At Home: A contemporary quilter

I'm very excited about my new At Home series. I've done the thinking, the calling, the cajoling, the photographing and the writing.  All you have to do is  follow behind me as I knock on doors and poke around inside to see how homeowners create a welcoming home.

At Home guest:

Sharon Griffin, once a co-worker of mine,  a fantastic gardener and quilter extraordinaire, has graciously let me invade her space.  A year ago when I visited herquilting studio, I couldn't help thinking  how quietly many of us work at hobbies and interests, and even friends don't know the extent of our involvement. It's only when you start asking questions that you find out what people are really up to. Yes, I asked lots of questions.

Beginnings 

 Sharon began quilting in 1996 when she was attracted to a quilt her sister-in -law created.  She hasn't looked back since that first course  when she created the quilt below the old fashioned way.  No rotary cutters then and little fabric selection in our fair city.

First quilt 1996

While many of her first projects  employed traditional patterns and techniques, participation in two local  quilters' guilds, travel, and the internet broadened her exposure to a  wide array of  quilting techniques and styles. As you walk through Sharon's home and visit her quilting studio, you  realize that her interests are changing and her pieces take on a more contemporary feel.

Traditional patterns on quilt stand

 Why quilting?

No one could dispute that quilting creates beautiful objects, but I suspect there is more to Sharon's interest in it than that.  She  admits to being an organized, tidy person and there is something about the precision needed to quilt that suits these characteristics. It is a quiet, solitary activity that also can be quite social, and fulfill a love of learning if you participate in guilds and workshops. I've always know Sharon to be a lover of fabric and colour.  What better interest could she choose than  quilting?  Her work adds uniqueness and warmth to her home.  This is so important in  a world of mass produced objects.

Variety of Applications

And quilting isn't just about quilts.  The range of projects is limitless...

 needle holders, glasses case, bags, mug sleeves....

sewing kits, journal covers...

3 D birds, wall hangings  and ...

 Off the wall blocks.

Being a lover of all things contemporary, these off the wall quilt blocks really impressed me.  I would have no difficulty adding  one to my own contemporary decor.   Because they are finished on all sides and stand up well, they could be added to any mantle, shelf or  table top as part of a vignette. This has gotten me thinking...

Cultural influences

In these wall hangings you can see the influence of various workshop leaders from different countries and more and more opportunities to create personal work by taking the techniques taught in workshops and making them her own.

It's easy to see that landscape has become a primary influence in  Sharon's more recent work.

Abstracted landscape created with a variety of threads

NL landscape with lots of stitching

And this  truly amazing one is  pieced together and embellished  to such a degree that one would think it was a painting.   A photo of their garden shed was the inspiration.   

Integrating quilting projects in your decor

 When you are a prolific quilter there is no way you can display everything you create.  Family members usually make out well  for birthdays and Christmas!  More  things get stored and brought out for seasonal events.  The trick is to show just enough, and to come up with ways to showcase  projects that put them front and centre.

Let's take a tour

Dining room and living room quilted projects

 A strong preference for warm, rich  colours adds so much to the soft white furniture in the living room.  While there's quite a few quilted accessories in the living room and dining room, the space doesn't feel overdone. One of the reasons is the variety of projects used : a quilt, a wall hanging and a pillow. If you look at all four images you can see how the different colours flow throughout the space creating cohesiveness, warmth, and  an open invitation to sit awhile. 

  The poppy wall hanging in the dining room is new and very striking. When I first saw it I thought it was a painting it  is so realistic.   I'm glad it is hung at the perfect height for guests to observe it when sitting down.

A photograph  does not do justice to the overall stitching and embellishments at the centre of the poppy. Do  have a closer look.

Master bedroom  in chartreuse and pinks

Rather than a quilt, a  bed runner is used to accent the bed and the wall hanging on the opposite wall  is the first thing that greets you as you enter the bedroom.   Don't you love the freshness of this colour combination?

Autumn inspired guest room

One of the best ways to integrate quilting into decor is to choose lighter backgrounds  that won't compete with the patterns in the quilting. Sharon's favourite  background is a soft white. As you can see it  is perfect for showing off any colour combinations, and it has a very contemporary feel even when the quilting pattern is traditional.   The connection between the quilt and wall hanging in this room  creates a fresh, welcoming look and the colours  blend beautifully with the honey toned furniture. 

