Shopping Guide: Chicago

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Forget Oprah, deep dish pizza, and the Cubs. Chicago is all about architectural salvage. When buildings are dismantled or renovated, architectural artifacts– like corbels, doors and fireplace mantels– are often removed in tact and sold to salvage shops. These upcycled gems can be incorporated into remodels and new constructions or restorations of historic structures. It’s no surprise that a city like Chicago, with world class architecture, would also have outstanding architectural salvage. So when I took a recent trip to Chicago, I made sure to visit the top rated salvage stores in the city.  Architectural Artifacts, 4325 N. Ravenswood, is housed in a remarkable 80,000-square-foot showroom. The inventory is vast and eclectic; they carry everything from theater seats to gargoyles, religious artifacts to neon signs. Architectural Artifacts is an incredible resource for one-of-a-kind items and special statement pieces. My favorite finds included a 19th-century blue and white Delft tile mosaic, which depicts Frans Hals’ Married Couple in a Garden, and a gorgeous French art deco wet bar …

Brimfield Highlights

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It’s that time of year again– Brimfield Antique Show is in full swing! I spent yesterday trawling the market, searching for one-of-a-kind pieces for my clients; I did end up finding a cute vintage side table and brass vanity stool for one of my clients in Brooklyn. I will post photos as soon as I get the pieces to her space! But in the meantime, I wanted to share a few highlights from the rest of the show. This year’s selection was much more enticing than last year’s. Brimfield runs through May 17th, so be sure to check it out if you’re in New England! A bevy of Gustavian Mora clocks. Left: stone ram head wall hanging. Right: A signed Lee Reynolds mid-century painting of the Brooklyn Bridge and New York skyline.   Papier–mâché animals and wall hangings. A vignette of retro mid-century clocks and industrial light fixtures. Moroccan rugs and throw pillows paired with a mid-century pendant light!  Love these chairs!  They would make a killer dining room set!  For …

BKLYN DESIGNS 2015

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This weekend I visited Bklyn Designs, a 3-day showcase of emerging and established Brooklyn designers and artists. There were guest speakers, jewelry displays, pop-up lounges, furniture installations– all spotlighting the creativity for which Brooklyn is known. Bklyn Designs officially kicks off the NYCxDESIGN week, which runs now through May 19, 2015. Here is a rundown of the exhibits and products that caught my eye. This lounge area, designed by AphroChic, made great use of colorful boucherouite rugs and floor pillows. I was excited to see these rugs on prominent display because one of my clients just purchased a striped boucherouite for her dining area! Urban Chandy designs lighting fixtures, which make use of reclaimed and repurposed materials. This oversized chandelier with exposed bulbs like drops of water is a signature design. M. Spring manufactures beautiful jewel-like hardware– and also produces custom hardware if need be. The designer, Margaret Spring, uses both traditional and state-of-the-art techniques, everything from wax casting to 3D printing.   Prototypes on display at the M.Spring booth. The American Design Club …

Nepalese Felt Ball Rugs

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One of the best parts of my job is discovering new companies and products that I can share with my clients. My most recent infatuation is Felt Ball Rug, a company which produces beautifully handcrafted rugs from Nepal. When they offered to send me a rug of my own, I jumped at the opportunity!  Felt Ball Rug practices only fair trade and employs a team of talented artisans from Kathmandu, Nepal. The company shares the names of each rug’s maker, so you can see exactly who crafted your piece. My rug was made by Sarita Thapa, whose picture can be seen here! I am so impressed with the craftsmanship and quality of my rug. It is super soft underfoot and incredibly intricate. The rugs are made with 100% New Zealand wool and AZO-free natural dyes, so they are great for nurseries and children’s rooms. They offer round and rectangular rugs in 65 different colors. I chose the 90cm round rug in color 63, but multicolored rugs and even custom …

How to Decorate with Animal Prints

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Animal print decor can go one of two ways: chic and timeless or gaudy and garish. If you’re worried about falling into the latter category, here are a few simple tips for taming your wild side: Pick one statement piece. Isolate animal print to one stand-alone accent. It could be a small item, like a throw blanket, pillow, or upholstered stool, or a large item, like an area rug or stair runner. Either way, you can’t go wrong with a single animal print statement. Pair with solids and simple geometrics. Animal prints go best with solid colors or simple geometric patterns. This Scalamandré Tigre pillow, for example, would pop against emerald green walls (Benjamin Moore’s Seaweed). Low contrast color combinations. Unlike the real animals, you are not restricted by the laws of nature! Your animal print accents can come in any color combinations you like. Zebra is one of the trickier patterns because the high contrast black and white is so dramatic. If traditional zebra prints don’t work in your space, try a subtler …

