December 16, 2025 • 39 mins
In this special final episode of the year, Dream House: What Truly Makes a Home a Dream, Meghan and Krissa dive into the joy and intention behind creating a home that feels both beautiful and deeply personal. The conversation explores the pieces, features, and thoughtful touches that elevate everyday living — from meaningful collections to well-made furnishings that stand the test of time.
They discuss why a dream house isn’t about perfection or trends but about surrounding yourself with items you love, displays that tell your story, and spaces that invite ease, creativity, and connection. This episode closes out the year with warmth, reflection, and a clear reminder that the most “dreamy” homes are built with heart.
Street Style Takeaways:
1. A Dream Home Reflects You
The most beautiful houses tell a personal story — through art, books, collections, and the moments they showcase.
2. Quality Over Quantity
Investing in well-crafted furnishings enhances comfort, longevity, and daily enjoyment.
3. Function Matters
A dream house isn’t just pretty — it works for your lifestyle. Thoughtful storage and practical furniture can be both functional and soulful.
4. Ease Is the New Luxury
A home designed for smooth daily living (and a little breathing room) creates space for creativity, family, and rest.
5. It’s the Layering That Makes It Dreamy
Thoughtful layers — textiles, heirlooms, lighting, textures — bring warmth and personality that no trend can replicate.
6. Gratitude for Home + Year-End Reflection
This episode celebrates the joy of home and the meaningful conversations shared throughout the year on Boulevard Beat.
Save 15% site wide at www.houseofblum.com with promo code beat15!
Or you can use this link- https://houseofblum.com/discount/beat15!
Connect with the Hosts https://www.instagram.com/boulevardbeatpodcast/
Connect with Meghan Blum Interiors https://www.instagram.com/meghanbluminteriors/
Connect with House of Blum https://www.instagram.com/shophouseofblum/
Connect with Krissa Rossbund. https://www.instagram.com/krissa_rossbund/
Connect with Liz Lidgett https://www.instagram.com/lizlidgett/
Episode Website https://www.blvdbeat.com/about
They discuss why a dream house isn’t about perfection or trends but about surrounding yourself with items you love, displays that tell your story, and spaces that invite ease, creativity, and connection. This episode closes out the year with warmth, reflection, and a clear reminder that the most “dreamy” homes are built with heart.
Street Style Takeaways:
1. A Dream Home Reflects You
The most beautiful houses tell a personal story — through art, books, collections, and the moments they showcase.
2. Quality Over Quantity
Investing in well-crafted furnishings enhances comfort, longevity, and daily enjoyment.
3. Function Matters
A dream house isn’t just pretty — it works for your lifestyle. Thoughtful storage and practical furniture can be both functional and soulful.
4. Ease Is the New Luxury
A home designed for smooth daily living (and a little breathing room) creates space for creativity, family, and rest.
5. It’s the Layering That Makes It Dreamy
Thoughtful layers — textiles, heirlooms, lighting, textures — bring warmth and personality that no trend can replicate.
6. Gratitude for Home + Year-End Reflection
This episode celebrates the joy of home and the meaningful conversations shared throughout the year on Boulevard Beat.
Save 15% site wide at www.houseofblum.com with promo code beat15!
Or you can use this link- https://houseofblum.com/discount/beat15!
Connect with the Hosts https://www.instagram.com/boulevardbeatpodcast/
Connect with Meghan Blum Interiors https://www.instagram.com/meghanbluminteriors/
Connect with House of Blum https://www.instagram.com/shophouseofblum/
Connect with Krissa Rossbund. https://www.instagram.com/krissa_rossbund/
Connect with Liz Lidgett https://www.instagram.com/lizlidgett/
Episode Website https://www.blvdbeat.com/about
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to boulevard Beat, a podcast we're life and style intersect.
I'm designer Megan Bloom along with my co hosts, editor CHRISA.
Rossbunt and gallery owner Liz Legit. This podcast focuses on
the daily highlights instead of the hustle, interviews with taste makers,
and personal conversations on how to highlight achievable style. You
con stroll one street at a time, Boulevard Beat proves
(00:29):
the one.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
You should take.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Well, here we are just weeks before Christmas and all
the hustle and bustle and as many little girls of
Barbie Dreamhouse is on the wish list. I've had it
on mine when I was a little girl, and my
daughter has a beautiful one too that it's a part
of her everyday play. But I think what's neat about
it too, is that just how it shapes us thinking
(00:54):
about our homes at such an early age, and just
what we can do and dream of in our home
home and what it would look like and what it
has and so got it'd be fun today to just
talk about some dream wishless items in our house.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Well, I'm excited, and I loved my Barbies. I love
my Barbie dream house, and so it's it's fun to
think of it in better qualities than plastic, right right.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
And what I think's neat too about it is it's
you know, when you think of dream houses, you obviously
think of big and lucks and all of the things.
But I think you can have your dream house in
any size, and it can be in a quaint, little
cottage just being surrounded by things that you love absolutely.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
You know, you look back and I don't even know
what those assignments were when you're like in second or
third grade and you talk about you know, I think
little boys are all going to grow up to be
baseball players and little girls are.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
Going to grow up to be I don't know, I
don't know what.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
But you know, you're like, I'm going to drive a
convertible I'm living and you have no idea what square
it means. So I think it's true. I think you
can have your dream house anywhere. I think that sometimes
houses can be far too too large for your your
lifestyle and you know, certain stages of life. So I
think that it's important to understand that you don't necessarily
(02:08):
have to have the grand architecture. While that is lovely
and beautiful to look at, and that's what I want
as well. Sometimes you just have to make your dream
house in the confines of what you have.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Well, one of my favorite things that I think, and
it's kind of the welcoming moment, is your home is
a grand entry moment. And again, it doesn't have to
be this huge, gigantic foyer with a center table on
all of those while I absolutely love that, but I
think thinking decorative that it's not just architectural, but you know,
a statement chest or console or unique wallpaper that just
(02:40):
has that you know, bold look and a little touch
of lighting and on that little table or a sconces.
But along with that too, I think just a beautiful
child floor I think is one of the best entry
staples to give you that grand entry moment of elegance
and grace in a home.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
An entry way and entry foyer is really your first
opportunity to wow over whoever's crossing that threshold. And I
suppose it's a taste of what's to come.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
It certainly is.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
I think I heard this one time and night, so
I stuck with me. It's the entry is like the
handshake of the home, you know, it's your first impression
that you get.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
I love that. The handshake of the home, that's that's
really nice. I like that.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
So on the lines of things that are sort of
more permanent, because I most of my wish list are
more object related and they're all things I don't have
at the moment, by the way, so this is truly
a wish list, but along the lines of elements of
design that are more permanent, I am going to lump
both of these into one of my wish list items,
(03:44):
and one is walnut. I love walnut more than anything.
It's like, put walnut anywhere, and I'm a happy girl.
So it's just it's so beautiful, it's so American and
you know, specific to us. So I want a lot
of walnut in my dream home. And then another element,
(04:05):
as far as paint colors go, you know, in recent years,
I guess maybe the last decade, bright and white and
light was such a thing. And while I love that
look because it is it's very clean and elegant and pretty,
to see the way that it sort of ushers the
(04:26):
natural sunlight in, I just I'm so over all white,
and I think a nice alternative to that is a.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
Really beautiful pale blue. And when I look.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Back at all of the homes that I've been into
and covered in traditional home, if I made a list
of my top five favorites, and I can think.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Of them very specifically right now, I have them in
my mind.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
They all have this ribbon of light blue running through them.
