rose jacquard ribbon $39/yd, linen fabric, trumeau mirror $449, antique correspondence, antique paste & pearl ring $225, candlestick, book boxes $49, embroidery scissors $20, directoire chest $1300, intermission heels $348, gold thimble $2, fireplace tools $79.

Bright Star follows the bittersweet romance between famed poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne, the girl next door. Words are not enough to describe the beautiful homes, dresses and devastatingly handsome poets. When Fanny turns her bedroom into a living butterfly sanctuary, I suffered an extreme case of housing jealousy. But I waaant to live in a rooooom with butterflies! Luckily for both you and me- it’s a real possibility. -amy m.

tussentaal cabinet $2498, butterflies $39+, tufted leather sofa $2900, quill and ink set $15, butterfly net $6.75, demijohn bottle $125, vintage scandinavian books $40, bluebell wild flower seeds $2, antique lyre brooch $85.

[from left: rare books, vintage 1950s tulu carpet $1800, JF Herring Sr print $15 slipper chair $950, mirrored side table $89.99, greyhound, pouf $109-299, brass candlestick $50-65, oxford style heels $80.06]

For our goodbye to Billy Baldwin, here are a few of his favorite things – rattan, chinese wallpaper and moss covered terra cotta – nearly 40 years later, they still look pretty good!

[from left: faux tortoiseshell mirror $100.03, chinese wallpaper print $6.66 -133.14, rattan hamper set $495, x-stool $179, patent eco-leather clutch $145, terra cotta planters $38, 70 dendrobium orchid stems $128.88]

I don’t have much of a fashion memory, but when I was looking at Billy Baldwin interiors all week, I kept thinking about Gwyneth Paltrow’s Oscar dress in 1996. I’ve always loved that dress – it was all white, and she just looked clean, casual and effortless. (She also had Brad Pitt on her arm so that helped). (This is the only good picture I can find of that dress.)  Baldwin’s style was crisp, elegant and a little slick, but it was above all simple and practical. (He always said that the best way to update a room was to simplify.) Baldwin’s style became defined as the American style, and he decorated homes for Cole Porter, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Diana Vreeland, and Greta Garbo as well as homes for your average millionaire. He was called the “dean of decorators” and was endlessly quotable.

billy in his mid-1970s new york city apartment via billy baldwin decorates

Nothing is interesting unless it is personal – Billy Baldwin

Baldwin believed that you should surround yourself with things that you love and he detested what he called, “the sterility of perfection” saying that if you think you can spot a Billy Baldwin room, then it wasn’t his.

on the bookshelves of this Baldwin-decorated dining room are little mushroom paintings – good reminder of the trend life cycle! via billy baldwin decorates

Stick to the things you really love. An honest room is always up to date.
- Billy Baldwin

He preferred a more casual personal look. He believed in breaking the rules of decoration and loved to see pattern against pattern. When decorating, he always believed in using some furniture that the client already possessed as a way to make sure the home retained their personality.

cole porter’s library with the famous bookcases via billy baldwin decorates

Nothing is in good taste unless it suits the way you live. – Billy Baldwin

Born in Baltimore in 1903, Baldwin briefly studied architecture at Princeton then worked with his father selling insurance before finally settling on interior decoration as a profession. He designed the homes of some Baltimore families before catching the eye of Ruby Ross Wood – a big name New York City decorator – who offered Baldwin a job in Manhattan in 1935. Once in New York, his career took off!

CLICK HERE for more Billy!

Billy Baldwin’s studio apartment via billy baldwin decorates

Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style. – Billy Baldwin

Billy designed homes for millionaires, but his own New York apartment was a small studio. He called it “a library I sleep in” and went for a jewel box effect painting the space a brown lacquer and using the same brass bookshelves he designed for Cole Porter’s Waldorf  Towers apartment. The sofa is actually a standard twin bed.  A firm believer in the power of slipcovers – perfectly tailored to the sofa – Baldwin had three for his own apartment – denim, dark paisley and ivory cotton. He was so well-known for his love of slipcovers that Cole Porter joked that he didn’t want to come back to find his piano slip covered!

