Friday, May 31, 2013

Twitter Tidbits, vol. three

There is a lot going on in the Twitter-verse.  And in order to help you navigate, we pulled out the tippy-top Twitter Tidbits of the week from experts, comedians, and regular joes that will absolutely, positively make your lives easier. Check 'em out:







Thursday, May 30, 2013

Get To Know: Erik Reagan

Photo courtesy of Erik's Twitter @ErikReagan.
Something great about Savannah is that even though it's thriving and inspired and oh-so-creative, it is still a small town. Business owners grew up next to each other, or went to school together, and can support each other in this "grown-up" phase of our lives. I had the pleasure of going to middle school (wow!!) with Focus Lab's, Erik Reagan. He was an inspired young man then, and (an undisclosed amount of) years later he's busy changing the face of branding in Savannah and beyond. Please get to know my old friend, Erik:

ERIK REAGAN
Partner & Technical Director, FOCUS LAB, LLC

CLUTTER FURNISHINGS AND INTERIORS: What drew you to the world of web development?
ERIK REAGAN: My dad was the computer teacher at my school when I was in 6th grade. At the time he was teaching his classes a bit of HTML, the language that is the building blocks of all webpages. From what I remember my first little website in his class had to do with Greek Mythology and doubled as a project for another class. I enjoyed building these digital pages of information so I continued to play with it throughout middle and high school.
It was in high school where I started learning more of the “dynamic” parts of building websites. At 16 I completed my first paid job building a website with the guidance of my dad. From there it remained a hobby. A few years later it became a source of income. Not long after that, I decided I wanted to run a  business doing this web stuff. 
CF&I: For us technological Neanderthals, how does Focus Lab work?
ER: Focus Lab isn’t just web development. Much of what we do is very simple.
It all starts with us finding a good client fit. We spend a lot of time in our sales process vetting clients and having them vet us. It’s very important to us that we’re a good fit for them and that they’re a good fit for our team. This is the foundation of a good project together, which in turn keeps energy and excitement high amongst the Focus Lab team. This is really important to me.
Most of our projects involve more than just development, so it will probably be easy to grasp what we do. We spend a lot of our time and energy creating visual brands (logos, color palettes etc.) for new and renewed businesses that want to best represent what they are and what they do. We have a really talented team of graphic designers who do wonderful work. (They’ve won awards and their work has been printed in multiple publications. It’s an honor to work with them.)
Sometimes our work involves designing a new website as well. At that point our development team, which I lead, enters the picture. We take the designs and turn them into functioning websites. It’s somewhat equivalent to a homebuilder taking blueprints and designs and actually building the real house. I’ll spare you the details, because that’s where it does get pretty nerdy.
Regardless of the context of our projects, our ultimate goal is to help organizations reach their goals. Most often that involves some type of revenue increase, donations increase or more communication with their audience. We keep these goals at the forefront of each project we do, which helps us maintain a consistent rate of success across projects.
CF&I: Where is the future of web development taking us? Will there be robots there?
ER: Everything is going mobile right now. If your website doesn’t load quickly and optimally on a mobile device there is a really good chance you’re missing some of your key audience. Mobile isn’t just about websites anymore though. It’s also about native apps for iPhone and Android devices. There are many businesses that benefit from having applications for these phones. The “now” of web development is very mobile-focused and that will only increase over the next couple of years.
Beyond mobile, my prediction is that “the web” will continue to show up all around us, more than it already is. Can you imagine that? It’s starting to show up in TV’s and will likely be in other devices that we wouldn’t expect. Web development as an industry is a rapidly evolving world. The market demands for innovation make it a place that’s very difficult to stay up to speed. It will be interested to see what the next 5 or 10 years bring.
CF&I: What is your social media medium of choice?
ER: On the personal side I use a few of them for a variety of purposes so I don’t have a favorite. Many of my peers are on Twitter and I’ve been using that for 5 years. Over that time many of these peers have become friends, so it’s more personal than it used to be for me. I used to tweet dozens of times a day. These days I’m a little busier so I’m on it a little less.
I also use Instagram to share photos of family and random stuff. I keep Instagram to just friends and family (locked account). I use Facebook to keep other friends and family in the loop with work stuff and other random family stuff. I don’t have much overlap between my Twitter followers and my Facebook friends.
For Focus Lab we use Twitter mostly. My business partner and I are the faces of the company so most of our business tweeting still occurs from our person accounts, in spite of our @focuslabllc account existing.
CF&I: What is your favorite thing about being a business owner in Savannah?
ER: Honestly, those two things are very separate to me. I love being a business owner and I love being in Savannah. I’m sure I could be a business owner in any other city though. My industry in particular is highly digital so we can do our work from anywhere. There’s nothing about Savannah that necessarily helps or hurts our business. That said, I certainly love living here!
CF&I: What is your guilty pleasure?
ER: Disney music. Especially from the past few decades. I really love music and Disney has worked with some fantastic musicians. My favorite is probably Alan Menken. Don’t be surprised if you catch me listening to a soundtrack from a Disney movie. I don’t even try to use my 4-yr-old as an excuse. I happily own this guilty pleasure.
CF&I: Describe Focus Lab in five words.
ER: Fun.
       Open.
       Inspired.
       Intentional.
       Determined.

