We are thrilled to be spotlighting Anna Vaughn as our featured Isabella Artist for July. We are always excited to have local/regional artist’s work displayed throughout the store and Anna is one of those artists. Anna is originally from Tarboro and currently resides in Raleigh with her family.  She attended college in Australia where she received a BA in English. Once back stateside she turned her focus towards art by returning to North Carolina where she earned a BFA in Art from East Carolina University. She has spent her post graduate years honing her artistic skills and building quite the portfolio and gallery exposure.  We are most honored for Isabella to be among the places where she displays her art and are beyond thrilled to have her latest works on display for purchase here in the store. 

A couple of weeks ago Anna sent photos of the new art she was shipping us to feature in the store. After seeing the photos, I was awaiting their arrival with the excitement of a child waiting to open gifts on Christmas morning. With the mail delayed due to the 4th of July the anticipation continued to build…

Then on Monday I got an email from Anna letting me know she was going to be driving them down from Raleigh to deliver them to the store herself. I have to say there is something special about having the artist drop off their work and having a moment to spend with them in the presence of their art displayed in our space. This proved to be one of those moments and trust me the paintings are even more magnificent in person.

We love Anna’s wide range of themes shown in her works, to include scapes, florals, studies, rurals, and figures. Her use of bright colors and mixed media combining oils with graphite on various surfaces such as hand torn paper and birch panel. An additional standout feature seen in Anna’s work is her talent for using oils to build up texture and depth to her pieces. This unique style can be seen and enjoyed in many of her florals and studies pieces. Viewing these pieces often gives the viewer the sense the flowers are real, so real that they want to reach out and touch them. While we kindly ask that you, please resist the urge to touch the artwork until you have purchased and hung the beautiful piece on a wall within your own home; we would like to invite you all to stop by Isabella to see Anna’s latest work as our featured artist of the month.

Anna in her own words:

I am an artist out of Raleigh. My series work is a reflection of free-spirited moments, often with a transportive quality and with connections between elements that encourage the viewer to wander as well. I am drawn to expansive, wide-open spaces — particularly horizon lines — and attempts to evoke this sense of freedom in my vivid paintings.  Expression, color and movement are also important aspects to my work. 

When not in my studio, you can likely find me down by the sea or out in nature with my husband, Hatcher, and children, Lucy and Byrd.

We recently had a Q & A session with Anna. We asked her all kinds of questions about life, as well as her art, her passions and a few of her favorite places. Here’s a look inside this creative artist’s mind…

20 or So Questions and Things You Want to Know about Anna Vaughn Creech Kincheloe.

Q: Where do you live: Raleigh, NC.

Q: Do you have pets: Not yet, but would love to get a puppy when our kids are a little bit older.

Q: Favorite song: An impossible question! So many favorites – anything by Stevie Wonder or the Grateful Dead tend to top my charts.

Q: Favorite Flower: Hyacinth

Q: Current favorite TV show/Movie: I watch “It’s Complicated” anytime I want an easy, feel-good flick.

Q: Book you are reading right now: I recently finished “Carrie Soto is Back” – total fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books.

Q: Describe you style in 3 words: Warm, sentimental, clean

Q: Favorite Color: Green

Q: Color you never get tired of: White (does that count?)

Q: First job: Sales clerk at a women’s clothing boutique

Q: When did you decide to become a full-time professional artist: About 8 years ago – so grateful I made that leap and get to keep doing it today!

Q: Two things that you love about your job: The flexibility of time and the creative freedom to push myself in any direction.

Q: Artist on your radar: Lately, I have been really moved by the work of Joan Mitchell in my own paintings. And dying to collect one of Sandy Ostrau’s pieces – she’s a California artist and her landscaped with figures are so captivating to me.

Q: Favorite Museum: MOMA

Q: Favorite Food: Queso, guacamole and chips – with Margarita, of course

Q: Something that is always in your refrigerator: Cheese and sparkling water

Q: Favorite Restaurant around here: I have not been around the Charlotte restaurant scene in a while but I remember having a super fun dinner with a big group of girlfriends at Rooster’s a few years ago.

