Here is a lil' history on the campaign chest according to Wikipedia..."Campaign furniture, designed to be folded up, packed, and carried on the march, has been used by travelling armies since the time of Julius Caesar, and even earlier. With the rise and expansion of the British Empire in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, as British gentlemen came to dominate the army, government and commerce in colonies throughout the world, the finest British furniture makers produced for this new class of traveller some of the most stylish pieces of portable furniture ever made." I see these all the time on Craigslist.com so keep an eye out if you likey!
"Like everyone else, I had become a slave to the IKEA nesting instinct. If I saw something like clever coffee table in the shape of a yin and yang, I had to have it. I would flip through catalogs and wonder, "What kind of dining set defines me as a person?" We used to read pornography. Now it was the Horchow Collection. I had it all. Even the glass dishes with tiny bubbles and imperfections, proof they were crafted by the honest, simple, hard-working indigenous peoples of wherever." -Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
I totally get the appeal of IKEA: inexpensive, readily accessible furniture that provides a function with simple transitional pieces that fit into most design schemes. However, I have some issues that often keep me from shopping there...
Love: Prices. Love: Clean, modern style.
Hate: Mass produced furniture. (Not saying I don't own any and I get that they have their place in the world. I am just sayin'...) Hate: The maze of a store with only one way in and one way out! Torture. I have never had a panic attack but I imagine that if I ever do, it will be in an IKEA. Hate: That to order via catalog you have to pay a shipping charge greater than that of shipping your entire house to another state. Hate: That in the store when you see something you like, you can't immediately grab it. You have to write down the number and take it to the appropriate section. This never happens as it should for me. I prefer instant gratification. Hate: Self-assembly. (I put this last because this doesn't totally bother me when you consider the price. Plus, I kinda like the satisfaction of breaking a sweat for my furniture. This is probably also why crab legs are my favorite food.)
With all that being said, I love the idea of taking a very simple and inexpensive piece from the IKEA collection and disguising it amongst other high-end pieces. Or better yet, "making it your own" (that was my best Tim Gunn impression) by altering it somehow. For example, here is a basic IKEA Lack table that sells for $7.99 (yes, I said $7.99)!
Check it out in a room designed by David Netto...doesn't look half bad does it?
Although they come in a variety of colors, you could buy the natural birch finish and have them lacquered to match a color in your design scheme for a truly custom look like this...
Or you could copy designer Nick Olsen and cover it in wallpaper (or wrapping paper or scrapbookpaper)...
Or get super creative a la Ruthie Sommers who covered it in fishnet (yes, I said fishnet) and then give it a clear lacquer finish for added texture. Brilliant!!!
Now that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
~Images: 1) IKEA catalog 2) IKEA.com 3) Domino Feb 2007 4) Domino Oct 2005 5) Domino Nov 2006 6) Domino Feb 2007
I have an all-around crush on Daniel Faires, furniture designer and interior designer and former contestant on HGTV's Design Star. He is cute and Southern and a talented carpenter...who doesn't love a handy man, right? He has been with his wife for 11 years...they went to the Homecoming dance together (pause for the "awe's"). She works in fashion and is equally adorable. The New York Times did a feature on their stylish 375 sq ft apartment (oy vey!...I don't think I can pull that off.) check it out here.
The chalkboard wall is for guests and friends to leave a comment, note, etc. Cute idea!
Daniel makes some stuff for Emily's show Secrets from a Stylist...
Like this reclaimed wood coffee table...
He also makes and sells his own furniture, called Capsule, named from the glass capsule tucked inside each piece containing observations on the wood’s history. You can check out his creations here.
He says he gets a lot of his materials from around his hood...
He also has a blog.
Are you crushin' on him now too? I wish him lots of success!
I know I am not the first blogger to cover this topic but I was sourcing a garden stool today for a client (to use as a shaving bench in her shower) so they were on my mind. An interior design trend for the past few years has been to use these stools as side tables, nightstands or extra seating in a pinch. It is always nice to break up massive amounts of wood furniture by having another material like ceramic to add some interest. Likewise for adding a shape other than square or rectangular furniture.
