Accessorizing Archives - Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs, Inc.

Giving Rare Antiques New Life!

May 31, 2017

Written By: joann

While shopping at the Scott Antique Market in Atlanta, I discovered some interesting and unique coin purse necklaces. I had never seen anything like them before.

Each of these necklaces tell a unique story. The designer, Jan Agnello is an antique dealer. She stumbled onto a tiny coin purse and saw a necklace made with one on Pinterest. She thought it was darling and began researching the different types of coin purses made between 1830-1930.

During her research process, she became obsessed with these now rare tiny bits of our history. She couldn’t learn enough and began buying individual purses and entire collections. She started recruiting buyers in Europe!!

She began designing and selling her necklaces and found that the obsession was contagious as women bought one necklace and kept coming back and buying more. She loves the sisterhood of those who love history and romance as she does.

The most “couture” coin purse necklace she sold was an 1889 Man in the Moon coin purse that was the earliest merchandising for the French silent film, “The Astronomers Dream“. The purse was an automaton that spit out a coin when you wiggled his ear. Crazy, rare and wonderful!!

I had a wonderful conversation with Jan and wanted to learn more about her. She graduated with an advertising degree from Washington State University and worked in sales, creating advertising campaigns for radio, television and newspapers. She later moved to Atlanta for her husband’s career.

Her company, aptly named Storyology Design started in 2013 as an outlet to pair her love of antiques with the stories that go with them.

She read a quote once that said “Old souls have little time and interest for the short-lived things in life, as they bring little meaning or long lasting fulfillment for them.”

I asked her if she could get anyone to wear one of her coin purses who would it be. She said she would seek out another old soul; perhaps Gwen Stefani, Zooey Deschanel, Drew Barrymore. She would be over the moon if Betty White, style icon Iris Apfel or Magnolia Pearl’s Robin Brown wore one of her necklaces.

Of course I had to purchase one for myself!

Please check out her website Storyologydesign.com. In the Atlanta area, you can purchase at Scott Antique Market (North Building) in Jonesboro the second weekend of every month and at the Lakewood 400 Antique Market (H Hall) in Cumming, every third weekend of the month and on Etsy. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram.

Joann

High Point 2016 Trends

April 25, 2016

Written By: joann

Every six months we attend High Point Furniture Market and anticipate what’s new, exciting and what products will make it into future projects! Here is a snippet of some furnishings in my favorite colors – black, white and green.

A brand new pattern from Thibaut in fabric and wall covering from their Bridgehampton collection.

Here are the other color ways:

Lee Industries creates high quality, creatively styled upholstery that is well crafted, tested over time and, in my opinion, one of the most comfortable in the industry. I fell in love with this tufted back green velvet swivel chair…

How incredible would this chair look paired with these plates from Global Views?

Here are a few more of my favorite chairs:

A rattan barrel chair from Selamat Designs.

A black lacquered chair sporting a Kate Spade inspired fabric from French Heritage.

A handsome leather chair from Vanguard Furniture.

A sporty swivel chair in white fabric with black contrast welt from Ambella Home.

More from the Ambella Home showroom.

Accessories and furniture were all the rage in green….

A spectacular mix of ceramics in the Legend of Asia showroom.

Decorative books for stylizing from Go Home Ltd.

A customized chest at Vanguard Furniture.

It is so versatile – a foyer piece, a nightstand or it can even be used in a gender neutral nursery!

One of the “hits” this market was a rug collection by Chip and Joanna Gaines from Fixer Upper on HGTV at Loloi Rugs. I loved the look of this rug, but it was also super soft to the touch.

I discovered these pillows in the showroom too….

We visited our tried and true vendors and also found some fabulous new ones.

This is from Barloga Studios, an art company providing fine art black and white photographs in distinctive presentation styles. My two favorites, the feather and the nest!

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I thought these art prints were quirky and interesting at Leftbank Art.

Here’s just a few more finds to add to my black, white and green obsession!

Cabinet inspired from the Florence Broadhurst collection of wallpaper from Selamat Designs. Florence was an interesting, eccentric and talented woman and quite the renegade in her day. Read about her interesting life here!

Ottomans paired to create a coffee table or used as extra seating from Rowe Furniture.

More decorative books from Go Home Ltd.

A sliding door cabinet with great contrast from French Heritage.

And finally…….. A Kate Spade lamp from Visual Comfort.

As you can see, there is a lot to see and going to High Point Furniture Market is a great way for us to view the products in person, maintain great relationships with our vendors and keep us current with all the trends in design.

