TENNESSEE: a bakery cafe in arlington

this semester of school has by far been my favorite. we’ve moved into a realm where designing everything from the layout of the space to the wall materials to the light fixtures really count. looking to my past and being inspired by the coffee shops i loved in nashville, i took a spin on an empty space in arlington, massachusetts and recreated a bakery cafe with a nashville feel.

I began with pulling inspiration images, wanting the space to feel rustic yet welcoming. a place where one felt comfortable pulling their feet up on the sofa.

Restoration Hardware - chalkboard wall, reclaimed wood floors, light fixtures

Reclaimed wood stairs

Marble display cases

creative signage

we were given the empty floor plan and the requirements (number of display cases, kitchen square footage, handicap accessible bathroom, etc.) and had free range from there.

i wanted the space to be one in which people could learn and share knowledge between sips of coffee. a large chalkboard wall, comfy leather sofa and lighting worthy of an art gallery lit the stage. hatchprint, a signature style of nashville, led customers from the front of the space to the back. and my love of geometrics shaped my kitchen.

Because furniture was limited, each piece had to make an impact

Arteriors ziggy pendant Arteriors Wyndham Swivel StoolJayson Home leather sofa

Arteriors Adele Pendant

many drawings later, the space came to life. boston is in need of more off-brand coffee shops, and i wouldn’t mind one that marks my lattes with a heart.

The Marant Pant

Happy Halloween! But don’t be fooled, this isn’t my costume.

Picking materials is one of my favorite parts of being in the interior design field, so I am always drawn to clothing and accessories that have fun or unique aspects that I could see on a fabric or as a detail on a piece of furniture. Where better to wear these Isabel Marant look-a-likes than at homecoming, where my pants aren’t the loudest thing at the party.

Photos thanks to the glam DPL.

Bobby’s Oak Leaf Wing Chair

Surprise, surprise… I’m obsessed with Bobby McAlpine. His oak leaf wing chair first caught my attention when it graced the glossy pages of Veranda Magazine’s March-April 2012 issue. For more details on the chair, see here.

McAlpine’s kitchen with the chair sitting strong to the left.

My re-affinity with McAlpine’s chair all started because I was looking at chairs on Restoration Hardware’s website and came across this one above (see here) which reminded me of the oak leaf wing chair. The wood sides that encompass the body and the traditional wing back style being treated in an untraditional manner is exactly what I like to see in design.

Read about McAlpine’s secret sources for home furnishings in Veranda Magazine here. Reason #1 million I should move back to Nashville.

Susan Ferrier at Her Best

The architectural creativity that went into these stairs is so amazing. I would expect nothing less of Susan Ferrier of McAlpine Booth & Ferrier. The way the firm plays with natural wood elements, soft furnishings and serene accessories, their portfolio is filled with enviable interiors. See more from this project here.

Devastation.

At around 8 last night my friend told me some news that was shocking, a bit heart-warming, but also a bit devastating.

Reese Witherspoon announced her new baby boy’s name… and it is….

Tennessee.

The baby name I have been dreaming about for years. A bit unusual, yes. But meaningful? Absolutely. Being from Tennessee, it has a lot of meaning for Reese as well, but I loved that Tennessee Williams was the only person I could think of who had the name.

I can’t lie. I feel defeated. She beat me to the punch.

I need this.

 

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Bedroom Reveal

I’ve shared my progress here and there but I’m finally ready to put my hammer down and enjoy the view for a while. It’s temporary, so it isn’t perfect; but it has come a long way. From the DIY curtain blinds to the artwork from Siena, this room is all me and no room makes me happier than this one does.

See bedroom progress posts here, here, and here.

Me You and a Wiener

You all don’t even want to know how upset I am that the blog, Me You and a Wiener, has been terminated. I had just discovered it, added it to my list on Bloglovin, only for the next post to come a few days later stating that the blogger was over it. To commemorate her talents, I’ve added some of my favorite images of hers. She’s closed off her posts so I only have a select few images but you can tell that she’s one talented DIY chic. She lives in Nashville, scouring the flea markets for those perfect finds. Maybe I’ll meet up with her one day…

capricious

unable to label my style with any singular word (be it traditional, contemporary, or modern), i consider myself capricious: whimsical and transitional.

i have shared some of my favorite photos and designers/bloggers that i always look back on and constantly feel inspired by.

i feel like it is only right to begin with Charles Spada. one of the great masters of interior design (and lucky me, my boss!). the neutral fabrics and gilt details are signature to his style. he is an inspiration with a style that is so precise and well-calculated that you need to be truly talented to replicate his aesthetic.

Heather Clawson, otherwise known as Habitually Chic, is the first design blogger i followed to a tee. i check her blog religiously.

Rachel Halvorson’s blog, Nest Egg, is another favorite of mine and she hits a personal note with me. not only did her husband just graduate from vanderbilt business school (i just graduated from vanderbilt undergrad this past May), but she lives and designs in nashville and the above photo is from ronnie dunn’s house outside of nashville that she designed. i could not be more jealous. he is my ideal client and i would love to move back to nashville in the future.

i want to end my first post with this beautiful town home. i grew up in the city and despite falling in love with tennessee, i will always be a city girl and live for pretentious exteriors, even if the house is modest in size. the entryway is always the  place to put your best foot forward.