Main Line Must-Have: The Whirley Pop!

The Original Whirley Pop™ Stovetop Popcorn Popper ($19.99)

Not sure about you all, but after watching the Red Carpet a couple of weeks ago, I realized I have lots of movie watching to do!  

This provides perfect segue to my obsession du jour: WHIRLEY POP™

Not only does the Whirley Pop offer a chemical-free alternative to microwave popcorn, I find that turning the crank slowing waiting for that first kernel to pop is actually a lot fun! (I may be going a bit too far with that assertion but it's been a really long winter, I'm sure you understand.).  

Get out your envelope of blue and white coupons and check it out:  

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/The-Original-Whirley-Pop-trade-Stovetop-Popcorn-Popper/1016782378?Keyword=whirley+pop

To ensure you are popping in style, I’m sharing a few of my tips and tricks below to make the most oh-so-delicious bowl of popped corn.  Enjoy! 

• Add 1/3 cup of Trader Joe's organic kernels into the Whirley Pop™
• Once the kernels are cooked, add 3 tablespoons of olive oil and salt seasoning to taste and mix
• On top, sprinkle truffle salt (I love Casina Rossa Truffle & Salt).

Trend Alert: Drum Shades!

    I always say that every room needs a star- and in this room the star is the large drum shade chandelier.  Drum shades have become a quick, easy and often affordable way to update home décor.  This works especially well in traditional homes like this one.  The classic oriental style rug and the striped walls would look dated with a traditional chandelier.  We needed something modern to balance it out, and the drum shade does just that.

    The size, shape, and color of the shade depend on the room and your style. Recently drum shades have exploded on the market, and you can find many different styles.  For a more formal look you could go with a fixture that looks like a classic chandelier with a sheer shade over it, which allows the beauty of the crystals and the light to shine through.  If you’re looking for something more casual you can add a modern twist by simply choosing a shade with a bold geometric print.

Drum shades also work well as semi-flush mounts, which can replace ceiling lights and really warm up a room.  No matter which style you pick, make sure the fixture has a diffuser, which is the piece that covers the bottom of the shade.  It looks more polished and also throws a softer light on the room (and people in it!).  

With all the great drum shade styles out there, it’s time to march to the beat of a new drum.    

Back in Style

BACK IN STYLE: Skirted Furniture

When it comes to furniture, the word skirt alone might make you think “Grandma”.  It seems unnecessary and sometimes tacky, but read it here first: this trend is returning to stylish homes.

            Skirted furniture is reminiscent of the Victorian Era, when the visible leg of a sofa may have even been considered distasteful.  Skirts were elaborate; often gathered with heavy trim.  

But these are not the fussy skirts of yesteryear.

            Today, the trend is taking a much more tailored, structured form.  Designers like Mary MacDonald are using skirts to add an effortless touch of glamour and flair to their work.  The addition of a beautiful flat ribbon trim (think greek key) adds a layer of refinement and beauty while still looking completely modern.   

            When you select your next piece of upholstered furniture, you may want to think twice before nixing the skirt.  

As Seen on the Main Line: Geometric Prints

GEOMETRIC PRINTS

There is something uniquely versatile and classic about a geometric print.  Adored by prepsters and hipsters alike, it is a print that you and your mother can agree on – modern, yet classic.

There are checks, zig zags and abstract geometric prints, all angular, and all the rave.   They can be seen on DVF wrap dresses, Horchow home collections, Tory Burch insignias, and even at your neighborhood Home Goods.  Geometric prints are everywhere, especially on the Main Line where the classic and clean lines of a geometric print can update a traditional home, or breathe novelty into a new summertime look.

More is more when it comes to a geometric print.  You can layer patterns and colors for an eye popping effect, or incorporate controlled doses of monochromatic geometric prints as the focus of a room or look.

   

The possibilities are endless, and geometric prints are hardly a trend- they’re here to stay.

Endearing Details

I never could resist the urge to be clever.  My letterhead says "You've Got Mail" where the company name should be.  My designs are no exception.  Each and every room has a special detail in it.

Just as the homes of the Main Line are like a jewelry box full of gems, I believe each room should have a piece with unique appeal.

