Lisa Wilson & Alfie of The Pickled Hutch

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born in Jacksonville, Florida and raised in Stockton, California. My mom was a nurse and my dad was a navy pilot.  My father was killed in the Vietnam War, so my mom raised four children on her own. She always encouraged practical career choices, like hers, to fall back on "just in case".   Practical was not my strong point as I was the artistic dreamer in the family.  But I had so much respect for what she was doing that I gave up my artistic ambitions and got a degree in psychology at the University of California (Davis).  Granted, it served me well in all the management positions I have held, but something was always missing; I would get restless, bored and dissatisfied.  Usually, satisfaction would come from home in the form of redecorating and creating. 

My happiness has always come from being creative with my environment.  From sixth grade on, my mom would come home to find whole rooms rearranged, including the wall art.  A satisfying visit with friends will many times result in a color consult, room redesign and a date on the calendar to come back and paint.  Famous words when friends would express doubt about an idea?  "Trust me!"

Tell us about your  business.

I still pinch myself everyday when I go to work.  I live that saying "to do something you love for work means never working another day in your life!"  It’s a phrase that I put on my blog to remind me of how lucky I am. 

I have owned The Pickled Hutch, a vintage home, garden and gift store, since 2005.  It was first established in San Francisco and then relocated to Pacifica in 2008 after we lost our lease on the San Francisco store.  Since the move, I have really embraced a more relaxed, coastal cottage-by-the-sea style.  The Pickled Hutch features painted and rescued furniture with a coastal palette (lots of grays, blues, greens, turquoise and cream).   Vintage chandeliers are refurbished with contemporary colors to integrate a modern touch.  We showcase handcrafted, repurposed vintage jewelry, vintage inspired handcrafted children’s accessories and altered art.  We try to blend vintage and modern pieces into timeless, classic vignettes that inspire the designer in all of us. 

What inspired you to pursue this business?

I have worked at everything from corporate trainer to telemarketing manager (don’t hate me!) to salon manager to dental office manager, and I kept ending up in management positions that ate at my soul – all the while rearranging the office furniture.  My free time was always spent redesigning my home or those of family and friends. My living room has been painted 12 times in 15 years.  Seriously!  It’s become a joke.  This business was the perfect answer.  Having this store nurtures all sides of me.  It integrates my practical business side, my creative design side, and the side of me with the huge respect for things of the past.  I have loved repurposing and up scaling forgotten and unloved pieces for years and still do.  It’s the best way to recycle, and it doesn’t entail sacrificing style or budget. In my store I can showcase all these pieces with a contemporary flair while at the same time promoting some very talented handcraft artisans. 

The blog was started after the business as a creative outlet on a more personal level, a way to reach beyond the neighborhood so to speak.  In this business, it can be like the shoemaker’s kids.  You put so much energy into your store design that the home front can be neglected.  The blog helps keep me on my toes.  My place is always evolving and changing as I move things in and out. So I share about home projects, which sometimes become store inventory, the hunt for treasures, family, friends and my poodle Alfie (He gets the most comments of anything I post). The blog has also been a wonderful venue for meeting the most amazing people.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

I find inspiration everywhere I look, from magazines to the nature around me.  The ocean has been a huge inspiration for me since moving here.  And I love Swedish/Gustavian design.  It feels timeless, fresh, relaxed and easy to live with.

The most simple vignettes can be primitive and elegant at the same time. I have come to appreciate a ‘lighter touch’ in my decorating and merchandising as a result.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my stuff! But now I have a lighter hand in what I put out and the color palette is softer, more organic.

Tell us about a favorite home decorating or remodeling project.

I absolutely love my dining room, which is not what I was saying a year ago when in the middle of the redo.  The ‘redo’ involved painting every single thing in the room.  The ceiling, the walls, the seven foot sideboard, the apothecary chest with the 28 drawers, the old distressed oak table with leaves.  It took two weeks as I was doing it all by myself but what a feeling of satisfaction. I kept the palette to a calm cream and pale blue/gray.   My sofa sits directly across from the French doors leading into the dining room. So every time I sit down I am looking directly into what is now my favorite room. A very soothing and serene atmosphere.

