Barstool Search

I was completely torn when selecting barstools for our new place.  I liked a lot of the sleek, contemporary barstools out there, but then I also thought a touch of rustic/industrial would be a nice contrast with our existing decor.  I ended up selecting the rustic swivel barstool from Arteriors,  but it wasn't an easy decision.  If you are in the market for barstools and like either of these two styles, hopefully I have saved you a little bit of time. This is not an easy task!

RUSTIC/INDUSTRIAL

Below are the sources for each barstool from left to right, top then bottom:

1. Arteriors

2. Restoration Hardware

3. West Elm

4. ABC Home

5. Cisco Brothers

SLEEK/CONTEMPORARY

Below are the sources for each barstool from left to right, top then bottom:

1. BoConcept

2. Room and Board

3. ABC Home

4. Design Within Reach

5. ABC Home

Design*Sponge At Home Book Tour

We are spoiled to have so many great book signing tours come through Boston! The Design Sponge at Home book tour is one more that I plan to attend at the West Elm near Finway on September 14th. My collection of coffee table books is gowing at a rapid pace, and I love it.  The details for the Boston event are below.  Click HERE to check out the schedule of other cities on the tour. 

Design Sponge at Home

Design Sponge at Home Book Tour - Boston

Event Details:

What: Crafting Event/Book Signing/Party at West Elm

When: Wednesday, September 14th

 6:00-7:00 Craft workshop (limited to 25 people, RSVP HERE)

 7:00-8:30 Party and book signing, open to the public

Where: West Elm 

160 Brookline Avenue

Boston, MA 02215

Monochromatic Design Board

I love the look of using a monochromatic color scheme like this one.  Don't get me wrong, I love color and my house is filled with it, but sometimes it is nice to take a little break from all the noise.  A scheme like this is creates a relaxing and serene environment.  You could always add pops of color with throw pillows and art.  What do you think?  Yea or nay?

1. Chair - A. Rudin
2. Chandeleir - Arteriors
3. Art - Z Gallerie
4. Coffee Table - Horchow
5. Chest - Jayson Home
6. Tray - Wisteria
7. Rug - Calypso St. Barth
8. Mirror - Z Gallerie
9. Sofa - Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

Go Away Irene!

I would like to say happy weekend, but it looks like hurricane Irene will bring most of us on the east coast a rather nasty and somewhat scary weekend. 


I think I would prefer be one of these sun bathers in Massimo Vitali's Italian beach scenes.  A few days ago, I was so excited to see that One Kings Lane had a Massimo Vitali sale, but of course as soon as I logged on everything was already sold out. Has this ever happened to you? I swear I logged on right when the sale began too. I don't know how people get on there so quickly. There must be some trick I don't know about yet.  Oh well, I just want one even more now! 

  See Massimo Vitali's photograph in Courtney Cox's Malibu home featured in Elle Decor!

The New Bespoke

Frank Roop will be signing his book, The New Bespoke, at the Neiman Marcus at Coply Place on Thursday, September 8. This should be a fun event for several reasons.  It will be the official launch of his book, and it will be taking place during Fashion's Night Out.  So while you are there you can also enjoy some refreshments and do a little shopping as well. Books will be for sale at the event.

The New Bespoke

Event Details

What: The New Bespoke Official Launch and Book Signing

When: Thursday, September 8,  2011 

6:00PM - 9:00PM

Where: Neiman Marcus - 3rd Floor

5 Coply Place

Boston, MA 02116

Bedroom Nook Before and After

Our Boston apartment is slowly but surely coming together.  I am loving how the round nook in our bedroom is shaping up.  When we toured this space for the first time, I was like, "Oh my, what am I going to do with this?" but when I saw this chair & 1/2 at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, I knew it would be the perfect fit. 


To renovate the space I had the carpet replaced and the walls painted in Benjamin Moore -Violet Pearl.  The chair is the Jeanie Chair & 1/2 from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, the mini curtains are made of purple silk, and the chandelier is my grandmother's Fortuny...LOVE!

Wouldn't these framed minerals look pretty above the sofa! They are on my wish list.

SoWa Open Market

As you guys know, I just moved to Boston two months ago and am quickly trying to get up to speed with the city’s events and “must sees”.  Please bear with me if you are a Boston resident already in the know and think that I am sharing old news.  This is all so new and exciting to me.

On Sunday I visited the SoWa Open Market for the first time.  It was a total sensory overload, but in a good way… First of all, I was there on an empty stomach, and ahhh there were food trucks galore!  I don’t think I have mentioned yet that on my way from Texas, my husband an I had a two-year sent in Philadelphia while he was attending business school.  I worked on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus, where there were delicious food trucks parked everywhere at lunchtime.  I was skeptical at first, but I fell in love quickly, especially with the price-to-deliciousness ratio.  I am very happy that the food truck phenomenon has made its way to Boston and that so many of the good ones come out to participate in the SoWa Open Market. I have to admit, the one I have been eying the most since I have been here is Roxy's Gourmet Grilled Cheese.  I love cheese! Unfortunately, I didn’t try it on Sunday, because I was on one of those, “I am going to start eating healthier kicks” after the weekend, but I will next time.

I was a little overwhelmed walking in.  There was everything from, local farmers, bakers, painters, photographers, clothing and jewelry designers, and furniture vendors.  I had to find a focus, so the food trucks and the indoor vintage market were my two areas of interest for the day. 

I must say, people have been so nice and helpful to me when I mention I am new to Boston and trying to establish an interior design business and am new to the blogging world.  In the vintage market one vendor in particular, Duchess D, caught my eye.  The owner, Debbie Freeman, was very helpful in sharing with me other New England outdoor antique and flea markets I should explore.   Stay tuned for more on those...  

