Did you catch the stunning modernist home of online shop owner Nonchalent Mom featured on the Domino site today? What a stunning place Carina Schott has! At first glance, I thought she lived in Australia or southern California due to the lighting and architecture, but she’s a fellow New Englander, Rhode Island to be exact.
What a gorgeous property, here are four of my favorite spots in her stylish abode. First up, the pool. Who doesn’t dream of having a pool like this? My family had an inground pool once, but only for a short period of time. That was the best time of my childhood I think! There is nothing like swimming in your own backyard, complete with a seating area, lanterns, and an assortment of pretty pastel floats like these of course.
Who doesn’t love a hallway that is part functional (storage, seating) and part gallery? This looks so fresh and inviting, and the striped rug complement some of the frames on the wall, along with the bright yellow chairs, a nice way to welcome guests and make them feel instantly at ease because your art shares with them parts of your personality. I believe that people respond well to works of art in the entryway, it adds warmth and character.
Don’t you enjoy seeing all of the color here? What an sweet work space, I like the shots of fuchsia, blue, and yellow and the height of the work table. I can’t tell if those flowers are wall decals, a mobile, or what exactly but for those who don’t know where to place decals, this is a nice look without going overboard. One thing someone told me recently is that they see decals for sale everywhere but rarely see them in homes and I have to agree, at least here in the northeast U.S. I’d like to see people use them more often though, I think they can be applied without looking cheesy if combined with shelving or art, for instance.
Ah, suzanis. Still quite in vogue here in the states. It’s rare to find a suzani in this colorway though, most are very bright and multi-colored. This two tone look is so nice. I have to check on her source to see where she found it, it certainly is a rare find. (Running to check.)
Okay I’m back, it’s by Erica Tanov, I’ve added a photo of her San Francisco store directly above because I love the arrangement and the things shown, the painting, the display cases, it’s all so lovely. This is exactly the kind of store that I enjoy browsing. But I don’t see bedding here. Ah, wait! I found it in her web shop right here along with lots of other delightful finds, like these Turkish towels.
What an inspiring collection of things in the home of the Nonchalant Mom! And I have to highlight the fact that she lives in Rhode Island. My mother and her family are from southern RI, I’ve spent many a summer on my grandparents farm there and it is such a beautiful state. You rarely hear about it though, especially in the pages of design magazines. I often feel like hip American cities get a good chunk of the attention, yet stylish people live all over America and I love that some magazines give attention to this other group of cool peeps, too. Just because someone doesn’t maintain a posh townhouse in the city doesn’t mean that their home in the suburbs or country isn’t just as interesting or magazine worthy.
More on this topic, and perhaps you have some opinions to share because I’d love to hear what you have to say… I was speaking with a group of ladies recently and they confessed feeling shut out because they don’t live in some hip American city, yet they are very cool and have style oozing out of their pores despite the fact that they live in a rural area or god forbid, the ‘burbs (insert Psycho sound effects here).
I happen to believe that we are all interesting no matter where we live and that a suburban woman is no less stylish than a city girl, It all comes down to personal style and where you live cannot give you what you inherently have within. What do you think, do you often feel alone with your cool self where you live, like no on around gets you or that you aren’t living in the ‘right’ place though you genuinely love your home? Am I making sense because reading that last sentence sort of confused the heck out of me too. But I think you get my point. How do you handle others when they try to lump you in with how they perceive suburban or country women to be, live like, etc.?
(photography by melanie acevedo for domino magazine)
May 29th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Oh, are you kidding? I live in the ‘burbs – in OHIO. Ohio is apparently stereotyped as not having a stereotype because we are absurdly boring/blah/who-really-cares-about-ohio. At least that’s the feeling I get from others who don’t live here, and the fact that Ohio is always where the blah out-of-towners are from in the movies.
Sorry about that rant. I’m really glad you brought this up because I do often feel alone in my design/fashion choices. Even my friends, who are very straight-laced, don’t take any sort of design risks with their styles. If it weren’t for all the design blogs I read, (thank you, Holly!) I would be very out of touch here. I devour everything I can get my hands on. I tell a lot of people about the blogs I read, but it seems very slow to catch on.
So, thanks again, Holly, and to all the other bloggers that bring design into my home in O-HI-O on a daily basis!
