Interior Designers get their inspiration from a lot of places.  At times it seems I start pondering something and then it’s everywhere.  Lately, with the colorful shower of leaves and the contrast between extreme brights and dull drabs, I took note of Momma Nature and what she has to offer.

I must not be the only one because a recent stroll through ADAC produced some great naturally inspired finds.

How about this very cool 1950 Burl Wood table at Travis & Company? It has a solid wood top.   Not quite an antique (has to be 100 years old), we call this “old”, “vintage” or as everyone calls 1950′s pieces of late…”Mid Century Modern.”

And I very much love horn and how it’s used in the following chandelier from Ironies.  Horn is a great “green” material as it’s a re purposed, remnant material

Shagreen is wildly popular again. Originally made from sharkskin or pearled ray skin, it was used in the 18th and 19th Century for everything from sword scabbards to book binding and eye glass case covers.  In the 1920′s it became very fashionable to have a compact or cigarette stick case made of shagreen.  I could do a whole post on shagreen, I love it so!  Today, shagreen is usually leather or vinyl that has been stamped in a pebbled pattern to resemble sharkskin.  Real or vintage shagreen is extremely pricey and highly sought after by collectors.

Here is a shagreen coffee table from Ironies at Ainsworth Noah.

And the pattern up close.  The “eye” is simulated as well.

Antlers are also re purposed for things like mirrors and accessories.  Here is a mirror from Martineau Vermillion Interior Design, that we used to frame out a small bar table in a client’s office.

There are hundreds of thousands of oyster shells laying around the Southeast.  Anyone who has ever cut their foot on one will be happy to know they are being re purposed for interesting lamps and accessories.

via Wisteria

via Wisteria

I’ve been seeing a lot of snakeskin recently…I think a small amount is fine (like the leopard print in fashion) and this little table from Ainsworth Noah is just the ticket.

One of my favorite showrooms at ADAC is Bradley Hughes…I have done a couple of tables recently for a client’s sunroom; including a re claimed oak number and a  solid concrete side table that took 4 of my guys to carry off the truck.  Here is a solid myrtle wood table that is made from a wind fallen tree.  How great is that?  Especially since I almost bust out crying every time I see a tree knocked down in one of our notorious Southern storms.

Also on my favs list is this petrified wood cigarette table from Bradley Hughes.  I almost wish I smoked!  I’d have a shagreen cigarette case and place it on my petrified wood cigarette table. Really, a cigarette table is the perfect size for a cup of tea, a book or a bud vase.  I love these tables and they generally run about 12″ diameter.

Where do you get your inspiration?