May

17

A passion for patina

Design board / Interior decorating / Outdoor space / Travel / Vintage
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St. Pierre Cathedral
Patina is a tarnish that forms on metals like copper and bronze. Some say a patina makes something look dingy. I think it gives furnishings and garden decor character, which is exactly why I was so enamored with the copper-green spire that rises above the old town in Geneva, Switzerland. I asked Scott, the family photographer, to shoot it from every angle because I loved the way it looked in different light. From one side, the spire appeared bright turquoise but walk to a different vantage point, and parts looked gray, even black.

Spire in the sky
It was this variation of color that had me dreaming of this French-inspired outdoor space I long to create.

Geneva-inspired outdoor space
I originally had visions of making my own outdoor daybed using reclaimed wood and a metal headboard (it had the perfect patina) that I spotted on Craigslist, but then I found this coffee table, also on Craigslist and built the space around it. It’s not a true patina, but the painted base and coppery floral motif on top screamed French country, and I love it. Hanging outdoor curtains blocks light but also creates an intimate atmosphere. I would forgo traditional tiebacks for lengths of hemp tassels I would loosely tie. To offset these overtly feminine sconces, I would hang this rustic rectangular chandelier, the splurge in the room. Weathered wicker chairs create the conversation area around that Craigslist gem. To add just a bit of color and make this alfresco room cozier, bright pillows would be thrown into the mix. I would fill several vintage urns, like this one, with gorgeous blooms, then sit back, relax and sip my kir royal.

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May

15

Flea marketing in Geneva

Flea markets / Travel / Vintage
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I go to get a glimpse of this culture’s relics, and of course, I go to make one man’s castoffs my treasures. I go to flea markets because I love them. In fact, my first Google search after moving to Switzerland included pinpointing the locales of these ritualized scavenger hunts that I so adore.

The Plainpalais market happens twice a week in Geneva, and it’s where the locals go to hawk their junk (read: my fabulous finds). This visual playground featured tables and tables of vintage dinnerware, art, books, curiosities, clocks, lamps and furnishings. Here, a few of my favorite things.

Leopard setee and vintage sign
A leopard settee and a metal shop sign for “haute-coiffure canine,” my absolute favorite find. Even Scott, my husband, agreed. I envision the vintage sign as a focal point in a dining room. I would paint the settee and furnish my office with it.

Vintage leather camp stool
I just did an e-design mockup for a client’s master bedroom, and I included camp stools in that design. This one would be fantastic in the reading nook of a child’s room.

Cowbells
Scott and I talked about the souvenirs we want from our time in Switzerland, and a cowbell tops that list. I mean who couldn’t use more cowbell? I would use one of these larger bells as a fun decorative object in the kitchen and get a smaller one for the center of an evergreen wreath come winter.

So what did we buy? Three things for less than 15CHF (close to $15), but you’ll have to wait and see them in other posts.

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May

14

A tulip festival inspires a dining room, naturally

Design board / Interior decorating / Travel
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Morges Tulip Festival

I love that spring announces its arrival with colorful flowers. Bright colors always inspire me. And after my first week of gray days in Lausanne, Switzerland (the place we’re calling home for the next eight months), I could not wait to head to the Morges Tulip Festival, where more than 300 varieties of the bloom–in bold color combinations–decorated the Parc de l’Independance.

Morges Tulip Festival

So infatuated with these vivid bursts was I, that I imagined using them in a dining room design. But rather than bathe walls in saturated poppy petal red, juicy peach and biting fuchsia, I used the gray blue of the lake as the room’s backdrop and let the happy hues frolic in a few strategic places in the space. Here’s where it all began.

Morges Tulip Festival

I used Martha Stewart’s Gabardine in our kitchen at home. It’s a steely gray with blue undertones. Cool colors like Gabardine beg to cozy up to warmer tones, like pinks, reds and oranges.

Martha Stewart Gabardine

Tulip Festival-inspired room

The charcoal walls, gray rug, and black table (a $75 Craigslist find) bring a moody tone to the room, so to keep things from getting too dark, I’d paint these cane-back chairs (also a Craigslist find; $155 for four!) glossy white and reupholster the seats in this modern, feminine peach print. I’d tuck away my entertaining essentials in this white faux bamboo sideboard and dress the top with two of these Color + Plus lamps, a vase of blooms (I’m not usually a fan of fakes, but these are pretty fabulous) and an unexpected object like this gold sea urchin. Gauzy white curtains with a subtle silver print invite an airy feel in and bright art, such as this fun print and this personalized poster add just the right touch of whimsy.

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Jun

13

Oh, the Places I’ll Go!

Travel
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Before I started decorating for a living, I was a magazine editor for nearly a decade in New York. I worked in the home design market, scouting trends, writing stories and doing makeovers in people’s homes. Now I freelance write for various titles, including CountryLiving.com. I don’t usually talk about stories I’ve done, but I’m really excited about a recent piece, 50 Things to do This Summer in 50 States. I found 50 amazing bloggers around the country and asked them to tell me about their favorite little-known place in their state. The answers I got inspired me to get in my car, rent a Uhaul and head out of town. I now have list of places to go, stores to visit and bargains to buy before the summer’s over. Here are my favorites:

1. Qcumberz in Phoenix. I’m actually from Arizona. How did I not know about this gem? DIY adventuress Adrianne Lentine of the Dream Book Design blog, describes the store as an insane, cluttered mess with the best inexpensive hardware, doors and table legs. I’m driving to Arizona in early August, and I’m definitely getting a taste of Qcumberz.

2. Honor & Folly in Detroit’s historic Corktown. Owner Meghan McEwen decorates the tiny two-bedroom inn with her personal, unique finds from antique shops and local artisans and designers. And many of the items are available for purchase. Yay! Simmer Down blogger Noëlle Lothamer, tells me that the décor shifts when Meghan replaces a purchase with a new treasure. My mom lives in Rochester, an hour outside of Detroit, but I may need to book a room for the night to indulge in some retail therapy.

3. The barn sales at Three Potato Four in Philadelphia. I already buy vintage art prints from the online shop, but I cannot wait to schedule a trip to the East Coast around a SALE that promises a warehouse chock-full of antique finds. Thanks for the tip, Shauna Alterio of Something’s Hiding in Here.

4. Emiliejayne’s consignment shop in Salt Lake City. I’m a consignment shop junkie. I can’t get enough of other’s gently-used castoffs. Shopping consignment shops is an all-day affair for me since I enjoy sifting carefully through heaps of wares to ensure I don’t miss a thing. But this shop is merchandised by color. How much easier that would be since I generally go in with a color scheme in mind. Sarah Jane Wright of Sarah Jane Studios notes that there is also a fantastic children’s section.

5. Watson Kennedy in Seattle. The amazing merchandising beckons me to get on a plane and wander through the shop at Pike Place Market. Blogger Emily Jones of Jones Design Company describes it as a perfectly curated collection of home goods, accessories, books, and stationery and ephemera. I was sold with this photo of the inside.

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