisted I find a spot for her deceased mother’s old fur coats!

Q: What is the biggest design catastrophe that you have ever encountered on the show?

A: We have had a leak that was huge and wouldn’t stop. Everything we did worked for a day, and then another leak would appear. Horrible!

Q: Describe your relationship on and off camera with your co-host, David Visentin?

A: David and I are best friends who are polar opposites in all things, except we are both very competitive. We laugh a lot, and really enjoy working together, but what you see on the show is pretty much us. We were on a plane together and a man in the seat beside us begged to be moved because we were so annoying: laughing and bickering and being generally the way we just are! A lot of people think we are married.

Q: What interior design trends are you most excited about this spring?

A: I am not a follower of trends in my design in any conscious way, but I am loving the botanicals and the way they are seeping into obvious areas such as textiles and accent pieces but also humorous pieces, such as stag head mounted on a wall covered in embroidered flowers. I love the strong neutrals – tone on tone – in different finishes. Lacquer is big; it’s so interesting how it bounces the light creating a luminous feel. A wall in the same colour that is matte absorbs the light and textiles, and tiles add texture. I love that look! The same colour, such as a deep plum, takes on different hues only because of how the colour bounces or absorbs light.

Q:  What advice would you give to homeowners with a limited budget who want to update/transform a room in their house?

A: Oh dear. It’s so difficult to answer. Everyone has different challenges in their homes. But of course the first thing to consider is paint. It is an instant face-lift, and can update the look with new colours and fresh trim. Floors would be next, the largest area of your home apart from walls and ceilings. If you want to get rid of old carpet – and you should get rid of old carpet – but are on a tight budget, consider laminate. It’s come a long way and is fabulous. The other material that has come into its own for those on a budget where hardwood isn’t an option is vinyl flooring. Never thought I’d say that, but I am really impressed with the new ones I’ve seen come on the market.

Q: What do you think is the correlation between fashion and interior design?

A: The idea of fashion being a reflection of how people are feeling and how the economy is doing seems to hold true. I think it’s an obvious connection people are either a bit depressed and need cheering up, or are feeling completely optimistic. A lipstick by Chanel will cheer you up and not break the bank. A pillow in a great colour or design will do the same. If you look at what was on the runway for spring with every designer from Valentino to Zara was showing pretty prints of flowers in pastels and bright colours, which has also hit the home decor market. I like to believe we are seeking a different value system and want to get back to nature and give Mother Nature a big fat hug! Perhaps it’s escapism from the sometimes-grim reality of life on earth? But it’s also just plain pretty, and pretty is always in style, in the home and in clothing.

Q: What’s next for Hilary Farr?

A: I have a line of bedding coming out on The Shopping Channel in Canada May 15^th, followed in September by a much larger and very sumptuous collection of bedding, luxurious sheets, and draperies, also on The Shopping Channel. I am excited; it’s quite unique. Meanwhile, lots more episodes of Love it or List it to look forward to.

For more on Hilary, visit www.hilaryfarrdesign.com.

An original Fenton, Mich. girl with a treasure trove of a shop in Westland, Cari Cucksey went from being a local treasure herself, as an estate sale expert, to a national inspiration with her HGTV show, Cash & Cari, now in its fourth season.

Cari, who will be appearing at the “Spring into Style” party at Art Van Furniture in Novi on Thursday, April 18 at 6 p.m. (RSVP http://avfspringintostyle.eventbrite.com/) took a moment from her bustling schedule to chat with StyleLine and answer reader questions.

Q: On your website, you are noted as an “antiques matchmaker”. I love that description. What does that mean to you?

A: I have bought and sold items my entire life. I jokingly tell people to place their order with the universe, because it will come up soon. Usually what people want – I will eventually come across it.

Q: What’s the difference between what someone is finding in your store – RePurpose Shop – versus your website?

A: The store has much, much more. It’s a 10,000-square-foot warehouse with 4,000 square feet of sales floor. We have a little bit of everything from antiques, vintage, repurposed goods, jewelry and vintage clothing.

Q: What are the chances of finding you in the store?

A: It depends. Usually when we special events. I’m at most events, unless I have to be somewhere else. We are also opening an auction house in Lincoln Park. But we’ll be having our first auction at our location in Westland because the Lincoln Park location isn’t ready yet. We’re branching out with some different things.

Q: Talk about RePurpose Estate Services.

A: That’s me. I’ve been doing that for over 10 years. I go in from start to finish and put up an entire household for sale. It’s a great process to put a price tag on every single item. It has to be a certain amount for us to come in with our labor. Has to be $10,000 or more for the onsite sale to make it worth everyone’s time. With a variety of items. People call us and we have someone go out to walk the property, take photos and see if it’s a win-win.

Q: Is it tempting to keep many of the treasures for yourself?

A: Doing what I do, it’s easy to collect and accumulate. I, of course, do buy, but you have to be controlled. You can’t be in love with your merchandise.

