Category Archives: eclectic interiors

Fairy Lights

Indoors or outdoors, summertime or the holidays, electric, battery or solar powered, strings of fairy lights create the most wonderful atmosphere. An ambient glow coming through vines on a pergola just thrills me. The warm feeling of summer evening festivities are enhanced by their subtle, tiny sparks of light. Imagine an outdoor dinner party with family and friends on a rustic patio surrounded by an olive grove and the setting sun, candles on the table, and sparkling pinpoints of light above (yet below the stars!). It’s a new week to fill with wonderful thoughts of the atmosphere you want to create in your home! Happy Monday!

P.S. Exciting changes are coming to designflutter and belle patine! Stay tuned and watch for updates. Here is the first peek: MIX Vintage is my new name, and instead of 2 sites to find me, all will be here … more to come!

Images via Bright.Bazaar, wit + delight, La Buena Vida, Pia Ulin Photographer.

The Versatility of Vintage Factory Tables

No matter how you intend to use it, a vintage factory table fits in almost every home. As desk, dining table, studio work space, kitchen island, entryway console or counter, the heft and beauty of an old industrial table works. And the contrast of chic and rustic is wonderful; you can work these tables with lucite lamps and art for a gorgeous mix of textures and style, or metal factory stools and antlers to up the industrial ante. Hope you find some great vintage design versatility in your world this weekend! Happy Thursday!

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Images via 47 Park Avenue, Shoot Factory, Quince with Sugar, Mi Casa Es Su Casa, Charming Treasures, and Brown Dress with White Dots.

Spring Space

This lovely home was designed by Dehn Bloom Design in San Francisco. It just sings “Happy Spring!” to me. The soft palette, natural elements, large-scaled art pieces and simple industrial details are done so well. The touches of mid-century and rustic are perfectly paired. It’s just a wonderful light and airy space that invites a glass of wine and a book, entertaining, enjoying life. Wishing a space like this for you, right now or in your future dream home!

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Images via Dehn Bloom Design, post inspired by Vintage Luxe.

Streamlined Glamour

Sometimes I think that my style is drifting way over to the rustic, industrial, primitive side of design. But then I see a space that can be defined as simple glamour and I start craving that mix of sophisticated, patina’d, light reflecting and clean-lined. I love these rooms as much as the gray metal and white industrial spaces from last week. The common thread is the livability, understated elegance, and low-key style that buzzes through them all and thrills my heart.

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Images via Vintage Luxe, Etxekodeco and Sanctuary.

Art To Scale

A large piece of art in an eclectic space is so nice. I love a gallery wall, too, but I love to see a piece of art cover or inhabit a wall on its own. It allows me to focus and really see what’s there, in the painting, photo, collage or whatever it is. Especially when there are lots of layers and textures in the room, a bold-sized piece of art is perfect to ground the space. And these spaces say it much better than I! Enjoy your weekend!

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Images via Reelinki, Desire to Inspire (2,4,5), the style files, and Vosgesparis.

Karen’s Vintage Modern Kitchen

My friend Karen’s Asheville home is just full of magical things that she has collected with her superb talent for spotting unique and beautiful treasures. Yesterday I went over with a camera so that today I can show you her kitchen. Marble on the countertops, rustic plank flooring and glass-fronted white cabinetry are surrounded by beveled subway tiled walls. Several windows and lots of light lead you onto the passage to the deck, below. With her gorgeous collection and talent as a stylist, Karen has created my dream kitchen. Hope you like it too!

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Karen uses this unique antique stand as an island, and styles it up with vintage mannequin feet, white linen, silver and ironstone.

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This worn and ancient cutting board on the counter protects the marble. Framed art sits on the window sill, and cabinets are full of silver and china from past generations. I love the white, wood, light and art.

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Karen found this sweet little guy in South Carolina. (She has a vintage dress form in almost every room of the house.) This fellow, with his ticking body and painted wood feet, watches over her tiara and some antique jewels in the kitchen. Why not?

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These precious little silver Japanese lantern salt & peppers are from a friend. They hang beautifully from their stands on the stovetop.

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This portrait is a favorite of mine; I feel this man's weariness in my bones. The beauty of the painting and all the warm wood in the room temper the brightness of the white tiled walls.

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She mixes industrial lighting with antique lighting in the most awe-inspiring way. More art on the sill, and pretty vintage canisters with a marble cutting board make another special nook. (More on that tiny stork next to the painting on the sill, below.)

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This beautiful salvaged primitive door frames another piece of art and leads down the tiled staircase, lit by a simple antique crystal pendant.

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This tiny silver stork is a 19th century treasure used by midwives. Originally designed as an umbilical cord clip, the open scissor reveals two tiny babies in its body, while the turtles below create a sturdy stand to keep the device up, open and sterile. Over time, this design was adapted to ribbon pullers. Karen added the scallop sugar tongs it holds.

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On the top of her island, Karen displays a hand-painted tile dated 1883, silver (cows and silver are two of her loves) and ironstone. Lovely!

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This custom stairway with copper caps lead to the stone patio with a vintage patio set, concrete urns and gorgeous landscaping.

Photos by me.

Vintage Modern Synchronicity

You’ve probably gathered that my idea of the bees knees in design is blending eras, patinas and design styles. The most beautiful synchronicities flow from combinations of mid-century modern, antique, vintage, rustic and industrial pieces. In Architectural Digest’s (AD) April 2012 issue we get to feast on the perfect VM cocktail of designer Isabel López-Quesada’s home in Madrid. From AD: “The industrial setting dovetailed nicely with the designer’s admired style, which is equal parts sensuality and swagger. Read the interview and article here – Isabel is a force! And enjoy your weekend!

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Soft Chairs, Creature Comfort (Fresh Start Monday}

Isn’t it impossible to resist softly covered chairs that let you tuck your feet up and really get comfortable? Be it a frayed old thing with the stuffing spilling out, an overstuffed armchair covered in washed-out linen, or a blue mid-century number with a shag footstool, it’s for me if its got a history and a style of its own, and I can enjoy tea and a book (or a beer and my laptop) in it without my feet touching the floor. Wishing you a week sprinkled, or doused, with quality time in a comfy chair!

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Romantic Reds {Color Inspiration}

Today is grey and chilly in the mountains, a reminder that winter is far from over. Cold winds call for warm colors, and with Valentine’s Day upon us, I think splashes of red will do the trick. In shades of ripe cherries, rusty metal and burgundy wine, red enlivens our senses and woos our hearts. May you be inspired to put some love into your life with romantic red.

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Images via: Anthropologie, Emel, Design is Mine, Pinterest, Designamour, High Street Market, Parson Sees, We Heart It

Black Ceilings, Bright Living

My first thought when presented with the idea of a ceiling in black was the possibility of the feeling of darkness descending. Au contraire! These stunning rooms are as bright as can be; the black contrast adds depth to the room without diminishing the light. The first three photos are of the gorgeous home of Paula Leen. It seems the light is bouncing off the black ceiling, making the room even brighter. What a gorgeous surprise!

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Inspiration and photos from emmas designblogg (3), Ashe + Leandro, Remodelista (2), Dwellers Without Decorators.