I heard from Kaitlin Andorfer who runs b.poetic and couldn't resist writing about her handmade collection of girly things as they're quite pretty! Kaitlin creates banners, headbands and belts, shoe clips, and unique pillowcases that are silk-screened (black on white) and can work in a variety of different decor styles - modern, romantic, eclectic... She shows them in a romantic bedroom but I can totally see them in a more streamlined modern room as well.

I love pieces like these pillowcases that are versatile like this, I'm still thinking of House Doctor and how they said their new collection is about, "mixing the elements rather than matching the elements". They really hit the nail on the head with that statement, I think that's what I've been trying to say for years but never quite sure how!  I decorate in a very eclectic feminine style where styles of the pieces I have in my home do not match but are mixed -- my last home had a Swedish credenza, a modern sofa, a round IKEA dining room table, Eames chairs, a Danish stool, a modern lacquered desk with clean lines, etc. I think personally the "key" to doing this whole mixing thing successfully is to not mix your woods (oak table, walnut chairs, mahogany credenza) -- try to stick to one wood type or various woods with the same finish (medium, light, dark) and then if you want to add something more ornate, like carved chairs or a fancy carved dresser from India, you can as an accent piece in that particular room. But you wouldn't necessary put several accent pieces in the same room unless you like a more flea market/no rules look. I personally believe that when it comes to accent pieces, it's best when that piece is a different color or finish than the others in the room.

A space can be very vanilla if everything is the same (all white or all pickled wood or all oak), which is why catalogs tend to look very boring as they show rooms with furniture that is all the same. For some healthy tension, throwing in a very different piece in a color or finish that stands out from the others is a good way to break things up. For instance, say you have furniture with clean modern lines. Bring in an ornately carved dresser from India and paint it glossy black or turquoise or even bright yellow so that it really stands out. I think that is how, "Mixing the elements" can work successfully.

But back to b.poetic... I'll take some pillowcases and a hair band, please! :)

(images: b.poetic)