At the beginning of every month, we've been sharing a color that defines the design world we are immersed in on a daily basis. Last month, we chose Smoke, a subdued shade of green. This April, we have chosen Amber, a vibrant, energizing tone of yellow, as our color of the month. According to Vogue, yellow is one of the hottest colors of the season. Its comeback is, in part, thanks to the popular complementary color purple, which Pantone, the world-renowned authority on color, chose as the 2018 Color of the Year.

Designed by Claire Paquin of Clean Design, this Westchester home underwent a complete gut renovation. Originally, the kitchen, dining room, and family room were closed off to one another. The client requested an open concept kitchen where the family-of-four could gather and still have access to the other living areas. The result is stunning; the spaces blend into each other, with materials and color palettes remaining consistent throughout to create a cohesive design.

Jill Najnigier of Boston-based JN Interior Spaces was tasked to transform a California residence for a coastal family with roots in Massachusetts. After a complete renovation, this mid-century modern home in vibrant Manhattan Beach now reflects the unique and personal style of the client, and it also happens to feature one of Niche's signature pendant lights!

A supergroup of sorts in the brewing world, Veza Sur is the brainchild of Bogota Beer Company's Berny Silberwasser, Chris and Jeremy Cox of 10 Barrel Brewing Company in Bend, Oregon, and master brewer Asbjorn Gerlach. The trio brings a taste of South America to the West Coast at this Wynwood, Miami brewery and creates a relaxed, Latin-inspired space. 

Having a dedicated workspace at home is beneficial for so many reasons; rather than sitting on your couch or bed, an office helps facilitate productivity and eliminate distractions. A bright, organized space is essential to consider when designing an office. Hungerford Interior Design knows this, which is why they included a functional workspace in a recent renovation of a 1920's Tudor-style home. 

Niche has been hard at work preparing for the 17th annual Architectural Digest Design Show, which opens to all trade members this Thursday. From furniture, accessories, lighting, and art to kitchen, bath, and building projects, the show offers thousands of products to source and shop—both from independent makers and established manufacturers. Be the first to see our newest pendant collections, chandeliers, and highly-anticipated sconces, coming soon to our handmade product line.

Designer Emilie Munroe of Studio Munroe upgraded a single-level San Francisco bachelor pad to channel the spirit and lifestyle of its twenty-something young owner. This home achieves a level of playfulness that is popular in this dynamic California neighborhood through a mix of materials, and the use of geometric pendant lights in the kitchen adds nuance to the interior. 

Looking for hands-on design experience? We’re hosting the Be Original Student Design Fellowship this summer! This seven-week immersive experience will teach two college students the ins and outs of creating and manufacturing great design. Undergrads, keep reading to learn more about this unique opportunity and then visit Be Original Americas to apply by March 12.

The Pantone Fall 2018 Color Trend Report is the essential color guide to the season. Inspired by the designs at New York Fashion Week, Pantone's top 10 colors fully capture the need for individuality, ingenuity, and creativity. Like Pantone's colors, Niche's contemporary colored glass is influenced by the beautiful details in the world. Similar to the selected shades chosen by the world-renowned authority of color, many of Niche's signature glass hues "are being used to make very specific color statements on their own."

Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, notes, "As designers and consumers alike continue to transition away from cyclical trends, and instead focus on self-expressive colors that evade antiquated seasonal structure, we are seeing very notable non-traditional choices." Pantone's picks for the upcoming season are being categorized as "autumnal hues that evoke the feeling of leaves on the forest floor, rich plumage and twilight reveal a modern fall palette of deep and rich tones with outbursts of colorful surprise." Below, see the shades of the season paired with complementary hand-blown lighting.

Without your creative expertise, our handmade lighting doesn't shine as bright. We want to celebrate how you bring our pendants to life by entering your recent design projects into the darc awards. Don't worry, the entry fee is on us! All you have to do is send us your project information and awe-inspiring images. We look forward to collaborating with you and can't wait to showcase your hard work.