My Stylish Place: Q&A

Written by CharlotteSTYLE // September 22, 2011 // Home and Decor, LifeSTYLE // No comments

My Stylish Place is a series that takes you inside one room of a local Charlotte area designer, shop owner, or socialites’ home. Follow me monthly as I discovered what ingredients make their place so delish!

My Stylish Place: Vintage Whimsy

Meet DARRA PRIVETTE,
Co-Owner of Remember Me Antiques &
See Her Most Stylish Place

I love thrifting and when Remember Me Antiques opened in Monroe, NC I had to check them out. Darra co-owns the store with her husband Scott. Most people think of antique shops as stuffy and “oh, don’t touch that” but this fun couple has brought a new prospective to all things old. You are welcomed to touch and sit on everything and since together they handpicked each item there is a story behind the find. Let’s meet Darra her at her favorite place.

ARIENE: We are featuring one stylish place in your home, so where are we and why?
DARRA: We are in my store because it has been my home away from home since we opened in July of this year. We practically live here and right now it’s the most stylish place I own!
ARIENE: The store is divided into rooms by era and decor style, so what room are we in?

Darra's Favorite Space

DARRA: We are in the mid-century modern retro room – my favorite!
ARIENE: What makes this your favorite place?
DARRA: I really love the 1950’s & 60’s. It was time of cutting edge design. A time of space exploration and the Jetsons.

ARIENE: How does this room make you feel?
DARRA: I feel happy (smiling)! It was a simpler time when families spent time at home and actually sat down at the table for dinner. A time with more family - NO FACEBOOK.
ARIENE: As you look around, which piece would you say inspired the room?
DARRA: Not one particular piece, all these pieces are from the same era.
ARIENE: Which piece did you splurge on?
DARRA: Definitely the Henredon Dining Set. It has 3 drop leaves and seats 8 – its beautiful. They don’t make furniture like this anymore. The set is made of solid teak.

Henredon was founded in Morganton, North Carolina in 1945 by four men determined to build furniture of custom quality.

ARIENE: What is the least expensive piece in the room?
DARRA: I think I paid $5 for this black Danish modern chair.
ARIENE: What is your most favorite piece in the room?
DARRA: The 1951 Admiral Television. Just look at it – its screams 1950’s

Darra's favorite piece in the room. The 1951 Admiral Television.

ARIENE: What ingredients make this room work?
DARRA: The shapes definitely. I love the clean lines, peg legs, rich fabrics and saturated colors (looking at the yellow crush velvet chair).
ARIENE: How would you describe the mood of this room?
DARRA: Easy and nostalgic.
ARIENE: How did you decide what comes into your space? Are you a ruthless editor of things?
DARRA: Yes and No. All items have to be true to the 1950’s & 60’s era – no reproductions. In
the 1980’s these pieces made a return (as reproductions) but not in a good way.
ARIENE: How could someone re-create this type of style?
DARRA: Treasuring hunting. These pieces cannot be found in your big box retailer. You may be able to find reproductions there, but to find originals you have to comb through yards sales, flea markets and thrift stores.
ARIENE: How can a novice shopper tell the different between a reproduction and a original 1950’s piece?
DARRA: You have you train your eye to look for dovetail constructions on drawers, real wood and screws should be flat head not philips (a of reproduction). The piece should also have some bumps and bruises showing its age and character.
ARIENE: So I couldn’t leave without asking you about your personal style…