“Frammenti” collection, Studioart leather interiors.

Every now and then I learn of interior design elements that truly excite me. The leather wall treatments created by Italy-based company Studioart have succeeded in peaking my interest. When it comes to leather and wall treatments, Studioart’s creativity is truly unmatched. 

“Frammenti” collection, Studioart leather interiors.

“Hyperreal” collection, Studioart leather interiors. 

Frammenti collection, Studioart leather interiors.

I am impressed and inspired by each of Studioart’s collections, but the Frammenti collection of leather interiors are my favorite. The rich camel color is so versatile and the pattern is truly mesmerizing.

Frammenti shows irregularity through an apparently random pattern made of six different shapes. Ever-changing shapes explore the full potential of leather presenting a collection that expertly mixes and matches different leathers, forms, and chromatic proposals.

The Anniversary Collection, Studioart leather interiors.

For Studioart’s 10 year anniversary, the company released a showstopping Anniversary Collection. This collection features gold & pink leather triangular shapes that are combined to create this original wall treatment. 

Studioart’s stunning leather wall treatments are equally unique and luxurious. This is definitely a brand that I look forward to following and working with in the future.

“Kaleido” collection, Studioart leather interiors.

Losange collection, style Lumiere. Photo by @pierogemelli, Styling Beatrice Rossetti, Studioart leather interiors. 

If you’re inspired by these luxurious leather walls, visit Studioart’s website for more information. There are so many unique designs to consider!

When I learned of the work of textile designer Carmen Machado, I was immediately drawn to the unique textures and bright colors in her furniture designs. I was even more impressed to learn that Carmen’s work is improving our beaches and waterways by retrieving and utilizing abandoned marine netting. Carmen Machado’s  environmental efforts and contemporary outdoor furniture designs absolutely deserve the spotlight. Continue on to read our recent chat!

Jacquin: Did you enter into art school knowing that you wanted to focus on textiles? How did this interest come about?

Carmen: Yes, growing up I was always interested in textiles. My father had a carpet store where he imported all types of beautiful carpets from around the world. I took my first weaving class while pursuing my Bachelors in Fine Arts at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and this is where I decided to focus on learning to weave experimentally and on different types of looms.

Jacquin: Many readers may not be familiar with the impact of abandoned fishing nets in the oceans. It’s actually a very serious environmental issue. How did you become aware of this issue? What made you decide to address this issue through textiles and design?

Carmen: I grew up on the coast in Puerto Rico and would regularly find stranded pieces of tangled fishing line and rope washing up on the shore near my home. In 2011, I started picking up and collecting things I found, mostly out of curiosity and interest in the sun bleached and vivid colours the netting came in. This led to me researching into overfishing and reading about how large of an environmental issue this is and the deadly effects it has on marine life. I decided to pursue my interest more seriously, combining my love for weaving with this environmental issue. I am currently pursuing a Masters on this topic at the Chelsea College of Art and Design in London.

I grew up on the coast in Puerto Rico and would regularly find stranded pieces of tangled fishing line and rope washing up on the shore near my home. In 2011, I started picking up and collecting things I found…

Jacquin: What came first? The general idea to use recycled fishing net and recycled materials -or- your idea for the specific furniture design used in your stunning chairs? Also, tell us about the concept for your recent chair designs?

Carmen: Once I refined my textile designs to incorporate found ghost netting I began thinking about ways to use the final woven material. As it is 100% plastic I naturally thought it would be well suited to be used outdoors. I wanted to make a sustainable product and like the concept of taking the materials from being outside on the beach, then repurposing them into something a person will again value and put it back outside. I have a big interest in interior design and furniture, particularly Danish design. 

Jacquin: How do you go about continuing to source and retrieve dangerous, abandoned netting from the ocean?

Carmen: I regularly visit the coasts here in England and Wales. My family also actively beach cleans in Puerto Rico. I have quite a few beaches that I revisit often because I know I will sadly always find tons of washed up gear on them.

Jacquin: What would be a dream project for you involving both textiles and recycled fishing net (or other recycled materials)?