I love layering them in front of other tables like this...
Garden stools as side tables, coffee tables and nightstands...
I also like to layer them under a console table like this...
My favorite source for ceramic stools is Emissary (available to the trade only). Their varied collection is what put this company on the map back around 1989 . If you like anything you see, email me at sidney@eclectic-idg.com for a price. Or you can get your own knock-off version for cheap via any of the companies below, many of which are having end of summer sales. Beware however that most versions are heavy as all get out!
Wisteria Metallic Chinese Garden Stoolfor $129
Ballard Tuiles Garden Seat for $99
Overstock Ceramic Hexagonal Stool for $160
~Images: 1) styleathome.com 2) Designer Mary McDonald 3) Designer Jennifer Marsico Domino April 2007 4) House Beautiful Oct 2009 5) Domino Dec/Jan 2009 6) Domino April 2008 7) Coastal Living May 2009 8) Ashley Whitaker courtesy of Little Green Notebook
Sometimes people ask me how did I know I wanted to be an interior designer? And I always think back to a few key memories from my youth...
When I was in fourth grade my dad taught me how to draw my furniture to scale and sketch out a floorplan of my room on graph paper. I would then move the furniture around on the floorplan and create different ways to arrange the layout of my room. I think, in all honesty, he was just tired of me rearranging my room every month and assumed this would satisfy me instead! No such luck.
My father use to develop neighborhoods in Atlanta, so about this same time, my parents took me to my first designer showhouse for a neighborhood he had developed. I was hooked! I remember grabbing up all the brochures, photos and floorplans to take home with me. I begged him to take me to a showhouse pretty much every weekend after that. Again, we are talking 5th/6th grade here. [Dork]
My dad always had blueprints lying around his office in our house. I use to take them and just stare at them. I know it sounds ridiculous but to this day I get excited opening up a set of blueprints! I especially loved the draftsman handwriting and would practice it for hours. My cousin is an architect in New York and I realized that him and my father had the same handwriting. I thought this was super cool that an entire industry had a special style of writing and wanted so badly to be "in the club."
In middle school, we had a career day where you spent the day going around with an adult and shadowing them. Most kids, I assume, went around with one of their parents. My father's business partner was an interior designer and so he set it up for me to spend the day with her. I remember every detail of that day. She was a great mentor and really showed me the ropes. We went to the Merchandise Mart, a lighting store, a wallpaper store, a fabric store and to a couple of client's homes she was designing in the Country Club of the South. I remember thinking that I cannot believe this is an actual job where people pay you money! As I said before...I was hooked.
I could go on into the teen years of me painting my room on the weekends, rearranging my REM and U2 posters in a artful manner, asking for a closet organizing system for my 15th birthday...but I will stop. I think you get the idea! So to all my other designer/blogger friends...I am curious to know your stories! How did you know you wanted to be an interior designer? Is there a special memory? Or did you just fall into it? Do tell!
I love finding driftwood on the beach! I wonder what its story is- did it come from a broken down dock, or an old shipwreck or perhaps petrified tree from far away? In some areas, driftwood is so plentiful that it can be a nuisance but in actuality, it provides nutrients when decomposed, shelter for wildlife and oftentimes forms the base of sand dunes. Each piece is so unique with its knots and gnarls. Some are bleached out from time in the salt and sun. Regardless or its origin, the sculptural quality of driftwood truly makes it a work of art. Designers have been using driftwood in interiors for years and recently manufactures jumped on board creating lamps, mirrors and furniture out of this natural beauty.
As lighting...
As furniture...
As a mirror...
As is...
~Images: 1) Designer Anthony Cochran 2) Unknown 3) Tom Scheerer 4) House Beautiful Aug 2008 5) Unknown 6) Designer Lee Kleinhelter's home 7) Unknown 8) House Beautiful March 2009 9) West Elm
You may or may not remember a post I did a while back on hunky carpenters. It is ok if you don't, here is the link. Well one of those carpenters sent me a sweet email thanking me for mentioning him on my blog. I was wildly embarrassed since I was basically giving him a verbal whistle! Sooo, I decided I needed to give him a more legit shout out this go around.
Jared Walker Dostie is not just a TV host, he is a legit, licensed carpenter who has his own business in California. He has teamed up with Tom Filicia on the show Tacky House airing Wednesdays at 11:00 on the Style Network. He also designs a line of custom furniture. Want to learn more about him, go visit his website. Need a little more encouragement? Let me show you his photo again...
Dang, there I go again with the hootin'! Sorry Jared! Let's get back to business...here is some of his custom made furniture.
REMINDER ABOUT MY CONTEST...DEADLINE IS THIS FRIDAY!
Adjusted to working again (after two weeks off..well sorta off). Which is very good for both my bank account and my ever growing waistline (no I am not pregnant, I just consumed too much over the holidays!)
Received a shipment of goods for my new online shop including some of these lil' guys...
And here is a sneak peek at one of the custom-made products that will be offered!
Implemented all 16 of my New Year's resolutions in one week (which you should never do!) including weening myself off of my Diet Coke addiction. We will see how this goes...
Checked in on a Mt. Pleasant reno-project.
My client's 5 year old grandson had a look of horror when he saw this is where grandma was going to live! ha!
Picked up a couple of pieces of furniture from the auto-body shop. Yeah, you heard me. They are the best folks to lacquer furniture!
Ordered these bad boys for my office project table. Don't know how this idea never occurred to me until now!
Worked on pulling together a client's living room...
Suffered buyers-remorse over not purchasing this dresser...
"Kelly Hoppen is a British interior designer, furniture designer, and author. Hoppen was born in South Africa but grew up in Chelsea, England. She was the daughter of Jewish-Irish fashion tycoon whose death at age 16 resulted in her "drop out period." Consequently, she started her career at age 17 and since then has built her brand. She is known for her neat, comfortable, yet oppulent style.
She has designed the Beckham`s LA home as well as the first class cabin`s for British Airways. Kelly is the first designer to receive the Andrew Martin “International Designer of the Year” award. She also has her own shops in both London and Dubai. According to the press, Kelly manages 30 projects in a year and will not take a project for less than £300,000 (that’s around $600,000 USD)." [Damn. That must be nice!]
I will never be this cool...
[This I pulled from an internet article and I cannot find the source. Please don't sue me. I did not write it, nor am I claiming to have written it! My apologies.]
Painted Wood Letters For Each Family Member Ok, I am probably the only one who actually uses a labelmaker on a regular basis (other than my friend Ashlea-who I just totally threw under the bus to make myself sound less crazy). While organizing for my clients, I have learned that the more visually pleasing I can make the space, the more encouraged they are to keep things tidy. Creating custom built-ins, adapting existing pieces of furniture to hide clutter, using decorative baskets and/or bins and making attractive labels are some of the tricks that I use to entice my clients to stay organized. Here are some creative ideas for personalizing labels for your organization project. Have any other ideas? ~Images: 1) Better Homes & Gardens Jan 2008 2) Designer Lee Kleinhelter in Cottage Living Nov 2007 3) Domino Feb 2009 4) Country Home Oct 2008 5) Better Homes & Gardens Jan 2008
Typically, I am a bit of a minimalist. Not too many prints or accessories. However, I am a big fan of packing it in when you are living in a small space. Think function first, then make it look pleasing. Some good tips to take from these images are: use pretty baskets or bins to organize unsightly items, use art to break up a massive bookcase of not so pretty books, use furniture for double duty (like this desk as a nightstand or this sofa which can double as a bed), use every inch of space (storing magazines under the coffee table) and I say keep the walls and architecture one color so that all of your "stuff" stands out like a punctuation mark!
Chicago based designer, Ann Coyle, fell into interior design after renovating her own apartment over twelve years ago. From there a new career was born. According to her bio, her style is described as "...based in classicism and symmetry, employing a mix of modern and traditional forms to create tension and contrast." Her unique use of color can be contributed to her self-professed “loving of the color of Sweettarts” which is quite apparent in her beautiful designs.
She has developed a line of upholstery, casegoods, mirrors and lighting and also sells some vintage furniture finds all of which are available on her website, www.annecoyleinteriors.com.
Fall is one of my most favorite times of the year. Cool crisp mornings, pumpkin spice everything (duh), oversized cable knit sweaters, and getting to cuddle up with my favorite blanket watching Bravo. And just like spring, it gets me in the mood to reorganize everything in my house, office, and shop (come see!!). I love the change in season for home decor too. It's always fun and interesting to see which fall fashion trends influence fall decor trends. I'm really loving some of them this year. Let's take a look...
Leopard Print will always be one of my favorites. I'm already wearing my leopard flats every other day, they pretty much go with everything to me. I love adding a touch of animal print to a room in a throw pillow.
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Shades of emerald green-- works so well with loads of other colors and adds a touch of drama to a room. You can find lots of emerald accessories and furniture in our shop!
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I'm obsessed with all things malachite and you can usually find vintage pieces at Eclectic but check out this fabric by Jim Thompson...woah!
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Emerald glass jugs available at Eclectic.
Last but not least, a little touch of glam. Harpers Bazaar's trend report points out that many designer fall collections shimmered with embellishments.
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Gold sea urchin at Eclectic!
Gold tree side table available at Eclectic.
What's your favorite trend this fall?
Eclectic is a Charleston, South Carolina based full-service boutique interior design firm in specializing in the design of residential projects including entire homes and the styling of individual rooms. We also offer virtual e-design services.Please email sidney@eclectic-idg.com for additional information.
Eclectic is a retail shop/design studio located in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina (just over the bridge from downtown Charleston, South Carolina) selling an array of vintage mid-century pieces, repurposed items, new products and locally made art with a fresh Modern meets Coastal aesthetic.
I have been wanting to write the post for a while but didn't have the time to really research it like I wanted to. Thank you strep throat for giving me some time! I have posted before on my adoration for Nancy Meyers and her brilliant moviemaking "The Holiday," "Somethings Gotta Give," "Father of the Bride" just to name a few. She not only tells an amazing story but I love how much time, effort and detail she puts into the character's surroundings. Well, "It's Complicated" is her latest creation and as I sat in the theater watching the film, all I could hear was the audience's comments on the home of Meryl Streep's character, Jane's home which was set in Santa Barbara, California. And when I wasn't drooling over my boyfriend, John Krasinski, I was looking at the home too!
Who's Emily Blunt? P.S. My face is so shiny because I am so happy.
I like that it looked lived in and you can see how it evolved over time. Nancy talks about the importance of creating the environment because as she sees it, it is an extension of the character. In this movie, "70% of the screenplay takes place inside three rooms, 70 pages. I was building a house, what I wanted it to look like. I get into it..."
When asked about the natural, earthy elements in the decor, Jon Hutman, the film's production designer, said the following: "It's the idea of classic elements used with a modern aesthetic. There's slipcovered furniture with natural linen, beautiful old wood on the doors, dining table and floors. There's also a very Italian influence in terms of color and materials. There's a casual comfort that's very approachable and appealing" according to an article by The Washington Post.
For those of you that haven't seen the movie, the main character is renovating her kitchen and as the owner of a famous bakery, you just know it is going to be good! So I was anxiously awaiting the end of the movie because I was dying to see Jane's new kitchen which sadly, was never reveled. The reason for that, Jon explains is that the kitchen was not the focus of the movie, it was Jane's life quest. And Nancy (I presume) thought it best to let the viewer's imagine what the newly renovated, dream kitchen looked like. Okay, okay, I get it but it would have been fun to see Jon's vision, right?
Well if you love this kitchen, as is, Remodelista did a post on ways to recreate the look. Check it out!
