How I Found My Style Sundays- The Farmhouse Porch

Hey everybody! My name is Linsey and I live over at The Farmhouse Porch. I have a blog, an Etsy Shop, Facebook Page, and lots of Pinterest Boards. I'm so happy my friend Pam invited me to come over here today and be interviewed. Pamela is my actual neighbor! Not long after I moved to this area and began my blog I discovered Pam's beautiful blog. We were just tickled to discover that we lived in the same neighborhood and sat in the same carpool line to drop off our kiddos at school. We of course had to meet up! I've had the honor of seeing Pam's gorgeous house first hand. She has a fabulous taste and I am in awe of her chalk painting skills. Soon after we met we went antiquing together with our blogging buddy, Anita of Cedar Hill Ranch. We need to  get together again soon! It was so fun hanging out with these gals!

1- My decorating style is?

In a word my style is "farmhouse". I would describe my version of "farmhouse" style as an homage to the American prairie farm. Finding and displaying objects that were once used daily in rural homesteads brings me so much happiness. Interior design is an extension of art and creativity. 

 Being a studio artist and art teacher my visual surroundings are important to me. 

My current project.

My self expression extends beyond the canvas to include my walls and collections. 

The patina of an item is probably the most important decorative factor I examine when I am on the hunt. I have always been fascinated by beautiful and unique finishes on wood, metal, paper and fabric that have not been massed produced. The kind of chipping and fading that can only happen through years of exposure and use by hard working hands.

The finish on a small painted piece of barn wood can be just as much of a piece of art as a large oil painting. I also love anything from the "Great Depression" period. I have always been drawn to it. I love small Texas towns with beautiful old buildings, homes, town squares, and court houses.

2- How did you "find" your decorating style?

My senior year of high school I regularly babysat the children of an interior designer, a friend of my mom's. She had a large personal library of design books, after putting the kids to bed I would sit and read the books. I found a copy of Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic. I was instantly and completely enamored with her style! The finishes of the timeworn painted furniture, the romantic shabby fabrics...it ignited in me a passion for anything shabby. I still love her style to this day- 20 years after reading the book! I like to think that I have used her basics as the building blocks to my own personal style- shabby Farmhouse Chic! Of course many other incredibly talented visionaries have inspired my style along the way, such as Carol Hicks Bolton and her fabulous mix of romantic, industrial curiosities and fabrics. I also have loved scouting antique shops and Round Top Antique Show from the time I was a young girl. My mother has wonderful design style and I'm sure much of my interest came from her! She is my favorite shopping buddy.

3- What has been your most treasured find for your home? 

My very old farm table was a gift from my mom, and I truly love that piece. My wood pedestal kitchen table is also special to me. As far as collections, I'm a sucker for ironstone and jadeite, and anything with chippy white paint of course. 

My greatest thrift store find is my antique french laundry basket (pictured under my entry table below). It was $3!

4- What tips do you have for creating a beautiful home?

Stick to one style and one general color scheme. I have heard it said so many times "Buy what you love and your house will look great". Well ... if I did that my house would be a huge design mess. At some point I finally had to come to terms with the fact that I liked TOO MANY styles, and too many color schemes. Even though my rooms slowly evolve ( I certainly can't afford to buy everything I picture for a room all at once), I do have to start with the end in mind. Making a loose plan works well for me.

My next tip would be to look at your daily life and design around it. I go gaga for white slipcovers and white sofas but I have two small kids, a big dog, and I know myself well enough to know that I would not wash all those those whites often enough to keep them looking decent. I also know that beat up furniture hides marker and crayon marks, and that kitchen counter vignettes just give me more to dust and clean around.

My last tip is to be a risk taker and display a statement piece in each room. A huge oil painting, a grand architectural artifact, a collection of something in such a large quantity that it has an artistic impact. Safe design if boring design! When I step outside of my comfort zone and take a design risk it usually pays off.

I  thank you so much Pamela for inviting me to your lovely blog today!

-Linsey

I am truly honored to call Linsey my friend and neighbor! Thank you girl for stopping by today and sharing your beautiful style with us. I am always inspired when I see what you have to share with us and yes indeed we do need to schedule another outing soon! That was a fun day!:)

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Write by: AN - Sunday, February 23, 2014