The toy box in the picture was designed based on the beer crates that Detroit Brewing Company used to carry bottles of beer more than a century ago. I loved the cool, industrial feel of the Martzes’ beer crates, but wanted something new and modern for my puppy to store her toys in. When it…
Tag: antique decor
Great book: Soul of the Home
Some coffee table books are so great, that you don’t just decorate your coffee table with them, you read them cover to cover. Tara Shaw’s influential interior design book Soul of the Home: Designing with Antiques is a “must-have” for anyone who has inherited antiques or an interest in shopping for antiques. Unless you’re refurbishing…
Furniture mods: how to upholster a seat
If you entertain a lot, dining and bar chairs need to be upholstered occasionally. I restored the bar chair in the picture with handsewn black velvet after a merry night with sparklers. Replacing the fabric on a seat is straightforward, requiring nothing more than a little time, some tracing paper, and a needle and thread….
#LKRB principle of design: waste not, want not
With a no-waste approach to interior decorating, environmental sustainability and financial sustainability go hand in hand. One of the primary reasons that glamorous historical properties are sold into trusts is because they were built without an eye to maintenance costs. A low-key luxury living space gives thought not only to day-to-day contemporary living, but also…
Furniture mods: how to stain wood
Applying wood stain and a light varnish is a beautiful way to refinish furniture that enhances the original aesthetic of the wood. You can refresh one piece of furniture at a time to ameliorate signs of wear and tear. Or, you can refinish several pieces of furniture from different designers and manufacturers with the same…
#LKRB principle of design: love before you buy
The most important reason to purchase inexpensive furniture as a young adult isn’t to save money, but rather to make sure that when you do buy high quality furniture, you love what you buy. Shopping for antiques and custom-made decor takes patience and persistence. If you don’t hire an interior designer to do your shopping…
Custom decor: make your own tavern sign
You can make your own custom decor that is authentic and one-of-a-kind without spending a lot of money. A tavern sign like the one I’ve rendered in Runway in the picture can be made for $20 to 50. The centuries-old logo from a family brewery makes it meaningful to me. At-home bars have surged in…
#LKRB principle of design: be authentic
The difference between a #LKRB and a grandmillennial can be summarized in one word: authenticity. If you want your home to exude an old money aesthetic, you’ll need to anchor your interior with one-of-kind objets rather than blanketing your entire home with dated pieces. No one cares how much money you spent on your decor….
What does a #LKRB interior look like?
Fifteen years ago, the Millennial generation was responsible for an explosion of “affordable luxury” and “aspirational” brands. We all graduated into the Financial Crisis, and, lacking the financial means of our parents, Millennials created DTC brands to produce quality at a lower price on every product and service, from clothing to hair styling. With COVID,…