by studiotullia | Jul 14, 2022 | INTERIOR DESIGN, MAGICAL MOMENTS, STUDIO NEWS, STYLE TIPS FOR DIY
Citrus Garden by Josef Frank in primary is a favorite of mine. Red was the only color in my garden last week that worked with this latest batch of pillows. Almost looks patriotic with the blue and white chinoiserie thrown in, which was not really my intention, but pretty nonetheless.
With peony season behind us, which is always too short lived, we are moving into dahlia season, which is a personal favorite. It is always so unpredictable what will show up every year although with the deluge of rain this past Spring I am hopeful. At least dahlia season lasts clear into Fall.
I can never bear to waste any of the scraps from this fabric so we make all kinds of accent and lumbar pillows as well as gifts bags.
This timeless pattern is popular beyond words. Always on back order, I finally received the lime colorway yesterday that I ordered back in January. The next batch is not due until September, with this batch already sold out.
My insanely talented neighbor puts us all to shame with the display of flowers in her front yard. And if you are lucky enough to get an invite to her backyard you are in for a real treat. She recently redid her backyard with amazing steel box planters (over flowing with daffodils and tulips this spring), some cement-scaping that includes a sunken fire pit and a few grassy spots for outdoor dining. The covered shelter will be great almost year round. I particularly love the fence, stained in black, which adds such a great contrast.
She chose some outdoor pillows from STUDIO TULLIA including Citrus Garden in Pool, another long standing favorite.
And Schumacher has come out with a couple more colorways this year…
Reminds me of a tiled mosaic walkway I came across on a recent walk in our neighborhood.
Pretty refreshing, eh? Now I want a gin & tonic.
We’ve got lots of ferns in our garden in the Pacific NorthWest. Something out of character for our region that we find every year is this odd phenomenon of a flower, called the CORPSE FLOWER. It smells like rotting flesh, believe it or not. Hence the name.
Never fails that every year I catch a whiff of what smells like a rotting animal, and now I know, it’s back.
For a couple years, I tried to extract it from the garden and it has just kept coming back every year with a vengence. We were amazed to discover that it is quite a novelty, with crowds waiting in long lines at the NY Botanical Musuem to observe this annual oddity. I was shocked to discover that some variations are far taller than the human species!
We brought this flower to my brother in law for his fortieth birthday. With all windows down for the entire ride, we proudly presented it to him. We had to enjoy it from a distance, a good 20 feet from our gathering, LOL.
Not to be too morbid, but it does seem like a flower symbolic of our times, and having just gotten over Covid in the last couple weeks at our household.
All this morbidity and strangeness in the garden reminds me of my art history days and studying the famous painting by Spanish painter, BOSCH.
The Garden of Earthly Delights
“As little is known of Bosch’s life or intentions, interpretations of his intent range from an admonition of worldly fleshy indulgence, to a dire warning on the perils of life’s temptations, to an evocation of ultimate sexual joy. The intricacy of its symbolism, particularly that of the central panel, has led to a wide range of scholarly interpretations over the centuries. Twentieth-century art historians are divided as to whether the triptych’s central panel is a moral warning or a panorama of paradise lost.” – Wikipedia
ANYWAY, back to Josef Frank, so we end on a positive note…
This is the sofa of my dreams.
Josef Frank, Austrian-born architect/artist/designer, became a Swedish citizen in the latter half of his life. Together with Oskar Strnad, he created the Vienna School of Architecture, and its concept of Modern houses, housing and interiors. If you want to explore his life and work further you can go HERE, where there is a comprehensive exhibit of his work.
Or check out this book, which features interiors, furniture, design, and architecture of the mid century in Vienna:
Enjoy your Summer, the garden and the occasional cool drink out on the patio…until next time.
XOXO,
Suzanne
by studiotullia | Mar 17, 2017 | INTERIOR DESIGN, STUDIO NEWS
These richly patterned textiles in nostalgic hues, once owned by an upholsterer on the Oregon coast, were left untouched for decades. Now they are being given new life in a curated collection of decorative pillows called The Astoria Collection.
I stumbled upon an extraordinary estate sale (one of my favorite pastimes) this past Summer. The estate was the business and home of Ray’s Upholstery in Astoria, Oregon. (Astoria is a charming coastal town and also the oldest settlement on the Pacific coast).
