Metrolina Flea with Eddie Ross, Part II

We could have followed stylist and designer, Eddie Ross at Metrolina Flea, for days.  We witnessed his "on steroids" creativity in so many ways, nudging us out of our shopping ruts and showing us how to repurpose mother of pearl buttons, old costume jewelry earrings, and even the ever stodgy chenille.

I had some shopping remorse about leaving these beautiful bottles behind. They were originally clear medicine bottles, but magnesium in the glass formula caused them to turn this beautiful shade of purple which compliments the traditional orange and brown tones of the fall harvest table. They are perfect for low, long flower arrangements, on the dining table, or at each place, with a name card propped against them. More brilliantly, Eddie Ross's idea of pouring different salad dressings in them and setting them on the buffet, is even better. I was thinking of massing them with different postprandial (after dinner) liqueurs, with a little sign on them that says: 

For $35.00, you can have a lot going on. There were buckets of antique keys at Metrolina.  I've been fascinated by some of their very beautiful,  ornate designs, complex function, and heft. Now I know where to put them: mysteriously, around the house so you wonder what wonderful doors they may open. Use your imagination. 

Stacking etched, colored glass, or crystal compotes with crudites  or flowers is an Eddie Ross signature. I can't wait to play with this idea in a couple of weeks. The important take away from Eddie's ideas, was to mix old and new, rough and shiny. The dynamic interaction of opposites is a strong theme among design leaders. For example, mixing an etched water glass at the table with another colored or modern piece makes a party look fresh and inviting. An entire tabletop in our Mother's and Grandmother's era makes my straight back ache. 

via Eddie Ross

via Mrs. Howard

Here is the delicious chocolate and pink motif Eddie chose for his event the night before, at Phoebe Howard's over the top, gorgeous store in Charlotte. I love the step away from the earth toned tables and use of a fantastic shocking pink, which sets off the traditional 19th century brown transferware plates. Note the vintage post card from Metrolina flea used as a place card.  There is simply nothing flea about it. See what you can create, over time, for a song at the flea circus?  I love that Eddie Ross and Jaithan Kochar are all over the country, meeting the "little me's" of the world in person, demonstrating how style and taste are priceless, not to mention affordable.  

I know... this now iconic table, Eddie Ross just styled for Lonny, has gone completely viral.  Unexpected color is really coming back. I've linked you to the "behind the scenes" Eddie Ross photo shoot for Lonny, because I really had to know,  how he managed the plethora of china, crystal, vintage postcards, ornaments and ephemera Eddie draws upon for his amazing vignettes. He told me about his prop room, and Lonny scooped us. Surprise? 

via Lonny

Eddie and Jaithan are moving!  I cannot imagine how they can even contemplate this gargantuan task. 

I am not yet in recovery for my transferware addiction. If you see an Etsy button on our blog, you will know I've finally hit rock bottom. I embrace Eddie's enthusiasm for blending different patterns, eras and styles at the table. You can't always find the ten or 12 matching plates at the same time, but often you can find two sets of 5 that work beautifully together. Again, the mix brings new life to old favorites.  I call it "Art Blendo!" Vive La Difference--burlap and silver! 

I brought this Staffordshire blue sugar bowl home for $50.00, and believe me, I've paid more. I use them for flowers, but we stayed outside of the box most of the afternoon, so I loved Eddie's suggestion of using them by the sink for scrubbers or sponges. 

These images were from our summer entertaining post. The arrangements were easy to make, by creating a grid over the tops with scotch tape.  As we wandered through the myriad stalls of linens, paintings, prints, glassware, toys....Eddie jumped to this collection of lusterware.

You can see stylist muscles flexing here. How beautiful would this collection be, grouped, on your thanksgiving table or sideboard, mixed with votives to illuminate the iridescent glazes? We were feeling it.  Steve Gambrel's table at the Lennox Hill Neighborhood gala is a good example of using contemporary ceramics at different heights to create a striking table scape, helping us to imagine the multitude of possibilities with our individual collections. 

Sky is the limit when setting your tables and vignettes.  This image is from our post on the designer tables at this year's Lenox Hill Neighborhood house gala. Color outside the lines. Create magical settings, but most of all, sit down and love your family and friends in the moment.   We had such a fantastic time with Eddie Ross and Jaithan.  I'm a little trigger happy to make reservations for their Texan tour of Roundtop. 

If you are a die hard Eddie Ross fan,  view our YouTube videos!

Metrolina Flea with Eddie Ross!

Dovecote Decor had the pleasure of joining Eddie Ross and Jaithan Kochar at the Metrolina Flea Market in Charlotte this past Friday!