Q: Dream Dinner Guest: Dave Chappelle – the laughter would be unreal and I think he is brilliant.

Q: What do you bring with you everywhere you go: Since I usually have two small kids as my sidekicks, baby wipes and snacks are must haves.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go: I would be willing to travel almost anywhere, but my husband and I are venturing to Spain for our anniversary next month and I cannot wait!

Q: Favorite place you have traveled: Australia

Q: Favorite interior design style, midcentury modern, traditional, art deco, etc: Traditional meets Belgian with lots of eclectic art.

Q: Three favorite things in your home: A vintage radio table I found at an estate sale; a Teil Duncan beach painting my husband gave me when I had my daughter; a colorful antique planter that belonged to my grandmother.

Q: Favorite place to score finds for your home: Art galleries and local shops – I love being surrounded by pieces that have a personal touch or connection.

Q: What would people be surprised to learn about you: I play guitar and used to be in a band (that was a long time ago!)

Visit annavaughn.com or Follow Anna on Instagram @_annavaughn_ to learn more about her work and current projects.

Pop into Isabella, shop us online at isabellastyle.com or follow us on Instagram @isabellastylenc to check out Anna’s latest pieces!

The post Artist Spotlight: Anna Vaughn appeared first on Isabella.

Summer is here and it’s hot out there! Don’t worry we have everything you need to be inspired and keep cool all summer long! Beat the heat and keep cool with Isabella’s Cool Summer Picks List. We have everything from summer home decor, outdoor lighting, rugs, art, bedding, beach reads and pool towels too. So without further ado check out Isabella’s Cool Summer Pick List we have curated just for you!

Isabella’s Cool Summer Picks List

Shop Isabella Instore, Online and on Instagram @isabellastylenc

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We are honored to share more insight into the creative mind and artwork by Jennifer Pino.

Jennifer in her own words:

Born: 1980, Fairport, NY

Jennifer was born in 1980 in Fairport, NY. She went on to attend and graduate from Elon University in Elon, NC. Post graduation she made North Carolina home; and currently resides with her family in Raleigh.

We recently had a Q & A session with Jennifer. We asked her all kinds of questions about life, as well as her art, her passions and a few of her favorite places. Here’s a look inside this creative artist’s mind…

20 or So Questions and Things You Want to Know about Jennifer Pino.

Q: Where do you live: Raleigh, NC, but originally from upstate New York

Q: Do you have pets: Yes, an English Bulldog named Bruce

Q: Favorite song: This is hard because I have so many favorites- but I’d say “Return of the Mack” by Mark Morrison is a staple

Q: Favorite Flower: Orchids

Q: Current favorite TV show/Movie: I’m a terrible TV watcher but always watch something comforting as I fall asleep like Gilmore Girls or Friends.

Q: Book you are reading right now: I recently finished Carrie Soto is Back in one sitting. I love any book by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Q: Describe you style in 3 words: Classic with a twist (sorry that is 4 words)

Q: Favorite Color: Blue

Q: Color you never get tired of: Yellow

Q: First job: Babysitting and I was also a terrible waitress

Q: When did you decide to become a full-time professional artist: It was when my daughter started going to pre-school and I started making art for our own home, then it just took off from there.

Q: Two things that you love about your job: The creativity and seeing someone so happy with a piece of art hung in their home that I created.

Q: Artist on your radar: She’s on a lot of peoples’ radar (and fellow Isabella artist) – I love everything Suzy Lindow creates.

Q: Favorite Museum: The Met

Q: Favorite Food: Sushi

Q: Something that is always in your refrigerator: Almond Milk

Q: Favorite Restaurant around here: in Raleigh – Crawford and Sons

Q: Dream Dinner Guest: Jeff Lewis. “Shout Out Shane”

Q: What do you bring with you everywhere you go: A water bottle, Chap Stick and sunglasses.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go: Amalfi Coast

Q: Favorite place you have traveled: Paris

Q: Favorite interior design style, midcentury modern, traditional, art deco, etc: traditional with modern elements.