And I love blue anyway, and specifically that really pale,
sort of icy blue. So I think my dream house
would not be shocking pink, but it would be icy blue.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
You can't go wrong with icy blue. I think that's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
I've seen a couple of rooms too where they've like
lacquered the walls in that color, and it's just such
a beautiful statement in this space.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
Oh, I love a kitchen with that color, with cabinetry
in that ice blue.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
It is beautiful well.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
And kind of an icy blue kind of brings me
to one of my favorite things too, or on my
wish list. I think is just the idea of a
luxury retreat in your bedroom, and I think that light
pale blue goes really well to just it's a very
restorative feeling, and I think having a primary suite that
is restorative kind of resets you. It's a space that
(05:45):
you wake up to and go to sleep in, and
that motivates you to be the person that you want
to be every day. So a primary suite I think
is really important to me. I especially love it when
they're big enough to have a seating area that you can,
you know, sit down and read or have a morning
coffee and just kind of take the day in. And
(06:06):
I think that those are some key components to dream
wish list for me.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Well, I'm going to piggyback on the bedroom and one
element that I would love. I used to have one
when I was small, but I haven't had one as
an adult is a canopy bed. I just love a grand,
beautiful canopy bed. Now for that, you sort of do
need the architecture and the space the height to accommodate that,
(06:31):
but I love a canopy bed even better if it's
in a house on Nantucket with mosquito netting over the canopy.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
That's part of my dream house too.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
I guess I wanted to be in Nantucket, but I
love a canopy bed. And again, thinking back to some
rooms that are really my favorite, it's like, what is
the unifying moment at this bedroom.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
And it's like it's a canopy bed. They're just so wonderful.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
I love it when we can incorporate a canopybread into
the design. Just like you mentioned too, So many rooms
don't allow it, both in height with and just how
the architecture kind.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Of plays with it.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
But it really gives you a unique moment, and I
think it just is absolutely stunning. Actually one of my
favorite beds that's I would love to have it in
my home.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
It doesn't work in my house.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Is Baker has that beautiful gold one, a canopy bed
and it.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Just just just a stunning bed. I absolutely love it.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
And then you layer it with beautiful, custom luxurious pillows
and it just has a wonderful moment.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Yes, that that is a great bed, the best version
I've ever seen. And I can't assign a maker to
this a vendor because I think the bed was antique,
or if it wasn't, I just don't know.
Speaker 5 (07:41):
But a designer had a It.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
Was brown wood, the kind of brown wood that we
all avoided for a decade. It was that color brown wood,
and again it was just paired with this light blue
really sort of delicate ditsy prints all over the room.
They used one pattern all over the room and then
you got the contrast of this brown wood cannot be
bed and it was just really delightful and it was
(08:07):
feminine and it was handsome at the same time. It
was handsome and palette, but feminine in the fabric that
was selected.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
So I love that.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Well.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
One of my favorite things, or I think just wishless
items that I think so important too, is really layered
lux lighting. I think that that should exist in all
dream houses. I think having areas that your house just
glows and that should be the entire thing. Beautiful chandeliers
that have sculpture and interest to it, I think, just
elevate your spaces in your home and being thoughtful on
(08:38):
art lights and just beautiful lamps and how they pull
the space in the room together and it just like
I said, has that glow of the candle light moments
of that dimmers throughout the space.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
Lighting is a must.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
People need stylish lighting from a purely aesthetic perspective and
then all of the you know, the ask and the
function that it holds. So lighting is so important and
multiple versions of it. Likewise, I put very specific lighting
on my list, and one is a crystal chandelier and again,
(09:12):
I think that for a while, crystal chandeliers sort of
went by the wayside, and maybe people thought of them
as being a little staid and dowdy. But I just
think that a crystal chandelier is so glamorous. It's timeless.
I don't care if it's in or out. It's just timeless,
and it is an instantaneous way to add glamour. I
(09:37):
don't like to say to any space, but in this case,
I will break my own rule. I will say to
any space. I've even seen a crystal chandelier in a garage,
if you can imagine. So I just yeah, I love
a good crystal chandelier, but I love a traditional chandelier.
I'm not into ones that are super modern. I think
they look to vegasy, you know, too much like they
(09:58):
belong in a casino or a li of a hotel
in Vegas. Additionally to my lighting dream that's going in
my dream house are a pair of Morano glass lamps. Now,
this is something that I already have.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
But there's room for more.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
I can always find another space for moranoglass lamps, and
especially in a great color Mirano glass is it's really
special and it's you know, it's vintage, and the colors
are just fantastic. They're kind of all of these candy hues.
So that's my contribution for lighting. You can't go wrong
with moranoglass. It's just absolutely stunning. When I was in Venice,
(10:35):
I had the pleasure of going to watch them make it,
and it's just such an art form and it just
really has such an appreciation for how it's blown and
how the colors are developed over the heat and everything,
and it just Yes, you're right, you can never have
too many.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
Yeah, I don thing you can go wrong with that well.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
And I think that kind of goes along too.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
I think one of my you know, desires, is that
just to have in your home that signature indulgent moment.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
And I think you're, like you mentioned the.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Moranoglass has that, But I think that that can happen
in other areas too, of just like a studying vanity display,
you know, or custom bar card that just has those
little luxuries of indulgence, or even just the way you
style your coffee areas. I think those little key touches
are important for those dream moments too, right.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
I think that the design industry I mean, we certainly
see this in fashion or just even with other little,
smaller moments throughout the home. There's always, you know, when
you're talking about gift giving, the thing that people don't
buy them for themselves. And I think in the design world,
even though oftentimes we do buy those things for ourselves,
there's a whole category of things, like what you said,
(11:45):
a vanity at Barcart, those sorts of elements that aren't
necessarily first on your design list when you're furnishing a home,
but are those wonderful little add ons that that are special.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Well, and it's fun too because you can in those areas,
you know, show off the products that you love, or
the beautiful glasses that you love in your bar card
or just cute little dishware, the toothpicks and the bar
opener and things like that too. It shows your style
and your unique perspective of things too, of what you've
kind of collected over time.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
Absolutely so along that line of you know.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Pieces that aren't necessarily the top tier fundamental piece of
a room, I'm going to add a great writing desk,
and I love a pretty writing desk that is clear
of any sort of monitor, one that you can just
bring a laptop to and not have the design cluttered
(12:43):
by electric sort of things devices.
Speaker 5 (12:46):
But I just I love stationary. I love writing notes,
and so a.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
Pretty space to sit down and do that, preferably French
in style, is something that I would love. And I
do actually have a really beautiful desk that I'm sitting
at right now in fact. But having a space to
sit down and specifically right specifically handwritten notes even I'll
(13:11):
take it there, I think is important.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
This is a moment of home.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
It is a moment of calm, and you know it's
it's canic when you have your trying to do work
or sit down and do different things in areas of
your home that aren't meant to be for that function.
So I think having that small luxury of a writing
desk or a place to do those types of things
is always a nice a nice touch in a home.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
Well, and a writing desk is also that is luxurious
because writing desk aren't necessarily functional, they're not organizational, they
don't have all of the cubbies and pole outdoors and
all of that. But the good news is because technology
is now oftentimes wireless, you don't have to be hardwired
and your printer can be in the other room. I
(13:54):
think it's okay. It's writing desk can have a moment now.
And the other good thing is if you don't want
it as a writing desk and you can use it
as a dressing table or a vanity.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Yeah, and I think it's easier to get away with
some of those than you used to, like you mentioned,
because you can put your printer somewhere else, and the
file storage has all gone online as well too, so
the storage isn't quite as much importance as it used
to be, which is really nice to be able to
pull off those free standing desks absolutely well. I think
it's a little hard not to talk about a dream
(14:25):
house without a dream closet. And with that, I think
just having a closet that can be styled, I think
is a beautiful luxury.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
I love it when you can add a little.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Wallpaper in there into the space, even if you're tight
on space on the walls, like even just on the
ceiling is a unique look. Some decorative lighting I think
is a really nice touch. I love it when a
pretty little vanity you can sit in the closet as well.
I think just a place for everything, you know, your
shoes being able to be able to be displayed and
(14:57):
see them easily.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
But I think it's it's not.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
All just the structural part of a dream closet, but
the decorative items, the decorative choices that make it stunning
as well.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Oh yes, dressing rooms are certainly closets are on their
A game, A plus game.
Speaker 5 (15:12):
Really. I have not looked at a Barbie.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
Dreamhouse in a long time, but if Mattel has not
added one to their Barbie Dreamhouse, they are missing out.
So Mattel toy makers, that Barbie Dreamhouse should have a
closet in there to store all of Barbie's clothes and
it should be fabulous. Yeah, I am going to go
to a piece that is you know, I just spoke
(15:38):
about writing desk a moment ago that really aren't fundamental.