What’s your favorite color.

The pale blue-gray I have painted almost every room in my place, and have used many times at the store.  I don’t have the actual name anymore because I have had it color matched so many times. But I did take a picture of the formula so I would never lose it. 

Turquoise has been running a close second lately.

What are your five favorite pieces of home décor from your home or elsewhere?

• That seven foot sideboard.  It went from a dated gumwood to a fresh flax cream with a pale blue/gray interior.
• A old beat up French desk with original faded gilt paint and details.  It’s just lovely in it’s as is condition.
• All my antique gilded mirrors.  They add just the right touch of patina and reflective-ness.
• My antique Italian tole chandelier with porcelain flowers.  It looks like this huge basket with flowers spilling out.
• The six foot tall turquoise apothecary chest with 32 drawers at the store.  It is my office and craft box.  Primitive and wonderful.

What’s your favorite room at home? Why is it your favorite?

The dining room that was recently remodeled.

Who are your favorite designers?

It changes all the time depending on the latest work I have seen.  Currently: Tobi Fairley, Kelly Hoppen, Grant K. Gibson( local boy), Nate Berkus and Barbara Barry.

What’s your personal design style? Has it evolved over time?

It has changed over the years. Some of my friends would tell you from year to year. It was more classic traditional but now feels French inspired eclectic.  I like crystal chandeliers, gilded pieces, bare wood floors and painted furniture.

Many of us have a product we bought for our home-that now makes us think-"what was I thinking" -  do you have one?

I’m lucky having the store. I get to change out my mistakes before anyone sees it. What isn’t working for me will usually work for someone else.  But there was this one seven foot long cabinet that was supposed to be for the bedroom that didn’t fit through the door…

Describe your dream room.

A mix of French and Swedish design.  I love French gilded mirrors and architectural pieces and the color palette of Swedish/Gustavian design.  I think they  complement each other beautifully.  Gorgeous crystal chandelier, pale gray-washed cane backed settee with down cushion, marble fireplace, parquet floors, filmy muslin curtains on either side of French doors with view of the garden, built in bookcases with intricate molding…..sigh.

What are your favorite blogs or home design/improvement websites?

Habitually Chic, Design Sponge and Desire to Inspire can be summed up together.  They keep me up to date with fresh, sassy, modern style that is easy to incorporate with vintage.  Grant K. Gibson for easy, classic design and lifestyle. Apartment Therapy because who doesn’t like getting a peek into other peoples homes!

What are your favorite books, design shows and/or magazines?

• Jeanne D’Arc Living (just amazing inspiration)
• Elle Decor
• House Beautiful
• Domino Book of Decorating

Do you have a decorating, design or remodeling tip you’d like to share with The Decorating Diva.com readers?

I always start with color and paint.  It has the most impact of anything in the room.  And the quickest least expensive way to transform a room.  Love, love Farrow & Ball paint.  It has such great depth. Pratt and Lambert as well.

Contact Details:

• Store/Shop: The Pickled Hutch, 2021 Palmetto Avenue,Pacifica, California 94044
• Twitter: The Pickled Hutch on Twitter
• Blog: The Pickled Hutch Blog

The Decorating Diva, LLC would like to thank Lisa and her adorable poodle Alfie for gracing The Decorating Diva, LLC with their bubbly personalities and exquisite style in decor. A special thanks to Lisa for sharing her entrepreneurial journey and for never losing sight of her dreams – she serves as an inspiration to many.

Katie from Coco Målé Home Decor Shop

Katie, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Greek living in London, investment banker turned interior designer, owner of furniture & home accessories boutique Coco Målé ((pronouned koko maaleh) originates from the word "Mahaalay" in Sanskrit, aptly meaning a palace), mommy to a gorgeous little Yorkie and on the right side of 30 (although barely!).

Raised amidst stacks of interior magazines, with an interior designer uncle, a mom who spent half her life at auctions and a dad who imported stone from Libya and Pakistan, it’s no wonder that I acquired a passion for interiors.

