WELCOME to Nest by Tamara

WELCOME to Nest by Tamara
Tamara Matthews-Stephenson is the creative talent behind Nest by Tamara, a captivating journal dedicated to interior design, history and lifestyle inspiration. With a passion for design and a keen eye for aesthetics, she shares her expertise and insights. Tamara has established herself as a prominent figure in the world of interior design and her design philosophy is rooted in the idea that a well-designed home can elevate the quality of life, combining beauty with functional everyday living. Her blog is a testament to her dedication to helping readers achieve this balance. Beyond her writing, She is also an accomplished interior designer who is known for her talent blending diverse styles which has earned her a loyal following and recognition within the interior design industry. She has worked on a wide range of projects- from luxurious urban homes to cozy beach houses. Additionally, she is the Creative Director and Owner of root cellar designs, LLC, an artisan line of textile and wallpaper sold exclusively to the design industry. She designs and manufactures her wares in the United States and sells her line through trade showrooms around the country. Connect with Tamara Matthews Stephenson through email at rootcellardesings@gmail.com and at nestnestnest.blogspot.com for weekly stories, or through her fabric and wallpaper designs at rootcellardesigns.com and embark on a journey to transform your living spaces.
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Why In Design- Let's Talk About Quimper Pottery From France


Quimperquimper
Quimper

Why In Design Column
Let Me Tell You About 
My Favorite Pottery- 
Unique French Faience, Quimper

Quimper, France
Quimper
Quimper
quimper

quimper
Pronounced Kem-pear, Quimper pottery is over 300 years old, and originally made in the town of Quimper which is six hours Northwest of Paris. Quimper is the Brittany region’s most traditional area with locals proudly celebrating their Celtic heritage. The village was first settled in the Roman times (AD 495), and today, it is still a beautiful rural-ish area with footbridges and rivers flowing  through the town, as well as Gothic architecture and small shops throughout the village. 
Even with its long history, the town is best known for its beautiful Quimper faïence pottery dating back to 1690. Noted for its detailed provincial designs, it was first made by Jean-Baptiste Bousquet, a ceramist who set up a pottery workshop in town. Back in the day, Bousquet was bequeathed a royal manufacturing license by King Louis XIV. Even though the area has been associated with pottery as far back as the Gallo-Roman era, Bousquet is credited with being the founder of this particular "Quimper Pottery" which is also called HB Quimper- a tin-glazed, hand-painted French faience. 
Quimper

The ceramic comes in many shapes, sizes and colors, but most distinctively in a sunflower-yellow hue. The plates often depict townspeople partaking in mundane tasks such as baking and farming and I love the rustic feel, yet, somehow it holds a sophistication, and for that reason it works seamlessly in many style of homes and on many sophisticated tables. There are often distinct markings of hb quimper on the bottom showing the time of the pieces with dates and years as well.  Because each piece is handmade, there are no two exactly alike- and precisely what is special about this pottery. It's important to note, the Quimper factories at one time hosted artists in their studios and that tradition continues today with Quimper made from casts by major artists. There are many places to collect Quimper, and I'm a bit old-school because rather then buying online, I prefer to pick up pieces at local antique shows or shops where I can speak to the owners, hold the pieces and see them up-close.

Happy Nesting
XO Tamara
check out a video I took of a beautiful collection of Quimper at a
Charleston, SC antique shop this past November
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Visit to the trade Root Cellar Designs textiles

Visit to the trade Root Cellar Designs textiles