But I'm going to go to a piece that is fundamental,
and that is a sofa. I think that you know,
the sofa when we're dressing rooms that naturally have a
sofa in them, that those appointments are so important because
we want something of quality. We want, you know, a
(16:00):
great fabric or a great material that's upholstering that piece
and we also want a great silhouette, so I have
two examples here. I definitely want this is like I
dream about this almost every day. A Chesterfield sofa in
camel leather one. That's the proper proportions because sometimes when
(16:20):
Chesterfields aren't super wide, they look off, so it needs
to be substantial in size. And then I would love
a Louis the sixteenth SETI in blue mohair, but it
has to be blue mohair, not another color.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Those are great items, definitely stunning signature staples to a home. Definitely,
I'd love a Louis piece just even like I love
it when it has a gold frame and then it
has zebra or an animal print on it. I think
it's always a classic. But you have my heart as
well with a Chesterfield. I think that it's just one
of the most classic staples of a home.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Yes, I need both of those sofas.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
I love it too on the chester Fields when they're
extra wide too, that you can almost perch on the
backside of it, like if you float it in the room.
It's something that like as you entertain, somebody could sit
on the edge of that.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
It's just a great anchor. There's something about a chester
field that's so different than all of the other sofa
forms and silhouettes out there.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
So yes, yeah, well I think kind of along with that,
kind of just good anchors like you mentioned too. For me,
I think a must is also a beautiful hand knotted rug.
I think you can't go wrong with the way a
beautiful hand knotted rug is versus your machine made poly
type of rug. It just works differently, It speaks differently
(17:43):
in the room, and it grounds the space better than
anything else. The color saturation is just so beautiful. And
you know, I love it when you can turn it
over and you see all the labor of love that
goes into those hand knotted rugs of all the artists
and all over the country or over the world.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
All of those hanging fibers on the backs that are fantastic,
and they do show off the laborious craftsmanship that's been
put into it well. And I mean a rug can
offer so much color and pattern on its own, you know,
it's essentially a piece of artwork on the floor. And
the thing about a rug that is from a real
(18:25):
material like wool that's hand not it is the way
it wears is so different and over time.
Speaker 5 (18:31):
Sometimes, you know, sometimes with a rug it takes.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
So long it's like, oh maybe I won't be around
to enjoy what it looks like, but somebody will, and
just the way they wear is so much more interesting
over time.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
Well, I think that's what's so beautiful about handnotted rugs
like that, is they really last forever.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
I mean hundreds of years.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
I'm just the artistry that goes into it, you get
to share with other people down the road.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
Yes, And I mean a lot of people, you know,
shell out a lot of a lot of money for
antique rugs for that reason. I mean you just can't.
You can't get that level of wear and patina overnight
from a new rug. And new rugs do look really new,
like there's sort of no way to make it go fast.
And so yes, they're very sought after.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
So Megan, something else.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
You know, we talked about Morano glass a moment ago,
and you mentioned your time in Italy.
Speaker 5 (19:28):
So I'm I'm gonna hang out in Italy here for
a moment.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
First of all, Fortuny for listeners who don't know, Fortuni
is an extraordinary Italian fabric. It's one of those stories
like so many products, including I think Coca cola in
this country. But it's one of those products that you know,
only like six people know how to do it in
(19:52):
the world or something.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
It's so the secret is.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Very protected, and it is so luxury. I love a
piece of Fortuny. I don't want it everywhere, nor does
my budget support that, so that's okay, But I do
love a little bit of Fortuny, and specifically again, I'm
going back to blue. I just love the Fortuny patterns
that are blue with the gold or blue with the
(20:18):
sort of metallic color.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
So I think that that is such a luxury.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
I think they would look great on my new Louis
the sixteenth sette with blue mohair, so I think that's
just the right combination.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
I think that is a beautiful combo as well too. Now,
I there's something so special about Fortuny and just the
history that goes along with it, but just even the
way it looks and feels and just it's a really
magical thing.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
So I hope you get that in.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
Your home someday. Someday. What's another one for you?
Speaker 3 (20:47):
You know, I think, you know, having artwork that sparkles
and I don't necessarily mean literally sparkles, but just artwork
that really has that story, that boldness or that tranquility
that you need. But just having artwork that is right
for the space I think really just makes it into
that dream house that we all want. You neque colors,
(21:09):
whether it's just an old historical type of artwork or
more modern type of print, I think the artwork really
tells the story of who you are, and I think
we could all use those different pieces of artwork in
our home.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
So hopefully Santa's bring us one agreed.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
You know, artwork is, you know, it's a luxury, and
it's I think the opportunity, more than any other design
element to really say something about the owner who lives there.
Because artwork is not functional. It is meant to dazzle
and delight and entertain, but it doesn't really serve a
(21:46):
function other than making us feel a certain way and
whatever that emotion is. And so I agree that, you know,
artwork should be considered and not necessarily designated to the
last layer of design. I love Wolf Kahn, who is
an artist who is now no longer with this I
(22:07):
think he passed a few years ago, but specifically He's
paintings have so much color to them. He depicts trees,
and I love trees so much that his paintings. Someday
I hope to have one in my collection. Trees just
mean so much to me. Like I love them as
(22:27):
a symbol, I love them as a piece of nature
more than other parts of nature. And I love his work.
They're sort of half abstract, half not in a way,
but they just come in all of these wonderful, bright,
bold colors.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
And so that is on my wish list for.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Santa, as far as something that's purely decorative.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Well, and I think too, what's so neat about art
is you can also achieve it at any budget. You know,
it doesn't have to be super expensive. It just I
think it's something that speaks to you and that you
enjoy walking by it every day and it's a part
of who you are. And so I think that's what's
so neat about having artwork that makes sense in your home.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Well, and I think since it is we're talking about
Christmas here and gifting, if you know that somebody loves
a piece of art or a certain artist, especially if
it's an emerging artist, I think that it's such a
great way to support an artists. We've talked before about
supporting small businesses and how important that is, and when
(23:31):
you buy a piece of artwork from an emerging artist,
it's not necessarily meant for the purpose of investment, but
merely the purpose of enjoying whatever that artwork is. I
think that's it's very charitable in a way because ours
are sort of left in the wind sometimes, so we
do want to support their efforts, and so that's a
(23:53):
great way, great way to do that well.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
And that kind of brings me to another thing that
I think is really important in a dream house, and
I think that's worthy styled collections. I think having collections
that tell your story or you know, unique handmade pottery,
and you know, supporting those artists and giving back to
the community like you just mentioned. But I think having
collected objects I think is really important in a home.
(24:18):
Beautiful books, styling them, sharing them on your shelves, you know,
even just vintage brass or different things. But I think
it helps homes feel like you versus ones that are
just there. It helps curate them. They're not just purchased
and put together.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
It really helps curate them.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
And I think that so often one of the reasons
that people aren't collectors is because they don't know what
to collect.
Speaker 5 (24:45):
And I think an.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
Easy way to go about it is maybe instead of
picking something super specific, like a ceramic that's from only
a certain time period, just pick a material. So you
just mentioned vintage brass, like pick brass, or pick ceramic
that's all ivory and color or all yellow in color,
and that sort of takes the guesswork away, and that
(25:08):
also will create a collection that's not just filled with
all of these high budget sorts of things, but things
that are more budget friendly as well, because you can,
you know, we'll take the easy one. We'll take blue
and white ceramics. You can buy a blue and write
ceramic for ten dollars or ten thousand or one hundred
thousand and.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
Everywhere in between. So it sort of forces you to
be attracted to the material versus.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
The you know, again, the investment dollar that may be
tied to that. So I'm all about collections. I think
they're so so very important. Speaking of collections, you know,
and I know that we talk about books all the time,
coffee table and otherwise. Something that I put on my
dream house list, just because you and I have both
(25:59):
visited the showrooms so many times at market. I love
bookcases that really are furniture, and I love when you
know you can't just get one, you have to get
at least a pair. But sometimes, I mean, we've both
been in the showrooms where they have an entire wall
of pieces that are not built ins. They are, in
(26:21):
fact furniture pieces that are so mammoths. They're always enormous
in size and scale and really heavy, like this is
going to require several very big, strong, burly men to
move and install these. But I just I love that
because it does really marry furniture with function and sometimes
(26:45):
built ins.
Speaker 5 (26:46):
I love built ins. I mean, there's nothing more.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
Functional than built in shelves as far as storage goes.