1973 dining room via billy baldwin remembers

Hallways were meant for mirrors.
The best decoration in the world is a roomful of books.
-Billy Baldwin

Billy Baldwin’s ‘Likes’
cotton
straw
rattan
bamboo
chinese wallpaper
brass candlesticks
slipper chair
lacquer
plaster lamps

a french riviera villa for an american couple. the living room illustrates billy’s love for pattern via billy baldwin decorates

The word that almost makes me throw up is satin. Damask makes me throw up – Billy Baldwin

Billy Baldwin’s ‘Dislikes’
fake fireplaces
fake books
fake flowers
leggy furniture
satin
clutter

baldwin was instructed by diana vreeland to create a garden in hell

I like sexy rooms, and I don’t think all-beige is very sexy. -Billy Baldwin

Even with such a list of firm likes and dislikes, Baldwin still believed in the importance individuality and personal comfort. After he had retired from decorating to Nantucket, he wrote, “No matter how taste may change, the basics of good decorating remain the same: We’re talking about someplace people live in, surrounded by things they like and that make them comfortable. It’s as simple as that.”

Facts to Know

1. Billy Baldwin was one of the guests at Truman Capote’s famous Black and White Ball held at the Plaza in 1966. Among the 540 attendees were Frank Sianatra and his then-wife Mia Farrow, Claudette Colbert, and Lynda Bird Johnson.
2. Billy was an impeccable dresser – something he must have inherited from his father. Baldwin’s father’s particularly loved London-made clothes – his hats, canes, umbrellas and monogrammed linen handkerchiefs all came from a London tailor and his shoes were custom-made by Peel of London. When Baldwin’s father died in the 1920s, there were nearly two dozen new suits in the closet and nothing in the bank, because, according to Baldwin, “‘it was all spent on his own peacock joy.”

Books to Read
If you’re intrigued by Billy Badwin, there are really two must-have books (both within two years of each other in the ’70s).

1. Billy Baldwin Decorates – I think of the two, this is my favorite. Decorates delves into various Baldwin projects – and gives a sense of the breadth of his book. Another fav – book is filled with his famous quotations.
2. Billy Baldwin Remembers – More of a musing about early decorating influences and individuals. Fun photos of inspirational interiors and homes. I love the juicy stories about various clients – including Jackie O.!

design*sponge is happy to welcome megan auman to the biz ladies column today. megan is a jewelry and home accessories designer and also hosts a blog geared towards the crafting and design business. today, she  graciously shares with us some expert advice on how to go about outsourcing the production of your designs.

from determining the best production process, to the right questions to ask a manufacturer, megan discusses everything that goes into getting your designs made in the most cost effective and productive way.  thanks megan for sharing your insight with us! -stephanie todaro

CLICK HERE for the full post after the jump!

Outsourcing some or all of the production of your designs can have tremendous benefits in helping you grow your business.  By reducing the time you spend making products, you free up valuable time to work on creating new designs, marketing and promoting your business, and driving sales.  While it often conjures up images of overseas sweatshops, outsourcing doesn’t have to be a dirty word.  It is possible to outsource to a local, sustainable manufacturer that can help you realize your product ideas and grow your business.

Finding a manufacturer that suits your needs can be challenge.  Here are some suggestions to make the process easier:

Process

Begin by determining the best manufacturing technique for the product.  It is tempting to focus on popular process such as laser cutting or offset printing, but it is more important to spend time examining the best manufacturing process for your product.  There are several useful books that can help familiarize you with different manufacturing processes.  I’ve compiled a list of these resources on my blog, Crafting an MBA.

It is important that you have a basic understanding of the various processes and industry specific lingo before you contact a manufacturer.  This will help develop a stronger relationship between you and the manufacturer, and could help prevent you from being taken advantage of.

