Pour l'amour de Paris

/ Rina Norwood Design/

For the love of Paris

 

No matter what the weather brings, This Side of Paris is always a good idea. This winter brought a mixed precipitation of rain and snow - rain mostly. The peace and beauty around this side of the world keeps us coming back with more inspiration for content worth sharing. We continue to make changes on our “reno” list. Construction projects around the house have to be carefully selected. With the winter season still lingering, we are focused on the interior aesthetic. The fifty shades of brown will all need to be fifty shades of modern cabin glam. We are truly inspired by how well the kitchen renovation turned out. You can see the “before” and “after” photos here.

Now that the new roof is completed and the construction mess is out of sight, I am ready to bring a fresh new modern blend of Parisian-Americana style. I am incorporating traditional Parisian colors along with the elements found in nature that surround this property. Designing a 900 square foot cabin requires strategic space planning so that gatherings at TSOP are comfortable and stylish. The careful selection of furnishings is key to putting just the right furniture piece in its right location for functionality and beauty.

Details in construction, such as form and scale are design elements necessary in creating a cozy gathering space suitable for hosting travelers at This Side of Paris. I can’t wait to share the finished design with you soon. Here are my three helpful design tips in selecting living room furniture pieces with limited space and storage.

  • Multi-functional furniture pieces.

  • Sectional seating for large gatherings

  • Case goods with ample storage space that can serve as a wardrobe or linen closet.

Along with my three helpful design tips, I picked a few must-haves for our House of Fashion board to help keep you in reno-style.



1. Comfy and stylish. This RND tank is a balance between style and comfort.

2. Sorel waterproof boots will keep your toes sawdust free and comfy.

3. Wood’s up T-shirt will keep you rocking a style for that “measure twice cut once” construction motto.

4.The Bosch Max FlexiClick 5-in-1 Drill/Driver System has one tool and five attachments. Maximize your workforce in this easy 5-in-1 drill boss. The Bosch 5-in-1 Drill Driver System is available online and in home centers.

5. This pocket portable tool is a throw-in-your-bag handy-dandy essential tool set that will tackle most of the easy fix-it projects around the house.

6. Hardworking hands need a hardworking hand softener. Working Hands is scent-less and grease-less.

7. It’s an inflatable shim sold by Calculated industries. DIY’s Johnny on the spot handy-dandy Air Shim is great when working solo.

8. This denim overall is not made just for hard labor. It is hard at work keeping you styled at any task.

9. Need I say more? The Red Cap are covers for any caulking tube. These Little Red Nozzle Caps are just the right fit. Cap, seal, and save dollars!

With every visit to TSOP, I find a new local hangout to grab a quick snack or a bite to eat. The interesting conversations exchanged among patrons and business owners are perhaps the most magical things about the High Country. The willingness of business owners to open up to the community and share their gifts and talents plays an important role in making this area around TSOP vibrant and interesting.

Our friends down at the local Jerky Outpost deliver a variety of artisan jerkies from your usual beef to exotic meats. The flavoring also comes in a variety of mouth watering heat intensities. If you can’t get enough of it, they offer monthly Jerky membership to keep your pantry stocked with their flavor of the month.

These last few weeks have been filled with cultivating new ideas on our end. Of course, we could not have made it through without a little help from our new friends at The Local, an eclectic eatery in Boone, NC. They were the pièce de résistance in delectable eats and fresh flavors. Plus, they know how to keep the joie de vie atmosphere with live music, crafty cocktails, and draft microbrews. This vibrant, American hangout was just what my crew and I needed to reawaken our creative flow and ease our hunger.

There were many days in the renovation schedule that required 16-hour days. We did not mind it one bit, as we have managed to fill the fridge with homegrown food goodness from the Watauga Farmers Market. Happening every Saturday in May through October from 8am-noon, this downtown spot is a sure bet for local honey, veggies, and much more. We have found that the vivacious colors painted across each natural element of This Side of Paris creates the perfect picnic backdrop, so picnic meals on the property are really a treat.

So far, 2019 has been a year of cultivation; and although our agenda has been filled to the brim, the Holy Spirit seems to prioritize and require of us to just be still and take note of the reminder of what we are here to do. De-cluttering is a continuous process, which manifests the cultivation we are seeking here at This Side of Paris. We have been letting go of those things that no longer serve us or bring us joy. More importantly, we are learning to hold tight and to not only appreciate the things that still brings us joy but also to share those things with others and to not keep them to ourselves, despite their useful purpose in our own lives. We are beginning to understand that sometimes the greatest purpose in something can be discovered from sharing it with others.

So wherever this year continues to take you, be it an adventure on the fiscal side of local business or the physical side of organic nature, make sure you are on This Side of Paris to create those precious moments in life that remind us to be still and smile about what life has to offer — those moments that inspire us to truly live. Regardless of what your recipe for success requires, make sure you are ordering your ingredients off the Menu of Travel.

Les casegoods

/ Rina Norwood Design/

Case Goods


A home could never have too much storage, especially if it is a tiny house. Every square inch becomes an inch of premium space. As a designer, I see spaces a bit like a Venn diagram - a place for everything and everything in its place by way of close proximity and association. Yes, I do use both sides of my brain, equally! .

One of the most important things to consider in keeping a well-organized home is utilizing case goods or furniture pieces that are both functional and beautiful. We all want to come home to a tidy house that isn’t stripped of luxury or essential things because we simply can’t keep an orderly home.

In the many occasions I have designed a house, no matter what room it is, I place organization at the same level of importance as beauty. When a piece of furniture is both beautiful and purposeful, it will be equally appreciated for both.