May 29th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Oh my goodness, I want all of it! This house is just perfect–so open and airy and fun! Great post.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I agree with andi, design blogs like decor8 (my favorite) have helped me get in touch with great design and have even helped me realize my own inner decorator. Now I notice how most people’s homes look like furniture store showrooms, with little personality and too perfect for a truly welcoming or homey feel. I frankly don’t care about anyone’s else’s perceptions though… I am more confident and love my home more than ever!
May 29th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I’m from Rhode Island, and I completely agree that it is beautiful and cool (Providence rules!), but people don’t really know much about it, aside from Family Guy and uh, Dumb and Dumber.
For all those people who feel bad because they don’t live in a “hip city” – don’t. I live in New York and I’d take R.I. or anywhere else with a little nature in a heartbeat.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I live in a Texas suburb and feel like an outsider for being so obsessed with design. Most of the folks here are not really into that kind of thing.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Oh my!! I really LOVE the yellow chairs, you can barely see them but still, LOVE THEM!!
May 29th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I’ve gotten better about this the older I get. I used to care, but with each passing year I care less and less what people think.
I live about 1.5 outside of LA. No where near the beach–in fact I am considered “almost the desert.” Anyway, it is assumed that if you are from my town you are pretty much tasteless. OK, exaggeration. But, their is a suburban stigma, and a belief that all of us poor souls wish we could live in LA. Not true. I love where I live, I love that I can afford a wonderful mid-century home instead of renting an apartment, and I love that I don’t feel like I’m going to die every time I get on the freeway.
But do I sometimes get jealous? Sure.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
It’s nice to have you bring up this topic, Holly – especially as a high-profile design goddess yourself. :-) It’s true that many design magazines don’t show houses or women that I have anything in common with – I live in the “burbs” too – but I have to say that I am still able to gain a lot of inspiration from them. However, my less design-minded friends can’t relate to most design mags at all, because they do have a hard time translating what they see in print into their real-life surroundings (most all of them in the burbs). I think we would all appreciate more features on smaller spaces and family-friendly living areas. But don’t remove all the grand inspiration either! I live vicariously through it!
May 29th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
What a lovely home….I live in the burbs but, there happen to be alot of creative folk out here so, I don’t feel lonely in my design love! :) I am always mystified by the folk who don’t inject any of their personality into their homes….when it just seems like a catch all for stuff and no inspiration inside. I guess if you are not so inclined or don’t have the time….but, I love it when someone’s home is a happy and warm place with lots of personality. I am always inspired no matter what the style.
Great post Holly!
xo
Melissa
xo
Melissa
May 29th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Holly,
Living in Henderson, NV -only 8 minute drive from Las Vegas…I can relate to some of those suburban women. I feel out of place sometimes living here in Vegas. Most people out here lack culture and a sense of individuality. I hate to be the one to point it out, but I’m not wrong either. Please feel free to come to Vegas and see for yourself. Hence the reason I felt like moving back to NYC – on my latest trip this past week.
I miss all the culture, the people talking about ART, and museums, interesting shopping places, people with a sense of style….blah blah…..I like that in a city….I have to resort to the internet and reading the celebrity mags at the supermarket checkout for the latest style trends etc.
I MISS MY nyc.
Jen Ramos
’100% Recycled DESIGNER Cards & More’
http://www.madebygirl.com
madebygirl.blogspot.com
May 29th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
It’s funny I just posted about the burbs vs. the city on Monday. I don’t necessarily think that because you live in the burbs you feel alone because no one gets you. It’s more about the different types of activities available to you in the city. There are plenty of cool chicks that live in the burbs, it’s just sometimes a long drive to get to a cultural, stylish event.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I think it’s so strange when people try to lump small town people together. It’s funny, you would think only people who have never lived in a small town would say thing like that, but people in small towns sometimes see themselves or their own towns as out of the loop, when really, most of the country is made up of those type of places, so its really New York and LA that are left out!
In any case, I think you can find unique style anywhere, which makes for such a great mix!
May 30th, 2008 at 12:46 am
I live in rural West Texas(oops! I guess that was an oxymoron!) and I miss that Domino, Thom Filicia hip sense of style out here.
I really have to search for cool items.