Q: Three favorite things in your home: A settee that belonged to my in-laws that we had reupholstered in Bromo Velvet by Brunschwig & Fils, the vintage runner in our foyer, and the watercolor by my friend and fellow artist Sahngmie Lah Graven of our beloved Mastiff that passed away a few years ago.

Q: Favorite place to score finds for your home: Chairish

Q: What would people be surprised to learn about you: That if I was not an artist, I would want to be a DJ (but do they have any clubs open during the day?) Because I’d like to be in bed by 9pm

To learn more about Jennifer Pino visit Jenniferpinopaints.com or Follow Jennifer on Instagram @jenniferpinopaints to learn more about her work and current projects.

Pop into Isabella, shop us online at isabellastyle.com or follow us on Instagram @isabellastylenc to check out Jennifer’s latest pieces!

The post Artist Spotlight: Jennifer Pino appeared first on Isabella.

We are honored to share more insight into the creative mind and artwork by Christina Spencer.

Christina in her own words:

Raised and residing in her beloved Charlotte, North Carolina, Christina’s works center on the grounding traditions and landscapes surrounding her southern upbringing and formative background in art and design. Her works build in layers of impressionist brushstrokes to capture her favored subject matters of her native landscape surroundings and floral studies with a focus on rendering the tension of the motion caught in a captured moment in nature. Inspired by everything from the lavender hued clouds speckled above the rolling Blue Ridge mountains to the coral back lit lowcountry sunsets and all of the flora in between, Christina also relishes in painting the intricate details of still life and abstract color and figure studies, to name a few, where her focus draws from more architectural and compositional detail with emphasis on light play. Painting has been a strong passion and pastime since childhood, the framework of which eventually became a calling for Christina to pursue a formal education in art and design. She has since spent over the past decade working in residential interior design honing her skill set and appreciation for storied craftsmanship, rich textural layers, color rendering, textiles, and spatial constitution while maintaining her practice of painting as a treasured pastime and the basis for her design explorations. Her lifelong love and pursuit of art and refined studio foundations reflect in her delicate attention to each of her paintings which are currently a study of watercolors, oils, and mixed media on canvas and paper. Her vocation is to employ the complex interactions of light and color with distinctive motion filled brush strokes or watermarks to create both scenic snapshots and detailed renderings that are timelessly engaging and collected as treasured, hope filled heirlooms.

When not in the studio, Christina can be found with high school sweetheart turned husband, Matt, and beloved dog, Captain, along with her dear family and friends who have always encouraged her to pursue this lifestyle and calling creating art to live in the art of beautiful spaces. For that, she is forever grateful.

We recently had a Q & A session with Christina. We asked her all kinds of questions about life, as well as her art, her passions and a few of her favorite places. Here’s a look inside this creative artist’s mind…

20 or So Questions and Things You Want to Know about Christina Spencer

Q: Where do you live: I was born and raised and still reside in Charlotte, NC!

Q: Do you have pets: A dog- 8 year old Beagle/Terrier Mix named Captain

Q: Favorite song: “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison

Q: Favorite Flower: Queen Anne’s Lace

Q: Current favorite TV show/Movie: Not a huge TV/movie buff but currently watching The Chosen and loving it.

Q: Book you are reading right now: Leaves of Grass, Walt Whitman

Q: Describe you style in 3 words: Classic, layered, chameleon…whether in painting, interiors, or clothing I like to stick to the foundations then add lots of my own personal touch, which is always ever evolving.

Q: Favorite Color: I love all kinds of colors but bright, happy, sunshine yellow is my very favorite. You can’t not smile at something yellow and, in that way, it feels special to me.

Q: Color you never get tired of: Any shade of blue, truly. It’s where sky meets water and I don’t know that I could ever get tired of that.

Q: First job: My very first job outside of babysitting was as a lifeguard / pool manager. I did that all through high school and college.

Q: When did you decide to become a full-time professional artist: I have wanted to be a professional artist since I was a kid and first started painting (inspired by Bob Ross who I watched constantly). I knew in my heart it was time to take the leap at a crossroads in my life a few years ago, right before the pandemic when we all had to pivot a little. Big leap, still don’t regret it.

Q: Two things that you love about your job: The flexibility it offers schedule wise in this season of life, meeting other creatives/artist.

Q: Artist on your radar: Marcy Cook Vreeland – her whimsical floral collages are something special, I hope to someday own one.

Q: Favorite Museum: The Met in NYC.

Q: Favorite Food: Depends on my mood – today it’s Pad Thai

Q: Something that is always in your refrigerator: Coffee creamer – coffee is a sacred part of my morning routine I cannot be without it!

Q: Favorite Restaurant around here: The Fig Tree is a special one to me – I like to commemorate special milestones there.

Q: Dream Dinner Guest: Steven Tyler – If you know me, you know

Q: What do you bring with you everywhere you go: My dog, Captain comes with me most of the time. I also always have a very large purse full of things I may or may not ever need but feel the need to have.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go: Paris, France with my mom.

Q: Favorite place you have traveled: Favorite places are made because of favorite people. I went on a special trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA with my mom and sisters and it will always be a top favorite place for that reason and those memories.

Q: Favorite interior design style, midcentury modern, traditional, art deco, etc: Neotraditional – I love the classics with a fresh and modern perspective.

Q: Three favorite things in your home: A simple glass candy dish that was my Meme’s – she always had candy in it for my sisters and I growing up, the antique oil painting of a ship that started an entire gallery wall collection of paintings found with my husband, a vintage alabaster lamp – the first piece I ever bought for my house with my first post college job….I like accessories that have stories.

Q: Favorite place to score finds for your home: Sleepy Poet

Q: What would people be surprised to learn about you: I can be an extrovert when needed but I am truly an introvert at heart.

To learn more about Christina visit Christina Spencer Studio or Follow Christina on Instagram @chistinaspencerstudio to learn more about her work and current projects.

Pop into Isabella, shop us online at isabellastyle.com or follow us on Instagram @isabellastylenc to check out Christina’s latest pieces!

The post Artist Spotlight: Christina Spencer appeared first on Isabella.

Spring brings lighter, brighter days with fresh flowers in bloom, creating the perfect setting for entertaining both indoors and out. Think table settings complete with crisp linen napkins, olive wood serving wear, bowls and dishes, and colorful glasses drawing guest to your table and the good time they are sure to have dining there! We’re all set for Spring, are you?

Check out these Spring inspired table settings, serving pieces and glassware selected especially for you to ensure your table will be all set for Spring too!

Here are easy ways to mix in color and spring flare to your table settings this year!

Shop Isabella Instore, Online and on Instagram @isabellastylenc

The post All Set for Spring appeared first on Isabella.

We are honored to share more insight into the creative mind and artwork by Katie Moore Howson

Katie in her own words:

Hi, I’m a self-taught mixed media artist based in Charlotte, NC. While I’ve made art for as long as I can remember, I rediscovered this passion in 2020 after having my daughter at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through struggles with postpartum depression and anxiety, art became my refuge and healer. Before the pandemic, I spent over a decade in a non-traditional “art school,” earning my creative education as a copywriter and creative director working alongside graphic designers, illustrators, motion editors, and photographers at MTV in NYC and Wray Ward in Charlotte. These past creative lives inform my work’s foundation in storytelling, language, symbolism, and how meanings are made from our highly individual emotional landscapes. My artistic process is deeply spiritual and ritualistic. The gratitude, healing, and joy I find in being an artist gets infused into every piece I create. I hope you’ll feel it too.

We recently a Q & A session with Katie. We asked her all kinds of questions about life, as well as her art, her passions and a few of her favorite places. Here’s a look inside this creative artist’s mind…

20 or So Questions and Things You Want to Know about Katie Moore Howson

Q: Where do you live: Historic Oakwood, Raleigh, NC

Q: Do you have pets: A Jim Henson creation named Bruce Bringsteen (Dog)

Q: Favorite song: “7/4 Shoreline” by Broken Social Scene

Q: Favorite Flower: Celosia (Cockscomb)

Q: Current favorite TV show/Movie: Reservation Dogs (TV), The Hunt for the Wilderpeople (Movie)

Q: Book you are reading right now: “The Secret Lives of Color” by Kassia St. Clair

Q: Describe you style in 3 words: Cozy Androgynous Acid Trip

Q: Favorite Color: Lavender

Q: Color you never get tired of: Ochre

Q: First job: “Flavor Guru” at Ben & Jerry’s

Q: When did you decide to become a full-time professional artist: Probably around age 6 when I gave out free art work with each lemonade stand purchase.

Q: Two things that you love about your job: The cathartic release of making something with your hands. And the hustle.

Q: Artist on your radar: Nathan McClements, Charleston

Q: Favorite Museum: The Blanton, Austin, TX

Q: Favorite Food: Nachos

Q: Something that is always in your refrigerator: Cheese, yogurt pouches, and IPA. Follow me for more nutritional advice.

Q: Favorite Restaurant around here: The Goodyear House

Q: Dream Dinner Guest: (Alive) Amy Poehler. (Deceased) Prince

Q: What do you bring with you everywhere you go: A gold letter L necklace for my daughter

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go: Madagascar

Q: Favorite place you have traveled: Byron Bay, Australia

Q: Favorite interior design style, midcentury modern, traditional, art deco, etc: I truly love a mixture of many styles, put together in a thoughtfully eccentric way. “For me, it’s not about achieving a singular overall style, but enjoying finding harmony among contrasting but compelling elements.” “Not a single one of us has just one flavor. So why should our homes?”

Q: Three favorite things in your home: My kiddo’s treasures from our nature walks, a vintage floral chandelier in her room, the original hand-painted house number from 1912 (and the rusty horseshoe hanging under it to watch over us).

Q: Favorite place to score finds for your home: Union Camp Collective (Raleigh), A Maker’s Post (Charleston), and Isabella!

Q: What would people be surprised to learn about you: I never thought I’d say this….but I want a cat. Named Big Purrm, an homage to the classic 1995 film “Friday.” You’re at a coffee shop, what do you order?

To learn more about Katie visit Katie Howson Creative or Follow Katie on Instagram @katiehowsoncreative to learn more about her work and current projects like painting large scale murals in a soon to open upscale Mexican restaurant here in the Queen City!!

Pop into Isabella, shop us online at www.isabellastyle.com or follow us on Instagram @isabellastylenc to check out Katie’s latest pieces!

The post Artist Spotlight: Katie Moore Howson appeared first on Isabella.

Lighten and brighten your spaces this spring by incorporating lemon yellows into your color schemes and home decor. Yes we know that yellow is bright and bold but when done right it can be just the pop of color the room needs! fear not we are here to show you how to add lemon in the most stylish way!

Check out these fun fresh lemon picks and others we have selected just for you!

Here are easy ways to mix in the shade du jour!

Shop Isabella Instore, Online and on Instagram @isabellastylenc

The post For the Love of Lemon appeared first on Isabella.

Green velvet goodness feels so rich with this custom headboard and we love the touch ‘o green on the light sconce too. (we’ve been busy pinning more fun St. Paddy’s day-inspired ideas here).

We also spied this Lulie Wallace print on Instagram in the cutest headboard …

We love supporting another Carolina girl! Be sure to follow artist + textile designer Lulie Wallace for more colorful inspo. We can custom-make headboards, pillows, draperies, and more, or wallpaper your spaces with her sweet prints.