Eddie puts together wonderful, intimate shopping excursions at some of the best antiques markets across the country, and lucky for us, he came down south for this fabulous open air market at Metrolina in Charlotte, NC.  He had so many helpful hints about how to sort through the junk, find the best deals, and transform your flea market finds into Elle-Decor-worthy pieces for your home.

Here is a video clip from a stop at a booth full of beautiful china and transferware.  Eddie gives his advice on what to look for, how to begin collecting, and how to use antique china in new fresh ways.  Listen closely, he also gives a sneak peek of Celerie Kemble's new book, which will come out next year.

Soaring 60's Styles are starting to emerge!

This will be our High Point wrap up. Gray scale showrooms still dominate the labyrinth of halls. Flour Sack pillows and upholstery, destination signs and calligraphy patterns saturate the city. Accessories I might have gravitated towards in shops, now fatigue me. I remember one market where it seemed like every showroom had identical majolica fish pitchers. I loved the first one I saw, yet after the 1,000th, I had to turn away.

Don't get me wrong. I have enjoyed this trend and think its useful in small doses, but after you've followed the herd for a couple of hours, you feel like the sled dog at the end of the pack. We felt like the lost Dorothy in the black and white world,  when we wandered towards color.

Hail Britannia, is a theme I'm still enjoying. I love to mix a bit of tongue in cheek throughout the house. 

We followed this candy strewn path. And found ourselves back in the devil may care 60's, on the other side of the rainbow. 

Hello Lilly Pulitzer! HF Brands and Lee Jofa brought us a soaring 60's visual break from recession griege. 

I was looking for this guy!

Over 200 pieces comprise this retro collection of mid-century lacquer and painted furniture. Granted, I don't want a house, or even an entire room in Lilly Pulitzer, but there are wonderful pieces that would work anywhere.

This shade of blue is all over town. 

We are seeing inlay and marquetry in bright 60's shades. If you think its just me, look at this chic new space in London. 

This is the new 5th Floor bar at Harvey Nichols flagship store in London. It was inspired by  Emile Gallé's iconic 1902 anemone design for the Cuvée Belle Époque Champagne bottle. 

I see the motif on the ceiling, but the pink and green is pure Palm Beach.

Paul Smith Rug

via Holly Goes Lightly

There's that shade of blue again. Bold swirly graphics are every where. 

Bold ethnic prints have been the mainstay at Quadrille. 

Vintage ethnic clothing was a fantastic new addition within the new antiques center.  This is a traditional Afghan woman's tunic, representing centuries of textile work that is sadly becoming a thing of the past, now that the Taliban has mandated the Burka!

These fabulous traditional costumes could have come from the pages of a Look Magazine trend report. I hope we are in for a light hearted, revival of all things creative, rather than a faint stab at a trend prediction. Speaking of trend predictions, I'll leave you with a humorous quote: 

"We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on the way out." - Decca executive, 1962, after turning down the Beatles.

Robert Indiana

Sending Love to all our wonderful readers, followers and commenters. We love each and every visit!

TheHigh Point Social Diary/Page Six

High Point was a glitter with the luminaries of the design world, thanks to both the Market Authority and manufacturers like Hickory Chair , Baker, and Century. The High Point Market Authority had wonderful designer guest lectures, in the old Noble's (100 High Street). Eddie Ross and Jaithan Kochar gave a fantastic discussion on creating buzz with social media. I was late due to posting as usual, but ran into Eddie and Jaithan in the IHFC and had a nice visit.  I always find them incredibly generous, and Jaithan remembered my blog, and sent me a comment, which to any blogger is like a sweet kiss.

We are looking forward to shopping with them in Charlotte during the next Metrolina flea market and you can read a great review of their discussion in High Point in this wonderful post by Life in a Vente Cup. 

The irreverent and often hilarious Vincente Wolfe signs Benji's book. He gave a provocative talk about the process of his work beginning with an extremely detailed questionnaire to the client.  In this discovery process he is able to give the client a highly targeted and more effective presentation of the space in total. Working with the client's existing pieces, and discarding the items that will detract from the total vision, the installation includes every detail from linen to candles. Vincente got a big laugh when he quipped: "I love it when they cry...Its better than sex!" I was fascinated by the raw creativity of this designer, who did not complete high school and has no formal training. Often drawing inspiration from travel and other cultures, he has created a clean aesthetic that is throughly fresh and unique. 

The bloggy girls got together and were sweet enough to include little me. Steve Giannetti took this picture of us and Brooke thoughtfully posted it with links to each of our posts. Lauren Liess from Pure Style Home, Brooke Giannetti from Velvet and Linen, Traci Zeller , Maria Killam from Colour me Happy and I pose to commemorate our fun evening. The virtual world unites us, but the real people behind each post become actual friends. We shattered the fun barrier! 

