Monday, March 17, 2014

Crazy for Reclaimed Wood!

There's a love affair going on.  I'm sure you're aware.  
There's not a barn, a factory or an old warehouse that isn't being eyed, even lusted after
for it's beautiful, worn wood walls, ceilings and floors!
We can't wait to get our DIY and designer hands on this reclaimed wood these days.
The older and more beat up, the better.  We'll pay a handsome price for it, too.
And look what all we can do with it...


Courtesy of Retropolitan, Original Art:  Candice Sone

This wall is from a project of mine.  The homeowners and I picked out the pieces 
together and I laid them all out on their driveway in the freezing cold.  
I think it actually started to sleet before I was finished with my layout!  
The installation turned out great, and they loved it.  
It added such warmth to the room and was the perfect backdrop for the 
commissioned art piece by Candice Sone.


 florelladesign.com & houzz.com   *   birdseyebuilding.com & houzz.com
I love the simplicity of these wood treatments.  Nothing fussy.  Warm but modern.
Nice, thoughtful uses of a beautiful, reclaimed product.  


rbrantdesign.com & houzz.com   *   indulgy.com & houzz.com
We're getting a little more daring here with rough hewn planks of different tones
and planks that are painted, layered, and scraped.  Lots of personality here.
I love that they carried the wall treatment right onto the shower door 
in the photo on the left.  You just want to run your hands
along the walls in these rooms, don't you?


unionstudio.com & houzz.com   *   mmarch.net & houzz.com
nnarchitecture.com & houzz.com   *   collectionsdebrueil.com & houzz.com
 No doubt, these installations are a feast for the eyes.
A little rustic, a little modern, and a lot architectural.
They create artistic, organic focal points with rich texture and pattern.

  
terrafirmahome.com & houzz.com   *   avaloninteriors.com & houzz.com
I love the thought put into the design in these two rooms.  
The top photo boasts a wood treatment that is as much art installation
as it is dramatic furniture piece.  And the bottom photo...genius.


peacedesign.org & houzz.com
Now this is beautiful, too.  I love all the woods of different hues, and on
so many of the surfaces, too.  I think the bleached out custom
bath furniture is warm and wonderful.  
Who wouldn't want to brush their teeth and wash their face 
in this lovely bathroom?


markhickmanhomes.com & houzz.com
And I would be straight up lying if I didn't say this was my favorite
kitchen...ever.  Just ever.


Courtesy of Retropolitan, Custom Wood Wall:  Doug Regen
  
This is another image from my own portfolio.  I must say, I didn't get to design
or lay out this wonderful treatment.  Its installation preceded my work
on the project, but what a nice feature wall to design and decorate around.
Gorgeous!

You are right on trend if you're loving these reclaimed wood treatments 
as much as I do.  It's nice when trending is also reclaiming, recycling
and repurposing, isn't it?

Go green!

- Amy





Monday, March 3, 2014

Enamored With Metals

                                                                  
Take it from jewelry...mixed metals work.
In fact, I've always thought of the metals in the spaces I style
as being the jewelry for the room.  

r-j-graziano.fashionstylist.com
There was a time when we all felt like the metals in our rooms had to match.
Remember those days?  
Well, shake it off!  Free up!  
Those days are long gone, my friends.
I give you my official permission to mix those metals 'til your heart's content.


agoodchicktoknow.com & houzz.com
Nice and balanced, the radiator grates and the Asian sculptural piece above
are the same burnished gold, while the retro inspired lamp and bedside table
bring in the shiny chrome.  It's a simple, but great example of the definition
to each piece you get when you mix metals.



sadieandstella.com
There's more complexity to this living room's mix of metal finishes.
Neutrals and texture abound, and the metals create that pop of bling like
the jewelry comparison we made earlier.  I love the play of the leafy golds against
the velvety charcoal sofa.  An interesting room, don't you think? 



rs3designs.com & houzz.com
The mix of metals in this bedroom is more in the softscape.  There are such 
magnificent metallic offerings in the fabric, floor and wallcovering realms these days.
It keeps the overall feel of the room soft, while still giving you that
interest and interplay of mixed metal finishes.  Beautiful.

  
twoartdirectors.etsy.com & houzz.com
I love the particular shade of gold used in this bedroom.
It's a bit more pewter-y so it reads more like a bronze, in my opinion.  It's the
perfect blend of cool and warm, I think.  And against all that white, it really pops!



panacheinteriors.com & houzz.com
How's this for drama?  Nice move doing gold leaf on the ceiling. 
The contrast of the warm gold with the cool greys - and certainly against
such a great cityscape - creates wonderful interest and romance.