Outsourcing

How much of a product’s manufacture do you want to outsource?  Are you looking to have the entire design manufactured from start to finish, or will it work better to have some processes outsourced but complete the final assembly and finishing in your own studio or shop?  Does your potential manufacturer provide more than one service, or will you have to use several manufacturers?  If using more than one manufacturer, consider potential scenarios where communication could break down as parts are transferred between various businesses.  By setting clear expectations for each manufacturer, in writing, you can minimize headaches down the road.

Finding a manufacturer

Whenever possible, it is best to work with local suppliers and manufacturers.  Not only are you supporting a business in your community, you will also have opportunity to be directly involved in any decisions that must be made throughout the manufacturing process.  It may sound obvious, but start with the local online yellow pages.  You can also utilize your local chamber of commerce – many have a directory of member businesses listed right on their website.  It is tempting to ask another designer for the manufacturers they use, but keep in mind that designers spend a lot of time building relationships with their manufacturers, and many treat that information as proprietary.  Be prepared to do your own legwork.

You may not be able to find all the manufacturing processes you need in your local area.  There are several options for finding manufactures further afield.  One good resource is ThomasNet. (thomasnet.com)  ThomasNet is an online database of manufacturers and suppliers in the US.  You can browse by topic or search for a specific process.

Another approach to finding manufacturers is to identify geographical areas where a certain of manufacturing is located and search for businesses there.  For instance, if you were looking for a jewelry manufacturing process, you could search the online yellow pages for Providence, Rhode Island, which is the manufacturing center for the United States jewelry industry.

Start Talking

Once you have a list of potential manufactures, its time to start making calls.  Before you do that, make sure you have the conversation mapped out so that you aren’t wasting your time or the manufacturers.  This first phone call will set the tone; you want to develop a professional, business relationship with your manufacturers.  Be sure to have a thorough understanding of the processes you are interested in, and the industry lingo down.  Remember, that your ultimate goal is to find the manufacturer that is the best fit for you.  If the first few contacts are not the right match, one may be able to lead your to someone who is a better fit.  But if you cannot be clear about what you are looking for, they will have a hard time helping you.

Don’t be afraid to call a manufacturer, even if they aren’t exactly what you are looking for.  Manufacturers have connections with other businesses, and if they don’t use the process you are looking for, they may be able to point you in the direction of someone who can.  This can also hold true for your existing manufacturers.  If you are already outsourcing part of a product’s making, you can ask your current manufacturers for a recommendation.

In addition to specific questions about process and your design, there are other questions you should ask any manufacturer.  These include:

-Is there a set-up fee? A minimum order? Do they charge for a quote?  What is the pricing structure?  At what quantities are the price breaks?

-Who supplies the materials?  Do they work with stock materials in their warehouse, or can you supply your own?  Is there an additional feel for using specialty materials?

-What is the turn-around time?  Does this change with re-orders?  This is important if you are planning on wholesaling, and need to have a reliable and consistent production schedule.

-What is the format for submitting your designs?  Is there a process for prototyping? Is there an additional fee to change a design after the first prototypes are made?

-Who are their other clients?  Which other designers/artists do they work with?  Can you contact them for a reference?  This is different than asking a designer for their sources.  Instead, you are making sure you select a reliable manufacturer who makes quality work.

-Can you take a tour of the facility?  If you are local, it is helpful to see where your product is going to be made.  This is especially important if you are interested in sustainability and the environmental and working conditions that your product is produced under.  It also helps you get a better feel for the manufacturing process, which can help when designing new products.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate a little with the manufacturer.  You are entering into a business deal, and you need to make sure it suits the needs of your business.  If another company quoted you a lesser price, say so.  Just don’t lie.  You want to build positive relationships for your business.

It takes time to find a good manufacturer, so don’t be frustrated if you have to make a lot of calls and ask a lot of questions.  While you might be anxious to get your product to market, don’t rush this process.  Ultimately, you must stand behind the quality of your products, so it pays to take the time to find a manufacturer that works for you.

ABOUT MEGAN
Megan Auman is a designer and maker specializing in jewelry and home accessories.  She has experience making a production line by hand and outsourcing the manufacture of her designs.  Megan teaches Metals + Jewelry and Interdisciplinary Object design at Towson University and writes about business thinking for designers and makers at craftMBA.com.