Paradise 002


"Green." (Waikiki, May 2013)
"Home." (Kaka'ako Beach Park, May 2013)

"Wheels." (Waikiki, May 2013)

"Trash." (Kaka'ako Beach Park, May 2013)
Hawaii is a cultural hodgepodge of decadence and destitution. On average, around seven million people vacation on the Hawaiian Islands every year, and while areas of downtown Waikiki and the North Shore are flush with cash, poverty and homelessness is a huge epidemic especially among local Hawaiian families and communities.  Our "Paradise" photo series juxtaposes the dichotomy of our beautiful, temporary home.

AdWatch006


Just love this Miami tourism ad from vintage Travel + Leisure (May 2012). With the huge Art Basel presence and street art movement, and all the Hispanic influence (in food, art, life), Miami is a creative juggernaut.

Do we have cool ads like this for visiting Savannah?! I sure hope so.

Product Placement: Moleskine


As most small business owners (and bloggers and mommies...all of us, basically) can attest, if you're not organized you will go mad.  I owe my sanity to the beautiful people over at Moleskine and their dedication to producing quality, eco-friendly, and reasonably priced journals and notebooks.

We're basic black, lined pages, simple kind of folk when it comes to organizing our next blog posts (above) or our next great design idea...but Moleskine literally has something for everyone. Every color of the rainbow, every design you can think of, thick ones, thin ones...you name it, they got something for you.

Moleskine notebooks make our lives a heck of a lot easier. What helps you get organized?

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Framed: Maps


Two of my most favorite things in the world are frames (as mentioned at least once before) and maps. I love the rich texture and story that a map can tell...whether it's of your hometown, a country or city you've visited that you remember fondly, or a print that like the one pictured above. Maps add great dimension to any space, so definitely consider one for your next design project.

Store Philosophy 02


Whenever you are designing a room, make sure you don't overdo it. An overdone room, whether it's over-stuffed or over-worked, is always just a little off putting. If you're thinking a piece doesn't fit/work, take it out. You can always substitute it later or rearrange to make everything speak more eloquently to each piece.

Styled By Lynn: Tablescapes


It's important to take advantage of horizontal surfaces in your home...they add another dimension and, with the right accessories, can tell a great story. I like to interweave pieces I love...a porcelain vase, a lamp, some shells, and some great coffee table books...to tie in a sophisticated scheme that represents me and my home. You can do this on a coffee table, on a dining room table, a console table...the areas and surfaces to show off your mini-stories are endless. 

As in every element of design, remember the most important word...EDIT.  Edit yourself, edit your tablescapes, and you'll come away with something unique, not over designed, and fun! And you'll have a blast arranging and rearranging time after time. 

Hotel Style: William Penn Inn





If your style leans more traditional, a great place to get some design inspiration is a local Bed and Breakfast. We were recently in Philadelphia and stayed at the William Penn Inn, one of the country's oldest operating inns. With heavy traditional patterns, wallpaper, and chandeliers, the William Penn Inn is rich in history and décor.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Clutter Top Ten: Georgia Bands (All Time)


We love lists. We love music. We love lists about music. So here's another one. Clutter's Top Ten this week features the best all-time Georgia bands...take a listen!

