Invaluable - Plein Air Provincial

Welcome to the third and final edition of my Invaluable series where I've been illustrating how to incorporate artwork into the home! So far we've looked at two very different spaces: one featuring old school landscapes and one featuring colorful abstract works. Today I want to look at my favorite genre of painting: plein air! 

Dining area by Peter Dunham

"En plein air" just means "in the open air" in French, but it is often used to describe a style of painting where the artist is capturing not just the landscape, but the atmosphere of the place where the piece was painted: the salty air, the warm sun, etc.

Painting by Lovell

I think one of my favorite types of decorating is what I consider to be California style. But, really, it is more likely California designers' interpretations of French Provencal/country style. Whatever you want to call it, it usually features colorful fabrics, comfortable furniture, and plenty of these "plein air" paintings.

Paint - Curtains - Loveseat - Lamps - Rug

I would start out with either white or pale blue walls. Then I'd start layering on some texture, like these linen curtains and a nubby striped rug. A floral is a prerequisite for any good country house (especially one with a French accent). A pair of bright green lamps would bring a pop of color and a little unexpected crispness to the room.

Reese Witherspoon's living room by Kristen Buckingham via Elle Decor 

The artwork is so subtle in spaces like this, but it is setting the scene and creating a mood in the space.

Invaluable Painting by Albert Namatjira

I would love to have this pair of paintings! Just look at the light in them. You really get a sense of being in the middle of the Australian outback.

Invaluable Painting by Albert Namatjira

Living room by Kathryn Ireland

Suzani by Ayatcreation

I would add in a colorful throw like this since it has such a lovely balance of cool and warm tones.

Chair - Table - Paint

An old farm table, bistro chairs, and fresh flowers add to the bright but casual look.

Sitting area by Schulyer Samperton

Eric Stonestreet's living room by Nathan Turner via House Beautiful

This slightly masculine room by Nathan Turner looks so stylish but, more importantly, how comfortable does it look?! I just want to dive into that corduroy couch!

Invaluable painting by Maslanka

Now it's time to pile on the pillows!

Dining area by Schuyler Samperton

And I mean LOTS of pillows....

Stripe - Lotus - Quadrille - Fig - Floral - Dot

I created this combination of color and pattern because, like with the suzani above, you are balancing the warm tones (i.e., reds, pinks, browns) with the cool tones (i.e., blues, greens, lavender, grey). You also want to balance modern prints (i.e., lotus and fig leaf) with cozier, traditional ones (i.e., stripes and cabbage rose).

One more by the fabulous Ms. Samperton

Again though, it's all about what you love, and what makes you happy and comfortable.

Thanks so much to Invaluable for all the artistic inspiration! And I hope all you readers visit again soon!

Invaluable - New Traditional

Bedroom by Graci Interiors

Hello there! So we're back again for the second edition in my series featuring the artwork of Invaluable!

Painting by Frank Henry Shapleigh

I often think how nice it would be to have paintings like you would see in a museum, hanging around the house like it's no big deal. But the idea of going to an auction house and bidding seems very intimidating. Well, Invaluable takes the formality right out of the picture and connects people directly to original art that can turn regular Joes (like me) into "collectors"!

Bedroom for Kips Bay Showhouse by Alexa Hampton

I was raised in a proper 1980s Southern home, with lots of chintz and Victorian antiques around. Some might think it stuffy, but I loved it. It didn't hurt that my Mom is a rockstar when it comes to putting rooms together. And, although she's ventured away from the rich red chenilles and vibrant Lee Jofa prints of my youth, in her heart, she is still a traditionalist. This apple fell a bit farther from that tree, but I will admit that my roots are still firmly planted there. I like to think of my style as "new traditional", like the hip young(ish) version of that old Victorian style. Ha!

Painting by David Johnson

I think people tend to see landscape paintings as sort of stuffy or imposing as well, but they SO aren't! They are all about the beauty of nature... and color... and light. Plus, they're typically housed in equally fabulous gilded frames, which brings glamour to a space.

Atlanta Symphony Showhouse bedroom by Melanie Turner

I would play up that sense of glamour and drama, while melding it with more modern elements. Imagine a bedroom with walls in a deep, elusive color like Benjamin Moore's "Sharkskin"  below...

Hung with precisely placed paintings like the Invaluable ones...

Bedroom by Phoebe Howard

Then I would use pastel hues and nubby fabrics to soften the space....

Screen - Lamp - Chandelier - Tables - Fabric

I love the proper English side tables and linen screen combined with the more modern lighting and chinoiserie fabric.

Shelving display by Phoebe Howard

Dark/light, soft/nubby, wood/gold... All those juxtapositions keep things from feeling too stale. Then each element shines!

Painting by Henry Hunt

I hope this helps illustrate what you can do with just a few key pieces in a room, including beautiful artwork. It really just comes down to bringing together the things that speak to you, and making a space truly yours.

Good luck and I hope you have a great day!

Take Home: Bernd Goeckler

Foyer in home of antiques dealer Bernd Goeckler - Photo courtesy of NYSD


I hope everyone had a very nice weekend! So, today I want to do something a little different...

I saw this picture of Mr. Goeckler's home and thought it was so beautiful and unique: one of those spaces that, I fear, many people may look at and think, "I could never make my house look like that."

Well now, that just makes me sad! I think good design is available at any price point. Yes, sometimes it takes time and a lot of scrimping and saving, but it can happen. And that's exactly what I want to prove today!

So, let's take the foyer above as our first example. The main focus of this space, to me, is that enormous tapestry. Where can we find such a thing? I'll use 1stDibs to aide in our search....

Grand 17th C. Gobelin Tapestry from Ambiance Antiques on 1stDibs

Here we go! This is perfect: 17th century and Flemish, just like the one in the picture! And, at 9 by 14 feet, it's only $715 a square foot (aka, $90,000 total)!

Oh, too expensive, you say? Yeah, I hear you. I was going to use that money for my weekend on Necker Island anyway.

17c Flemish Tapestry from Balzac Antiques on 1stDibs 

Okay, here we go! This one is not quite as big (only 8 by 10 feet), but it fits the bill and is less than half the price of the other one!.... Only $32,750!

What? Still too pricey for you? Alright, alright, you strike a hard bargain, so I will show you one more....

French Aubusson tapestry from English Accent Antiques on 1stDibs 

So here it is! It's our smallest yet (6 by 9 feet) and French instead of Flemish, but the colors are perfect and, at only $17,500, you are surely going to want to snatch it right up.... right?

Ha ha! Okay, these are all amazingly beautiful pieces, but, all kidding aside, finding a true bargain - especially when you are attempting to translate fabulous interior design into accessible furnishings for your own home - is a real challenge!

But, I think I can help... Let's take a look at Mr. Goeckler's foyer once again...

So, I'm seeing five key components in this space: wall hanging, chairs, console, mirror, and lighting. (We'll take care of the accessories a bit later.)

Let's start, again, with the tapestry. Now, when looking for a bargain (as I'm sure you're all aware), you really have to make compromises. Here, we will have to compromise on color, quality/age, and, especially, size, but that does not mean we can't have a gorgeous finished product!

Vintage Tapestry from Etsy seller Allmndjy

Here is a lovely example of a tapestry that someone on a budget (isn't that everyone?) can afford. It is $110 and, at 2 by 4 1/2 feet, is an appropriate size for most entryways.

Now we need some chairs to go in front of our hanging...

I found these two Louis XVI-style chairs at the Home Goods here in Birmingham. They are a warm (but not too dark), wood finish and are upholstered in a really lovely linen fabric. At $149 each, they are not too hard on the pocketbook and are a similar style to those in our sample foyer. (For a comparison, Ballard Designs offers a similar chair, in a multitude of fabrics and finishes, starting at $329.)

