Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Blog Favorite...Good Bones Great Pieces


I just finished reading and enjoying my new March issue of Traditional Home and came across this feature on "How To Decorate A Pint-Sized, Post-College Apartment On A Half-Pint Budget?  A Smart Girl Asks Her Mother".  Even though I am not right out of college,  or living in a teeny-tiny city apartment, I just fell in love with this mother/daughter team approach and philosophy for decorating.  First of all, they are adorable together (love the setee they are sitting on, and small tables).  You can really see that they have a great relationship.  This is just a side note-but my daughter, who is now 11, will one day be out of college and living on her own, I would love to be there for her and enjoy having that grown up relationship.  That being said, I am really enjoying every age and I am trying to live in the moment and give lots of hugs...time is a flyin'!  OK, back to this story and their blog....

Lauren McGrath (daughter) and her mother Suzanne Grua McGrath, who is an interior designer, and even worked with Martha Stewart in TV developments, worked creatively in decorating this small apartment. They used pieces that were in the family or flea market finds.  I love their philosophy.  This is a quote form Lauren Mcgrath, "We are not interested in chasing the latest trend.   We are all about investing wisely in classic pieces that I can, potentially, own forever."  She has taken family furnishings and just repainted them or repurposed them in her design.  They also used new classic pieces with simple lines that will last forver.


I love how they reinvent pieces.  This favorite of Lauren's is an old desk turned vanity that her mom found thrown out on a Brooklyn Street 20 years ago.  "Paired with an unusual vintage lucite stool, it's rejuvenated," says Suzanne.  "It's probably not worth anything, but it has good bones."  I love that idea.  Pick furniture that will last and a piece that can be moved around from room to room or house to house.  It is an easy and simple way of approaching decorating your home.  I went onto their adorable, informative, and creative blog called goodbonesgreatpieces.com and found great ideas and information.  On their mother/daughter blog, they also share some fashion advice along with their practical decorating knowledge.  They are very fashionable and have a great sense of style.  I am definitely going to keep my eye out for furniture that has good bones and is timeless, well, changing out fabric or repainting every 5 or so years!

Just wanted to share...enjoy.
~jamilyn

*images from Traditional Home Magazine and Good Bones Great Pieces blog*

13 wonderful comments:

Gwen Driscoll said...

If only I could have this relationship with my daughter when she grows up. I read this article and have ventured on their blog before and they are so cute and really close. Thanks for sharing.

Connie @ SogniESorrisi said...

Cool! I love that mirror.

Unknown said...

Wasn't that feature nice? I loved all the ideas of adapting to scale, quality and budget!
The are such a sweet mother/daughter team!
Right now I am living with teen - angst and can't wait for it to pass into smoother sailing a few years from now!

Lovely post!

Victoria

Unknown said...

I love this post! What great style these two have. I really think that is so special that they have such a wonderful relationship and can work together. Definitely a relationship I want to cultivate with my children.

Jenn @ Dear Heart said...

Omg, how cute are they and their blog? Love it.

paula said...

I have been fawning over this spread. its gorgeous.

deliciously organized said...

What a lovely post. I need to check out this article. I love what they've done with such a small space.

shara said...

just wanted to say thank you for stopping by my very boring blog and leaving such a wonderful comment. my blog is really just a way for our families to keep up with our super boring lives since they all live so far away. pretty mundane stuff! but i must tell you that your blog is beautiful.. love your bird pictures. photography is a major passion for me and i have a small addiction to it :)! i also have a photography blog. i haven't finished loading all of my prints on it or my newest work, but if you have nothing better to do {i'm sure you have way better things to do..} then check it out- thesweetlifephotography-shara.blogspot.com anyway, i have no idea how you came upon my humble blog, but thanks again and have a wonderful week and upcoming weekend!

Scientific Housewife said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog and entering my giveaway. Your blog is great and I'm now a follower :)

Bethany Christensen said...

Yes! I love it. Love thier philosophy and I know it really resonates with people right now. Times are changing - people are looking at what they buy with new perspective. That said...WHERE IS MY TRADITIONAL HOME MAG??? I'll have to look into that.

Brabourne Farm said...

I'm in love with the gorgeous mirror beside the bed! Leigh

Haven and Home said...

I loved this article too, I have it ready to be filed!

Megan said...

Love their blog too, so much inspiration!