Yet, I decided to follow the money and studied finance at university, then worked in an investment bank in London for seven years. But my true passion was calling; so in July 2007, armed with just enough courage, determination and capital – and after six long months working in banking by day, and setting up the company at night- Coco Målé was launched!

Tell us about your business, Coco Målé.

My business is my haven! It’s an online boutique selling unique furniture and home accessories, each and every one handpicked by myself for its beauty, quality and individuality. I’ve spent the last couple of years searching high and low for the best suppliers and I am truly very proud of our collection and what we have achieved in this little time. My aim is to create a one-stop shop that bridges the gap in interior design between countries, to create a fusion of styles that reflects today’s globalized society, whether ethnic, country or minimalistic. Our products look equally beautiful in a city flat or a rural cottage!

What inspired you to pursue this business?

I was always passionate about interiors, but it was only a few years ago when I bought my first house that I realized that despite the abundance of furniture shops, everything seemed similar and mass-produced. I wanted to create a space that would be testament to my travels so I thought to myself, well why not try find these products myself? So it all started from there!

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

I don’t do the product designing myself, but for the styling of my home, or even our brochure, I am inspired by my travels, nature, a picture with interesting colors…

Tell us about a favorite decorating or remodeling project.

We’re currently doing some work in our flat so I’m super excited! One of the main changes is the addition of another bathroom, which will not only be an en-suite to the master bedroom, but will also be the WC to my office and will link my office to the rest of the house. It’s difficult to explain but as it stands now, I am having to go out into the patio to enter my office which with the London rain is clearly not ideal!

What’s your personal design style? Has it evolved over time?

I’ve always adored the ethnic Oriental style, East meets West, but I’ve found that as I get older I’m also starting to appreciate white, country style interiors whereas when I was younger I thought they were too bland and old-fashioned.

Describe your dream room.

Very oriental, mainly in dark red and black with small accents of other bright colors like turquoise and orange.

Many of us have a product we bought for our home-that now makes us think-"what was I thinking" – do you have one?

Yes, I always think that about my cream sofa in the living room. Although a lovely design, it just isn’t practical; the covers aren’t removable and with a lively dog who is constantly coming in and out of the garden, it has unfortunately turned every color but cream now!

What’s your favorite color or paint swatch?

My favorite color is a rose-fuchsia pink color (Pantone 198 ), but strangely enough my worst is baby pink!

What are your five favorite pieces of home décor from your home or elsewhere?

• A set of two African lady statuettes.  They are nearly a meter tall and they look amazing next to my fireplace. Our supplier has discontinued them now but I am trying to get them made elsewhere…
• My Chinese Antique reproduction desk from Oka – was very expensive but oh so worth it.
• My comfy Papasan chair from the Pier, which has sadly closed down in the UK now.
• The gorgeous Jonque sofa from La Maison Coloniale – hopefully it will take pride of place in my home soon!
• A huge picture of Santorini (one of my favorite places in the world) that I’ve put up in our patio. It reminds me of home and it’s visible from my office, so the stunning view of the sea calms me down immediately.

What’s your favorite room at home? Why is it your favorite?

My office, I’ve done very little to it decorating-wise but it has bags of character and I just feel so creative and comfortable when I’m there, although maybe that’s a result of spending so much time in it!

Do you have a favorite designer?

I absolutely love Kelly Hoppen’s work – admittedly her interiors are usually all in the same style and a bit too ‘safe’ but her attention to detail is amazing and I love the symmetry that she always tries to create. I’m a perfectionist myself and can’t stand mismatched items or picture frames facing different angles!

Do you have a decorating design or remodeling tip you’d like to share with thedecoratingdiva.com readers?

I think the most important factor when designing a room is to plan ahead and to think about where you would place each item before purchasing. It’s so common to buy something because we fall in love with it, only to return home and realize we have nowhere to put it! It’s always better to stick to the “More is Less” mantra – the biggest mistake I see in homes is people trying to fit too many pieces of furniture in one room. Except the fact that it’s more expensive, it ends up making the room look much smaller and crowded. The same stands for home accessories – select a few items that will stand out and create a wow factor, rather than lots of small bits and bobs.

What are your favorite blogs or home design/improvement websites?

• Made by Girl: I love Jen’s taste and the fact that she shares her personal life with her readers.
• Decor8:  Lovely, colorful images – especially the bi-weekly “color me pretty” column.
• Domestic Sluttery:  A must read for modern domestic women! Packed with good recipes, fashion must-buys and decorating tips.
• Mydeco: Great for design inspiration and ideas – you can create 3D rooms and mood boards from real products.
• Wee birdy: Cool things to do/eat/buy in London from the Deputy Shopping & Style Editor of Time Out.

What are your favorite books and magazines?

• Architectural Digest
• Living Etc
• Grand Designs
• Kelly Hoppen Style (mainly for the images!)
• Hus & Hem (Swedish interiors magazine)

CONTACT

• Website: Coco Målé
• Blog: Cerise Pink: The Coco Målé Blog
• Facebook: Coco Målé on Facebook
• Twitter: Coco Målé on Twitter
• Coco Målé Sales Hotline: +44 (0) 845 257 1104
• Email: enquiries@cocomale.com

All images copyright of respective owners.

The Decorating Diva LLC would like to thank Katie of Coco Målé for sharing her inspiring, entrepreneurial journey into the world of design and for providing our readers with such delightful eye-candy for the home!

Christine Skaley of Pillow Throw Decor

Christine Skaley, founder of Pillow Throw Decor,  launched her decor designing  and drapery workroom business after retiring from 26 years in the business world.

She enthusiastically expresses her love of fabric and creating unique designs, ” Fabric fascinates me! I could work so much faster if I didn’t stop so often to admire the fabric I’m working with. Colour, texture and even the sound of fabric is what keeps me up all night and gets me going again in the wee hours of the morning.”

With such a deeply felt love for her craft it comes as no surprise, that Christine creates stunning, unique and fashionable decorative pillows and throws.

Tell us about Pillow Throw Decor

My passion is designing and creating one-of-a-kind,  luxury, decorative pillows and throws with designer, “to the trade” fabrics. My “Eclections” include eco, funky, modern, retro, traditional, geek, chic and almost everything else.

One of  my Pillow Throw Decor signature lines,  ”Pocket Pillows” is a huge hit for apartment dwellers  with limited space or geeks like me that like to have my electronics close at hand. My second signature line “Luxe and Found” incorporates high end fabrics with upcycled materials and found objects like belts, hardware, telephone and electrical wiring and more. Here lies “the best of the best ” in my family of GEEK PILLOWS. These pillows have so much character they can talk. I will soon be launching a line of DIY designer pillow kits for the love of cheap chic! Beginner or advanced, home décor for anyone.

What inspired you to create and launch Pillow Throw Decor?

I completed a bedroom ensemble with 16 coordinating pillows for a client. I enjoy it so much I just never stopped creating pillows, pillows and more pillows! You can never have too many pillows. They‘ll always make you feel happy and loved.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

Magazines.  I always have two or three current magazines stuffed in my bag.  I follow trend and color experts and especially love  watching fashion and home décor trends in Europe. The fashion  industry has huge influence on home décor right now!

Eco-Chic, fashion Inspired decorative pillows by Christine Skaley for Pillow Throw Decor.

Tell us about a favorite home decorating or remodeling project.

While the renovation of my sister’s home would not have been exciting for anyone else, I was thrilled when she gave me carte blanche to update 32 years of wear and tear. I wrestled her for the beauty pleat drapes and smuggled two antique armchairs out from basement storage. Their restoration was amazing as was the whole house and that’s a good thing because it will probably be another 32 years before she’ll let me at it again!

Many of us have a product we bought for our home-that now makes us think-”what was I thinking” -  do you have one?

My worst faux pas? Two black leather club chairs. They have a sleek contemporary style but are so uncomfortable. That was a real reminder that comfort should be your number one priority when buying furniture.

What’s your personal design style? Has it evolved over time?

I love traditional style with lots of dark wood. I’ve  started to introduce stronger brighter colors and bolder prints.

If you could design your dream room-what décor, what style, and what color palette would you use?

I would love to create a room from the orient with red walls,  lacquered black furniture, and lots of jade and mother of pearl accoutrements.