1. R.E.M. Athens' coolest band of all time (hands down) is the Michael-Stipe-fronted, R.E.M. Now in their fourth decade of making music (although they half called it quits in 2011), R.E.M. has been a hit machine, a band of activists and humanitarians, and consummate trendsetters.

Clutter's Favorite Songs: "Nightswimming", "Everybody Hurts", "Shiny Happy People"

2. Outkast. "I'm from Atlanta, baby / He's from Savannah, maybe / We should hook up and get tore up and lay down, hey we..." raps Andre 3000 of Georgia funkiest hip-hop duo, Outkast. Big Boi's a hometown legend in SAV, and Dre is one ATL's finest lyricists. 

Clutter's Favorite Songs: "B.O.B.", "Ms. Jackson", "Humble Mumble" (anything on "Stankonia").

3. The Allman Brothers Band brought us Southern rock and made Macon, Georgia the home of one of the greatest, hard rock-ingest groups around. Their music is as relevant (and cool) today as it was in the 70s...you can hear ABB's influence in every Kings of Leon song!

Clutter's Favorite Songs: "Melissa", "Midnight Rider", "Ramblin' Man", "Jessica".

4. Sugarland's rocking mix of musicality and Jennifer Nettles' amazing voice is inspiring, fun, quirky, and always interesting.  That rare country duo....thankfully Sugarland came along so Big & Rich and Brooks & Dunn weren't winning all the Best Duo awards.

Clutter's Favorite Songs: "It Happens", "Baby Girl", "Stay".

5. Of Montreal is Athens' quirkiest, hippest, rad-est, best live band around. Their music even inspired an amazing Outback commercial!!

Clutter's Favorite Songs: "Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse", "Suffer For Fashion", "Requiem for O.M.M. 2"

6. The B-52s are cool as hell. Enough said.

Clutter's Favorite Songs: "Roam", "Rock Lobster", "Love Shack" (of course!).

7. The Dahlonega based Zac Brown Band is a cool blend of country, Southern Rock, and something extra...like if Jimmy Buffett was an Allman Brother, or if Kenny Chesney had hair...

Clutter's Favorite Songs: "Colder Weather", "Chicken Fried", "Keep Me In Mind".

8. Neutral Milk Hotel is yet another Athens group, by way of Louisiana, who has influenced everyone from Arcade Fire to Bon Iver to The Decemberists. NMH was our go-to, hipster jam in college...because we were trying to be cooler than we actually are...(waa waa).

Clutter's Favorite Songs: "Holland, 1945", "The King of Carrot Flowers, Pt. One".

9. When I was in high school, I wanted to be the fourth member of TLC.  I thought maybe T-Boz would add a 'B' (for Brooke) and let us change the name to BLT-C...but then people might think we were a sandwich...with cheese...but I digress.

Clutter's Favorite Songs: "What About Your Friends", "Creep", "Waterfalls", "No Scrubs" (SO MANY!!!).

10. The Cusses are Savannah's hippest, lady-fronted, world-smashing, life-changing band you ever heard. Part punk, part elevated rock a la Yeah Yeah Yeahs, part creepy-cool alt rock, the Cusses are the real deal. Follow them on Facebook, tell your friends about them, and get ready for them to blow up...BIG TIME!

Clutter's Favorite Songs: "Purses", "Don't Give In", "Worst Enemy".

Haiku Monday: "birds of a feather"

[ed. note: Forgot to hit "publish" on our inaugural Haiku Monday series...so it's coming at you on Tuesday.]

"birds of a feather"

by brooke thomas


"may i sit up here,"

Bird asked Man quizzically.
"of course, friend" Man laughed.

Haiku Monday's is a way to inspire a little creativity, humor, and maybe fun to shake up a regular old, boring Monday.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Clutter At Your House 0003


Mr. Jimmy rescued this beautiful leather club chair and ottoman from Clutter and took it home for his go-to-Braves-watching-spot. This chair was SO comfortable!!

If you have a piece of furniture from Clutter in your home, we'd love to see how you used it/styled it/etc.! Send pictures to clutterconsignments@gmail.com and we'll share the love on the blog!

AdWatch005


Love this Jim Thompson wallpaper ad in the new Traditional Home Magazine.  A great, intense wallpaper is right in any space when it is used in moderation. Cover a nook or the back of some bookshelves and you'll get that wow without overpowering the room. 