CLICK HERE for the full city guide after the jump!

This is a really exciting time to be living in Oklahoma City. (Wow, I never thought I’d type those words!) Slowly, but surely, OKC is moving into this century. Several areas are grabbing hold of their bootstraps and taking charge of dilapidated buildings and warehouses, and turning them into something truly amazing and modern. That’s not to say that the area isn’t remaining true to its Western heritage at the same time, because it is. What’s fast emerging is a city that’s as diversified as can be expected in the Bible Belt of the Midwest.

This city guide is roughly organized by area and neighborhood. As always, if we forgot somewhere please mention it in the comment section.

Downtown

Trattoria il Centro: A great place to go for authentic Italian food and great wine. And dessert. Don’t forget the desserts…

Stockyards City: Deeply rooted in Oklahoma’s pioneer heritage, Stockyards City is a true western experience. But our favorite thing is the weekly farmers market!

Myriad Botanical Gardens: The Myriad is a 17-acre downtown urban park, the highlighting feature of which is a tropical conservatory – The Crystal Bridge – designed by I.M. Pei. Be sure and stop by the Water Stage for a performance and check out the impressive seven-story botanical garden.

Chesapeake Boat House: The design mimics a sleek rowing shell with translucent walls and sixteen columns of light representing oars, making the entire structure appear as if it’s floating at night. Truly an amazing sight.

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum: It’s, by far, the most depressing stop in the city, but a worthwhile trip if you haven’t been before. A hundred and sixty-eight lighted chairs represent the lives lost in the 1995 federal building bombing (19 smaller chairs honor the children killed). Try going at night.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art: Home to an awe-inspiring and expansive Dale Chihuly collection. Don’t miss the Persian Seaform Ceiling. Plan to have lunch or drinks at the Museum Cafe. Cocktails on the Skyline takes place every Thursday evening starting in May and offers drinks, live music and a nice view of the city from the museum’s rooftop.

Bricktown

Easily the city’s largest tourist trap, Bricktown has undergone a renovation of massive proportions of the past decade, converting warehouses into restaurants, clubs and boutiques. Check out a Thunder basketball game at the Ford Center or grab a hot dog and beer with our minor league baseball team, the Redhawks.

RedPin Bowling Lounge: Super contemporary dining and bowling. Not to mention yummy cocktails best enjoyed on their ginormous patio that overlooks the canal. And bowling, did I mention bowling?

Sage Gourmet Café & Market: The best mac ‘n’ cheese in town! The blue cheese and garlic version is the best. If you’re not on a date.

Bolero Spanish Grill & Tapas Bar: The best of both worlds, delicious tapas on one side and live music on the other.

Automobile Alley

BD Home: Recently opened modern housewares shop. (Stop by Iguana Mexican Grill for Taco Tuesday ($1 tacos!), followed by Sara Sara for some seriously epic cupcakes.)

RED Prime Steak: Seated in OKC’s elegant Buick Building, RED Prime is a beautifully modern restaurant. You can’t miss the impressive wine wall; it’s 55 bottles tall by 130 bottles wide and separates the bar from the dining room!

Coffee Slingers: A great establishment that supports fair trade, organic and local products, which is awesome! The baristas are all really knowledgeable and make a mean cup of joe to boot.

Midtown

In the middle of big overhauling renovation, Midtown is the home to a lot of new businesses and eateries. It’s quickly become one of our favorite areas in the city!

1492: A fairly new restaurant featuring new world Latin eats. The chefs are natives of Mexico and cook up a mean fusion cuisine. Don’t miss the to-die-for mojitos!

Brown’s Bakery: Cakes, cookies, donuts, cupcakes, breads. A carb-lover’s paradise.

Prairie Thunder Baking Co.: Every variety of fresh bread you can think of. And the best chicken salad sandwiches (of which I am a coineusseur!).

McNellie’s Public House: A great gathering place for happy hour with 60 beers on draught and over 300 more in bottles. Be sure to hit up pint night (keep the glass!) and their signature series beer dinners.

