What do you get when you mix an historic building, vintage architectural details, bold textiles & wallpaper, and a ’51 Ford truck-hood bench perfect to enjoy a cocktail with a statue of Marilyn Monroe looking down on you—The Ladysmith Bed & Breakfast.
Located in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, The Ladysmith, owned by country music singer Miranda Lambert, embodies a rock-n-roll meets shabby chic vibe that blends original architectural details, salvaged materials, Miranda’s personal collection of antiques, and modern, eye-popping design elements. Once a dilapidated relic of Tishomingo’s deteriorating historic downtown, the original 1901 structure was completely renovated and reopened in 2014, and was just named “The South’s Best Hotel” by Southern Living in 2015.
The Ladysmith is a revitalization success story. But what caught our eye was the interior design. Shabby-chic, old-meets-new design infuses everything we do in our own home—and it’s not an easy balance to execute. We recently sat down with Phara Queen (yes, that is her real name), the interior designer behind The Ladysmith’s eclectic, yet cohesive look to get her design tips for homeowners looking to rock out their own space with a little bit of pistol.
As Miranda so eloquently stated about working with Phara, “Phara Queen is a rock star. She brings something unique and edgy to the table and pushes you out of your comfort zone in the most creative ways! Her last name says it all. Queen. That she is.”
Be Bold With Textiles
As a designer, Phara is known for taking her clients where they are comfortable and then pushing them one step further aesthetically speaking. Phara suggests anyone looking to go “bold” with their interior design (without a major commitment) turn to textiles to add color and texture to their space. Textiles can be used for pillows, curtains, wall coverings, or to transform an existing piece of furniture in need of refreshing. Don’t be scared to mix patterns, colors, or styles.
A couple of Phara’s favorite places to find unique and luxurious textiles are Schumacher, established in 1889 and known for their iconic designs with a modern twist, and Maxwell Fabrics for sumptuous faux leathers and mohair textiles to add a little rock-n-roll oomph to your space! Schumacher textiles were used for drapes and pillows throughout The Ladysmith and Maxwell Fabrics products were used for the curtains in the inn’s Curtain Call guest room.
Get Wild About Wallpaper
We love wallpaper at FindEverythingHistoric.com and so does Phara Queen. For those looking to completely transform a room (and not scared to commit), Phara suggests folks look to wallpaper to add mood, drama, color, texture, graphics and prints to a space for instant glamour. With wallpaper all the rage these days and endless design options your newly papered walls will make you the envy of all your friends.
A few of Phara’s favorite go-to wallcovering suppliers are Clarke & Clarke, who offer a huge selection of modern, traditional and eclectic styles, and Eijffinger, founded in 1875 and where they design and develop some of most luxurious wallpaper and fabric collections in the world. Phara incorporated Eijffinger Club Collection wallpaper for The Ladysmith’s Losa Lounge.
Miranda’s personal favorite wallpaper incorporated into the design of her beloved inn is a wallcovering from Cole and Son and designed by Michael Clark called Woods that adds and earthy yet sophisticated feel to the room with its metallic finish and nature-inspired graphic in The Ladysmith’s Knaughty Pine guest room.
Before You Toss It
Phara’s other great piece of interior design advice? Before you toss furniture out ask yourself can it be re-purposed?
One of Phara’s favorite up-cycle items at The Ladysmith was a set of old dining chairs that Miranda had in storage. Phara cleverly suggested cutting off the backs of the existing chairs and making them into benches, which were then reupholstered in a S. Harris’s fabric Brushstroke Velvet in Pink Sky sourced from Tulsa-based distributor, Fabricut. The once tired looking dining chairs now provide a hip seating solution with a fresh new aesthetic in the inn’s French Quarter bar area.
For more design inspiration from Phara Queen visit her website.
Editor’s Note: This column was originally published in Southern Living/The Daily South