But sometimes they do lack style, like sometimes they are
just cabinets, And so I love the fact that a
bookcase that incorporates that storage but really is a piece
of furniture to house all of your special collections your
(27:08):
books are just a little more stylish. And then one
other thing I'm going to add that has to do
with books. I've always wanted one of those bookstands that's
just like a pedestal for your book that has the
V shape to it, so you can have a book
open line flat. I think those are so much fun,
(27:30):
and I would love to have one of those with
one of those oversized, super oversized books in them.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
No, I love those two. They're so beautiful and just
a neat part of a room.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Well, and I'll just add to that for a moment too.
They're also a piece of sculpture, and they're an active
piece of sculpture. So in theory, if you have guests over,
you know, you can, first of all, you can change
out the book because there are lots of different subjects
that come really oversized like that.
Speaker 5 (27:57):
But then I think it's interesting.
Speaker 4 (27:59):
I know I've done it when I've gone to houses
where people have had those.
Speaker 5 (28:02):
I've just sort of flipped through. And I think it's.
Speaker 4 (28:04):
An opportunity then too for guests to you know, flip
through and maybe land on a special page that's.
Speaker 5 (28:11):
I don't know, the Grand Canyon or Victoria Falls or
something like that.
Speaker 4 (28:15):
That's that's great, just to sort of see the movement
and what people are attracted to from the photography perspective.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Well, especially in those really big books, you can put
just a beautiful bookmark in it, or just how it
can flow out of the book or just have a
little style that way I think is always beautiful as
well really really fun. Well, one of the things I
think is super important as well for a dream house
is a signature room moment, and I think for me,
that's a bold wallpaper. I think that there's nothing better
(28:45):
than having a bold wallpaper somewhere in your home, just
something that makes people kind of stop in their tracks
and go, wow, look at that. You know, just I've
never seen anything like that, and I think it just
sets the tone, it expresses personality, and I think it's
just a beautiful way to.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Kind of have a must have like that in your home.
Speaker 4 (29:06):
Well, and I'm so thrilled that the wallpaper company, so
many vendors have really embraced the overscaled pattern specifically because
I think those sort of amplify that wow moment when
you walk in and it's like, Okay, this room is
confident because you book that depiction of a rose and
you know, it's just enormous on the wall or whatever
(29:28):
the subject matter is. So I agree with you. I
love a great wallpaper, but especially ones that are oversized,
I think they make an even bigger impact. One of
my impact show stoppers I guess is you know I've
said before on this podcast many times I'm not really
a modernist.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
However, I do always.
Speaker 4 (29:49):
Appreciate, enjoy the marriage of historic architecture, beautiful mill work
that's very traditional with a wonderful abstract painting or piece
of or at work or furniture. And so this may
be a little obvious because I feel like so many
people love this piece specifically, and I will say I
(30:10):
don't necessarily want all of those modern classic pieces in
my own house, but I have always loved into this day,
still love it the Barcelona David by mis Vandero, again
specifically in black leather.
Speaker 5 (30:26):
To me, it's got to be in black leather.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
I just think it's so chic and such a statement,
especially in a home that is sort of anchored in
more traditional style, because it's this wonderful style surprise of
something that's modern.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
I think that's a beautiful look. And even in a
traditional space, whether it's the Barcelona David or just the
Tulip table or the Eames chair, I think just really
kind of adds that interesting element into the room. Even,
like I said, into a traditional space as well too.
Speaker 4 (30:55):
Well, and I guess I have with this Barcelona David,
I have dreams of, you know, in the afternoon where
I just have nothing to do, so I go take
a snooze or sit there with the book as if
this is ever going to happen. But yeah, there's something
that that piece specifically implies about.
Speaker 5 (31:11):
Relaxation and just tuning out for a while.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
Well, I think you also can't be a barbie without
a little bit of animal print in your wife. I think,
whether that's in your shoe, your carpet runner going up
your stairs, or a zebra hide rug overlaid over a
sizal rug, I think just that little bit of animal
print in a home adds a really nice element to
the space.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
Agreed.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
And what's nice now is they come in lots of colors,
like you don't necessarily have to have them in just
their natural palette. I always laugh with animal prints because
I always hear people say, oh, you know, animal prints
are back in.
Speaker 5 (31:45):
It's like, well when did they go?
Speaker 4 (31:47):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (31:47):
No, way, Like it's just always a.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Classic, always a stable in the home in fashion, So
I think that that, yes, I mean I agree Barbie
especially needs a cheetah print rug of it's super daring
and it's super confident. I think to have animal print,
so that's a forever staple. Okay, well I'm going sorry,
(32:11):
I'm taking us back to Italy again. I have a
couple more Italian pieces that I have to make note of.
We talk about entertaining all the time, and I have
admitted I have zero plans of ever stopping buying dishes.
And I love the Richard Jenoi Oriente Italiano pattern and
(32:31):
it comes in all of those great colors, and it's
been instagram to death, and it was even popular before that.
I love those colors and I think they're very interesting. However,
of all of the patterns, I still don't think I
want the super colorful patterns in my own dining room.
Speaker 5 (32:48):
But they did come.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
Out with this new sort of the latest colorway of it,
and it's called Maringa and it's beige, and I know
that doesn't sound probably over our airways, particularly interesting, but
it's beige. And then the pattern is in ivory and
it's just so elegant. It's so elegant and beautiful, and
(33:12):
I do think with that pattern, just because it is
so popular and shown so much that at some point
maybe people will tire of it. I mean I'm not
tired of it. I just this beige and ivory pattern.
It's just so elegant and so sophisticated. So I would say,
because I always want to add to my tabletop collection,
(33:35):
that specific pattern in that specific color is something that
I will love.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
I think.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
To go along with that too, just entertaining, I would
love some beautiful crystal colored glasses I think would just
be beautiful just to kind of set around the table
that just have a unique design to them and pretty color.
And I think even with those beige plates as well,
it would still just be beautiful too.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
Absolutely crystal I think is wonderful, and you know people
don't always embrace it because especially for wine drinkers, you know,
they want that beautiful color of the wine to show through.
But I think color glass is great and have fun
with it. Go get vintage tumblers or vintage barwear in
those great colors.
Speaker 5 (34:18):
So much fun, so much fun.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
My last piece of entertaining in the entertaining category is
an old farm dining table that's beat up, I mean
beat up, beat up. I love, love, love those, I
just think they're fantastic, and yeah, to have a dinner
on that again, it looks so good with sort of
(34:41):
more rustic I think about, you know, we're just coming
off the heels of fall, you know, when you have
sort of the crunchy colors of the fiery foliage outside
and some of those rougher raffias and things like that.
But also again just that tension that comes when you
(35:02):
take an old piece like that, it's just really beat
up wood that's super distressed, and then pair it with
all of the formal dining accoutrement I think is just
such a great look. So an old farm dining table,
they're hard to find those sometimes they're not hard to
find when you want them, they're not there well.
Speaker 3 (35:20):
And I think there's so much sophistication even in something
so more rustic, like you said too, but just even
the romance of having a candle at dinner and how
that kind of sets the tone in the space too.
I think you can make it so elegant and beautiful
as well.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
So Megan, we're about ready to turn the time from
twenty twenty five to twenty twenty six, And that leads
me if I could buy one thing. I do think
that this wins above all others. And if I didn't
need a specific piece of furniture for functional purposes, I
(35:58):
think this, and it's not for but it would I
don't know. I think it would win, and that this
is the first thing I'm buying after, you know, the
Powerball winnings come through, if they ever do, if I
ever pick those numbers right, And I think I'm going
to buy this regardless of that, because it's okay.
Speaker 5 (36:14):
But a Mora clock. I love those Swedish clocks. The
shape of them, the hourglass shape of them. They are
just stunning.
Speaker 4 (36:24):
I love a grandfather clock anyway, and I am going
to inherit one at some point from my grandparents. But
I would really love one of those Maura clocks from Sweden.
They're so beautiful and the colors, the finishes are so
great because they're always that chalky light finish, sometimes like
(36:45):
a Swedish sort of Scandinavian gray or blue or even
just white, you know, some sort of ivory white with
dark underlight underneath.
Speaker 5 (36:56):
They're just they're so great and they're so beautiful, and
I want one so.
Speaker 4 (37:00):
Bad, and by next Christmas, I may actually have one,
because I found a great vendor in round Top who has.
Speaker 5 (37:07):
Tons of them. That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
Well, I think it's like we talked about too, it's
those little statement pieces of everyday luxury, and so being
able to have that I think is so beautiful. And
it's a beautiful, beautiful clock. Like you said, all the
finishes and colors are just stunnying.
Speaker 4 (37:22):
The silhouette of them is just so so divine. So Megan,
as we end this piece, I did think of a
piece of artwork to sort of round out this discussion,
and I was just thinking about Barbie and just sort
of what Barbie looks like and the Barbie movie a little.
Speaker 5 (37:40):
Bit, and the colors.
Speaker 4 (37:42):
And so while this isn't necessarily the top of my
list and something I would want above that more o'clock,
I think it would just be fun to have, and
that would be a slim Erran photograph like those fun
vintage car Barbie for sure would want a slim Errand
(38:03):
piece in her house.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
And so I think Barbie for surely has a slim
Errands piece in her house. And maybe she's in the
photo of it from the seventies too.
Speaker 5 (38:12):
That's true. Maybe Slim has used.
Speaker 4 (38:15):
Barbie as a subduct so as a mused, so anyway,
that's how I would round out my dream house.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
That's wonderful.
Speaker 3 (38:24):
Well, it was fun talking about our dream house deep
dive today. I think it sparked some fun ideas, wish
list moments, and maybe even a little permission to dream
a little bigger.
Speaker 4 (38:34):
Yes, so we are hoping that everybody who's listening gets
some sort of addition to their home this year that
will make it extra dreaming and extra special as we
dive into twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Boulevard Beat.
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow along and leave
a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen
so you never miss an episode, and of course, follow
your host on Instagram at Megan Bloom Interiors, at Chrissa Rossbund,
and at Liz Legit. We'll be back next week as
we take a stroll down another boulevard
Welcome to boulevard Beat, a podcast we're life and style intersect.
I'm designer Megan Bloom along with my co hosts, editor CHRISA.
Rossbunt and gallery owner Liz Legit. This podcast focuses on
the daily highlights instead of the hustle, interviews with taste makers,
and personal conversations on how to highlight achievable style. You
con stroll one street at a time, Boulevard Beat proves
(00:29):
the one.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
You should take.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Well, here we are just weeks before Christmas and all
the hustle and bustle and as many little girls of
Barbie Dreamhouse is on the wish list. I've had it
on mine when I was a little girl, and my
daughter has a beautiful one too that it's a part
of her everyday play. But I think what's neat about
it too, is that just how it shapes us thinking
(00:54):
about our homes at such an early age, and just
what we can do and dream of in our home
home and what it would look like and what it
has and so got it'd be fun today to just
talk about some dream wishless items in our house.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Well, I'm excited, and I loved my Barbies. I love
my Barbie dream house, and so it's it's fun to
think of it in better qualities than plastic, right right.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
And what I think's neat too about it is it's
you know, when you think of dream houses, you obviously
think of big and lucks and all of the things.
But I think you can have your dream house in
any size, and it can be in a quaint, little
cottage just being surrounded by things that you love absolutely.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
You know, you look back and I don't even know
what those assignments were when you're like in second or
third grade and you talk about you know, I think
little boys are all going to grow up to be
baseball players and little girls are.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
Going to grow up to be I don't know, I
don't know what.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
But you know, you're like, I'm going to drive a
convertible I'm living and you have no idea what square
it means. So I think it's true. I think you
can have your dream house anywhere. I think that sometimes
houses can be far too too large for your your
lifestyle and you know, certain stages of life. So I
think that it's important to understand that you don't necessarily
(02:08):
have to have the grand architecture. While that is lovely
and beautiful to look at, and that's what I want
as well. Sometimes you just have to make your dream
house in the confines of what you have.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Well, one of my favorite things that I think, and
it's kind of the welcoming moment, is your home is
a grand entry moment. And again, it doesn't have to
be this huge, gigantic foyer with a center table on
all of those while I absolutely love that, but I
think thinking decorative that it's not just architectural, but you know,
a statement chest or console or unique wallpaper that just
(02:40):
has that you know, bold look and a little touch
of lighting and on that little table or a sconces.
But along with that too, I think just a beautiful
child floor I think is one of the best entry
staples to give you that grand entry moment of elegance
and grace in a home.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
An entry way and entry foyer is really your first
opportunity to wow over whoever's crossing that threshold. And I
suppose it's a taste of what's to come.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
It certainly is.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
I think I heard this one time and night, so
I stuck with me. It's the entry is like the
handshake of the home, you know, it's your first impression
that you get.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
I love that. The handshake of the home, that's that's
really nice. I like that.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
So on the lines of things that are sort of
more permanent, because I most of my wish list are
more object related and they're all things I don't have
at the moment, by the way, so this is truly
a wish list, but along the lines of elements of
design that are more permanent, I am going to lump
both of these into one of my wish list items,
(03:44):
and one is walnut. I love walnut more than anything.
It's like, put walnut anywhere, and I'm a happy girl.
So it's just it's so beautiful, it's so American and
you know, specific to us. So I want a lot
of walnut in my dream home. And then another element,
(04:05):
as far as paint colors go, you know, in recent years,
I guess maybe the last decade, bright and white and
light was such a thing. And while I love that
look because it is it's very clean and elegant and pretty,
to see the way that it sort of ushers the
(04:26):
natural sunlight in, I just I'm so over all white,
and I think a nice alternative to that is a.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
Really beautiful pale blue. And when I look.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Back at all of the homes that I've been into
and covered in traditional home, if I made a list
of my top five favorites, and I can think.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Of them very specifically right now, I have them in
my mind.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
They all have this ribbon of light blue running through them.
And I love blue anyway, and specifically that really pale,
sort of icy blue. So I think my dream house
would not be shocking pink, but it would be icy blue.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
You can't go wrong with icy blue. I think that's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
I've seen a couple of rooms too where they've like
lacquered the walls in that color, and it's just such
a beautiful statement in this space.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
Oh, I love a kitchen with that color, with cabinetry
in that ice blue.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
It is beautiful well.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
And kind of an icy blue kind of brings me
to one of my favorite things too, or on my
wish list. I think is just the idea of a
luxury retreat in your bedroom, and I think that light
pale blue goes really well to just it's a very
restorative feeling, and I think having a primary suite that
is restorative kind of resets you. It's a space that
(05:45):
you wake up to and go to sleep in, and
that motivates you to be the person that you want
to be every day. So a primary suite I think
is really important to me. I especially love it when
they're big enough to have a seating area that you can,
you know, sit down and read or have a morning
coffee and just kind of take the day in. And
(06:06):
I think that those are some key components to dream
wish list for me.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Well, I'm going to piggyback on the bedroom and one
element that I would love. I used to have one
when I was small, but I haven't had one as
an adult is a canopy bed. I just love a grand,
beautiful canopy bed. Now for that, you sort of do
need the architecture and the space the height to accommodate that,
(06:31):
but I love a canopy bed even better if it's
in a house on Nantucket with mosquito netting over the canopy.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
That's part of my dream house too.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
I guess I wanted to be in Nantucket, but I
love a canopy bed. And again, thinking back to some
rooms that are really my favorite, it's like, what is
the unifying moment at this bedroom.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
And it's like it's a canopy bed. They're just so wonderful.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
I love it when we can incorporate a canopybread into
the design. Just like you mentioned too, So many rooms
don't allow it, both in height with and just how
the architecture kind.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Of plays with it.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
But it really gives you a unique moment, and I
think it just is absolutely stunning. Actually one of my
favorite beds that's I would love to have it in
my home.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
It doesn't work in my house.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Is Baker has that beautiful gold one, a canopy bed
and it.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Just just just a stunning bed. I absolutely love it.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
And then you layer it with beautiful, custom luxurious pillows
and it just has a wonderful moment.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Yes, that that is a great bed, the best version
I've ever seen. And I can't assign a maker to
this a vendor because I think the bed was antique,
or if it wasn't, I just don't know.
Speaker 5 (07:41):
But a designer had a It.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
Was brown wood, the kind of brown wood that we
all avoided for a decade. It was that color brown wood,
and again it was just paired with this light blue
really sort of delicate ditsy prints all over the room.