Café do Brasil: Their rooftop Bossanova Bar is perfection on a fall or spring evening. In the cafe, try the migallas or Brasilian pie and a caipirinha or two.

Plaza District

The Plaza District is an up-and-coming strip along NW 16th Street, has only recently popped up on our radar. The historic development has begun re-establishing itself as an artists’ enclave with old storefronts being transformed into live-work spaces. Collected Thread, DNA and the recently opened Shop Good are intimate hot spots for locally crafted art, jewelry and more. And don’t be surprised if you come across pieces from your favorite Etsy sellers — Oklahoma and beyond.

Western Avenue

Western Avenue is a stretch filled with unique shops, restaurants and a few major businesses tossed in for good measure. Most are locally owned and operated and have quite the loyal customer base.

Sabi: Worldly gifts, home decor and accessories. Great finds around every corner.

Guestroom Records: The city’s best independent record store.

French Cowgirl: A jam-packed gift shop mixing French chic and cowgirl charm.

Hideaway Pizza: Oklahoma’s oldest pizzeria is Oklahoma’s oldest pizzeria for a reason. Their gourmet pies are Last-Supper-kind-of-good.

Bin 73: The largest wine-by-the-glass selection in the city. Which is good if you’re indecisive, like us. Lots of cozy booths to slide into.

Sushi Neko: The first sushi restaurant brave enough to show up in our little part of the Midwest back in the day. And still one of the best in the area. Try one of their killer house cocktails.

Musashi Japanese Steakhouse: Right across the street from Sushi Neko. The performing chefs pay homage to Miyamoto Musashi, the legendary samurai, with their mad knife skills.

Deep Fork Grill: An entire restaurant focused on spotlighting Oklahoma’s natural abundance in every dish. Now that’s worthwhile.

Flip’s Wine Bar and Trattoria: Amazing chow; hip but not pretentious. Two words: lobster ravioli.

51st Street Speakeasy: Featuring a gorgeous tin punch ceiling and period light fixtures, including one over the bar from the 1920s. The lighting is dim, with window treatments that can block out light, just like a speakeasy of old.

Cock o the Walk: One of the very best dive bars in town! It’s tiny and always jam-packed, so get there early if you want a table to eat some of their greasy bar grub. Be sure to order a schooner, a massive beer that’s sure to quench your thirst.

Café Nova: Great contemporary locale with American food and an even better Sunday brunch with unlimited mimosas. Unlimited.

The Wedge: Brick-oven pizza and limited seating (there are only ten tables inside). Well worth any wait. Try the candied pecans for something truly divine.

Edna’s: Technically just off Western. A local institution, known for Edna herself dancing on the bar to “Great Balls of Fire” and also for their deliciously addictive Lunchboxes. Get there early to secure your table for the night!

The Drunken Fry: New to the area, the Drunken Fry specializes in Belgian frites with a variety of sauces. Don’t forget your Belgian beer to wash it all down.

The Paseo District

The Paseo is a small arts district area just north of downtown OKC with galleries and craft shops that run for three blocks of creativity. Each month the Paseo celebrates First Friday with an open house and outdoor music to be enjoyed by the masses. The Paseo Arts Festival takes place each Memorial Day weekend, bringing with it an outdoor carnival and attractions not to be missed.

Isis: A comfy cozy upscale cocktail lounge with lots of dark nooks and crannies to gather with friends. Even better with someone who qualifies as more than friends!

Craig’s Emporium: Emporium of curiosities. That’s about all there is to say.

Sauced: A jack of all trades with a great full-service coffee bar, New York-style Neopolitan pizza, fair-trade coffee and Belgium ales, among other things. Full of organic, vegetarian and vegan delights sure to satisfy even the pickiest eater.

May Avenue

Zorba’s Mediterranean: Tasty Mediterranean food that’s been passed down through the generations. It doesn’t get any more authentic than this.

Old School Bagel Café: More than 15 varieties of handmade bagels made daily on the premises. Try the seasonal pumpkin – it’s our favorite!

Blue 7: Modern furniture, unique baubles and vintage clothes to fill your closet to the brim!

