Hilary Walker

Today's guest is the talented Hilary Walker, the author of Hilary Inspired, a blog about style, art, and life. She's also a designer offering freelance interior design assistance and social media management to some well-respected Dallas based firms like Pulp Design Studios, Pulp Design Studios, Studio Ten 25, and Denise McGaha Interiors.

"To be completely honest, I haven't researched much about this vintage screen depicting flying cranes. I happened upon it about a year ago in a wonderfully serendipitous thrifting moment while browsing my favorite local thrift store one day. I'd been looking for a unique piece of artwork to fill a void in my dining space, walked in with few hopes of finding anything, and then BAM... there it was just waiting for me to find it!"

"I was actually surprised that no one else had snatched it up yet. So, of course, I made a b-line for its corner of the store. As it turns out, the dimensions are perfect for my wall and the figurative subject, aged appearance, and warm tones fit my style and current home decor beautifully!"

"A quick Google search would probably enlighten me on a few unknown details, but the mystery of it has become half the fun. Who knows where this worn thing has been and I kind of like it that way!!"

Hue: Kelly Green

Fabric | Bedroom | Art | Dining Room | Sofa | Wallpaper

Chairloom

Our companies are… Chairloom, Co-Lab. & Super Rural

I'm the… MOLLY: Founder & Partner at Chairloom, Partner at Co-Lab. TRACY: Partner at both Chairloom and Co-Lab., Founder of Super Rural.

We make/design/create… Chairloom is an antique & vintage furniture reupholstery business offering (very special) fabric consultation to our clients. Co-Lab. is a collaboration between Chairloom & Super Rural. Co-Lab. is also developing a line of custom furniture pieces – benches, ottomans, and headboards. Super Rural offers Tracy’s infamous 'For Like Ever' prints.

Something you need to know about me is… MOLLY: Thanks to Chairloom, I’ve become obsessed with taking pictures. For this I am grateful. (Note from Krista: you definitely want to follow Chairloom on Instagram) TRACY: I am obsessed with design! And I have an amazing kiddo who has taught me to see so many things, among them to be grateful every day and to see the world differently.

Here’s how this company came to be… MOLLY: I’ve always been drawn to unique home furnishings and clothing, mostly due to textile appreciation. Chairloom is a marriage of unique textiles and unique furniture. When I was at the stage in life of needing to own furniture, I gained great satisfaction from choosing textiles & pieces that were “different” and my friends/peers pointed out to me that I had a unique “eye". TRACY: Molly Andrews is how Chairloom came to be. We met in 2010 while working together and our shared interests and experiences got us to talking. Gradually, ever so gradually, we just naturally started to collaborate. This led to Co-Lab., a collaboration between Chairloom & Super Rural and eventually to a partnership in Chairloom.

My absolute favorite thing we sell right now is… MOLLY: Co-Lab.’s benches. The century bench in Ryan Parker’s fabric and the X-benches like this recent one done for a client in Sister Parish’s Albert fabric.

TRACY: We have three amazing Milo Baughmann chairs for sale. They will all be incredible when re-done and I am anxiously awaiting someone to choose one and select an amazing textile. Space permitting, I'd redo this one for myself in a heartbeat. I also really love our custom pieces. There are endless options and opportunities for something perfect and special for your home in here.

I’m most proud of… MOLLY: Our philosophy of second chances. TRACY: I have to agree with Molly on our overall theme of sustainability through renewal and second chances - both literally and metaphorically.

I really detest… MOLLY: I wish we had a 20,000 square foot storage facility. TRACY: There is not enough time (social media could take up all my waking hours) or space - we are constantly bursting at the seams in our storage spaces.

I could never have done it without this person… MOLLY: A small business owner I know and friend named Kate Olson. She is currently taking a hiatus from the public design world. Not only does she have the best taste of anyone I know, but she escorted me to the Brooklyn Flea on opening day. I credit that event to Chairloom’s real start. TRACY: Molly Andrews! And my daughter without whom I might well be working regular 16-hour days in an agency somewhere...