Scale and style are two top deciding factors in selecting the best piece of “keep all” furniture. Our fashion sense is a good indicator of our home style. We are often drawn to pieces of furniture that mirror our sense of style. Based on Consumer Buying Behavior magazine’s survey of current popular style, Rustic Glam seems to be the top style category. Those who love worn-out jeans with stylish boots or dressy heels paired with a sophisticated top may lean more towards the style of weathered wood and leather mixed with brushed gold.

As interesting as this may seem, take a look at our case good pairings and see which one speaks to your inner style.

Rustic Glam

The House of Fashion Rustic Glam mood board is inspired by Peter Do’s crepe yellow and black dress featured on Net-a-Porter. The bright mellow yellow is a reminder of the morning sun that shines across Paris Road and cascades down the birch trees on the property. The touch of black echos the shade of wet hardwood. I love the pairing of the metal and wood bookcase from the Crestview Collection with the honeycomb mirror credenza. I included Regina Andrew’s brushed gold globe lighting for that modern touch.

Modern English Cottage

For those that bend towards delicate, sophisticated, and a bit of whimsy, the Modern English Cottage vibe is the right house of fashion fit. Whenever I am asked to design a cottage, my one go-to case good must be a painted furniture piece. I started my business working in custom decorative finishes which involved doing plenty of painted furniture pieces. Crestview Collection’s cheerful green cabinet with an elaborate fretwork on its mirrored doors is perfectly paired with Harp and Finial’s limewood washed modern armoire - a useful piece in homes that need additional storage for essential items. This Modern English Cottage mood board was totally inspired by an Oscar de la Renta tasseled floral halter silk dress. This classic halter style dress with its fun floral print paints a picture of the perfect afternoon garden party on an English country estate surrounded with beautiful English blooms. The dress is paired with the unexpected leopard print flats from J. Crew. This approach of mixing high style with budget friendly pieces mirrors my approach for a curated look. Of course, a room is not fully dressed unless it is crowned with just the right light fixture to balance the element of style.

Hollywood Glam

If your style sense leans towards Hollywood glam-black, white and gold with a punch of bling, then your eyes will gravitate towards Arterior’s Artsley charcoal gray cabinet. The gorgeous glass front and brush gold is a versatile piece that can showcase pretty dishes or can double up as a handsome liquor cabinet. You can’t go wrong with Regina Andrew’s Nebula chandelier. It is both glamorous and stately. This light swings in the style direction of both Rustic glam and Hollywood glam. For a strong contrast I brought in Crestview Collection’s cream fabric studded accent cabinet. This piece when bought in pairs and placed together behind the sofa creates additional storage for seasonal pillows and blankets. For an added fun chair, I chose this lavender faux fur walnut chair from Harp and Finial.

Les endroits où vous irez.

/ Rina Norwood Design/
 

The places you will go.



With a brand new year comes a brand new list of adventures. Bucket listing seems to be the thing these days. With Spring around the corner, there is this eagerness to press the “reset” button and start that bucket list. We managed to cross off the “redo the kitchen” from our list. It seemed like there were a lot of hurdles to overcome, and having no access to running water made us more determined to carefully think through our construction process and timeline to get a functioning Parisian kitchen. Nothing says Ooh, la, la, better than navy cabinets with modern brushed gold pulls and a large dose of white slab marble backsplash. I posted the before-and-after photos on our La Cuisine blog. Any pastry chef who accompanies us on a weekend getaway will be tempted to whip up the words bon appétit’.

Not only have we been hard at work giving this tired cabin a new lease on life, but we have also managed to pause and smell the mountain air and travel the beaten path. At This Side of Paris, we’ve discovered local gems in the area that we thought to be the perfect way to enhance your experience next time you find yourself here in the High Country.

Although there is a lot to get done this year from our bucket list of renovation projects, we are privileged to be able to work among the beautiful surrounding areas of the North Carolina Appalachians. We want the essence of 2019 to be celebrated all year long here at TSOP!

The places you will go in Boone, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock will carve a memorable profile as profound as Grandfather Mountain. A scenic drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway never fails to make the elements of your experience shine brighter than Gustave Eiffel’s tower. Whether you are traveling as a family, exploring as a single, or adventuring as a couple, exploring this side of Western North Carolina will leave you with beautiful lasting memories.

Whether it be the enchanting atmosphere of Vidalia Restaurant, or gazing the twinkling stars at night on Grandfather Mountain, it is our desire that the places you will go this year are of some of the sweetest experiences yet! if the natural elements surrounding the property at TSOP don’t sweep you off your feet, then perhaps Sky Valley Zip Tours will whisk you away with fleeting zip lines that will take you on the ride of your life! They offer all kinds of adventures ranging from single riders to tours for the whole family.

This year we are ready to let go of the old that no longer serves us joy, and welcome with open arms the new that comes with the year; what better way to “let go” of the old and ride through 2019 than 140 acres of canopy tour fun? If being up in the air is not your style, then you may enjoy staying down to earth, and letting your inner Daniel Boone guide you down the paths of Grandfather Mountain for some modern day pioneering. Don’t feel bad if you end up doing more exploration at the King Street Creamery than on the trails.


Finding the right outfit to wear while traveling in style should not be a guessing game. We have put together a collection from our House of Fashion to inspire you.



Solo Wanderer || Two Peas In A Pod || Family Pack

If complete solitude from the world makes you want to travel solo, these places will keep you company. For the two peas in a pod travelers, these places will keep you tethered. For those that travel in a pack, there is a place for everyone.

Regardless of where 2019 goes, make sure that the places you will go are the ones that will make you say….. la joie de vivre. We like to think that the joy of living is a handpicked panel of places and activities that reveal the rustic glam essence of This Side of Paris throughout Boone, NC - each in their own unique way.