John Robshaw's Souk is a virtual treasure trove of goodies from across the globe. These vintage pillows from a Thai Hilltribe struck my fancy big time.
Katie Leede & Co.
I first saw this blissful bedroom, designed by Katie Leede & Co., in Veranda magazine. It's one of those images that I keep coming back to over and over again to admire (hmmm... now that I think about it, I wonder if it has anything to do with the color palette). Anyway, I always say that it's the details that make any well-designed room. Two things that strike me about this space are the custom upholstered headboard in the designer's own Papyrus fabric and the oversized Capistrano seaweed print. Everything else in the bedroom seems to make way for these two elements to shine. And do they ever.
Provenance: Vintage Ikat Scarves
Understanding the provenance of an object always makes it that much more special. And so when I learned how these gorgeous vintage ikat scarves from L'Aviva Home came to be, I felt compelled to share the story of their journey with you.
As told by Laura Aviva of L'Aviva Home... I discovered that this vintage fabric existed when I was in Uzbekistan last year. I found pieces of it stashed under a worktable in a workshop in Samarkand, and fell completely in love. There's an incredible story to these pieces, as they encapsulate part of Uzbek/Central Asian history.
During Soviet times, home based crafts were banned in favor of factory production, but with an emphasis placed on top quality materials. And so the age-old Uzbek tradition of ikat was translated to the factory model. Instead of following the extensive, 37+ stage process involved in handmade ikat production, ikat designs were printed on swaths of meticulously produced silk crepe de chine. There were very stringent criteria imposed upon the production of this fabric, starting from the way that the cocoons were raised, and continuing through to the quality of the weave on the machines. And the result was this incredibly luxe, vibrant fabric. The factories were located in the Fergana Valley (the center of silk production for all of the Soviet Union/Soviet block countries). This region continues to be a major silk producing region, and is where present-day ikat is woven.
This fabric was highly coveted (and expensive, even in Soviet times). Brides purchased small swaths, all they could afford, enough to stash away in their dowry chests and then make a caftan or pants with (or both, if they were particularly flush) come their wedding day.
As the soviet-block countries began to gradually open during the late 80s, other fabrics made their way in, and new obsessions formed for viscose and other synthetic fabrics - something that the people had never before seen. As trends changed, the swaths of crepe de chine ikat often languished, forgotten, in dowry chests across the country.
We now have a virtual army of scouts throughout the Uzbekistan, gathering all of the fabric they can find for us. And, from it, we're fashioning these luxuriously large scarves (large enough to make super pareos/sarongs). And we're finishing them with contrasting-color zigzag stitching that emulates the stitch that was done during soviet times.
Each uniquely designed scarf is either one-of-a-kind or very limited edition and captures part of the story of Central Asia – of history, of memory, and of unyielding creativity. We are captivated by these forgotten treasures, and thrilled to add them to our collections at L'Aviva Home.
China Blue
As the renovation of our charming old house continues I've realized something about myself purely through the process of decorating this home. My favorite color is blue. Over and over again, in room after room, I find myself using various shades of this versatile hue. It's no wonder then that when it came to selecting the color for my most creative space - my home office - that I chose china blue for the palette.
LEFT // Vintage china plates from a flea market that I found on a recent trip to Saugatuck. RIGHT // The final selections for walls and windows.
For more specific product detail about what's going into this space, visit the Pinterest page for this room. So, what's your favorite color? Do you find yourself using it over and over again in your personal interior spaces?
Fab Five: Summers in France
Kathryn Ireland's Summers in France collection includes the most beautiful shade of natural golden called Wheat. 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
May 19, 2012: Update I kept looking back at this post and felt like it was missing something. Just featuring all of the fabrics in Wheat does a disservice to all of the glorious, muted shades that are a part of the Summers in France collection. So I did version 2.0 including more of the hues. Enjoy!
Tami Ramsay Design
I'm so inspired by this lovely living room that is at once delicate and ecclectic. Not an easy combo to achieve, I might add.
Tami Ramsay of Tami Ramsay Design and I met on Pinterest and are quickly becoming fast online friends. I adore her design sensibility and dare to say that the feeling is mutual. One of the things that I appreciate about her, aside from her insane creative talent, is her openness. In this itty-bitty, yet simultaneously vast world of online design and social media there's a whole heck of a lot of people who don't take the time to stop and say hello. It often feels like everyone is so busy going a million miles a minute doing their own things that they are hardly able to slow down to appreciate the very thing we all have in common - a love of beautiful interiors. And yes, I am guilty of this at times too. Tami reached out to me and has been a total breath of fresh air in the midst of all the chaos of the online design world.