Check out our Wallpaper Board on Pinterest for some wallpaper design ideas and inspiration.

Clutter Book Club: The Happiness Project


This week's Book Club selection is Gretchen Rubin's guide to getting happy, "The Happiness Project".  We are already pretty happy, but who couldn't use a little boost! Come get happy with us!!

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Obsessions of the Week: 26MAY to 01JUN13


Some things we're obsessed with this week:
  • Zack Spurlock's Instagram is rock and roll tattoo heaven. Serious tattoo design idea look book / lovely spot to waste hours on your phone. I literally spent three hours today combing through old ZS tattoos and moving funds from savings to checking in preparation for a dream sleeve I'm scheming (and getting up the nerves to get). Go check it out for inspiration (and him out over at Anonymous Tattoo).
  • Broke Socialite's weekly Scandal live tweets (she does Love and Hip Hop ATL, too!). So funny, and so accurate, BS's breakdown of Ms. Washington's scandalous behavior with the fictional POTUS is almost reason enough to skip the ABC hit altogether and stay glued to your Twitter feed. She is hilarious, stylish, and so much more.
  • I-95 between Fayetteville, North Carolina and Savannah, Georgia. I don't know if you've paid attention to the shenanigans going down on the side of I-95 lately, but, as someone who has driven it twice this weekend (and a million times in my life), let me tell you something...if someone wanted to make a coffee table book about some wild and crazy things, I-95 is fodder for the fire. Traveler beware!
  • We remembered my husband's grandfather who passed away last week in a touching service in Philadelphia over the weekend. He was a laugh a minute guy, who wouldn't let anyone go without telling them a joke first...so we're currently obsessed with all the little awkward moments at funerals that we know he was looking down on chuckling. AND with this movie..."Death at a Funeral"...hilarious. We miss you, Big Ray!

Friday, May 24, 2013

Get To Know: Cole Whitworth


So excited to feature my fellow Savannah Arts Academy Alum, Cole Whitworth. Not only is he a brilliant photographer, but he's also an all around great guy, SCAD graduate, AND Savannah local.  Like every great photographer, his photos speak volumes; so take a look at some of his great words below on how he got into the game, and then get transported through his photography here and on his website. And give him a follow over on Twitter to follow a photog's journey!

COLE WHITWORTH
Owner, ColeWhitworth.com
Photographer, Artist, Storyteller

CLUTTER FURNISHINGS AND INTERIORS: What drew you to photography?
COLE WHITWORTH: My father was always taking pictures of my siblings and I growing up and I gained an interest in the art because of that. I found it a necessary skill to learn so that I could document life with a bit of craft and not have a bunch of family photos with badly framed loved ones and red eye.  I really enjoy the medium for the purpose it was designed for, a way to record time.

CF&I: When did you receive your first camera?
CW: I received my first camera when I was a freshman in high school at the Savannah Arts Academy. It was a Nikon FM 10 and I learned photography with it and through the process of film. I still use that camera for some of my personal work today.

CF&I: What is your favorite subject to photograph?
CW: That’s a tough question to answer. I enjoy photographing a variety of subject matter but probably my favorite subject is people. Everyone’s different and some people respond well with cameras while others do not. The challenge is making people feel comfortable while you’re taking their picture and capturing who they really are.  

CF&I: What is your camera of choice?
CW: Probably the Canham 4x5 Field Camera. I love having so much control with that camera and the beauty in the results.

CF&I: What is your favorite thing about living in Savannah?
CW: The architecture and beauty of downtown. I’ve grown up here but never really appreciated the scenery until I began college at SCAD. The Spanish moss adds such romanticism to the city that I love.  And it looks great in pictures.

CF&I: What is your guilty pleasure?
CW:  Vinyl records. Hands down. I love buying music and seeing the cool color blends on the hard plastic and then listening to it play on a good turntable and sound system. I need to slow down on buying so much of it. It’s addictive with all the great music that continually comes out.

CF&I: Describe Cole Whitworth photography in five words.
CW: Honesty in its purest form.




[Photos courtesy of Colewhitworth.com]


Product Placement: Rewined Candles


What a great concept!! Rewined Candles creates signature wine-related scents AND uses old wine bottles as the containers! Eco-friendly, great smelling, and a small, southern business. We're happy to add Rewined Candles to the Clutter family of products carried in store, and their beautiful line, including "Riesling", "Chardonnay", and "Merlot", helps make our store a great place to visit. Come smell for yourselves!!

