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Way Way Allen had an early introduction into the art world, watching her father sketch and later honing her skills with classical training at The University of the South and abroad. After years of studio work and the birth of two children, her interests diverted to a new enterprise, Blue Chickadee, commissioned canvases and textiles for children. After several successful seasons, Allen now returns to her roots in abstract painting.
Deeply personal, her art draws from the natural world and vivid hues of her Charleston surroundings. Working from small natural details, Allen creates large abstracts that magnify and celebrate the common pattern while also amplifying the beauty of negative space.

Her paintings reflect a depth that has garnered her a devoted following from collectors to interior designers. Her works, both deliberate and wildly gestural in stroke, can be found on a variety of medium from paper to wood panels as well as a recent foray into textiles.

Allen is a co-founder of Novel. Showroom, a unique space located in the heart of downtown Charleston that showcases the works and wares of area creatives. A native of Columbia, SC, she now resides in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina with her husband and two rambunctious sons. Most days, you can find Allen painting in the natural light and silence of her King Street studio.

See more of her work at waywayallen.com.

Is there anyone you credit with gifting you your artistic ability and/or teaching you your skills? Or did you just pick up a brush one day and get lucky? My dad is an amazing artist as well as a talented architect. My mom has an incredible eye for design as well. Match made in heaven for me. I feel so lucky to have grown up in a house full of art and artists. They paved the way for me.

Since it varies for each artist, we want to know what inspires you? Color, pattern, textiles...I'm inspired by all of the natural beauty of my surroundings living at the beach.

Do you hang your own work in your home? Yes, I do, but I change it out regularly. I will admit, I have commitment issues with my art. I have had some pieces leaning against our master bedroom walls for over a year now. Hard to pick a favorite piece and how I want to group my art. Some of my very favorite pieces are ones my boys (ages 3 and 6) have painted. They are so uncontrived and always bring just the right pop of color to our walls!

Is there a specific artist/work that you covet? I admire the works of Helen Frankenthaler, Cy Twombly, Mary Abbott to name a few.

If you were not an artist, what career do you think you’d have? I always thought interior design would have been a career I would have enjoyed, had I gone back to school. I also love to cook, so something in the culinary field would have been another way to get my creative juices flowing had I not become an artist.

Rapid fire…
Favorite city to travel to?In the US, dying to go to Austin, TX, love San Fran...Florence, Italy is pretty amazing as well

Guilty pleasure? coffee ice cream

Favorite restaurant in Charleston? There are so many... Indaco, The Ordinary, Butcher and Bee...still so many I have yet to try!

Saturday activity: beach, shopping, museum. Festival or sofa? B.E.A.C.H.

Three words to describe yourself: In no particular order: People Pleaser, Over Analyzer, Lover of Laughter

Thanks so much for participating Way Way!

Tomorrow I will post a numerical listing of her work but here is a sneak peek!

If you are interested in purchasing any of Way Way's art please stop by Eclectic, call us at 843.388.7002 or email sidney@eclecticcharleston.com. Remember, these will only be available during the month of March and yes we will ship for an additional charge!

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@eclecticcharleston.com for additional information.

Eclectic is a retail shop/design studio located in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina (just over the bridge from downtown Charleston) selling an array of vintage mid-century pieces, repurposed items, new products and locally made creations with a fresh Modern meets Coastal aesthetic.

I am not sure if I have mentioned my obsession with Hitchcock before or not but well, I am obsessed. The way he visually and mentally plays with all your senses, he is unlike any other film maker and watching his films is unlike any other movie watching experience. This might sound creepy but I saw my first Hitchcock film when I was in middle school I think and have now seen [almost] all of them. It was Rear Window and it has remained my favorite movie since that rainy Saturday afternoon. The second Grace Kelly appeared on the screen I remember thinking that she was the epitome of beauty, elegance and class. Before she even spoke, the way she carried herself with such grace and confidence was absolutely amazing! I was watching with my father and I remember asking who she was and my dad goes "Ahhh, that my dear is Grace Kelly." I remember thinking "Of course her name is Grace!" I watched this film many times in hopes that I would learn to be just like her when I grew up...much to my dismay, this has yet to happen.

I wore penny loafers all four years of high school and rolled my jeans like this and I still never magically turned into Grace Kelly. (sad face)

I also love her in To Catch a Thief which I watched again the other night. Once again she brings her confidence and style to this role like no other actress could.

This made me want to go out and buy driving gloves!

I know that I have referenced this book before here but if you are at all a fan of Hitchcock or fashion, then you will love this book Hitchcock Style!

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.

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.

Prior to being cognizant of who Tom Scheerer was, I was pulling images of Tom Scheerer interiors from shelter magazines to inhabit my Inspiration boards and notebooks (this was way before Pinterest was born).

"Part of the alchemy is in the dynamic way that Scheerer combines classicism, old-fashioned decorating, and a clean, modernist sensibility, much as David Hicks and Billy Baldwin did in their days. Hicks and Baldwin are two of Scheerer's favorite forebears in the trade, and he's always maintained that their frank, generous books (including Billy Baldwin Decorates) taught him most of what he knows about decorating. Hicks gave him the notion that boldness can coexist with appropriateness. Baldwin made it clear that an unpretentious ease looks good on even the fanciest clients."

Scheerer's clients are affluent however one of the things I admire most about him is his ability to decorate their homes in a very polished, yet unpretentious manner. A defining moment of his career was when the home he bought in Charleston, South Carolina was photographed for House & Garden in 1997. He tastefully combined traditional and modern elements, as Scheerer gracefully does, which looked unlike anything that was being published at that time. Most people would have bought that very same house and decorated it entirely being authentic to that period. But thankfully, Tom Scheerer isn't most people! This combination of old-fashioned style with more casual, modern elements can be explained when you look to Scheerer's past. His boarding school and country club roots blended with the laid-back weekends Scheerer spent at his family's beach home are both ever present in the interiors he creates.

I love this line from the Introduction to his book describing Scheerer as "self-deprecating with aristocratic manners and a surprising grasp of street slang."

Scheerer talks about how a collection of hats grew organically under the stairs at his grandparents East Hampton's beach home, purchased in 1945, in which his family still owns today. This "seat-of-the-pants way of evoking freshness and happiness in a less than perfect situation", is something that he has carried with him and incorporated into many of the homes he has decorated over the years.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and learning more about one of my all time Design Crushes! I knew that "hats" were a bit of a signature of Scheerer's but to learn where that came from for him personally and to think about how he either consciously or unconsciously adds that detail in his designs was really interesting for me. And I am stoked to have a big, beautiful coffee table book full of his amazing interiors at my fingertips to look to next time I need a little design inspiration.

Want to pre-order a copy of his book? Email sidney@eclectic-idg.com.

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.

Another one of my nephews is growing up! The big 1-0! Lord help me. I came across these pics the other day from our cousin's wedding...

Before
I mean...cutest kid ever!

After
Just being a boy running laps on the golf course!

Garrett is the middle child, the sweetheart of the group always playing the mediator between his two brothers he very rarely gets upset or complains and he rarely even says anything when he gets hurt. He is a tough kid with a big heart. He cares about everyone's feelings and when he says he misses me I know he really means it. He is the first one to run up and hug me when I come to visit and the first one to ask how long I can stay. I love this kid more than words express!

He is growing into a smart and popular kid, a great athlete and I am terrified about all the girls that are going to be fighting over this one! They will have to go through Aunt Sidney first so look out ladies.

Happy Birthday G! Love you!

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.