(Photo- Aaron Dyer for Martha Stewart Living, September 2013)
Interiors
Book- ‘American Family Style’
Have you ever noticed how quickly some interior design books become dated? Within a year or two they’re no longer relevant. Usually because the decors pictured are trying so hard to be funky or hip. That’s fine if you’re after a quick fix. But ‘American Family Style‘ by Mary Randolph Carter isn’t that kind of book. The content and images are much more thoughtful. I think it has to do with the Carter family’s deeply-felt personal style which thankfully has nothing to do with what’s current or trendy. Published in 1988, it is and remains a wonderful resource. If you haven’t gotten this book for your design library yet…you should.
The book is divided into the four seasons- Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer. It offers a year’s worth of decorating tips, garden advice, craft ideas and family recipes.
(Photos- flea market braided rug c. 1800s and fresh Thanksgiving greens by Mary Randolph Carter)
Related Nibs post-
Some Things Never Change
Some things never change… like my fondness for red kitchens. Here’s one I love. Not a whole lot of square footage, but it sure packs a design punch. The galley kitchen is squeezed into the center of an apartment layout. Yet it maximizes every ounce of space creatively- open shelves reach the ceiling, adjustable clip-on lights, knife rack, cool sliding glass doors along with bright red focal point wall and cabinet under the sink.
(Photo- IKEA’s book ‘Beloved Homes!’)
Related Nibs posts-
Fireplace Mantel Idea #4- Eat, Drink And Be Merry
My Imaginary Magazine Cover- House Beautiful
WSJ- Famous People & Their Favorite Things
We all have things that we’d never part with. Not so much because they’re expensive and valuable. Although that can happen. But the things I’m talking about are the ones with sentimental value. Those special books, paintings, photographs, toys, etc. that we’ve held onto for years. Strangely enough, they reveal a lot about us and our personalities. I suppose that’s why I’m fascinated by the section ‘Objects of Affection’ of the Wall Street Journal Magazine. In each issue they publish a well known person and their favorite things.
L’Wren Scott (intro) Sofia Coppola (top left), Grace Coddington (top right), Carolina Herrear (bottom left), and Alexandra Cousteau (bottom right),
Paul G. Allen (top left), Alexander Wang (top right), David de Rothschild (bottom left) and George Lois (bottom right).
08-22
(Photo- ©2013 Martha Browne)
GRAB BAG- Hanging Rack
What a great hanging rack. It can be used in multiple ways- bedroom (clothing), kitchen (pots & pans), bathroom (towels) or garden shed (drying herbs).
~candid spaces~
A series of photographs showing home exteriors, interiors and gardens as I found them. No effort was made in styling.
(Photo- © 2013 Martha Browne)
More Small Scale Decorating #13
The IKEA 2014 catalog arrived in the mail last week. Quite a few things caught my attention including this set of dollhouse furniture based on the company’s own designs. Then my friend Christine mentioned it on her blog. Well…that did it. I just had to make a drive to the nearest store to check it out. I ended up purchasing the set- sofa (with pink slipcover), yellow chair, green table, shelving unit, striped rug and heart pillow (not shown). The scale is bigger than most of the 1″=1′ scale I”m used to. But I’m always up for a fun challenge. :)
A large, traditional Toile print is a pleasant surprise combined with the more contemporary IKEA pieces. It also balances out the bold black and white rug. Two botanical posters (actually postcards from a boxed collection by Chronicle Books) hang above the sofa. Shelves have books crafted from cut foamcore covered in colored paint chips. I added my Pottery Barn Kids dollhouse table with a Post-it note shade lamp. Nesting tables are made of a section of a plastic box and the IKEA green table. Lantern is a Pier 1 find.
(Photos & Styling- © 2013 Martha Browne)
Related Nibs posts-
Vocabulary #61: Hand Towel
hand towel- a small piece of cloth used to dry the hands or face.
Vera Neumann towel from Crate & Barrel.
(Photo- © 2013 Martha Browne)
Our Garden Shed- Part Three
Details from our garden shed-
A.
1. Fun collectibles- books, bumblebee plate, old photograph, concrete mushroom and my grandfather’s handmade birdhouse.
2. Danielle stands on a bench made of two stumps from trees that fell during Hurricane Sandy.
3. Wide plank flooring is already looking aged.
4. Enamel is a great surface material for my tabletop.
5. Rod iron S-hook slides over cross pieces to hold plants.
6. More is more- books, newspaper clippings and a broken rake that’s used as a hook for towels.
B.
1. Linens for napping– vintage L.L. Bean sleeping bag along with a wool plaid blanket and ticking stripe pillow.
2. Danielle uses the cot as a seat.
3. Remember these old bottles? I moved them from my fireplace mantel to the shed window.
4. This radiator is strictly for show…not for heat. It has antique bricks underneath the legs.
5. BX cable runs to light fixtures in the gables.
6. Cleome plants have bloomed all summer.
(Photos & Design- © 2013 Martha Browne)
Related Nibs posts-
NIBS 