Black and white is always striking

Nothing looks sharper than black, especially with white.  The reversibility of quilted projects  allows you to have two looks for the price of one.   You can also use a table runner as  a bed runner  to accent  a twin bed. Pillows can be moved from room to room if you keep the colourways neutral enough.

And there you have just a glimpse into the world and home of this prolific quilter. Thanks Sharon for letting us visit her home.

  Thanks for dropping by.

Budget friendly design

I'm handing over the reins  today to Tom Smith writing about a favourite decorating topic - practical suggestions for decorating on a budget.

When designing your home and choosing different pieces to incorporate into the space, it can be expensive to add new furnishings, rugs, and features. Although it can be costly to purchase new decor, there are several ways to stay within your budget and limit the amount that you spend. With DIY crafts and by shopping at discount locations, it's easy to create an interior that feels like home.

Shop for Used Furniture

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More people are creating an eclectic and bohemian style in their living quarters for a cozy and mismatched style that offers plenty of details. Instead of breaking the bank on new furniture, opt for shopping at thrift stores or flea markets for treasures that will add extra dimension and character to each room. You can also consider revamping old furniture by sanding down wood pieces or reupholstering accent chairs with modern fabric.

Add Drama with an Accent Wall

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Incorporate wallpaper into the design of your home � it�ll create a high-end look as if the space was professionally decorated. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars wallpapering a single room with multiple walls, focus on an accent wall where the material can be applied. Use wallpaper on the wall that is facing the entrance of the room for a great focal point in the space.

 Sew the Linens Yourself

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From curtains to couch pillows, linens add a cozy touch and are one of the main features with interior decor. Choose the fabric yourself and sew accent pillows and slipcovers for an inexpensive way of using new patterns in each room. It makes for a budget-friendly way of making over an old couch or adding a fresh tablecloth to a kitchen table without spending twice as much on the linens.

Use Antique Accessories

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Antique accessories can add character to the decor and allow it to look more expensive with hand-picked items that are unique. Opt for mixing different types of metals for a modern style, which can include gold bookends or silver candlestick holders. You can also dress up a bare corner with an antique tricycle or decorate a fireplace mantle with old statues.

 Incorporate Baskets

 Studio 80 Interior Design

Allow your home to feel cozy with baskets that can be used throughout every area. Baskets are not only functional for organizational purposes, but also add a decorative element for a rustic and chic style. Use a dip-dyed basket to hold shoes by the front door or a wicker basket in the living room to store throws and blankets. You can also fill in blank spaces on bookcases and consoles with old baskets for an affordable product that can hold goods.

Tim Smith writes for Modernize.

Thoughts on decorating coffee tables

Now you may be surprised  to discover that some people  (especially decorators) put a lot of thought into turning a coffee table into a work of art!

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   I frequently admire the sometimes over the top arrangements (vignettes or tablescapes to decorators) found in many decorating magazines and online portfolios, but they rarely seem practical to me.  First and foremost, a coffee table is a functional item that provides a place to lay  drinks, nibbles etc., but  I do agree that it is a flat expansive surface that calls out for some adornment.   How far you want to go with this adornment is up to you. 

Margaret Ryall

This is the most I have ever had on a coffee table and there was still lots of room for drinks and cheese. My ceramic  bird finds various homes around the house. You never know where he  might pop up.  Books are always great props if you don't go overboard. They provide  height, colour and text as design elements.  

Everyone should have one great bowl .  Mine is from IKEA and it can always be found on my coffee table. Sometimes it has a vase of flowers added, 

 

 or Christmas ornaments  or gourds,  ... you get the idea.  So a great looking bowl of some sort is a very practical solution that you can keep changing.  I like silver  and low because everything looks great with it. 

Here are some other great bowls....

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Ceramic vases especially white ones are also great additions for every decor.  I particularly like small ginger jars or fret work jars. 

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Mixing metals is very in right now and having a gold or copper bowl really warms up a space.  When you have a large coffee table you need an equally large bowl to keep the scale working. This is a very  "masculine" look.  Consider small globes, gears, wooden sculpture, carved boxes, magnifying glass, etc. for masculine additions.

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 The ultimate bowl coffee table combination :) from Phillips Collection.

Next....