They used one pattern all over the room and then
you got the contrast of this brown wood cannot be
bed and it was just really delightful and it was
(08:07):
feminine and it was handsome at the same time. It
was handsome and palette, but feminine in the fabric that
was selected.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
So I love that.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Well.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
One of my favorite things, or I think just wishless
items that I think so important too, is really layered
lux lighting. I think that that should exist in all
dream houses. I think having areas that your house just
glows and that should be the entire thing. Beautiful chandeliers
that have sculpture and interest to it, I think, just
elevate your spaces in your home and being thoughtful on
(08:38):
art lights and just beautiful lamps and how they pull
the space in the room together and it just like
I said, has that glow of the candle light moments
of that dimmers throughout the space.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
Lighting is a must.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
People need stylish lighting from a purely aesthetic perspective and
then all of the you know, the ask and the
function that it holds. So lighting is so important and
multiple versions of it. Likewise, I put very specific lighting
on my list, and one is a crystal chandelier and again,
(09:12):
I think that for a while, crystal chandeliers sort of
went by the wayside, and maybe people thought of them
as being a little staid and dowdy. But I just
think that a crystal chandelier is so glamorous. It's timeless.
I don't care if it's in or out. It's just timeless,
and it is an instantaneous way to add glamour. I
(09:37):
don't like to say to any space, but in this case,
I will break my own rule. I will say to
any space. I've even seen a crystal chandelier in a garage,
if you can imagine. So I just yeah, I love
a good crystal chandelier, but I love a traditional chandelier.
I'm not into ones that are super modern. I think
they look to vegasy, you know, too much like they
(09:58):
belong in a casino or a li of a hotel
in Vegas. Additionally to my lighting dream that's going in
my dream house are a pair of Morano glass lamps. Now,
this is something that I already have.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
But there's room for more.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
I can always find another space for moranoglass lamps, and
especially in a great color Mirano glass is it's really
special and it's you know, it's vintage, and the colors
are just fantastic. They're kind of all of these candy hues.
So that's my contribution for lighting. You can't go wrong
with moranoglass. It's just absolutely stunning. When I was in Venice,
(10:35):
I had the pleasure of going to watch them make it,
and it's just such an art form and it just
really has such an appreciation for how it's blown and
how the colors are developed over the heat and everything,
and it just Yes, you're right, you can never have
too many.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
Yeah, I don thing you can go wrong with that well.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
And I think that kind of goes along too.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
I think one of my you know, desires, is that
just to have in your home that signature indulgent moment.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
And I think you're, like you mentioned the.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Moranoglass has that, But I think that that can happen
in other areas too, of just like a studying vanity display,
you know, or custom bar card that just has those
little luxuries of indulgence, or even just the way you
style your coffee areas. I think those little key touches
are important for those dream moments too, right.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
I think that the design industry I mean, we certainly
see this in fashion or just even with other little,
smaller moments throughout the home. There's always, you know, when
you're talking about gift giving, the thing that people don't
buy them for themselves. And I think in the design world,
even though oftentimes we do buy those things for ourselves,
there's a whole category of things, like what you said,
(11:45):
a vanity at Barcart, those sorts of elements that aren't
necessarily first on your design list when you're furnishing a home,
but are those wonderful little add ons that that are special.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Well, and it's fun too because you can in those areas,
you know, show off the products that you love, or
the beautiful glasses that you love in your bar card
or just cute little dishware, the toothpicks and the bar
opener and things like that too. It shows your style
and your unique perspective of things too, of what you've
kind of collected over time.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
Absolutely so along that line of you know.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Pieces that aren't necessarily the top tier fundamental piece of
a room, I'm going to add a great writing desk,
and I love a pretty writing desk that is clear
of any sort of monitor, one that you can just
bring a laptop to and not have the design cluttered
(12:43):
by electric sort of things devices.
Speaker 5 (12:46):
But I just I love stationary. I love writing notes,
and so a.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
Pretty space to sit down and do that, preferably French
in style, is something that I would love. And I
do actually have a really beautiful desk that I'm sitting
at right now in fact. But having a space to
sit down and specifically right specifically handwritten notes even I'll
(13:11):
take it there, I think is important.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
This is a moment of home.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
It is a moment of calm, and you know it's
it's canic when you have your trying to do work
or sit down and do different things in areas of
your home that aren't meant to be for that function.
So I think having that small luxury of a writing
desk or a place to do those types of things
is always a nice a nice touch in a home.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
Well, and a writing desk is also that is luxurious
because writing desk aren't necessarily functional, they're not organizational, they
don't have all of the cubbies and pole outdoors and
all of that. But the good news is because technology
is now oftentimes wireless, you don't have to be hardwired
and your printer can be in the other room. I
(13:54):
think it's okay. It's writing desk can have a moment now.
And the other good thing is if you don't want
it as a writing desk and you can use it
as a dressing table or a vanity.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Yeah, and I think it's easier to get away with
some of those than you used to, like you mentioned,
because you can put your printer somewhere else, and the
file storage has all gone online as well too, so
the storage isn't quite as much importance as it used
to be, which is really nice to be able to
pull off those free standing desks absolutely well. I think
it's a little hard not to talk about a dream
(14:25):
house without a dream closet. And with that, I think
just having a closet that can be styled, I think
is a beautiful luxury.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
I love it when you can add a little.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Wallpaper in there into the space, even if you're tight
on space on the walls, like even just on the
ceiling is a unique look. Some decorative lighting I think
is a really nice touch. I love it when a
pretty little vanity you can sit in the closet as well.
I think just a place for everything, you know, your
shoes being able to be able to be displayed and
(14:57):
see them easily.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
But I think it's it's not.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
All just the structural part of a dream closet, but
the decorative items, the decorative choices that make it stunning
as well.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Oh yes, dressing rooms are certainly closets are on their
A game, A plus game.
Speaker 5 (15:12):
Really. I have not looked at a Barbie.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
Dreamhouse in a long time, but if Mattel has not
added one to their Barbie Dreamhouse, they are missing out.
So Mattel toy makers, that Barbie Dreamhouse should have a
closet in there to store all of Barbie's clothes and
it should be fabulous. Yeah, I am going to go
to a piece that is you know, I just spoke
(15:38):
about writing desk a moment ago that really aren't fundamental.
But I'm going to go to a piece that is fundamental,
and that is a sofa. I think that you know,
the sofa when we're dressing rooms that naturally have a
sofa in them, that those appointments are so important because
we want something of quality. We want, you know, a
(16:00):
great fabric or a great material that's upholstering that piece
and we also want a great silhouette, so I have
two examples here. I definitely want this is like I
dream about this almost every day. A Chesterfield sofa in
camel leather one. That's the proper proportions because sometimes when
(16:20):
Chesterfields aren't super wide, they look off, so it needs
to be substantial in size. And then I would love
a Louis the sixteenth SETI in blue mohair, but it
has to be blue mohair, not another color.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Those are great items, definitely stunning signature staples to a home. Definitely,
I'd love a Louis piece just even like I love
it when it has a gold frame and then it
has zebra or an animal print on it. I think
it's always a classic. But you have my heart as
well with a Chesterfield. I think that it's just one
of the most classic staples of a home.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Yes, I need both of those sofas.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
I love it too on the chester Fields when they're
extra wide too, that you can almost perch on the
backside of it, like if you float it in the room.
It's something that like as you entertain, somebody could sit
on the edge of that.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
It's just a great anchor. There's something about a chester
field that's so different than all of the other sofa
forms and silhouettes out there.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
So yes, yeah, well I think kind of along with that,
kind of just good anchors like you mentioned too. For me,
I think a must is also a beautiful hand knotted rug.
I think you can't go wrong with the way a
beautiful hand knotted rug is versus your machine made poly
type of rug. It just works differently, It speaks differently
(17:43):
in the room, and it grounds the space better than
anything else. The color saturation is just so beautiful. And
you know, I love it when you can turn it
over and you see all the labor of love that
goes into those hand knotted rugs of all the artists
and all over the country or over the world.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
All of those hanging fibers on the backs that are fantastic,
and they do show off the laborious craftsmanship that's been
put into it well. And I mean a rug can
offer so much color and pattern on its own, you know,
it's essentially a piece of artwork on the floor. And
the thing about a rug that is from a real
(18:25):
material like wool that's hand not it is the way
it wears is so different and over time.