As far as mixing metal finishes in interiors, there's only one rule of thumb,
in my book:  keep it balanced.  Make sure you have several of each tone
of metal represented, so all of it feels purposeful and intentional.

Now, off you go!  Get to it.
Explore a mix of metals in your space, create some interest
and bring your fabulous taste in jewelry home, literally.

- Amy 









Monday, February 17, 2014

Laundry List

If I'm honest, when it comes to laundry, I'd really rather 
be doing something else.  Anything.
It's not that it's hard.  It's not that it's stressful.  So, what is it then?
I think it's just that my laundry room is boring.
There's nothing exciting or artistic in that little room at the end of the hall.
Nothing inspiring me on to new heights in the laundry life of my family.
Ok, I know.  Dramatic.  But I think I may be on to something...at least for me.

 So how can I make all this sorting, spraying, washing, hanging, folding
and ironing more exciting?  More inspiring?  More meaningful?  (again, with the drama)
Or at least a little easier on the eyes?

My laundry room, Minneapolis, MN
Above is my little laundry room. It measures 7x8 and is a pass-through from the garage.  
(Living in Minnesota means this is also the muddy, snowy boot removal room 
for about half the year.)  There is one small set of cabinets, 
two shelves that span the length of the room, and sadly, no window.
Adequate?  Yes.  Interesting?  Not so much.  I've got my stylist eyes peeled for ideas...


MJ Designs & houzz.com
This one actually looks a lot like my laundry room.  Similar flooring and layout.  
Floor to ceiling cabinets hide all the supplies, and the 
can lighting makes it nice and bright.
Simple and functional.  This would work fine.


Oakwood Homes & houzz.com
This one's also similar to mine in size and layout.  The shelving is kept open with
 big baskets and black cabinetry for storage of supplies.  Nothing too fancy, but nice.



Jodi Foster Design and Planning & houzz.com
  This one's pretty.  It's a pass through like my laundry room, 
but feels upscale and polished.
Lots of cabinetry in a painted finish feels clean and organized,
and substantial hardware makes the room seem more integrated
with what I imagine the rest of the house to look like.
It doesn't feel like the forgotten room where all the dirty clothes go.  
It looks like it would smell nice, too, you know?



Borroso Homes & houzz.com
 Oooo, slick.  Polished marble floors and beautiful light at the other end of the room.
Very crisp.  I won't be changing the flooring in my room 
and I can't achieve the natural light, but this one has a nice feel.  
I love the continuous, black countertop, sleek cabinetry and double bars for hanging.  
I'll keep this one in mind.



Clean Design Partners & houzz.com
I'm throwing this one in just to show what fabulous-ness you can achieve even if
you only have a laundry closet to work with.  The mirrored backsplash is
nothing short of glam.  The cabinets flanking the clothing bar is a genius use
of the small space.  Question:  Can a laundry closet be sexy?  Obviously.



Dwellings Inc. & houzz.com
Mmmm hmmm.  Love this one.  It has a custom, built-in feel, but modern,
open and airy.  And can we just talk about the wall color for a minute?  Dramatic dark
grey?  Fits me to a tee!  So, this is it...my inspiration photo.  Again, I can't achieve
the wonderful natural light in this room, and I'll certainly have to rework
the cabinetry for my room, but I'm hooked.  I'm home.  This room has a combination
of many of the elements I liked in the rooms above.  

So, one of these days in the near future when I have the laundry room 
of my dreams (see pictured above), I'll blog about the joys of spin cycles, 
organic fabric softeners and steam ironing with fancy linen sprays.  
For now, I'll get my measuring tape out, envision the glory to come...
and hunt down all the missing socks that somehow disappear
with every load of laundry in my little, plain-jane room at the end of the hall.

Stay tuned!

