Nothing says charming quite like vintage linens. Displayed in a beautiful piece of furniture like an armoire or in large vintage baskets or trunks, your room will immediately have a charming French chic ambiance!
Let these fabulous treasures of the past become a part of your interior design. .jpg) 
pinterest.com
 .jpg) .jpg) Everybody loves vintage quilts  |
Lovely colorful vintage linens. .jpg) White linen covering on a table in an old farmhouse in France.  Wonderful in baskets or old wooden boxes!  Now go to the antique stores and flea markets and find something pretty to display them in! Or if vintage is not your thing, buy any pretty armoire. Just open the doors and show your beautiful linens! +(1).jpg) This would be a beautiful display cabinet for your linens.   .jpg)
pinterest.com
 
Pretty colorful linens.
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Saturday, April 21, 2012
Decorate Your Home With Pretty Vintage Linens
Friday, April 20, 2012
Architectural Elements Add Old World Charm To Your Home Decor
A great way to bring sophisticated charm to your interiors is through the use of architectural elements.
Some people only think of crown moldings and wainscoting, however there are many beautiful and unusual alternatives. They bring unique beauty to your interiors and exterior entertainment areas. I love to look for them at salvage places, antique stores, and flea and collectible markets. Depending on where you search, you can sometimes get lucky and find a great bargain!!
Below are some fabulous looks using vintage elements.
Columns are a very popular salvage element and are quite easy to find.
Add an element over your bed for instant elegance!
An absolutely gorgeous element behind this bed.
Old window make a wonderful backdrop for this outside entertainment area!
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Use a mantle outside!
I love old shutters as backgrounds inside and out!
Gorgeous!
Vintage doors can be used in a number of ways.
Great idea above this shower.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
How To Bring Charm To Your Interiors
I happen to love older homes and have had the pleasure of restoring and decorating three of them. I am the only person in my circle of friends and acquaintances that has an historic home. I fully understand why most people are not into restoration. Many just aren't willing to get involved with a "labor or love". Since I have a love of history and collecting beautiful things, (an addiction that began in my teens), an older home has always been the perfect fit for me. I prefer tall ceilings and individual rooms instead of all open spaces. I enjoy interesting windows and old wavy glass with little bubbles in it. The rich patina of old hardwood, wide baseboards, lovely old doors, unique spaces and lots of mantles get my decorating juices flowing. One has to enjoy the lifestyle of living with antiques and objets d'art in order to truly appreciate living in an older home because it is just that, a lifestyle.
With that said, during the past 30 years very few people have failed to make two particular comments when visiting any of the older homes I have lived in. Over and over I hear “I have a new home but I really love older homes because they have so much charm.” “You just can’t recreate that in a new home”. My answer is always “yes they do, and yes you can”!
Webster’s defines charming as extremely pleasing or delightful, alluring, appealing, enchanting, engaging, entrancing. The definition still does not tell us what triggers the awareness of charm when you are in its presence. What causes a house or a room to be charming? I believe if you examine what makes a person charming or a hostess charming you will agree it comes down to them being interesting, inviting and warm. With the right approach to decorating your interiors will entertain and enchant your guests and give you the atmosphere you find so delightful.
I love the way Europeans bring charm into their homes by surrounding themselves with objects that have been in the family for decades. The whole idea behind European style is that people would bring things home from their voyages so the home has a well-traveled look. It is a personal style that is a coming together of many influences from all over the world. The thing I love about English as well as French and Italian homes is that they are filled with many beautiful treasures and can be faded and run down a bit but still maintain a certain charm that is so appealing. Here in America it is hard to get that tasteful vintage elegance because we want everything new, shiny, and matchy matchy at the cost of warmth and charm.
The following pictures are examples of the elegance that is part of the more vintage European style.
With that said, during the past 30 years very few people have failed to make two particular comments when visiting any of the older homes I have lived in. Over and over I hear “I have a new home but I really love older homes because they have so much charm.” “You just can’t recreate that in a new home”. My answer is always “yes they do, and yes you can”!
Webster’s defines charming as extremely pleasing or delightful, alluring, appealing, enchanting, engaging, entrancing. The definition still does not tell us what triggers the awareness of charm when you are in its presence. What causes a house or a room to be charming? I believe if you examine what makes a person charming or a hostess charming you will agree it comes down to them being interesting, inviting and warm. With the right approach to decorating your interiors will entertain and enchant your guests and give you the atmosphere you find so delightful.
I love the way Europeans bring charm into their homes by surrounding themselves with objects that have been in the family for decades. The whole idea behind European style is that people would bring things home from their voyages so the home has a well-traveled look. It is a personal style that is a coming together of many influences from all over the world. The thing I love about English as well as French and Italian homes is that they are filled with many beautiful treasures and can be faded and run down a bit but still maintain a certain charm that is so appealing. Here in America it is hard to get that tasteful vintage elegance because we want everything new, shiny, and matchy matchy at the cost of warmth and charm.
The following pictures are examples of the elegance that is part of the more vintage European style.
Casual elegance
I just want to curl up with a good book on that couch. A warm casually elegant room.
A tapestry on the wall is a great way to bring texture and warmth to a room. Even with some contemporary elements the room is still interesting, warm and charming.
This foyer exudes charm. It is relaxed and elegant and certainly says
"WELCOME"
"WELCOME"
A lovely classical bathroom that is relaxing and elegant.
This was Coco Chanel's apartment in Paris. What more is there to say?
William Eubanks is an Memphis based designer who creates some of the most beautiful European style rooms in the business.
English manor style by Ralph Lauren
I love texture and this room by Juan Pablo Molyneux is so richly layered.
The right touch of leopard makes this room elegantly exotic.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
About the Blog
As an interior designer I embrace all design styles and love the challenge of making my client's dreams come true with the one that is right for them. This blog will contain advice and tips that will benefit anyone interested in decorating their environment and the pictures will hopefully be enjoyable as well. As an individual, I have my own personal preference, and that design style is the road I invite you to travel with me.
When I was a little girl, a “Mame” like neighbor instilled in me a love for beautiful things…a love for things with a patina or with a history. I have always felt drawn to special objects and unusual "finds". It hasn’t ever been about money but about the feeling I have for that particular item. It actually doesn't matter if it’s precious gold or something considered "common". What matters is it's personality, the art of it, and how it affects me.
I hope you will enjoy my decorative amusements! Also visit my website at www.lisafarmerdesigns.com to see my portfolio.
When I was a little girl, a “Mame” like neighbor instilled in me a love for beautiful things…a love for things with a patina or with a history. I have always felt drawn to special objects and unusual "finds". It hasn’t ever been about money but about the feeling I have for that particular item. It actually doesn't matter if it’s precious gold or something considered "common". What matters is it's personality, the art of it, and how it affects me.
I hope you will enjoy my decorative amusements! Also visit my website at www.lisafarmerdesigns.com to see my portfolio.
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