2.18.13 Inside Story

Eldred interior 790 xxx
photos by gluttonforlife
It occurred to me that you never get to see inside our little cottage, aside from a quick peek at the bathroom we renovated. We had the white brick fireplace built to replace the wood-burning stove that was here originally. Inspiration came from a Swedish book on fireplaces that I found in the mid-90s in a vintage book store in Illinois and carried around optimistically for a decade. We also stained the floors and ceiling beams a deep espresso brown and gave the walls a coat of white paint. My aesthetic is defnitely inspired by my Northern California upbringing, with lots of earthy colors and organic textures. (I recently received this book as a gift and was instantly nostalgic.) Mixed in are assorted works of art, ceramics, elements from nature and pieces collected on our travels, including several Berber rugs from Morocco.
Interior2 790 xxx
home sweet home
We left our loft on the Bowery to live full-time in what had been our weekend place and, since it house was already furnished, we put all of our other furniture, rugs, dishes, books and art in storage. When we are able to build our house on the lake property we bought in Forestburgh, it will be exciting to unpack all this familiar bounty after so many years. In the meantime, living in small quarters—850 square feet, plus a screened-in porch of equal size that lets us spread out in warm weather—has taught me to contain clutter and maximize storage. Now I really appreciate that baskets can be both beautiful and functional.
Stoneware plate 790 xxx
collector's item
Among my most treasured possessions are my collections of ceramics. Some are vintage, some are made by this talented friend, and this one. Our everyday dishes are 1970s stoneware from a French potter named Pierre Digan. Over the years, I have tried in vain to find more. There was a brief flurry of activity around this a couple of years ago when, at an Outstanding in the Field dinner where they encourage you to bring your own dinner plate as an "icebreaker," a woman down the table exclaimed with delight at seeing mine.
French stoneware 790 xxx
all set
It turned out her father had been the original owner of Pottery Barn and collected pieces from this same French artist. But her brother evidently has a firm grip on them, and so it was a dead end for me. If you ever come across something similar, let me know.
Platters 790 xxx
tray chic
Mirena Kim, a talented potter I am proud to call my good friend, made me these two gorgeous stoneware platters for my recent birthday. I love how dark and moody they are, minimalist in shape but with a perfect curved lip. They go so well with everything else in my cupboards.
Japanese porcelain 790 xxx
fired up
Like this set of plates, which I bought on a witheringly hot day at an outdoor ceramics fair in Kyoto, Japan. They are almost matte with a slight grittiness and the faintest iridescence that takes them from brown to black. I find that dishes really enhance the experience of eating, especially if you consider the interplay of colors and textures. Take the time to feast your eyes.

 
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10 Comments

So beautiful. I can't wait to come and visit ;)
Winnie on February 18, 2013 at 4:33 pm —
We are so on for a mushroom foray this year!
laura on February 18, 2013 at 4:40 pm —
I love interiors! Show us some more... and how was it the house came furnished???
judy b on February 18, 2013 at 6:14 pm —
Judy, the house was originally just our weekend place, so it was already furnished - by us! I promise to shoot some more photos if I ever get around to taking off the macro lens...
laura on February 18, 2013 at 6:17 pm —
Your house is charming and beautiful, just like its owner.
Christine on February 18, 2013 at 8:42 pm —
Awww, thanks, Christine!
laura on February 18, 2013 at 10:25 pm —
laura--your home is beautiful! dave and i lived in 475 sq ft for several years in bklyn and we still say it was one of the happiest times of our lives, proving large spaces arent everything! but i have to (sheepishly) admit, seeing the interior threw me into a tailspin because as i read your posts filled with so much description i usually imagine your house and kitchen to be a modern version of Little House on the Prairie. dont ask me why this imagery has stuck with me because when you were at saks you exuded nothing but modern sophistication! thx for sharing and yes, i would also love to see more.
nikki on February 19, 2013 at 9:54 am —
Ha - to me this does resemble a modern version of Little House on the Prairie! I guess we're missing the butter churn, but then that wouldn't be modern! Stay tuned for more on this theme tomorrow...
laura on February 19, 2013 at 10:03 am —
I happened on your site and the photos of your beautiful interiors while searching for Pierre Digan. We have a number of his stoneware pieces and are preparing to put them up on Ebay. Let me know if you want a first shot at them.
Liz on February 6, 2014 at 3:15 pm —
Hello, person who just left a comment here about black plates, I accidentally deleted what you wrote - sorry! Can you repost?
laura on April 29, 2014 at 1:56 pm —