I get obsessed with things, do you? And for years I've been obsessed with all things Isaac. Isaac Mizrahi.

My younger daughter Alex first introduced me to his line of clothing when she was in high school and he designed for Target. I will always remember the day both my daughters informed me about fashion: "We don't match any more Mom, we coordinate.” That was a revelation for me!

I love history and I'm a bit of a sociologist at heart and that comment made me think about my upbringing. I was raised by kids of the Great Depression and nothing they had “matched.” Everything was a hand-me-down unless you were lucky enough to be the oldest son or daughter - and even then the clothes you received were often used. It was their most valued possession if their purse matched their shoes, or if the bottom sheet matched the top sheet and the pillowcases. If the bathroom towels all matched or your necklace matched your earrings and maybe even your bracelet! So now we don't match anything!? The generation gap strikes again.

In order not to be left behind on the design scene, I keep informed about many kinds of design - fashion, art, cars, graphic design, and of course, interior design (including outside spaces and landscaping). Isaac Mizrahi is amazing for several reasons, and one of them is that he is able to design so many types of things: clothing, shoes, jewelry, watches, handbags and luggage just to name a few. I was in a store recently and his logo caught my eye on a tag attached to some pet clothes!

Every Monday night I watch him on QVC and listen to his design genius, and there's something I want to pass on to everyone. We don't just coordinate any more, we "associate". Here's an example. He was showing a "trellis design" on a handbag, and he grabbed a rose printed scarf. He held it up together and everyone on the show was shocked. He explained it by saying that a trellis is usually seen with a flowery vine growing on it and so by association, it looks great together! So we seldom match anymore, we still coordinate, and now we can associate!? This is pure design bliss. Check out these pictures:

See what I mean?

This is really good news for all of us interior designers out there redoing and re-purposing our spaces. It gives us a lot more options and makes our designs very interesting! Look all around you wherever you go, and get some “associated” ideas - you’ll love the results!

Send some of your ideas, because we all can use some inspiration! I'll post the top ones on my blog soon! More design ideas to follow!