Black, White, and Brass

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There are some tried-and-true combinations that are a guaranteed success, and black, white, and brass is one of them. It’s glamorous, sophisticated, and sexy. And since this look is monochromatic, it’s easy to achieve a coordinated design without fear of colors clashing. Here are a few of my favorite black, white, and brass accessories. 1) Faux bois pillow 2) Brass oval box 3) Vintage Colflesh enameled bowl 4) West Elm Clint task lamp 5) Vintage mid-century lamp 6) Black and white picture frame 7) Feather prints #3 and #1 8) Dessert plate 9) Vintage Henry VIII brass rubbing 10) Wm. H. Jackson wood holder

Berber Chic: The Moroccan Wedding Blanket

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Moroccan wedding blankets have long been one of my most coveted accessories– and they’ve certainly gained a lot of popularity in the design world over the last few years. Moroccan wedding blankets are a Berber invention, traditionally woven for brides to wear on their wedding days. After the ceremony, the blanket served as a token of good luck in the new couple’s home. It’s not difficult to see why these blankets, also known as handira, have become so highly cherished around the world. They are the perfect bohemian chic accessory: handwoven with graphic, tribal patterns, but still glamorous with a hint of sparkle. They are also incredibly versatile; they can be used as wall hangings, throw blankets, rugs, or reconstituted as pillow cases. The texture is complex, but the color is neutral– just the right balance of ornamentation and simplicity. 1) Vintage handira via Muima 2) El Ramla Hamra pillows via Decorator in a Box. A stunning bedroom with dusty rose chinoiserie wallpaper and a wedding blanket at the foot …

Shopping Guide: Nantucket

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I just returned home from a long weekend on Nantucket for Thanksgiving. Even though I grew up in Boston, I had somehow never been to Nantucket before this trip! The island is full of traditional Cape Cod-style houses: low, symmetrical cottages with weathered shingles or wood clapboard siding. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Nantucket prospered inordinately as the hub of the whaling industry; but by the mid-19th century, whaling was in decline and a large fire destroyed most of the island’s earliest buildings. Jethro Coffin’s house, known in typical straightforward New England style as the “Oldest House,” is Nantucket’s oldest house still standing in its original spot and one of the few structures to have survived the devastating fire. Built in 1686, this saltbox house features a distinctive horseshoe design on its central chimney. I spent several days poking around the little shops in Nantucket Center. As it turns out, Nantucket has a notable retail history; R.H. Macy, founder of Macy’s department store, was born on …

Mineral Lust: Malachite

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I am a big fan of emerald green interiors, so it’s no surprise that malachite is one of my favorite patterns. Malachite exudes opulence and luxury. Products made with real malachite can be very expensive, but luckily the pattern is easy to replicate. Design blogs are full of DIY faux malachite painting techniques– something I would love to try one day– but in the meantime, I’m enjoying these inspiration images! Malachite wallpaper via Lonny. Malachite throw pillow via Etsy.   1) Malachite chair via Dwell Studio and 2) L’Objet dinner plates via Architectural Digest.   1940’s faux malachite dresser, which has been covered in Fornasetti wallpaper and then lacquered via 1st Dibs. Tony Duquette’s home via Architectural Digest.

Can’t Beat Concrete

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Concrete furniture and accessories are more popular than ever, and it’s not hard to see why. The marriage of a tough, industrial material like concrete with clean, elegant lines is a winning combination. I love mixed material furnishings, so the pairing of concrete and wood or metal is right up my alley. Plus concrete is durable and long-lasting– although I’m sure it’s heavy as all get-out! Sources: 1) GIO 120 via Archiproducts 2) Kathy Kuo Home side table 3) Sunpan Devons coffee table 4) Target cement vases 5) Magnus Petterson desk set 6) Crump & Kwash Knightstand 7) CB2 dresser (This piece is actually wood, but it has the look of concrete!)