Get the Look Decor: Familial Legacy

Etsy.com handmade and vintage goods
Iheartmoustaches

Story by Christine Domanic

Published on Sept 11, 2011 in Shop

Iheartmoustaches

This weekend’s Get the Look Decor is inspired by the small Morgantown, WV, apartment of Barbara Hester where she lives with her medical student husband Trent and their cat Rachel George. The couple’s tiny space includes many pieces of their past with reminders of how they met and family heritage mixed with repurposed furniture and linens.

Check out Barbara’s Etsy shop, IndianaBlue, where she sells handmade books, paintings, embroideries and mixed media. Visit Barbara on Flickr for more photos of her tiny apartment, and stop by her blog for more inspiration and life’s reflections.

 

   
   

[Left to right, top and bottom: Midnight Owl Print by twoems; Niveau De Remplissage Canister Jars by cozycottagechic; Maine Ticking Blue Apron by charmedlifeaprons; Decorative country style plate by maryscrochetnmore; BLUE CASSEROLE by LachArts; Vintage Bromco Grater by vintagenowandthen]

Describe your home decorating style.
I would go thrifting with my grandmother in Indiana when I was little, which gave me a passion for older, sometimes weathered, items.

I love creating a sense of heritage and tradition with pieces which have come from our families or which recall certain times in our lives. Old photographs of family, quilts made by my great-grandmother, shells and stones collected on walks, a snow globe with a tiny Eiffel tower that reminds us of trips abroad years ago, these are some of the things that fill our home. My husband and I both love reading and met while we were both working at a bookstore, so we also have quite a lot of books!

I learned the value of repurposing material from my great-grandmother’s quilts, which were pieced together mostly from old clothing, and other fabrics that once had served as something else. I like to apply this idea in other mediums, for example repurposing an old door and kitchen table legs for a coffee table or making shelves from an old table top that had split in two, or tearing up old sheets and knitting them into rugs.

   
   
   

[First row, from left: Custom Vintage Door Coffee Table by GreenWithNVDesigns; Mid-Century Table Lamp by bcdrygoods; Chess set by hooknsaw; Second row, from left: july pillow indigo by enhabiten; Bookshelf - Nomad by flacos; Mid-Century Modern Frank Bros. Sofa by dejavulongbeach; Third row, from left: Vintage Footstool by Hindsvik; Vintage Books, Collection of Six by TagSaleFinds; Large WHITE Iceland Sheepskin Rug by blacksheepwhitelight]

Did you decide to decorate in this style or was there an evolution to your decorating process?
I did decorate our apartment with this style in mind, but it was more a result of it being the things I am drawn to, rather than trying to achieve a certain look. For me, the apartment is a work-in-progress, and I am always looking to learn new things and to make our home an authentic reflection of who we are, while being both comfortable and functional. I’ve gotten much better at the functional part since we moved here!

This apartment is the smallest space that Trent and I have shared and it was necessary to let a lot go in order to fit into it. It has been a challenge to find interesting ways to store things as we do not have much closet space.

I sold items that somehow weren’t quite us and reinvested in pieces that were of better quality and that would last. Since Trent is in his fourth year of medical school we knew that at the end of it would be looking for a new home depending on where we go for his residency. I wanted to find the bones of our home so it wouldn’t feel like we were always starting from scratch.

   
   

[First row, from left: Golden Pheasant Feathers by mountainfeathers; Metal Keys and Wooden Box by TheVintageDaughter; vintage 1920s wood swing frame by thedustpeddler; Second row, from left: Basking in the Blackberries by GollyBard; 25 Real Pinecones by littleshopofphotos; Rustic jar sconce by GettingWeddy]

What inspires you when it comes to decorating?
All kinds of things! I will sometimes see a picture online, or draw from early inspirations, (I was always a fan of Shelly Tambo’s home on Northern Exposure), or brainstorm with a friend. I like thumbing through old Anthropologie and TOAST catalogs. Lately, I have been really inspired by color. I noticed in a lot of the spaces that I am attracted to they have very strong color palettes. I try to infuse color in a way that makes our home feel less formal and cozy.

   
   

[First row, from left: The Chains of Love chair by ChairAffair; Set of 2 box tables by CamilleMontgomery; Live Swedish Ivy Plant in Glass Vase by SevenAcreWoods; Second row, from left: Large Oak Antique School Desk by LaurenOnEtsy; Small White Ceramic Planter with Miniature Live Plant by TeenyTinyGreenhouse; Entertainment Cabinet by tweetledeedesignco]

What is your favorite part of your home?
I go through phases. Right now my favorite place is at my desk. It’s a nice, quiet space to sit and write and the little cloud pillow hanging above it always makes me smile.

   
   
   

[First row, from left: antique 1880s chunky turned post by TatteredLaceVintage; 9 BLOCK PATCHWORK QUILT by Momsvintagetreasures; Botanical Print Blue Bird by sprucedroost; Second row, from left: Milk-Glass Lamp by bystephaniekate; Adirondack Lodge Dresser by poppycottage; Cloud Plush - Mr Cloud by CookieCutterEtsy; Third row, from left: Vintage Oval Mirror by AboveDesign; Hand Embroidered Pillow Case by GirlMakesGoods; antique industrial school desk by goseek]

 


Looking for more styles and interiors? Check out our video series, There’s No Place Like Here, where creative types show us their unique spaces — infused with their aesthetic and filled with the treasures they collect. Get involved and show us your amazing space in this Flickr pool.

More Get the Look: Home Decor Editions.

Housewares Category | Vintage Housewares

3 Featured Comments

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  • BeatificBijoux

    BeatificBijoux says: Featured

    Great idea for a post! I keep a teacup and saucer from each of my grandmothers' former daily dish services on display on a decorative shelf in my kitchen. My great uncle built this shelf for my maternal grandmother in the '50's, and it used to hang in her kitchen. I love these domestic totems that serve as a constant reminder of my past and heritage!

    1 year ago

  • blueroompottery

    blueroompottery says: Featured

    This is such a beautiful article!! It is amazing what you can do with a small space if you know what you want. I really like the fact that you carry with you the memories of your family. (It reflects so much on your beautiful work also). I also love to see all the books:)... and the linen with the handmade lace crocheted all around, on top of the little table. Thanks for letting us in and I wish you all the best in your life. You seem to be on the right track:)

    1 year ago

  • tiltomorrow

    tiltomorrow says: Featured

    Cozy and inviting. I enjoy mixing the old with the new. Brings such pleasure when you can touch, feel and fun your fingers through the treasures. Each treasure holds a story and you sometimes wonder how it came to you. The quilts tell wonderful stories and you are able to handle with such gentle care. You did a wonderful job displaying your treasures with the limited space you had. Great color contrast.

    1 year ago

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