Q: I hear you have a book coming out…

A: Yes, this fall. The title is “Antique Matchmaker: A handbook for finding and repurposing second hand treasures.

And now a few reader questions from our readers!

Reader: Do you ever buy anything for the home that is new?

Cari: Ninety percent of everything in my house is either vintage, antique, secondhand or repurposed. Rugs, linens and clothes can be new. And food. But I live this. It’s my whole life.

Reader: What’s the most unique treasure you’ve ever found?

Cari: So many treasures. One of my favorites is a mid-century modern Eames chair. In turquoise. That’s definitely one of my favorites.

Reader: Which of your repurposed items sold for the most money?

Cari: Something I created on season three. I took a cast iron bathtub that I turned into a bench and took another tub and cut it down and made tub chairs. That all sold for, like, $2,200.

Reader: Which websites are most useful for a novice investigating a “find”?

Cari: worthpoint.com – and I’m affiliated with them so I have a coupon code: cariny316

Reader: How do you find a reputable antique dealer in your area?

Cari: Visit your antique shows. Not a flea market. There is a market coming up this weekend, the Ann Arbor Antiques Market. It’s been around 44 years. Those dealers, if they don’t know the value of your item, chances are they will know another dealer to help you out with it. It’s a great network.

RePurpose Shop: 5930 Commerce Drive, Westland. Check the events tab at www.repurposeshop.com for hours of operation.

Once we shed our winter clothes and delight in the warmth of the sun on our skin, accessorizing somehow looses its luster. As fabrics lighten up, hemlines shorten and colors brighten, it’s essential to understand the importance accessories still play in overall outfitting and looking our best.

This spring, enamel jewelry is a great way to add color. Enamel bangles can be worn alone, combined with other bracelet textures or layered in multiples. These bracelets are lightweight, comfortable and perfect with everything from your monochromatic lace T-shirt to your geometric patterned maxi skirt. Sequin bangles, $32-48, Nordstrom, metro Detroit locations.

Although synonymous with winter and keeping warm, scarves should not be ignored once temperatures become mild. Lightweight scarves are essential to the enhancement of every warm weather wardrobe. Like their cold weather counterparts, spring and summer scarves add color, dimension, and texture but have a life beyond neck placement. These brightly colored wraps can also be worn around the waist as a belt or sarong. When roll tied, many can be used as a head wrap or an accent on a purse or tote handle.

Anthropologie layered dreamscape scarf, $88, Anthropologie, metro Detroit locations.

Neiman Marcus ultra lightweight cashmere scarves, $225 each, Neiman Marcus, 248. 643.3300.

The necklaces for spring/summer 2013 are a weather-friendly extension of the chunky statement necklaces we loved last fall. Colorful, bold and often geometric, this season’s necklaces are made of fabric, stone, beads, costume metal, plastic or a combination of all of the above. All necklaces available at Nordstrom, $38 -$60.

Accessorizing may take extra thought and time, but it should never be eliminated as you celebrate wearing less clothing when the weather warms. As you get closer to digging your toes in the sand, remember accessories are the icing on the cake or more seasonally stated, the salt on the rim of your margarita glass. Enjoy!

While Winter Storm Nemo was ravaging New York City in February, the bloggers, designers, models and editors braved the weather in all types of footwear from furry boots to stilettos, and fashion week went on (mostly) undisrupted. The designers naturally infused their fall collections with their own personal twists, however, as they always do, over the course of the week, the major trends of the season emerged. Here are three of the biggest trends from New York Fashion Week.

1.  White Out

Most of us are used to integrating white pieces into our wardrobe, but this trend takes wearing white to a whole new level. White out means white everything. Take white shoes, white pants, a white shirt, a white jacket, and wear together for a show stopping style statement. For a less drastic way to sport this trend try pairing a white dress with a muted-color shoe.

2. Orange

Fall and winter are typically the seasons for an earthy or jeweled toned palette but this year one very distinct hue ruled the runway: orange. Many designer pieces were inspired in this daring shade. Some used the color in a more vibrant tint for an outfit’s statement piece like a bright pencil skirt. Others mixed in a softer version to stay consistent with their muted collections. Try inter-mixing some fun orange pieces into your wardrobe this fall.

3. Stripes

Horizontal, vertical and diagonal stripes monopolized the runways. Marc by Marc Jacobs optimized this trend by creating stripe-based patterns for a more modern look. Other designers mixed and matched different striped pieces into the same ensemble, breaking from those traditional rules. You can easily duplicate this look by taking a horizontally striped shirt and paring it with a diagonally striped skirt. Fall is definitely going to be the time to get creative with stripes! Mix and match directions and colors to create a fun and up-to-date look.

The fashion community managed to still pull off stylish in the snowy conditions. Check out the fierce yet (mostly) weather appropriate look by blogger Sasha of @fashionsents: