I haven’t had a chance to do one of these posts in awhile; I’m behind on my blog reading lately! Here’s a journey through my blog catch up:

I say Congratulations! One of my favorite bloggers, Erin of Elements of Style has a new website for her design company, Element Interiors. Check it out here. Also, I meant to link you over to her post Orange You Glad it’s Fall? awhile back, so I will now - it’s a great collection of orange in decor.

I obsess with all of the step-by-step printmaking eye candy over at Heart Fish.

I ogle surreal pieces available from the Tony Duquette Collection spotted over at The Peak of Chic.

I wonder how swissmiss manages to find so many clever things every day. For example, the mobile bench.

I ponder whether the person who designed this treehouse cafe I spied at Inhabitat was high and chowing down on Keebler cookies when he/she came up with this treehouse.

I say “Hooray; I love these guy!” as I read this post from Home Rejuvenation for the tenth time.

I realize I will NEVER have a garage that looks this neat as I read The Inspired Room.

I am reminded by Style Court that I really need to get a library card.

I get pumped up for Halloween reading this post from katiedid.

Well, I’m off to one of my favorite cities, Charlottesville, VA for the weekend. I’m not sure if I’ll have time for my 20,000th visit to Monticello, but I’ll get my TJ fix on the UVA campus. See you on Monday!

• image from elements of style
• image from heartfish
• image via The Peak of Chic
• image via Swiss Miss
• image via Inhabitat
• image via Style Court

One of my favorite sites in London is Spencer House, located in St. James. Built in the mid-eighteenth century for John, first Earl Spencer (yes, those Spencers), the house's first architect was John Vardy, a student of William Kent. It was Vardy who was responsible for the exterior of the home as well as some of the interior rooms, though unfortunately for him, he was later replaced as chief architect by James "Athenian" Stuart, a disciple of Greek architecture. Stuart's influence is seen in the classic Greek detail throughout the interior, making it one of the first examples of neoclassical architecture in England.

Throughout the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, subsequent generations of Spencers set about at refreshing and remodeling the interiors of the home, including a remodeling led by Henry Holland. After all, the Spencers were a prominent and highly social family, so Spencer House had to reflect this. Interestingly, the Spencers lived in the home until the late 1800s, at which time they leased the house to the Duke of Marlborough and his wife (Consuelo Vanderbilt) as well as various organizations. During the blitz in WWII, the contents of the home, including the fixtures, were removed and shipped to the Spencer estate Althorp for safe keeping.

Fortunately for us, Spencer House is now restored to its former glory and is open to the public. Of course, the fact that Spencer House is one of the few remaining private palaces in London makes it important. But the other nice thing is that it doesn't seem to be on many tourists' radar, meaning no long lines!

(One tidbit of info that I just gleaned- Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, was the daughter of first Earl Spencer and thus lived in the home until her marriage to the Duke of Devonshire. For a great book on Georgiana, you might want to read Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman. Or, I suppose you can wait for the upcoming movie based on Foreman's book. But the book is really a good read.)


The Palm Room was used by gentlemen after dinner. It was Vardy who was responsible for the design of this room.



The magnificent Great Room. According to Spencer House's website, the coffered ceiling and frieze were inspired by the vaults at the Temple of Concord and Victory in Rome.


The Painted Room (c. 1759-65) was one of the first completely Neoclassical rooms in Europe. Designed by Stuart to celebrate the marriage of the first Earl Spencer and his wife, the room is dominated by images of marriage and festivity, all inspired by ancient Greece and Rome.


Vardy's design for the Ante Room- originally conceived as the Spencers' private dining room- includes a stunning coffered apse. It was Henry Holland who inserted the mahogany double doors under the apse in 1792.


I like to purchase guide books from the sites I visit- just in case I missed something on the tour. I also like to mark the date of my visit on the inside cover. This might become especially helpful when my memory starts to fail me- hopefully not anytime soon!

you’ve got to love a city whose motto is “keep austin weird.” full of flavor (i’m talking amazing tex mex), color and character, austin is a city that seriously has it all. it also has one of the best vintage/design scenes full of incredible shops like uncommon objects and room service vintage - and these places keep popping up all over the roundup for austin inspiration (check out the d*s austin guide here for more great shopping). so without further ado, today’s talented roundup: joel mozersky (the designer behind the real world: austin house!), d’ette cole {etta industry}, melissa gable {one creative girl}, jennifer braham {brink design} and jaime jo fisher {jewelry}. in case you missed it don’t forget to check out the regional roundup: austin- part 1, and stay tuned next week for our third and final installment! [thanks, designers!] -anne

CLICK HERE for the full post or just click “read more” below.