Carmen: Long term I want to scale up the amount of fishing line/netting that I am retrieving off of our coasts and the amount of fabric I am able to produce. Another dream project would involve designing fabric/furniture for the interiors of an eco resort. I would like to get involved with more Marine Conservation groups and see if I can incorporate my work into their offices. 

 Jacquin: Have you been able to find a community of like designers interested in working with recycled materials? How can readers help your cause and support healthier wildlife and waterways? 

Carmen: Yes, I have found a wonderful group of people through Instagram- @2MinuteBeachClean, they are big advocates for doing regular beach cleanups and are always showcasing the work of designers who work with marine waste materials. I have made a few connections through this group who send me parcels with their finds! 

As for what people can do to support healthier waterways… Apart from every individual doing their own part to clean up our coast lines, I recommend cutting single use plastics out of your life as much as you can. It makes a huge difference! 

Exciting news!! I’ve been busy working behind the scenes to bring you a new VIDEO SERIES! Interiors by Jacquin blog will now present an inspirational video post once a week. These videos will range from sharing home decor tutorials, to behind the scenes at events and showcasing studio visits with artists & designers. Our very first video will show you how to create a gorgeous floral arrangement at home. This particular floral arrangement has a unique architectural look that we achieved with a combination of flowers from the grocery store and with branches from the backyard. It’s really that easy, and now you can learn how to create this chic style of floral arrangement for yourself! 

Thank you to Ambra Portillo of Query Events for joining me in this video tutorial and lending her expert knowledge. With Ambra’s floral expertise and assistance, I am definitely feeling more confident with my floral arranging skills. Ambra is a floral designer and owner of Query Events based in Ft. Worth, TX. Here is our tutorial on creating your own architectural-style floral arrangement at home. We hope it inspires you!

As we transition into Fall I’m finding myself becoming incredibly busy and sometimes it’s hard to keep up with everything. If you’re like me, then it’s likely time to take some time to relax! Relaxing doesn’t necessarily mean going on vacation, but it could mean simply adding 30 minutes to your day for rest and relaxation at home. If you have the right tools then a short 30 minutes of relaxation can be truly groundbreaking. HERE ARE SOME OF THE BEST PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET FOR HELPING YOU TO RELAX AT HOME… and I’m giving them away to one lucky reader in this week’s contest!

ENTER TO WIN THESE AMAZING RELAXATION TOOLS:

Ciao Bella! A favorite Italian greeting for that special someone. Made from blush satin with black embroidery with a strap that won’t slip while you sleep!

Life + style blogger Eleanora Morrison has been so kind to share with a us a private tour of her San Antonio, Texas home. It’s a bright & cozy space showcasing antique furniture with fun, contemporary pieces mixed in. I love the relaxed and bright feel she accomplishes.This newlywed successfully transformed her home to suit the styles of both Eleanora and her husband, blending rustic with glam, which always takes an artful balance. 

Eleanora Morrison is the founder of Oh, Eleanora blog. Check out our chat below!

I really like that your blog focuses on both style and wellness. How have you set up your home to help accomplish wellness and balance?

For me, styling our first home with wellness and balance in mind was at the top of my priority list. It has always been the goal for it to feel like our house gives you a hug when you walk through the door. I wanted this home to be the sigh of relief that would welcome us into relaxation after a long, busy day. 

Our careers both demand very much of our time and energies, so I paid a lot of attention to the finite details in the décor that I think help to create an atmosphere of relaxation at home. For example, I have a few indoor plants or fresh flowers placed in almost every room. I have aromatherapy candles in the bathroom and in the office. I have my favorite honey + milk soap in the bathroom and salts that make a typical at-home bath feel like an at-home spa. We were also given amazing bedding for our wedding that is so comfy that we have to pull ourselves away, so that also helps us keep relaxed and happy. It’s the little things that can give your home a very luxurious feel. 

In what ways does your home reflect your personal style?

