Wherein we ask our favorite design bloggers, curators and forecasters what inspires them.
Laura Fenton is a writer and prop stylist who knows her way around a house and garden. She’s worked Budget Living and mainstreamed it at Good Housekeeping. She also helms her own blog Little House in the City, a love letter to her one bedroom apartment in Fort Greene.
She cooks, DIYs, renovates, declutters, styles, et al. Find her in Brooklyn or tweeting away. Meanwhile, a peek into what inspires her on a day to day basis within her own home. Like a champ, she opted to answer all five of our questions.
1.) What’s on your coffee table?
The coffee table itself is a beloved hand-me-down from my mother, who bought it from Design Research in her 20s. On top of the table, we have a large game board that came from my husband’s family vacation home: There’s a checkers/chess pattern on one side and a backgammon board on the other. The Bakelite pieces and dice sit in a Jonathan Adler bird vessel when we’re not playing. We also have lots of books on our coffee table. In this shot you can see a recent acquisition, Good Copy by Peter Hendricks, and the latest issue of Wilder Quarterly, an amazing new gardening magazine. Tim Walker Pictures is an all-time favorite.
2.) What object are you currently lusting after and what would you do with it?
I’m not sure if it qualifies as lust, but I dream of custom window treatments. Our windows are an unusual size, so it’s hard to find shades that are the right width. Some relaxed, linen roman shades for the living room and a better light-blocking option for the bedroom would be amazing. I’m also forever in love with John Robshaw’s textiles (see above).
3.) What’s your favorite object and how did you find it?
That’s a tough one, as I have many treasured objects. However, I have a real soft spot in my heart for this 1940s crazy quilt. I bought it off eBay in 2002 when eBay was still new to me – when I won it for $100 I was so excited. I’m in awe of the handiwork that went into its creation, especially the elaborate topstitching and the clever re-use of men’s ties.
4.) What’s the story behind your favorite photograph, and how did you choose to frame it?
This photo was a gift to me from my now-husband early in our courtship. It’s a Polaroid that he took on our first trip to the beach together. It was such a beautiful day and we had so much fun. I love that we have a moment from that afternoon hanging on our wall.
The image is framed like many of our photographs are framed: In a simple, black frame with a thick, white mat. The thicker mats are more expensive, but I think they’re worth the splurge.
5.) What is the most awkward, wayward object in your home? Something you bought out of love that simply has no place in your space.
I can honestly say there isn’t one. We live in such a small apartment that there’s no room for us to keep anything that doesn’t have a place.
The 5 Questions Series is an ongoing project wherein we peek inside the workspaces and living spaces of our favorite design bloggers, curators and trendsetters.