Sometimes people ask me, “Hey, how would you define your decorating style?”, and I usually just ramble or stumble upon my words. It’s hard to describe what my style really is? it’s an eclectic, vintage, classic, mid-century modern, industrial, with a dash of mantiques…but really it is hard to explain… I’d recognize it if I saw it someone’s home, hmm, kinda girly but not really girly, kinda manly but not really manly…a hint of old granny, but not shabby chic…a little Brady Bunch sans the color rust but there are usually pops of orange…furniture from Leave It To Beaver’s home…yes, I have a Momofuku cookbook on display…yes, I have vintage cameras (and know how to use them)…how does it all seem to work? I don’t know, maybe some visuals will help?
Defining Hipster Style
Some of my furniture is new, but some are vintage decor pieces are from sellers i’ve found who refinish, restore or reupholster vintage furniture…these are usually my favorite pieces. they come with a story. they have held up over time. they are sturdy. they have heft. they were well made…hell, they lasted 30-40 years, and now have a whole new life. my vintage stores of choice…well, i can’t give you all of my secrets today…but if i had to name a few, they would be: scout, brimfield, an orange moon and white attic. and now that you know my secret places, you have to promise to keep them to yourself, and please don’t buy every cool piece or i might have to hurt cha.
i think a great way to keep light bouncing around the room is to add a few metal pieces…give the room some shine. nothing to big…just some decorative accent pieces. above, i chose a lamp, the zelda table with brass hairpin legs…hairpin is having a moment right now, and i was a giddy little school girl when i found this particular table…in fact, it is on a UPS truck right now and i can’t wait for it’s delivery…but more on that later, and i love love love this tom dixon metal candle…get in my house already!
sometimes i fear color and i step away from the room only to see that it is navy, grey or brown…sad face. so to add a few pops of color without being to married to a piece, i’m on a kick right now with vintage kilm pieces. i like the boho feel it gives without being overly hippie. and some of these pieces are just like bam! in your face. it gives the room life. my latest i have to have it piece is this bench from barrington blue…i love it so much it makes my heart want to explode!
so next, i like to layer in a bit of nature. i’m not really a let’s go sleep in a tent kinda girl, but i don’t mind having a birch tree branch decorate my home interior. i’ve featured this vine pendant from pieces in atlanta, ga in a prior post, but i heart it so much, i’m going to show it to you again. i have this pendant lamp in my foyer and we have it on every night…it’s all twinkle-y and sparkle-y at night…it’s just so pretty. but back to nature…bringing in some florals can really soften a table…it takes some of those harder edges and gives them a bit more of a girly feel.
accessorize with what you love…i’m going to go back to that uniqueness. yes, there are those furniture stores that sell packaged vignettes: the sofa, loveseat, chair, 2 end tables and a coffee table…they make it really easy for you by selling it in a package but then you walk into 6 different homes and they all have the same identical set…so if the package route is what you choose to go with…make it your own by finding items you love…i’m partial to vintage cameras (and i was before it was cool), stacks of design, photography and cook books and small figures and unique vases.
and lastly, i like a touch of mantiques…you know those vintage pieces that are very manly? ya, those! vintage fans. heavy old shelving that can be converted to a table…this is where the florals can help tone down the manly man feel. being a graphic designer, i’m partial to old signage, and the “division – downtown” vintage bus roll turned sign from three potato four really spoke to me. i work in chicago and i love to hang in the bucktown wicker park area, so it really fit me and kinda goes back to that whole accessorize with things you love idea.
so after this novel of a post, i ask myself again, hey girl, what is your style? well, i guess i’d have to say my house is a living, breathing, work of art that is unique to me and my family that will probably never be finished…the best the boy can hope for is for me to stand back whenever i have the house “just so” and smile…ad probably move a couple pieces around again…friends who visit the house may judge it or not appreciate it for what it is, but in all of it’s uniqueness, i can guarantee my guests will remember my home design…they may not be able to describe it, but darn it, they are going to remember it and talk about it to their friends…i wouldn’t have it any other way.
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