Interior Design Term of the Month- Wabi Sabi

My student, Ellie, lamented that she wants to know more terms to talk about design. And, in giving that some thought, I decided that blog posts were the best way to offer knowledge in a creative way that allowed for inbox delivery and promotes the idea of lifelong learning. So, for Ellie, and all those looking to improve their design vocabulary, I am starting a series of interior design terms of the day. Sometimes short, sometimes long, or sometimes illustrated, these posts are as much for my students as for anyone wanting to learn more about interior design.

Wabi Sabi

I define Wabi Sabi as a celebration of the imperfect as well as an improvement on the perceived imperfect. It is a Japanese term that is not about design, but about life and acceptance of the flawed and the passage of time. However, it can be applied to design and we see it throughout the history of things and currently in some aspects of the green movement.

From typical antique repair techniques, like the Kintsugi repair work with china repaired with gold to the Victorian era repair of staples, both seen below.

Gold repairs in classic blue and white pottery.

Yellow mug circa 1820's with many staple repairs from blog Past Imperfects

To a more modern aesthetic of George Nakashima, known for his "live edge" furniture, like this example below from 1stdibs.com

To the ubiquitous Tobacco Baskets that adorn every newlyweds mantle as a placeholder until they buy the "good art".

Tobacco basket from Chairish.com

This is now so ubiquitous that Ballard Designs is now having them made and selling "perfect" ones.

Wabi sabi acknowledges the passage of time, the bumps and bruises that can come along with it, and the "fixes" that occur. It is the celebration of the perfectly imperfect, or as a antique dealer recently referred to it as "the make do's" of the world.  A key point to know is that Wabi Sabi is not about poor craftsmanship, it is about allowing the excellent craftsmanship to live another day and sometimes in another way.

So tell me, what do you want to know about? What is wabi sabi in your world?

pickin' and grinnin'- the best of this weekend's vintage shopping

It's been a while since I have posted some of my great picks... but "good" shopping has been light on the ground lately. This week was different and awesome! It is mostly headed to my Etsy pop-up shop at Hanna Antiques! More images on that to come from the shop!

From this week's shopping, I found, this fantastic unsigned painting- looks like Chinatown, maybe? Love the more you look, the more you see. It is on natural linen and looks quite old and more vibrant in person. I think I may live with this one for a bit while I do some more research.

Some fantastic house details from one of the sales this weekend. Really lovely home built in 1905 with period lighting and original tile coal fireplaces.

side door to the screened in porch

Wowza of an art deco half tester bed

I'd buy the house for this tile work alone!

And possibly for the fantastic brass sconces!

This image is from the Multiple Listings for the house- which I understand is sold.*

This is the other end of that glorious staircase! *

Front of the house... I think a porte cochere, on the right, would balance this view nicely. *

*I do not own these images that contain the copyright of RealtySouth. All rights belong to RealtySouth.

Spoonflower deal! Free Swatch today!

Just opened my email from Spoonflower, you know the company that can print your fabric design on really nice fabrics, and they are offer a free swatch of their Eco-Canvas with free shipping! This is a great opportunity to see the quality of their fabrics and printing! Click HERE to take you to their website. Then choose a pattern and get your swatch using the FREE SWATCH button!

Here are a few I would like to see in person. By the way, the watermark will not be on the final fabric!

stunning floral

by: peacoquettedesigns

indigo dip dye

by: alicia_vance

Indigo and hand dyed is so hot right now!

indigo flowers

by: eva_the_hun

rococo

by: jadegordon

If you are wondering what you would do with your 8 inch swatch besides note color, quality and pattern, you can always use it as a pocket to personalize a tote... and wouldn't it look cute with a monogram!

Pea Soup for the Soul- Pea soup green, my latest obsession

As I am pulling fabrics for clients, I noticed that I keep grabbing Pea Soup colored beauties. It is one of those colors that when placed with navy or orange can look dated, but placed with grey or crisp white, looks very fresh! Here is my latest faves.

Clockwise: Duralee,  Kasmir, EchoDesign from Kravet, Robert Allen

Interested in more info on these fabrics? Just let me know!

What is your color of the moment?

Living smaller: Tiny- the movie

This image is from Katrina Cottages website. 

I  have a fascination with the small house movement from "The Not So Big House" books from Sarah 
Susanka to Tumbleweed houses to Katrina Cottages and now a documentary I wanted last night called Tiny, a story about living small. Here is a trailer of the movie. WATCH!

