I’m always so inspired when I come across the blog of a talented interior stylist. I love seeing work that I may have missed otherwise since there are so many magazines that I’ll never come across and work that I wouldn’t see as a result. I like when a stylist shares the work of others in addition to their own – a good mix of what they love, who they admire, coupled with some of their own work – this makes a good mix in my opinion. It feels right to me, because too much me me me can be a drag on any blog. What do you think? Out of all the stylists and designers that you follow, who do you wish had a blog?
I’ve been to some blogs and it seems at times like they are only pushing their work to the forefront and nothing more. How do you feel about blogs like that? I believe that it is important for creatives to make a genuine effort to connect with whomever stumbles upon their blog and this is done through sharing – always sharing – not simply to use the blog as a platform to market their work. That is a bit boring, don’t you think? I love it when talented people are sharing everything that is influencing them, even abstract things (those are often the BEST posts) and both related to and unrelated to their work. I like to see what comes across their desk, what matters to them and what is meaningful at the moment to them. I want opinions and openness.
I like the blog of Anna Gillar in Sweden, who is both an interior designer and stylist. She writes an inspiring blog because… She shares what she does for work, but also what and whom she simply loves – what catches her creative eye and what calls to her heart. I adore seeing what is on the radar of style experts and trend ‘watchers’ out there. Her blog works for me because it’s like having Anna as a friend and she’s simply sharing what she finds interesting with me as we’re hanging out having tea or something… That is what makes a bog inspiring to me, when I sense a kindred spirit from a faraway place!
Please check out her blog and see what you think. I’ve chosen some shots for this post that I think best represent her blog & style – hip, cool, clear, clean, graphic and artistic. Also not very colorful, but that’s okay, it’s nice on the eyes now and then to rest on simple charcoals and creams. Serene and perfect for Autumn planning… A base like this gives you so many options to mix in color if you like, as it hits you. A little mustard, a hint of orange, a bit of copper… With a simple base you can really explore.
(images: anna gillar’s blog)
Hello friends! Happy Monday to you! I’m NOT in new week mode yet, you’ll have to forgive me as I’m dragging a bit today but I hope that you are doing well and that you had a superfabulish weekend! I enjoyed a little relaxation time and did some shopping for things that I want to use in my upcoming workshop that I’m planning with a good friend (we are going to run a weekend creative blogging workshop in my city for only 12-15 very special ladies – we take you eating, shopping, to our favorite places, we teach you, work from my studio taking photos and blogging, oh my goodness it’s going to be fun!) but I also spent time planning for my upcoming ONLINE class – Blogging Your Way: Boot Camp – that kicks off this Friday, October 5th. I guess it was a little work and a little play for me. What did you do over the weekend?
I quickly want to let you know, since some of you inquired last week via Twitter and Facebook, that the interview Martha Stewart Radio had with me last week went great even though I was a nervous wreck – it was fun to be on the radio but the time difference meant I was live at nearly midnight (I was tired!) BUT I felt honored to be on Kevin Sharkey’s show, Home Design. He kindly ran an extended interview with me on the Martha Stewart website too, you can read it here BUT if you want to HEAR me on the radio show you can listen HERE – we recorded it for you! :) On the show, I talk about decorating from why it is so important to honor your personal style at home to my 8 decorating steps, mood boards, planning, and more! Kevin also gave a great tip about how he sorts through piles of magazines – but you have to listen to hear it. :) I know, I’m a tease!!!!
Back in a moment with some inspiration for the day that I have a feeling you will love! Stay tuned…
xo, Holly
I have TOTAL HOUSE ENVY right now. I mean, I’m super green. London is calling me in a major way and now this house is not helping me much. Just wait until you start scrolling down… Your eyes will pop out and roll onto your desk. You’ll salivate like a St. Bernard and feel all clammy. You’ll swear you’re menopausal. Yup, even if you’re a dude. Thing is, I cannot NOT show you this home despite the health risks so here you go… Drool.
London is consistently my go-to point for inspiration, in fact, if I ever earn enough money to buy a property there then I plan on doing just that so I can have a part-time crash pad in the city that sets my heart aglow [*dream on holly*]. I couldn’t live there full-time as I love Hannover and my life here too much, but I DO imagine a one bedroom with lovely sunshine and old world details within a walking distance to flowers and cupcakes and quirky flea markets… I thought also that it could be where decor8 readers could stay by renting through me when I’m back home in Hannover.
Wouldn’t that be a lovely idea? A decor8 pied-à-terre? Of course, it would be in total decor8 style – so you would be staying in “my blog”, experiencing all of the things that I love firsthand and being part of the whole decor8 experience. Now I need someone to read this post and make my dream come true – investors anyone? LOL. I’d even leave a beautiful guide to my favorite places for you on the table, stock the kitchen with my favorite teas and snacks, have fresh flowers delivered on the day of your arrival and make sure to include a list of local bloggers that you could connect with in case you felt alone. See, I already have a business plan for decor8 pied-à-terre. When I think of this idea, I get all tingle-y!
