Ethnic Accents

Ethnic touches within the lighting and bedding. Aren't those exposed chair backs amazing? House Beautiful

Sweet furniture and textiles from Sang and Serena.

Ethnic rugs and accessories even work in the kitchen. Lonny Magazine

Unique objects, like Balinese baskets and mantel banderas, from The Loaded Trunk provide a warm touch.

Last week we explored exotic sites for ethnic inspired ideas, and I would like to continue our journey with more objects and spaces using ethnic accents. As I mentioned before, the key to incorporating ethnic style in your home is through a moderate use of accessories. As you can see from the examples above the ethnic touches are simple, yet still bring a sense of warmth and comfort to the space. Plus, you don't have to go to faraway lands to find unique pieces (unless you want to of course!). Small furniture, blankets and objects can be found through the web or even at a local shop or fleamarket. Find the perfect piece that adds another layer to your story.

Do you enjoy ethnic accents? If so, I would love to hear how you incorporate them into your style...

Ethnic Inspired

After Kathryn M. Ireland's post I'm still thinking about ethnic inspired prints, colors and places. If you're a daily reader of Please Sir you know I tend to like retro-modern-cozy spaces (or I'm all over the place!), but I see the potential for ethnic touches in an interior for conversation and comfort. Let's go in a different direction this week and explore the possibilities of ethnic inspiration. Anthropologie is a great start because they always have a fresh take on using ethnic influence in fashion and home without going overboard. I think that's the key...ethnic is a great look, but in moderation. Pack your bags for a little sightseeing!

Link - Anthropologie

Kathryn M. Ireland

Designer Kathryn M. Ireland's unique look has been described as "comfortable, bohemian, and family friendly with large doses of color and a lack of orthodoxy." Wow, I couldn't agree more! I enjoy seeing a hint of ethnic style in an interior space, and Kathryn's style is the perfect inspiration. Imagine her gorgeous Mexico meets Morocco fabric on pillows or window treatments, and instantly you add subtle, ethnic appeal to your current style. Or if you live in a wonderful exotic abode you can go all out. But, if you're like me in a small city home then I guess we'll have to get our exotic escape through fabrics!

Link - Kathryn M. Ireland

Fey Handmade

I could accessorize my entire apartment with all the lovely and unique items featured on Fey Handmade, an online shop inspired by nature and passionate about design. Seabound accessories in the bedroom, vintage plates in the kitchen and natural objects strategically placed throughout. Ever since I found the oh-so-neat vintage ship painting I've been sea obsessed. Maybe it's the nautical stripe trend or my craving for the ocean? Either way, the ship pillowcases are at the top of my list!

Kitsch Kitchen: Five Fork Print, Lilak Rose Clock, The Heated Tea Cup Dishtowels, Set of Vintage Plates

Seabound Bedroom: Ship Pillowcases, Splashing Photograph, Cushion Cover

Natural Geometrics: Northern Flicker Print, Apartment Feeder, Wall Mount Vase

Link - Fey Handmade Shop

Explore the Kerb

Get a little vintage fix at Explore the Kerb, an Australian based shop that sells retro furniture and housewares. The store is filled with eclectic pieces like an old steel laundry trolley, a 1940's wooden draft set and a vintage toy ferris wheel. Items are refurbished, cleaned up and ready for a new lease on life. Wouldn't the trolley look wonderful filled with flowers on a back porch or the ferris wheel playfully placed in a kid's room?!

Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to go to the fleamarket or yard sales this past weekend, but maybe I can live vicariously through your weekend...did you find any vintage goodies?

Link - Explore the Kerb

Chloe Aftel

The line between reality and fantasy are blurred within Chloe Aftel's stunning photographs. These particular photographs remind me of summer road trips and girls-only weekends. The wind blowing in your hair, good music in the background and friendships you never want to end. Sigh...

I'm sure we could all use a lingering vacation. The last two months have been very busy and I apologize for the sporadic posting. The warm weather doesn't help either. Even bloggers need a summer vacation, so I've been posting in a more relaxed way. Have you also been experiencing the same I-need-a-break-no-I-really-need-a-break feeling?! Start with unplugging and drinks at happy hour? Yes...done.

Links - Chloe Aftel Studio on Etsy and Flickr

A Vintage Picnic on Etsy

The great blogging team behind Etsy graciously asked me to create a guest curator post, and my topic of choice was throwing a vintage picnic! Inside the feature you will find a variety of lovely items and ideas for your next vintage picnic including what to wear, how to display food and provide entertainment. I had so much fun pulling these pieces together for one of my favorite and daily reads, The Storque: Etsy's Handmade Blog. Thank you again to Etsy and welcome Etsy readers!

I hope you feel inspired to host a little vintage picnic of your own. Please check out the post here and feel free to comment on the vintage items you would like to bring to a picnic!

Link - Guest Curator: A Vintage Picnic With Please Sir

Hanne Bertelsen

Danish designer Hanne Bertelsen creates beautiful and functional ceramics that come in a lovely array of hand-mixed colors. Don't you love the gorgeous shapes and colors? The flowerpots kind of remind me of vintage USA or McCoy pottery planters. Like the planters, Bertelsen's pieces are perfectly simple and have a fresh, retro appeal. Bertelsen also carries a lemon inspired series featuring lemon shaped ceramic bowls, plates and even lamps. The lemon collection would be perfect addition to a summer dinner party. Maybe even cook up a few lemon bars in that cute kitchen?

Link - Hanne Bertelsen

Wear to Where: N.E.E.T. Magazine

N.E.E.T. is a quarterly, online publication, laid out in a magazine format - as a showcase for grassroots creativity. I was lucky enough to contribute to the June issue with several vintage inspired Where to Wear ensembles like retro roadtrip, beach break and camp comfort. I am bursting with excitement over the feature because I love N.E.E.T. and I'm also a daily reader of their fabulous blog. A big hug and thank you to Stephanie J., the editor of N.E.E.T., for doing an amazing job of graphically combining and presenting the collections. I may be a little biased, but I think this issue is one of the best editions yet! Check out the fashion links and entire issue online (for free!) including stunning features by photographer Lissy Laricchia and illustrator Xiaoxi Zhang. Welcome N.E.E.T. readers!

Link - N.E.E.T.

Lauren DiCioccio

Lauren DiCioccio's hand-embroidered, sculptural art is highly detailed, realistic and downright amazing. I'm speechless over her beautiful pieces and refer to DiCioccio's artist statement, which nicely sums up her current body of work:

My work investigates the physical/tangible beauty of commonplace mass-produced media-objects, most recently: the newspaper, magazines, office papers and writing pads, plastic bags, 35 mm slides. These media are becoming obsolete, replaced by the invisible efficiency of various technologies. In some cases, this transition is a good thing- faster transmission and distribution of information, streamlined systems, openness to user input, less waste. But a hole is left behind by the disappearance of these everyday objects. What will happen when we no longer touch information? When newsprint does not rub off onto our fingertips? When we no longer write longhand? The tedious handiwork and obsessive care I employ to create my work aims to remind the viewer of these simple but intimate pieces of everyday life and to provoke a pang of nostalgia for the familiar physicality of these objects.

I'm always impressed when an artist utilizes a medium like embroidery and turns it into a thought provoking message. These awe-inspiring pieces created with thread, fabric and determination make us question many of the uncommon and ordinary objects we encounter each day. What is the future for these objects and the impressions they leave behind?

P.S. I can't get enough of the 35mm sewnslides!

Link - Work and photographs by Lauren DiCioccio via The 20x200 Blog