One.Eleven.Design

1. Where are you from? Where do you live now?
I grew up in San Antonio, Texas, but Austin has been my home for 22 years.

2. Describe your work.
I design residential and commercial spaces, such as restaurants, bars, retail stores, and hair salons. I also designed tour busses for the Dixie Chicks and the house for “The Real World-Austin.” I would describe my work as modern interpretations of classic design influences and eras. I’m much more interested with the history of decoration, and the relevance it has today, than what is happening “right now.” I think overtly contemporary design tends to look dated quickly and takes itself too seriously. I like my spaces to have a wink- a sense of humor and, most importantly, a soul.

3. How is your work influenced by where you live?
Austin has become very cosmopolitan in the past 10 years, but what is great about it’s growth is pretension is frowned upon. Austinites see right through it. It is an exciting place to be creatively- how can you move design forward, but maintain a foothold on what makes our city unique?

4. Where do you go in Austin when you want to feel inspired?
Uncommon Objects, Mercury Design Studio, Uptown Modern, and Room Service Vintage- I always find something I love at these stores, and they inspire my work tremendously.

5. How would you describe the Austin design scene?
We have an incredible creative community- architects, interior designers, artists, and craftsmen- who are a pretty tightly knit group. We also have clients who understand what makes a city great and unique is its culture of small businesses, and who support local talent.

6. If you could go anywhere where would you go?
There are so many places I haven’t been, but I would love to go to Thailand.

Click here for more of Joel’s work.

Etta Industry

1.  Where are you from? Where do you live now?
[From] Houston, Texas. [Now]  Austin ~ deep in the heart of Texas.

2.   Describe your work.
Working as an art director/designer/artist in a variety of mediums and arenas, my work combines a never ending love of color, a strong design sense, an eclectic aesthetic with a driving spirit of curiosity and wonder.

3.  How is your work influenced by where you live?
I think Texas is a really interesting combination of bold frontier independence, rich
cultural influences of Mexico and a vast landscape.  This region of Texas seems a
creative wellspring because Austin is an overgrown college town that embraces/
encourages diversity and individuality.

4.  Where do you go in Austin when you want to feel inspired?
Outside, it’s lovely here, sometimes kinda hot, but a lovely heat.

5.  How would you describe the Austin design scene?
I think it’s in its ‘tween’ stage, it’s just starting to stretch and grow and come into it’s own identity.

6.  If you could go anywhere where would you go?
Excluding time travel, if we’re talking places that I’ve never experienced, I’d like to see, eat and smell Cinque Terre.  If we’re talking favorite places, hands down that’d be Uzes, France.

Click here for more of D’Ette’s work.

One Creative Girl

1. Where are you from? Where do you live now?
I grew up in a big, old house in Columbus, New Jersey - surrounded by trees and fields and dairy farms, a mile from the “world famous” Columbus Farmer’s Market (and flea market). After graduating from Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, I moved to Austin looking to be “wowed” by a new city (and I was).

2. Describe your work
A colorful, quirky, mish-mash of vintage images, found objects and stuff I like, dissected and arranged One Creative Girl style.

3. How is your work influenced by where you live?
Austin is a very colorful and off-beat place with lots of art and design and plenty of places to hike and swim and stay grounded  - it’s a pretty great place to live and play, dream and create.

4. Where do you go in Austin when you want to feel inspired?
I love to roam my favorite shop -  Uncommon Objects - it is cram packed with vintage goodness and always gives my brain a good jump start. In addition to that, a long creekside hike to connect with my froggy friends also works.

5. How would you describe the Austin design scene?
Encouraging and supportive - i have lots of friends who find Austin to be a great place for a creative lifestyle. There are yearly studio tours in several different neighborhoods and it always amazes me when i see just how many artists are here creating fabulous stuff!

6. If you could go anywhere where would you go?
I would love to live and create in Mexico. It is such a colorful and dynamic culture, I think it would be a perfect environment for me. Whenever I visit, it is so hard to leave. I have been searching for a way to live between Austin and Mexico for a while now and am sure it won’t be long before I find it!

Click for Melissa’s website, blog and etsy shop.

Brink Creative

1. Where are you from? Where do you live now?
Until age 13: Pennsylvania. Ages 13-18 Los Angeles. Age 21: Santa Fe. Ages 13-30: The Bay Area: Santa Clara, San Francisco, Berkeley. I live in Austin now. South Austin.

2. Describe your work.
A product of intuition and channeling my clients. Assemblage of everything I absorb. Reflections of when, where, why…either the solution, posing the question, regardless, always a combination of as many emotions evocable. Japanese : retro : contemporary : interactive 2d : hand made pixels…lush, love : life : contemporary : familiar : redefined : color that shifts energy. As much as possible by hand and then the fascinating life the artwork takes on as it’s digitized and moves throughout it’s many applications.