Designer, Barbara Barry, is best known for her sophisticated style which combines a restrained use of color with demur, feminine furniture and accessories. Raised by a family of artists, Barbara says she sees each room as a painting and often starts with a series of watercolors for inspiration. With over 20 years in the industry, many of her clients including Hollywood elite, she has adapted a design philosophy of creating an "elegant, understated vision for the modern American home." She has liscensing agreements with many companies including Henredon, Boyd lighting, Baccarat crystal, Kallista bath products, Kravet fabrics and Wedgewood China called Mad Hatter inspired by her love of serving tea to guests (see image below). Here mantra is "clarity of the line, purity of the form, and quality of materials." Cheers to you Barbs! For more on Barbara, check out her website www.barbarabarry.com.
Here is a brilliant idea for keeping up with the paint colors used in your home! Paint wood chips (found at a craft store) with the color of each room and the room's name then put them on a chain and carry them in your car or purse for quick matches while shopping. Absolutely genius! I am going to try to remember to do this for my clients as a lil' gift!
Have any other ideas? Please leave a comment.
If you are local, be sure to stop by the opening of Novel, a showroom for the talented artisans of these collections: Blue Chickadee (she made the custom burlap pillows available on Eclectic Finds as well as adorable children's items like canvas bags and mobiles), Jane Pope and Balboa Jewelry and Library (vintage clothing + accessories).
So, we all know that Charleston is a mecca for the hottest eats, shops, and creative talents. I mean, there is always something new and exciting going on (well, maybe just new to the South...lol). And with all the incredible architecture, The Holy City acts as a mecca for interior design inspiration as well. Case in point, Reclaimed Designworks a remarkable showroom selling reclaimed floors, beams, mantles, custom furniture and so much more located downtown on East Bay Street. We are pretty lucky to have a resource like this at our fingertips!
Using reclaimed wood can be simultaneously rustic and modern so it fits many decorating styles.The boards and beams have all kinds of character with their distress marks, patinas and edges which gives each piece a unique quality. In fact, I think using this wood is a way to make your home personal, because no two pieces of reclaimed wood are the same right?! And the possibilities are endless...
Whether using reclaimed wood for your flooring...
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Or your Ceiling...
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Or for back your splash...
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Reclaimed wood makes an amazing impact! So now you are probably wondering, where can I get some of this cool wood? At Reclaimed Designworks, duh! Their wood is recovered from dismantled barns, farm houses, and factories that have outgrown their usefulness. Besides being the conversation piece in your home and looking fabulous, using reclaimed wood helps save a tree or two, or twenty... and we all should want to do that! And not to mention, the guys who work there are so helpful and full of knowledge... stop by and check it out...and tell them Sidney sent ya ;)
Eclectic Interior Design Group is a full-service design firm based in Charleston, South Carolina working on both residential and commercial spaces. Please email sidney@eclectic-idg.comfor additional information.
Eclectic is a retail shop/design studio located in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina selling an array of vintage pieces, repurposed items, new products and locally made art with a fresh Modern meets Coastal aesthetic.
So I've been taunting you with my big news and here it is...I'm opening a shop!!!
[Let's pause a sec for the cheers and applause...maybe even a lil' confetti falling from the sky.]
I think part of my delay in telling you is my shock that it is actually happening! A lifetime dream coming true! It will be called "Eclectic"-part design studio and part home decor shop where I will be selling home furnishings including furniture, lighting, art, accessories and more. The design studio will be very user-friendly so customers will be able to access it themselves. And the retail will be a mix of Eclectic Creations (custom items that I design and/or repurpose as well as items that I collaborate with local artisans to create), Eclectic Finds (things I collect from antique shops, flea markets, etc.) and Eclectic Picks (products that I have hand selected from chosen vendors). I feel that this unique blend of products will be unlike anything currently in the marketplace. And in case you are wondering, yes, I will still have my interior design business!
Eclectic is located at 875 Coleman Blvd next to Royal Hardware (where Belva's Flowers use to be). It is taking longer than expected (as these things always do) but I hope to be open sometime in June.
Here is a before shot...
(You know how I love rough before shots!)
Here is during shot mid up-fit...
I'll show you some after shots when I'm done! Or better yet, stop in and see for yourself! And I promise to keep you updated on the progress. Now you know why I have been so bad about blogging...I've been a lil' busy! :)
