throw back thursday design- victorian style

talk about victorian and images of gingerbread houses with wrap around porches and bright colors come to mind....elaborately decorated interiors with lots of flowers and knick knacks and rooms full of furniture....here's a brief history....

"During the Industrial Revolution, the middle classes were able to increase their prosperity and for the first time invest in the decor and design of their homes. The period between 1837 and 1901, the reign of Queen Victoria, saw the cheap mass-production of countless household items, making them accessible to people who could never have afforded them before.

They immediately began to emulate the aristocracy and filled their homes to bursting point with accessories, furnishings and fabrics, all designed to showcase their new wealth and status. A bare room was considered to show a lack of taste and so Victorian interiors appeared to be very cluttered compared to modern minimalist ideas. Here we look at ways to bring touches of Victorian nostalgia to your modern home without the need for costly remodeling."

example of victorian interior

the reign of queen victoria was a long one and as the decades passed- so did victorian ideas of design....one of the biggest fads started in 1876 and continued into the early part of the 20th century- crazy quilts...quilt making was nothing new but the crazy quilt shook things up a bit...they were more decorative than utilitarian...

"Early quilts made in the crazy style were more show pieces than functional and were often made as smaller unquilted "lap robes" that were used to decorate the parlor. They were fitting showpieces for the lavish interior decoration of the day. These quilts were usually made using velvet, silk and brocade fabric, cut and pieced in random shapes. What a perfect way for women to show off their needlework skills! Using silk thread, women placed lovely decorative stitches on each seam. Intriguing names like feather, herringbone, fly and chain describe just a few of the intricate stitches. The imagination and skill of the seamstress was the only limit."

example of crazy quilt

i have a design in mind for myself to try using crochet...will keep you posted...

throw back thursday designs

i had little idea what 'shabby chic' was when it started to become 'a thing' in recent years...

"Shabby Chic interior design presents a soft, feminine feel that differentiates this look from other vintage styles. It is a uniquely romantic way of decorating that first originated in the the 1980’s in the United Kingdom. Shabby Chic interior design consists of furnishings that are either chosen for their appearance of age and signs of wear and tear, or where new items are distressed to achieve the appearance of an antique. At the same time, a soft, opulent, yet cottage-style decor, often with an affected feel is emphasized to differentiate it from genuine period decor."

• Furniture: Shabby Chic furnishings show signs of wear and distressed, time-worn and painted layers.
• Fabrics: Fabrics tend to be cottons and old French linens. Whites and pastels are favorite colors.
• Decor: Popular decor items are pillows made of vintage fabrics, vintage linens, chenille bedspreads, vintage chandeliers, and anything with roses on it.

shabby chic

not really my design style but i thought i could put a throw together with my own take on shabby chic....it's currently a wip that i featured recently and i am layering ruffled ripples of cocoa brown, creamy off white and whipped creamy white...i may call it cafe au lait :) but not everyone loves all white so i thought a bit of neutral color would pop a bit....

throw back thursday design

one of the hottest re-design trends is the 'retro' or mid century modern look....from the article,

"Mid-Century Modern is a term originated by Cara Greenberg to describe a particular style of architecture and furniture design that was prominent in the US during the post-World War II years. The originations of this particular style along with the accessories that accompany it, were created from the exuberance period when American soldiers came home, the economy boomed and new homes were being built across the country."

i happen to live in a house built in the mid 1960s towards the end of the 'retro' era but has some of the best features of that time period...

teals, oranges, yellows, mustardy greens....all conjour up images of the mid century decor...cartoonish geometric shapes and silver christmas trees resonate as examples of the mid century decor...

here's my expression of the mid century 'retro' look- they are on sale in my shop or you can message me if interested...