La Baguette Bistro and Bakery: A european bakery/bistro/butcher shop guaranteed to get your waistline in trouble.

Sean Cumming’s Irish Pub: Authentic Irish bands, food and beer. And the coolest bar and counter covered with pennies – thousands of pennies!

Ted’s Café Escondido: Escondido translates to “hidden café,” which is exactly what this place started out as to locals. There are a few other locations these days, but this is the original and favorite.

Sophabella’s: The best gourmet Chicago-style pizza here in the Sooner State. Hundreds of miles from the Windy City, but just as tasty.

Elsewhere

Route 66: A boutique featuring the requisite Mother Road kitsch, some serious soaps (they’re generous with samples) and more. (While you’re there, stop by neighboring Belle Isle Brewery and try a Belle’s Blonde.)

Super Cao Nguyen: Aside from being a foodie’s paradise, this Asian mega-market is a treasure-trove of design inspiration.

Mister Rabbit: Well-edited vintage and accessories. (Stop by Cuppies & Joe afterward for, well, cuppies and joe.

County Line: Set in an old ’30s speakeasy, this stick-to-your-ribs restaurant is set in a classic art deco structure with a great view of downtown. Or their homemade bread. Did I mention the bread?

Pops: Our favorite place to take out-of-town guests. It’s a bit of a drive out of Oklahoma City but is worth it. Especially if you like soda. (We do.) Over 500 types to choose from and a ginormous 66’ tall pop bottle sculpture out front.

OKC Zoo: Check out the animals and WPA-era architecture by day and concerts at night.

International Photography Hall of Fame:
Kamp’s Market and Deli: A lax dress code and amazing deli fare. The perfect locale for studying or reading the paper.

Big Truck Tacos: Tasty street food with a twist! Keep your ears open daily to see where it’ll be parking next!

Rococo’s: Dark and cozy with delicious Italian fare. Order their cookies as an appetizer for something totally unexpected. (Hint: It’s no sweet treat!)

Mesta Park: A modern community in a historical setting. Check out the large, aged homes at night for the best views. As in inside the windows!

luckybits recently released a fun new product that combines a tech product (an iphone app) with an actual object (a simple paper house) to create a cheerful alarm clock. all you do is drop your iphone in the decorative box and turn on the app, that gently wakes you up to the sound (and sight) of nesting birds. such a clever idea. i’ve really enjoyed watching designers play with the iphone and find new ways to combine something digital with something physical. want to check it out for yourself? the app itself is totally free and the box is around $12- click here to get more info and to buy. [thanks, emma!]

[Before we moved to Williamstown, I was desperate to get settled in a permanent home to ease the transition, but most of what we saw was a depressing assortment of dark houses with low ceilings that contrasted unfavorably to airy California spaces. The very last possible house we looked at was like a gift. Having just that day come on the market, we were the first to see it, and we bought it immediately. What I like most about the plan of our house is that the living room, dining area, and kitchen are all one big open area. It makes the space feel modern and is just plain convenient. I also love the exposed beams, the use of salvaged wood for architectural details, and the wide-plank pine
floors.

photo above: I have a longstanding design crush on Angela Adams, who designed the rug in my living room. My favorite piece of furniture in the whole house is the mid-century Scandinavian sideboard. Art on the walls is, from left, by Hatch Show Print, John Wischmann, Yee-Haw Industries, and decals by Blik. The pillow is by Crispina ffrench. I keep meaning to digitize my record collection, but I'll keep the vinyl all the same if for no other reason than loving the cover art. My dog Chico was born and raised in San Jose and can never get warm enough in this colder climate.]

[The ladderback chair and basket of pine cones at the foot of the stairs are from my grandparents. They were dyed-in-the-wool Yankees, and it greatly relieved my grandfather that I moved back east before he passed away. There's another Angela Adams mini rug. On the windowsill I keep a little nature shelf of pretty stones, driftwood,et al that I find here and there.]

