We’re hardly slaves to the trends, but when a look as fun as fluoro comes along, it’s hard to resist. Neon fashions bring to mind armfuls of brightly-colored jelly bracelets à la Madonna and her legions of Material Girls from the ’80s, but back then, when it came to decor, mauve was having a moment. Not so right now. For this week’s CMYLK, we chose a dozen neon + bright pieces we’d be happy to have at home.

Clockwise from top left: Hot Pink Thonet Chair, Robinson Wall Clock, Kontextür Neon + Squared Shower Ring, Tom Binns Dot Dash Earrings, Seletti Versailles Fluo I*Mug, Fluoro Sync & Charge Cables, Innit Acapulco Chair, Sagaform Mirror Tealight Holders , Marks Silicone 2012 Diary, VÄNNERNA DRAGKEDJA Duvet Set, La Tete au Cube Fluo Salt & Pepper, Eva Solo Ice Tea Maker

This month, Design Store(y) goes a little farther downtown, and across the bridge, to brownstone-filled Brooklyn to tour Module R, an architect-owned and curated enterprise that specializes in, you guessed it, modular art and design products. Indeed, all the items in this red-fronted shop on the border of Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill can be reconfigured, customized, stacked, nested, and otherwise personalized. That’s what we call focus. We chatted with the man behind the movable pieces, owner Donald Rattner.

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The Grand Canyon and Yellowstone are great and all, but considering going farther back in time this summer with a trip to China to see the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and the Terracotta Warriors. Said warriors are in Xi’an, where Swisstouches has recently opened a new property, its first in China, Swisstouches Hotel Xi’an. Designed by global hospitality design firm HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates, which has offices in 13 countries, the 318 room hotel has a contemporary Swiss sensibility, a first for the ancient metropolis. Today’s Destination Design takes a look at this fresh example of East meets West.

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These paintings by Kristy Gammill, which are literally dripping with color, are making the rounds on Pinterest art boards of late. They’re sort of impressionist meets abstract, with a bit of ethnic patterning thrown in. The mix of bright and pretty colors, with a pop of neon, make them an appealing candidate for a Colourlovers palette workup.

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New York City native and textile designer Thomas Paul is in this week’s Friday Five hot seat. A former neckwear and scarf designer for Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, and DKNY, he went off on his own — in an entirely new direction: the home. You can definitely see the neckwear inspiration in his designs, which range from bedding to pillows to rugs and our favorite: the Luddite collection. P.S. he still does scarves, too!

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Today’s Deconstruction, “Megan Geckler for Bobble,” may be the most colorful one ever. Created by artist Megan Geckler, the subject is a unique art installation created and featured at the International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago this past March. The piece was commissioned by water bottle company Bobble to commemorate its second year.

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Editor’s Note: Say hello to our new weekly column that’s all about color: CMYLK! Thanks for all your name suggestions on Twitter and Facebook (“Milkshake” was a close second choice but I think I’m going to save that gem for something else). Each week, we’ll be rounding up some images – products, interiors, and art – and their associated color palettes to inspire and delight. Enjoy!

Last June, we blogged about this colorful house in Torres Vedras, Portugal, designed by Portuguese architect and designer Pedro Gadanho. Given its unique color blocked interior, it jumped to mind when we decided to experiment with palettes. We took three spaces from the project and created corresponding color palettes through Colourlovers, one or favorite places for color inspiration (if you visit their site, prepare to lose at least two hours clicking around!)

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Industrial designer Samuel Wilkinson, who opened his own studio in late 2007, has designed a number of award-winning items, including the Plumen 001 light bulb ( a collaboration with design brand Hulger), which earned him the grand prize from the London Design Museum of “2011 Design of the Year” and the “Black pencil” from the D&AD. His work spans the range, from furniture to accessories, and even includes a tech-y terrarium, the Biome, that uses a smartphone or iPad to control its climate, water level and nutrients. Our personal favorite? The Hoof table, which has funny hoof feet. Wilkinson’s Friday Five is equally diverse, with picks that span categories.

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Chip DeGrace oversees the creative engine that gives FLOR its reputation as an innovative, environmentally responsible company that’s basically synonymous with modular floor covering. As the Senior Vice President, Creative, DeGrace, who was once a commercial interior designer, directs product design and catalog strategies. The company is on a retail tear of late, with plans to open about a dozen freestanding retail outlets this year. Yesterday marks its 11th flagship store opening, in Boston’s Back Bay, right on the well-shod heels of the Georgetown store opening in D.C. last month. In this week’s Friday Five, DeGrace shares insight into his personal life and cultural inspirations.

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Scott Ritcher launched his now digitally glossy mag, K Composite, back when Macs were used mainly at Kinko’s, rented by the hour, and cameras still involved film. Essentially, it was a photocopied fanzine in which he featured interviews with his friends. While the medium has morphed, Ritcher’s vision remains razor sharp. Today, from his home base in Stockholm, Sweden, this Louisville, Kentucky-born Renaissance guy continues to construct honest portraits of everyday people.

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