Let us know if you see something you HAVE to have 🙂

Joann

Creative Power Session at Steve McKenzie’s

February 5, 2015

Written By: kelly

Joann and I have (gratefully) been smothered and covered in design work since we returned back from the holiday. Today we decided we needed to step away from the office to refresh and what better way to do that than to attend a creative power session at one of our favorite Atlanta shops – Steve McKenzie’s!

Today’s session was a gathering of about fifty of Atlanta’s designers, bloggers, tastemakers and photographers all gathering to discuss marketing and branding of your “personal story” and tips on how to get published.

Even though Joann and I feel like we are pretty good marketers of our brand, it never hurts to hear a new perspective or to be inspired by a colleague.

Designer and business/life coach Michele Williams of The Scarlet Thread lead the charge today emphasizing how important it is for all of us creative entrepreneurs to identify and market “our personal story”.

The talented girls of the popular blog Ends in Style (Christina Wedge, Alex Hernandez and Susie Roupe) spoke to the group about the success of their lifestyle blog and the importance of collaboration of talent when it comes to success in the design world. Christina reminded us all that the photography you choose to use on your website, in your marketing material and on your blog is crucial as it is a direct reflection of your brand. Lisa Mowry reminded us (especially the bloggers) to give credit to the photographer of the images you are using!

We owe a great deal of our success in being nationally and regionally published to our friend Lisa Mowry who is an impressive editor/stylist/writer in the magazine publishing world. Lisa shared some tips today on how to get published.

Just a few: 1) Call/email Lisa before contacting another scout – she will work hard for you! 2) Email her a full range of photos of your project – not just a few 3) The “story” is crucial – send her bullet points (not long photographs) about what is interesting/unique/special about each space 4) Magazines are interested in bathrooms right now 4) The quality of the photographs you send are important – especially the lighting. Don’t send the images too big. Email or dropbox is fine. 5) Be patient when waiting for Lisa to work her magic. (We’ve had projects take 6-18 months to be published).

We LOVE any excuse to visit our friends Jill and Steve McKenzie. If you haven’t visited their interiors and lifestyle shop in Atlanta, you must! (Tip: make it a fun afternoon and go for lunch next door at Miller Union or around the corner at West Egg Cafe.)

Thanks Jill and Steve for hosting this event. It’s one of the great things about being a designer in Atlanta – the educational and inspirational opportunities are endless!

Kelly

My Top 5 Favorite Pieces at The HighBoy

January 27, 2015

Written By: kelly

The HighBoy is kind of a big deal … In case you don’t know they are changing the way the world thinks about Antiques & Fine Art. In one year they have become the most exciting online marketplace for the discovery and collection of antiques and fine art around the world. To commemorate this special birthday, we have chosen our top 5 favorite pieces at The HighBoy.

First up, a set of four modernist luxe bar stools in the manner of Milo Baughman. How amazing are these? They are in Sapphire Mohair and Chrome. Click HERE and they can be yours.

My second pic is this pair of Porcelain Gerald Thurston lamps for Lightolier. This is a rare pair featuring interlocking hourglass shapes in striated porcelain with all original polished brass fittings. I could put these in a clients home tomorrow – they are so classic and gorgeous.

Because I love pink and love to stylize a space with the perfect accessory, this vintage Murano glass Bullecante bowl is my third favorite pic. This petite Murano glass bowl/small dish is in fuchsia with an array of beautifully controlled bubbles. At only 5″ wide and 2″ high, it’s the perfect size to accompany other collectibles.

As you know, Kandrac & Kole is known for the color we infuse into our designs. So my fourth favorite has to be this Modernist Waterfall Console table in the manner of Karl Springer. The table has an Asian inspired design and has been newly restored in a brilliant turquoise lacquer finish.

To me, original or interesting art that tells a story is mandatory in every room we design. Since I’m currently snowed in in New York visiting my parents, this original vintage travel poster from the Cote D’Azur Spa called “Berthemont Les Bains” definitely speaks to me. It’s a great size – 47″H x 31″ W.

I honestly could go on and on with more favorites but you will have to scour The HighBoy yourself. There are lots of ways to connect with these talented curators – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

The HighBoy has also been nominated as a finalist for the Hall of Fame at the upcoming Design Bloggers Conference in February in Atlanta. Congratulations!

Happy Anniversary The Highboy! Hope to meet you in person in Atlanta!

Kelly

How To Design a Room from Scratch!

November 9, 2014

Written By: joann

Here is a completed room with a list below on how we designed this room from scratch.

Photography by Emily Jenkins Followill

1. Take detailed measurements and photos.

2. Assess the clients needs, likes, dislikes and evaluate how the room will function. This would be an “adult space” for conversation and entertaining.

3. Find or create an inspiration piece. We wanted to incorporate modern, original art and had this 60″ x 60″ poly resin canvas commissioned to include abstract navy, turquoise and chartreuse.