Category Archives: Furniture

06.09.11

Molly Loot.

She may be one of the design world’s best kept secret. Meet Molly Luetkemeyer (pronounced loot-kah-my-er) AKA mollyloot.
 
1. Isn’t she the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?  2. You are going to DIE if you haven’t seen her work.
LOVE this wall hanging.
Love me a good red chair.
 This bathroom takes me back to 1979.
I’m always a sucker for a good gallery wall.
What a great shade of orange…
Peacock Mirror, anyone? (I have the $199 Pier one version, couldn’t swing this one.)
Simply adore these ceilings.
Notice the perfect mix of patterns that most people would have never paired together.
Molly started her career working for design legend Kelly Wearstler.  You can see many common threads in their design style.  Molly’s work is truly a throwback to the 70’s.  What I love most about her design is the bold use of colors and mixing and matching of fabrics.  As I was looking through her portfolio for this post, I realized the other thing that I love about her– her creativity when it comes to new uses out of old spaces.
I have been saving this in my inspiration file for months for our basement built-ins.. I love the depth that the green builds into otherwise plain white bookshelves.
The drawer pulls and the pops of emerald give this otherwise “standard” closet a whole new life.
I would have never thought to encase a piano.. and I love the tortoise shell backing on the shelves.
I want to nap here, now.
This was my favorite– so many people have that awkward extra bedroom that they’ve converted into an office.  Notice how she built the bookshelves into the closet.  Love the lighting, love the sliding door.
So, I may be a bit of a Molly Loot stalker at this point.  I’m okay with that.  I’d like to think that if I lived in LA, we’d be friends.  But then again I’d like to think that I’d be friends with a lot of people in LA if I lived there.  Come to think of it, in my own head.. I’m pretty f$%king cool.

06.01.11

Home Decorator’s Collection.

Last week I received a new catalog for Home Decorator’s Collection.  While this catalog has been around for many years, I was never incredibly impressed with their products.  The only time that I ordered from them was in 2004.  I ordered a set of Louis Chairs that I was going to have reupholstered.  Well, they sent 4 of the chairs with a white wood frame and then told me that they were out of stock and couldn’t send the other two.  Needless to say, I was furious.  So after a “talk” with management, I received the additional two chairs for free (with a dark wood frame.)  What was I going to do with 4 white chairs, and 2 mahogany?… As it turns out, I painted the frames black.  As you can see from this picture (from last year), I never replaced the fabric, and now they have been booted from the dining room to make room for my mother’s dining room chairs.
So, (as I digress) I usually don’t pay their catalog much attention, but this one made me take another looksie.  And boy, am I glad that I did!  Looks like someone’s really upped their game!
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

05.13.11

That Buffet.

I received a few emails after my post on intaglios about the buffet in our dining room.  It was actually my parent’s.  They bought it in 1969 after they got married.  When my Dad decided to sell my parent’s home to downsize last fall, he asked me if I wanted their dining room set.  At first, I declined because it seemed so formal and ornate… But upon further consideration, I decided to take it.  I couldn’t stand the thought of getting rid of something that held so many family memories.  I am so glad that I did.  With a little updating, we were going to make it our own.

The buffet was actually a hutch.  In an effort to update it, we took the top off.  Here is the before (in my parent’s dining room):

and the after (in our dining room)….
 I plan on painting it to match the walls and the hardware will ultimately be gold. Stay tuned!

04.11.11

Big Girl Room.

The time has come.  Our little Anna Lou will be turning three next month, and refuses to sleep in her toddler bed.  It’s time to convert her nursery into a big girl room.  This weekend she inherited my trundle bed from childhood.  I have a lot of ideas for her new bed and bedding.  To give you a sneak peak, here are some inspirations that came to mind….
Stay tuned!

03.14.11

Seeing Red.

I have lusted after this kitchen designed by Windsor Smith for what seems like ages.
What I love most is the red kitchen chairs that she pairs with the table.  I have contemplated painting my chairs (that are currently black) red for some time.  I feel like it would give a much needed pop to my otherwise black and white kitchen.
Let’s take a look at some more lucious red chairs, shall we?…
What are your thoughts?  Do these kitchens have you seeing red?

03.08.11

In the Navy.

If you’ve been reading this blog for some time, you already know about my love for all things nautical. Better yet, if it’s navy blue- I am all in.  I have recently been considering how I can incorporate navy into my home.   I particularly love a crisp, clean palette of navy and white.  We are thinking of rearranging a few things around here which includes a new laundry room.  I am dreaming of glossy white walls with two Hicks Pendants and a fantastic navy and white fabric on the windows….  Alas, we will be paying a big fat tax bill instead.  So my dreamy white laundry room will have to wait, but for those of you who are able to add some navy into your life, here are some great ideas:
1. Carly Chair– $899
3. Wooden Sconces– $1,200
4. Ropes Wallpaper- $195/roll
7. Octopus Throw– $395
8. Portofino Rug– $70-$1790
9. Seahorse Pillow– $105
11. Leather Slipper Chair– Call for pricing

02.25.11

A Peek Into Her World: Jamie Meares.

