by studiotullia | Jul 6, 2022 | DESIGN TRENDS, DIY, INTERIOR DESIGN, STUDIO NEWS, STYLE TIPS FOR DIY, SUZANNE'S DESIGN PROJECTS
HAPPY SUMMER, everyone!
This is my favorite time of year in OREGON.
I don’t know about you, but I am ready for the beach.
Did you know that we offer E-Design?
E-DESIGN SERVICES BY SUZANNE/A WELL LIVED HOUSE
We had our client complete a questionnaire and then after a scheduled zoom call, with room dimensions provided, we presented a couple of floor plan options, two mood boards, and a list of items and resources.
This particular job was to help our clients spruce up their vacation home in Manzanita so it is Airbnb rental-ready, on a limited budget.
CHAIRISH is always a great place to look for designer pieces like this MILO BAUGHMAN sofa for a real statement piece. Just love the lines, length and style.
MILO BAUGHMAN SOFA, CHAIRISH
If a less expensive, new sofa is preferred, ARTICLE is having a great sale right now. Their prices include delivery, and are made in the U.S.
ABISKO QUARTZ WHITE SOFA, ARTICLE
This versatile ottoman comes in handy and is a deal for $300.
This company AFRIKESH ships from Morrocco and offers great rugs in custom sizes.
Loving the ceramic lighting by STUDIO HARON, out of Cornwall
The colors of this vintage pottery below inspired the mood for this home, and it would be fun to build a collection.
HAND MADE VASE, LADY BIRD VINTAGE DECOR
HAND MADE VASE, LADY BIRD VINTAGE DECOR
Rachael Mid Century Chair by BRICK TIMBER, Etsy
MID CENTURY LAMPS, found on CHAIRISH
One of these fun shades would add life to the vintage lamps.
Both available via CREATIVE LAMP SHADES, Etsy.
We pulled some possible pillow combos together for the sofa:
We are having a 15% OFF SALE
ALL BLUE & WHITE
running now through the end of the month.
Sailing into Summer…
XOXO,
Suzanne
by studiotullia | Feb 5, 2022 | CURRENT PROMOTIONS, DESIGN & STYLING, DESIGN TRENDS, STUDIO NEWS, STYLE TIPS FOR DIY
I first found the mother load of vintage textiles at an estate sale in Astoria, Oregon, a few years ago. Thank God my father-in-law was persistent in finding this place; the shop of an upholster, whose estate was being liquidated.
It was like walking back in time, to the mid century, with hand written notes pinned all over the walls, leftover fabric bolts stacked up on shelves and in metal trash cans. It was definitely a hard-working artisan’s work room. His adjoining house was also for sale, so that was super fun to see his formal 50’s-60’s era living room and his immaculately upholstered pieces.
I was completely blown away by the quality of the thick, cotton velvet and the richness of the patterns and colors. I wouldn’t have expected this bold palette to be so prominent on the coast of Oregon.
I was later told by the owner of local store, Vintage Hardware, that he was the only upholsterer in the Astoria region for quite some time.
The bolts were at bargain prices. The gamble was that this upholsterer smoked. A lot. The pervasive smell of stale smoke was on all of the textiles. I also wasn’t sure how they would fare after I had washed them.
Once home,I threw some samples in the washer/dryer and was elated with what I found. The quality had endured and they were just as vibrant and beautiful.
I honed my ability to clean vintage textiles, determining that 1/2 cup of vinegar mixed with detergent was the best addition to a load of laundry, to remove the smell. Sometimes even a second or third wash was required, but ultimately worth it. It was no small undertaking to wash and handle these really heavy, wet velvets.
We even had to replace the mechanism inside our washer after a couple of intense weeks of washing, so there was that…
The other gamble was whether or not people would even like this dated, retro collection.
As with everything online it takes a few months for your items to be found…but eventually, they became quite popular and really are a bargain for the quality.
Here are a couple of pillow combinations that you could work.
A mix of the old with new, or high and low… is always nice and less predictable.
by studiotullia | Oct 17, 2018 | DIY, INTERIOR DESIGN
Here we are at week 3 and I have made some design decisions. The lighting and upholstery fabric have been ordered. But most importantly, I have started the mural! It’s like getting into a swimming pool; its a little hard at first and then you get more comfortable.
Be sure to check out what’s happening with the other ORC guest participants (tap the image above).
And to see some of the the featured designers at week 3 (tap the image below): 
There are so many talented folks who do this – you should grab a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine) and spend some time checking things out.
So, onward we go. I settled on a chandelier:
LIGHTING
This was what we had before:
And this is what I selected:
$297.45
Originally $729.35
There are a few chandeliers out there that I love (that cost a lot more) but ultimately to find something my husband and I both agreed on, and with the price being so right on this one, we went for it. I like that the shades are hand blown glass rather than fabric shades that gather dust. And I like the more modern look and black silhouette. I can take my time and wait to find a really amazing chandelier down the road.
UPHOLSTERY for CHAIRS:
I was going to go with a leopard velvet kind of like the rocker pictured below.
I needed something somewhat neutral that works with the black and white in the room on the loveseat and the sideboard.
STRIPED BLACK & WHITE LOVESEAT
BLACK/BROWN PERIOD SIDEBOARD:
I ultimately chose:
RED MILES TUMBLING BLOCKS by SCHUMACHER
It will breathe some new life into the room, I am hoping.
So, the inevitable needed to happen. The mural needed to begin and I have never done a mural before.
MURAL INSPO
JOHN DERIAN’s SWALLOW WALLPAPER:
and this lovely wallpaper mural by:
So began the custom mixing:
And the beginning application of paint with the roller:
And the brush (see our lovely temporary light fixture below):
My 11 year old daughter was helping me quite a bit with the sky and clouds. She has always been an artist…
By the end of the second day, it was looking more like Van Gogh’s Starry Night than what I had in mind.
I made the mistake of thinking that I could bang this out in a couple of 3 hour sessions and after two days, that is what it looked like.
I told my daughter I wasn’t happy with it and that I wanted to paint it over. She asked if she could play with it for a bit if I was planning to scrap it anyway. So she did. I swallowed my ego and admitted that I liked what she did with the clouds. She softened them and blended them better so they weren’t so animated. Then I realized that, as usual, I needed to slow down and take my time if I wanted to create something worth keeping. She is always telling me to slow down.
So needless to say the mural is still in the works.
We are in full swing now and I look forward to sharing my progress with you next week. In the meantime, you can follow me on INSTAGRAM
Let me know what you think and thank you for following along!
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.
