You Said It: ‘Rather Than Remove Them, They Framed Them’
Design advice, inspiration and observations that struck a chord this week
Several interior designers I interviewed this week brought up storytelling as a big part of what they do. It got me thinking about the stories we tell via our homes, through objects we place inside and out. All of our homes have stories to tell, and those who live there add their own chapters to the tale.
“Inside, they discovered a series of original horse tethers during construction. Rather than remove them, they framed them.” — Annie Thornton
In this former stable, the new live-work interiors are clean and contemporary. However, the design isn’t so minimalist that it erased the structure’s past. Details like these horse tethers acknowledge the building’s former equine residents and serve as great conversation starters.
Full story: Houzz Tour: A Former Stable Becomes a Live-Work Showcase
In this former stable, the new live-work interiors are clean and contemporary. However, the design isn’t so minimalist that it erased the structure’s past. Details like these horse tethers acknowledge the building’s former equine residents and serve as great conversation starters.
Full story: Houzz Tour: A Former Stable Becomes a Live-Work Showcase
“At a very abstract level, we wanted to create an environment where modernism, history and a variety of cultures and textures came together.” — homeowner Sheena Murphy, as told to Annie Thornton
The Murphys’ home, in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, has a big view of the Manhattan Bridge, a structure that deeply influenced not only their neighborhood’s name (Dumbo stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) but also their design choices, including materials, colors and silhouettes. A clear conversation is occurring between the interior of the apartment and the view out its windows. They also honored the historic use of their 114-year-old warehouse building, leaving the posts and beams exposed. In addition, they added their own touch to the story through their artwork and personal styles.
Full story: Room of the Day: A Piece of Manhattan Inspires a Brooklyn Apartment
The Murphys’ home, in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, has a big view of the Manhattan Bridge, a structure that deeply influenced not only their neighborhood’s name (Dumbo stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) but also their design choices, including materials, colors and silhouettes. A clear conversation is occurring between the interior of the apartment and the view out its windows. They also honored the historic use of their 114-year-old warehouse building, leaving the posts and beams exposed. In addition, they added their own touch to the story through their artwork and personal styles.
Full story: Room of the Day: A Piece of Manhattan Inspires a Brooklyn Apartment
“Although the house is equipped with forward-thinking amenities, such as insulated concrete forms and solar systems, the owners chose to make a whimsical splash in the bath with a pink sink.” — Mary Jo Bowling
Bowling reports that once-derided pink bathroom fixtures are ready for their comeback. Using them recalls their heyday (the era from the 1920s to the 1950s) and even evokes the taste of Mamie Eisenhower. I can guarantee that folks of almost all ages will come out of a bathroom with a pink sink or loo with tales of some house that was an important part of their childhood.
Full story: Homeowners Give the Pink Sink Some Love
Bowling reports that once-derided pink bathroom fixtures are ready for their comeback. Using them recalls their heyday (the era from the 1920s to the 1950s) and even evokes the taste of Mamie Eisenhower. I can guarantee that folks of almost all ages will come out of a bathroom with a pink sink or loo with tales of some house that was an important part of their childhood.
Full story: Homeowners Give the Pink Sink Some Love
“The Beni Ourain rug’s wild little sister, the Boucherouite rug is made by hand by the Berber people of North Africa. Made by weaving together colorful scraps of fabric and wool, these rugs take the rag-rug concept to a new level.” — Laura Gaskill
Objects in your house have stories to tell as well. Each piece of this rug had an original story of its own, and woven together, the pieces create a new story. In addition to adding softness and color underfoot, Boucherouite rugs add depth to a room’s story.
Full story: Kilim, Flokati, Beni Ourain, Boucherouite: What’s the Difference?
Objects in your house have stories to tell as well. Each piece of this rug had an original story of its own, and woven together, the pieces create a new story. In addition to adding softness and color underfoot, Boucherouite rugs add depth to a room’s story.
Full story: Kilim, Flokati, Beni Ourain, Boucherouite: What’s the Difference?
“A photo mural covers one wall of the children’s lounge room. In the picture — taken by Geelong photographer Pam Hutchinson — Thomas, Charlotte and Max are playing at Dog Rocks, a natural rock formation just up the road. The Wallpaper Company turned the photo into removable fabric wallpaper with an adhesive backing.” — Joanna Tovia
This is a great example of a family’s adding their own layers to their home’s story. The mural celebrates the children of the family and creates a connection to the home’s outdoor surroundings.
Full story: Houzz Tour: Family Has Room to Spare in New Rural Home
This is a great example of a family’s adding their own layers to their home’s story. The mural celebrates the children of the family and creates a connection to the home’s outdoor surroundings.
Full story: Houzz Tour: Family Has Room to Spare in New Rural Home
“In a paper titled ‘Animal Symbolism in Ecclesiastical Architecture,’ author E.P. Evans notes that as far back as medieval times, builders have adopted animal imagery to convey a message. It’s a nearly universal language: Lions = ferocity, bees = industry (and love) and, of course, dogs = loyalty or guardianship.” — Mary Jo Bowling
I never knew the meaning behind these stately animals that guard so many peoples’ homes. Bowling has collected a fun bunch of canine pairs and shown how they guard their respective homes.
Full story: Guardians of the Gate
I never knew the meaning behind these stately animals that guard so many peoples’ homes. Bowling has collected a fun bunch of canine pairs and shown how they guard their respective homes.
Full story: Guardians of the Gate
“Used from Victorian times to the present as houseplants, some species [of maidenhair fern] are North American natives that can elicit the same emotions and memories that your grandmother’s potted maidenhair did while sitting atop her antique piano.” — Jay Sifford
Just like the dogs Bowling shared with us, live plants have stories to tell. Not only are they full of symbolism, but they can help us carry on the style of bygone eras and family traditions.
Full story: Great Design Plant: Northern Maidenhair Fern Softens Shade Gardens
Just like the dogs Bowling shared with us, live plants have stories to tell. Not only are they full of symbolism, but they can help us carry on the style of bygone eras and family traditions.
Full story: Great Design Plant: Northern Maidenhair Fern Softens Shade Gardens
“And did you know that a snowflake is a fractal — a mathematical equation — just like coastlines, mountain ranges, trees, sunflowers and even the human circulatory system? Everything in nature can be mapped out with math, and nowhere is that more obvious than with a winter frost. Take your kids outside and expose them to a healthy double groan — math and nature.” — Benjamin Vogt
If cleaning up the garden before the winter is your least-favorite gardening task, check out Vogt’s ideabook. Leaving things alone can add a whole new story to the garden in the winter, one that includes critters and fractals that dormant plants support.
Full story: 7 Reasons Not to ‘Clean Up’ Your Fall Garden
If cleaning up the garden before the winter is your least-favorite gardening task, check out Vogt’s ideabook. Leaving things alone can add a whole new story to the garden in the winter, one that includes critters and fractals that dormant plants support.
Full story: 7 Reasons Not to ‘Clean Up’ Your Fall Garden
When this historic dairy barn was converted into a residence, interior designer Lindsey Rendall maintained its original bones in the form of its exposed trusses, posts and beams. Although the home has contemporary style, this layer of structure reminds everyone of the building’s past. In addition, elements like the kitchen island’s dovetailing and hand-forged door hardware add new layers that respect traditional craftsmanship.
Full story: Houzz Tour: An Old Dairy Gets a Contemporary Twist
Tour another U.K. home with an interesting heritage