Next, we need a console table...

Handpainted Balustrade Console by Wisteria

I really like the lines of this one by Wisteria (although I'm a little peeved that they upped the price $40 - to $229 - in the week or two since I've been looking at this item). The arching metal work below the apron mimics the shape of the one in the sample photo, and the dark, black finish gives it a stand-out, graphic look.

Now we need a mirror to hang over this pretty piece...

Art Deco Mirror by Ballard Designs

I like this one by Suzanne Kasler for Ballard Designs for $169. It has a clean, slightly rectangluar shape, a pretty mirrored mosaic surround, and, at 32 inches wide (when hung in landscape orientation), it is a good fit over our 44 inch wide console. (Plus it has that sort of French modern thing going for it too!)

Now for some lighting...

Nautical Mini Pendant Light by Hampton Bay for Home Depot

I am a big fan of brass. It's not a material you see much anymore, but I see a comeback soon!

This little pendant light would be so neat in an entryway, a sort of unexpected use for this style, and it is only $40! Speaking of unexpected, I think our sconces for either side of the mirror really need to pack a style punch...


Pair of Brass "Beehive" Mid-Century Modern Sconces from RetroReality on Etsy

So here you go! Punchy and modern and totally fun, these sconces weigh in at only $50 (for the pair) and give the space a happy, mod twist. 

So, these items take care of the basics for the space. Now we need all those finishing touches that will add polish to the design.

First, we need to find a curtain like the one in the background of the photo.

West Elm Luxe Curtain in Zinc

I just adore the color and shimmer of this one by West Elm, and the way they did the pole pocket with hidden tabs gives it the look of expensive pleating at the top. It is only $59 for the 48 by 96 inch panel, which can cover your front door, closet, or hallway while adding a ton of drama to the space.

If you own your home (or are allowed to paint in your rental), I would go for a crisp, neutral backdrop as Mr. Goeckler did, and use white paint for the walls.

I would use White Dove by Benjamin Moore. I know, white is white, right? Well, sort of. Some whites come off very bright, some almost blue, while some have pink or yellow undertones. (You could paint a bunch of swatches side-by-side, or you could just take my word for it!) White Dove has some warmth to it, so it wouldn't be too glaring. I think the style of this foyer dictates the need for softness.

Okay, what now?.... Oh, books!


A variety of design and garden books from discount book seller, 2nd and Charles


Well, let me back up: I would hang the tapestry about 6 inches down from the ceiling (if you have 8 foot ceilings) so that the bottom would hang just a little bit behind the back of the chairs. Then, instead of putting the chairs on either side of the tapestry, mix it up a bit, and put them side by side (about 3 or 4 inches apart), slightly off center of the tapestry. Then you can take your little stack of books (the stack shown above was $120) and sit them on the floor next to one of the chairs. How casually elegant!

Next, we will find some accessories for that console!

***To be continued in the next post***

Inspiration Interpretation

And so it begins....

Artwork by Artman757 on Etsy

Again, this is just an example, but here is how it all started... My friend, "K" we'll call her, saw a painting while we were out and wondered if I could design interiors based on that painting. The painting was not exactly like, but not totally unlike, the painting above. It had horses in it, textural, chunky paint, and maybe an American flag in there somewhere (although K was quick to point out that she doesn't necessarily like Americana kitsch).

So I thought.... and thought.... and thought, then I started looking. I had seen designs (of which style I am unaware) that looked kind of Spanish, kind of California, kind of western, but kind of traditional. So, I set out to find pics that could help me pin down the ideas swirling around in my brain.

Home of Diane Keaton featured in Architectural Digest

It all started coming together when I saw a picture from Diane Keaton's book, California Romantica, that was part of an editorial in a magazine. It displayed (coincidentally enough) a beautiful painting of horses over a heavy wood console. (The photo above is from an older layout in AD.)


