Home Design with Kevin Sharkey

Sophie Aschauer at home with some of the rope she has collected for her mats.

These beautiful and fun mats by SerpentSea recently appeared on my radar. Their nautical design and bright color combinations are great for summer, and would work perfectly indoors or outdoors -– I was instantly drawn to them. Each mat is made of recycled marine rope and is woven by hand into one of four unique knotted designs. The four different knots, named for four famously cruel 17^th century pirates (Bonnie, Drake, Morgan, and Killigrew), are traditional, centuries-old sailors’ knots that have long been used to serve practical purposes.

Aschauer incorporates both nautical and mountaineering rope for bold designs in striking colors.

Sophie Aschauer, an artist’s assistant and style inspiration here in New York, has transformed these utilitarian knots into stunning nautical décor with SerpentSea, which she started after a sailing trip to Nantucket. Each mat uses up to 150 feet of repurposed nautical rope, and takes about four hours to weave by hand. The eco-friendly incorporation of used rope lends a whimsical air to the mats and really connects them to the ocean, while bold colors and a unique design makes them feel fresh and modern.

Because these mats are made from reclaimed sailors' rope, they sometimes show signs of wear, making for a rustic but refined look for indoors or out.

 Check out the SerpentSea website for more information; mats from $249.

Daughter of the legendary interior designer Mark Hampton, Alexa Hampton started working in her father's studio when she was just 13 years old. Instead of taking family ski trips, she grew up visiting cathedrals in Europe to study architecture and design. With the launch of her first-ever textile collection, Alexa is making her expert design knowledge available to everyone. Alexa Hampton Home, available at HSN, includes bedding, bath, and window designs. I've written about Alexa on my blog before, and I'm thrilled to show your some pieces from her new collection and a peek into her thought process when creating it.

All of your designs are so fresh and happy in the colors and prints – where is your inspiration coming from?

I think I am experiencing a particular love for happy colors and patterns following a long stretch of beige being in fashion. Given the neutral palette in which so many rooms are decorated, I find that these fresh, fun prints can work well and be absorbed without hassle.

Do you have any tips for incorporating bolder colors into interiors? Tell us about your color choices for this line?

The best way to incorporate bold colors and brighten up a space is through smaller touches that can be easily changed throughout the seasons. Sheets, towels, plates, pillows, throws and accessories of all types are great items with which one can reinvent a room’s scheme and sensibility. In this particular case, I wanted to design with patterns both feminine and masculine, tailored and romantic. That drive led me to red and blue, floral, and animal print. That being said, there wasn’t a formula that I articulated to myself. It all just came out the way it did.

Your father was an interior designer. How important was growing up in that environment to your own personal taste? 

His tutelage has shaped the designer I have become. The 15 years I have owned and run the firm alone have been a flowering of the seeds he planted in me. I am especially lucky, however, that I am a woman and he was a man because I hold him up as a design icon and role model, but I don’t want to duplicate him and no one really expects me to, either.

All of the pieces from this line are warm and inviting. How important is the bedroom in terms of creating a comfortable and livable home?

Since I am an utter failure in the kitchen, the hub of family life in our house is always the bedroom. It is where the five of us laugh, cuddle, cry and have our most meaningful family time. It is our safe haven, our cocoon and our respite. I also just plain love to sleep. For all of these reasons, the bedroom to me is a crucial space to design well.

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1 Alexa Hampton Home Stripe Sheet Set Available in Neutral and Navy HSN Price: $69.95

2 Alexa Hampton Home Animal Print Sheet Set Available in Neutral and Navy HSN Price: $69.95

3 Alexa Hampton Home 100% Cotton Headboard Cover Available in Navy, Neutral and Wine HSN Price: $89.95

4 Alexa Hampton Home Egyptian Cotton Blanket Available in White, Yellow, Grey and Sage HSN Price: $44.95

5 Herringbone Throw with Fringe Available in Red and Navy HSN Price: $29.95

Shop the entire collection at HSN. 

The bright lights that dominate the Shanghai skyline inspired this prismatic vase from Kartell. Designed by Italian architect Mario Bellini, the vases come in six different colors. An internationally renowned designer and architect, Bellini's designs are part of the permanent collection of the New York Museum of Modern Art.

The swirling design of the vase creates shadows and refracted light. Although they look supremely elegant, the vases are made from plastic rather than glass, perfect for outdoor parties. ($210 from AllModern).