Everyday I am inspired by my surroundings…nature, architecture, things I read, see on the streets, etc…Pinterest is also a huge source of inspirtaion…everything, but when I really think about the one person who inspired my love of design, it’s Mrs. White. Mrs. White was the mother of my best friend in the second grade and she has no idea that she has inspired me. Susy, my sister and I were the best of friends from the time we moved to Denver until middle school when we grew apart. But Mrs. White’s style left an imprint on my own. She was from the south and was the most elegant woman I had ever met. She wore gloves to protect her perfectly manicured hands when she did the dishes, she wore impeccable clothes and drove a BMW when most moms drove station wagons. She had the most beautiful penmanship. This is what I remember about her house. It had dark hardwood floors at a time when wall to wall shag was the “in” thing. The dining room consisted of a light gray lacquered parsons table with beautiful Thonet bentwood chairs. I recall going along on a shopping trip to look for grosgrain ribbons to match the velvet jewel toned cushions. She had the brick on her fireplace painted white and the inside painted black. Something I continue to replicate as close as possible in all of our homes. She had a little arrangement of art cards neatly attached to assorted colors of wool felt and they were hung on small wall in the living room. She loved daisies and had an inspiration board long before anyone called it that. It was behind her yellow wrought iron bakers rack in her kitchen. She wrote notes and pinned them to the board along with photos and cards. She was a woman way ahead of her time. This was 1970. So thank you Mrs. White for inspiring me for all these years to love design and to pay attention to the little details…..because they add up. Who has inspired you?
Whenever I add something to my inspiration board, I think of Mrs. White, and for that, I am grateful.
I hope your friend’s mom sees this post. I think my best friend’s older sister was inspiration for me. My best friend’s mom was from the south and I believe her 3 daughters (one of them my best friend from grade school on) all seemed to have style that was memorable even for a young girl. It’s funny how these things shape our lives and it isn’t until we’re adults that we realize it.
This was a wonderful post.
Karen
Karen,
It is funny how long it takes to realize it, but the the impressions are strong and lasting. Thank you for reading and for your comment!
annie
Loved this post Annie. Seriously, you inspire me. From the first moment that you opened your beautiful door from for me.
Thank you!!!! Xoxo
Kerry,
How are you? I love that you knocked on my door and that we became friends because you did! I miss you! We need to catch up!
xo
annie
Loved this post!!
oh i love this annie. besides the nuns i was heavily influenced by mrs. clark. she was not as stylish as your mrs. white but boy could she run a household. nothing she did escaped my attention. she had 4 kids and she never stopped decorating/painting/organizing all while having the best time. i played with her daughter every single day but what i really loved was hanging out in her mom’s kitchen. and like you, mrs. clark has no idea how she influenced me. xo
Janet,
Isn’t it funny that Mrs. Clark and Mrs. White have no idea? Now that I’ve put it into words, I feel like I should let her know. What about you? It’s been so many years… And now Janet, you’ve had a big influence on me! Style, simplicity, photography….so many things! What if I had never read your blog way back when?
xo
annie
annie, i’ve tried tracking her or any family members down and have had no luck.
you are too too sweet – your photography and decor has far surpassed mine.:) xoxo
No way! You’re the one that’s going to be featured in Country Living! I can’t wait to see!
Annie,
I loved this post! How amazing that she did all that – if only she could read this!
Reading this I asked myself who had been my design influence, and in all honesty, I don’t think I have an early one like you. I sort of found design on my own. But I did have a “mood” or inspiration board in my room, as early as middle school. And my feeling when I discovered Pinterest (besides absolute giddiness!!) was that it was an online version of that 7th grade inspiration board! I find such inspiration there:)
Sheila
http://www.maisondecinq.blogspot.com
Sheila,
Mood Board!? I forgot that we called them that….well… and mood rings. We can’t forget those! For those of us that wanted to hold onto pieces of inspiration….Pinterest is like magic!
xo
annie
Annie, I loved this post so much. Mrs. White sounds like such an amazing influence! I hope she gets to see this! I also had someone I admired hugely, my fourth grade teacher Mrs. Reyerson. She was elegant, totally ahead of her time and a lot of fun. When other classes were studying the missions, we got to have Japanese pen pals, a field trip to a tea garden, and make flags for Boys and Girl’s days in Japan. We also learned about France, where she studied. She wore the most beautiful clothes and changed her hair every few months. She was a brunette, a redhead and a blonde all in the same year! I loved it. I even got to visit her home. It was gold and white and very mod. She had a grand piano in a round room and it was gorgeous. This was all in the mid 70s. Isn’t it funny how we still remember all those details? Clearly we were greatly influenced! I love that your Mrs. White had an inspiration board even back then! xo Kim
Kim,
I love how much you remember about this very special teacher. And to visit her home….she sounds amazing!
xo
annie