Speaker 5 (18:31):
Sometimes, you know, sometimes with a rug it takes.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
So long it's like, oh maybe I won't be around
to enjoy what it looks like, but somebody will, and
just the way they wear is so much more interesting
over time.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
Well, I think that's what's so beautiful about handnotted rugs
like that, is they really last forever.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
I mean hundreds of years.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
I'm just the artistry that goes into it, you get
to share with other people down the road.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
Yes, And I mean a lot of people, you know,
shell out a lot of a lot of money for
antique rugs for that reason. I mean you just can't.
You can't get that level of wear and patina overnight
from a new rug. And new rugs do look really new,
like there's sort of no way to make it go fast.
And so yes, they're very sought after.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
So Megan, something else.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
You know, we talked about Morano glass a moment ago,
and you mentioned your time in Italy.
Speaker 5 (19:28):
So I'm I'm gonna hang out in Italy here for
a moment.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
First of all, Fortuny for listeners who don't know, Fortuni
is an extraordinary Italian fabric. It's one of those stories
like so many products, including I think Coca cola in
this country. But it's one of those products that you know,
only like six people know how to do it in
(19:52):
the world or something.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
It's so the secret is.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Very protected, and it is so luxury. I love a
piece of Fortuny. I don't want it everywhere, nor does
my budget support that, so that's okay, But I do
love a little bit of Fortuny, and specifically again, I'm
going back to blue. I just love the Fortuny patterns
that are blue with the gold or blue with the
(20:18):
sort of metallic color.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
So I think that that is such a luxury.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
I think they would look great on my new Louis
the sixteenth sette with blue mohair, so I think that's
just the right combination.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
I think that is a beautiful combo as well too. Now,
I there's something so special about Fortuny and just the
history that goes along with it, but just even the
way it looks and feels and just it's a really
magical thing.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
So I hope you get that in.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
Your home someday. Someday. What's another one for you?
Speaker 3 (20:47):
You know, I think, you know, having artwork that sparkles
and I don't necessarily mean literally sparkles, but just artwork
that really has that story, that boldness or that tranquility
that you need. But just having artwork that is right
for the space I think really just makes it into
that dream house that we all want. You neque colors,
(21:09):
whether it's just an old historical type of artwork or
more modern type of print, I think the artwork really
tells the story of who you are, and I think
we could all use those different pieces of artwork in
our home.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
So hopefully Santa's bring us one agreed.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
You know, artwork is, you know, it's a luxury, and
it's I think the opportunity, more than any other design
element to really say something about the owner who lives there.
Because artwork is not functional. It is meant to dazzle
and delight and entertain, but it doesn't really serve a
(21:46):
function other than making us feel a certain way and
whatever that emotion is. And so I agree that, you know,
artwork should be considered and not necessarily designated to the
last layer of design. I love Wolf Kahn, who is
an artist who is now no longer with this I
(22:07):
think he passed a few years ago, but specifically He's
paintings have so much color to them. He depicts trees,
and I love trees so much that his paintings. Someday
I hope to have one in my collection. Trees just
mean so much to me. Like I love them as
(22:27):
a symbol, I love them as a piece of nature
more than other parts of nature. And I love his work.
They're sort of half abstract, half not in a way,
but they just come in all of these wonderful, bright,
bold colors.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
And so that is on my wish list for.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Santa, as far as something that's purely decorative.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Well, and I think too, what's so neat about art
is you can also achieve it at any budget. You know,
it doesn't have to be super expensive. It just I
think it's something that speaks to you and that you
enjoy walking by it every day and it's a part
of who you are. And so I think that's what's
so neat about having artwork that makes sense in your home.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Well, and I think since it is we're talking about
Christmas here and gifting, if you know that somebody loves
a piece of art or a certain artist, especially if
it's an emerging artist, I think that it's such a
great way to support an artists. We've talked before about
supporting small businesses and how important that is, and when
(23:31):
you buy a piece of artwork from an emerging artist,
it's not necessarily meant for the purpose of investment, but
merely the purpose of enjoying whatever that artwork is. I
think that's it's very charitable in a way because ours
are sort of left in the wind sometimes, so we
do want to support their efforts, and so that's a
(23:53):
great way, great way to do that well.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
And that kind of brings me to another thing that
I think is really important in a dream house, and
I think that's worthy styled collections. I think having collections
that tell your story or you know, unique handmade pottery,
and you know, supporting those artists and giving back to
the community like you just mentioned. But I think having
collected objects I think is really important in a home.
(24:18):
Beautiful books, styling them, sharing them on your shelves, you know,
even just vintage brass or different things. But I think
it helps homes feel like you versus ones that are
just there. It helps curate them. They're not just purchased
and put together.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
It really helps curate them.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
And I think that so often one of the reasons
that people aren't collectors is because they don't know what
to collect.
Speaker 5 (24:45):
And I think an.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
Easy way to go about it is maybe instead of
picking something super specific, like a ceramic that's from only
a certain time period, just pick a material. So you
just mentioned vintage brass, like pick brass, or pick ceramic
that's all ivory and color or all yellow in color,
and that sort of takes the guesswork away, and that
(25:08):
also will create a collection that's not just filled with
all of these high budget sorts of things, but things
that are more budget friendly as well, because you can,
you know, we'll take the easy one. We'll take blue
and white ceramics. You can buy a blue and write
ceramic for ten dollars or ten thousand or one hundred
thousand and.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
Everywhere in between. So it sort of forces you to
be attracted to the material versus.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
The you know, again, the investment dollar that may be
tied to that. So I'm all about collections. I think
they're so so very important. Speaking of collections, you know,
and I know that we talk about books all the time,
coffee table and otherwise. Something that I put on my
dream house list, just because you and I have both
(25:59):
visited the showrooms so many times at market. I love
bookcases that really are furniture, and I love when you
know you can't just get one, you have to get
at least a pair. But sometimes, I mean, we've both
been in the showrooms where they have an entire wall
of pieces that are not built ins. They are, in
(26:21):
fact furniture pieces that are so mammoths. They're always enormous
in size and scale and really heavy, like this is
going to require several very big, strong, burly men to
move and install these. But I just I love that
because it does really marry furniture with function and sometimes
(26:45):
built ins.
Speaker 5 (26:46):
I love built ins. I mean, there's nothing more.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
Functional than built in shelves as far as storage goes.
But sometimes they do lack style, like sometimes they are
just cabinets, And so I love the fact that a
bookcase that incorporates that storage but really is a piece
of furniture to house all of your special collections your
(27:08):
books are just a little more stylish. And then one
other thing I'm going to add that has to do
with books. I've always wanted one of those bookstands that's
just like a pedestal for your book that has the
V shape to it, so you can have a book
open line flat. I think those are so much fun,
(27:30):
and I would love to have one of those with
one of those oversized, super oversized books in them.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
No, I love those two. They're so beautiful and just
a neat part of a room.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Well, and I'll just add to that for a moment too.
They're also a piece of sculpture, and they're an active
piece of sculpture. So in theory, if you have guests over,
you know, you can, first of all, you can change
out the book because there are lots of different subjects
that come really oversized like that.
Speaker 5 (27:57):
But then I think it's interesting.
Speaker 4 (27:59):
I know I've done it when I've gone to houses
where people have had those.
Speaker 5 (28:02):
I've just sort of flipped through. And I think it's.
Speaker 4 (28:04):
An opportunity then too for guests to you know, flip
through and maybe land on a special page that's.
Speaker 5 (28:11):
I don't know, the Grand Canyon or Victoria Falls or
something like that.
Speaker 4 (28:15):
That's that's great, just to sort of see the movement
and what people are attracted to from the photography perspective.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Well, especially in those really big books, you can put
just a beautiful bookmark in it, or just how it
can flow out of the book or just have a
little style that way I think is always beautiful as
well really really fun. Well, one of the things I
think is super important as well for a dream house
is a signature room moment, and I think for me,
that's a bold wallpaper. I think that there's nothing better
(28:45):
than having a bold wallpaper somewhere in your home, just
something that makes people kind of stop in their tracks
and go, wow, look at that. You know, just I've
never seen anything like that, and I think it just
sets the tone, it expresses personality, and I think it's
just a beautiful way to.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Kind of have a must have like that in your home.