Twitter Tidbits, vol. two

There is a lot going on in the Twitter-verse.  And in order to help you navigate, we pulled out the tippy-top Twitter Tidbits of the week from experts, comedians, and regular joes that will absolutely, positively make your lives easier. Check 'em out:






Thursday, May 23, 2013

How To Throw A Memorable Memorial Day Bash

"Watermelon Magaritas" thx. to pinterest for the picture and ideas.
We have scoured the depths of Pinterest, sifted through board after board, to track down the BEST Memorial Day Party foods, drinks, and ideas! Take some, leave some, but have a good time this weekend!! And remember our Service Members and their sacrifices!!

DECOR

DRINKS
ENTREES
DESSERTS

Brooke's Look: Three's Company


I'm an odd number kinda girl. Sure, one is fun, and a pair is right in certain settings, but if you're going to do a grouping, consider going with three (or five or seven...you get the picture).  An odd number gets someone to take a second look...and isn't that the point of design anyway.  A pair is your grandmother's grouping go-to...it's time to get odd!

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Gone But Not Forgotten...VII





We hate to see the beautiful pieces go...but we love to watch them walk away!!
Hope you enjoy these in your home, Clutter bugs!

Obsessions of the Week: 19MAY to 25MAY13


Some things we're obsessed with this week:
  • Measure: a fabric Parlor. Pretty into Measure's Instagram feed...literally looking at beautiful fabrics all day on my phone is making me the happiest little stylist around. Such great inspiration, such great pieces. One day, I will stop online stalking (or "stocking"...pun intended) Measure and go check them out in person.
  • Traditional Home Spring 2013 Digital Issue. Can't stop looking at the spread on Cheryl Day's favorite Savannah shops...including Clutter (above)...from pgs. 68-77. Lots of local love (including Measure, shopSCAD, and Paris Market) and we're so excited to be included. And the Back in the Day Bakery shots are awesome!
  • Black and White. Black and white patterns are HUGE on the runway and in fashion. And easy to translate into a beautiful statement in your home. Check out these great examples of Black and White chic from Pinterest:
  • NextMovie's: Versus. Especially this comparison of Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen. Hilarious!

Clutter Book Club: The Punishment of Virtue

This week's Clutter Book Club selection is the PHENOMENAL story of a woman living in Afghanistan during the war, building relationships and ties with the Afghanis, and promoting growth amongst the local populace. Sarah Chayes went from journalist to activist to military consultant/expert on the Afghan population. She is a hero, and she weaves a beautiful tale of life in war-torn country. Check this book out!

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Store Philosophy 01

Combining our love of amateur graphic design, Instagram, and ombre...we present the first tenant of our Store Philosophy. It's super important, especially as a small business owner, to understand who you are and what you represent. We couldn't be prouder to be a small (Southern!) business owner in Savannah and look forward to sharing more "good design" and philosophizing with y'all!

Clutter At Your House 0002

Thanks Barb for sharing this picture of your beautiful home and the beautifully reupholstered chair (on the right) that you adopted from Clutter. He looks right at home in your living room!

If you have taken furniture home from Clutter, we'd love to see how you've used it!! Send pictures to clutterconsignments@gmail.com with the subject "Clutter At Your House".  Cheers.

Framed: Wedding Invitation

A GREAT wedding gift for any bride...frame her wedding invite that you receive in the mail so she can remember the event forever! There are a ton of great Etsy shops that can do it for you...OR find a reasonably priced frame and you can embellish inside (as above) to give the bride a personalized gift that is truly one of a kind.

We received ours from a dear friend and it has a permanent place in our home and heart.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Work Hard Play Hard: Brookie's Bloody Mary


Happy weekend, y'all! This week's Work Hard Play Hard drink is Brookie's Bloody Mary, once referred to by THE Paula Deen as "the world's best Bloody Mary"**.  This is a real simple recipe that tastes dang good.

Ingredients:
  • Mr. & Mrs. T's Bloody Mary Mix
  • Vodka
  • Pickles
  • Salt
  • Ice
Salt the rim of the tumbler...more salt the better, in our opinion...add ice...then one part vodka...then two parts Mr. and Mrs. T's...stir...garnish with a pickle...and enjoy!

