Have you ever visited a town or small city and stumbled upon this one shop brimming with the coolest, most unusual items ever. You know, the store with decadent handmade soaps wrapped in gorgeous papers, one-of-a-kind jewelry impossible to duplicate and goodies you’ve never seen before from far-away lands. (And you want to cry, because it’s all so beautiful but your suitcase is only so big!) Well, we’ve found that shop’s online doppleganger.
The Loaded Trunk is a collection of handmade goods hand-picked by owner Roni Jaco during her travels around the globe. Roni spends several weeks each year scouring stores in Vietnam, markets in Mexico and artisan workshops in Uzbekistan. So every visit to The Loaded Trunk’s website promises a new treasures unlike anything you’ve seen in other stores. To my delight, Roni pulled two of her latest finds — Mexican embroidered pillows from the Otomi Indians — just for us. BONUS: They are in honeysuckle, Pantone’s Color of the Year.
For a chance to win a pair of these striking pillows just leave us a comment before 12/11c Monday, April 11, to be entered for a chance to win.
This week’s question: What country epitomizes your personal design style and why? France? Japan? Kenya? The good ol’ US of A?
The Netherlands. I know a strange answer, but have a few good reasons. I love old carved wood, think 17th and 18th century armoire. Traditional Dutch homes have persian rugs on the tables – I like mine on the floor and maybe one on the wall. The Dutch also had colonies all over the world including the far east, and my style brings in a bit of the far east, too. Throw in a few modern pieces – Piet Mondrian – and you've got it.
I would say Japan and Sweden. Not all that shocking, I suppose, given that they both lean towards natural materiels with clean lines and neutrals accented with pops of striking color. Minimalism hasn't always been a big thing in my life, but recently I've been unloading with abandon in favor of surrounding myself with living plants and serene places. I think my taste may be a tad more colorful that traditional designs from either country, but my furniture choices and love for unpainted would fall right in line.
Wow, what a question to pose Karli… what country epitomizes my design style… I really never thought of it that way and I really can't pinpoint it down to one. I like to choose my pieces one/one set at a time and I usually have an idea of what I am searching for and take my time until something speaks to me. As well, I like to try to find objects d'art that have a function, such as a bronze table lamp that has an tree with leaves as the base and a opaque glass dome held on by a 'branch overlay'. My design goes more towards the transitional, simple lines but unusual, out of the ordinary objects.
Guess it's a melting pot so let's go with the good ole USA.
I can't say that one country influences my design style! I love to mix and match.
I would say USA, Ellis Island eclectic; as I am fairly contemporary but stray from style to style. I am of Italian decent and love Tuscan and Roman styles; but, have NO IDEA how to pull them off. The photo of the pillows in red and white are so beautiful. I just redid my living in blue and red and am looking for sofa pillows. These would be PERFECT. I need to add plant life, but generally am NOT able to keep green things living ~ hmmm. I could use a lesson or two on those.
I think I would say France. I love ivory walls with rich architectural details, combined with neutral classic furniture. I think the US is just too new for that much architectural detail. It kind of went away post-WW2. I definitely plan on adding a lot of molding to my first home.
Those pillows are gorgeous!
I'd have to say the USA too – my style is eclectic and thrifty!
I am still trying to find my stlye it seem to be a traditional, but you would think Id go with Kenya style as that is my name!
For me it’s both Sweden and France. I love the effortless but chic and refined French style and the clean, inviting, uncomplicated Swedish style.
Puerto Rico– so vibrant and so full of life!
My style is optimized by Barcelona and Spain, in general. It's modern, sleek, yet old world. I love the whimsy of Gaudi alongside the stainless steel bathroom fixtures you find in the shops there. I love the fact that women in high heels and skirts are riding scooters. That's my favorite city ever!
I'm definitely a mix and matcher. Different styles in different rooms.
My style can be very eclectic so I don't know if I can pick one exact country but I have always loved the wood carving detail and colors you would see in Moroco.
My personal style has many influences from several countries. (:
A mix between tuscan & rustic american or what I feel goes
I would have to say Paris, France…. I have all kinds of parisian items in my home. Inspiried by the French
That is a good question. We have been to Mexico, Israel, Nicaragua, and Greece (as well as home in USA) and I would have to say that I cannot give a definitive answer to your question. I love it all! So, I guess you would say that we, like some others who have commented, are a mix and match from around the globe.
