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Monday, August 26, 2013

The Atelier : Toile Inspiration





Atelier: french, pronounced (A-tell-yay), artist's workshop or studio. My table at home and the shop for us to create, design and inspire!

This week's Atelier is the introduction to a new design project. It will be a continuation of beginning design boards to the final reveal. I am delighted to design this soft, feminine, classic space. It will work for years to come for the client and will be able to move from home to home.

Saturdays are a very busy day at the shop. People are in the mood to browse, consider and buy! The shop is usually bustling and the day I met my most recent client I was so busy I missed my lunch break. I will call her Miss Georgia, as she is a Georgia native who has been enjoying NWA for several years.

So, Miss Georgia is young, successful and has very good taste. But in need of some direction. Luckily, she knows what she wants for her cute little cottage and has been looking for someone to help her achieve the right "look".


She found Fresh French Home on that Saturday and we have been planning, measuring and picking ever since. Our inspiration is a bedroom she found in a world famous catalog. It is quite feminine with toile fabric, linen and ruffles. A look I love. Our first order of business was creating a headboard similar to the one pictured. I knew we would not be able to "shop" the bed as it was in the picture, so I set out to find a headboard that we could customize with the same fabric.
the toile fabric we are using to replicate the headboard

silk accent fabric, Euro shams and other accents


I got very lucky and found a vintage headboard, circa 1940. It is nearly perfect and will give her the bed she loves in the picture. We kept the wood frame and beautiful, french inspired crest at the top of the bed. Inside are sweet, simple hand painted flowers. We added  foam padding, upholstered with the toile and used the same for the piping. It is a standout piece and completely custom.





To really capture the essence, the story of the room, we needed way more than just a headboard. Besides sourcing a toile fabric for the headboard I brought in a silk check (pic above) to act as our accent. We will use it for Euro shams and  other accent pieces in the room. 

I always try to find the "story", the underlining essence or idea a room or client is trying to convey. This space is no different and for me this conjures up a story of classic, clean design. New and old mingling together to create a guest retreat one might find in an old Georgia home. Crisp, but just soft enough around the edges to look as though it has been enjoyed for many, many years. And a light feminine touch that feels luxurious but is in no way unlivable or too fussy.

I wanted Miss Georgia to have a few options for the accessories that we would place in the space. I created digital design boards offering her several different choices concerning bedside tables, lamps, wall art, etc.


The one thing we were sure about was a set of vintage mirrors. These are one of a kind, vintage and Miss Georgia loves them. These along with the headboard are the mainstays of the space.

  



I have inserted a few of the "look" options created for the space. Miss Georgia is still deciding which group to do. And the nice thing is each piece is interchangeable. We can always mix and match her favorites. I would love to know what you would choose.




 LOOK OPTION #1 - the far left is our inspiration pic. the mirrors are part of each "look" option
notice that the shams are white with cream ruffle. this is probably the purist, most neutral option. the art work is bright and clean.

LOOK OPTION #2- this is much more feminine with the added pink and the bedside is slightly more feminine. the oil painting is original and it will be with the client for years to come.


One could mix and match all of these different components all day long to achieve the right space. It actually makes it fun to move things around and discover the perfect look. I can't wait to share with you what Miss Georgia chooses and reveal the finished product. I know the outcome will be beautiful! 



1 comment:

  1. Gorgeous work! I love option 2 for 2 reasons. I love the lamp (I have a lamp fetish) and I love the painting. The mirrors and custom headboard are very beautiful.

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