Inspired by ... Ginger Brewton

One of my aspirations when starting this blog was to highlight those who inspire me with their creativity and talent. Pinch me ... but design muse Ginger Brewton is sharing a little bit about herself with us today!

 

Ginger founded Ginger Brewton Interiors in 2005 out of Charleston, SC.  Ginger's fresh take on design blends traditional style, sophisticated pieces, and youthful casual elements to create a unique inviting and warm space. Published in multiple decor magazines and websites Ginger was named one of House Beautiful's "Next Wave" of designers. She also writes a delightful blog The Well Designed Life. Her portfolio speaks for itself here is just a peek...

www.gingerbrewtoninteriors.com

 

www.gingerbrewtoninteriors.com

 

www.gingerbrewtoninteriors.com

Most recently Ginger was named the designer for the Coastal Living Dream home 2013!!! I can't wait to see her finished product. Her aesthetic and unique creativity inspire daily.

Even with her busy schedule she was more than willing to respond to an interview ... what a generous spirit on top of all that talent!

Here is a little sneak peek into what inspires Ginger...

1. What is your most prized possession, what you can’t live without? A ring my mom gave me

2. What is your last purchase? A great work tote from Infusion Handcrafted Bags on Etsy. This one is the tote in hemp and dark olive.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/infusion?ref=seller_info_count

3. What is the easiest way to update a space? Paint! It's the easiest change that delivers the biggest impact.

4. What would you say is the color of the moment? I am in love with just about any color, and I tend to ignore what the hot pick is at the moment. I go with what my gut tells me, and what my clients are drawn to. Interior design and fashion design go hand in hand, so you can always predict color trends based off what the runways are showing.

5. If you could shadow any designer for a day who would it be? Kelly Wearstler

6. Favorite restaurant… Gradisca's in NYC

7. What store/ catalog could you spend hours browsing in? The Container Store

8. What is your favorite way to spend a lazy Sunday? Good food, good company and a good movie.

9. Marilyn, Audrey, or Jackie? Audrey

www.thefashiontag.wordpress.com

10. What’s the most inspiring thing you’ve seen lately? I find a lot of inspiration from movies and I have to say Argo is pretty amazing. Not only is the story itself inspiring, but I saw some super fabulous patterns throughout the film.

Treasure Hunting

I must say Scott's Antique market is my favorite and I will take pictures next time I'm visiting but Lakewood is a close 2nd in the treasure hunting department. In Atlanta, the Lakewood Antique Mart, now Lakewood 400 is a sprawling maze of antiques, collectibles, and new unique decorative items.

 

Open every 3rd weekend of the month Lakewood relocated from it's previous location of downtown Atlanta's Lakewood amphitheatre to North Fulton county. The venue is much much smaller than the vast never ending six large buildings and courtyards that encompassed Lakewood. Now quainter and easier to navigate (it is possible to see the whole thing!), the antique mart is in Cumming GA off of GA 400.

 

Here are just a few of the highlights from my trip this past weekend.

 

Industrial Pendants... Great for a kids room, rustic entry, farmhouse vibe, modern fixture in a basement. Endless possibilities. Industrial pendants are the rage right now but these are unique and a bit special when you find them treasure hunting. Love the orange one!

Antique wooden dough bowl. The dealer had 2 of these and they were gorgeous. Perfect accessory for a kitchen or dining table or use as a catch all on an entry table or coffee table. I see crayons or hotwheels in them too!

Gorgeous fabric remnants! So pretty to look at these mostly to the trade pieces. The majority were around $30 for 2 yards. Great for a pillow or two.

Giant iron lantern to add character to an entry.

Antique tobacco baskets! These are gaining popularity and add texture and history to a space. These are special because they are the real deal and show aging and patina that you can't purchase at Pottery Barn. They were $75 a piece but the dealer took $60!

It's only $3 to visit Lakewood and the ticket is good for the whole weekend. Looking forward to December finds!

New York, New York

One of my favorite places to visit and to be inspired is New York City. I was lucky enough to visit my favorite city last month before the awful devastation of Sandy hit. My heart goes out to those affected by this storm. The destruction and damage to the areas hardest hit is unfathomable.

I wrote this post on the plane ride back to Atlanta and was hesitant to post about food and fashion in the immediate aftermath of the storm, but New York is resilient and I do want to share the amazing places you can only see in this city....

I love, love, love, (you get the picture) that city! I was fortunate to live there the year after I graduated from Vanderbilt and I still feel like a kid at Christmas when I visit. As the plane descends into La Guardia, I can feel the hairs on my arms stand up. It's just the spirit of this city - the assault on all your senses that makes me feel so energized.

One of the highlights of inspiration from my trip of course included food! We ate at so many fabulous restaurants while we were there, but there was one in particular that I thought was a new and intriguing idea. Many restaurants change their menus to reflect the seasons, but I had never heard of one that also changes out their decor and their name.  Park Avenue Autumn does just that!



(www.parkavenyc.com/autumn)

Here is a picture of our dessert from that evening. I love the composition of textures and the accents of the rich hues of fall - chocolates, caramel, slate, and cream - oh and it was delicious too!

 

Fashion Inspiration...

When you love clothes, shoes and bags like I do, shopping in NYC is almost a spiritual experience. Every label is represented and the stores are designed with such detail and beauty. We did a little shopping in Bergdorf Goodman and I have to say that it is one of the most beautiful stores I have had the good fortune of visiting. Thanks to my sister, who is the best planner, we had reservations to lunch in their restaurant, which was designed by Kelly Wearstler (I'm a huge fan!). The restaurant was too packed to get any good images so these are pulled off of the Internet so you can see how amazing this space is.



(www.kellywearstler.com)

 

 

(www.kellywearstler.com)

I did manage to take a closer shot of the fantastic paneling that covers the walls as you enter the space.

You are really not supposed to take pictures in the store, but I had to sneak a shot of Kelly's home accessories and their display. Talk about inspiration. Thank you New York...

 

I love a little dress

Must admit I'm more of a dressed up kind of girl. I prefer a skirt to pants. I believe it's better to be overdressed than under.

This holds true in my powder room as well. In a tight space where a vanity would make a guest bath feel cramped, opting for a pedestal sink is the only solution. So putting a skirt on, in this case to my sink, accomplishes several things ... hide the plumbing, add texture, and find storage in a space where there was none before.

So this was a DIY project and I'm not much of a sewer but I do think this turned out pretty cute. It's attached with none other than velcro!

 

Here's a closer view. Notice I've changed the bathroom rug already. I love to change the details.

 

 

Skirt Sink Tutorial ...

Step 1. I used 2 yards of 54" width fabric.

Step 2. I hemmed both sides of the fabric, so there was a finished edge.

Step 3. I then folded over the top to get the right length 

Step 4. I folded several pleats and pinned them as I went around the sink, to make the skirt lay correctly and use the excess fabric.

Step 5. Then I stitched down the pleats with the sewing machine.

Step 6. Finally, I added industrial strength velcro in white (choose the closest color to your sink) along the top of the skirt and firmly pressed it to the sink.