The Top Theme At This Spring's Show Houses and Getting It For Yourself
Interior design by Parker Kennedy Living for the Junior League of High Point Show House
If there was one overriding theme in two of this spring's top show houses, the Junior League of High Point Show House and the venerable Kips Bay Show House, it is that the use of antiques and vintage furnishings in your home is hot, hot, hot, despite any rumblings in the marketplace you may have heard to the contrary. The designers' liberal sprinkling of antique and vintage furnishings in their show house rooms is what made the rooms sing.
Interior design by Cathy Kincaid for the 2015 Junior League of High Point Show House
I intentionally call this use of antique and vintage furnishings a "theme" and not a "trend", because, as I say in my manifesto, I believe mixing up styles and periods is classic and never out of style.
When Olga Granda-Scott, co-founder of the online antique, vintage and art marketplace known as The High Boy, told me she agreed with me (and that she was on board with most everything in my manifesto), I knew doing a sponsored post for The High Boy was a no brainer.
It seems that we are kindred spirits. What I like most about The High Boy is that the site doesn't simply try to sell you stuff. Like me, it also seeks to educate your eye. If you are reading my blog, you really ought to add The High Boy's publication "The Weekly" to your reading list.
Using objects from The High Boy inventory, "The Weekly" illustrates different furniture styles and periods and features tips from their carefully selected group of dealer experts on collecting. Since The High Boy has a vast inventory in all different periods of furniture, fine art, textiles, antiquities and porcelain, you can develop connoisseurship without leaving your chosen device.
So back to the show houses and how you can add in art, antiques and vintage furnishings to your own home to give it that designer élan. I can think of no better way to demonstrate the path to becoming your own "mixmaster" than featuring some show house highlights and selecting "get the look" wares from The High Boy.
Let's get started.
Mark Sikes's dining room at the 2015 Kips Bay Show House celebrated traditional design with classic red and white check paired with floral chintz, a sparkling chandelier, pastural landscapes for art, blue and white ceramics for accessories and rich,warm antique furniture.
Interior design by Mark Sikes for the 2015 Kips Bay Show House
Interior design by Mark Sikes for the 2015 Kips Bay Show House
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Interior design b Michelle Workman for the Junior League of High Point Show House.
Interior design b Michelle Workman for the Junior League of High Point Show House.
Interior design b Michelle Workman for the Junior League of High Point Show House.
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Get the look:Shopping: 1. 2.3. 4.
The dark walls, sunburst mirror and midcentury abstract painting gave Christine Barbour's bar in the Junior League of High Point Show House a dramatic Tony Duquette feel.
Interior design by Christine Barbour for the 2015 Junior League of High Point Show House
In describing Alessandra Branca's room at the 2015 Kips Bay Show House, Robert Leleux, Editor in Chief at Domino, claimed on Instagram that it was the room that launched a thousand ships. Surely it was a favorite, often photographed and frequently packed with viewers who simply did not want to leave the intensely comfortable space.
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Interior design by Alessandra Branca for the Kips Bay Show House
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Get the look:
Over at the Junior League of High Point Show House, Catherine Austin did a masterful job of styling her bedroom especially the Milo Baughman style bookcase. Accessorizing your room, particularly your bookcases, is a challenge for some, so let's take a closer look. You can find an expansive array of accessories at The High Boy, lending your rooms the perfect finishing touch.
Interior design by Catherine Austin for the Junior League of High Point Show House
Shopping: Ming figure. Obelisks.Metal Sculpture. Elephant.
Remember that The High Point embraces all periods of furnishings and art--including mid-century modern. You can easily capture the look of Aida Interiors sexy mid-century lounge at the Junior League of High Point Show House.
Interior design by Aida Interiors for the 2015 Junior League of High Point Show House
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Get the look:
Finally, first impressions are everything right? But your entry needs to function just as much as it needs to look pretty. Traci Zeller accomplished both in her compact entry hall at the Junior League of High Point Show House by including a lovely, and practical for storage, antique chest, a classic mirror (gal's got to check her lipstick) and pretty ceramics that could easily hold keys and change. Let's do it.
Interior design by Traci Zeller for the 2015 Junior League of High Point Show House
Shopping: Mirror. Ginger jars. Chest.
By now it should be obvious that incorporating art, antiques and vintage furnishings in your rooms is what gives them that prized sense of flair, and that shopping The High Boy can help you do it.
This post is sponsored by The High Boy. All interior photography by Lynn Byrne. Product images from The High Boy website. Note: This post took several days to put together. While doing links I noticed that some items have sold in the couple of days that I worked on the post. That suggests to me that if you like something, you had best grab it!