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Creating Sophisticated & Collected Spaces with Michelle Whitener
Complementary. Guest Curations | PUBLISHED 09.28.21 | Tam Tran
"I have always referred to my style as Traditional with a twist of modern, vintage, and rustic. My design philosophy is to mix and blend the things you love that make your home a reflection of you. It doesn't matter what is on-trend, just that you love it and it reflects your personality."
-- Michelle Whitener, MW Designs
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In this week’s edition of Complementary. Guest Curations, we invited interior designer Michelle Whitener, the owner of the lifestyle and design brand MW Designs, based in Northern Virginia, to join us for sourcing items currently available throughout our auctions, as well as share her tips for styling and bidding.
Michelle is a designer known for creating sophisticated and collected spaces with lots of texture. Every room’s design has a unique feel with a blend of old and new items, with traditional and modern aesthetics. You can find daily posts filled with design tips & home inspiration on both Michelle's blog (MW Designs Blog) and Instagram (@mwhitenerdesigns). She was also recently featured in Washingtonian Magazine.
Let’s see Michelle's perspective and curation from current sales....
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Mix & Blend Old & New Items
image courtesy of Michelle Whitener @mwhitenerdesigns
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Michelle has always refers to her style as "traditional with a twist of modern, vintage, and rustic." As she explains, "My design philosophy is to mix and blend the things you love that make your home a reflection of you. It doesn't matter what is on-trend, just that you love it and it reflects your personality.”
“My styling tips are to blend old (one-of-a-kind) and new items to give a space its own identity that you will find nowhere else," continues Michelle. "You can add a grouping of antique collections or display that one unique piece to make an excellent conversation piece."
image courtesy of Michelle Whitener @mwhitenerdesigns
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How It All Began
The love for pre-owned, vintage, and antique items was first seeded by Michelle's mother, as she shared through our conversation. "I grew up in a 100-year-old home and my mom's impeccable taste in gorgeous antiques made me appreciate the story behind each item at a very early age. I asked for a hope chest at a very young age and started collecting unique pieces that I loved at the time."
image courtesy of Michelle Whitener @mwhitenerdesigns
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Bidding Tips
Michelle also has the same passion for estate sales and online auctions where she found and purchased one of her absolute favorite items — a set of vintage silver plate pheasant salt & pepper shakers. “I have them sitting on my dining room table and everyone always wants to know the story behind them.”
That is why when asked to share her tips for bidding online to BRG newbies, her response was as simple as, “Know what you are bidding on and be prepared to bid! Especially if you see a one-of-a-kind item that could transform your space and add the character. It may be the thing that is missing.”
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Guest Curation
If you love mixing pieces from different eras and bidding in online auctions as much as Michelle does, make sure to check out her favorite pieces curated from our current auction offerings.
1. Wonderful Signed Oil on Canvas Painting Depicting a Figural, Pasteural Countryside Landscape - As Is (Item #184820)
2. After G. Batta Cecchi (Italian, 18th Century) Hand Colored Engravings (Item #182896)
3. Classic Brass Bouillotte Lamp with Tole Shade (Item #6431)
4. L. Jenkins, Oil on Panel, with Equestrian Scene (Item #182555)
5. Shipley (British, 20th Century) Oil on Canvas, Two Hounds Resting in a Barn (Item #180160)
6. "Wishbone” Chair Designed by Hans Wagner (Item #185720)
7. Gorgeous Traditional Georgian Style Sideboard Cabinet by Beacon Hill (Item #184827)
8. Hand-knotted Indian Oushak Wool Room-sized, 6’1” X 9’0” (Item #184316)
Did you know that BRG's inventory is ever changing? Take a peek at similar items currently available ... works of art such as engravings and oil paintings, fine wool area rugs, sideboards, lamps, and seating.
Brand ambassadors are always welcome.
Are you interested in becoming a BRG guest curator? Apply here.
You can also share your latest BRG finds on Instagram. We'd love to feature you! Simply tag your photos with:
@blackrockgalleries and #myBRGstyle.
For information on BRG's Image Rights Management and Usage policy, click here.
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