Apparently Ray’s was one of the few upholstery shops in the area for decades. As you can see from the pictures, the exterior of his shop was less than extraordinary.
The contents, however, were quite the opposite. Upon entering his shop, which was like a time capsule into the past, I found shelves and walls stacked with hundreds of bolts of fabric.
The textiles were largely Mid century and included heavy duty, upholstery grade velvets and complex wovens. There were some amazing bolts of Naugahyde used for marine upholstery which I opted to leave for someone else.
As a rule, I only purchase natural fiber textiles from the past so I was able to rule out a good portion of them. Natural fibers endure the test of time much better than man-made polyester type textiles which tend to become brittle and less durable overtime.
What struck me the most was the intensity of the colors and patterns which were strikingly bold. Not what I have would have imagined in a coastal town four or five decades ago. However as I’ve had some time to ponder this collection I realize it’s innate connection to the brilliant colors and patterns found in nature.
Some of the patterned velvets have a very craftsman-like, botanical quality to them. There’s no better place than the coast and rich ancient growth forests surrounding the historic town of Astoria to appreciate the immense beauty and color found in nature. I also realize that the Oregon coast is full of historical homes, with grand, ornate, elaborate wooden architecture, featuring bold paint choices, stained glass, paneled libraries, etc. The winters are long, gray and damp and these fabrics are a welcome comfort.
I have chosen to combine natural cottons and linens with these heavy weight textiles in an effort to freshen up the storied collection. I also decided to use heavy duty gold zippers which work nicely with these fabrics and offer a touch of glamour.
I hope you enjoy the Astoria Collection as much as I have. I love the idea of bringing Ray’s Upholstery to life again. Mid Century Design has certainly been having a Renaissance as the timelessness of its sleek lines and nods to nature with acid greens, mustards, oranges and funky patterns and textures still apply to today’s modern interiors. What’s particularly fun about this collection is that it is authentic Mid Century and somehow embodies that nostalgic, layered, storied essence that only comes with true objects from the past.
For now I’m offering ready made 20 and 22 inch squares and a couple of lumbar sizes. Of course I am always open to custom sizes as long as supplies last.
And of course I always offer 10% off with the purchase of two or more of my soft goods. Please use coupon code TAKE10 at my website https://awelllivedhouse.com/ and coupon code TAKE10THX at https://www.etsy.com/shop/STUDIOTULLIAPILLOWS.
by studiotullia | Jun 29, 2016 | HOUSE TOUR: Traditional Spanish Style House near Pto. Vallarta, INTERIOR DESIGNERS THAT INSPIRE
I wanted to share a few snapshots from an article recently published in Apartment Therapy featuring Kristen and her husband Ken Naffziger’s lovely home in North Portland. Check it out.
A former PR executive who went back to school and is now working as an interior designer.
She took this picture of her living room days after the photographer was there from Apartment Therapy and I think it is one of the best. She scored that amazing coffee table at the Portland Flea market.
Kristen had asked me if I had anything that would work with the artwork by French Artist Paule Marrot, that she had found at Jonathon Adler. The Walking Rock fabric from Pendleton Woolen Mills came to mind right away. What do you think? I think it holds its own pretty well. We also paired it with some solid black cotton and creamy fur pillows.
Here are a few other great pictures:
Love the brass wallhanging from Pottery Barn and Ikea hanging pendant
Leopard Pillows from STUDIO TULLIA with lovely Asian prints in guestroom.
Pillows from STUDIO TULLIA look great with the animal throw from Restoration Hardware. This picture was before Kristen found that amazing coffee table in the picture above.
Kristin in the kitchen with her pup.
Chiang Mai Dragon pillows and Blue and White Shibori pillow, also from STUDIO TULLIA. Love the sectional and coffee table.
Lovely artwork by Lane Van Doren, an artist from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
This happens to be one of my favorite spots in their house especially with that large Design Legacy print featuring botanical artist E. A Seguy! I just picked up an incredible book recently called BOTANICALS Butterflies and Insects published by Assouline. The book was assembled by Leslie Overstreet, Curator of Natural-History Rare Books at the Smithsonian. What a beautiful book. I highly recommend it:
Available from Amazon
So, if you have a minute, check out the full article and enjoy more great pictures of their house and the rich collection of art, furnishings and mid century vintage finds.