Where Katrina cottage maybe too cute, this uber industrial might just fit the bill!

If the time house movement is new to you... and you think it is strange or undo-able to live in under 250 square feet, watch the movie. Not only do you follow someone making a tiny cottage from scratch, but you also head from folks who live in them, how their lives are improved, and the freedom they offer. One of the spaces is completely white including the dishes and full of cubby storage. They typically have solar panels for electricity and some have these tint fireplaces that are made for boats. These folks live debt free and have the freedom to spend their money on other things than house upkeep like keeping up 6 sinks, 2-3 toilets an the plumbing they include, in a typical house. It is looking at the world, and your world differently. It is saying I don't need an impressively large house to be an impressive person. And, the free thinking that people have built houses for centuries without official plans, so why can't I, is very bold.




I am truly fascinate with these little houses. However, living in the most active tornado area in the country, it is perhaps foolhardy to consider building one- at least one on wheels. And as a business owner, it may not be viable to be in under 250 square feet. But living small and appreciating what you have instead of finding joy only in the "thrill of the hunt" is appealing. Even though I can writing construction documents and understand building construction, I still think I would purchase building plans. Luckily, there are a few companies that not only sell the plans, but can build the house and drive it to your location!

If you are really interested in going TINY, please check your local building codes. Many municipalities limit the size of homes built in it's limits. Some limit the house size to as small as 600 square feet. My city limits the interior square footage to 1000 square feet for one stories and 1300 square feet for 1.5 stories. You can find this information on the cities website, look for "building codes."

Would you live in a tiny house? Or, do you already?

Early weekend picking- the campaign desk

Found an awesome campaign desk today at a sale. It needs a little work, but once I'm done... It will look like this. Love the little tambour side pieces and the faux brass x legs.

This picture is from Pinterest and is not mine.

Picking this weekend- the big art show

There were so many good sales this weekend with great art. The sale I purchased the most from was the Estate of Barbara Evans. I have known of her work for many years and from the article in the Birmingham News in 2008, she lived a life as colorful as her art. These paintings span her trips to Europe and the High Sierras.

I am excited to own this collection! I think I might keep at least one of the six pieces I purchased... but how to pick just one!

Enamel on silver plate- Reed and Barton serving ware

I have found my second Reed and Barton enameled silver plate serving piece. I love the Mid Century Modern style from the 1960's! It just glows.

Cobalt Enamel bowl Reed and Barton Special PD24 on Etsy

The piece below sold about a month ago... but was a handsome devil!

These pieces are lovely with the glowing enamel over the silver plate and were only made during the 1960's. I have never seen a bowl like the top image with the band of silver around the rim of the bowl, usually the enamel comes right to the edge without a lip to the piece. Perhaps that is why it is marked "special" on the bottom!

If you are interested in purchasing the bowl at the top, please click on the link below the image to take you to my Etsy vintage store!

High middle and low great dining tables

Continuing my high/ low series, I am focusing on great looking smaller dining tables in modern styles.

Fantastic tables! The top table is perfect for those that do not use table clothes and love a rustic and vaguely French style. You could add any style of chair with this table.
The second table is handsome in dark grey brown and a metal inlay. Pretty curved lines on this 86.5 inch long table. It would look so fresh with crisp white dinnerware!

Lower price range of tables- still with great style. The half circle table base dining table is so clean and contemporary! The Pottery Barn table is chunky, strong, and great for modern to craftsman style homes. The West Elm table is so clean and would look great with everything from Parson's chairs to high French Rococo chairs... possible even better with French Rococo for an eclectic mix.

However you go with a modern table, by looking at tables in a high/ low method, you will be better able to monitor your budget and keeping your style!

High, middle, low- great apartment sized sofas

In shopping for the perfect sofa for a client I ran across so many that I loved! Button-tufted, exposed wood, down filled cushions, linens, velvets... I focused on loose cushions and/or Chesterfield in feel.

By ranking furnishings for a space as high price, mid range, and low, you can choose what is most important in the space and spend the most on that piece(s). It also allows you to put blinders on while shopping and sometimes it is better to know what you do not want, in order to narrow down what you do!

Almost all of these I have sat on and thought they were good quality... especially for the cost. And, they all have their strengths!They are all apartment sized and the prices will vary depending on the store's current sale, the fabric you choose, and if they offer down filled cushions. The winner was the Chesterfield from Restoration Hardware!

