Christine’s Traditional N’East Style Abode

published Dec 12, 2012
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Name: Christine Mitchell and Ted Adams
Location: Cambridgeport, Massachusetts
Size: 850 square feet
Years lived in: 1.5 years, rented

Style blogger Christine Mitchell of N’East Style has an aesthetic all her own. Inspired by her upbringing in New England, her blog is filled with the lifestyle, fashion and folklore of the region, along with her unique hand-drawn illustrations.

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Her home reflects both her upbringing and the style she embodies. Shared with her fiancé Ted (otherwise affectionately know as Mr NES), the space is filled with solidly constructed pieces with a personal history and is a great reflection of style in the Northeast.

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Apartment Therapy Survey:

My Style: I was born in Oxford, UK and grew up in New England, so my style is very much inspired by my upbringing in those places. I also prefer to keep things a bit minimal and give all my favorite things a bit of space to shine. I like to fill my living space with pieces that mean something to me, so I tend to invest in furniture, art, and decor that will be a part of my life forever versus things that are are cheap and cheaply made that will phase out of my life with my next move.

Inspiration: English gardens, galleries and museums, old sea captain’s homes, and books! I love looking through vintage interior, art, and garden books to get my creative juices going. Even reading novels I get inspired by the places described. Whenever I’m feeling uninspired, magazines like The World of Interiors are always juicy with inspiration.

Favorite Element: We have these amazing little nooks and crannies in our apartment that make the space feel warm and cozy. I don’t think I could ever live in a new apartment building, It would feel too much like a hotel.

Biggest Challenge: Keeping things in order! We both lead such busy lives and we both use the apartment as our studio so things tend to pile up. We keep a routine of tidying up first thing every Saturday so we can enjoy the weekend without worrying about a messy apartment.

What Friends Say: They usually say, “It’s so you Christine!”. I think I’ve had a pretty consistent way of decorating since boarding school.

Biggest Embarrassment: The state of our closets. They are filled to the rafters.

Proudest DIY: Nothing too extreme. Updating a weary antique with a splash of white paint is the height of my DIY to date. I do have a huge list of DIYs that I want to do, once I make the time of course.

Biggest Indulgence: Art. We are lucky and have inherited or been given some beautiful pieces. We look forward to picking up work along the way and curating a collection we can pass down through our family.

Best Advice: Keep it simple. Everything in your home should have a sentiment or a purpose, that way you never feel cluttered or crowded.

Dream Sources: Not really sources, more like two specific things I’ve been wanting for years. A set of vintage safari chairs and an original from Robert Longo’s Men In Cities series.

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Resources of Note:

LIVING ROOM

    • Loveseat and TV stand: Ikea
    • Carved table: Anthropologie
    • Cabinet of curiosity: Etsy
    • Coffee table: antique lobster trap found in Maine
    • Painting: by Barrel Botti
    • Birdcage: antique found in Vermont
    • Succulent boxes: Structure Design + Build

DINING ROOM

    • Kitchen table: made by Ted’s father
    • Chairs: Family antiques
    • Painting: Snow Owl by Paul Plante
    • Table mats: Crate & Barrel
    • Glass sculpture: Structure Design + Build

KITCHEN

    • China: Portmeirion Botanic Garden by Wedgewood
    • Window shade: handmade by Ted’s mum
    • Pinboard: TJ Maxx
    • Dish towel: Madder Root

BEDROOM

    • Bed frame: Family antique
    • Bedding: West Elm
    • Dressers and bedside tables: Family antiques
    • Mirror: TJ Maxx
    • B&W Photo: by Justin Chung
    • Woodprint: by John Neville
    • Charcoal drawing: by Christine Mitchell
    • Astronomy prints and old map: Vintage
    • Rug: Angela Adams
    • Vintage tennis rackets: Found on the street!

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Thanks, Christine and Ted!

(Images: Kim Lucian)

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