Look who we picked up at the bar! Yes, friends to my right is Sir Bobby, who I have knighted. The illustrious and non technological Bobby McAlpine was surprised to have a room full of bloggers paying tribute. He has never read a blog, although his partner Greg Tankersley has assured me that he will see that he reads our last post on his remarkable contribution to architecture and influence upon the lives of so many people. If you can imagine listening in on his conversation with Steve Giannetti, Brooke's architect husband, (who is taking the picture), it was heady stuff to say the least. Memorably, Sir Bobby's  (the equivalent of Sir Paul in musical circles) comment on second homes really struck a chord with me. He said that people build their first homes with other people in mind, and then design their second home around how their family interacts and actually lives. People should build all their homes like they were second homes. I liked that. 

This is what Sir Bobby was working on when I walked up to him at the bar. He works completely by hand. How do you draw to scale with no grid, or ruler? I asked him if I could photograph his notes, and he said to be sure to get the martini glass in the picture. 

In case you didn't see our last post, we were thrilled to welcome Bunny Williams BeeLine Home to High Point.  I wish Bunny has been a part of the lecture series, as we are huge fans of her work.

Alexa Hampton is always fun for a bit of banter, and a blast of her wonderful sense of humor, keeps us on our toes. Her elegant line of furniture for Hickory Chair, and her beautiful new book: Alexa Hampton: The Language of Interior Design, will all be collector's items. Benji and I pose with Kathleen McMahan of KM interiors of Charlotte. We are new BFF's. 

We wanted to meet Mary McDonald, as we love her range of work. Her new book is on our wish list, but visit her website and look at her colorful interiors, and masterful use of bold blacks. 

Do you see what I mean? We couldn't see all the fabulous designers and bloggers who come to High Point, but it is our Superbowl! We had to look at furniture. Our website is up and running. That is a good place to see our favorite treasures. More Later! 

High Point trend prediction: Color will come back.

On the first day of market, Benji and I continued on our path through the Hamilton district. Hickory Chair's new space was our primary destination. Jay Reardon, president of the company, discussed his passion for making furniture in North Carolina, designed by the luminaries of home decor.  Alexa Hampton, Albert Sack, Thomas O'Brien, Mariette Himes Gomez, and Suzanne Kasler, create and define their aesthetic with the vocabulary of wood, stone, marble and fabric. We are posing with Kathleen of High Cotton.

This Alexa Hampton girl cave, is a bedroom any man would be happy to share. 

Or perhaps you'd rather take your morning coffee here? This is Suzanne Kasler's vignette.

Alexa Hampton continues the family tradition of classic elegance. What could be better than going to the source, to learn balance, harmony and color combinations. Alexa discussed inspirations for her line, and we couldn't wait to page through her new book: The Language of Interior Design.

Wesley Hall, who also manufacturers in North Carolina and creates the Bunny Williams line of furniture,   demonstrates this new, fearless use of color, in their own, beautifully proportioned line. It is a wonderful antidote to the miles of grey scale seen in InterHall. 

We love a bit of it, as it has been a welcome respite from the sea of mahogany, and brown stains that was the single paradigm for case goods for many years.

However, I predict that color is returning to the home. 

I am starting to crave clutter, colors and layers. I feel the warmth of generations in my friend's happy summer refuge. What do you think? Is the new old world of color returning? 

High Point Day 0

High Point actually opens before the published date.  Permanent show rooms have already been buzzing for a couple of days, so we sallied forth to see new vendors and venues. The Hamilton district is completely rearranged with the new Hickory Chair relocation, which is a good thing since we got slightly lost, but bumped into...

Bunny Williams, new BeeLine Homes space.  We were welcomed with her Charlottesville, Virginia  charm, while she multi-tasked between clients, show room fluffs, and posing for a picture with Liz and Viive (pronounced Viva), for Dovecote Decor. I can only say, High Point is thrilled to welcome BeeLine Homes. I will say, nobody has more beautiful upholstery.  God is in the details. 

It is a treat for High Point to have Bunny and BeeLine Homes. The next grand addition, is the new Antique and Design Center at 229 Russell Avenue. There are 55, one of a kind exhibitors, with 37 shops completely new to High Point. 

A spectacular 17th century chandelier has migrated from a wonderful palazzo, finding its way to Karen Luisana's, brain child design center. Tonight was opening night, and we were dazzled. This chandelier is the exuberant, joie-de-vivre piece, dialed down to a single theme--crystals. It dances, yet stays on point. 

Marquetry and inlay are a huge trend, but this dresser to the left is unique. The design is hand cut lemon wood, inlaid in walnut, from Damascus, Syria. It is one of a kind. Think about the perfect repetitive hand cuts of the design motif on the drawers.  

High Point can be a disaster, it can be weird, but then again, it can take my breath away,  uplifting my soul with the hand of the artisan. More tomorrow!