If you saw last month’s premiere issue of SavorNC Magazine (a new guide to the good life for North Carolinians) you were able to read my interview with Jamie Meares of Furbish.  For those of you who don’t live in North Carolina, you can check out my interview with Jamie below.  Thanks again to Jamie for giving us a Peak Into Her World.




I first heard about Jamie Meares and her store Furbish in one of my many adventures in the blogosphere.  Jamie is also the author of I Suwannee, the blog that was the gateway to her booming business.  Jamie started blogging in 2007.  Through various e-design projects for her clients, she saw a need for a more unique offering of furniture and home accessories.  So, on November 21, 2009, Furbish opened its doors.  Jamie followed her instincts and took this leap of faith and has not looked back since.


K: What was your career before you opened Furbish?

J: Ugggh.  it was in marketing.  I sat at a desk all day passing hours of my life – that’s how the blog was born.  

K: I could imagine that you wear  lot of different hats between the store, online, custom design, etc.  Tell me about it.

J: Oh man the hats I wear.  and none of them are fancy hats.  Right now I have lots of balls in the air – the brick and mortar store, an online store that’s shipping about 50 orders a day, my big design projects, my one hour consultations, people bringing things to the store for us to paint, for us to upholster or to sew and the blog.  Also my husband and dogson, Rowdy!  We’re also battling a mouse at the store (who sneaks in a night and eats soap!) 

K: Describe your personal style.

J: My personal style is bright – and bold.  I’m a lot southern, a little bit modern.

K: What is your favorite piece in the store?

J: I love the soap rocks we just got in — I know that’s not an amazing huge vintage piece that I just reupholstered, but these little rocks are just so glamorous and chic.  I saw them at a trade show in New York months ago, and have wanted to order them since, and just got around to doing it.  I visit them every morning — they smell so good and pack so much of a decor punch in a tiny item

K:  Favorite room in your house? Why?

J: I really like our bedroom — it’s on the third floor and we have a very slanted slot — there’s lots and trees and a greenway behind our house, so it’s sort of like being in a tree house.  We’ve got a nice big room with a few old Turkish carpets on the floor.  I can lay in bed and watch the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Rowdy sleeps on the sofa at the end of the bed.  I also have a big bookcase filled with books in case I finish one and need another quickly at night.

K:  Tell me your thoughts on how to make a house into a home.

J: I think you make a house a home by slowly bringing pieces you absolutely love into it. Cheaping out to get something b/c it’s inexpensive or because you have to have it right now makes it look exactly what it is: cheap.  Things can be a good deal, but they need to have a story.  I’m all for maximizing a budget, and making smart design decisions, but it’s important to know when to compromise and when not to.  I also think bringing animals into a house makes it a home…  A dirty home, but a home at that… and plants, books and art!  I can’t say how important it is to have these things in your home!! 

K:Best Part of your job?  Worst?

J: Best: being my own boss.

    Worst: right now, the mouse.

K: What are some of the fabrics, textures that you are loving right now?

J: I’m loving tribal prints, and Navajo inspired items right now.  I love a good peach and gray color combo, and I’d love for you to paint your ceiling not white.  I’m also very into spots; not necessarily an animal print, or a polka dot, but the hybrid of the two.

K: Color combos for the new year?

J: Well honeysuckle pink was just projected as the color of the year 2011.  I can support that.  I also love a bright orange, and an almost drab olive green.

K: Describe your perfect day.

J: Maybe a Saturday at the beach.  Get up, go eat a big breakfast, do some shopping at my favorite consignment boutique Hallaju, then check out the home boutiques in Lumina Station – I am so inspired every time I go into Paysage – it’s just such a lovely store, and I don’t go too often to get tired of it.  Then headed out to the beach.  Read a Diana Galbadon book, let Rowdy dog around in the water, and drink 2.4 beers. I love coming in from the beach for lunch and eating a real white bread sandwich with Doritos and French onion dip.

Staying outside until the sun starts to go down, and then eating again – maybe fried shrimp!


Furbish offers a fresh, edgy and eclectic twist to the average home furnishings.  Located in Raleigh, Jamie not only has a store filled with lavish eye candy, she also offers design services at $75 an hour.

Here are the Furbish items that made it onto Kikis List:

3. Soap Rocks– $12 each

6. Zebra Stenciled Hide– $500           

8. Custom Dog Beds– $100- $130

10. Marbled Lamp– $295

11. Driftwood Mirror– $699

12. Ottoman Tray– $95

1020 Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.521-4981

www.furbishstudio.com


Photos courtesy of Jamie Meares and High Gloss Magazine.