My living room, for example, has a carved statue of a melancholy man in a suit.

"He's creepy" is a common response to my sad-looking man.  "I love him!" I reply, providing the following information:

That carving caught my eye in an antique shop.  I found that he was hand-carved during the depression and then exchanged for a half-pound of ground beef.  I think it is good to keep him around, looking over us.  It keeps us in check with reality.

The truth is, I have never told that story without first disclosing that it is completely made up.  By the way, the antique shop I was referencing is in fact Bryn Mawr Thrift Shop.

While my depression-era carving may not sound that charming, it is the humor of the story (albeit dark humor) that I enjoy.

I do not submit my clients to such twisted whimsy, but I do insert a piece of charm into each room.

When a long-standing client of mine came to me in search of a sophisticated nursery, I knew I couldn't let her get away without something in the room that would make you smile.

"I do NOT want any butterfies... and NO MONKEYS!" she said.

She is quite passionate about style, and a Beatrix-Potter themed nursery simply would not do.

The result was a super-lux, black, white and turquoise nursery.  I came up with the concept in early 2009, before this palette was all the rage.  In fact, my client swears I started the trend.

High-contrast damask, baroque style frames and two very lady-like polka-dot pillows made it in to the room. I was quite pleased with the work.



In fact, I was about 98% happy with the job I had done.





But that two percent lingered.  "Am I really going to do a nursery without a single animal?" I thought one day.  Sure, we had included some child-like items (an entire wall with frames displaying the alphabet being one) but their impact was negated by the more adult items (i.e. an ornate finial and Eiffel tower doorstop).




I looked down at my little black poodle and an idea came to me.




"Doggies!  Little black doggies of all different breeds... over the threshold!"

I thought my client would veto the idea, so I decided not to ask her.  I told myself that once she sees it, she will adore it.

I was nervous about revealing my special touch to the client.  She has impeccable taste and is therefore extremely particular.  I had fallen in love with the idea, and the thought of my client rejecting it was painful.

As it turns out, I had nothing to worry about.  My client was thrilled, and the design was complete.

Special details like this make a room look finished and completely unique, just like the Main Line.

MODERN TOILE

If you caught wind of the rumor that toile is passe, fret not.  Ralph Lauren saves the day with a fresh take on toile.  Speaking of fret... this modern toile looks great with another Ralph fabric: Fretwork in aqua.  Check it out at the end of this post.

Le Colonial Toile in ceylon/aqua is a modern Main Liner's dream.  It trades the standard large-scale toile scenes (think horses and pigs) for a smaller, less kitchy print.  This fabric blends the uber-popular two-tone color scheme with classic chinoiserie to create something that is truly special.  It's delicate enough for a bedroom (maybe even a sophisticated nursery?) while still being elegant enough for a dining room.

In this Newtown Square dining room the print is featured on the drapes.  These aren't your average pinch pleats, however.  I chose a box-pleated "waterfall" style drapery to elongate the room.  They break right at the floor, creating the world's smallest "puddle". 

Le Colonial Toile is an intriguing print.  It's the kind that surprises you each time you look at it.  That being said, a small-scale print like this should never be overused.  To balance it out, I chose to dress the other windows in the room with cornice boards covered in a simple basket-weave linen.  The finishing touch?  A two-inch band of Le Colonial Toile inset on the treatment.  The result is charming yet sophisticated.

Le Colonial Toile is available at Calico Home for $72.99/yard. 

Do you remember how I told you not to fret?  This fabric compliments our modern toile perfectly: Fretwork in aqua.

I used it on the seats of the dining chairs in this Main Line home.  It lends the modernity of a geometric print while still looking completely polished.  It is also available at Calico Home ($82.99/yard).

This room shows us that, while toile may not be all over the pages of Elle Decor these days, it can be used in a modern way.

If you still love a classic toile, have no fear.  In my opinion, it will never be completely off the radar-- especially on the Main Line.  It might be wise, however, to keep it in kids' rooms... just for the time being.

Main Line Style

Welcome to MAIN LINE STYLE.

This blog will feature all things style on the main line. Come back to check out the distinct taste and latest trends in our area.

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This blog is written and maintained by Amy Barrickman an interior designer on the Main Line.