I consistently follow these for inspiration... MOLLY: Lonny magazine, Rue magazine, Remodelista, Hable Construction, Walter G’s blog, John Robshaw, John Derian, Andy Spade on Instagram, Pinterest, Instagram, Anthology magazine. TRACY: New York magazine, The New Yorker magazine, Lonny magazine, Hable Construction’s various social media forms, Eye magazine, CLOTH & KIND, Pinterest, Elle Décor (mainly via social media), Monocle (my husband is obsessed with this mag – the design and content is impressive), T magazine, Vanity Fair magazine (guilty pleasure!)

I would like to share the limelight with… MOLLY: Proud Mary. TRACY:  Esther Ramirez who makes the most simple, sweet and gorgeous graphically bold prints and cut paper pieces.

Pass it on. #sharethelimelight

A Love Letter

OK, so this may not be quite the love letter you expected... but I am passionate beyond belief about our country and our right to elect its leader so the Love Letters Collection from Natural Curiosities seemed to be the perfect way for me to express this sentiment. You see, this thoughtful art collection allows you to create any message you'd like using the alphabet, punctuation marks and even a heart, which are all layered over vintage love letters. So my message today, no matter what your affiliation, is to please get out there and exercise your right to VOTE! Now that is love.

Alt Summit: Guest Pinning

I'm pretty darn excited to announce that I've been selected as a guest pinner for Alt Design Summit. Kindly check out my board, Color Lovin': Blue, and give it a follow. I'll be pinning the blues on it from now until Alt Summit in January 2013, which I can not wait to attend (first time!) Are you going? Let me know so we can make plans to meet up there. Salt Lake City here we come!

Palette No. 2

For the specific fabrics used in Palette No. 2, please subscribe to CLOTH & KIND's emails. Details for each textile are provided exclusively to my email buddies. Happy Friday!

All Hallows Eve

Wishing you a very spooky, creepy Halloween filled with lots of tricks & treats. Top: Iguana Fabric via Timorous Beasties, Trademark Skull & Crossbones via John Derian. // Left: Malachite Wallpaper via Walnut, Witch Paperweight via John Derian. // Middle: Beetle Wallpaper via Porter's Original Paints. // Right: Woods Brocatelle Fabric via Lee Jofa.

Role Models: Sparkle Tee

Fashion: Sparkle Sand Dunes Tee via Free People // Fabric: Temple Garden via Holly Hunt

Hue: Cinnabar

I'm endlessly inspired by Schumacher's Shanghai Peacock in this colorway. Cinnabar is the perfect, delicious, cozy hue for today, isn't it?  Here in Ann Arbor, it's a brisk fall day with a wind-induced chill in the air. Festa from Alora Ambiance, my favorite autumn scent, is wafting through the house as is the fragrant apple pie baking in the oven (I'm no Julia Childs, as you well know... but our nanny extraordinaire is making it in her spare time - sigh!) Needless to say, all of these things tell me that the holidays are on their way. I love this time of year - before the chaos of November & December sets in and there's this sort of calm as we all relax into the cool weather and the slower pace of the longer days.

I'm hoping that all of my East Coast friends are cozied up at home as well, trying their best to enjoy the day off due to Hurricane Sandy. Wishing you all well as you brave the storm.

Top: Shanghai Peacock in Cinnabar / Schumacher. Clockwise: Two Persimmons with Bowl by Thornton Walker / Heiser Gallery. Linen Applique Pillow / Michele Varian. Silk Ethos Rug / ABC Carpet & Home. Colorblock Apothecary Jar / Terrain.

Palette No. 1

It's no secret that all I want to do is play with pretty textiles all day, right? This is a new column that is totally self-serving in that respect. Each week in Palette, I'll share a stunning combo of textiles that I would use in my own home (if there were only enough rooms) or in my client's design projects. There's only one catch. If you want to know what the fabrics are in each Palette, you'll need to subscribe to CLOTH & KIND's emails. Details for each textile will be provided exclusively to my email buddies.  Happy Friday, all!