Well sort of, to Natick, MA which is much closer than Florida or Georgia. Now has a new Northeast location at the Natick Mall . 1245 Worcester Street . Natick . MA. I have loved the store through its catalog for many years. I have purchased countless items for my properties, and gleaned much design inspiration, but catalog shopping is a little like staring in through the window after the store has closed for the evening. The thrill for a tactile gal like myself is muted a bit. I want to touch, feel, sit in, and understand the massing of the pieces. One of the biggest mistakes we – should “I” have made, is the purchase of pieces that don’t fit the scale of a space. Scale, massing, proportion. It’s essential to getting the feel of a place right. Not being a numbers person, I rely more on my eye, which tells me most accurately if something will fill the space in just the right way.
Ballard Design Entry. Note the panels which are popular with makers from Schumacher (to the trade) to Bungalow 5, and which a DIY’er would make using wallpaper. Tiger Pillow made popular by Salamander. The modern version of a Louis XIII, XIV, XV, XVI desk, and the lamps referring a bamboo stem. All comes together beautifully.
My eye is good, but its super human powers are impaired by the pages of a magazine like some force field. So, you can imagine how many things I have returned when I discovered that they were far too large for my little homes. Perhaps what you can’t imagine is my delight when I learned that they had plans to open locally, and they followed through on them. You should be delighted too, and I am going to tell you why.
Miles Redd is an amazing designer – I first learned of him through..you guessed it, Domino Magazine. Known for his fearless use of color, high gloss, and statement spaces – he shows you how to achieve the same using Ballard.
Much of my design education came from Domino Magazine. I talk about it often, as the pre-crash version of the magazine was groundbreaking. They dared to defy the phrase “to the trade”, and tell you just where, and how you could get those coveted items that made up the glam and bohemian, the hippy chic, and upper east, of the famous and up and coming set of …. largely NYC folk. The density of creativity on that little island is astounding, and Domino helped it to overflow to all of us beyond its shores.
Ballard’s Bedroom . understated elegance. A little rustic, a little refined, the bedding and curtains soften and create high contrast with the wood headboard, and texturized nature of the sisal rug.
Domino eliminated the frustration one feels when they learn that either they cannot gain access to the item of their dreams without a designer on call, or read that it was a one of a kind item found on a Diplomatic Tour to Cuba ten years ago. They eliminated by doing the research for you. Right there, on that same page, not in 5 pt. font in some resource index at the back of the mag, and had likely lost hope or interest or both by the time you arrived at that section. Where you could get a similar item, the phone number, and gasp….the price! No call for pricing, which is just a euphemism for, you can’t afford it. They told you, you could in fact obtain the thing, or some semblance thereof, which would help you achieve the overall look. What else could I do? I feel in love.
The Ballard Closet . look out California.
Now back to Ballard. Ballard was always featured in Domino Magazine. From the uber rich, to the just landed my first big break, and every type of featured individual or couple in-between, pieces from Ballard appeared carefully placed among their curated collection. It’s brilliant really, and very affordable. Simple, clean design that works. Suzanne Kasler an award-winning interior designer has a signature collection for Ballard. She is a beautiful American designer, with a European flare that fits perfectly with the overall aesthetic of the Ballard Collection. Whether you choose to shop at one of their stores, or through their catalog, your home collection should proudly feature a piece or two from Ballard. Happy shopping.
Kasler . need I say more?
While I have never been musically inclined, this I can relate to, this has meaning to me. I have always most appreciated the time right after demolition. The slate is cleaned of distraction. Not literally of course, since there is nothing but debris and destruction and dust, but figuratively. It is at this time, when I can see most clearly the possibility of what’s to come, of how my little nest wants to be feathered.