Margaret Ryall 

is the versatile tray.   When you arrange objects in a tray and you want more space you simply lift it off the table.  This is a very simple fall arrangement on my coffee table/bench in  my family room.  Note Mr. Bird has moved rooms. The paper bag ceramic vase in grayish white is another of my staples.  It gets filled with all kinds of things from twigs to candles.

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Three candle holders of varying heights are very versatile for  your decorating needs. You can change the colour of the candles for seasonal events. Natural elements like coral and flowers always add texture and a little of the outside world.  Think about starfish, shells, ferns, twigs, grasses, etc.as natural complements to glass and ceramic. Heights and textures add interest and move the eye around.

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Very simple and effective selection of objects in white and black. I like the fact the tray is wood which instantly warms up the collection.  A sphere of some sort is also a versatile object to own.  One with texture is even better.

And don't forget plants...

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...with a little sculpture thrown in.  I have been looking for something sculptural to add to my small collection, but nothing has appeared yet.

Hope you found some ideas for your space.....

Thoughts on seasonal accessorizing

Do you constantly change up your accessories seasonally, or do you stick to basics collected over time and add a few seasonal  things to spice  up your space?  Perhaps you are a minimalist and don't think seasonal accessories are an important part of a space or you dislike "clutter".  Obviously all types of homes and interests exist, and there is no right way to decorate your home, there are only personal tastes.

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Maximum accessorizing

 I read a variety of blogs and am constantly amazed by the number of people who go "whole hog" for the seasons and holidays.  They are constantly changing it up, creating mantles and table displays for every special event.  The continual "hunt and gather" shopping and creating  that these looks require tire me out just thinking about it.  I could never manage it with my schedule (or pocketbook).  I always wonder where all these objects are stored in someone's home.   Perhaps we  become too practical with age.  When  talking to friends we all seem to have the same ideas about  retiring objects not acquiring them.  I am wondering if maximum decorating is age related!

Minimal accessorizing

Then there's the other side of the coin,  minimalist advocates  who are simplifying their lives as much as possible and that means eliminating "stuff"  and embracing function and clean lined beauty. That doesn't mean they ignore the holidays;  they will often add subtle, simple and often natural seasonal touches.  I  understand this desire to have a quiet, unadorned space.

My personal taste

 I am a middle of the road kind of gal  when it comes  to the final layers in decorating.  I create variety by moving around my favourite things; you never know what will be where.  I also like to live with things that mean something to me, with  that meaning coming from various associations.  However, I do give a nod to holidays and seasons by adding in a few special touches to celebrate.

Quilt block by Sharon Griffin

As an artist, I am interested in objects that are original, hand crafted, and have beautiful shapes.   My current love is this quilt block (it takes the idea of a quilt block to another level) created by a friend of mine.  You can see how she makes her own home unique here. The gerber daisies are my nod to fall, and the colours in the quilt block will work year around with reds and purples prominent.  So one container, one piece of art and lots of options.

Kubus 4 Candle holder

Many of the iconic designs of  the mid century modern period continue to resonate with me and over time I am adding my favourites to my decor. I love my Kubus 4 with its square, open base that allows you to place small objects within its frame.  You can also change candle colours if you are so inclined.

Then there are subject matter preferences or design elements that catch my attention - perhaps too much at times. Leaves, twigs, birds, squares and circles/spheres are favourite motifs that keep appearing in various ways throughout my home.

Circle motifs

You can go too far when you love something! The stylized sea urchins sculptures - a Target special- relate well to the black spotted bowl.   They remind me of my lazy summer days beachcombing,  and in the midst of winter, I need all the positive reminders of better times I can get.

I went back three times before I purchased this bowl at Bowrings - a local store. When I realized the circles are transparent I knew it was a keeper.  If you add coloured tissue paper inside it you have a quick change seasonal object.  Multipurpose is the name of the game when you want simple seasonal decor.

Can you see my interest in nature creeping into my space in different ways?

Plants and twigs and a nestled bird

Bird bowl by Erin McArthur

Flowers are always a part of  my decor no matter where I am.   Sometimes I make  arrangements from my gardens,  sometimes they are purchased, and sometimes a good fake is thrown in to mix it up a bit.  Another bird in hiding.

Every home needs a lucky bamboo 

Hello squares.  Repetition in shape is a powerful design principle that can lead your eye around a space and provide interest.   And no style is more beautiful than cleaned lined mid century modern, especially when the chairs are free and you just need to recover them.  There are lots of mixed wood tones in my home too, but they never get darker than this  walnut table. I'm still embracing my golden oak - a great backdrop for plants.