Bedroom by Michael S. Smith


I immediately thought of Michael Smith, too. He did a house in Arizona that was featured in last September's Veranda where he employed oriental rugs and heavy wood furnishings to create a eclectic, worldly sort of look.

Vignette by Richard Hallberg and Barbara Wiseley

Vignette by Schuyler Samperton

K is a very fun and colorful person so, when I saw this photo of a stylish but playful room by Miss Samperton, I knew it had to be considered as well.

Design by Joe Minton

And you can never really go wrong with bright, blue-and-white pottery (especially when paired with heavy, wood furnishings).

So, with all of these photos as inspiration, I created the following living room....

These are just a few of the items I put together for K's future living room. (The layout of the room would obviously depend on her future apartment's design.) The background would be the wall color, Cape May Cobblestone by Benjamin Moore. The plein aire-style painting is by Tom Brown, the Karlstad sofa is by IKEA, the linen ikat curtains are West Elm, and the rug is World Market. The blue-and-white ginger jar and French altar candlestick lamp images were found in random online searches, while the metal scrollwork bench and English barley-twist cabinet are antiques found at a local antiques gallery.

K said she wanted interiors she could grow into and layer onto, and I think these pieces would give her home a sense of style, while still allowing her the freedom to build her own collections of artwork and accessories over time.

So.... what d'ya think? (Please be kind! I am a beginner after all!)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Thrill of the Hunt

Living room design by Miles Redd and Gil Schafer

I'm sure many of you out there have experienced this: you see a picture of a beautiful room in which you find that perfect fabric that you've been searching for. But only then does the adventure begin. Who makes the fabric? What is it called? Where can I find it? You will search for hours on the computer, hunting determinedly to find that gorgeous material.

Both my mother and I are experiencing just such a labor of love, hunting for a Cowtan & Tout cotton (upholstering the tufted chair shown in both pictures above) and a Kravet silk, respectively.

My mother's living room is not unlike this one so cleverly assembled by the spirited Mr. Redd. It is grounded with a similar, massive oriental rug, punctuated and structured with warm antiques, and doused in natural light from a broad wall of windows. The chair fabric, enigmatically called "Rupert Cord Cotton" (where they find these names I do not know), would be a natural fit in such a room.

Design by Alex Papachristidis featured in Elle Decor

This is where I first saw my elusive fabric: in the latest Elle Decor. (Please excuse the terrible quality of the photo above.) The interiors Papachristidis created for this space are intriguing, glamorous, and even a bit sensual. My own bedroom may only aspire to be these things, but I cannot help but feel that this fabric would bring my room far closer to that ideal than any other could.

This photo shows one side of my little bedroom. Would the warm browns and exotic ikat on that Kravet silk not be a perfect complement to my happy little collections? (By the way, the walls are painted with quarter formula Cliffside Gray by Benjamin Moore, the lamp is antique, the tiny painting is by my father, and the bust was a recent hand-me-down from my mother. You may recognize the other objects from a previous post of mine....)


Kravet "Passage" silk/wool in Stone 


I believe this is the color Papachristidis used in the London apartment above, although his version is admittedly more extravagant due to the hand-beading and embroidery he added in order to make them "sing".

Bedroom by Garrow Kedigian

Another designer with similar style (who is also a favorite of mine), Garrow Kedigian, used this same fabric in a different colorway to frame the huge iron casement windows in a Manhattan bedroom, which was featured in the latest House Beautiful.


Kravet "Passage"silk/wool in Bluestone 

I love how this fabric provides the only cool tones in this warm and rather neutral room. The combinations of patterns and textures, however, are anything but boring: the furry blanket, the lattice-like print on the rug, the striae composition on the armchairs, the gilded paper panels on the wall. Ahh, to wake up in such a place!

Many discoveries-cum-searches like this are, inevitably, in my future, but isn't the hunt all part of the fun!