Those are some very nice pillows by-the-way. They would look good on the couch in our home office.
i like thailand and india. i love the old school and eastern feel of their design and it just is very peaceful to me.
Definitely Morocco for the colors and embellishments!
Lovely! Would add the perfect punch of color to any living room couch.
I would say USA. I love the the mix of all different cultures that make for amazing style!
I Love HGTV! I wake up to it and go to bed to IT!!!! Candace Olsen, Jane Lockhart and David Bromstad inspire me!!!
I would think it would US of A. I prefer less clutter, more minimalist and only things I love. I mix and match. The pillows are beautiful and would fit right in.
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What country epitomizes your personal design style and why? France? Japan? Kenya? The good ol’ US of A?
I would have to say the country of "Sari"..I like all kinds of mixes and textures so I couldn't pin it down to just one…I love the carved woods or Moroccan, furniture but the embrodiered fabrics of China, the texture and nubby feeling of woven Peru fabric and the bright colors and Day of the Dead skulls from Mexico…and don't get me started on all kinds of world wide carved wooden toys?!!!!!
I like a mix of USA, Danish and Swedish furniture. More modern but still eclectic.
Love the pillows. They would look Awesome on my bed. HGTV Rocks !!!
I find that the English and French countryside inspires me the most!
I've always been told that my house looks like Frida Kahlo's house…I love color, I love details; like embroidery and cut outs. I would say that the countries that epitomize my design and style are Mexico and Thailand.
I think the country that epitomizes my personal style is the U.K. I have a very eclectic collection of pieces. I am inspired by the old British countryside look and I mimic it in my home. This fascination sometimes pours over to other areas of my life as well I must say even in my clothing choices you can see the British influence…
Cute I like the designs as for my style I like the US
Being originally from England I have been influenced by the country look.
Something Caribbean – beautiful clear, bright colors that evoke an urge to relax and enjoy a cocktail!
I would say it is a mismatch of different styles, but I guess primarily the US
Oh, Otomi pillows – hop on over to my house.
Our style is definitely eclectic – but I'll go with California casual…even though we're in Georgia!
My taste in design is eclectic. I'm an American Italian so, I do love European design but also love Asian design, African design and so on. I'm very diverse.
The pillows would be awesome on my leather English style couch. I've been in the mood to buy new curtains for the room. The pillows would be an inspiration.
I, like Roni, am a world wide consumer. Any country, anything unusual that catches my eye is part of my style.
I'm really into this romance style right now and I believe the country I seen this most in would be France. It's sophisticated, but uses elegant lines, but not too traditional looking. It also uses a contrasting color scheme, which I love. I've never been to France, but whenever I see House Hunters International and they go somewhere in France, I see this style quite a lot.
usa
Great Britain! Clean lined, traditional, a little thrifty. I love these pillows! I NEED!!
Asia, for sure, my husband and i have filled our house with laquered chests and japanese vases.
I love so many places and so many styles that I think it might be hard to pick. What I tend to gravitate more towards is coastal Spain. I love the tiled roofs. The old textured walls, the flower boxes outside of windows. Yup, I think that is my favorite for sure.
Love these pillows! I've been to France, Germany, Holland and Belgium. I really want to get to Greece and see how they decorate. For now my style is good ol USA, some antiques from family, kilim rugs, seagrass chairs, mixed with wood pieces.
Those pillows match my mother's decor perfectly, she loves Mexican antiques and retablos. I would love to surprise her for Mother's Day with these beautiful pillows
I guess my style is the good ole US of A beacuse I don't stick to one agenda or idea! My taste is a melting pot & those two embroidered pillows from Mexico are BEAUTIFUL!!!
I have stuff from all over and love all of it. I'm definitely going USA!
I would have to say USA….in the 70's. I am a sucker for shag carpets and greens and oranges. I also love antiques from Europe in the 15th century…not together of course!
As others have said.. I'm very ecclectic.. so I suppose that USA might be the best match for me too. Love these pillows by the way… I do like bright pops on neutrals.. so perhaps some tropical locals for influence. : )
I really like most all styles of design…..whatever cranks your tractor!!!!!
I would have to say I get inspiration from all countries. I just combine them and make it my own.
Mexico is my style. I am Mexican and I studied there so I have many vibrant colorful pieces in my home.