Antiquing – Texas Style!

by Amitha Verma Interior Design, www.amithaverma.com

We banished the mid-week blues last week with a little treat – an antiques hunt! With several projects to shop for in mind, the whole group plus the hubby trekked out to Round Top to check out the fall loot. Twice a year (in the spring and fall) antique dealers from all over the US come to Round Top and Marburger in Brenham, Texas to show off their wares, and there were thousands of others like us there, all looking for the perfect antique find.

You might be thinking, how do you know what to look for at a fair like this one, and even more importantly, how do you know what to invest in? For newcomers to the antiquing field, I always suggest starting with a small piece to get your feet wet. Start small, and then work your way up to your ‘antique comfort zone’. Antiques are a wonderful investment and the true quality pieces more often than not tend to retain their value.

With an eye out for really special pieces, I wandered around the fair. One of the first pieces that caught my attention was this lovely bench. I simply love the amazing carving, and the gorgeous green patina is just beautiful! This would be a great piece in an entry hall, at the end of a twin size bed, or in the midst of a seating arrangement.

Another great piece to start out with is a secretary. Oh, how I love secretaries! This was my first antique purchase, and I just adore this type of furniture. This is a great piece that can be used as dropzone or even as a substitute for a nightstand by a bedside.

I love that beautiful metal arcade around the top of this secretary! These are the kinds of details that I usually look for when hunting out a quality piece. (Note: Gatorade not vinage). I especially love the gilded chair that’s paired with this secretary. Oh and that stripe – so pretty, classic but a bit geometric.

I also really liked this elegant console with the matching tremeau (mirror)- just perfect for a sophisticated entry hall.

There were so many other pieces that I fell in love with at the fair… more details next time!

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Something New, Something Old, Something French, Something Gold

by Amitha Verma Interior Design, www.amithaverma.com

In the course of my work, I find I go through phases. Some months, I find myself drawn to lots of bright fabrics and accessories – oranges and purples and pinks. Other times, I go through a phase of wanting to create very neutral spaces, in white, stone and ivory. These days, I have a new love: GOLD.

Bold and luxurious and almost indecently decadent, gold has a real wow factor to it when used in interiors. We’re not talking tacky glittery gold here, but gorgeous textured gold surfaces, dull gold finishes, and soft gold prints. It’s just a little bit showy but still oh-so-elegant…

(Source: Eclectic Revisited)

The foyer above is an extreme example of the use of gold, but I still love how the textured gold walls look, especially with the mirrored console. Such richness and depth! For my Houston interior design clients though, I tend to create more subtle gold tones, like in this kitchen I worked on last year. The stone in the kitchen backsplash had a lovely gold hue. See how the overall look is very ‘gold’ though the surfaces are mostly a warm cream color, and the extra glow is created with clever lighting?

Amitha Verma Designs

The wonderful thing about gold is how luxurious it looks. I adore using gold in the bedroom, for a truly ‘Parisian boudoir’ feel. Wouldn’t this bed heaped with gold cushions just make any girl feel like a queen?

(Source: French Interiors)

I often find that a subtly decorated space is instantly glamorized by the addition of touches of gold. This powder room I designed for a client was mostly decorated in shades of gray and blue, but the addition of a gold carved antique mirror really added a touch of style, I felt. I really love how the gold is echoed in the sheeny scrollwork of the faux finish on the walls too, and in the accents of the moldings on the vanity!

Amitha Verma Designs

In fact, gold mirrors and gold chandeliers are perfect accessories for just about any space – brightening up a foyer, finishing off a formal drawing room, even adding a touch of decadence to a bathroom. What do you think?

(Source: Veranda)

Posted in Wallcovering, antiques, bedroom, chairs/sofas, faux paint, foyer, kitchen, light fixtures, mirrors, tiles | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment