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

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 

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

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

  

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

Tablescapes

I'm inspired by a recent Facebook post by lovely and talented Retropolitan store manager, Katie Figlio (AKA Fig).  She whipped up a fabulous centerpiece for a customer using a vintage wooden milk crate and handfuls of oversized, latex flowers.  Gorgeous and lovingly custom made!  

So, armed with that inspiration and some snapshots of my own house (yep, I'm getting up close and personal here!), I'm kicking off a few thoughts about tablescapes... 

I have one, simple rule..."tell a story."  Merchandisers use the term "color story," referring to the set of colors used to create a vignette or store display.  Same idea.  But in a home setting, I want tablescapes to draw people in and give them a little story to contemplate.

The scape above is in my entryway.  The lamp and gold urn are prized, vintage finds.  The small photograph was a gift from some good friends, the larger one is of my "little lambs."  The red, crystal champagne flutes were an anniversary gift.  The old, red books in the urn are from my husband's childhood (the front one is The Wizard of Oz - written in the town where my husband went to school - just a little Heimermann family trivia for you!).  I added in a book on Impressionistic art, as it's a love of ours, and a linen tea towel with the initial "A" on it (a gift on my birthday.)  So, everything has meaning in the life of the people that live here, namely my family and me!

This little scape sits on my living room ottoman.  The carved, wooden tray came from a little boutique in Sonoma, CA (I couldn't come home without it!).  The books are French Impressionists and more of those classics from my husband's childhood.  The candles are my son's favorite scent and color, and the glass garland is just plain fun.

Still more of the things we love in our foyer...Impressionistic art books, a vintage bronze bust, a family heirloom bible in German (super old!), a really unique candlestand I got at my very first antique sale, and some little red, glass eggs (they captured my husband's fancy in a lovely boutique in Denver, CO.  Don't know why, but I love that he loved them!).  

I'm tossing this arrangement from my daughter's recently re-styled room (she did it all herself!) into the mix, just to highlight using things you love in the "scapes" in your place. What would you say is the passion in this little girl's life?  Gymnastics.  No question there, right?  My thought is that it should be the same throughout your house, and mine.

 So...what do the arrangements in your place say about you?  Do they tell a little piece of your story?  If so, I say you've achieved a thoughtful, inviting approach to home decor...
and Fig would be so proud!


- Amy

What We Love... in honor of Valentine's Day

What I love...

Rain on my face
The Blues...really loud (Joe Bonamassa - currently Disk 1 in my truck)
Boots...most any style will do!
The smell of sawdust, paint and construction
Bold, graphic prints on wallpaper and fabric
Impressionistic art
English toffee
Every possible shade of turquoise
French fries!
Me-time
Driving a stick-shift
Walking through fallen leaves
Big, chunky rings and bracelets
That resolved, peaceful feeling after a good cry
Gin and tonic, with a splash of St. Germain
Roller coasters
Sirens and city sounds at night
A really great antique sale
Fresh flour tortilla chips and chunky salsa (no onions, please!)
Ultra modern decor, mixed with European antiques and vibrant art (duh)
Grainy, black and white photography
Whispy, flouncy jackets and blouses
Brainstorming sessions (the best are over a hot cup of coffee or a lovely cocktail!)
Cowhide rugs (the ones dyed in bright colors are my favorite)
Kissing
Breakfast...in.  Dinner...out.

-Amy