A fragile nest in a nature inspired vignette  

You may see a bird's nest propped on a window ledge looking very out of place in a contemporary space, but very in place with my interests.  Thanks Anita Sing for the sea urchin and print!

 Your likes are usually repeated multiple times though out your home, many homeowners are quite surprised when I comment on this during an initial consultation.

Fall leading to Halloween

I guess it is safe to say I celebrate  seasonal changes all year long by including nature references in various ways. Now isn't that an easy way out!

What's you take on seasonal decorating?  Where does your style fit on the continuum?

The making of an interior decorator

  What's your interior design aesthetic?

             "

"What's that you ask?  Design aesthetic?

Should I have one ?  Perhaps I do! " 

This is not a question I could have answered in my teenage years, but it was those early years that laid the foundation for what I would come to understand and appreciate about design in my adult life.

 I believe our  interior design aesthetic (aspects of interior environments we are attracted to) is developed from what we've been exposed to  through our life experiences:  the house we grew up in,  homes of friends, your home town, reading, travel, and various forms of  media, etc. 

 The road to my house just before my birth

My house age 8

 Is this a town that raises a design conscious gal? 

"Yep!" 

 How did that happen?

I was exposed to very functional decor growing up in a small town in Newfoundland in the the  50's and 60's, but there were always  handcrafted  items in our home and I was encouraged to participate in their creation. There always seemed to be lots of scraps of wool, fabric and thread around.  I  appreciated what an individual could create with very modest materials, and I  believed at an early age that I could create anything I wanted.  That's a pretty powerful beginning.

The Singer sewing machine got lots of use in our home. It was a sound I did homework to, read to and even made it hum myself. 

What came off it was varied: curtains, quilts, bedspreads, and even mini skirts and tent dresses. Fabric remnants came from family members in New York.  That link assured I was current in textile designs! When not sewing I was busy with  crocheting , knitting , and hooking  rugs. All added warmth to our home.

At 13 I discovered the library in the next community and my design world expanded. 

Good Housekeeping

 There were books and magazines  that took me well beyond the small town I grew up in.  I devoured them, imagined, sketched, and rearranged our bedroom (with my sister's help) numerous times.  Mom took it all in stride. 

 Quite the design statement!  I had nothing to do with this decor, but I did make the dress! Not bad for a 15 year old.  At the time, I thought I would be a fashion designer, but good old Newfoundland practicality took over. 

TV programming added to my understanding of what was in style. I jet setted around the world with The Man (Men) from Uncle without ever leaving my living room. 

 And got my first taste of that famous British style on the Avengers. 

What we now refer to as Mid Century Modern design was in its prime in my formative years.  For the youngun' reading this think  Mad Men. 

 

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When I was 19 I spent the summer in New York. It was a trip of firsts.  First time I went to large department stores,  first time to see art galleries,  first play.....   And what about what I saw on the streets and in store windows?  It all went in and somehow came together into a feeling, a sense of what I liked and wanted in future interiors.While this type of decorating was happening in New York....

Albert Hadley, New York, 1971

The average homeowner was living in this.

That was a pivotal time in my understanding of the broader world and the vast discrepancies among the homes I was used to and the homes of the "out of reach". I began to read more and think about what elements and principles interested me  in the designed interiors I was viewing on TV and reading about. My design aesthetic was forming.  

In 1973 I got my first apartment and  it had a lively colour scheme of white with red and navy accents.  All very fresh and simple.   All second hand and dressed up with lots of covers and paint.   I moved from being a university student to a teacher - a different kind of designing! I continued to read about design and do lots of DIY projects. 

It wasn't until the mid 80's that I decided to study interior decorating and it would be another twenty years before I officially advertized as a decorator.  I would contend I was always one. During that time I also began to paint.  It was this activity that honed my colour sense and gave me a firm understanding of the elements and principles of design. 

 My design interests today can be traced back  to my roots as a mid century modern girl.  I still love clean design without too much "fussy".  I like  furniture with straight lines,  geometric motifs especially circles, lots of texture, light colours, hand made items and abstract art.  I describe my look  as casual contemporary with a quiet edge.

What's your design aesthetic?