The Best Thing I Ever Thrifted With Emily Ward of Pierce & Ward
One-half of the insanely talented design duo offers a glimpse of her vintage lion chair
It’s no great surprise that I am enamored by Pierce & Ward, the dynamic design duo comprised of Emily Ward and Louisa Pierce. They inspired the first of my thrift the look series, in which I offer tips on what to look for when shopping secondhand to get a similar romantic and layered look.
The Pierce & Ward look is one rife with pattern, texture and color (just look at the spaces they designed for Josh Brolin and for Dakota Johnson, which are among my favorites.) It’s also a look that you can now bring home, thanks to the new Pierce & Ward collection for West Elm.
Like the homes they design, their West Elm collection is romantic and layered, with furniture that is supremely livable (so much good storage!).
The prices are really great, too, with pieces like a $199 marble-topped cocktail table and a $399 ribbed wood floor lamp. I also appreciate that my absolute favorite, can’t-stop-thinking-about-it piece from the collection (the lacquered bedside table) is available for purchase as a pair.
There are also a lot of vintage-inspired giftables (if you have a housewarming to go to, get the clay match strike) and even the most standout pieces — like the very 1920s burl wood vanity, which looks like something you’d moan over in your favorite antique store — aren’t break-the-bank costly. There’s even (really chic) peel and stick wallpaper!
My favorites from the P&W for West Elm collection, from top: hexagon ottoman, handwoven wool rug, burl wood vanity, striped vanity stool, lacquered bedside table, linen table lamp, linen console table, marble cocktail table, dotted pillows
The most expensive piece in the collection, the upholstered sleigh bed, is around $2,000 and every single thing is vintage-inspired which is no surprise, if you’re familiar with Pierce & Ward projects.
I love Pierce & Ward’s use of vintage and am enamored with the women behind the firm, so it made sense to ask them my favorite question: What’s the best piece of vintage you’ve ever bought?
So, without further ado, let’s hear from Emily Ward.
“My favorite vintage find ever is my lion chair! Louisa found it and it's still my favorite chair I own.
It's a lion throne chair from the 19th century, but it's much more simple than most, which makes it really special. I’m a Leo, so anything lion I'm a sucker for.
We found the chair in Nashville, circa 2011 — it was $125 and fit right in the back of my car.
The wood is really old and smooth, with a perfect patina, and it’s currently on its way to my house in northern California.
We use 80% vintage in our projects. The West Elm line was completely vintage inspired. We wanted the pieces to feel like you might not be able to tell if they’re vintage or new. We like to give vintage pieces new life, whether it's restoring them, recovering them, or throwing a new pillow on them.
We try to combine old and new pieces in a way so that the new doesn't feel too modern, and the old doesn't feel too dingy. We want them to highlight each other so that it all feels collected and not overly curated.”
Huge thanks to Emily for sharing her lion chair. You can see past issues of The Best Thing I Ever Thrifted, here.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
ODDS & ENDS
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