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June 22, 2023

Vol. I: Where to Begin

Welcome to my newest side project: Field Notes! A space where I will be sharing decorating tips, my latest projects in the studio, favorite finds and a bit of my home life. To start, I thought to share some resources I'm currently using for inspiration from my library. I hope vou are inspired and enjoy!

The beginning of a project is the most exciting. So much potential and so many ideas. Whenever I start a new project, I turn to my library. I will pull books that relate to the aesthetic and sensibility of the project. I love to get inspired by homes in similar stvles. One project we are currently pulling inspiration for is an Edwardian house outside of Boston. It is a renovation for a young family and we are weighing in on architectural details and oversecing all decorating. It's a priority to the clients to maintain the historical integrity of the house. The husband loves a lavered look and the wife loves some white space, so it is an exciting creative challenge to marry these two looks.

For this home, my first thought was to turn to Markham Roberts' Decorating the Way I See It. Featured in this book is Markham's timeless personal Victorian home in Clinton Corners. A perfect example of the type of collecting, and use of color, that comes to mind when I think of a really beautifully designed Edwardian or Victorian home on the East Coast.

SHOP DECORATING THE WAY I SEE IT 

•   •   •

The kitchen for this project has incredible natural light and lends itself to a softer palette. Not to mention, the client loves a clean white kitchen, so I pulled these two for kitchen inspiration.

SHOP THE SWEDISH COUNTRY HOUSE
SHOP BUNNY MELLON STYLE

•   •   • I like to include a few decorative details that nod to the historical nature of the project. As a reference to New England folk art, we are proposing a floorcloth for the kitchen inspired by carly American wall stenciling. This book is a treasure trove for timeless stencil designs and patterns.

SHOP EARLY AMERICAN WALL STENCILS

•   •   • In search for classic rugs that would complement the scale of the rooms, be family friendly, and custom colored, I found myself pulling this one on Dhurries from the shelf.

SHOP DHURRIES
Lilse McKenna Inc.

About the Firm

Lilse McKenna designs homes that are rooted in tradition and tailored to reflect each client’s personality and lifestyle. Drawing on years of experience in residential design, Lilse expertly layers pattern, color, and texture to create spaces that are sophisticated yet eminently livable.

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