I am in love with the adorable interiors of Berlin based blogger Jo ofAbout Mo + Me, who I discovered through herflickr page. So deep is my crush, I asked if I could feature her and her creations on Pie. It was this stunning desk makeover that first caught my eye inDecor 8's interiorstyling pool.
Check out the before and after of this desk renovation for her son. She has a talent for taking a paint brush to vintage finds and making them fresh and whimsical. I especially love the paper choice lining the interior and the stripped leg detail.
Also talented with a needle she has created many of her own amazing accessories from this crocheted lamp to her own doilies, pillows and curtains.
Having a background in film and animation is apparent in her fanciful color choices and the careful placement of every item.
She even names some of her finds, the gorgeous green cabinet is named Mrs. Schmitt, after finding a note addressed to someone of that name behind a drawer.
An Interview with Jo
Who is "me' and who is "Mo"?
"Me", well, that's me, alias Jo. I turned forty this year and still can't believe it. I love literature and writing, taking pictures with my camera, gardening, playing ukulele and singing loud, training our cats, watching movies, listening to film scores and many more. Under the influence of Mo, I also learned a lot of other things, like to crochet, to embroider, to sew and to collect and revamp old furniture. To correct a misunderstanding, "Mo" isn't one of our cats. The cats are called Safran and Martini. So, who is Mo? First of all, I have to tell you, that Mo was around me, for as long as I can think, but it looks like, I'm the only one who can see her. Not all the time, of course, she appears and disappears at her own will. Does this sound nuts to you? It is! You might even call her an imaginative friend, but, please, don't tell her!
Where do you live exactly (house, apt.... area...)?
Two years ago, we moved from the urban Berlin Prenzlauer Berg area to the more rural outskirts of the German capital, where we rented a small house. Its ground floor is from 1880 but it's first floor was build in 2000. Although that renovation was done carefully, the house has a rather eclectic vibe. We try to reflect this by a mixture of (revamped) furniture and decoration stuff of different ages.
Where do you find your stuff, like the wonderful desk you redid?
Many finds are from small ads, eBay or thrift stores. Moreover Berlin has a lot of gorgeous flee markets! Our budget is very small, so most of the vintage furniture I buy is rummage, fairly anybody else is interested in. I got the desk, for example, at eBay for 5,50 €, with the help of Mr. Bargain.
What is your Profession?
At the moment, I work as a contract author for little children stories/comics but I'm a wannabe novelist, also. In the past, I've worked as a 3-D animation artist, television author for a fashion magazine and assistant director at a small theater.
What or who inspires you?
Besides Mo? And in respect of interior styling? First of all, my mom. She is a textile designer and theater costumer and used to re-design our house all the time in my childhood. I grew up, browsing her interior-design magazines, which became also a steady source of inspiration for me, until the day I discovered the blog-scene. It felt a little bit, like I had found lot's of brothers and sisters around the world, I never knew they even existed! The internet is a great resource for inspiration!
I love your textiles, like your curtains, did you make these?
I sewed the curtains from a fabric bought on sale atIkea. The living room ceiling is at about 3,5 meters and there are 3 large old double hung windows and one big glass front, so I needed lot's of fabric for that. Most of the other fabrics you can see atAbout Mo+ Me are vintage.
Coffee or Tea?
Cappuccino or Espresso in the morning. Earl Gray (with milk and suggar), Green Tea orRooibos Tea in the afternoon. :-)
all photos © About Mo + Me
Friday, July 20, 2012 at 6:00AM