I fell in love with our home the moment I saw it because it is a beautiful blend of old meets new. Our home was built in 1927, but we bought it completely renovated with a modern kitchen, bathroom, back yard, and other charming features. The character is there, but the modern luxuries are what make the home feel good. 

My personal style is very much a blend of a love affair with classic and timeless elegance, and an affinity toward bold modern statements. Our décor is a direct reflection of this. Many of our bigger furniture pieces are antiques—either from our grandparent’s homes or our parent’s homes. Everything we were given for our wedding, however, is contemporary. This makes our home feel like a blend of rustic charm and Hollywood glam, and I love it. 

As a newlywed, what has been the hardest thing about decorating with your husband and joining your personal styles? What is your biggest joint decorating success story so far?

This is definitely a challenge. Luckily, my husband trusted me completely and didn’t really question any of my design choices with this home. However, he tends to be drawn to very contemporary and modern décor—I would call him a minimalist—and I am drawn to more traditional, rustic, and glamorous décor. With that in mind, I had to be very creative in blending tastes and respecting that this was a merger, not a takeover! 

I think our biggest joint-decorating success story at this point would be our guest room. Dan’s things were mostly black and modern, and mine were mostly white and neutral, with some inherited antiques. I figured out how to use his pieces to decorate the guest room in such a way that we didn’t lose him in the house. I didn’t mind the guest room feeling masculine—I am sometimes very drawn to masculine clothing and décor. I know we will eventually repurpose and redecorate that room, but for now it works really well and it came together quite nicely. Dan can have his space, I have my feminine office space, and the rest of the rooms in our home are fairly neutral and welcoming. 

With your new voyage in entrepreneurship, I’m sure your background in PR and fundraising have been very helpful. What takeaways from the fundraising and PR sectors have you utilized as you build your blogging business Oh, Eleanora?

My background in PR and fundraising was the perfect springboard into building a full-time blogging business. I still have much to build and much to achieve, but I truly believe that everything I did before taking the leap into being my own brand prepared me just the way I needed for what I do today. The three biggest skill sets from fundraising and PR that I draw from every single day are problem-solving, storytelling through mission-driven content, and utilizing my professional and personal networks to yield collaborations and sponsorships. 

In my experience, fundraising was about telling the story of your mission to people you had relationships with, in the hopes that they would convert to donors. Then you had to carry out their donor benefits and work them into current or future campaigns. The formula is almost exactly the same when pursuing relationships and sponsored collaborations with brands. 

What type of person do you think would love your blog?

Women in their 20’s and 30’s who are looking to find some inspiration and motivation to keep pushing toward their dreams. The mission of my site is to encourage and empower women to create the lives they want to lead. I hope Oh, Eleanora serves as a digital destination for those who need a little bit of cheerleading to reach for their stars. I would imagine these women are open-minded, worldly, interested in arts and culture; I think of them as being the never-ending seekers of beauty in the world, but also the ones who want to make a difference in it. 

What health & wellness resources are you most excited about this year?

I am now totally into a new practice of yoga (for me)—it’s called Bowspring. I’ve discovered it at my current yoga studio here in San Antonio, AC Power Yoga, but Bowspring is a global method that started in Denver, CO and was originated by a woman named Desi Springer. Its fundamentals are about re-learning movement habits that are more animalistic in nature rather than mechanical. It’s easier on my body than other forms of yoga and exercise, but it is more physically and mentally challenging. It works your fascia, not just your muscles. You get an amazing stretch from the practice, and your body feels renewed when you finish class. The movements are new and different, so you have to work very mindfully. It’s a workout for the body and the brain. If you live in a city that offers Bowspring yoga, I highly suggest trying it!

What has been inspiring you creatively lately?

I’ve been inspired by the fact that in both fashion and interior design, blush is the new black. I shared an article about it on the blog recently.  I am always drawing inspiration from the following places, people and sites:

• The
  Beverly Hills Hotel
• The
  Parker Palm Springs
• Chateau
  Marmont
• Darling
  Magazine
• The
  Everygirl
• Margo
  & Me
• The
  Atlantic-Pacific
• Gal
  Meets Glam
• MyDomaine
• One
  King’s Lane

What’s the more important thing you’ve learned during your career journey so far?

The last (and probably most important) thing I learned from the PR and fundraising sectors is that everyone knows everyone. The law of six degrees of separation will always shock you—no matter how you industry-hop. I now realize that the success of a relatively new blogger in the digital space is far more dependent on personal and professional relationships and networks that one would think. In fundraising and in PR, you meet so many people, and you learn how to deal with so many types of personalities. To be able to utilize those relationships to knock on doors, even in a completely new industry, helps me every single day. 

Gone Rural is an African handcraft & design brand based in Swaziland with a unique, philanthropic spin. This brand has truly impressed me with their artistic woven designs that pay homage to the past while still being innovative. Founded in the 1970s (officially registered in 1992), Gone Rural was launched by a Swaziland farmer’s wife, Jenny Thorne, who owned a small craft shop in Swaziland selling handmade clothes, accessories, and anti-apartheid literature. This small shop turned into several locations across Swaziland with a social mission behind their stunning handcrafts. 

Gone Rural empowers the women they employ with a voice and with real life resource. Below a Gone Rural weaver shares how this organization has been a benefit to their lives in more ways than expected. 

 Siphiwe Mngometuli – Gone Rural weaver 

Siphiwe is the backbone of her homstead. She left school after falling pregnant and began weaving to support her child. Together, Siphiwe and her husband had six more children, building a life at his homestead. 

Then one day he sold all their cattle and left. He did not return for four years. Siphiwe had to leave her husband’s family homestead. But with her income from Gone Rural, she was able to start her life again; building a new house and buying animals. 

For decades now the Gone Rural mission has been to empower local Swazi women by providing educational, health, and social resources. Gone Rural now assists over 770 women in 13 groups spread across Swaziland creating various woven products. Gone Rural’s organization boMake (meaning ‘mothers in their local language SiSwati) gives back by sponsoring the education tuition for their children, providing access to clean water, and offering free health clinics.   

Rural Evolution collection

Gone Rural’s innovation to preserve local handcraft traditions while creating new and exciting art & designs is already impressive on it’s own, but their commitment to making a social impact in their community makes Gone Rural and boMake truly role models for how businesses can become impactful social enterprises. 

No matter how many picture frames I buy, I can always buy another, especially if it has a unique design. I love displaying my travel photos around home and switching out the pictures to showcase different memories. Why not take it one step further and change out your frames while you’re changing the photos? Changing out your picture frames is one of the easiest and least inexpensive ways to add luxurious accents to your home. Here are my favorite frames from Bloomingdale’s and AMARA!

So there you have it, 7 fab frames to get you excited about displaying your photos at home. If you love these frames, and the Interiors by Jacquin blog, cast your vote in the Amara Blog Awards. I appreciate your support!

Vote for me in the Amara Blog Awards HERE!

Image via PopSugar from Burlap & Lace

At first glance, I immediately connected with the room’s neutral color palette of black and nudes but, what I love most about this room is its details. Some may say that minimalism has a reputation of being monotonous, or cold and uninviting. However, the trick to pulling off a minimalist look that truly stands out is adding an interesting focal point. There’s nothing like a unique bag or a fab pair of shoes to breathe new life into any outfit.

With summer on it’s way when I selected this outfit, I couldn’t help but dream of exotic getaways and holidays by the beach. That was what attracted me to the natural textures in this room and I wanted to incorporate that into my outfit as well. When I saw this woven bag at ZARA, I knew it was the perfect accessory I can use all summer long. It’s so chic and versatile that I can take it from work to play in no time flat. Having a little fun with black clothes & accessories can be a nice change of pace in the summer!

SHOP THE LOOK!

• Top: Vintage Nicole Farhi (similar here)
• Trousers: Zara
• Leather Jacket: Zara 
• Woven Bag: Zara
• Mules: BCBGeneration
• Earrings: Adornmonde
• Sunglasses: Franco Sarto (similar here)