AFRICAN VIBE IS BIG

Horns, Zebra Cowhides...oh my!!

With the cold winter season upon us, the African trophy look is hot.Steer horns mounted on cozy fireplace mantels and zebra hides everywhere; it's the look of the season. Whether it's real or faux, zebra hide can be found on everything...from ottomans to chairs, to stools and hats, raw hides provide instant chic! Check out this glamourous "real" zebra round ottoman./ 36x19H", $3,353.

If it's something bold underfoot you seek, splurge on an authentic zebra rug (bottom, Left) for $1895 or go with the stencil version, right. ($585). Both work wonders to add pizzazz to your home decor. Just like the zebra's themselves, the furniture comes in all shapes and sizes.

The Sophie chair by Oly is the perfect glamed up version of trophy room elegance, in faux zebra for $2,600.

We love these "real" zebra stools wrapped in Buffalo leather, stained dark mahogany with 1/2" nailheads (below), 20x20 x22. $1550 each.

These authentic zebra boxes make great gifts....
small $137, medium $245, Large $329.

And if african trophy decor is too wild for your interior, step out in style with this authentic zebra hat (sm, med,& lg $165) and/or belt (sizes 36-42; $135). Safari anyone?

Contact sales@tonichome.com for more details and availability on these products.

Sea Bags for a Cure

Where do all the old sails go? To Sea Bags for a Second Chance! Owners Hannah Kubiak and Beth Shissler (shown below) have taken their belief in recycling and created a company called Sea Bags. Essentially they look for recycled sails that have travelled the world and re purpose them into chic carrying bags. Taking that idea one step further, the duo designed Limited Edition Pink Ribbon Cure Bags with 50% of the purchase price going directly to the Maine Cancer Foundation. Take a look below at how adorable recycling can be.These sturdy canvas tote bags feature rope handles and the recognizable pink ribbon.The bags come in 2 sizes - medium and large - and can be purchased right here at Tonic Home. October is breast cancer awareness month, so do your part and RECYCLE FOR A CURE.

Annechovie rendering for Tonic Home

So all of you know how much we adore Anne Harwell over at Annechovie, as we have blogged about her before, see past blogs here. Well we have been so taken with her talent, that we commissioned Anne to do a rendering of the Tonic Home storefront.

Here it is and we love it!
Just so we have a frame of reference, above is the photo that we sent her. Looks really great, right! She brightened up the colors and gave it a whimsical feel. Using the image she created, Anne printed up note cards for us to use for correspondence and stickers for our website packaging.
Whether you have a business or just want a rendering of your home, you need to talk to Anne (anneharwell@hotmail.com). She's fast and really easy to work with. Thank you Anne!

Coffee Table Favorites

House Beautiful magazine recently compiled a group of favorite coffee tables that included the Klysmos from Worlds Away. We were delighted to see this beautiful table included in their lineup.

This little photo got us looking at all of the coffee tables at Tonic Home and we couldn't resist coming up with our favorites. Here are 4 options that we think you might like too.

We seem partial to the rectangular and circular shapes, as they provide the most coverage and are easy to work into most rooms.

The Klysmos (shown above) is gold leafed and actually quite over sized. Measurements are 44" wide. We love that, because there are settings where you really need a big table to fill a room. This ones does the trick. The curve of those legs is very luxurious.

We also picked the Malcolm Iron Coffee Table from Arteriors Home. This round and simple design is just an easy pick. Solid and smooth, the finish is such, that it can work in several environments. For instance, it would be perfect in a family room where you often have kids and adults needing an extra seat. The Malcolm can take the action of a busy room and still look great.

The Chelsea from Worlds Away has been around for a while and continues to be a favorite among Tonic Home shoppers. The versatility is evident. Extra seating, lush fabric, comfy foot stool - it might be our top pick for the most useful coffee table.

Finally the Treillage Coffee Table from Worlds Away has so much star quality, it's glamour has impact. Designed for chic living, the gold leaf finish makes a statement on it's own. So what do you think? Which would be your favorite?

Washington Post Design Solutions

For those who enjoy a good "before and after" in home decor, you'll want to check out http://www.washingtonpost.com/ and their House Calls section. These makeovers show design solutions to homeowners that have a design challenge.


We are partial to the one above since it shows 2 design solutions that are from Tonic Home. Notice the Jacqui Desk at #1 and the Costello Stool at #7.

The designers concept is to make the desk the focal point of the room. The Jacqui Desk in white certainly does that with it's unique design. What's great too is that you still get 2 drawers for storage.

The Costello Stool adds to the comfortable reading area. These stools are lightweight and just the right size for your coffee or cocktail.

All of these great ideas are from the firm of Patrick J. Baglino Jr. Interior Design in Washington. They worked with homeowner Wendy Grills, who had no idea how to functionally decorate the odd sized room and layout. Patrick Baglino Jr. and Megan Blake of the firm worked with their client to make the most of the space.

The designers website is great eye candy for those looking to see more of their work. We are delighted that they spotted true design style and included our "edited" collection at Tonic Home.

Relaunch of Ynotshop

Tonic Home is delighted to announce that one of our favorite websites has relaunched with a new look and great products.

Always full of style and completely in the "know" about the next big thing, the girls at Ynot Shop have the latest out there to keep us looking fabulous. We couldn't help but take a minute and show you our top 5 picks.

1. The Bead Lady Designs - Shasta Earrings- love that these are gold and silver. Perfect when we want to wear both.2. Toss Designs Tennis Bag - being preppy and stylish on the courts is a must!

3. Alex and Ani expandable bracelet with good luck charm and tree of life charm. Who couldn't use a little luck these days, right?
4. Ben Amun Toggle Necklace - very chic!
5. Lastly, our absolute favorite - Orla Kiely Leaf print wallet. If you don't have one of these wallets, you are really missing out. Anything from Orla Kiely is fabulous really, but these zipper wallets keep all of those credit cards, receipts, and essentials from falling out. So there you have it - our top 5. Enjoy shopping at www.ynotshop.com.

Barbara Hulanicki - Fashion Icon

On the scene with wallpaper is the Fashion Icon, Barbara Hulanicki. Here at Tonic Home, we are big fans singing her praises!

Beginning her career as a fashion illustrator, this Diva ruled London's fashion scene in the swinging 60's. Barbara founded BIBA boutique in 1964 as a small mail order business.

(diva oyster)

(viva design)
(hula design)
Today you can adorn your walls with her mod patterns found at Graham & Brown. The "Art Deco" feel is worthy of a glam setting.