August 20th, 2009
I recently came across PerlaAnne a couple of weeks ago from a post on Style Court. After realizing that Stacey Bradley, the creative mind behind PerlaAnne, was right here in Charleston, I immediately went to her etsy site and was so excited about her prints. They’re perfect for framing in a series or own their own. And, at $15/print, they’re extremely reasonably priced.
Here are a few of our current favorites…
We’ve dubbed “Perky Peacock” and are dying to give this to clients who have peacocks on their farm.
Wire Eames Chair…if you can’t afford the actual chair…at least you can look at it!
Sweet Gum Pods — sweet they are.
When asked about this current collection of hand printed linocut art, Stacey gleams, “I can’t seem to stop carving blocks that have some connection for me in my daily life… whether it be something beautiful I spotted in nature, or something admired out of reach [eames chairs], I find beauty in the simplicity of the black ink on white paper [although I have just posted some in turquoise and brown after several requests] as well as clean and organic shapes.”
As for her inspiration, she gleefully shares that her teenage daughter, Cierah [who happens to be a sophomore at the School of Arts], Wyatt, her three year old son and baseball fanatic, and husband Jay [songwriter and previous member of indie-rock band Jump Little Children] are a huge source of inspiration.
It shows, Stacey!
To view and purchase Stacey’s work, you can visit her etsy site or website for further details. Enjoy!
August 17th, 2009
We were thrilled to see a local friend of our’s, Anne Girault of Boutique Tents, showcased on The Peak of Chic this morning! Her work is absolutely gorgeous and we hope to continue to admire her tents and outdoor cabanas for years to come.
A while back, we collaborated with Anne to design the Chateau du Chien for Pierre Deux’s Posh Pet Design contest. We were so excited to see that the Chateau was pictured on The Peak of Chic post this morning too.
Keep up the good work, Anne!
August 11th, 2009
We recently featured Allora Home as our August product pick, and if you had the chance to look at the post…you’ll see why. Her chairs offer such a striking blend of color, shape and character thanks to their vintage charm infused with modern updates. So, we decided to chat with Mary Mac further to find out more about her creation.
PSI: What inspired you to start Allora Home?
MM: Allora Home started rather unintentionally when I decided to add some interest to my carriage house apartment by painting an old chair [below] my mother picked up at a yard sale. I loved how the lines of the chair were emphasized by the bright yellow enamel, creating an unexpected, silhouetted version of the formal chair that I started with. I began picking up chairs everywhere, painting them for friends and family, cutting out new seats and upholstering them with fun fabrics. Before I knew it, Allora was born.
PSI: What fabrics do you use when refurbishing these chairs?
MM: I’ve used quite a broad range of fabrics and don’t have a particular favorite. I usually go in search of fabric–mainly remnants–once I’ve found a chair and determined what would complement it best. Recently, I actually found a vintage comforter [below] that I’m very excited to start working with. It should make for a great set of chairs!
PSI: Do you have a favorite finish or fabric that you work with?
MM: I do love the high gloss finish of enamel, however, I also like to reuse paint whenever possible. A couple of the chairs are actually finished with the same paint I used in my apartment! I’ve also experimented with some recycled paint from Bee’s Ferry, though the color selection is rather limited.
PSI: What’s the favorite chair you’ve done to date?
MM: Although I become rather attached to all the chairs, I would have to say my favorite to this point is the allora.signature.KATHWOOD. The chair itself has the most stunning lines.
PSI: What are your favorite color pairings?
MM: Though this changes fairly regularly [we can relate!], I’m currently a huge fan of sky blues paired with deep–almost vermillion–coral, which is coincidentally my most recent favorite color. It has so much personality and adds great warmth. I also love it coupled with chartreuse for a really lux look.
[We like this color pairing too...and this particular interior showcasing the blue and coral palette by John Wiley featured in House Beautiful. Photo credit: Ngoc Minh Ngo]
PSI: Where do you find these chairs?
MM: The simple answer would be everywhere. Antiquing, thrift store shopping, or just killing time at yard sales on road trips–I can’t seem to go anywhere without bringing home a chair or two. My mom and sister are also great at scouting out the next allora.CHAIR and have been absolutely invaluable.
PSI: What’s the process for someone wanting to commission a chair from you?
MM: It really depends on the client. If they have an idea in mind, a chair or a set of chairs. I am happy to come to their home and get a feel for their taste, share ideas, talk colors and fabrics, or be on the look out for a specific type of chair. Or, of course, if someone would like to come see the allora.SIGNATURE chairs that I am currently working on, that’s great too!
PSI: Is there a typical price range for your chairs?
MM: Typically, the allora.SIGNATURE chairs range from $100 – $125, while allora.CUSTOM chairs vary by quantity, finish, and fabric–particularly if the client has a chair or a set of chairs that they are looking to reinvent.
PSI: What type of clients do you typically work with?
MM: I have worked with clients ranging from newlyweds decorating their first home to a lady looking to revamp a dining set from the family farm. Some clients already have what they want in mind, while others are looking for fresh ideas. It’s great to help people meld traditional and contemporary or realize the potential of pieces they already have.
PSI: Who’s your favorite interior designer?
MM: I find it hard to delineate between architecture and interior design, but I love the incredible simplicity of Tadao Ando and the beautiful surfaces of Herzog & de Meuron. I also enjoy Nathalie Woldberg’s playful use of color and light, particularly in Maison NW.
Maison NW via Archinect
PSI: Tell us a fact about you that we may not know otherwise?
MM: By day, I work at an architecture firm on James Island, SC. I’ve recently received permission to sit for the ARE, so I’m hoping to be licensed within the year! [Congrats! We hope you are too!]
August 11th, 2009
We’ve been so fortunate to get great press on our Driftwood Bliss Bed over the past couple of years, and a recent mention in The World of Interiors led to our first international shipment to London.
Rather than immediately showing the finished product…we wanted to give you a quick glimpse into the making of these beautiful beds.
The journey begins as our craftsman searches along the Carolina shores [with an impeccably discerning eye] for suitable pieces driftwood.
Upon gathering and washing the driftwood, the pieces are hung to determine the length of the bed posts, balance and cut.
After hand-pegging headboard to posts with solely white pine wooden peg construction, our craftsman hand chisels channels in the head and foot boards to receive the bed rails.
The two bedrails are attached using a nut and bolt application to allow for shipping and easy reassembly.
After intense sanding, the bed is complete and ready for its new abode. In this particular case, it’s ready to set sail for it’s new dwelling in a London flat.
For more information on the Driftwood Bliss Bed or pricing, please contact us at 843.278.8707 or info@parkersimsinteriors.com .
A special thanks to our shipping agent Kerr Carter with Carotrans Int’l for facilitating a magnificently easy maiden voyage for the DBB.
August 11th, 2009
What a great way to shop and support SCAD students than online @ shopSCAD for those of you who can’t make the trip to their actual shops in Savannah & Atlanta. They have interesting finds ranging from jewelry and fashion to art and decor. Perfect for gifts and fun finds for yourself. We personally love this painting from Beth Bowman. Start perusing for yourself.
August 11th, 2009
We’re so glad to have been introduced to Allora Home here in Charleston through a mutual friend. Mary Mac McFadden, the founder, definitely has an eye for style and color, which is clearly obvious when you look at her vintage chic refurbished chairs. Even better…these chairs are totally attainable at typical price points of $100 – $125. Here are a few chairs, but we encourage you to visit her blog or facebook page until her website’s completed. Also, don’t miss our Q&A with Miss Mary Mac herself!
Kudos Mary Mac…keep up the good work!
July 16th, 2009
Philip Simmons[1912 - 2009] was a truly inspiring and talented craftsman and kindred spirit who left behind a beautiful legacy that we are luckily reminded of daily as we stroll or ride through the streets of the Lowcountry.
What better of a way to express what he meant to our community and share his work than this well documented tribute vimeo from Sunhead Projects [via charlestonmag.com]
“”If you want your prayers answered, get up off your knees and hustle.” – Philip Simmons’ favorite quote
[photo credits: Peter Frank Edwards via CHARLESTON magazine]
July 15th, 2009
John Dillinger’s infamous last words in Public Enemies. For those of you who may not know, Melvin Purvis [played by Christian Bale] was also originally from the Pee Dee area of SC. He was born in Timmonsville and after his time in the FBI, resided in Florence until his death.
[A little insider info] Purvis was related to a close friend of our’s and in researching his role for the film, Bale visited the Pee Dee and stayed with friends where he certainly mastered the “southern draw” very well. Despite what you hear in the media, Bale was said to have been extremely polite and kind. Too bad we weren’t around for his visit!
With that being said, we couldn’t resist showing one of our favorite blackbird wallpapers in tribute to such a great story and movie. Enjoy!
Blackbird Wallpaper from Cavern
Here’s our favorite installation shots from their website.
Plantation in Venice, CA. Dashing use of color and pattern.
The brown colorway with golden blackbirds has an intimate appeal against these pendants. This would work well in a restaurant setting or boutique commercial application.
June 3rd, 2009
Mark your calendars for a not-so-typical lunch next Wednesday. Join fellow 10SHR’ers as we open our doors during the Navy Yard’s last Midday Cafe. Bring your lunch and stroll through the artist studios at 10 while enjoying live music from Mark Schuler, an acoustic vocalist guitarist who plays music we all know and love to sing along with. [His repertoire includes songs from John Denver to the Grateful Dead and James Taylor to the Beatles.]
Swing by PSI [studio 125] to see what’s new over a champagne cocktail and light bites. Added perk…the ladies of Side Show Press will be with us displaying their wonderful letterpress creations. [you may remember seeing our previous post on their papers.]
Wednesday, June 10/10 Storehouse Row/11-45 – 1:00
How do I get there again?
Glance at a few other studios on the stroll…
Kelly Wenner Designs – Leigh Webber Photography – Artist Tina Hirsig
May 22nd, 2009
Last Friday we co-hosted an art reception for Karen Hagan with Wild Dunes Real Estate at one of their amazing village penthouses with breathtaking views. This one happened to look out onto the Intracoastal waterway right at sunset, which was the most welcomed way to end a Friday [in good company, surrounded by fantastic art with a glass of wine in hand].
[Left to right: Adrian Sims Truluck, Karen Hagan, Dick Casey (BIC, Wild Dunes Real Estate) & Ivie Parker]
Over 70 guests joined us during the event, and we were fortunate enough to sell several of Karen’s beautiful original oils while meeting some great new people.
We created design boards to showcase the interiors we would design for these spaces…hope you enjoy!
Living Room design boards [We loved these fabrics and especially the green-hued grasscloth wallpaper shown behind the built in shelving in the illustration]
Living room illustration
Sitting/Media room board
Sitting room illustration
Last but not least…the bedroom board [We could certainly get accustomed to waking up to the lull of the waves in this bedroom.]
