YOUTHFUL TRADITIONALIST COLLECTOR

Oznell · ‎11-08-2014

Margo Roth owns a coffee shop in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

She describes her style as "definitely maximalist", thrifted, English country, "grandma". Says she must have her "stuff".

But she's not a "grandmillenial"-- her style, to me, doesn't have that callow, "I-just-discovered-traditional-five- minutes-ago", super-frilly vibe that characterizes a lot of what is called 'grandmillenial'...

'

In her 100 year old house, love the hazy blue door with iron hinges, and her dark hall tree behind it, that her great grandfather made.

Old mirrors and antique art give rooms their glow.

The large vintage leaning floor mirror has a fabulous provenance. It was originally a dressing room mirror, in the Club Monaco in New York.

Here's an image that is better lit, of an earlier version of her living room. Note that she had a floral rug back then. I prefer the sisal or jute one she has in the above image-- less 'busy' with her other things. Breezy gingham curtains. The comfortable chaise, a perfect reading spot.

She said she loves decorating with her antique soup tureens right here in living room -- the three here do have impact together.

This dining room is painted in the pale green color that I love. Good backdrop for her early 1800's English pine dresser and vintage art.

I like the simplicity, and deceptively naive feeling of her vignettes. Certain themes recur with her-- old candlesticks, colored taper candles, ironstone, old baskets, lots of weathered terra cotta pots. Gorgeous florals. It's all seemingly casually strewn along her mellow plank table.

They completely redid their only bathroom. Antique art, old brass candle sconces next to the window, a pale, tone-on-tone wallpaper above the tile.

The previous sink was so pedestrian! This one is an antique washstand. They ripped up the previous linoleum, and installed this charming retro hexagonal tile pattern floor.

Looking into the tiny 'breakfast nook' which is currently serving as a small office or study.

Basket of peaches, doggie art, more of the gingham curtains-- sweet.

Handsome thrifted blue cabinet. She said well over 90% of what she has has been thrifted.

To give you more of a look at her style, here's the rental house they lived in before this one. Soft, canteloupe colored walls are pretty.

A typical vignette she did in that previous dining room on sideboard. Love the charming vintage horse perched on books. Books appear frequently.

She showed how she and her husband spruced up their coffee shop. I think it is so cute, and again, very consistent with the look of her own house.

Coffee shop revamp:

Highly recommend her home tour videos if interested. Just google Margo Roth youtube. You get a much better look at her intuitive, cozy style. Their animals also make entertaining cameo appearances-- dogs, a kitty, chickens.

I think her rooms have that 'young person's' special kind of exuberance and abundance. Not that older people all become minimalists, but I know that at my stage of life, I don't want to be amassing collections. I want to, and do, purge my excess decor.

But as a spectator, it's vicarious fun for me to see how someone with a natural talent for creating warm interiors, handles hers.

Nonametoday · ‎03-09-2010

Definitely not grand millenial. I like it. I think it might be very similar to my own home. I am a collector of "stuff." I have my great grandparents' chamber pots, 5. I had all we could find. I am not sure to which one they belonged. There are 4 adult ones and a child size one. All are white and have a British marking (my paternal family were British) and one is toile. They all have markings.

author · ‎03-09-2010

Love it! I too have pared down too much collective clutter from years of collecting but still love this visually fulfilling style. Hers is authentic; wonderful treat to see these rooms. Thanks @Oznell !

stevieb · ‎03-10-2010

Some nice pieces but a bit too much of a mix for me. This feels all over the place. I'll pass on this one. At least, though, it's not of the grey contemporary movement.

In my pantry with my cupcakes...

Oznell · ‎11-08-2014

@Nonametoday, I think that's why I like it too-- I have a sneaking suspicion it's quite similar to the way I decorate. EXCEPT, she does have a higher "object threshold" than I do-- I love everything she has, but cannot decorate with it all. Would have to cut out about 40-50 %. I get slightly anxious if there's too much stimulation around me at once...

Wow, I just was following a discussion about chamber pots and one collector was talking about hers. Fascinating that you have antique family ones.

@author, you always have a 'sympatico' sensiblity when it comes to interiors. Your phrase "visually fulfilling"-- so very apt. And totally agree, the authenticity leaps out. Isn't that what animates our liking for any space...

As for the collecting instinct that lurks in so many of us, I still have to resist the impulse to "acquire", unless it's truly something I MUST have. I tell myself, "CURATE what you have, don't COLLECT, ha.