Cuvée Inspiration
How She Styled It: Whitney Talsma of Oliver James Interiors
I was born and raised in Northern VA and went to George Mason University to study Marketing and Events Management. Shortly after starting college I met my college sweetheart and after graduating we moved up to Boston, MA where we currently live with our son and daughter in an early 1800's federal farmhouse. After various roles in different industries such as the wedding industry and commercial real estate, I finally made the leap to start my own residential interior design business after just having my daughter. Oliver James Interiors is the combination of my son and daughter's middle names which embodies the spirit of bringing life to my clients homes that is not only personal and timeless, but a design guaranteed to be treated with care as if it were my own. In my free time I love to garden take bike rides with my family, enjoy good food and beverages, and travel near and far! Q&A What Cuvée Home items did you select and why? We loved the Gathered Ahana Stripe Lampshades for our kitchen island pendant light. The pleated fabric adds romance and texture while the shades of greens and reds work harmoniously with the rest of our kitchen design. Describe your home or personal design aesthetic in 3 words: Charming, cozy, welcoming What is your favorite styling piece or accessory? It's not a coincidence I chose a pleated lampshade from Cuvee Home because I often find myself switching out basic lampshades for more interesting styles to add interest to a room. I also love solid brass styling items whether it's a little antique brass bunny or ginkgo leaf brass tray to style on top of a pile of books, for example. Where do you find inspiration: It sounds cliche but travel and nature are my biggest sources of inspiration. I've been fortunate to have traveled on most continents around the world and have been exposed to different cultures, topography, etc and there is an endless amount of inspiration whether it be through color palettes, patterns, forms, textures and more. Favorite Design Book: Ohh that's a tough one since I've been reading a lot of great ones lately but maybe Charm School: The Schumacher Guide to Traditional Decorating. Favorite Cocktail: Either a Naked & Famous or Pisco Sour What is your favorite room in your house and why? Our primary bedroom. It has the most cheerful blue-green and mustard yellow floral William Morris wallpaper on the walls with beautiful original trim and fireplace from the 1800's and it's just a very charming, welcoming sanctuary to start and end our days in. Any tips for creating a stylish home? I recommend collecting antique and vintage furniture, pottery, art, and textiles overtime that light you up inside. I also recommend always having fresh flowers around the house and scents through diffusers or candles. Having a place to store everything helps keep the unwanted clutter down to a minimum. Find Oliver James Interiors on Instagram and their website.
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The Summer Edit
Cuvée Home's essentials for your Summer shortlist - from chilled white wine to the bucket it's served in: This Vinho Verde is light enough to drink by the pool, zippy enough to stand up with your favorite grilled foods. The perfect wine bucket for summer nights al fresco. Tamegroute Nesting Bowls for all the poolside dips! Our favorite new sun hat with interchangeable ribbon. You'll never guess where we found these acrylic tumblers. Our Colorblock Tray is perfect for serving or setting up a bar. Your first read of the Summer. However you're spending the season, a few thoughtful touches can make home feel like a summer escape!
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How She Styled It: Whitney Durham Interiors
Join designer Whitney Durham in conversation with Cuvée Home. We've asked her about where she finds inspiration, tips for creating a stylish home, and how she has styled Cuvée Home products in her own space.
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Creating Cuvée Home
Why? Co-founder Bailey Ward noticed a void in the market for accessible luxury layers after seeing so many of her design clients struggle to find a sweet spot for affordable lighting that still fit the traditional design aesthetic she had helped them to achieve.
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Meet Cuvée Home
The term ‘Cuvée’ originates from the French wine-making tradition of creating a special blend of wine made from carefully selected grapes to achieve a particular flavor profile, balance, and refinement that reflects the winemaker’s expertise and vision.
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