I stay open to the discoveries in “mistakes”.

I still measure equidistant areas from left to right and top to bottom when treating typography…respecting my traditional design education, but hand made patterns may have a loop or twirly thing out of whack. Don’t stop the press! Instead, magnify and celebrate. Keeping craft alive. Attention to detail and allowing the process to allow the product to develop. Pushing and pulling these poles while staying committed to the task. Inspirational design that serves it’s function, has a strong foundation and expansive possibilities.

3. How is your work influenced by where you live? 4. Where do you go in Austin when you want to feel inspired? 5. How would you describe the Austin design scene?
Austin is a city in flux…more so than most. Just when I’ve seen the major transformations in the town in just a year and the resulting dichotomies are tense: Fluidity and resistance; sloooow and fast paced; limited with a whole world of possibilities…hence a culture that attracts and continually stimulates artists of many a genre. Here’s a way in which allowing the ever evolving process to flow while keeping a standard and integrity. The work comes from the constant combination of this tension. It’s exciting, sometimes painful, but always rewarding in an amazing end design, lesson and developed relationship with all the players involved (me, the client, printers, writer, programmers, sign vendors…all the people it takes to get the job done well).

In Austin, we’ve had a poor rap about our art/design scene and I feel that’s quickly changing. I push push push to help set a higher standard. Many push to keep the original Texan/Mexican spirit alive. That combined with an influx of people from everywhere is dynamic and keeps me designing around the clock. I lived in San Francisco and LA…I love both places, but I feel as though the gold (for me) has been found. Here, there are new discoveries abound!

A city undefined, although I hear many trying. The subjectivity of it all spurs interesting conversation and certainly influences my work as I push push push myself to levels beyond what I thought possible. I think I do the same to my clients. Much to some of their dismay…it’s never easy giving birth!

Physically, my word is influenced by found materials and I do my best sketching at my favorite restaurant. Now I prefer to go alone…hmm, I can’t believe I just admitted that. To feel inspired, I go to beautiful stores (preferably second-hand), my full flat files, my growing library and I hang out with my brilliant artist friends.

6. If you could go anywhere where would you go?

If I could anywhere: 1. I’d go back to my mom’s garden. A penny for every beetle I picked off the green beans. I’d make $3 a day sometimes! 2. In a hammock during the fall at dusk. My lifestyle doesn’t allow much sleep. 3. Camping with my significant other with nothing but a t-shirt, jeans, my toothbrush, water and my dogs.

Click here for more of Jennifer’s work.

Jaime Jo Fisher

1. Where are you from? Where do you live now?
I grew up in a small town in southern Illinois just east of St. Louis.  I currently live with my husband, Chris Campbell and our dog and cat, Brinkley and Tula in Austin, Texas. I work full time in my home studio making jewelry that I sell thru my website, galleries and a few juried art festivals.

2. Describe your work.
I make jewelry and sculptural boxes with sterling silver, mineral stones and a wide array of found, vintage or repurposed materials.  These commonly overlooked and typically discarded materials can be a piece of broken windshield glass, a fragment of plastic from a doll shoe, a found pebble or shell, or even a tiny stuffed pillow sewn from the plastic of a thrifted rain poncho. Many people who see my work for the first time assume the stones are all resin, enamel or beach glass and seem pleasantly surprised when I tell them it’s plastic from a bundle of rubber grapes or the sculptural box they see actually houses and displays a wearable ring.

3. How is your work influenced by where you live?
I have been living in Austin for over 2.5 years. Living in this progressive city directly influences my work.  Austin is about nostalgia, the DIY approach and green living including recycling and conservation. This is evident in the design, fashion and craft of local artists.  This idea is very much in keeping with my work as well.

4. Where do you go in Austin when you want to feel inspired?
Austin has a plethora of great thrift stores, from the high-end vintage stores to the more hardcore, not for the faint of heart, to scavenge about digging for potential new goods to incorporate in my work.  I am always looking on the ground, in thrift stores & flea markets as well as online. I enjoy finding things that will seem slightly bizarre when used in my jewelry, some of the more unexpected being bristles from a toothbrush and dryer lint from my lint trap. There is also a really great bead store in Austin, called Bead It, where I get some amazing vintage plastic and glass pieces that appear in my work as well.

5. How would you describe the Austin design scene?
I am part of an organization made up of an amazing group of women that live and work in Austin called Handmade Austin Women. The weekend show is a fun filled family event that offers some exquisitely designed and handmade items including paintings, pottery, jewelry, handmade clothing, hats & bags as well as some 2d & 3d collage work.   Another event on the art scene is the East Austin Studio Tour. My husband, who is a potter, and I turn our garage into a temporary gallery space for a weekend during the tour to show our work along with over 200 other studios that reside in East Austin.

When feeling uninspired or less than motivated, you may find me at any number of art galleries in Austin, at a friends studio to chat up their current work, at Book People or Domy flipping thru their amazing book collections, taking a Bikram Yoga class at Yogagroove, window shopping at a local vintage shop or digging around at a local thrift store.

6. If you could go anywhere where would you go?
If I could go anywhere my heart desired I would plan a road trip with my husband, with a tiny “fixer upper� trailer in tow, and discovery the sites one city at a time.

Click here for more of Jaime’s work.

today’s city guide belongs to wilmington, north carolina and comes to us courtesy of ellie snow of mint. ellie grew up in wilmington and has been living in the triangle area of north carolina ever since. she’s currently a graphic design at flywheel design in durham and is thrilled to share her favorite hometown spots. wilmington is known as “wilmywood” to some, because of the numerous tv shows and movie that shoot there, so if you’re in town keep your eyes open- you never know who you’ll bump into (i’ll never forget hearing from friends in wilmington who got to see the dawson’s creek cast for years). click here to view the full guide or just click “read more” below. thanks, ellie!

Nestled between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, Wilmington is often called the Port City; although many fondly refer to it as “Wilmywood” in honor of local motion picture and TV studio Screen Gems. (Think Dawson’s Creek, or the recent Nights in Rodanthe). Wilmington was settled nearly 300 years ago, and today visitors can stroll tree lined streets past century-old homes, then drive less than twenty minutes to find themselves among surfers and sunbathers on beautiful beaches. In the mid 1980s, Wilmington began to revitalize its downtown and today the area is rich with restaurants, bars, boutiques, galleries, and antique shops.

SHOP:

-Edge of Urge- 18 Market St.
Located just a block from the riverfront in downtown Wilmington, indie boutique Edge of Urge has become a favorite among locals and tourists. The boutique specializes in the handmade, with a range products by DIYers to brands like Orla Kiely, and a wonderful collection of mens and womens clothing, shoes, accessories, goods for the home, notecards, and more.

-Island Passage- 4 Market St. or 1900 Eastwood Rd. (Lumina Station)
An old local favorite for women’s clothing and accessories, Island Passage now boasts 6 locations in the Cape Fear region and has labels such as Free People, French Connection, and Velvet.

-Return Passage- 302 N. Front St.
A sister of Island Passage, Return Passage is a one stop shop for those looking for gently used, well priced clothing and accessories. If Marc Jacobs under $50 sounds appealing, then Return Passage is your place.

-Blackbeard’s Bryde- 18 S Water St. #5
Blackbeard’s Bryde has an eclectic (and occasionally blush-worthy) selection of gifts, clothing, jewelry, and things for the home. It’s located right on the Cape Fear River and is named for Wilmington’s pirate past.

-Baby Swank- 1904 Eastwood Rd. in Lumina Station
Just over two years old, Baby Swank is an upscale shop with everything needed to upfit your dream nursery, from cribs to rocking chairs to linens.

-The Ivy Cottage- 3020-3030-3100 Market St.
The Ivy Cottage was opened in 1998 by a mother daughter team with a true love for antique shops and flea markets. Over the years it has grown from one building to four and now has over 25,000 square feet of vintage and consigned furniture, home accessories, antiques, china, jewelry, garden items, and more.

-Planet- 108 N. Front St.
Look for the mannequin wearing a gas mask, and you’ll know you’ve found Planet. Odd gifts and good deals make this shop a hit with men and women alike.

-008- 105 Market St.
This tiny boutique got the headlines this year (sort of) when Sophia Bush strolled in and bought a couple of shoes. It’s not surprising, then, that 008 is the place to find hip mens and womens clothing and accessories.

-Airlie Moon- 1908 Eastwood Rd. in Lumina Station
Step into Airlie Moon, take a whiff of that lavender, and you’ll be ready to move into a cottage on Wrightsville Beach and start decorating. Think refinished furniture and design with southern, sophisticated vintage-inspired flair - with plenty of crisp linens, hand-milled soaps, and delicate jewelry to boot.

-Flashbax- 30 N. Front St.
You’re sure to find the perfect flapper dress, sixties beads, or vintage cowboy boots at Flashbax on Front St.

-Hallelu- 84 Waynick Blvd. Wrightsville Beach
Hallelu has great clothing (both new and consigned), good prices, and a scenic view of the sound. After you’ve bought that cute dress, duck around the corner to Trolley Stop (see below) for the best hot dog you’ve ever had.

-Antiques on Castle Street, 500-600 block
Castle Street is a great place to spend a couple hours antiquing. Favorites include Castle Keep (507 Castle St.), a shop with beautiful vintage textiles located in an old church building, and Retrolution (553 Castle St.), a new shop specializing in cool finds from the 60s and 70s and excellent prices.

-The English Garden- 2317 Market St.
Gifts for your favorite gardener, plus a great selection of orchids and rose bushes.

-Sambuca- 200 N Front St.
Sambuca is a boutique and spa specializing in organic, fair trade, renewable, and recycled materials with lots of style. They offer a good sized selection of beauty and skincare products, in addition to Bella Muse gift cards and stylish, comfortable women’s clothing.

EAT:

Narrowing down Wilmington’s restaurants is no easy task. Wilmington has become known for its wide selection of delicious cuisine, and of course nearly everyone offers a good selection of seafood. If you’re new to the area, you have to give Calabash-style (read: deep-fried) seafood a try - preferably with a side of hush puppies. And of course there is good ‘ol southern BBQ at every turn. But as you’ll see from this list, this southern town is not all greasy-spoon joints.

-Dock Street Oyster Bar- 12 Dock St.
When I tell people I’m from Wilmington, it’s not uncommon for the Dock St. Oyster Bar to come up in conversation shortly thereafter. Delicious seafood, good service, and dog friendly.

-Indochine- 3007 Market St.
I’ve lost count of how many restaurant awards Indochine has been given, and in my own humble opinion, Indochine is one of Wilmington’s best. Since it’s often crowded, you’ll probably be sent to the bar for a couple drinks before you’re seated in their richly atmospheric dining area and served delicious Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. If the weather is nice, sit out back in a gazebo and enjoy the garden under strings of lights.

-Caffe Phoenix- 9 S. Front St.
You’d be hard pressed to order a bad thing on this menu. Modern and trendy since it opened in the ’80s, Caffe Phoenix is a good place to have a glass of wine, watch passersby, and check out local artwork on the walls.

-Circa 1922- 8 N. Front St.
The hardest part about classy Circa 1922 is knowing when to stop eating all the fantastic tapas you’ve ordered. Because skipping dessert is not recommended!

-The Dixie Grill- 116 Market St.
Combine greasy-spoon style eating with menu items like veggie burgers and fresh fruit & granola, and you’ll have Dixie Grill. Just don’t leave without trying the sweet potato fries! Breakfast served until 3pm.

-Slice of Life- 122 Market St.
Who doesn’t want a hot piece of pizza after hitting up the downtown bar scene? Open until 3am, cozy Slice of Life has a great pub atmosphere and truly delicious pizza.

-Trolley Stop- 121 N. Front St. and 94 S Lumina Ave. Wrightsville Beach
The Trolley Stop has two locations - one downtown and one at the beach. Go to Trolley Stop at the beach in the summer, and the line goes out the door as beach-clad locals load up on Surfer Dogs. I don’t know if it’s the ridiculously soft buns, the melty cheese, or the juicy hotdog itself, but there is nothing like a Trolley Stop dog.

-Tidal Creek- 5329 Oleander Dr. #100
Tidal Creek is a market and deli selling organically produced foods and goods from local growers and high-ethics companies.

-Casey’s Buffet and BBQ, 5559 Oleander Dr.
Look past the atmosphere and dig in to a plate of collard greens, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and of course BBQ. Southern charm on the side.

-Coffee
Wilmington is the birthplace of Port City Java, although now that Port City Java is a franchise in seven states, it’s almost like visiting Starbucks in Seattle. Instead try the Smudged Pot (5032 Wrightsville Ave.) which has friendly staff, a great selection of magazines, crafty goods for sale, AND ice cubes are made from coffee. Another good bet is Jester’s Java on Castle Street (#607) which is a great place to stop after you’ve hit up all the antique shops there.

TO DO:

Festivals

Wilmington holds numerous festivals - most notably Azalea Fest which takes place each year in April when the azaleas are in full bloom (well, at least in theory.) The multi-day festival includes a parade, a street fair with local crafters, teens in antebellum gowns (’Azalea Belles’), concerts, home tours, and more.

Downtown Wilmington becomes festive again in October with Riverfest, when you can watch fireworks, view local arts and crafts, hear good music and watch various competitions.
For those who tire of the street-fair scene, there are some fantastic arts festivals that should not be missed.

In November the Cucalorus Film Festival celebrates independent films, in May the volunteer-run W.E. Fest celebrates indie musicians, and in July the Cape Fear Blues Festival brings national and local acts to the Port City.

Bars

Wilmington bars come and go, but these favorites always promise a good time. The Soapbox Laundro-Lounge is downtown’s largest music venue and has washing machines available for patrons who need to kill two birds with one stone. Level 5 at City Stage (21 N. Front St. 5th floor) is a theatre and rooftop bar combined. Enjoy the riverfront view from above and then duck inside and see what’s playing. Bluepost Billiards (15 S Water St.) is a smoky dive off of an alley downtown. Pop open a PBR and play pool, skee-ball, air hockey, or any number of arcade games.

-Thalian Hall- 310 Chestnut St.
Built in the 1850s, Thalian is a beautiful place to see local and national productions from ballet to music to films.

-Farmers Market- N. Water St. between Princess & Market
From mid April to the end of December, local farmers, crafters, and musicians gather on the Riverfront for the Saturday Farmer’s Market.

-Airlie Gardens & the Minnie Evans Sculpture Garden, 300 Airlie Rd.
Airlie Gardens is an historic, 67 acre county-owned piece of property on the water just before Wrightsville Beach. It’s a wonderful place for a walk or a picnic, and is home to the “bottle house,” a work of art dedicated to African American folk artist Minnie Evans. Evans was the gatekeeper of Airlie from 1949-1974 and the bottle house (named because it is made of glass bottles and mortar) was built in 2004 by local artists to celebrate her life.

-Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum, 3021 S 17th St.
Built by the famous architectural firm Gwathmey Siegel & Associates of New York City, the Cameron Art Museum is one of my favorite places to visit. The museum has featured such exhibits as the costume designs of William Ivey Long, contemporary works using classic weaving techniques, and the phenomenal installations of Diane Landry. The museum shop items complement whatever is currently on display in the museum, making it an enjoyable stop on the way out.

-ACME Art Studios, 711 N. Fifth Ave. 910-763-8010
Ring the bell and if anyone answers then you’re in for a real treat. ACME is home away from home for 18 artists who work in all different mediums. You can also visit ACME during Fourth Friday art walks, from 6-9pm.

-Fourth Friday Art Walk, from 6-9pm April-December, 208 N Front St.
Start at Bottega Gallery, get a map, and visit the downtown art galleries during this monthly grassroots event.

I feel like there are so many great shops on Etsy right now that to simply mention 5 is not enough today. I’m going for 10 if that’s okay with you (just for today!). Plus it’s a short work week, I’m taking Thursday and Friday off so I can give you a little extra since you’ll have to go without for a few days… Ah, it’s okay though! Logging off of the internet for a bit is super beneficial — I think we all should ’step away from the web’ for at least one day now and then. I’m stepping away Thursday, Friday, and all day Saturday and maybe even Sunday because I haven’t done that in a very long while and I feel like there is this need to do so. I’ve been feeling super inspired lately but like many of you, have lacked follow through so I plan to jump on some of my projects while I’m not blogging… I am very excited to take a brief pause you know? Can you relate to this need to step back for a few days and unleash your creativity? No Facebook, no email, nothing… I can’t wait. But I’ll have to wait… because it’s time for Etsy Take Five Tuesday! I’ve promised you 10 shops today so how ’bout I stop talking and let you start looking and clicking around. Ready? Go!

1. Lost Teeth - The art of Seattle based Natalia Czajkiewicz features slightly edgy illustrations of worldly girls on the go. I love the strong lines and colors. ::website::

2. Sound Revolution - This body of work by an Australian graphic designer and illustrator is inspired by the conflicting and harmonious relationships that the urban environment has with the natural world. I find this an interesting theme and enjoy seeing some of the stags here and there. Stags are everywhere lately, especially in stores in Germany. Is it the same in America at the moment? Stags as a motif?

3. Ice Cream Social - This is the candy shop for those with a paper goods craving. You’ll really swoon for these beautiful lick-your-fingers designs. ::Ice Cream Social Blog::

4. New Fashioned Whispers - I found this shop over at Melissa Loves today, and the moment I saw the snowflake earrings that Melissa featured I purchased them because they are delightful for winter and very Anthropologie without the often high price tag. This shop has gorgeous jewelry with an old fashioned twist, so girly, some art decor pieces, and they are affordable — especially if you compare them with what you find at some of our favorite retail chain stores. Eek! Thanks for the tip, Melissa! (she always finds the sweetest things.)

5. Naoko’s Stoop - “Aw…” That’s the first word that came out of my mouth the second I opened the page of this darling little etsy shop. Naoka was born in Tokyo (hence this gorgeous style she has) and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. Great work, especially her pieces on wood.

6. Track and Field Designs - This is one of my favorite little crafty shops and I’m constantly doing an online drive by to see if Sasha has listed anything new. Well this time I scored because I found a few newish things that I like, sweet to add in gift packs for friends or to give to your nieces (or okay, yourself).

