Inspiration in White: ABC Carpet and Home

I have been lucky enough to visit New York for work at least twice a year for the past 25 years. Part of my job during these visits was to go to stores and see what was new and exciting in the world of retail and to get inspired. Well there has never been a store that inspired me more than ABC Carpet and Home.

The history of this store is this...in 1897 Sam Weinrib starting selling carpets on the streets of Manhattan. His son Max then took the business and opened a permanent location as a discount carpet store. Keeping it in the family, Max's son then took over and moved it to its current location on Broadway and 19th in 1961. It grew over the years and a home store was opened up across the street. 

Paulette Cole, a fourth generation family member, is the current CEO and Creative Director and she has really taken the store to a whole other level. She says the store is not about home furnishings but about loving... and with her creative team they travel the world to bring an incredible mix of furnishings (shabby chic to modern), carpets and home wares to this meca of home shopping. Many of the pieces are antiques or handcrafted by artisans around the world. Their saying is "Collect, don't decorate". I love that!

When I go in this store it's really an experience, not just in shopping, but for all of the senses. You can feel they have a passion, not only for beautiful pieces, but for the environment, health and wellbeing. Deepak Chopra host talks in the store, the restaurant ABC Kitchen has all organic ingredients and the store is committed to carrying eco products. But really at the end of the day they just have the most beautiful products that are incredibly well presented that make you dream....and really isn't that what you hope a store will make you do?

I love to see the kind of commitment they have to their customers, to their suppliers and to the environment. Well done ABC!!

(My daughter was in the store this past weekend and took these photos..)

Enjoy!

Trudy

xx

Photos: Chloe Crane-Leroux photography

Linking with: Savvy Southern Style, No Minimalist Here, Timewashed, The 36th Avenue, A Delightsome Life, From My Front Porch to Yours, Shabby Art Boutique, French Country Cottage, Rooted in Thyme, Common Ground-Do, My Romantic Home, The Dedicated House, Mod Vintage Life, The Charm of Home, Redoux   

In the Details..

Such a pretty apartment with gorgeous fir floors and incredible moldings....this century old apartment has all the details to make it special. I especially like the kitchen which has a great modern light fixture ( I had never seen these fixtures with a bit of color) and love, love the map on the wall. They always looks so good used in home decor (see more examples of it HERE)! I also like the black and white striped carpet on the floor. I added a stripe carpet to my living room and it adds wonderful texture to the space. Nice neutrals with a pop of colour here and there make this a fun little apartment.

Enjoy!

Trudy

xx

Linking with: Savvy Southern Style, No Minimalist Here, Timewashed, The 36th Avenue, A Delightsome Life, From My Front Porch to Yours, Shabby Art Boutique, French Country Cottage, Rooted in Thyme, Common Ground-Do, My Romantic Home, The Dedicated House, Mod Vintage Life, The Charm of Home, Redoux   

via: Alveham

Swedish Home and Garden

This house in Sweden has such a great interior but the exterior is really a special. The house is over a hundred years old and nicely renovated but it is clear the owner has a really green thumb because the grounds and gardens are just lovely! I am loving the greenhouse with the table set for company and the gazebo near the pool area is so great...not sure about having a duck in my pool but it makes for wonderful styling of the photo!! Swedish style through and through this home with pretty pale white washed floors and white couches...Have a great weekend!

PhOTO KLAS SJÖBERG

Enjoy!

Trudy

xx

Linking with: Savvy Southern Style, No Minimalist Here, Timewashed, The 36th Avenue, A Delightsome Life, From My Front Porch to Yours, Shabby Art Boutique, French Country Cottage, Rooted in Thyme, Common Ground-Do, My Romantic Home, The Dedicated House, Mod Vintage Life, The Charm of Home, Redoux   

via: Lantliv

Beauty in Madrid

This family in Madrid has incorporated their work life into their home space in such a beautiful way. Antiques are their business (Antiq-BR) and you can tell by the incredible furnishings throughout the home (yes most of these pieces are for sale by the looks of the website)! They also have a textile business that I have long admired called Ana and Cuca. Take a look at the incredible rough wood floors contrasting the wood of the antiques that almost looks as gold as the chandelier..so perfect. This is one of those homes that gives me a chill when I look at it..so many special details.The bedrooms are also so great, one dorm style, and the other looks like a fabulous master with one spot of greeen in the bedside lamp.

Enjoy!

Trudy

xx

 

Linking with: Savvy Southern Style, No Minimalist Here, Timewashed, The 36th Avenue, A Delightsome Life, From My Front Porch to Yours, Shabby Art Boutique, French Country Cottage, Rooted in Thyme, Common Ground-Do, My Romantic Home, The Dedicated House, Mod Vintage Life, The Charm of Home, Redoux   

Via:Nuevo Estilo

Open Spaces and Neutrals Tones

A gorgeous new issue from Est Magazine. If you are not following this Australian on-line magazine you should pop over to take a look. Really so great and this is my favourite issue to date. This house that has been featured is the home of Liz Leuchers and she is the owner of a shop, on-line and brick and morter, called Pond. With these great home interiors you can see the result of her work and her great taste throughout the space. Full of wonderful neutrals it feels super calm and easy with little in the way of colour but full of wonderful textures. Love the look of the succulents around the house...they really seem to fit in perfectly with the house...in this incredible open space to the outdoors off of the living room. Really lovely...

Enjoy!

Trudy

xx

Linking with: Savvy Southern Style, No Minimalist Here, Timewashed, The 36th Avenue, A Delightsome Life, From My Front Porch to Yours, Shabby Art Boutique, French Country Cottage, Rooted in Thyme, Common Ground-Do, My Romantic Home, The Dedicated House, Mod Vintage Life, The Charm of Home, Redoux   

via: Est Magazine

Inspiration in White: Etsy Favourites

I opened an Etsy shop for my ceramics this spring and have been spending a fair bit of time looking around at other pages ever since. I am always amazed by how many wonderful shops there are and the incredible creativity of many of the artists! From vintage finds to handmade pieces there is so much to look at and to choose from. Here are a few of my favourites....

When a shop is called All Things White you know I am going to love it and Kathi has done a wonderful job of curating beautiful vintage items. White china, twine and mason jars amongst other treasures, are fun to browse and would add beauty to any collection.

French vintage and antiques are found in this shop The Hope Tree. From enamel address plaques to French serving pieces there is really something for everyone.

I had seen pictures of some of her jewellery on Tumblr and then came across her page, Colby June. Love her rings and will be getting one of these for myself in the near future!

Enjoy!

Trudy

xx

Vintage Summer Cottage

Pretty details in this summer cottage that I find really warm and inviting. Take this cottage and put it near any beach and it would fit right in. It reminds me of one of the cottages we stayed in during our summers in Ocean Park, Maine. Fresh with white paint and floors, lots of great vintage details like the lamps in the kitchen and easy rag rugs on the floor complete the relaxed summer feeling. I could see myself leaving sand from the beach trailing through this home! Lavender surrounding the porch and a wonderful outdoor shower just give this home the added touch!

Enjoy!

Trudy

xx

 

Linking with: Savvy Southern Style, No Minimalist Here, Timewashed, The 36th Avenue, A Delightsome Life, From My Front Porch to Yours, Shabby Art Boutique, French Country Cottage, Rooted in Thyme, Common Ground-Do, My Romantic Home, The Dedicated House, Mod Vintage Life, The Charm of Home, Redoux   

via: Skonahem

California Star

This home is owned by Ellen DeGeneres and it is really a place fit for a star. First the location is nothing short of spectacular! Look at those views! Ellen is known for buying homes redecorating and then selling them and I have seen many of her homes in decor magazines so she and her talented decorators obviously make a great team. (I think that is what it takes for a fantastic outcome in a home, you and your client working at it together!). So many things to love about this California home...for one the clear ping pong table that looks out onto a wonderful interior courtyard with a pool. I also like the room below with the wooden table and the wicker chairs..a lovely romantic space..

Enjoy!

Trudy

xx

Linking with: Savvy Southern Style, No Minimalist Here, Timewashed, The 36th Avenue, A Delightsome Life, From My Front Porch to Yours, Shabby Art Boutique, French Country Cottage, Rooted in Thyme, Common Ground-Do, My Romantic Home, The Dedicated House, Mod Vintage Life, The Charm of Home, Redoux   

via: Architectural Digest

Mix of Style in Spain

This gorgeous house, photographed by Enrique Menossi, has a really relaxed style. At first it felt French to me but after looking through the photos a few times there is a real mix and that is what I love to see! A little French, a little Gustavian, a bit of Moroccan style (what about that bath!)...but not to much of a Spanish style at all. I love the bedroom with the dainty bed...oh such a crush on that room....with the heavy curtains, the bed layered with covers and that high ceiling! I also really like the little boys room, that could easily be a little girls room.... So beautiful with the draping on the bed.

This home is such a good example of how versatile decorating in white really is! It applies to every style and elevates the elegance and beauty of every space!

Enjoy!

Trudy

xx

Linking with: Savvy Southern Style, No Minimalist Here, Timewashed, The 36th Avenue, A Delightsome Life, From My Front Porch to Yours, Shabby Art Boutique, French Country Cottage, Rooted in Thyme, Common Ground-Do, My Romantic Home, The Dedicated House, Mod Vintage Life, The Charm of Home, Redoux   

via: Enrique Menossi

Victorian Cottage

This is an old Victorian cottage in England but looking at it from the view of the modern gorgeous kitchen it does not look old or Victorian! Pale greens and blues highlight the open space and match the wonderful colour from the outdoors that is really brought into the room through these incredible folding doors. I would love to have such large doors open to the terrace in my home! 

Once you get into the other rooms we start to see the character of the old house. Some of the great features in this space...well the bathroom is simply beautiful! Love the sink with the amazing mirror above and of course the dressing room would have just about enough space for my clothes...perfect. Have you noticed how many large white mirrors they have in this home? Just about enough to even satisfy my love of mirrors....

Enjoy!

Trudy

xx

Linking with: Savvy Southern Style, No Minimalist Here, Timewashed, The 36th Avenue, A Delightsome Life, From My Front Porch to Yours, Shabby Art Boutique, French Country Cottage, Rooted in Thyme, Common Ground-Do, My Romantic Home, The Dedicated House, Mod Vintage Life, The Charm of Home, Redoux   

via: Light Locations