** My husband and I "worked" a Paula Deen event as (wannabe) bartenders mixing pre-mixed drinks.  One of her guests stated that he had had the "world's best Bloody Mary" and Mrs. Deen, who didn't drink any of them, took his word for it...thus, a beautiful anecdote was born.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Twitter Tidbits, vol. one

There is a lot going on in the Twitter-verse.  And in order to help you navigate, we pulled out the tippy-top Twitter Tidbits of the week from experts, comedians, and regular joes that will absolutely, positively make your lives easier. Check 'em out:



Get To Know: Lynn Rahn


Y'all know Lynn. She's probably the reason you stopped into Clutter in the first place. But, hey, you can always get to know a little bit more about the other half of Clutter and, now, Savannah Morning News' Reader's Choice 2013 Best Interior Designer in Savannah!! She's my mom, she's pretty cool, and I hope you get a kick out of the quirky answers she gave below. (She loves ellipses and lower case...just be forewarned).

LYNN RAHN
Owner, Clutter Furnishings and Interiors
Interior Stylist, Small Business Owner, "Mimi"

CLUTTER FURNISHINGS AND INTERIORS: When did you get into home décor/styling?
LYNN RAHN: became interested in my teens.....

CF&I: What style are you most drawn to?
LR: no one particular style....just interiors that have an interesting pulled together décor that represent the people who live there.  Drawn to textures, layers, shells, neutrals, pops of color, and interesting found obects.....

CF&I: If you could decorate one person's home, past or present, who would it be?
LR: would love to decorate the island where Gilligan's Island castaways live...
CF&I: What is your guilty pleasure?
LR: James Bond movies, tarragon chicken salad, a comfortable soda, friends, and grandchildren
CF&I: Describe Clutter,  your store, in five words.
LR: Eclectic, happy, unique, comfortable and ever-changing....

Product Placement: Brother Sewing Machine


Oh brother, I love my Brother sewing machine! If I'm feeling down, I grab my favorite bottle of Riesling and sling myself into my fave comfy chair for a sewing madness session with the old beast...I call her Broom Hilda, but she prefers just "Hilly". Seriously, Brother is an extremely reliable brand, and whether I'm making curtains or (failing at making) pillows, I can always trust Hilly to get the job done right. If only my skills were on par with hers...(it's a good thing I'm not making the beautiful pillows we have in store at Clutter....just saying). 

AdWatch004


Design inspiration can come from the darndest places.  One of our go to design inspiration spots lies in the pages of Elle Décor...not in the stories...but in the ads.  This rockin' Madeline Weinrib textiles ad is everything. I want to make, stuff, and sew a pillow just out of this ad...out of the paper...who cares...it's awesome. Love how the hues play together to make a great representation of Madeline's beautiful pieces and designs. We're hooked. Elle, we'll be back next month!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Clutter Top Ten: Designers (Furniture)


We love trashy reality TV and other nonsense, but design is our lifeblood.  We thrive off a good piece of furniture, a great chair, a rockin' sofa, a killer chandelier.  So...we compiled our list of Top Ten Furniture Designers of all time to give a little thanks to those bright minds that brought us some great looks. Ch-ch-ch-check it out below:

1. Ray and Charles Eames. The Brad and Angelina of the design world, Ray and Charles pioneered wood, fiberglass, plastic and resin technologies in the 1950s. While Plycraft produced some Eames-like loungers (an example, above, from Clutter), Ray and Charles mastered  a look that revolutionized American design...and they were so cute doing it!

2. Kem Weber. German import whose name "Kem" came from the initials of his given name (the uber-German, Karl Emanuel Martin Weber), mixed metals and leather like Don Draper mixed a drink on a sunny morning Manhattan ("Mad Men" shout out).  Check out this BEAUTIFUL Weber vintage chair at Clutter...stunning. 

3. Thomas C. Molesworth. Molesworth rode the Arts and Crafts revolution of the early 1900s into a furniture design business that focused on hides, horns, and natural woods...he is our reason for living basically.  Check out some awesome originals (like an antler chair!!!) in the vein of Molesworth on Marc Taggart and Company.

