Today we’ll take a quick trip back in time to a place in France on the outskirts of Paris that inspired a group of artists. These Impressionists painted the winter scenes of Louveciennes and they painted each other, leaving behind the essence and the enchantment of a wintery world.
Continue reading “Monday Masterclass: favorite winter paintings”
With this mood board, I’m dreaming up a guest bedroom or a girl’s bedroom in need of some redecorating (for a young lady who has outgrown the child’s room look).
I started with the wallpaper from Shumacher because I like the timeless and traditional sense it brings to the room, and it feels fresh but sophisticated. I’m using it as the anchor here to set the tone.
I’ll do curtains in Wild Iris by Robert Kime, trimmed and lined in the blush check by Scalamandre. The check would also look nice on a cushion for the vintage wicker chaise. As a compliment fabric, the headboard and bedskirt would be done in this gorgeous oyster linen from Bennison.
I’d furnish the room with an antique secretary like this one from Tone on Tone Antiques in a light green patina finish and a vintage wicker chaise, and accessorize with vintage wicker trunks, an antique tulipiere, and crepe myrtle topiaries.
Last but certainly not least, because I believe that original art greatly enhances the atmosphere of a room and of a home in general, I’ve selected a contemporary landscape by artist Christen Yates, which I found through art dealer Liza Pruitt (who is especially fond of connecting art with people and making it fun and interesting).
Of course, feel free to use this mood board as inspiration for any project you have in mind. We’ll be posting a Friday Mood Board each week, and we’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas (because they inspire us!).
Cheers! Holly and Brooke
It’s quite cold here and we are all stuffed and ready for a lazy day. If you are in the same mood, I’ve gathered some of my favorite online boutiques, where you are sure to find unique and thoughtful gifts for others or yourself that have the ECS vibe. Happy Friday, happy shopping! Continue reading “black Friday: 7 online shopping sources (so you can stay in bed)”
Who among us hasn’t pressed a flower between the pages of a book and been charmed at the outcome? Pressed flowers and foliage can be a lovely way to add a garden element to a room, and so I’m always on the hunt for antique herbarium pages. I recently purchased a set from the 1940s. I love the earthy, delicate, understated quality of herbarium pages: there is something so personal and enchanting about someone, somewhere taking the time to pick the flowers and foliage, label them with their correct botanical names, press them, and preserve them. Continue reading “the elegant charm of antique herbarium pages”
Two things are happening in our homes these days: we are back in love with wallpaper (It seems we were afraid of it for a while) and we are taking a holistic approach to designing our houses and decorating our rooms. That is to say, we are interested in beauty and our overall well-being. Of course I couldn’t be more pleased. But honestly it is Abigail Edward’s newly published book Quiet Patterns: Gentle Designs for Interiors that really got my mind going on this matter. In it she argues (softly) that, when incorporated properly, pattern (many of which are derived from nature and childhood images reminding us of the countryside or secret garden or enchanted forest of our youth) has the power to transform a space and to soothe our weary modern souls. Continue reading “on my bookshelf: “Quiet Patterns””
Elegant Country Style 