We also have new green bedding options here at Isabella, like this Kerry Cassil quilt in spruce.

Accent with pillows, throws, and a plant baby for that organic green.

Add ART, a natural way to add color and character. We ? this Blakely Made beauty in our own Sammy’s soothing bedroom scenario.

We also love adding embroidered details for a well-made bed, or opting for printed sheet sets to mix it up.

Such a fun way to add lime hues to your space. We have all the ways to add color, from vibrant cocktail table books to accent pillows, throws, and baskets.

Plus we have all sorts of new pillar candles in hues of green to deck your dining table or living rooms.

These twisted tapers are perfect with fresh table linens like these pretties from John Robshaw.

We’re definitely ready for some entertaining, how about you?

The recent spring-like days here in NC have us craving alfesco dining on our patios. And of course we have new bespoke coupe glasses on the way that are perfect for a lime-garnished cocktail.

Envision yourself sipping in this swanky space featuring a lush green velvet sofa, designed by our Isabella ladies.

Cheers to March, the spring soon to come, and to doing a little Irish jig on the 17th! ?

The post Think Green: Irish-Inspired Interiors appeared first on Isabella.

Join us this Friday February 11th at the shop for a Galentine’s gathering filled with goodies. Enjoy a toast of rosé and a few tasty treats. Plus, Everything PINK is 10% off for the occasion! From pink candles to pink books to pink Turkish towels, we’ve got the perfect gift mixes for you! ? 

Take a peek at some go-to gift ideas for your special Galentine or Valentine …

Cozy herringbone throws are perfect paired with other essentials like candles, match cloches and jewels.

We love our heart-shaped olive wood dishes for this February holiday, and of course heart stud earrings, a rose-scented candle, and one-of-a-kind art.

Feel that girl-power with this animal-print gift mix, or give your gal some practical and posh accents for her bath.

We also ? gift sets made for entertaining, like these sweet combos of pillar candles, table linens and charcuterie accessories.

And best of all, you can get in on all the goods by entering our Galentine’s Giveaway. All the deets are on our Instagram profile. So link on over to get your chance to win this amazing gift collection:

• A bottle of ROSÉ from Bond Street Wines

• A set of four tea glasses + heart-shaped olive wood dish from the girls here at Isabella

• A gift certificate for 60-minute radiance facial, valued at $105, from Toccare Day Spa, plus

• Two pair of earrings + layers of pink bracelets from Noble Collective, consciously curated in Charlotte.

We hope to see you Friday to clink glasses with us and toast the fabulous female tribe who supports us, cheers us on, picks us up, and dances the night away with us when we need it most!

Happy Galentine’s!

The ladies of Isabella

The post Galentine’s Gift Ideas + Giveaway! appeared first on Isabella.

Here are easy ways to mix in the shade du jour!

Add a cozy throw to your sofa or bed, go light + bright or dark + moody.

Or add a conversation piece, like a colorful cocktail table book that will inspire you and your guests.

Or, light a candle with a nod to the violet shade of the moment.

Don’t forget to reflect the color of the year with some fresh blooms. We have new vases on their way to showcase all the soon-to-be spring buds.

How cool is this beautifully-hued glass vase? We love how the light shines through colored glass to reflect all the pretty nuances of color.

Art also instantly makes a color statement, whether subtle or bold. We love this one from local Charlotte artist Lauren Bolshakov.

Framed art and expressive abstracts personalize an interior instantly.

Custom fabrics are another perfect solution for adding your favorite shades. We love guiding your textile selections, from custom bolsters and pillows, to refreshing your upholstered furnishings with a new hue or texture.

How are you adding Very Peri to your interior spaces? Tag us on your stories to show us how.

The post Trend Watch: Pantone Color of the Year 2022 – Very Peri appeared first on Isabella.