What’s your favorite color ?

That’s a tough one. I love color! Shades of green are my favorites.

What are your favorite pieces of home décor from your home or elsewhere?

Our 5 piece dining room set is our favorite. It represents so many happy memories of family gatherings and the curio cabinets house our collections from our worldwide travels.  The grandchildren love to play with a globe on a stand and hear about where each piece has come from. Lastly, an antique lectern which holds our family bible just barely in reach for little fingers to turn the onion skin pages.

What’s your favorite room at home? Why is it your favorite?

My sewing room.  It houses 10 of my 12 different sewing machines. It’s like one big toy box!!!

Who’s your favorite designer?

I’m too new in the business to have strong opinions on one or another. Right now I find them all fascinating.

What are your  favorite blogs or home design/improvement websites-and why?

• Get Decorating.com: pictures pictures and more pictures of dream homes
• Better Homes and Gardens:  their ideas are so affordable and manageable

What are your  favorite design television shows, magazines, and/or books?

I love any and all decorating magazines  but Canada’s Style at Home and Traditional Home are favorites.

Favorite books:

• Scalamandre Luxurious Home Interiors
• The Style Source Book by Judith Miller
• Window Treatments by Karla J. Nielson… the window Covering Bible

Do you have a decorating, design or remodeling tip you’d like to share with thedecoratingdiva.com readers?

When you buy your next home do as much of the redecorating or renovating right away and live there long enough to enjoy it all! Too often I see home owners doing all these things to get a house ready for sale only for all their efforts to be enjoyed by new owners.

Contact Information

Christine Skaley
Web:
Pillow Throw Decor on Etsy
Pillow Throw Decor on Icraft
Blog: Pillow Throw Decor Blog
Twitter: Pillow Throw Decor on Twitter

We’d like to thank Christine Skaley of Pillow Throw Decor for sharing her design inspirations, entrepreneurial journey and unique decorative accessory designs with The Decorating Diva.com readers.

Mary Elizabeth Beal of Trend Funnel.com

Trend Funnel’s President and Co-Founder , Mary Elizabeth Beal can’t remember a time when interior design was not a part of her life. As a young girl in elementary school, Mary Elizabeth found her interests were quite different than her peers. “I don’t remember using money for candy, toys or clothes” she says. “Around eight years old, I began saving so
that I could afford home décor items like bedspreads and artwork… expressing myself in the decorated environment around me.”

And those environments were constantly changing. Mary Elizabeth’s father was a jet
pilot in the Air Force and his career kept the family on the move. She has lived and experienced a variety of locations all around the globe including Germany and Hawaii. The traveling enabled her to incorporate her love for interior design by researching first-hand how culture, climate, geographical location, religion and history drastically affected the architecture and design of each location.

Mary Elizabeth has a degree in Interior Design from the University of Florida and was recruited after graduation to work for a major furniture manufacturing company as the Director of Visual Merchandising and Showroom Design. She left that job to get married and move to North Carolina where she
co-founded Trend Funnel with her good friend Thera Storm.

In addition to her work as founder of Trend Funnel, she has launched a non-profit organization entitled “The Serventrepreneur Foundation” which is an organization dedicated to “serving” entrepreneurs and developing “servant entrepreneurs”.

What inspired you to launch Trend Funnel?

Whether I was working as a Visual Merchandiser for manufacturers in their showrooms or
retailers in their stores, or working as an interior design consultant with residential clients I
began to realize that one of the main services I was providing was an answer to the simple
question “Does this go together?”

I developed Trend Funnel as a way to move shoppers through the thought process that I go
through as a design consultant when I am shopping for products to furnish a space. Trend
Funnel is a way for me to multiply the volume of people I am able to help. I am not just
selling them a piece of furniture; I am selling them a method that they can use to decorate
their entire home.

Trend Funnel product details for Glam it Up living room design sketch board.

Tell us  how Trend Funnel works.

Trend Funnel allows homeowners  to shop like an interior designer by using the revolutionary 3-Step Trend Funnel® Method to find unique home decor items, furniture, artwork, accessories and more; all from one complete source.