Anyways, Holly, is there a full frontal picture of Carina’s hallway so I can peruse her artwork?
May 30th, 2008 at 1:46 am
Sense of style is, I suspect, something written in the gene code. My husband has two girlfriends whose homes are incredible, and what amazes me the most is that they don’t own anything I couldn’t afford, it’s just how they arrange the whole: air and light are everywhere, things are modern, new and old (but always in good condition), a few valuable and pieces with history. And we live in sleepy Montevideo, in South America!
May 30th, 2008 at 4:13 am
hello holly and thanks so much for the kind words about our house…I really love it too! and domino did such an amazing job photographing it, melanie is incredibly talented!
but I did want to chime in on the suburban family, we have lived all over the place (minnesota, california, chicago, italy, new york and RHODE ISLAND…) and I think that it’s important to be active in your town and make it the place that you want it to be… supporting all of the truly local stores, we are very conscious of this, and being a shop-owner I know that this is important. I think great personal style is making a house that is warm and comfortable for you and your family, people can always feel this as soon as they enter a home…right?!
thanks again for such a really nice post…I love your blog and all of your really inspiring tips and information!
kind regards – carina
May 30th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Thanks for bringing the topic up. I purposefully left a hip city for a small town in the South & love it. Just brought my style w/me & have never worried if folks in these parts share my interest–the interest is a joy that enhances my life & that is more than enough to keep me going. Now that we’re in a rural setting we are able to add our love of design outdoors via gardening & also get to reap the grand rewards of a slower paced life that allows for peace & reflection.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I love this post!! What a fun and stylish home. I’m a mom and always looking for kid-friendly decor and love this home for providing such wonderful inspiration that incorporates bright colors and unique accessories. And, I, too, live in the “dreaded” burbs of Los Angeles though I’ve lived in places as varied as Santa Fe, NM and Portland, OR. I completely agree with comments made by anonymous who moved to a small town in the south. There is much to be said for a slower paced lifestyle, especially when you have kids and can enjoy the outdoors without inhaling smog all the time. I miss the hustle and bustle and culture of living in Los Angeles sometimes, but never the ever-present traffic nightmares. An hour drive isn’t too bad, especially when driving for that wonderful piece of furniture found on Craigslist!
May 30th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I live in the ‘burbs of SoCal, too. (Jules, you sound like you live pretty close to me?) Close enough to do an occasional shopping trip in L.A. or Palm Springs, but too far out to really be immersed in the cool lifestyles or cultures there.
I have definite retro/modern & mid-century taste in my cookie-cutter tract home and boy, do I find myself feeling ALONE in that. (Cue the sound of lonely whistling wind…) Most people I know have the “furniture showroom” look — very “done,” with no real personality — save for the ubiquitous expensive family portrait above the mantel.
It’s safe, the schools are great, it’s a lovely place to raise my 2 kids, but yeah — I feel like a “design outsider” sometimes. I wish I had someone here that I could geek out with!
May 30th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Rhode Island Represent!!!! I, along with my Etsy group of Rhode Island artists, are happy to see that our tiny little state gets a huge shout out in your blog. Nonchalant Mom is fabulous…her site is really great and she has such a good eye!
June 1st, 2008 at 5:47 pm
that is a lovely home- and I would have thought Australia or Cali also. Very cool. …This is also a good example that you don’t have to decorate exactly the way your geography implies.. (side note: this makes me think of santa fe, etc.. i’d love to see some homes that dare to not decorate the way my impression of most homes do there)
That is a great topic to bring up and it would be great to see a spread of homes that live in several “nowhere” places. This would bring joy to those who live in such “nowhere places”, and maybe, just maybe, inspire those others who live in these nowhere places to think outside the box and have a decorating revelation. Growing up, and now (being at home in the burbs again with my family), I am constantly surprised that neighbors and such just don’t GET how my mom decorates and the projects we are working on. So yes, my mom and I, thank God we have each other, as there have been many times we’ve come to each other and asked, “what is so crazy about what we do? We understand their tastes and what they do, why can’t they understand ours?” hahah sigh. I guess that is what I crave – they don’t have to turn a new leaf and decorate the way we do, certainly not, but a little understanding, that would be nice. haha.
-Caitlin