Personal Style Advice from the “Old Sage”
Kidding! I'm not that old yet and some days, I don't feel so "sage-like".
But I have been pondering Marita's exciting struggle to create a special space for herself and her husband (almost!).(Refer to gf blog Feb. 24, 2009.) Think about it for a minute. She is faced with not only trying to really define her own style, but to consider her husband's style and comfort and express THEIR style, all this while working at a top-notch design firm. No pressure, Marita!
I remember my first attempts vividly.
Having grown up in a traditional well-appointed home, one would have thought I would follow that path. And I did, for awhile. When I graduated from college, I chose a third floor apartment in a lovely ivy-covered brick building with shutters and a tree-lined street. It had creamy white walls (a little too pink), gleaming wood floors (a bit too much yellow) and a small galley kitchen with waxed black and white checked vinyl tile floors (just right!).
The process began with the gift of a sofa to be selected with my Mother's decorator! I am sure I drove her nuts. She showed me smart solid color epingle sofas; my heart was set on a bright yellow and green abstract floral linen. From the moment that decision was made, I was HOOKED. I ran home after work each night and spent my weekends devoted to making my apartment a home for MY eyes.
Without benefit of great sources like PB, web-sites or Domino magazine, my home emerged.
I scavenged my childhood home (typical Provencal-styled desk. I painted the gold tooling lines out), my nana's home (dark brown Lloyd loom wicker chair- painted white with added Marimekko pillow). I added a white shag carpeting remnant and a bookcase made out of white-painted bricks and clear coat wood boards. "Found" treasures included a lucite cocktail table from an antique store and a mirror from an estate sale. An artist friend painted a water color abstract in my chosen colors and a few more. Oh, and a farm table with Danish modern chairs and a great textile on the wall. My space, anchored by the brightly patterned sofa, became a place for me to read, write and entertain my friends. There were wonderful evenings of music, my first culinary experiments, laughter, stories and cheap wine.
When I think about it, that first "home" set some of the tenets of my style that remain today. So I say…
- splurge on a good sofa and two fine accessories that make your heart sing
- dare to use color and lots of white
- let some space just be space
- use natural, beautiful fabrics
- instill a sense of personal history
- decide what is important to have around you (for me; books, music, candles, silver)
- share your home with friends and family
And the final bit of advice, seek help from a friendly designer! Happy hunting, Marita!
Submitted by Mary Hickey