Trend  Funnel’s team of experienced professional interior design and home decoration specialists search high and low to offer homeowners decor that fits the homeowner’s desired theme.   Their selections are “funneled” down to an elite stream of the 20-30 best for the “trend” options. Each application focuses entirely on one trend and features products from flooring, paint, furniture, accessories, and more by room allowing  homeowners to “Trend Funnel®” a room by generating interior design boards and shopping lists without worrying about coordinating with the look of your trend.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

Everywhere… literally… I am inspired everyday. I live just minutes from the High Point Furniture Market- so that is a great place to start.

Trend Funnel product details for Beachy bedroom design sketch board.

What’s your favorite color(s)?

It is a combination of colors that makeup a palette I like to call Pink Mousse (shown on left)
My personal office is decorated in this palette. The brown shade keeps me grounded and focused, the white shade is sharp and energizing, and the pinks just make me happy!

What are your favorite pieces of home décor from your home or elsewhere?

My favorite piece of décor in my home is an antique Louis the 14th style table that my mother gave me. She used to go antiquing while our family (military) was stationed in Germany and that is one of the pieces she found in Belgium.

What’s your favorite room at home? Why is it your favorite?

My living room- as a newlywed/ new entrepreneur the design and furnishing of it is still ongoing but it is the perfect combination of formality and relaxation- pulling from my favorite “Old Hollywood” influences.

Who’s your favorite designer?

From history, I find myself fascinated by designers or architects that worked in the Beaux- Arts, Neo-Baroque/Neoclassical, and/or French Baroque (Neo-Baroque) styles of architecture and design. One of my favorite buildings is the Chicago Theater (architects C.W. & Geo. L. Rapp).

From modern day (and perhaps something a little more practical, yet still romantic and glamorous)- I really like much of the work done by HGTV celebrity designer Candice Olson. I actually used to watch her show years ago (before she landed the spot as a judge on design star) and I was disappointed when for a period of time it  was rarely on the air. I am happy to see that her show “Divine Design” is back on
regularly.

What’s your personal design style? Has it evolved over time?

My personal design style has and still continues to evolve over time. As a little girl I always imagined I would live in a grand palace or castle. As I have grown, my taste has “toned down” to some extent. I still love glamour and formality in design. I would  describe my personal design style as “romantic but not frilly” and “glamorous but on a more simple/clean less ornate scale”.

If you could design your dream room-what décor, what style, and what color palette would you use?

Design style would be as I described earlier: “romantic but not frilly” and “glamorous but on a more simple/clean less ornate scale”.  As for colors: I love bouncing rich jewel tones off of various shades of gray neutrals.

Many of us have a product we bought for our home-that now makes us think-”what was I thinking” – do you have one?

I have made many purchases in my life that would fit in this category… however I am big on donating anything I have that I don’t like or use on a regular basis, so items like this don’t stick around for long.

Tell us about a favorite home decorating or remodeling project.

Anything involving paint… Paint has an amazing ability to completely transform a space. Also, because it is easy and inexpensive to change, it is a great project to take risks with. You can always paint back over something you decide you don’t like.

Do you have a decorating, design or remodeling tip you’d like to share with thedecoratingdiva.com readers?

One of my faves would be how to shop for paint colors at a home improvement store:

Grab a few of the paint chips you are considering and walk over to the lighting department . Making color selections while standing under the chandeliers and ceiling fans in the lighting department will give you a better idea of how that color will look with the lighting in your home.

Contact Information
Mary Elizabeth Beal
Web: Trend Funnel
Blog: Trend Funnel Blog
Twitter: Trend Funnel on Twitter
Facebook: Trend Funnel on Facebook

We’d like to thank Mary Elizabeth Beal of Trend Funnel for sharing her design insight and creative vision with The Decorating Diva.com readers.

All images copyright of their respective owners.

Brocade Home Holiday Store, 20% Savings and $500 Online Shopping Spree

Save 20% off Brocade Home at their special holiday location 59 Green St in SOHO(NY). The sale runs from 10-7 until the 24th of December. When you shop at the Brocade Home store in SOHO you also get the chance to win a $500 online shopping spree.