SoWa Vintage Market

SoWa Vintage Market

Roxy's Gourmet Grilled Cheese

The Cupcakory

SoWa Vintage Market

Vintagesteph

Duchess D Booth

Textile Spools From a GA Mill (Duchess D)

Paper Mache Mold (Duchess D)

Congrats Holly Becker!

Congratulations to Holly Becker and Anthropology for hosting such a fabulous event this past Saturday! I raced home after the event, because I was so excited to share with you a few of the tips I learned and tell you what a pleasure it was meting Holly and the other women at the event. If you don’t live in Boston and have a chance to attend this event in your city, I highly recommend it.

7 Things to Keep in Mind When Developing a Room Scheme:

1. Be your own client  (Decorate p.70)
2. Gather information: Buy a binder and collect photos of Inspiration from magazines. Identify on each page what you like, so you don’ forget why you tore that page out. Collect fabric, wall coverings and paint samples that you like. You will start to see themes and trends from your selections.
3. Budget: Create an Excel spreadsheet of how much you would like to spend on particular items.  Remember you can shop from other rooms in your home.
4. Draw a floor plan with correct measurements. There are many free websites out there that are easy to use such as Floorplanner.
5. Make a mood board with your favorite selections
6. Make a mini book with fabric and color samples that you can take with you when you go shopping.
7. Organize a schedule for your orders, so you know when everything will arrive etc.

Mood Board Tips: 

1. Every mood board needs one “jumping off point” that sets the mood of the room. It can be a fabric, paint color or whatever you choose.
2. Be careful not to be too “matchy matchy”.  Add something a little “wrong” and unexpected to the room to make it "right".

I am working on a mood board for my bedroom right now and will share it with you shortly.

Decorate Book Signing

I am very excited to announce that Holly Becker from design blog, Decor8, will be kicking off her book signing tour for, Decorate, at Anthropologie on Boylston St. this Saturday!  She will also be hosting a Mood Board How-To.  If you are interested in attending, you may RSVP to anthroevents@anthropologie.com or sign up in person at the store. When signing up online, make sure to specify your location, as Holly will be visiting several different cities on her book tour. 

Event Details

What: Holly Becker Book Signing and Mood Board How-To

When: Saturday, August 20, 2011

  10:30am - 12:30pm

Where: Anthropologie

                 799 Boylston St., Boston, MA

RSVP: anthroevents@anthropologie.com 

or in person at the store

Decorate: 1,000 Design Ideas for Every Room in Your Home (Hardcover)

Decorate Book Tour Schedule

Beyond Gorgeosity

Beyond Gorgeosity - BG Galleries in Hingham, MA, is an absolute must see!  You may have noticed the beautiful spread in this month’s Boston Magazine, as the recent winner of “Best of Boston 2011 - Antiques, South".  The article definitely caught my eye and convinced me to make a trip to Hingham this past weekend.

When I pulled up, a nice man watering the flowers outside the storefront greeted me.  Little did I know, it was owner, Peter Levis.  He escorted me in and took the time to walk me through the entire store, explaining the history and “Gorgeosity” of many of the pieces.  He expressed that much of his inspiration for Italian midcentury modern antiques comes from the 1970’s film, The Garden of the Finzi-Continis.  Flipping through design books, he shared his love for designers James Mont and Gio Ponti. It was refreshing and inspiring to meet someone so hands-on and passionate about what he does.

The store is a magnificent collection of 20^th century design with an emphasis on midcentury modern Italian, French and American furniture and lighting. I highly recommend you check it out.  You can also view the inventory on 1stdibs.

"Best of Boston 2011 - Antiques, South"

 1940's Kittinger Mandarin Linen Press

Pair of 1940's Kittinger Mandarin Greek Key Night Stands

Set of 8 Venetian Style Dining Chairs

The Pebble Table by Nada Debs (signed)

Pair of Italian High Back Lacquer Chiavari Chairs

Cambridge Antique Market

This past Saturday a girlfriend and I spent half of our day exploring the Cambridge Antique Market.  It is five floors of treasure hunting bliss.  Some antique markets like this can be overwhelming, but I found this one to be pretty organized with a good balance of furniture and small collectibles. The basement level, where most of the substantial furniture pieces are, was my favorite room. I was not on a mission for anything in particular, but here are a few pics of some of my favorite finds.

1. Pair of Lego Mantio folding chairs $165
2. Mod fiberglass swag lamp $100
3. Venetian glass lamps $400
4. Vintage industrial stool $39
5. Pair of painted white side chairs $600
6. Velvet rollarm couch $395
7. Danish modern side chair $90

The New England Southerner

My name is Shannon. I am a born and raised Texas girl who has found herself 1,800 miles from home in Boston, MA. I am happy to be here because the love of my life has a wonderful job opportunity.  I, however, am starting from scratch, hoping to find interior design work and friends… please.

One of the many great things about living in Boston is that our Irish names, Shannon and Conor Feeney, really fit in. We sound like we just came off the boat, don’t we?  I am happy to no longer have to slowly say “F as in FRANK" when I am making a dinner reservation.

I am passionate about the arts, especially residential interior design. I am inspired by theater and movie sets, travel, and my mother, who is a talented designer. While on a mission to seek out anything and everything design related in the city, I figured if I was going to be doing all of this research, why not share what I learn with others who are just as interested.  I will be on the lookout for this city’s upcoming design events, stores, showrooms, galleries, designers, artists etc.  I am extremely excited about meeting people in the industry and discovering all that Boston has to offer. 

I hope y'all enjoy reading about my discoveries!

Shannon Feeney