7. Fiery Eyed - Oh Jenifer Altman, what you do to me! She is such a beam of light, wow. Her work always impresses me, with every new photo I’m amazed. More Jenifer here on her ::website:: or her blog ::Nectar and Light::

8. Shup(G) - Lydia Wong loves a good charm necklace, she makes so many creative ones too! Lydia is offering a 10% discount until December 15, 2008 on purchases totaling $50 and above. She will amend the invoice once she receives notification of your purchase. Charmed, I’m sure!

9. Nancy Tobin - Nancy’s paintings are wild, imaginative, magical… and so colorful! I can envision one of  prints in a very modern white space or even an artsy colorful apartment against painted walls in bold jewel tones like midnight blue or purple. Her work can fit into so many different decors. Nancy has been an artist for many years, her illustrations have appeared in magazines and children’s books, she has designed toys for Hasbro and graphic design for Herman Miller. Quite a lady! More of Nancy here::Nancy Tobin Blog:: or ::website::

10. Finest Imaginary - Super fun laser cut acrylic necklaces, can you resist this tea necklace? I thought not. So cute with a dress like this one…

How was that round up? What did you like best? Any new to you?

(images from shops linked above)

For years now, we've read about internet entrepreneurs, young Wall Street tycoons, and the like who have set out to become serious art collectors, and the high prices that this art (usually Contemporary) commands just proves what a hot market it is. But what about decorative arts collectors? How many young or middle-aged people do you know who collect porcelain, silver, or antique furniture? I'm not really talking about someone who dabbles in a few objects here and there. I mean those people who have a serious and abiding passion for a particular field of collecting.

I think this is one reason why I so admire the late Philip Shutze, the dean of Atlanta architecture. Shutze's architecture, rooted in the Beaux Arts tradition, has an elegance that is both classic and erudite. But did you know that he was also a passionate collector of 18th and 19th century decorative arts? Shutze had a marvelous collection that ranged from Meissen porcelain to Chinese Export. In fact, he purchased many of his pieces from Northeast dealers who also supplied Henry Francis du Pont with much of his collection.

What struck me was not just the breadth of his collection, but the way in which he displayed it. Living in a small apartment on Peachtree St. in Atlanta, Shutze's home was chock full of antiques, objects and books. The man actually lived with and used these precious objects. One look at the photographs and you can tell that this was someone who was a passionate and curious collector. It's evident that an interesting person lived there- someone you might like to know.

Shutze once wrote "It may well be that another generation will see collecting, as we have known it, by the individual come to a grinding halt." Shutze believed this might be due to economic reasons, but I believe it also has to do with the fact that collecting decorative arts is just not sexy. But Shutze did go on to say that "it is the duty of the present generation to preserve what we have of value for the level of taste has sunk to an unprecedented state and our production is blue denim and ersatz." To think that this was written in 1973-74! Now, I'm not going give up my dark blue denim nor some of the pastiche that I have in my home, but Mr. Shutze has inspired me to become a serious collector too. But before I pull my money from under my mattress, I think I'll do my homework first!


A view of Shutze's Dining Room.


The other end of his Dining Room with his "Mandarin" and "Fitzhugh" Chinese Export porcelain displayed on a sideboard.


The living room with a Shutze "tablescape".


Shutze's kitchen and his collection of blue and white Chinese Export which he used on a daily basis.

Image at top: Philip Shutze

Big news for you Tony Duquette fans. Baker Furniture, in collaboration with Hutton Wilkinson and the Tony Duquette Foundation, has just introduced the new Tony Duquette collection of furniture and accessories. The new line consists of reproduction pieces that were originally designed by Duquette throughout his long and prolific career. I must admit I have a weakness for furniture and objects that have a story attached to them, so I'm prone to like these pieces because of their history and lineage. But I also like the fact that the collection is anything but cookie cutter- much like Duquette himself. It's quirky, a bit bizarre, and really quite chic. What do you think?

(To see the rest of the collection, visit Baker Furniture's site.)


Regency Pagoda Lamp. Duquette produced various resin pagoda lamps that were originally inspired by an antique pair that were in his possession. Light is dispersed from the tiny windows of the pagoda; I would love to see this piece in person.


Organic Baroque Chair. Duquette came up with the design of this chair while serving in the army in World War II, but it was not until the mid-1960s that Duquette actually had the chair fabricated.


Elsie Tabouret. Not a Duquette design, but this tabouret was an Elsie de Wolfe creation c. 1926. de Wolfe was a mentor to Duquette, and the original tabouret that inspired this piece is ensconced in the Duquette studio.


Abalone Chandelier. This chandelier was originally designed for Duquette's one-man exhibition in Los Angeles in 1952. After the exhibition closed, the chandelier was moved to the Charles and Palmer Ducommun home in Bel Air, where it hung for many years until Duquette purchased it back from the estate.


Sunburst Torchere. The original torchere was designed for the drawing room at Dawnridge circa 1949.

