Evoking the Fair Isle in Your Home-- Irish Decor

On our way back home from Spain we stopped off in Ireland to spend a week with family. What a great time we had! The countryside was beautiful, the food (believe you me, we weren't allowed to go hungry!) was delicious, and meeting so many cousins was delightful. Highlights of the trip were going back to the farm and house where my Grandpa Pat grew up and sharing a lively night of music with family and friends at a pub in Bray, a little seaside town south of Dublin.

A few years ago, my husband's parents took a trip to Ireland as well. The loved it so much that they decided to make a pub room in their house. It's the coziest little room ever and many good drinks and conversations have been shared around the warm stove. The faux finish of the warm mustard-colored paint makes the walls look like they have accumulated years of pipe smoke stains, the rich dark wood and mismatched furnishings are quirky and look very loved, the pictures are hung low on the wall to keep things on a small and intimate scale. I love it!

Too often we seek to make our homes large and sprawling and the end result is cold emptiness. Smaller rooms invite intimacy of sharing and community. Bigger is not better!

So, in the spirit of St. Patrick's day, I've dedicated this blog entry to creating non-cheesy, vintage-style Irish pub room. Inspiration comes from these photos (and hundreds of photos that my eyes took in Ireland):

Here are some items, from Etsy and various online retailers, that will help you create a charming Irish inspired room.

Vintage Irish Setter Hunting Print by Etsy seller 47thStSupplyCompany, $10

Set of Two Lovable Hand Etched Pint Glasses by Etsy seller twilightdesigns24, $14.95

Vintage Wood Vynl Folding Chair by Etsy Seller Bellela, $20

1922 Large Antique Map of Ireland from Etsy seller bananastrudel, $28

Vintage Brass Lamp with Spiggot Detail from Etsy seller Maximillions, $115

Vintage Woven Plaid Tablecloth from Etsy seller Sweetgrassvintage, $18.50

 

Red Celtic Pillow by Etsy seller ButterMilkCottage, $65

Vintage White Milk Glass Irish Coffee Mug from Etsy seller MietteLove, $2

Vintage Guinness Print from AllPosters.com, $9.99

Chocolate Chunk Funky Milking Stool from Etsy seller Kewpiesfarmhouse, $27.50

 

Homespun Throw from Anthropologie, $198

Vintage Hand Colored Photo in Oval Metal from Etsy seller GemsOfTimeVintage, $175

Decorating with Peach

Folks, it's time to bring peach back. It's had a bum rap the past two decades and most likely conjurs up images of bad 80's bridesmaid dresses, but this sunny variation of orange is ready for its comback. I just feel it!

I think I've always subconciously liked the color, but the liking turned into all out love when I lived in Chicago. I paid a visit to my local Salvation Army and found this gem of a chair, in perfect condition, for $25. I imagine it came from the parlour room of a lovely grandma and only saw use when company came calling. This chair became my favorite spot for morning devotions and Bible study and long phone calls with friends back home.

On the topic of peach, Jennifer Thoden from Decorating With Jen, says:

"When you add white to orange you get a peach. A rich peach to a subtle almost white peach. Using all these colors in this range will create a peaceful, tranquil interior design. It's also ideal for smaller rooms. Use a light peach on the walls. Add simple drapes with the same tint of peach. Have your chairs and couches in the same fabric as your drapes. And your area rug should have a nice range of soft pale peaches to rich peaches. Your room will be exquisite. Ground the entire soft palette with dark stained furniture... stay away from oak and light pine. Also consider using white as a fabric in your room... white pillows... white vases... white chairs."

Below are some shots of rooms that using varrying shades of our friend orange-- peach, salmon, orange sorbet, and apricot.

Photo courtesey of bisbee.co.za

Photo courtesy of Country Living

Photo courtesey of Deluxe Room

In November of 2008, Etsy spolighted a room in its Storque Blog that does a fabulous job of using whites, creams, tans, and a punch of salmon.

Photo courtesy of Canadian House and Home

The thought of thePeach/Salmon/Orange Sorbet or Apricot may seem like risky choices alone, but consider pairing them with some these colors:

Looking for peach accents? I've combed Etsy shops and online retailers for some new and vintage gems.

This salmon Flowerbud Lantern is on sale for $9.99 on PB Teen

Vintage California Double Leaf Dish by Etsy seller eclecticcurio $14

Audrey Hepburn Illustration by Etsy seller lakeillustration $19.00

Apricot Bird Pillow by Etsy seller persnickety home $13.95

Hand Crocheted Salmon Napkin Rings (Set of 6) by Etsy seller BouquetSpecialDesign $18

Peachy Keen Hoop Art Trio by Etsy seller Mostaza Seed (that's me!) $30

Champagne Peony Print by Etsy seller hadleyhutton $22.99

The Anthropologie Festival Rug

So, if you are looking for a new take on an old fashioned color, opt for peach and pair it with cocoa brown, pink, cobalt blue, aqua, or burgundy. You won't be disappointed!

Welcome

Hi there,

I've created this blog as an extension to my Etsy shop-- Mostaza Seed Designs. I sell earring display racks, upcycled home decor, and vintage finds.

Who: I'm a 27 year old girl, living in a 1921 farmhouse in Marietta, Georgia with my handsome and ever-so-patient husband, Nick. We were married in May of 2009 and are loving newlywed life. I enjoy all things vintage, travel, graphic design, Diet Coke, interior design, cheese (the stinkier, the better), photography, painting, Nutella, friends, family, and loooooong conversations over a cup of coffee or 'round the dinner table.

What: Mostaza means mustard in Spanish. The mustard seed is among the smallest of seeds in the whole world. In the Bible the mustard seed is used by Jesus as a model for the kingdom of God which initially starts small but grows to be the biggest of all garden plants. Faith is also spoken about in the context of a mustard seed. In Matthew chapter 17, verse 20, Jesus says: “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." So, out of small things comes greatness and the vintage and seemingly unimportant items I find hold great potential for beauty and usefulness.

When: I don't know if this answers the "when" question, but here's a schedule of what I'll be covering in this blog. Keep in mind, that I may or may not follow the schedule, bu I'll be posting as often as I can:)

Monday's: Featured Etsy Sellers
I'll be highlighting the work of fellow Etsian's. Want to be featured? Contact me and I'll tell you how.
Tuesday's: Do It Yourself Day!
DIY articles are in abundance on the internet. I'll do the work of sifting through the web overload to deliver, cute, tested, AND easy projects.
Wednesday's: Mostaza Seed Originals
This is where I get to toot my own horn and showcase my recent designs, all for sale in my Etsy shop.
Thursday's: Home Decor Inspiration
If it strikes my fancy, it'll be up in my blog.
Friday's: Photography
I have a great deal of photos from my world travels. I'll be dusting them off, sharing their story, and offering them up for sale at a good price.
Saturday's: Vintage Finds
I already do the work of combing flea markets and estate sales for vintage finds. I'll be not only posting them in my Etsy shop, but also sharing them on here!
Sunday's: A Day of Rest

Wildcard Giveaways:
Every once and a while I'll be doing giveaways of items from fabulous Etsy sellers.


Why? For fun!
 
Want to be in the loop? Add yourself as a follower to the Mostaza Seed Blog.
 
Looking forward to great adventures!
 
Steph