Antiques on Nine

Okay, here's the final wrap-up of our trip to New England. As I've told you before, my aunt, Beverly Bangs, owns a fabulous 12,000 sq. ft. antique store in Kennebunkport, Maine, Antiques on Nine. It's full of American and European furniture, paintings, decorative items, architectural elements and garden accessories!

When you walk into the huge store, it's overwhelming because there is so much amazing stuff! I could seriously walk around her shop for an entire day, and still not see everything. Here are some pictures I took of her shop...



















and it keeps going and going.....

Here's the adorable piece mom bought! It's from England and Beverly said it use to be part of a priest's altar. She also got the fabulous pair of green lamps!!

And finally...here's the piece I found. It's going to be delivered this weekend and I CANNOT wait! Like I've told you, since Antiques on Nine doesn't have a website, we've decided to barter! I'm designing her website, and in return, I got to pick out a piece of furniture. I really wanted a bar to go in our kitchen, and I found the perfect piece. Beverly bought it in England and I adore the detailed carving and the gray paint color!

Happy Thursday everyone! And make sure to stop by Antiques on Nine if you're ever near Kennebunkport. I promise, you won't be disappointed!

A Week in Maine

We're headed to Maine for a week and I can't wait!! A much needed vacation! My husband has never been, so my family is excited to show him two of our favorite places — Nantucket and Kennebunkport!

We're also calling it a business trip since we're visiting my aunt, Beverly Bangs, who owns a fabulous 10,000 sq. ft. antique store in Kennebunkport, Maine, Antiques on Nine. If you're ever in Kennebunkport, you must stop by! This store is amazing and Barbara Bush is regular :) It's full of American and European furniture, paintings, decorative items, architectural elements and garden accessories!

The beauty of it is that we're bartering — I'm designing her website, and in return, I get to pick out a piece of furniture. I really want a bar similar to this one that would be perfect in our kitchen. I found this piece on Molly Frey's website years ago, and found out later it is from Antiques on Nine!  Can't wait to post pictures of our trip, and hopefully my antique treasure too!

XOXO

like mother, like daughter

My mom surprised me with this beautifully framed, signed print from Suzanne Kasler for Christmas. She met her at an incredible home store in Chattanooga called Revival. (BTW, If you're ever in Chattanooga you must stop by this store, recently featured in Southern Living! So chic and awesome.) Anyways, mom had Suzanne (yeah, we're on a first name basis) sign a page of her new book. She wrote, "Design makes a difference." I love it, and every time I see it I'm reminded of my mother and our special relationship.

So, I can't have a design blog and not mention and credit my mom for everything. It's true, anything I know about design I learned from her. Here's a little background on me and what brought me here in the first place...blogging about antiques, paint colors and fabric swatches...

I grew up in a fabric store. 

I remember the smell of new fabrics and the cold, concrete floors like it was yesterday. As a child, I hated that place, and could not understand what was fun about it — whatsoever.  I remember thinking, if it was up to me, I'd never walk in another fabric store for the rest of life.

It's ironic but very fitting, that today I spend hours in fabric stores, going through every sample book and studying the different fabrics and trim. I remember being on a long, delayed flight with my mom as a child, and telling her I was bored. Her response: "Hadley, just close your eyes and rearrange your entire room in your head." And so I did...I was THAT nine year old child rearranging her bookshelves on a plane ride.

My mom is a talented interior designer, who has the rare ability of turning a shoebox into a masterpiece. Everything she touches turns to gold, and I'm not just saying that because she's my mom! I think my favorite part about it all is that she absolutely LOVES what she does. How many people can honestly say that? She thinks and breaths design 24/7, and even on her days off, you'll find on her "mystery ride" (as she calls them), driving down country roads outside of Chattanooga...most likely in her overalls and a baseball cap...searching for antique stores, estate sales or any place she may be able to find that "perfect treasure."  

These are cards for my mom's antique booth, Sisters. She named it Sisters in honor of her big sister, Beverly Bangs, who owns a 10,000 sq. ft. antique store in Kennebunkport, Maine, Antiques on Nine. If you're ever in Kennebunkport, you must stop by! This store is amazing and Barbara Bush is regular :) It's full of American and European furniture, paintings, decorative items, architectural elements and garden accessories!

Mom, I love and admire you more than you know...

Design makes a difference.