Here’s some more beautiful pictures from our recent trip to China. Read Part 1 here.
Jul 282011
For fashionistas, they look to Vogue for the latest trends. For those of us who love furniture, we look to High Point Market to see the latest and greatest in home design. At this years Spring Market, one trend that we continue to see evolve is Industrial. What we like about this is that each piece evokes a spirit of hard work and craftsmanship that can translate into any type of interior.
1. French Industrial Coffee Table 2. Rounded Hanging Pendant Lamp 3. Recycled Pine Wood Bookcase
4. Industrial Steel Chair 5. Simple Iron Chair 6. Recycled Pine Wood Console 7. Rolling Cart Console
Jul 272011
Here in the office, we can get so busy that we forget to take a minute and breathe! It is important to take a few moments to keep your body in tip-top shape and keep it performing at its best. Sitting at your desk all day without enough breaks can cause problems that affect your body in the future. It’s good to get in a little exercise, even at your desk, to get your blood flowing and to give you that little boost of energy to keep you going. Here are some things I practice to help me stay alert and refreshed throughout the day:
- Roll both shoulders forward 10 times; repeat backward 20 times. This helps relieve tension in the shoulders and neck from slouching.
- Get up every hour or so to fill up your water bottle, get a document from a printer, or anything that requires walking to get the blood flowing to the arms and legs.
- To help prevent carpel tunnel, roll your wrists and your ankles counterclockwise, then clockwise, 10 times each, once every hour.
- Reach your left arm up, extending fully all the way down to the shoulder. Then, bring the hand down to meet your right shoulder blade. Breathe in deeply through the nose and breathe out through the mouth three times. Repeat with the right hand, touching the left shoulder blade. This practice stretches out the shoulders to combat typical slumping positions during typing, and this breathing technique pumps oxygen into the bloodstream.
- While a file is downloading or a program is rebooting, stand up with your legs a shoulders-width apart. Bend down at the waist, extending the arms as close to the ground as you can. Lowering the head below the heart brings blood flow to the brain, which acts as a quick rejuvenation.
A lot of the pieces featured in the blog about my home are products from Wisteria’s past but so many are still available on our website. The Moorish Chest and Chinese Butcher’s Table are definitely conversation pieces for anyone who comes to visit. If you like the way I decorated my home, check out some of the products I’ve purchased over the years!
1. Wishbone Chair 2. Glass Column Lamp 3. Vintage Chinese Butcher’s Table 4. Moorish Chest 5. Bone Photo Frame – Moroccan Inspired 6. Recycled Pine Wood Console 7. Louis XVI Dining Chair
We’re attracted to unusual items with unique stories attached to them. One such piece of furniture is our Butterfly Lover’s Chest that literally tells a story.
The Butterfly Lover’s is the tale of two schoolmates Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo who fall in love and vow to marry. But Zhu’s parents have arranged her marriage, and Liang is so heartbroken he dies. During Zhu’s wedding processional, she passes Liang’s grave and begs for it to open. It does, and Zhu throws herself in. Their spirits turn into butterflies that fly off together, never to be separated again.
Kantha cloths and Indian wedding shawl pillows
We are fortunate enough to go on several trips a year to such exotic locations as India, China, and South America. During our journeys we stumble across unique items that might be vintage, antiques, or even the last one left. So, every trip, we’re sure to bring our empty suitcases to fill with these rare finds so we can carry them back home. The picture above is a peek at a few treasures that we’ve acquired; things like Indian kantha cloths and pillows covered with Phulkari Indian wedding shawls. You can find similar ones at our store.
We are thrilled to have our good friend, Christopher Junkin, Stylist for the Nate Berkus Show, share a few of his favorite design tips!
Thanks for inviting me to write for the Wisteria blog.
By layering pieces that have a story, you can add interest to your home. This can be anything – flea market finds, sea shells, or even art by your kids. Just remember, it is all in the presentation.
If you can’t decide how to make a piece work in your home, Elle Décor is a great place to find inspiration. Note how found items are merchandised in grids on the wall, or framed, or in a glass cloche.
You don’t have to limit yourself to small items. Unique furniture pieces count too.
Wisteria has a wide selection of items that layer well within a ‘modern eclectic’ setting. They have taken time to master silhouettes and finishes that layer well in almost any setting. My favorite Wisteria pieces include the Louis XVI and the Chinese Chippendale Chair. These pieces are updated version of classic designs that when properly accessorized, can heighten your design aesthetic.
Also, fresh flowers can have a story. And I love giving them, as much as I like to receive them.
Depending on my mood, I prefer bright tulips, white roses, or white hydrangeas. I love these types because of what they mean to me. Tulips make me smile, cause they remind me of a fond childhood memory. White roses are timeless, elegant, and romantic… and white hydrangeas – well, along with being a classic, they are a tribute to my grandparents.
In terms of fashion…I live in New York and keep things handsome and creatively current. Although I love my runway brands, I mix and match and find myself inspired by trends and blogs.
Best,
Christopher
Marin, Cape Split Maine, 1941, Chicago Art Institute
I adore watercolors. Most of the masters used them for preliminary studies, yet there is one artist whose watercolors stand firmly on their own: John Marin. What spectacular hues! An exciting exhibition of Marin’s watercolors from the Art Institute of Chicago is coming to Atlanta’s High Museum of Art June 26 through Sept 11, 2011. John Marin’s Watercolors: A Medium for Modernism casts the artist’s paintings in a new light.
Perhaps not as widely known today as other mid-century artists, a 1948 nationwide survey proclaimed John Marin was “America’s Number One Artist.” Part of the Alfred Stieglitz circle that included Charles Demuth, Arthur Dove, Georgia O’Keeffe and Marsden Hartley, Marin was well known for his picturesque scenes of the Maine coastline and colorful cityscapes. While always aesthetically pleasing, Marin’s paintings are now seen as a precursor to Abstract Expressionism.
With his exuberant color and dynamic brushstrokes, Marin’s kinetic energy explodes on the page. His representational scenes teeter on abstraction…the result is pure beauty! Many of the paintings that form the core of this exhibit are from Alfred Stieglitz’ own collection, donated to the Art Institute by Georgia O’Keeffe, Stieglitz’ wife. I like the idea of seeing what Alfred and Georgia may have had hanging in their home! With summer upon us, I encourage you to see this gorgeous show. If you are inspired, why not paint your own summer scene with watercolors? I hope to grab a set with the kids on our next beach trip. Let the painting begin!
For more information on Marin and the exhibit, visit www.high.org.
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- Approaching Fog, 1952
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- Austrian Tyrol, 1910
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- Movement: Fifth Avenue, 1912
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- The Pine Tree, Small Point, Maine, 1926
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- West 42nd Street By Ferryboat, 1929
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- Marin, Cape Split Maine, 1941, Chicago Art Institute
Jul 192011
Recently, some members from our design department traveled to China to get some ideas and inspiration for new products. Wisteria trips are never dull; they’re always coming back with crazy stories and strange sites as was the case this time with Serge, Rachel, and Andrew (pictured above from left to right). Here’s a very small look into what it’s like traveling with Wisteria.
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- Andrew discovering a prehistoric creature!
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- Serge showing his true colors: wanting to buy WAY more than necessary!
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- Rachel’s first day in China.
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- Serge, Rachel, and Andrew posing in front of a busy city intersection.