Have you found a sofa you love? Do tell!

New Client meetings- what to expect

I love new client meeting day! It is an opportunity to help someone realize their dream space while creating a space that is healthy mentally and physically- that's what good design theory in practice can provide.

I like to start by hearing what the client needs and a tour of the space while observing how the space currently works or could work. I think about the future needs of the space (growing children or grandchildren, new babies, aging in place, etc) and the health of the space, including current air quality and gassing off of materials added to the space, noise mitigation, views, etc. Making a lot of notes, I start asking questions about use, ranking of wants and needs, timelines, and potential options for the space. I also find out the budget.

Then, I work through a "test" of the new clients tolerances for colors, patterns, and style, by having them pick though fabric samples to see what they like and dislike. This is especially important for new clients that I do not know well, or have never met. Without a grasp of the person's ideas of good and bad, I could present a space to them on the follow-up meeting that is completely wrong and then have to do it all again. I hate to spend the clients budget on my hours and not on making a great space.

Lastly, I go back to the wants and needs and give the client a loose idea of what I am thinking for the space, the general time line and any budgetary concerns. Then, we set a follow-up meeting time and I am off to pull fabrics, furniture ideas, and make space plans. I love the potential of new client meeting day!

If you are interested in setting up a new client meeting with me and starting on the path of your best space, please contact me! I am happy to do remote meeting and online meeting and projects as well as local!

Green design- in common practice

I have been thinking a lot about green design today and how most people already practice the tenets of green living, even if we do not live it to the letter. And, probably do not see themselves as "environmentally-friendly" people. We call it other things like saving money, saving time, being crafty, shopping or helping local artists. Like many things, it all depends on the way you frame it.

More info about this image here.

If you choose to rearrange your furniture instead of throwing everything out and buying all new furniture, you are working in the tenets of green design. Same goes for painting furniture instead of tossing it!

My antique space at Hanna Antiques in Birmingham

If you are shopping for accessories in an antique mall, or to some extend TJ Maxx or Homegoods. You are buying recycled and saving items from the trash, that are not trash.





If you are choosing a paint that doesn't smell, then you are choosing low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and helping the environment, as well as the respiratory health of your family.

Beautiful pottery from my friend, Tena Payne, found here.

If you buy ceramics or pottery from a local artist, or art gallery that represents locals, then you are buying regionally which is very green especially since many potters are able to get they clay locally.



Greener than you thought?  It is not just about sorting your trash for the recyclers or buying smelly sofas from the thrift store. Respecting the environment is not an all or nothing proposition, thankfully. It is steps toward a healthier world around you on a continuum.

This is the first post in a series of posts on green design and living. Next up is all about water! Please follow my blog for more info, or search green design in my search box on the right to see most ideas and ways to easily practice greener living.

DIY Bar Cart! From Mid-Century Modern table to Mad Men-tastic bar cart

I love the look of those two tier mid-century side tables, however they are too low to function with modern furniture. So, I choose to remake one into a bar cart because I love the idea of the two levels, one for storage of bar items and one for glasses and mixing. And since you know how much I was in love with the Russian Figure ladies skater's costume as evident of my post on inspiring images in that color palette, I choose to use dark grey and bronze.


The key to the table is getting the right height and scale. The mixing surface was moved up to 26 inch high and the storage is about 34 inches high. This cart is styled for mixing alcoholic drinks, but would be super cute as a coffee bar, tea cart, or even as a small desk! I plan to use it for coffee.


This is a simple project of cutting off the legs, adding a little lumber, and a nice paint job. The nice paint job includes using a pattern. I have included the pattern at the bottom. You can enlarge it to the size you need! The instructions can be printed with the title of the project at the top.










SUPPLIES:
For this project you will need the following supplies to complete a table similar this one.

BASICS:
A table to alter- if using a table like this pick your cutting zone carefully and with consideration to the size of your lumber! I chose a spot that was not tapered to make adding the legs back easier.
lumber- I used 2"x 2" which is nominal measurement of 1.5" x 1.5". This scale worked for my project.
8 dowel screws
wood putty
paint
liquid sanding/ deglosser- I clean the table with this type product for better paint adhesion
Hack saw
drill and drill bits
locking pliers- plain pliers might work, but locking pliers make the work easier
pencil
ruler
straight-edge

EXTRAS:
tracing paper
gold paint
circular saw
painters tape

Leaf pattern for the top of the table.