The Barbara Barry Guide to Instagram (Through My Living Room)

Styling & Photo by Maria Killam

I recently bought Barbara Barry’s book Around Beauty and became completely obsessed!

Amazon

In the introduction, the author writes that after you read Barbara Barry’s book, you become even more aware of simply finding the beauty in every day, and that is exactly what happens when you read her book.

You suddenly find yourself dusting off your teacups (or buying some if you don’t have any).

Barbara Barry Photography by David Meredith

I am also convinced that Barbara Barry was one of the originators of the overhead-shot,-tabletop-vignette that’s found all over Instagram. I’ve been a big fan of hers for years and she’s always created beautiful overhead-style vignettes (above) to show off her work.

A recent vignette I styled for my Instagram

When I decorated my dining table outside for Mother Day brunch with Terreeia’s deconstructed nicoise salad, my guests walked into the backyard (where they knew lunch would be served) and found me standing on the dining chairs taking this photo (below):

It would NEVER have occurred to me to do that before Instagram.

Pages from Barbara Barry’s book

It takes 59 pages before you even get to a project in Barbara’s book. All the images prior to that chapter are like this (above) with her musings on everything from white dishes to blank sheets of paper waiting for inspiration.

TIP TO STEAL:

If you are a new designer with a small portfolio, take some of these kinds of photos to go with it. Even you have a big portfolio, gorgeous extremely close up photos of the rooms you are decorating look beautiful on a website and of course on Instagram.

Photo and styling by Maria Killam

Barbara Barry has an overhead shot similar to this (above) in her book which you’ll have to buy in order to see (couldn’t find it on-line to show you) but that’s what inspired this photograph I took this weekend of masses of yellow roses from my backyard along with some pink peonies and roses from my sisters garden.

Notice the teacup (above)? It’s new 🙂 Barbara says if they’re mismatched, that’s even better.

I stopped in at Granny & Grumpa’s Antiques which is located close to where I live and walked out with 8 teacups and saucers as well as a treasure trove of brass. Candlesticks, an owl (here on my Instagram) and a pair of brass pheasants (keep reading you’ll see them shortly).

When my Mom came over Sunday evening and saw my attempts at cleaning it all, she laughed and said, “You’ll be doing that all night!”, she immediately found a natural recipe on the web  (of COURSE my Mother would find a natural solution) which is 1/2 cup vinegar, 1 tsp salt and add white flour until it becomes a paste. Brush it on, and 10 minutes later, wash it off! Brilliant.

What exactly does a girl do without her Mom? I’m so lucky that I don’t know what that’s like.

Now that I have some new brass pieces and a garden full of roses, as well as some new throw pillows I ordered from Blush Label when I was at High Point Market they gave me an excuse to create some new vignettes and tablescapes this weekend.

Other than the fact that there are small ants, earwigs and miniature bugs walking all over my kitchen eeeek, here’s another photo of them in my sink.

Can you spy the teacup?

I moved the pink lady from my family room and installed her over my mantle for a change.

Vignette on the left side of the sofa. With more of my brass finds this weekend!

I love my new pillows from Blush Label they have some gorgeous colours!

The black and white scribbly one reminds me of Kelly Wearstler’s new tile pattern from Ann Sacks. That’s as far as I’ll go with a trendy pattern, as many of you know, haha.

And my freshly polished brass pheasants found a home on my coffee table.

Photos & Styling by Maria Killam

I have three dining chairs with striped upholstered backs and three with polka dots. I could not decide on either so I mixed them. You never see them all at the same time anyway so the end result is they all look the same.

Love my faux cantaloupes! As I’ve mentioned before, my nephews know when they see fruit at my house to ask decorator Auntie Maria, ‘Is this fake or is it real? ; ) ; )

If a book jacket is not the right colour, the right one might be underneath it (above)!

An overhead (Barbary Barry inspired) shot of some polished stones from a friend. I bought this gorgeous tray at Christmas time from a local potter.

I have only recently jumped on board the Instagram bandwagon when I finally came to the conclusion that ignoring it is like trying to ignore Pinterest for a designer (the best place to find my curated aesthetic).  I’m not an expert yet, but here’s what I’ve learned so far:

Being on Instagram gets more fun when you get more followers, so hang in there. It’s fun to wake up in the morning and be in Venice where my friend @lholtinteriors was recently, in a showhouse interior in New Orleans by @lisamendedesign  or just get a giggle from @nataliereddell. Or check in with my client Crystal Hassel at her yoga studio @yogastudiob 

If you’re a designer, don’t post photos of your clients demolition, that’s a lesson on your blog, NOT something that should be seen in your feed or forever on your wall. And also, keep your lunch pics on Facebook, they aren’t usually attractive unless you are a food stylist.

Pay attention to how your wall looks (below).

Do you want 756,000 followers like one of my favourite fashion bloggers @rachparcell at Pink Peonies? Keep it beautiful, light and fresh looking and try to coordinate the colours that show up all together.

And here’s my Instagram, see my lowly number! I have a ways to go to hit 756,000 🙂 🙂 so please go here and follow me! 

When I travel to lead my Specify Colour with Confidence™ events, I post my trips and adventures on Instagram so follow me here.

Are you following me yet, haha? Go here. Actually I’m not really kidding.

Have a wonderful week everyone!! xoxo

Related posts:

My Family Room Inside Style at Home (Including the Befores & Afters)

Maria’s Guide to Starting a Design Blog

Tour my House, Learn the 6 Best Ways to Transition Colour