Speaker 4 (29:06):
Well, and I'm so thrilled that the wallpaper company, so
many vendors have really embraced the overscaled pattern specifically because
I think those sort of amplify that wow moment when
you walk in and it's like, Okay, this room is
confident because you book that depiction of a rose and
you know, it's just enormous on the wall or whatever
(29:28):
the subject matter is. So I agree with you. I
love a great wallpaper, but especially ones that are oversized,
I think they make an even bigger impact. One of
my impact show stoppers I guess is you know I've
said before on this podcast many times I'm not really
a modernist.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
However, I do always.
Speaker 4 (29:49):
Appreciate, enjoy the marriage of historic architecture, beautiful mill work
that's very traditional with a wonderful abstract painting or piece
of or at work or furniture. And so this may
be a little obvious because I feel like so many
people love this piece specifically, and I will say I
(30:10):
don't necessarily want all of those modern classic pieces in
my own house, but I have always loved into this day,
still love it the Barcelona David by mis Vandero, again
specifically in black leather.
Speaker 5 (30:26):
To me, it's got to be in black leather.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
I just think it's so chic and such a statement,
especially in a home that is sort of anchored in
more traditional style, because it's this wonderful style surprise of
something that's modern.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
I think that's a beautiful look. And even in a
traditional space, whether it's the Barcelona David or just the
Tulip table or the Eames chair, I think just really
kind of adds that interesting element into the room. Even,
like I said, into a traditional space as well too.
Speaker 4 (30:55):
Well, and I guess I have with this Barcelona David,
I have dreams of, you know, in the afternoon where
I just have nothing to do, so I go take
a snooze or sit there with the book as if
this is ever going to happen. But yeah, there's something
that that piece specifically implies about.
Speaker 5 (31:11):
Relaxation and just tuning out for a while.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
Well, I think you also can't be a barbie without
a little bit of animal print in your wife. I think,
whether that's in your shoe, your carpet runner going up
your stairs, or a zebra hide rug overlaid over a
sizal rug, I think just that little bit of animal
print in a home adds a really nice element to
the space.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
Agreed.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
And what's nice now is they come in lots of colors,
like you don't necessarily have to have them in just
their natural palette. I always laugh with animal prints because
I always hear people say, oh, you know, animal prints
are back in.
Speaker 5 (31:45):
It's like, well when did they go?
Speaker 4 (31:47):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (31:47):
No, way, Like it's just always a.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Classic, always a stable in the home in fashion, So
I think that that, yes, I mean I agree Barbie
especially needs a cheetah print rug of it's super daring
and it's super confident. I think to have animal print,
so that's a forever staple. Okay, well I'm going sorry,
(32:11):
I'm taking us back to Italy again. I have a
couple more Italian pieces that I have to make note of.
We talk about entertaining all the time, and I have
admitted I have zero plans of ever stopping buying dishes.
And I love the Richard Jenoi Oriente Italiano pattern and
(32:31):
it comes in all of those great colors, and it's
been instagram to death, and it was even popular before that.
I love those colors and I think they're very interesting. However,
of all of the patterns, I still don't think I
want the super colorful patterns in my own dining room.
Speaker 5 (32:48):
But they did come.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
Out with this new sort of the latest colorway of it,
and it's called Maringa and it's beige, and I know
that doesn't sound probably over our airways, particularly interesting, but
it's beige. And then the pattern is in ivory and
it's just so elegant. It's so elegant and beautiful, and
(33:12):
I do think with that pattern, just because it is
so popular and shown so much that at some point
maybe people will tire of it. I mean I'm not
tired of it. I just this beige and ivory pattern.
It's just so elegant and so sophisticated. So I would say,
because I always want to add to my tabletop collection,
(33:35):
that specific pattern in that specific color is something that
I will love.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
I think.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
To go along with that too, just entertaining, I would
love some beautiful crystal colored glasses I think would just
be beautiful just to kind of set around the table
that just have a unique design to them and pretty color.
And I think even with those beige plates as well,
it would still just be beautiful too.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
Absolutely crystal I think is wonderful, and you know people
don't always embrace it because especially for wine drinkers, you know,
they want that beautiful color of the wine to show through.
But I think color glass is great and have fun
with it. Go get vintage tumblers or vintage barwear in
those great colors.
Speaker 5 (34:18):
So much fun, so much fun.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
My last piece of entertaining in the entertaining category is
an old farm dining table that's beat up, I mean
beat up, beat up. I love, love, love those, I
just think they're fantastic, and yeah, to have a dinner
on that again, it looks so good with sort of
(34:41):
more rustic I think about, you know, we're just coming
off the heels of fall, you know, when you have
sort of the crunchy colors of the fiery foliage outside
and some of those rougher raffias and things like that.
But also again just that tension that comes when you
(35:02):
take an old piece like that, it's just really beat
up wood that's super distressed, and then pair it with
all of the formal dining accoutrement I think is just
such a great look. So an old farm dining table,
they're hard to find those sometimes they're not hard to
find when you want them, they're not there well.
Speaker 3 (35:20):
And I think there's so much sophistication even in something
so more rustic, like you said too, but just even
the romance of having a candle at dinner and how
that kind of sets the tone in the space too.
I think you can make it so elegant and beautiful
as well.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
So Megan, we're about ready to turn the time from
twenty twenty five to twenty twenty six, And that leads
me if I could buy one thing. I do think
that this wins above all others. And if I didn't
need a specific piece of furniture for functional purposes, I
(35:58):
think this, and it's not for but it would I
don't know. I think it would win, and that this
is the first thing I'm buying after, you know, the
Powerball winnings come through, if they ever do, if I
ever pick those numbers right, And I think I'm going
to buy this regardless of that, because it's okay.
Speaker 5 (36:14):
But a Mora clock. I love those Swedish clocks. The
shape of them, the hourglass shape of them. They are
just stunning.
Speaker 4 (36:24):
I love a grandfather clock anyway, and I am going
to inherit one at some point from my grandparents. But
I would really love one of those Maura clocks from Sweden.
They're so beautiful and the colors, the finishes are so
great because they're always that chalky light finish, sometimes like
(36:45):
a Swedish sort of Scandinavian gray or blue or even
just white, you know, some sort of ivory white with
dark underlight underneath.
Speaker 5 (36:56):
They're just they're so great and they're so beautiful, and
I want one so.
Speaker 4 (37:00):
Bad, and by next Christmas, I may actually have one,
because I found a great vendor in round Top who has.
Speaker 5 (37:07):
Tons of them. That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
Well, I think it's like we talked about too, it's
those little statement pieces of everyday luxury, and so being
able to have that I think is so beautiful. And
it's a beautiful, beautiful clock. Like you said, all the
finishes and colors are just stunnying.
Speaker 4 (37:22):
The silhouette of them is just so so divine. So Megan,
as we end this piece, I did think of a
piece of artwork to sort of round out this discussion,
and I was just thinking about Barbie and just sort
of what Barbie looks like and the Barbie movie a little.
Speaker 5 (37:40):
Bit, and the colors.
Speaker 4 (37:42):
And so while this isn't necessarily the top of my
list and something I would want above that more o'clock,
I think it would just be fun to have, and
that would be a slim Erran photograph like those fun
vintage car Barbie for sure would want a slim Errand
(38:03):
piece in her house.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
And so I think Barbie for surely has a slim
Errands piece in her house. And maybe she's in the
photo of it from the seventies too.
Speaker 5 (38:12):
That's true. Maybe Slim has used.
Speaker 4 (38:15):
Barbie as a subduct so as a mused, so anyway,
that's how I would round out my dream house.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
That's wonderful.
Speaker 3 (38:24):
Well, it was fun talking about our dream house deep
dive today. I think it sparked some fun ideas, wish
list moments, and maybe even a little permission to dream
a little bigger.
Speaker 4 (38:34):
Yes, so we are hoping that everybody who's listening gets
some sort of addition to their home this year that
will make it extra dreaming and extra special as we
dive into twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Boulevard Beat.
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we take a stroll down another boulevard
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