Design Diary
Fashion Spotlight: Horror Vacui (The Fear of Empty)
This is my first post since our world has been turned upside down due to Covid-19. And while I am disappointed that so many events and Spring plans have been canceled, I am also taking the time to pause, reset and spend time on things that fill my heart : such as playing more with my children, taking better care of myself through exercise and diving into new inspirational finds either in the design or fashion worlds. Today, I thought I would share one of my new fashion finds as a little bit of beauty can go a long way to lift my spirits and day dream of the better days ahead.
Product Launch: Alexis Walter Maison
Alexis Walter, a fine artist based in New Orleans who is best known for her abstract landscape paintings in the most amazing color combinations, is soon launching a fabric collection called “Maison” this Fall. I can’t wait to get my hands on these gorgeous prints. Each pattern in the collection appears to be hand painted in soft but colorful hues which make for a calming and artsy/eclectic feel.
One to Know: Taelor Fisher
I am a huge supporter of the fine arts or any realm of ‘art’ really. We would not have a culture without it. So when a new artist catches my eye, I like to spread the news. Lately, Taelor Fisher from Dallas has me searching for wall space in my own home as well as waiting for the perfect client project in which to place her ethereal botanical paintings in.
Her work is inspired by “botanical impermanence, and the way that we repurpose natural elements through tradition.” Her reinterpretations of the botanical world can be described as “charmingly chaotic” which sounds like the perfect kind of chaos me. Here are a few of my favorite pieces…
Designer Tip: My favorite household cleaners
As much as I love my pets, the messes can be so bothersome! Our family has two four-legged members- a small white Maltese and a rescue cat. My parents have a small Yorkshire Terrier which comes to stay on extended visits when my parents travel. It seems the smaller and sweeter the dog, the more often unpleasantries abound. No matter how diligent I am with potty breaks, our sweet visitor leaves anxious little puddles around the house. With all the cleaning up I have been doing this past week, I thought it would be a good time to share my favorite household cleaners for all of life’s little messes.
One to Know: Aronson Woodworks
As many Americans know, a large part of the furniture manufacturing industry has moved overseas to Asia. Yes, this greatly reduces costs but the disadvantages become innovation in new product and design, customizable options and level of quality and longevity. So when I was recently introduced to Aronson Woodworks, my heart skipped a few beats. In furniture design, it’s rare to see a line that is radically new and different from what I have seen before with a beautiful story behind the company to boot. Let me now spread the word….
One to Know: William McLure X Anne Neilson Fine Art Gallery: Solo Exhibition Feb. 7th-Mar. 7th
Who isn’t enamored with the allure of William McLure lately? Artist turned interior designer or interior designer turned artist, whichever moniker you want to call him shouldn’t really matter when the lines between the two are so blurred in William’s world, both go hand in hand. His art and interiors have always stopped me in my Instagram scrolling tracks and I was beyond excited to learn about his month long solo exhibition here in Charlotte at Anne Nielson Fine Art gallery opening tomorrow, so I can have the opportunity to see his work in person .
Travel Diary: Isla Holbox, Mexico
I find travel to be one of the most inspirational aspects of my life. I love discovering new places, cultures and delicious food from the far reaches of the earth. Typically, those experiences influence my design work and personal style. Travel for me also provides a much needed time to relax and reconnect with my loved ones. I consider myself a somewhat adventurous traveler- my college summers were spent galavanting through Europe, my honeymoon consisted of a whirlwind tour through Thailand and Cambodia, I have safari’d in Botswana and South Africa, scoured the markets of Marrakesch and snorkeled through a barrier reef in Belize with a toddler in tow.
Designer tip: How to hang plates on the wall
With the holidays here, it’s time to break out your gorgeous china and treasured heirloom dinnerware pieces. I always have a renewed interest in all things table top with all the entertaining that I do this time of year. There are so many gorgeous dinnerware pieces out there both new and vintage, I always enjoy scooping up some interesting pieces while out gift shopping each year.
But if you want to enjoy eyeing your porcelain lovelies any time of the year, I simply adore a plate wall vignette. Large or small, it’s simply a clever and inexpensive way to add “art” to your walls. With so many interesting colors, patterns, shapes and sizes, a plate wall has the ability to add interest to your walls without distracting from other traditional art pieces in a room.