- Amy





Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Artvante Garde

Artvante Garde

What do I like to do on a rainy day?  Well, first things first.  Coffee.
And not some manly, black liquid staring back at me
from the lip of a plain, ceramic mug.
I'm talking something foamy and sweet with some wonderful design on top.
And in a to-go cup, too, with a fancy sleeve.  I'm taking mine on the road.
Where, you ask?  Well, the nearest art gallery, silly.
Of course, they might not allow me to have my coffee while I browse,
but I will most likely have enjoyed the heck out of it before I get there anyway.

Art galleries are one of my favorite places to go for inspiration.
I love all kinds of art and all kinds of art galleries.  I just can't get enough.
Over the years, working with clients in styling up their homes
has often brought up questions like,
"I'm stumped. What should I do over my sofa?" and "Is there a right way to hang my art?"
It seems that art placement is an intimidating and overwhelming task to many people.
So, from art gallery to your living room, here are some thoughts...

Mayberryfineart.com & houzz.com
When people think of hanging their art, they often think of how pieces are 
displayed in a gallery.  Gallery Style art installation allows pieces 
to breathe and to be enjoyed in and of themselves, 
without being crowded or distracted by other pieces.
If you have the wall space and the lighting for Gallery Style, it's wonderful...
and more power to you, because most of us have to think on a different, 
more "every day" scale.

remodelista.com & houzz.com
It's pretty common, also, to think of art placement in a traditional way.  
Like the single piece displayed over the mantle or in the dining room.  
That's a lovely default, and again, a great way to give that one piece a place to shine. 
But sometimes, the piece isn't quite big enough or doesn't feel right in the room.  
Well, good news.  
Happily, centered and single is not the only way to display that art you love so much...

settingforfour.com and houzz.com
Salon Style.  A term I learned years ago from an artist I admire very much, 
opened up the possibilities of interior art installation for me.  
It's a broad term and maybe a bit technical, so I prefer to think of it 
and to describe it to my clients in terms of having the freedom 
to think in "collections" or "arrangements" with their art.
Above is a lovely collection.  Obviously the commonality is in the blues.  
Very restful.  Very collected.  It makes me feel like I'm getting 
a sense of the people who live here.  I like that.

courtesy of Abigail Ahern & houzz.com
The collection above spans almost the entire living room wall.
Every one is different: framed, unframed, photographed, painted, sketched.
The thing that ties them together is portraiture.  I love this.  
Again, I get a sense of the artistic people who must occupy this space.

bhg.com & houzz.com
Salon Style can be done with a serene, thematic approach, 
evoking a peaceful, ordered feeling...

Artadvisecollect.com & featured in ElleDecor magazine & houzz.com
or you can pull out the stops and go wonderfully crazy.  


Either way, and whether you go a little more formal with a 
Gallery Style installation or a relaxed Salon Style collection, be sure 
to let your art tell the story of you, your interests, your passions, your life.  
Allow it to be an inspiration, and an interesting jumping off place for
conversation, relationship and the deeper things in life.

...and don't forget the coffee.  You know how I take mine.

- Amy


















Sunday, January 19, 2014

  

Retropolitan has been on the move... 


The beloved, historic building that housed our store in 
mid-town Nashville's Hillsboro Village was torn down during the last year.  
After a lovely but temporary stay at the GasLamp Too, also in Nashville, 
my family and I decided to make a big move, a move that would
require putting the retail portion of Retropolitan on hold and
hauling ourselves and all of our belongings 900 miles north and west.

So...a big Retropolitan hello from Minneapolis, Minnesota!


It has been quite the year.  All of us Retropolitan stylists and artists have
embraced the new chapters in our lives.  We are all moving
toward new goals with amazing experiences and memories of three and a half
glorious years together under the Retropolitan sign together.  I couldn't be 
more humbled and thankful for all of the great opportunities that
came our way during that time.  Dreams were realized, careers were launched
and friendships were forged that will empower us and go with us
wherever we go throughout our lives.
Again, I'm thankful.
I'm also hopeful and anxious to wade through all the new opportunities and
resources that await here in Minneapolis/St. Paul.  Interiors will
certainly be a part of my new world here, although Retropolitan's retail
presence will wait in the wings for now.

Life is exciting.  Let's stay in touch, keep inspiring each other,
and share the exciting stuff together!

Beauty and blessings to you all!  
Amy