TAGGED: thoughts on decorating

September 14, 2012

Artist’s Berlin Apartment

www.fromtherightbank.com

You may have noticed that I’ve started another category recently called Interesting Homes. I did that because I love looking at real homes and how people live even if they aren’t necessarily my personal style. I think that’s why I feature so many homes on FTRB that could be described as bohemian. You know the ones – quirky, layered, often a bit cluttered. Even if those homes are a little too much for me personally, I find them to be the most interesting because it’s that stuff that tells you who the owners are and something about their lives. I guess I’m just a big voyeur!

www.fromtherightbank.com

That’s why I was drawn to this Berlin apartment of artist Zora Mann. There are so many things to take in and none of it seems superfluous or just for show; you get the sense that this is how she really lives. I think some designers can go too far in wanting to make things look good. After all, homes are for living in first and foremost.

www.fromtherightbank.com

For more Interesting Homes, check out the archives here.

www.fromtherightbank.com
Since I got back from my trip, I’ve been really trying to get organized for the rest of the year because things are getting very busy. Looking at my calendar, there isn’t going to be a lot of free time so even though I just got home, I’m getting ready to go on a little shopping road trip. I need to do some scouting for projects and to stock my shop (big announcement about that coming soon) and next week looks like the only chance I’ll have for a while. So, FTRB will be coming to you from somewhere in southern Georgia/northern Florida next week. I’ve never been down there so it should be an adventure! If you have any good antique/vintage shopping spots in the region, please leave them in the comments or shoot me an email.

Thanks so much and have a great weekend!

(Photos 1-8.Freunde von Freunde 9.FROM THE RIGHT BANK)

August 6, 2012

More Thoughts on Decorating By Feel

Nearly two years ago, I posted this room to illustrate how I decorate much more by feel than by looks:

www.fromtherightbank.com

Some time last year, I found out that that gentleman on the couch there is P. Allen Smith, a garden expert and television host and that’s what looks to be a study in his home. I also found another photo of the same room which shows just a little more of the space:

www.fromtherightbank.com

As I said in that old post, this is much more traditional than my style but I’m still so drawn to the feeling of this room. Given my design ADD, when a space still resonates with me years after first seeing it, I pay attention.

So what is it about this space? First it’s the layers. There are layers of books, art, rugs, lighting and accessories everywhere. Second and more importantly, all of it has a very casually strewn feel about it. The result is a room that invites you to sit (or lie) down, get comfortable ad hang out. You actually want to pick up and browse through these books unlike in so many rooms where they’re used as props and you’re afraid to move one because it’ll upset a vignette; it’s the kind of room where you feel like you can put your feet up, set your drink down wherever and totally relax without worrying about messing something up. In other words, it’s about real living, not staging. Of course, it would be naive to think there isn’t some styling involved when an interior is being shot but in this case, I’d venture to say not a whole lot.

I guess the bottom line is it feels authentic and lived in, not too precious or perfect. Let’s face it, perfect is kind of boring. That’s the feeling I strive for in the spaces I decorate and it’s much harder than it sounds!

Boy, this post was a lot wordier than usual, wasn’t it? I guess I just have a lot to say on the topic. So what are your thoughts? If you missed the second post on the topic of decorating by feel, you can find it here.

(Photo: 1.My Home Ideas 2.P. Allen Smith)

October 28, 2011

My Best Decorating Advice for Creating a Personal Home

If you’re visiting from InStyle, welcome! Here are a few links if you’d like to get acquainted:

-You can see everything Iâ€™ve done with my current house so farÂ here which includes the living room, dining room, kitchen, powder room and art studio.
-There is a tour of my last home on Design SpongeÂ here.
-You can shop my virtual shop for one-of-a-kind antiques, original art and vintage gemsÂ here.
-If you want to know more about me, you can check out this page.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Okay, onto today’s post. Doesn’t the title of this post sound like it’s going to be some long dissertation? Well, it’s not. In fact, it’s about as simple as you can get. My best advice for creating a truly unique and personal home is this: buy original art.

If you’re a regular FTRB reader you know that I’m a huge art lover and that I’m somewhat of an evangelist when it comes to original artwork. There are so many talented people all over the world who are making great art at all price points, there’s just no reason to settle for soulless, mass-produced, ubiquitous pieces. Plus, you’re supporting artists and in my book, that’s huge.

For my post at Houzz this month, I rounded up twenty original paintings from Etsy.com, all under $200 and here are a few. I had a hard time limiting it to twenty because I could shop for art all day, everyday. I love it that much.Â You can get more details on these and see the rest of my picksÂ here.

This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what’s available so go online, visitÂ local galleries and art fairs, dig around flea markets and junk shopsÂ and pick up some original art! Don’t buy the dining room one though because I want it! Â Kidding. Sort of.

Have a great weekend, everyone and thanks so much for all the really nice and supportive comments this week! Next week is shaping up to be kind of exciting too. I have some news and another fabulous giveaway, among other things. See you Monday!

October 17, 2011

Slightly Obsessed with Ben Pentreath

www.fromtherightbank.com

I just bought a ticket to London for February so I’m already thinking about all the places I need to visit, includingÂ Ben Pentreath.

www.fromtherightbank.com

If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s a home accessories and antique shop full of interesting-looking pieces sourced from around the world

www.fromtherightbank.com

and its owner just has impeccable taste.

www.fromtherightbank.com
This photo of his salon has been making its way around the blogosphere and it’s no wonder:

www.fromtherightbank.com

I love so many of the individual pieces but it’s the feeling this room evokes that really gets me. (If you missed any of my prior posts on the topic of decorating by feel, you can find them here and here.)

www.fromtherightbank.com

Here’s the same room designed slightly differently:

www.fromtherightbank.com

I can’t wait to see the store in person but if London isn’t in your future plans, you can shop online.

(Photos: 1-2,4.FT 3.Livingetc 5-6.Ben Pentreath)

October 14, 2011

My Design Identity Crisis as Illustrated by Some Favorite Interiors

When it comes to design, I firmly know what I like and what I don’t like so you’d think it’d be easy to settle on a decorating plan and execute it, right? Â Only if that were true! The problem is that I like so much. One day, all I want is an all-white, fairly minimalist space; Â the next day, I want colorful and bohemian; and then the following day, I want neutral and sophisticated ….. and on and on it goes.

Take for example some of the homes/rooms I’ve blogged about over the past year. They’re all different and yet I love them equally – it just depends on my mood.