Holiday Cocktail Favorites
With Thanksgiving in just a few days, I know everyone is scrambling to get their home in tip top shape and ready to receive and entertain guests for the holiday. I adore Thanksgiving because it really is a time to be thankful for friends and family without the pressure of gift giving. It’s a moment of grateful pause before the consumer chaos of the Christmas holiday begins.
One to Know: Marissa Frandsen of Mia Malcolm Studio
My “One to Know” series would not be complete without featuring someone near and dear to my heart. Marissa Frandsen of Mia Malcolm Studio has been a huge inspiration to me since our paths crossed a few years ago. An artist, furniture designer, interior designer, entrepreneur and mom, her talents are endless. And to top it off, she is beautiful inside and out.
Coveted Color of the Moment: Green
I am currently coveting everything green. I understand the psychology behind my cravings, I am a red head after all. But the darker, almost teal green shade of green has just been infiltrating my visual stratosphere everywhere lately. From kitchen cabinets to luxurious fashion accessories, my winter color palette is destined to be complimentary to my head top strands this year. Shop my current Style Desires below and view my current kitchen envy.
One to Know: Caroline Boykin
A trip to Charlotte’s own Anne Neilson Fine Art gallery began my love affair with all things Caroline Boykin. A porcelain ceramic artist based out of Raleigh, NC, Caroline’s multi-media work pulled at my heart strings upon first site.
When function wins: Ceiling fan favorites
While statement lighting is often a strong feature in my interior design work, I can completely understand when function wins out. Here in the south, ceiling fans can become a necessity 7 months out of the year, especially on second and third floors. Personally, I have a second floor master bedroom and my husband will not forgo a ceiling fan for a statement lighting piece. I get it. I too can appreciate the feeling of a ceiling fan on hot, sticky summer night. Thankfully there are some decent options out there.
One to Know: Louise Gaskill Lighting
Bespoke, custom, one-of-a-kind, vintage wares reinterpreted for today’s modern living- all descriptive words that are music to an interior designer’s ears, right? Enter Louise Gaskill Lighting. A true modern artisan found right here in North Carolina. Louise creates extraordinary lighting pieces from vintage mid-century glass and hand gilded components collected everywhere from Paris flea markets to local antique stores. The resulting conversation pieces are reminiscent of an era gone by but modernized for today’s interiors. Ideal for the new traditional look so coveted right now.
Kitchen Renovation Series: Custom Cabinetry Details
I have a small kitchen. There, I said it. Sometimes you just have to accept the realities and confines of a space and move on. So, when seeking out a game plan to renovate my kitchen, making the space highly functional and beautiful were my top priorities.
With kitchen design, selecting appliances and designing the cabinetry are first on the list. And also typically the two largest investments in a kitchen. Thinking through how I used the space was critical to my design plan. Custom cabinetry details designed around my needs were crucial to making the space more functional and spacious. Now complete, I feel I have doubled my storage space and…
One to know: Whitney Stoddard Art
Every now and then, I get to venture out of my design studio and explore what the design world has to offer. It’s one of my favorite aspects of my job and I don’t get to do it as often as I should. Yesterday I was invited to The Art Salon’s bi-annual art pop-up shop here in Charlotte and I am so excited that I made the trip. There were so many original art pieces to explore and it definitely had my mind swirling with creative ideas. Original art is such an important element when creating a bespoke and unique interior, often inspiring the color palette for a room or elevating the overall design to an awe inspiring level.
The Perfect Playroom
When a room in your home is no longer being used, it is a tell-tale sign that you need to update the space. This was true of my children’s playroom. When we first purchased our home, I had a newborn baby and an almost 4 year old. Upstairs off of our family TV watching space, the previous owners added an additional room you could call a “sunroom” since every wall has corner to corner windows (sigh!). When we moved in, I outfitted the space with a preschool sized table and chairs and plenty of storage for books and toys. It was a great space, for a while.
A tabletop garden affair....
The design industry as a whole is currently infatuated with all things of the garden variety. Whether it be floral prints, woven wicker textures, garden trellis’, or scenic garden wallpapers, it seems we just can’t get enough of what I have dubbed '“garden pretty.” You might blame it on the resurgence of hand painted wallpaper houses such as de Gournay and Gracie or just a general movement away from all of the geometric patterns we saw a few years ago. But whatever it is, I am enjoying this current design bubble of “garden pretty.”