Image at top: The drawing room at Dawnridge with the famous Sunburst Torcheres.

I know most of us are just about to be up to our ears preparing stuffing and sweet potatoes or a holiday project of some sort, but I am still thinking about my upcoming move! It is looking more and more like we will be moving to a newer house rather than the 1920s and 1930s houses I’ve lived in most of my life. This will be an interesting new adventure!

While it could be awhile before we buy another house (since we have to sell our existing one first), I know the day is coming, so I am pumping myself up for how much fun this will be. Yes, I’m daydreaming. When I should be packing. Or preparing ahead for my Thanksgiving meal.

I know you all have heard me say this before, but I look at lovely pictures because I get inspired by the possibilities. While we will be cutting back and downsizing in a major way, and will be buying a pretty average house, I can still get ideas from fancier houses in magazine photos.

No, it doesn’t get me depressed to look at beautiful rooms! I know my new house won’t be magazine cover worthy, but I can find ideas by studying photos.

I notice things like the way the light comes in a window. Reminds me how important light is to how a home feels and I need to watch for that when I house hunt. I notice wood ceilings and paneling on walls. I watch for details I can add over time to give a house character. I notice striped rugs. I love the beachy look they give.

I notice pleasing color combinations, achieved through paint, fabrics and accessories. I zero in on the creative way they furnished a home, how things have been layered and ideas I can replicate myself with a can of spray paint or a trip to the thrift store.

I am getting more excited about moving and all the adventures ahead! I wish I could fast forward through the moving part and get on to the creating of my new home! I will feel blessed no matter where we hang our hats. Ok, back to the holidays. Thanks for indulging me in my daydreaming!

PS. My HomeGoods post today is up! See one of my favorite year round and holiday accessories in my home!

All photos: House Beautiful

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!

Due to a mashed potato overload and an internet crisis at the beach, I was unable to get all my holiday finds up for this week. But, next week I’ll share some links. For anyone who has holiday posts from this week that they would like to share, here is that amazing Mr. Linky! Still a lot of great posts (68!) up from last week so feel free to roam around and catch up on the best of the best holiday posts from around blogland!

Big hugs to all!

Don’t forget about Moms Unite! See the side bar for details!

photo: Martha Stewart

Mr. Linky Instructions:

1) Select a specific holiday post from your blog and add the link! Please do not link to your blog home page or people will not be able to find your post in a week or two! And please only link to holiday related posts.

2) It is a nice courtesy to add a link back to The Inspired Room so that other people can be included in our fun too.

I thought this was such a clever wreath alternative (found at Country Living)! And easy? You can beat it! Do you guys laugh behind my back at all the simple ideas I find? So many of you are brilliantly creative, I stand in awe of your genius. Me? I would be pleased with myself for stuffing greenery in my shopping tote and hanging it from a nail. My kind of craftiness!

You can find more re-purposing ideas for holiday decorating over at HomeGoods for my last featured blogging post! Come bid me farewell and maybe get inspired for your holiday decorating this weekend!

It’s funny how things get started sometimes. We had always planned on remodeling our new home, but the start of the remodel was somewhat unplanned. We had just had our first cold day in October, so I decided I would turn on the furnace to make sure it worked properly. While it blew hot air just fine, upon closer inspection I found that the heat ducts were full of nasty old dust and grime. The logical thing to do at this point would be to pay for someone to come clean out your heat ducts… For some reason we found it a good excuse to install radiant heat. Step one was to pull up the carpet, which lead to a series of discoveries that inspired us to rip out all the flooring and the wall between our bedroom and living room. Needless to say it was a big mess. We were able to find a used high end boiler used for about 1/4th the price of a new one, and installed all the radiant tubing in the floors ourselves. It took over two months until we had it back together again and finally had heat in our home about two weeks before Christmas. There were a couple of nights that it got down to 50 degree’s inside. We were happy to have heat, and in the end it cost us around $5,000 and a lot of hard work. The good news was that the system was way oversized so there would hardly be any expense when we got around to doing our addition.

We installed about 400 square feet of temporary flooring over the radiant. We used 4′ x 4′ squares of 3/4″ plywood that I got from a local lumberyards scrap pile. There was a variety of woods from oak to birch and the finished cost was around $0.50 a square foot. If we had sealed it properly we would have been tempted to just leave it down, as it looked pretty good. Especially for the price.

Lessons learned:

1. Installing the tubing for radiant heat is easy. Installing the boiler and all the controls, leave it to the pro’s.

2. Buying used can save a huge amount of money. In the case of our boiler we saved about $2,000. Almost half of the whole cost.

3. This one is a recurring theme: Using common materials in a creative manner (like our floors) can save a ton of money, and create a unique look.

For all the details on the radiant check this old post.