Kristine Irving's 5 Favorite Things
The designer decorated her whitewashed studio with Egyptian sculpture and other inspiring pieces.
1 VINTAGE FURNITURE
Irving mixes eclectic pieces with clean-lined furnishings. In her studio, you'll find a stool made with an African bowl, old Chinese boxes used as coffee tables, and two 40s-era chairs, all from Reside in Cambridge, paired with sleek tables and contemporary lighting. "I like a space to tell a story, and vintage pieces have built-in history. They add character and a touch of the past to new spaces."
2 DESIGN BOOKS
Piet Boon by Piet Boon
"His style is very modern, but not cold. I refer to it all the time."
Paris Living Rooms by Dominique Nabokov
"She used a specific lot of old Kodak film to shoot people's living rooms in Paris. They were not allowed to style the rooms. It's very voyeuristic - you're looking at the way these people really live."
3 JEWELRY BY MARIA BEAULIEU
"I feel like an heiress when I wear her pieces. They have an ancient quality . . . think Cleopatra."
4 EGYPTIAN SCULPTURE COLLECTION
A small Nubian head, a granite fragment of a finger, and a portion of a hieroglyphics slab were all gifts from an old boyfriend. "Some are authentic, others, I'm not so sure . . ."
5 DRAWING OK SUNDAY BY LOCAL ARTIST JENNIFER AMADEO-HALL
"Growing up, there was such pressure for my mom to orchestrate a good Sunday. After a long day of church, big family dinner, company, craziness, she was always so tired. They were good days, but it was a double-edged sword. We both recognize that in this little drawing of a woman in an apron. I bought it for her more than 15 years ago, and two years ago she gave it back to me for Christmas."
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