Interior Design and Handmade Items

This is my first post here at DSG. My name is Angelia, I am a textile artisan and gallery owner in Southern Virginia. Since I do a lot of display work in the Red Thread (my shop) I thought it would start my posting with a little series on display in interior design and using art and handmade items. This week will be the living roomas the inspiration. I find it interesting, as I am sure we all do,to look at magazines and web sites in all ranges of style as well as price. I tend toward modern/contemporary style but living in the south of the US now I have learned to use a little more traditional/folk art pieces as well as the "Shabby Chic" and Victorian styles to mix it up in my home displays and the store. Using accessories is the easiest and least costly shake up you room and change with the seasons.
These rooms have a great feel of openess and I love the soft neutral colors with a pops of color.

Here is a living room form a high end designer Frank Roop and I have selected some Team members work to help you get to look.
Lunar Lounge Design Flying Needle Gallery Jalex Studio Judi Tavill
Lori Mirabelli



















Please let me know if you would like more information or have ideas to add. My design blog is Armstrong Industry Journal. Thanks for supporting the Design Style Guide Team.
(I am still trying to figure out Blogger so sorry for any problems).

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IMAGINE YOUR BEDROOM...

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com
See this on You Tube...
It our very first team slide show posted there ever!

FIND THE FEATURED ITEMS BELOW

Blossom Duvet

Candle Holder

Hand Forged Accessories

Speckled Egg Vase

Natural Gourd Lamp - High Aspirations

Modern Baby Cuddle Quilt

Chateau Angel - in Stained Glass

Green - 17 inch square pillow

Painted Pine Black Pencil Post Bed

MATTSART OOAK - WISDOM - 16 x 20

Driftwood Lamp - Mosaic Tile Lamp

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OUR INTERVIEW WITH ABIGAIL

Foret Blanche Runner

This runner is something I’m in love with at the moment. A simple and stunningly elegant piece of vintage French linen with a line of unbleached muslin leaves. Honestly, this could take you from a breezy summer porch dinner to a winter wonderland family feast. So beautiful.

I just finished up a set of 12 matching place mats and one runner for a custom wedding gift. Keep an eye out for more designs and a new listing for the wedding gift set in my shop!

Who are you?
Abigail

Where are you located?
At my desk, for the moment, in seaside Kittery Maine.

What do you create?
Things I like, things I love. My ideas come from a simple aesthetic of living – to add more beauty to our lives, not clutter. And to reuse. I find old materials already have a character and a life that you have to wait years for with new materials. Most of my materials come from markets in France (where my other half is from) which I re imagine for a modern home.

Where do you sell your creations?

Gloaming Designs http://gloamingdesigns.etsy.com and some wonderful brick & mortars (you can find a list of them on my website http://gloamingdesigns.withtank.com

Tea Towel from Vacances Series

Where do you create?

Here in my home town.
Sewing in done in the house I grew up in and most all other creating is done in my own apartment.

What inspires you?
The natural world and light. And the exploding creativity you can find with just a few clicks on the web. (What was true when I was in art school is true on the web too – being around others who are creating does wonders for your own creative energy!) Oh, and the stories I see in each piece of vintage or reused materials.

Mer Grise Pillow

Is this your full-time job, part-time job or hobby?

Part-time job with full-time thought!

What role does creativity play in your marketing methods?

Without creativity you can never grab a customer’s attention.

What are your goals?

I want to keep on a track of making products that a useful, beautiful, and quality. I don’t want to just add more stuff to the world. I’d like to grow the company to become a larger design studio with a more evolved line of products. And keep up with my fine art at the same time!

How do you envision your creations being used by your customers?

Most of all, I hope my pieces are used and treasured. I don’t make pieces to be put on a shelf – I want them to be a part of your life!

Josephine - Lg Cosy Tea

For more information please visit:

Abigail's store: http://gloamingdesigns.etsy.com
Abigail's website: http://gloamingdesigns.withtank.com
Abigail's blog: http://gloamingdesigns.typepad.com

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The UnExpected - Deck

It's hot. At least in the northern hemisphere. And at my apartment, absolutely every moment possible is spent outside on our little deck. Beautiful with the sounds of birds and a huge maple that brushes down onto one corner and plenty of plants in beautiful glazed pots. But why do we so often leave the decorating to those pots. Here are some unexpected choices for making the outside, another room of your home.

whirligig pillow set
from enhabiten

Wonderful crisp clean colors and each pillow is filled with buckwheat hulls and lavender which can only add more soft sounds and scents to our outdoor space (ideal if plants are not possible). Plus each pillow (and you get two) is 9" x 14.5" - a perfect size to toss into your 'deck bag' and bring inside.

It's only natural - large tree tote
from cipolla

Deck bag? Grab a great bag like this linen and cotton tote to bring your outdoor decor easily in and out in inclement weather and you'll never be more than 30 seconds away from bliss.


pale palmera leaf metal artwork
from CopperLeafStudios

Perfect to set the mood of a relaxing space, a pairing of these amazing zinc images would make any space. Nestle them close to the house, under an overhang for protection (avoid rain and bring indoors in the winter), and they will evoke the sounds of a pond anywhere they hang.


small oval dish
from DishfulsofDoodles

An abstract celebration of natural forms makes this dish ideal for the center of the table. With my pockets always full of pebbles and shells I've collected from the shore, this platter provides a stylish way to display such found natural treasures.

These ideas can so easily transform your deck into a haven for every spare moment. Your space is really yours now, with all your great design sense added and quite frankly, I'm not sure you'll be able to get your friends to go home. But hey, that's the price to pay for great design. Might as well bring them some lemonade.

Celadon Green Tumbler Serving Set
from juditavill

Enjoy.

P.S. Show us what you can do with your outdoor space - post a link to your photo in a comment!

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