[photo above: I bought this teak table and eight chairs for $100 at a tag sale my first summer here. Mars and I reupholstered all the chairs ourselves with Maine Cottage fabric, which taught us that we don't like to upholster furniture. It took us almost nine months to complete. What I do like is vivid color and bold patterns - vintage Harlequin dishes, workaday Fiesta, and Orla Kiely for Target fit the bill. I bought the enameled milk jug and wire egg basket at Brimfield. I can't say enough good things about these Modern-Twist silicone placemats: they are easy to clean, feel silky to the touch, and are beautifully designed. The ceramic fish trivet is something my grandparents bought when they visited Norway. I treasure it beyond reason. The art on the wall is a vintage Scandinavian plate and a print by artist Jen Skelley.]

[photo above: For our bedroom, I made portraits of Mars and me out of vintage wallpaper and housed them in Victorian frames. We have a lot of sock monkeys that we've rescued from flea markets and adopted. I had to put the kibosh on getting any more. There are only so many mouths you can feed. These two are named Gypsy and Harpo.]

CLICK HERE for the rest of alethea’s sneak peek after the jump!

[photo above: I made the rug in our bedroom myself out of recycled sweaters during a three-day workshop I took with artist Crispina ffrench. She made the runner on top of the dresser. The quilt is designed by Denyse Schmidt.]

[photo above: The counters in our kitchen are made of soapstone, which is the same material used in science labs. It's totally impervious to heat, has a pretty, smoky-grey color and a chalky finish. I keep my dish soap in a vintage seltzer bottle with a barware pour spout. It keeps the soap handy but still looks nice. I'm a design victim with my Dualit toaster. I like the color and shape of it, but I hate in on a functional level. The matching vintage colander I got at Brimfield. My dad has been doing a lot of woodworking, and he made us the cutting board for Christmas. He also made the vase on the bar back in the 70s when he was a potter.]

[photo above: Xavier's room has its share of sock animals as well. I covered corkboard squares with fabric and nailed them on the wall so Xavier could tack up his drawings. He keeps his own nature shelf on the windowsill. The pillows are by Jonathan Adler and the wool serape is vintage.]

[photo above: When we moved, I promised Xavier I would redecorate his room in a bird theme. Since he was a baby, it was decorated in a cowboy theme, which he was never into. We hung a large twiggy branch from the ceiling, and I made birds out of plant-dyed wool roving. The needle-felted nest and eggs is by local artist Lauren Gottlieb.]

[photo above: From our years in California we have lots of Western and Mexican decor, which has mostly now gathered In our guest bedroom. This bed is crazy. It even has wrought-iron barbed wire details. The vintage suitcase was my samples portfolio the last time I looked for a job. It has a new life as a bedside table, resting on an antique suitcase stand from my grandparents.]

[photo above: All the old cowboy stuff from Xavier's former bedroom lives in the guest room now. The mirror I bought at the Grand Nationals Rodeo at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. It's made of salvaged wood that's been branded and studded with with horseshoes. In the reflection is a paint-by-number horse.]

[photo above: And lastly, the chickens. I've gone native and now keep three egg-laying hens in my backyard. My hen house is an Eglu, the first and only chicken coop to be featured in ID magazine. My next homesteading adventure is beekeeping this spring!]

{photographs by charlotte lascève, styling by elodie rambaud}

[above: It is a typical Parisian apartment, « parquet, moulures, cheminée », as we call it here. And if I had to find a word to define its style, I would have to borrow it from foodies : « fusion ». I guess it is a mixture of the many styles and influences that I cherish: my New England-antique-loving maternal genes, the Fifties (I can so imagine Don Draper sitting in that blue armchair), and Scandinavia. The ceilings are quite high and at some point I decided to get rid of all the high furniture, which increases the sense of space in the rooms. The pair of blue armchairs comes from one of my favorite vintage furniture shops rue Gérando, in SoPi (South of Pigalle). The white coffee table comes from KDesign. The 3-piece lamp and rug come from Habitat. The cat is Nino and comes from Avignon.]

