home & house is proud to welcome our new editor-in-chief, Beth Hitchcock, who brings a lifelong enthusiasm for words as well as embellishing — together with 19 years of experience in the magazine market — to her role. A former executive editor at H&H, Beth estimates that she’s written as well as edited 200+ style articles. With degrees in both English as well as Journalism, also as an MFA in innovative Nonfiction Writing, she has been a guest lecturer as well as trainer at colleges as well as universities across Ontario. When she’s not at the office, Beth can be found puttering around her century house in Toronto’s east end. Discover her embellishing style, discover about her most cherished antique discover as well as more, below!
How would you explain your embellishing style?
Traditional with a touch of “Hmmm… That’s interesting.” though I tend toward interiors that are on the quite side, I’ve discovered the importance of including one contemporary aspect — whether it’s a light fixture or piece of art — that throws everything off-kilter as well as keeps the area from feeling predictable.
What is your preferred space in your house as well as why?
Definitely my kitchen area (pictured above, right). It’s been five years since the renovation as well as I still walk into it as well as feel happy every day. For me, it has just the right balance of light as well as dark, fine-tuned as well as rustic, vintage as well as new.
What is your finest flea market score of all time?
A pair of black-satin-glass candlesticks (pictured below, bottom right) — I later saw the precise exact same ones at an antique store for five times the cost I paid! Their matte surface spoke to me, as well as I’m a sucker for a twist or spool silhouette, whether it’s a candlestick or a table leg.
What is the biggest embellishing error you’ve ever made?
How much area do we have? There was the time I persuaded my mom to set up luxurious wall-to-wall emerald-green carpet in our household space — however I’ll blame the late ’80s for that regrettable idea. like everybody else, I’ve had my share of paint crises where you roll on the color as well as think, “Uh-oh…” only to re-do it two days later. as well as then about eight years ago, I experimented with some mid-century contemporary pieces as well as geometric fabrics. It wasn’t a error in that it looked terrible, however I realized I was smitten with a pattern that wasn’t my design-soulmate after all.
What colors do you gravitate towards most?
There’s a great deal of blue in my house, from the inside of my front door (pictured below) to my kitchen area backsplash tiles, as well as then upstairs on my bathroom ceiling. however lately I’m truly loving green. Emerald, olive, mint — bring it on.
What is the most fascinating house you’ve ever written about?
That’s the tough one — there’ve been so many over the years. however James Davie’s home from 2015 patterns problem comes to mind. His interest to detail as well as high quality in the renovation of his heritage house was truly inspiring — amazing millwork, a to-die-for kitchen, as well as not a plastic switchplate or outlet cover to be found. whatever was period-perfect.
If you might have a meal with anyone in the world, who would it be, where would you go as well as what would you order?
I had breakfast at Le Coucou in new York just recently as well as was blown away by its interior, which was designed by Roman & Williams. The landscape mural behind the bar made me want to move in as well as online there. So, even though this seems like the mystery-solving response at the end of the game Clue, I’ll state Alice Munro at Le Coucou with the clafoutis-style pancake.
What is the one thing you believe every house should have?
An fantastic area rug that defines the combination for the the living or household room. Oh, as well as likewise a excellent console table since it can be styled so many methods as well as work in so many spaces. as well as a statement light fixture for the dining room… Do I truly have to pick just one?
What makes a home a home?
People you like as well as shared stories that make you laugh.
Join the conversation as well as link with Beth on social media!
Twitter: @HitchWrites
Instagram: @beth_hitchcock