WAS [the newsletter] #12

I’m Paige Wassel. WAS the Newsletter is your weekly dose of design inspiration, ripped from today’s headlines.

A PA(I)GE FROM MY LIFE

Here’s what I plan to do with my three-day weekend:

FRIDAY: A possible last minute date??? I am feeling slightly bloated so this will all be dependent on if my pants fit nicely. Maybe Musso + Franks? Maybe The Dresden? Great date spots for a tini and a tune.

SATURDAY: It’s supposed to be nice and sunny so.. to the Silver Lake farmers’ market I go. Maybe a walk around the reservoir w/ a matcha, AirPods, and a legging. As for the eve — friends bday party at a burlesque club, I AM PUMPED.

SUNDAY: Absolutely nothing. Unless someone convinces me otherwise. I will be laying horizontal for at least 6 hours. Oh, and posting my YouTube video titled “How to Decorate Your Standard Suburban Home”.. it’s going to be a GOOD one.

THIS WEEK’S THRIFTED FINDS – BOSTON

If you’re not one of those who look at Presidents’ Day as a prime time to buy a new mattress, consider shopping secondhand instead. That’s what I’ll be doing. I’m shopping in BOSTON this week, and here’s what I love so far:

Vintage Folding Wallpaper Cutting Table

Set Of 6 David Rowland 40×4 Chair

Mid Century Modern Danish Teak Hutch

Hand Knotted Carpet (Gabbeh Wool) 10'x13' Rug

1970s Ake Fribytter Bentwood and Leather Lounge Chair for Nelo

Vintage 1970s Percival Lafer Rosewood Side Tables

Mid Century Modern Teak Danish Coffee Table

While buying new is the American way, giving old items a second life is better for the whole world.

BRITISH DESIGN IS MY CUP OF TEA

I spent an extended time in London a few years ago and I came home with a newfound appreciation for British design. (You might think that having been our parent country, our aesthetics would be aligned, but you would be wrong.) I wouldn’t say their design is better; instead it’s more of a coffee to tea comparison. Both can be great and you don’t have to have a preference for one over the other.

But, if you’d like to learn to bring a little of the old country into this one, here’s what to do:

Embrace color. What struck me the most about the London interiors I saw was how no one was afraid to use color. Bright colors, bold colors, colors inspired by the places they’d once colonized. I saw so many palettes with rich and moody greens, blues, and reds. I think we’re so worried about our resale value in our homes here that we’re hesitant to make our mark and personalize our space with vibrant hues. Be bold, and in the words of Mick Jagger, paint it black.
Hang that paper. My God, the Brits love a wallpaper. I don’t know why we’re not more wallpaper-forward here, except that some of us have been scared off by all the steaming and scraping it takes to remove unprimed paper and vowing, “Never again.” However, a wallpapered room, particularly a bedroom, makes the whole space so cozy and with that much pattern, it almost becomes a neutral. If you’re tempted yet still afraid, why not experiment with some peel-and-stick first to see if you like it?
Slap stripes on it. I saw stripes incorporated into the design everywhere, from walls to lampshades to rugs, accented with plaids, and it never felt like a circus tent or jail cell. While I caution you to use a discerning eye with stripes, they really can make a room more chic. After all, British artist Bridget Riley was onto something.
Mix it up. I loved seeing old chintz fabrics mixed with newer, more modern pieces. There’s something really whimsical and endearing about a mishmash of antique fabrics juxtaposed with modern cabinets and coffee tables, as it’s a nod to the past as well as the future.
Paint everything, yes, everything. The Brits love paint, and it’s for more than just walls. They adore a painted bookshelf because it makes the shelving unit more unique and gives it character. Character and personality are cornerstones of British design and color underscores this philosophy. And they aren’t afraid to incorporate color in unexpected places like trim or doors, either.
Make a soft spot to land. If you tour a British home, don’t be surprised to find soft surfaces in places we don’t have them. I’m talking padded and bolstered window benches in kitchens and upholstered armchairs in bathroom corners. No matter what room you’re in, there’s a comfortable spot for you to have a seat and I think that’s so welcoming.

You can explore more about British design by checking out home tours from Luke Edward Hall, Lucy Williams, and Sarah Corbett-Winder, or The Sunday Times Style YouTube channel. But to sum it up, the British vibe is that your home can be beautiful and interesting and historical, yet still able to accommodate for dogs, guests, muddy boots, etc. Basically, it’s about how a home should feel as much as how it looks. And that has so much appeal.

Cheerio!