AND while I’m thinking of this for a future idea for now, I am still dreaming while looking at Light Locations, where you can pay to rent a space for a day (or longer) to use as a space for styling and photography, fashion shoots, etc., and imagining how I’d decorate the ultimate decor8 space.
In this post, I’ve included my most favorite home at the moment from the Light Locations website (Grove Way SW9)– because it’s a Georgian home first of all and because the decor style is truly unbelievable! I must know who owns this flat, I can only imagine very rich, very fabulous people.
I love all of the Designers Guild textiles and the color-washed vintage rugs and of course, the mismatched pieces from different eras and those amazing wall colors and the bedroom wallpaper, which looks like it’s also from Designers Guild, and and and gush gush gush… it is truly the best home ever. I think I feel a decorating moment coming on. I plan to introduce some more charcoal and black into my home for Fall/Winter and well, this home didn’t just encourage me to think about it but motivated me to DO IT. I’m already bringing in teal and mustard. I love when an inspiring interior has that kind of power – to motivate change – to kick your butt out of a rut. When you see something you click with, it’s the best feeling evah.
(images: light locations)
Hi everyone! How is your week going so far? I’m getting ready to go on Martha Stewart Radio – live on the radio and on the web – in a little over 3 hours from now and I’m so nervous but also excited because I don’t know what to expect – I’ve only done radio in Germany so far. (If you want to listen in, read this post for a little how to.) Ha! Okay, so as most of you know, I’m an American living in northern Germany for three years, in fact my 3rd anniversary just passed in August and I’m so impressed by the talent that I see here – there is always something new to stimulate me and I love that. You know how it is when you first relocate though, you ‘think’ something will be amazing, you are scared to do it, but you do it because you know it will be good for you and then it turns out better than you had imagined. That’s my story.
Of course, relocation has it’s ups and downs… Happy turns to frustration for a while (usually after the first year) but finally this unbelievable will to succeed kicks in that just drives you forward. Can you relate? We humans are so adaptable, aren’t we? What we think may be a true test ends up being the best moment of our life. Good for us.
But yes, I feel lucky to live somewhere that has a lot of cool stuff going on in the world of art, design, styling, decorating, food, social media and blogging… My favorite things. I enjoy highlighting the talent that exists in other countries on decor8 simply because I think opening our eyes to outside influences – ones we may not have a chance to interact with on a regularly basis before the great big internet took over – is thrilling, it’s the stuff that sweetens life!
For instance, I found out recently that German stylist, Peter Fehrentz, has a book, Made By Yourself, coming out soon and I can’t wait to buy it. He does stories for lots of the big magazines here and is quite talented. I wonder how it will be – if the cover is any indication then I think we’re in for a treat.
Perhaps he is one to watch… But this is what I mean, I’m always finding something fresh and new in such a small country (compared to the USA) and I’m inspired!
(images: peter fehrentz)
Hi decor8 readers, it’s Jillian here bringing you another Shopgirl Studio Tour. When I visited Koskela a few months ago, I was introduced to the work of Greg Hatton. Greg is a furniture maker, lighting designer and recycle extraordinaire who’s made his home in an old butter factory in the village of Newstead, Australia. You may have seen his work here before on decor8.
When I saw his work, I was so intrigued I wanted to see more and knowing I was going to be in Melbourne on a work trip, I emailed him to arrange a visit. In one of those extraordinary quirks of fate, I discovered Greg lived a short drive away from one of my dear friends, with whom I was to stay.
On a gorgeous sunny day, we drove to the Butter Factory. The countryside surrounding the factory is just gorgeous. The Old Butter Factory is an extraordinary building that Greg has resurrected. He’s painstakingly stripped it back to it’s current state – part workshop/part furniture showroom/part garden with a dash of accommodation thrown in for good measure. The garden has some intriguing outbuildings and remnants of it’s previous life as a factory.
I also spied one of Leila Sanderson’s cute teepees in the garden.
I roamed around with my camera – In the workroom I spied the fixings for some of Greg’s Fowler jar pendant lights and a Beetle Track stool in production. The main area of the Butter factory is enormous and I think it would be a great venue for a unique wedding celebration. Much of the furniture has been named like the aptly titled Flying saucer light, one of my favorites; the fantastic smooth sticky ball light and the upcycled bee box sideboard in the entry.
Greg is in the process of building some self contained accommodation to be furnished with his designs, all of which will be for sale. What a great idea to be able to take a little bit of something home with you! I was so inspired by the countryside, I’m now dreaming of my own little country getaway. Do you have similar dreams?
This talented man is on a mission is to combine art and nature with function and I think you’ll agree he’s managed to achieve this and much more. Many thanks to Greg and Katie for allowing me into their home.
How’s this for a modern interpretation of a Christmas tree?
I’ll be traveling a bit for the next several weeks and will visit some inspiring spaces in NYC that I hope to share with you upon my return. Until then! – Jillian.
(text/photography: jillian leiboff)
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