My Love For Bamboo….

Bamboo has been a passion of mine since before I owned my shop for alot of reasons

#1- It simply makes me happy! 

        I've spent countless hours seeking out the perfect piece of bamboo furniture or accessory at every show or buying trip that we've been on...alot of them ending up in my own home because they hold such a special place in my heart...silly as it may seem!

#2- It's one of the first antique pieces of furniture that I "sought out" to buy even before I had my own shop.

When I first opened I was still decorating some with my very best friend Sharon Gilbert....she and her mother in law "Nonnie" always had the most wonderful pieces of bamboo and I knew I wanted it as well! So began my quest for the most unusual and the very best pieces of bamboo....which even led me to purchase a very expensive bamboo birdcage immediately following my daughter's wedding....I guess I was going through something! Who knows! Not to mention that my "grandmother name" is now Nonnie as well!! They gave me a good heritage to strive for in alot of ways!

#3- It has a history...

and a "PAST"

  Anything with a history and a past is a true love of mine! ( not that it's a metaphor or anything! ) but it's true! That's why I opened an anitques shop! I love history...and boy do I love a good past!

           I can't even believe that this is how bamboo starts out! Talk about something coming from nothing!

To think that this gorgeous bamboo chest shown in Architectural Digest started out as simply a bunch of reeds is amazing to me!
 No wonder our "past" makes us and re-fines us into something more beautiful than we ever imagined! 

Little did I know that my love of antique bamboo furniture  along with transferware would one day lead me into a career that I truly love and look forward to every day. The quest for the most unusual piece is always still there....however, I have accumulated alot of different pieces that I love...and I've learned to part with them as well. I've also finally admitted my love of bamboo and why it inspires me! It reminds me of my past and I never want to forget that!

one inspiration at a time....

Wednesday's What If's…What If I Ran Into Victoria Hagan?

I hate to have to explain myself…but I started this Wednesday 'What If's' part of my blog because of a funny thing my sweet sister still does to this day…when she says, "What If?  you had better watch out and get ready! It's usually something that leads us to extreme laughter and not always at the most appropriate time!

However, if Andrea said to me, "What if you ran into Victoria Hagan, what would you do?"

I would say to her "Just look at that smile! I like her already!" 

 Once again, I've had my head buried in the sand….well maybe not in the sand…that would be a dream come true as you saw yesterday on Tina's incredible blog The Enchanted Home! But it's definitely been buried in the busyness of our daily lives…a busy that is driving me crazy! A busy that needs to end so I can once again enjoy life and at least read my magazines!! I picked Victoria for my Wednesday's post because I love, love, love her work! But I truly had no idea she was in the August issue of AD!

Just look at her taste in houses she has chosen to re-do or build….only the best for Victoria! 

Whether they are "ivy clad"

Or Shaker style….

Victoria Hagan's taste in houses/homes resembles everything I've ever desired…

Just take a look at this kitchen!

And this fabulous patio!

I wish I'd seen AD before I ever began this post…but I'm so very glad that at least I finally got on the bandwagon! I'm hoping to slow down my life very, very soon….but it's not looking good!

There is really nothing I would change in any of these fabulous pictures of Victoria's work...

 I think her first home is a dream… it's the one she raised her twin sons in! What more could you ask for? The memories they made here had to have been priceless!

And just look at these unbelievable Bobbin chairs! I don't think I've ever seen any this pretty or this detailed!

Sometimes it's the simple things that mean the most to us and then other times it's the intricate details that jump out and capture our hearts! 

Her simple and yet always soulful style will reel me in every time I see a picture of her work!

It reminds me of the way my best friend Sharon decorates her own home. It always makes me feel welcome and it always leaves me wanting to re-create it!  We started out many years ago decorating together until life got too "busy"! Go figure! Then I opened a shop and she started helping people decorate their homes again once her youngest child was old enough for her to do so!

I am also loving the beautiful pictures in Victoria's book and I am really hoping it will be the next one that we decide to sell at my shop….I can't think of a better one, that's for sure!

I just love her "sassy" style! You would think she was from the South!

North, South, East or West…her designs make boundaries non existent….her style is timeless and seemingly effortless…all while melding the home owner's tastes with what her signature style reflects.

If I'm being really honest here…what I really love is the fact that she seems to blend American antiques with every style….I've seen Traditional, Modern, Conservative, etc…in her portfolio and I love that! I really, really love the way she blends American Traditional with all of today's eclectic styles. That has been a true favorite of mine since I began decorating 23 years ago! Nothing makes my heart happier than the beautiful pieces I fall in love with at American Antique Fairs and the moment I see them…my heart melts…and I know that I love them… I truly love them! 

I truly think I find the most interesting pieces at American Antique shows. Sure, give me that "quirky" bench or that unusual chair any day! Throw it into the mix of gorgeous "expected" pieces and then you've got yourself a real winner!

Just look at these incredible rooms all designed by Victoria Hagan and enjoy each and every one of them!

You can't tell me that a girl with this much style, savvy and extremely good taste isn't one of the best!I just wish I truly knew her! I would hope that we would be friends and I would love to learn a lot of her design secrets….especially her secret at making beautiful pieces of furniture and incredible fabrics all work together in today's busy lifestyle! I know that has to be a key factor in creating good design today. A well balanced diet so to speak!

I hope you enjoyed this Wednesday's What If post on Victoria Hagan…I know I sure enjoyed studying her incredible and very tasteful interior design skills!

Have a wonderful Wednesday

P.S.  Speaking of "what if's", if any of you are looking for the best children's clothing line around, please check out my sister's incredible line…Hannah Kate! It is the brainchild of my incredibly talented sister, Andrea Brown!