Green is my favorite neutral - it works with all other shades and adds an element of texture and sophistication to prevent a room from feeling overly feminine. I love the idea of using this piece in an otherwise pale pink bedroom.
"Breath of Heaven II" by Amanda Norman
This work is incredibly soothing to me and I'm drawn to the freshness of the watercolor. I love using art to create negative and positive spaces and would use this in a powder room lacquered in navy.
"Silent in The Morning II" by Kit Porter
There is something very soothing about this work and again, the white background paired with green is what I'm really gravitating towards at the moment and the pop of chartreuse is very inviting! I love the idea of using this in a very light and bright beach house with white walls or even a very chic New York City apartment to juxtapose more formal traditional furniture.
"Fern Friends" by Paige Smythe
The tonality of this work makes it so versatile. I'd love to use 6 of them to hang as a set of prints. While very modern and unique there's also a sort of old fashioned re-invented 1930s feel that I love.
Tell us about yourself.
Hi! My name is Julia Amory and I'm the founder of India Amory, a lifestyle home goods brand that works in block print fabrics.
Why did you start your blog/brand/business?
I founded the business three years ago - when I got married I had my heart set on using printed tablecloths however I really couldn't find what I was looking for in the marketplace. I had my own fabric/tablecloths made out of custom block printed fabric in India. Post-wedding while on my honeymoon contemplating what was next (I had recently left my job in finance) I thought, why not see if there was a market for what we had created, I honestly was so naive as to the huge "moment" that tablescapes seem to be having...three years later, and a lot of hard work, here we are!
What is currently on your nightstand? What are you reading?
Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream which I use for everything, lip balm, cuticles, you name it. I'd like to tell you I'm reading something fabulous but at the moment the only thing I'm reading is my emails...we've recently relaunched our website and moved into a new distribution center, it's been that kind of week.
What is your favorite room in your house? Describe it.
Our bedroom in Southampton feels much like a treehouse. It's the only room on the second floor of the house and is very private. It has a large fan window that sits behind our bed and you feel like you're waking up in the trees. There are French doors across the width of the other side of the room which looks out onto the pool, it's very cozy.
What is your biggest score online to date?
I don't buy something unless it's a score - which is to say I enjoy the hunt as much as the purchase. I recently bought a pair of raffia embellished Oscar de la Renta mules on eBay for less than $100 and have been wearing them on solid repeat.
It is said to look for art that "makes your heart skip a beat." What aspects of art make your heart skip?
I've always gravitated towards a love of impressionism. I grew up in New York City was lucky enough to spend a tremendous amount of time at both MoMA and the Met - at the risk of sounding cliché I have a soft spot for Monet (and Van Gogh) and COLOR is what attracts me to art. My grandparents have collected an artist named Roger Muhl for many years whose art makes me feel at home, I associate it so deeply with my family and childhood and it's his style and palate have greatly impacted my aesthetic over the years. I have always painted and submitted my art portfolio when I applied to college - it's something I haven't spent time on recently but really should revisit.
What is the benefit of buying art through a collective?
Obviously it benefits the artists and exposes the consumer to new talent!
If you have the entire day to spend in an art museum, which one and why?
The Met - because it feels like home. The Temple of Dendur, the costume institute, the American Wing...I’ll take it all.
When and where do you get the biggest surge of inspiration?
I learn so much from studying interiors of different eras - be it 18th century France or the current work of Peter Marino...I love to see how people incorporate beautiful things into their daily lives.
The key to making a house a home? What does a home need more of and less of?
...a home should be a reflection of the chapters of your life as well as where you've come from. Some of my most treasured things have been passed down by my great grandparents and having them around is a reminder of a different way of life.
The greatest color combination that ever existed?
Celadon and Peach.
What’s your favorite housewarming gift?
India Amory dinner napkins - you can't have too many. Or a Diptyque Feu de Bois candle...
So, tell us a bit about your corner of the world – where do you live and what do you love about it?
We split our time between New York City, where I grew up and Southampton, NY. Both are very special to me and I love more than anything the freedom that being in New York and being able to WALK and experience the city vs having to be in a car affords me...Southampton is obviously an incredibly beautiful place but it's also a lovely community of our friends many of whom have recently had babies as well, summers there are very special for us.