OK, enough of that little love rant and on to her crazy good design talent! So, the room featured above is Tami's very own living room. Don't you kinda wish it was yours? It's ok, I do too. Let's discuss...
NO. 1: That chaise! Tami and I first met online in a discussion over that killer vintage grey cane chaise that she was reupholstering. It turned out so unbelievable after she reupholstered it in Hable Construction's Aventurine Rope. She effortlessly pairs it with a couple of my all time favorite fabrics, Kelly Wearstler's Edo Linen & Sea Urchin (on the sofa opposite the chaise), both from Lee Jofa Groundworks.
NO. 2: The soft pale pink feminine walls are Benjamin Moore's Paisley Pink. The perfect shade of not-too-sweet yumminess.
NO. 3: The shaggy vintage Beni Ourian Moroccan rug (Note: if you want one for yourself, see my previous post about Maryam Montague of MyMarrakesh - she's the lady with the ultimate stash of these gorgeous rugs).
NO. 4: The beautiful original artwork gracing the walls that lead up to the barrel vaulted ceiling.
NO. 5: The relaxed Belgian linen roman shade + drapes on brass rods that are original to the house. So cool!
NO. 6: The symmetry. It's so subtle you hardly notice it, which I like, but this room is very nicely symmetrical indeed. It makes the space feel calm and orderly despite all of the pretty things you can look at every which way you turn.
Just one last shot of that chaise, please.
Role Models: Marchesa
FASHION: Marchesa Fall 2012 & FABRIC: Erica Wakerly for Hygge Cooperative
Gratitude + Tin Nesting Cups
Anyone who follows me on Facebook or Twitter probably already knows that I'm having a big old pity party for myself today. I'm in bed with the flu, achy from top to bottom and pretty much just plain miserable. Getting sick sucks, doesn't it? It's like nature's way of forcing us all to take it down a notch and just. chill. out. So, even though I've been feeling like absolute death today, slowing down has allowed me to appreciate the simplest things. Like my dear husband who went in to work late so he could get the kids up and ready for the day (thanks, hon!) or my amazing babysitter who brought me chicken noodle soup or my kids who drew me special "get well soon mommy" pictures. And so now, at just after 5 pm, I'm happy to say that the pity party is officially over and I'm just feeling grateful for the people in my life who love me and take such good care of me.
All of this reflecting on the simple things in life made me want to share this with you today. This uber simple set of tin nesting cups is so well designed, and so purposeful that it just makes me love it.
Good Reads: Marrakesh By Design
I was overjoyed (that's putting it politely, I think I actually squealed with delight) when the much-anticipated Amazon box arrived with my copy of Marrakesh by Design by Maryam Montague. I am a long time reader and general admirer of Maryam and her blog, My Marrakesh, so I simply couldn’t wait to sit down and dive head first into her debut publishing endeavor. And let me tell you, it's so, so good, people. This lovely book vacillates between Moroccan culture, history and design and back again, ultimately interweaving the three so closely that you can't distinguish one from the other. And for me, it's that very sense of distant, old world exoticism that makes Moroccan design so incredibly rich and satisfyingly appealing.
"MOROCCAN STYLE IS ATTAINABLE YET EXOTIC, PRACTICAL YET MYSTERIOUS, AND A LITTLE SPLASH OF IT GOES A LONG, LONG WAY." - Maryam Montague
Maryam covers everything I have ever wanted to know and more in this book, from architecture styles to outdoor spaces to her experiences shopping the souks. My favorite section, Sourcing Moroccan Style, includes a complete list of resources across the globe and online so you can find the exact piece of Moroccan decor you've been dreaming of.
Oh, and don't even get me started on the amazing textiles that fill up every page of this book! Insanely gorgeous! Here's a few Instagram shots I snapped to whet your palate...
If you haven't already seen the features in Elle Decor and Lonny on Maryam, you're missing out. She's an extraordinary woman, and her first book is no exception. Do you have your copy yet? If so, what are your favorite parts?
Explicit permission for use of the cover, quotes & photos in this post was granted by Artisan Books. Instagram photos taken by Krista Nye Schwartz of CLOTH & KIND. Excerpted from Marrakesh by Design by Maryam Montague (Artisan Books). Copyright 2012.
Mom Rocks!
Happy Mother's Day to all you moms, grandmothers & future mothers! No one works as hard as you do, loves as deeply as you do, or rocks it out as much as you do. Which is why I've chosen the spicy & aptly named Hot Indian Princess fabric as the background for the heart tattoo.... May you be treated as Hot Indian Princesses today (and everyday)!