Many words can be used to describe my style, but quirky isn't one of them. If you've hung around here on the blog long enough, you know that I lean towards a clean, muted aesthetic that's more tone-on-tone than twee. But every once in a while a photo like the one above calls to the thirteen-year-old me who painted her bedroom wall lilac and stenciled it with butterflies…
When a vignette outside my normal wheelhouse catches my eye, I like to it break down. Because of course I'm not going to replace my raw linen throws with a granny square afghans, or suddenly dig out those old butterfly stencils. Yet if the photo grabs hold of me, there must be a reason. Another way to think about it is to ask, 'How would I recreate this scene if I were doing it my way?'
I turned to the vintage troves of Etsy for my self-imposed challenge. I fostered the same sense of retro whimsy as in the reading nook, but scaled the colors back to a range of wood, woven neutrals, and splashes of tomato red. Patterns are fewer and more restrained; think ginghams and polka dots instead of paisleys and calicos. The sensibility is the same—it's still a collected, cohesive whole that feels thoughtful but not 'done'—yet the final result is all me, baby! Now tell me: Do you often find yourself drawn to fashion or interiors pics that aren't your usual style?
Shopping Guide: 1. Red Vintage Books 2. Vintage Dutch Fabric 3. Queen's Silver Jubilee Tea Tin 4. Midcentury Wall Clock 5. Vintage French Striped Tablecloth 6. Midcentury Dining Chair 7. Vintage Cat Poster 8. Polka Dot Teacups Image: jasna.janekovic
Beautiful!
Thanks so much for this post, I learned a new way of thinking about how to integrate what I’m drawn to but that isn’t “me.”
Now if I can figure out how to do the same in blending my husband’s aesthetic with my own…