Someone with great confidence in her taste once informed me that you could not have more than 2 colors in one room. Well, I am glad to say I am completely opposed to that or any other decorating statement. Style comes with time and confidence in one’s taste. I had no idea what my home would look like in the end and I still don’t. I just trust my judgement whenever I come across a piece. The walls are painted white and a greenish blue gray color from Ressource.

I love the reproduction from Jasper Johns. I bought it at the Moma many years ago. I bought the Danish buffet in another one of my very secret shops, located rue des Martyrs, Et puis c’est tout ! The dining room is also my office. I came across the architect’s table at the brocante on Avenue Trudaine, the best open air flea market in the city if you ask me, which takes place twice a year. Love at first sight. I just put all the chairs I find, all different, red formica, painted wood, fifties, around the table, and it gives it a shabby colorful look.

A few months ago, I decided to spice up the hallway with stickers by Domestic …. and Mellow Yellow from Ressources’s Fifties collection.

CLICK HERE for the rest of catherine’s sneak peek after the jump!

Like all my fellow Parisians, I squeeze my passion for food into a tiny (but very sunny) kitchen. The green buffet is the very first piece of furniture I bought in a vintage furniture store for my very first apartment. The portrait of Marilyn was given to me by my sister Caroline.

I got the hanger with beautiful bronze … in the yearly Emmaus event in Paris. The armchair is also a treasure found at the brocante de l’avenue de Trudaine. The dresser is your average Ikea. I bought the little painting on the wall from a local artist.

Against the long wall in the back are two 2 Ikea shelves, filled with books, folders and miscellaneous stuff. The poster is from the great film by Godard « A bout de souffle », but I mostly love the graphics. The five little cups are very precious to me, I got them from a fabulous antic shop in Seymour Connecticut, where my Grandmother used to live.

The balcony and the two large windows in the living room and dining room overlook the Sacré-Cœur. I know, so corny. But having breakfast or an aperitif there makes up for the fact that it’s such a Parisian cliché.

[above: Living room. (45 square meters). The fireplace is currently working which is nice- and the lack of a mirror on top of it gives the room an atmosphere of the countryside rather than the city.  The bear skin is from Atypyk, it’s a huge doormat actually. One of the biggest item we’ve created.(200x225 cm).]

The cushions come from India, old green boxes were used in the textile industry.

Rusted frames come from letters of a very hold hotel in Paris, I found in the street close to the flat when it was demolished. Arty but still not “Art” we prefer them to stay on the floor rather to be hang on the wall.

CLICK HERE for the rest of bridgette and ivan’s sneak peek after the jump!

Kitchen… Mostly Ikea for the furniture improved with a thick teak board (4cm), Atypyk for all the cutting boards and salad wrenches, Smeg for electrical appliances, 70’s Scandinavian chairs from my parents. We always dreamed of having a Spanish ham hang on the ceiling. I put the hook and our dream came true.

Entrance. No window in this room, but as the apartment is full of natural light all day long. It allows us to use a pretty unusual dark grey. Chairs come from an old French theatre. Ivan did the red painting on the top of the radiator.

The Leisure area is an extension of the living room. It holds our TV and cd/dvd/book collection (except the fashion ones which are in our bedroom), and as of late, our piano (not shown on the picture). The window leads on to the balcony.

Our bedroom. East oriented. We wake up with the sun light. We turned the frames around to give the room a monastic feel. Two windows lead on a balcony where we used to put plants and flowers.

Bathroom : 100% authentic 1930’s style. No decoration there yet… Still looking for the smart idea. Till then we keep it white. One day, we’ll have time to think about it.

Our children, Malo and Célestin’s bedroom. Spring cleaning on the picture.

Corridor and Matador… From the entrance, it leads to bathroom and kitchen. Painted with chalkboard paint, the wall allows all of the family to deliver tender messages to each other (or for our friends to thanks us for the good meal they had)… We used to ask friends from all over the world also write “Bienvenue” in their own languages… (we pay careful attention not to remove it when we clean the board). The Poster comes from an African Artist- it’s adhered to the wall with black tape used by photographers.

*click here to watch tassy from sprout home show us how to make a terrarium from the soil up!