For The Love Of Collecting Antiques – A Swedish Interior
“After about seven years, I could buy a really nice piece of furniture once a year,” she says. “I was reading Architectural Digest, World of Interiors and every shelter magazine and design book I could get my hands on. I was just enthralled with design. The spectrum of collecting was appealing to me.”
She began what she calls “guerrilla hunting” for antiques to furnish her own living space. In New Orleans, she found a European ambience in step with her affinity for European antiques, renovated the first of two Victorian cottages and turned her collecting pastime into a wholesale business that immediately had legs via word of mouth. She sold her first container of antiques in front of a mini storage space in 10 minutes and quickly became a valued resource to well-known interior designers.
Along the way, she opened a warehouse on Camp Street, started her own line of European antique reproductions — Tara Shaw Maison — designed homes for a list of clients that includes celebrities, and inked a lucrative licensing deal with Restoration Hardware that allowed her to cut back on her travel schedule.
Read more at nola.com
Decorator Tricia Foley’s Signature White Interiors
If you’re drawn to simple, light-filled interiors, you’ll love the work of decorator Tricia Foley. The author of ten design books and a frequent feature in both national and international publications, Foley is known for her refined white-based interiors and her restrained, thoughtful approach to decorating. Her style is timeless rather than trendy—effortless, elegant, and endlessly livable. If you admire crisp Scandinavian-inspired spaces, neutral color schemes, and soft, muted palettes, Tricia Foley’s aesthetic will resonate deeply.
Below are a few signature elements that frequently appear in her interiors:
Stack Clear Glass Plates
Clear glassware and plates are easy to collect and surprisingly affordable at flea markets, thrift shops, and garage sales. Grouping these pieces together is a simple way to elevate a dining room hutch or style open kitchen shelving. Consider installing wood shelves and displaying glassware in the open for a light, layered look.
Embrace All-White China
White porcelain and ironstone create an instant sense of order and calm, no matter how large or small the collection. A few thoughtfully spaced pieces can make an armoire or cabinet feel curated and intentional. White dishware is also one of the easiest thrift-store finds, even in the most rural areas, where simple bowls and platters are almost always available.
Let White Walls Do the Work
White walls provide a flexible backdrop that allows pattern and personality to shine through textiles, furniture, and accessories. This neutral base makes seasonal changes effortless—introduce brighter hues in spring and summer, then transition to richer browns and deeper yellows in the colder months. Swapping pillows, artwork, and linens is an easy way to refresh your space throughout the year.
Soften the Palette with Gray
Pairing antique white with soft, powdery shades of gray creates a soothing, restorative environment. For those with busy or stressful lives, a calm home can feel like a retreat. White surfaces also help spaces feel larger and brighter—painting woodwork or lightly liming natural wood is a beautiful way to open up a room while maintaining warmth.
Tricia Foley Life/Style: Elegant Simplicity at Home-
At Home with Wedgwood: The Art of the Table
Links:
Tricia Foley’s Chicken Coop Found on triciafoley.com
Basket with berries, Found on triciafoleyinthecountry.blogspot.com.au
A Dallas, Texas Home Decorated Around The Swedish Style
Featured twice in Veranda, this utterly unique home contains 1610 square feet, decorated in the Swedish, Nordic decorating style. The current owner transformed this cottage into a Swedish oasis in the heart of West Highland Park, Dallas, featuring fabulous finishes and extraordinary workmanship.
Calcutta marble adorns the open kitchen and bathroom, while antique French stone mantles create a warm ambiance. Large French doors with double-paned glass add to a light and bright interior. Several interior doors were specifically picked out in European antique markets and imported. The kitchen was designed for serious cooking and includes top appliances with room to entertain guests. The brick patio was built on pier and beam foundation for future expansion, or to be enjoyed exactly as it is.
This property is listed under 4611 Arcady Avenue, for $879,000, MLS #12170512 at Briggsfreeman.com
