Street Finds

Now don’t you worry, I’m still around!  Nothing exciting has been happening in the world of White Design these last couple of months.  I promised you that I wouldn’t bore you with a lame “Kristen Story”.  Quite a few new pieces have come in, and the prep work has begun on those.  Sometimes I get in these design slumps, where I can’t decide on a fabric or paint color to save my life.  I think that’s where I’ve been....I’m going to blame it on the dreadful winter that is still lingering!!  

The other morning I woke up to my sweet husband telling me that he found a chair on his walk with Cupp.  I had actually seen it the night before, but was too lazy to drag it home.  I’m not sure what or who got a hold of this chair, but the fabric is destroyed!  It’s definitely not the work of your typical cat or dog, but more of a Saber Tooth Tiger!!!  The chair is quite sad looking right now, but I know that it will be beautiful again.  I already know what fabric I want to use : )

I picked up a set of 4 of these little guys a few weeks ago.  A very simple, classic shape.  Maybe that’s why they’re stumping me!  I cannot decide on fabric!  I would love to do these as a set or series -- different but coordinating fabrics and painted the same color.  Just not quite sure yet.  They are ready to go, old fabric is off and they are sanded.  Snag one or all before they go!

draper

smokey blue velvet.  charcoal gray circular geometric designed back.  stained wood in jacobean brown

available for purchase on esty

I'm not sure if the name is going to stick, but that's all I could come up with for now.  If you're a Mad Man fan, I'm sure you get it.  Let me know if you have any name suggestions, I'm open!  For some time now I have been on the hunt for a mid century modern chair.  But no such luck until I came across this one!  I can't wait to find another.  It's really well made, and super comfy!  

The velvet is actually a curtain panel from Pottery Barn.  Now I can't remember why I bought it originally but I've had this velvet for a while now.  I started with the velvet, and loved how it looked, but thought it needed a little funk added to it!  That's where the Dwell fabric on the back came in.  My husband said I should name it the "mullet" -- it's work in the front and a party in the back.  I think I'll stick with "Draper" for now!  

Texas BBQ in New York City

This past week a woman contacted me needing somebody to design the furniture in her new brownstone she’s currently renovating.  Wow!  Chase and I made the trip up to Washington Heights to check out her place.  There’s lots of work to be done on it, but if she’s anything like me she’s going to have a blast rehabing it!  She has been buying old furniture off Craigslist (sounds like somebody I know!) for the last few months.  Her collection is so great, 3 sofas and 5 chairs...thank goodness she doesn’t want me to store all these pieces in my apartment!  Check out our design board and the before pics of her furniture on www.thewhitedesign.com -- FOLLOW ME tab.  Here are the first three fabrics we’re using.  I can’t wait!!  As y’all know I’ve been wanting to use this pink fabric for some time now! 

A trip to Harlem wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Dinosaur BBQ.  Yumm!  When you get off the train you can smell their pit smoking your lunch from three blocks away, you know that’s some good BBQ.  No where else in NYC is like that.  It reminded me of driving past the original Sonny Bryan’s in Dallas, that smell means home to me!  Dinosaur BBQ is no original Texas BBQ but it’s definitely the closest I’ve had up here.  Can’t wait to go back!

Cheers!

Kristen

inspirations

I love looking through design magazines, websites, blogs, online magazines... And I'm most always thinking about how can I use this for a new chair design.  Sometimes they pan out and other times they sit on my bulletin board staring at me each day.  Get into my head as I design..

 esty via ivy & piper

                                                          dwell fabric  

I love lamp : )  These lamps remind me of my wonderful and amazing Maw Maw Kitty (grandma) -- I didn't name her!  She has absolutely outstanding style and taste, and uses a lot of  this coral color in her home.  I love mixing some traditional looking with a more modern take.

If you love Lonny Mag check out Ivy & Piper, they have some great things!

Collage Wall

For some time now, I've wanted to incorporate a collage of frames on a wall in my apt.  It's a pretty big wall with sconces framing out fairly large space.  I believe that it should be a collection of meaningful things -- photos, paintings, objects -- Coming across these things have been harder than I thought.  Maybe it's because I'm in my shoebox apartment and have so many things packed away.  This summer my husband I purchased a beautiful stripped photograph in Barcelona.  This piece gave me the inspiration to begin the collage wall.  I have attempted this wall 4 times now without a final product!! My indecisiveness is really coming out!  Decisions, Decisions, Decisions -- Pics of my husband and I (seems quite conceded) -- Pics of our sweet pup (well of course!) -- Pics of our travels (sure) -- Symmetrical or not -- match the frames or not -- use my big chunky gold mirror or not (the mirror sitting my floor right now).  Ahhhhh!

For now I think I'll continue to collect pieces. Here are some of the photos my husband and I have taken over the years that I'm considering using.   

 view from Empire State Building

 these two are from a sailing trip we took last Christmas.  Anegada, BVI

 love locks in Paris from our trip this summer

love wall in Paris

As I continue to agonize over this topic I leave you with some pics of inspiration that one day will

be my wall-o-frames. 

  

lonny mag

stripe 

natural linen hand painted bold navy stripe fabric.  painted soft white, almost gray

I have to give all the credit to my husband for my newest chairs!  I’ve had these two chairs on the website under “Create Your Own.”  One afternoon Chase threw a strip of navy velvet on the seat of the chair as an attempt to help clean up the apartment.  It was so simple and pretty that I started a search for a really bold striped navy fabric.  No such luck though!  When I can’t find something I, of course, try to make it my self.  Lots of googling and trip to the paint store, I have a striped fabric!  And a new technique to use on my chairs.  Hand painted fabric -- ohh the possibilities are endless!!     

A few weeks ago I picked up a new chair, a bit more masculine than my past pieces.  It’s a midcentury modern chair, much like you probably would have seen in your grandparents house or on the set of Mad Men.  I’ve been wanting to snag one of these chairs but they are quite expensive up here.  Now I’m on the hunt for the perfect fabric.   

Thank you Allison for sending me some great pics of the ottoman in your living room, it’s up in the “Where Are They Now” album on White Design Facebook Page.  I especially love that her cute little dog is in the background!!  Keep the pics coming, and don’t forget to check out WhiteDesign on Facebook!  

Homebody

The other day I received an email from Homebody Boutique in Brooklyn wanting to sell my chairs!  I almost had a heart attack but took a deep breath and fell back from the ceiling.  So, I took my “Patty” and “Scottie” over to the store today.

Homebody is great and the chairs fit in so well.  I like to think of the store as their new “foster home” before they find permanent families.  If you’re ever in Park Slope, stop in.  They have lots of great things made by local artists, now including yours truly!  

Sunday I also sold one of my sofas...phew!  Additionally, it’s our two year anniversary today -- so much to celebrate.  

One last note -- If you know me you know that I am not a confident person.  And now having to market myself and my product has been extremely challenging.  However, I am so thankful for the constant encouragement and uplifting words I receive almost daily from y’all.  Enjoy some pics of the chairs in their temporary home.