Finding Inspiration

The most ordinary things can inspire design ideas and form a starting point for your work. I often turn to fabric for inspiration. Vintage fabrics or new, on a pillow, a tea towel, or fabrics still on the bolt, I am inspired by the combination of colors, patterns and textures.

A vintage laundry bag was the inspiration for an event at my shop one year. I had purchased this piece at an antique mall several years earlier, not sure what I would do with it. But the design on the piece really "spoke to me" and I knew it would become part of my creative process one day! The red flowers dancing on the front of the bag carefully and lovingly embroidered years ago, with faded colors and broken threads, instantly defined my Garden Party.

I placed the vintage piece on the glass of a color copier, pressed the button, and I had the paper for my invitations. I asked the paint-your-own-pottery shop next door to paint serving dishes for the Garden Party inspired by the embroidered design. We decorated the ivy topiaries for sale in the shop with tags based on the same faded embroidery thread. Who knew so much could come from such an ordinary laundry bag?

Inspiration can come from anywhere. Always be open to new ideas. Don't be afraid to use favorite finds in unexpected ways. In this creative process there are no mistakes, only discoveries! Even when an idea doesn't come out the way you had intended, you may make some serendipitous discoveries along the way. The results will be quite satisfying and oh so fun!

The Design Desk: Update on my Studio!

While my home study-turned-studio is still a work in progress, it is nearing completion! Here is a peek at some of my favorite things about this warm, beautiful, fun and functional workspace. Thank you Tammy!

The Plan!

I collect letters and numbers with special meaning...now I have a place to display them.



A collection of family photos...a reminder of what is important in life!

A beautiful bouquet of vintage wooden rulers...

A few more of my favorite things...

The Makerie + Old Glory Antiques = Love at First Sight!

Ali DeJohn arrived at Old Glory this past Saturday nearly hidden behind the two large boxes of cupcakes she carried, but I instantly recognized her sweet voice from our telephone conversations.

Ali (founder of the creative retreat The Makerie) and I had exchanged emails and phone calls but this was our first meeting in person. My immediate fondness for her extended well beyond the four dozen Denver Cupcake Truck cupcakes she carried - it felt as though we had been friends for a long time. Ali is a warm and generous person who is following her creative dream...a journey I understand very well!

Ali and Holly!



Ali came to Old Glory during our Customer Appreciation sale for an afternoon of do-it-yourself cupcake decorating, a perfect opportunity to introduce our customers to The Makerie, fast approaching this April (click here to check out their fabulous website!).

It was a delightful afternoon of cupcakes and candy and easy conversation. We shared ideas and bonded through the discovery of common loves and shared aspirations. Ali and I began the afternoon as businesswomen collaborating to promote an event, and ended the day as friends.

    

Thank you to all of our wonderful customers for joining us this weekend for our annual Customer Appreciation Sale! We loved seeing your smiling faces and we thank you for continued support.

Happy Valentine's Day from your friends at Old Glory Antiques Urban Home + Design! 

Blanket of White

I am looking out my window at another cold, snowy day in Denver! The blanket of white covering the landscape is beautiful, and it is the inspiration for today's post. Today I am sharing with you a collection of white, warm and beautiful, currently in our shop. Enjoy!

 

Design Desk: Create a Warm, Comfortable, Satisfying Home

Decorating is the process of creating order and beauty in a home. There are so many ways that I identify with that statement! I love to bring order to things. I am bursting with creative energy, and who doesn't want to be surrounded by beauty!

While my shop started out as a collection of ideas about home decorating and grew into the current retail store, I have come to realize that this collection is really more about an attitude ... an attitude about how I approach life. This collection of ideas is about how I wish to live my life and nurture my family, to build relationships and create memories, to honor the past in hopes of remembering what is most important as we build our future.

I believe how we choose to create home has a significant impact on our lives. As I describe my approach to decorating, it is often difficult to determine if I am describing the decoration of a house or my attitudes about life. Indeed, I believe the two are inevitably intertwined. Home isn't just where you live, it is how you live.

My approach to creating your home is simple, reflecting a love of home and family. I offer a casual approach to decorating that emphasizes comfort, beauty, function, and perhaps most importantly, fun! A home is intended to be enjoyed; surrounding yourself with things that make you happy plays a big part in creating a comfortable, enjoyable space.

Surround yourself with things that make you smile. Keep in plain sight reminders of what matters to you. Furnish each room with function and comfort in mind.

Working with vintage pieces is a cornerstone of my decorating philosophy. Vintage pieces - old furniture and accessories full of charm and history - lend warmth and character to any room. I'm not a purist; I mix old pieces with new ones that share the same nostalgic spirit. You don't have to be an avid collector of antiques to work with vintage pieces. A few aged pieces fill your home with a feeling that suggests things that are inherited rather than store-bought and hand-crafted rather than mass produced. Often the unexpected combination of old and new transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. The result is a warm, comfortable, satisfying home.