The South and its Gracious Rooms

Good Morning Lacquered Lifers! Starting a renovation is daunting. Despite what you may think about someone who does this for a living, the design and management of your own project is always twice as hard as it is for your clients. Why? Because like in anything, you are your own harshest critic, and find yourself second guessing yourself in ways that you don’t with other projects. That being said, during the infancy stages of a project I am always stocking up on new books and magazines to get my creative juices flowing. The most recent arrival? Barbara Westbrook’s Gracious RoomsBarbaraWestbrook_cover

Westbrook was raised in Virginia, and has spent all of her adult life in Georgia, making her a consummate Southern Lady, and it shows in her decorating. From  lakeside retreats to country houses in the city, this book cuts a wide swath showing you all manner of design scenarios. It also has sections with titles like “Living with Collections,” “Everything in its Place” and “The Ins and Outs of Symmetry,” which offer tips and details on achieving some of the designs put forth in the photographs. Who doesn’t love a good decorating book that includes tricks of the trade? BarbaraWestbrook_p087BarbaraWestbrook_p079 BarbaraWestbrook_p053 BarbaraWestbrook_p015Westbrook’s interiors have that chic, yet extremely comfortable look, that to this Yankee transplant seems to be something that can only truly be captured by Southern decorators. The title says it all, Gracious Rooms, that is exactly what each of these rooms are. Gracious. Just like all of the great Southern ladies I have been lucky enough to know here in Charleston. 

Click here to purchase Barbara Westbrook’s Gracious Rooms.

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Rattan Rabbit Hole

Good Morning Lacquered Lifers! So the other day I ended up down the rabbit hole of the internet, searching for light fixtures for a client, and I came across Selamat Designs …. why have I never heard of this brand before? Based out of San Francisco, they specialize in rattan/jute/wicker products from places like Indonesia. The combination of living in Charleston, with our zone 9 subtropical climate, and my love of Tom Scheerer always makes me a sucker for natural material products, so I couldn’t be more thrilled when I ended up on the Selamat website … and  the price points are not astronomical. For example, the Beehive Pendant is listed around $200. Don’t you love little design discoveries like these? Selamat LightingClockwise from left: Beehive Chandelier // Bodega Round Pendant Light // Deco Hanging Pendant // Collins Hanging PendantSelamat TablesJute Basket Spot Table // Riva Bunching Table // Pamona Nesting Tables

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Leaving Church Street.

Exterior 2Good Morning Lacquered Lifers. So sorry that I haven’t been here in over a week. Now I can finally tell you the reason. We have put our house on Church Street on the market. Not to worry, we’re not leaving Charleston, we’re just ready for the next project and the next adventure. Church Street has been absolutely wonderful, such a happy place for Mr. B, Hamish, Hugh and me – but we’re ready for the next chapter. While I am excited for the next move, I will definitely be sad to leave our house on Church Street. So today, just a few of my favorite photos by the extremely talented and lovely Francesco Lagnese from the Southern Living feature. Portraits, Interiors Portraits, Interiors Portraits, Interiors Portraits, Interiors Portraits, Interiors Portraits, Interiors Portraits, Interiors Portraits, Interiors Portraits, Interiors Living Room 2

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