Win a $14,000 Custom-Made Sofa

I had the chance to meet Mark Cutler and Dorothee Fisher from nousDECOR on my recent trip to NY with Modenus. If you aren’t familiar with nousDECOR, it is a design resource for everyone.

Everyone, from expert designers to decor enthusiasts, can interact and inspire one another by using a system of mood boards, inspirational images, and even personally uploaded items.

There’s also rich community on nousDECOR, where members passionate about decor can express their tastes and help each other get their interiors to where they want them to be.

How it works

Unlike other home décor sites or remodeling apps, nousDECOR provides much more than beautiful images and links to products, but also all the resources and tools you need to translate dream designs into reality. See a room that you love on nousDECOR, but it’s about 300 times out of your budget? Click on the moodboard, then click on each item and use the “SAME LOOK, DIFFERENT PRICE” button to search for similar items at different price points.
Have a room that you love from a Magazine but can’t find the products to recreate it? Have a couch that you can’t seem to find the perfect rug for? Try nousDECOR’s SEEKING HELP feature. You can upload a photo of what you need help with, then put it out there for the nousDECOR community to give you feedback, including their in-house designers and Chief Designer, Mark Cutler.

For those of you who fill your homes exclusively with “flash sale” decor but you get tired of hunting and hunting and hunting through them to find what you’re looking for, as you’re creating your moodboard, click the SHOW FLASH SALE FIRST button to give you products straight from all of those sites. There is also a SHOW DIY FIRST button for products that you can easily recreate at home.

Want to Win the Sofa?

To get your hands on the boss, Mad Men-style Mid-Century Modern sofa you see above, simply follow these simple steps.

1. Register/Log into your nousDECOR Account.
2. Go to the “Create” page. (nousDECOR.com/create)
3. Attach an inspirational image.
4. Create a moodboard with an inspirational image and the Bespoke sofa. Search “Bespoke sofa” and drag & drop to start styling.
5. Publish your moodboard and inspiration to enter.
6. Invite your friends and family to “Like” your moodboard on nousDECOR.com. (Share your moodboard on Facebook and other social media channels to help you get the most “likes”!)
The moodboard with the most “likes” on nousDECOR wins!

Submit your entry by June 3rd 2014 at 11:59PM (PDT)

Like my Board and I will like yours back.

Prize Details

One-of-a-kind sofa from Bespoke Furniture Inc.
Mid-century inspired custom-made sofa
Custom linen burlap fabric
Cast oil-rubbed bronze legs
Walnut burlwood detailing
Valued at $14,000
Dimensions: 84″W x 25″D x 32.5″H

For more details, see our contest rules.

What is the meaning behind the company name?

“Nous” is the French pronoun for “we,” and it underscores our commitment to helping anyone translate
their dream interior to reality, regardless of budget, time or expertise. Through our proprietary
technology and the power of our active community for guidance and feedback, we empower anyone to
decorate their space. And just in case you didn’t take French in high school–“nous” is pronounced
“new,” a pun we intended you to hear to convey a “new” outlook on interior decorating, or all those
“new” items you can discover through our search tools.

(NousDECORis a sponsor for BlogTour NYC May 2014, but the views and opinions expressed on this blog are mine. Be glad they told me about the contest so I could share it with you.)

February 5, 2014

Flir One Thermal Image Device

The heat is on with the Flir One Thermal Image Device

The Flir One released the very first personal thermal image device designed specifically for your iPhone 5 & 5s at CES 2014.

As the first and only personal thermal imager for the consumer market under $350, Flir One is compact, easy-to-use, compatible with the iPhone5 and 5s and fits on the phone like a protective case.

Once mounted, the device displays a live thermal image on the phone’s screen, giving users unprecedented ability to “see” in an array of conditions, including complete darkness.

The device combines an infrared thermal camera that converts energy (heat) into an electronic signal which is then translated into an image on to your phone’s screen. With the ability to see heat, it allows you to identify those pesky things like moisture detection, energy loss, and many more creative possibilities.

Cool Features:

•The onboard battery source powers the device for more than two hours of continuous use; can also be configured to boost the iPhone5 and 5s* battery life by 50 percent.

•It can see in the dark, observe invisible heat sources, see through smoke, and even see through some materials. Scene range temperature: 32 °F to 212 °F (O °C to 100 °C)

•MSX Blending (Adds visible spectrum detail to thermal images and enhances resolution)

•Video capture (.mov format), Still image capture, Choice of color palettes (B/W, W/B, Rainbow, Contrast, Arctic, Hot/Cold, Iron)

While the case adds a bit of chunkiness to your svelte handset, it’s a minor trade-off for awesome Predator-like heat vision. And while the iPhone 5 version of the Flir case will be available this summer, the company is working on an Android version as well. 🙂

Whether you want this device to detect a leak, look at deer in the middle of the night, or help you navigate through smoke you have to admit it’s pretty cool.

January 29, 2014

Slimmker Click Floating Ceramic Tile

Inalco Slimmker Click takes the high-performance characteristics of the Slimmker Floor product and marries it with traditional tongue-and-groove laminate flooring plywood backing.

This creates an easy-to-install flooring option. The semi-translucent white porcelain collection can be made in many lighter porcelain designs which allow for backlighting much like an onyx or alabaster slab.

Inalco’s Slimmker Click Collection is lightweight, versatile and ideal for places where surface coverings are regularly changed.

April 22, 2013

Blanco Cinder

If you haven’t seen it yet, you should check out Blanco‘s newest color for their Siligranit II sinks – Cinder

The Cinder colorway has a dark gray, natural, stone-like appearance that gives the Silgranit II sinks the ability to stand out and be a stunning companion to a wide range of countertop colors and materials.

Made of 80% rock-hard granite, the Silgranit II sinks never fade, resist scratches, heat, food acids and impact. They also have an impermeable Hygienic+Plus surface that is proven to act as a shield to dirt and bacteria, making it safe for food prep.

Shown on the Modex sink, the 3″ edge makes a dramatic statement in any kitchen.