4. Florence Knoll. Florence's sleek minimalist look defines midcentury modern. She considered herself an interior designer first, possibly an artist second, and, far down the list, a furniture designer, but her designs, furniture and otherwise, shocked a post-war America into a design-centric bunch of Knoll lovers. We dig her.

5. Milo Baughman. California Modern designer, Baughman, designed for everyone from Drexel to Murray Furniture and was even featured at the Whitney for his designs. His pieces reflect a casual elegance that reads, full on, Los Angeles, baby. Sick Baughman trolley table, below, at Clutter.

6. Thomas Chippendale. Old school now...Chippendale is the picture of traditionalism. A cabinet maker in England in the 1700s, his works in rococo and neoclassical styles are in museums worldwide.

7. Hans Wegner. A modernist from the Danish school, Wegner and his crew focused on functionality first.  He was a major contributor to the Danish Modern popularity of the mid-twentieth century and is famous for saying, ""I have always wanted to make unexceptional things of an exceptionally high quality."

8. Eileen Gray. Eileen's ultra modern vibe revolutionized the late twentieth century design aesthetic.  Imagine what a 1980's yuppie, bachelor pad looks like...lots of metals and glass, rounded chairs (the Bibendum), super slick modern lines...Eileen, an Irish woman (!), is to blame thank. Like everything in design, the modern look is back in (and not with the d-bags)...

9. Achille Castiglioni. Castiglioni, a modern minimalist (and the Italian representative of this list), is probably most famous for his lamp, "Arco".  Google it...you've seen it, and now you know who to thank/appreciate for it! And what a cool name!!

10. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Ludwig, all we can say is thanks, my dear man, for creating the Barcelona Chair...the single slickest piece of furniture around. You (and Lily Reich) rock!

Styled By Lynn: Flexibility in Design



Thinking about attitude and flexibility today.

Had an opportunity to help some client’s last night who wanted to “reinvent” their home just a bit…you know…create some “new room views” with current fabrics on beautiful furniture and to produce a new feeling when they walked in the room...just my kind of challenge ..!! ….so we started by emptying out the living room except for the two largest items we knew we wanted to keep…then moving the furniture around, deciding on the items that were to stay, and how each piece would function. We used my favorite four letter word…”edit”...and together we created an amazing new room with only three new chairs, 5 new lampshades, one lamp and a couple of custom-made pillows.  After about four hours and a lot of laughing, we created an entirely new vision of their living room!  Yes, there are plans for a new wall color in the future….and we do want to upholster some sitting chairs and a sofa, but that is relatively inexpensive when the pieces are worthy of remaining on for many years to come….
It occurred to me on the ride home that these homeowner’s were such a pleasure because they were excited, ready and flexible.  They were explicit with explaining their needs for the room but were equally as open in helping realize a great ending because they were willing to make changes they had never considered. When they did….they realized how much fun decorating can be and how much pleasure comes from just letting go and trying something new.

Thank you guys for allowing me an opportunity to play a small role in your redo and entertaining me for a few short hours!  I had a blast!!!! 

[Photo courtesy of You're Welcome Savannah's, Cedric Smith]

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Go Green: Art (3)


We're a little obsessed with art, and, hey, that's a pretty healthy obsession, we'd say.  But, we're also obsessed with this little thing called, Planet Earth.  This piece of art is sewn-together scraps from various home decor projects, framed and hung elegantly on our gallery wall.  It adds a great textural piece to our home, AND it was born of recycled materials (including the canvas' stretching bars!).

Don't think you can't make beautiful art? Everyone has some artistic flair, and if you're having fun making it, who cares what it looks like in the end as long as you love it! 

Monday, May 13, 2013

Brooke's Look: Kid's Room Chic (One)

In our little girl's room, I just couldn't go all pink...it's not me.  BUT throw in a little (or a lot) of my favorite color, gray, and some pale pinks are right up my alley.  This great rattan rocker has been my go-to feeding chair for both kids and the beautiful handmade blanket is from my dear (British) friend, Emma (thanks, girl!).
Don't feel stuck with standard boxes and containers...look outside the box (pun intended) like Lynn taught us last week, and find great and unique storage pieces that can hold a little girls bows, or her socks, or even diapers!

Who says a young ladies' room has to be pink? Bring in frills in shades of gray (not fifty...) and you'll still get that feminine look without all the pink PINK PINK!


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