High Point Market Highlights | Madcap Cottage

Remember that announcement I made last week about the death of the matching furniture set? Well today’s post is an expansion on that announcement if you will. Today’s announcement?

Quirky is the new cool.

Yep, it’s true. In a design world where we now value personal expression over fitting in, a little quirk, a little whimsy and a heaping dose of the unexpected is just what the design doctor ordered, and the delightful gents at Madcap Cottage are leading the charge.

Decorating with pattern and creating a bespoke, unexpected mix with unique vintage finds are two of the hallmarks of John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon’s design aesthetic, and the Madcap Cottage booth in the Antique & Design Center showed off their signature style with aplomb. In fact, there are 3 Design Lessons that I think we should all take note of today as we enjoy these snapshots of their booth.

DESIGN LESSON #1 : EMBRACE PATTERN AND COLOUR

Can you say “pattern on pattern?” It’s de rigeur for this daring duo, whose fearless use of florals, geometrics, tribal patterns and colour is innately charming and all kinds of throwback fresh with an au courant edge that places them squarely on my “must watch” list. Like a box of decadent French bon bons, they never seem to stop at “just one” with their use of patterns and prints.

Take for example some of the details in this vignette. Thibaut’s Bungalow wallpaper from their new Resort Collection makes for a a cheery “hello” yellow backdrop to the grouping pictured above and below, and the Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture asian sofa pictured in this vignette is available through the Madcap Cottage 1st Dibs store here. Love the pillows? Then you’ll definitely want to check out the complete Madcap Cottage pillow collection.

I also loved the faux bamboo barrel back chair {below} that sat opposite the asian sofa in this grouping, yet another example of Jason and John’s unabashed use of pattern. I mean, pink leopard with a vintage floral on a faux bamboo chair, all sitting on a vintage kilim rug? Come. On.

DESIGN LESSON #2 : EXPRESS YOUR PERSONALITY WITH VINTAGE PIECES

Seems I wasn’t the only one making a beeline for the delightfully unexpected inspiration awaiting in the charming Madcap Cottage booth. In fact, I had to pause and stop at another booth on my way just so that I wouldn’t feel as though I was stalking Tobi Fairley {pictured below perusing the Madcap collection}. I was coming straight from Tobi’s session on the business of design that she had just finished delivering, and the session was packed with valuable insights on the changing landscape of the design industry.

I love the canopy cain chair that Tobi Style Spotted. It was my favourite piece in the booth as well, and I particularly love the hot coral piping on the Tony Duquette upholstery. Delicieux.

The Madcap Cottage booth was of course brimming with all sorts of amazing vintage finds just waiting to infuse your home with that quirky and unexpected “something” you’ve been searching for.

How charming is the Vintage Carousel Light {pictured above}? It’s got enough personality in and of itself to launch the design of an entire room. If only I didn’t already have a light fixture and design direction for the nursery this would have made the perfect jumping-off point!

DESIGN LESSON #3 : GALLERY GROUPINGS ARE WHERE IT’S AT

Of all the reasons I love them, I think my fondness for the clever curators of the Madcap Cottage collection is rooted in our shared love of all things British. Scouring the globe for unique finds, these two gems spend a great deal of time on my “family island” of the UK, and it shows in the decidedly English dose of debonaire to be seen throughout their booth.

Don’t you just love the way Thibaut’s “Shore Thing” wallpaper creates a dramatic canvas for this gallery of British gents in all their finery?

More than just purveyors of vintage finds, custom furniture and a signature pillow collection, Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke also offer design services where you can see all three of today’s design lessons come to life. Just feast your eyes on their use of pattern, colour, vintage finds and gallery groupings in these refreshingly unique spaces: