Interior Decorating and East End Artisans

When it comes to interior decorating for your home or office, the work of artisans can give an otherwise bland environment a warm and welcoming touch.

As with fashion, pairing vintage with modern and juxtaposing factory-made with handmade is what personal style is all about. “Artisanal” also implies expert craftsmanship and something you can’t put a price on: soul. As you might expect from a creative community, artisans are plentiful on the East End—just keep your eyes open at fall festivals, craft fairs and, of course, don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations, as it’s often all about word-of-mouth.

Here’s a sampling to get you started on your artisanal home décor journey.

Multi-talented East Hampton local artist Scott Bluedorn’s driftwood tables, chairs and benches make the perfect addition to a foyer, porch or stairway—bringing the beach home with functional furniture that can also stand alone as sculpture and be appreciated on a purely aesthetic level. Crafted with a keen eye for balance and harmony, each piece of furniture, from “Bonfire Seat,” which is made of driftwood, to “Deck Bench,” made of found wood, carries with it a flavor of the ocean in softly pale, weathered wood. A bolder statement of color can be found in his “Buoy Chair” and “Surfboard Chez Lounge,” viewable at scottbluedorn.com. You can call Bluedorn at 631-838-7518.

Interested in getting into some of your own woodworking? Tom Barry, a member of the Board of Directors at Hallockville Museum Farm, instructs the popular “Greenwoodworking” class series offered at the farm. Barry’s introductory classes will be on October 4 and 18, and November 1 and 15. At this point in his chairmaking career, Barry is immersed in traditional craft education and public demonstrations of his green woodworking style. His workshop uses all hand tools and traditional joinery. To find out more, call 631-298-5292 or visit hallockville.org.

The Peconic Ruggers hand-hooked rugs were recently displayed by the guild at Hallockville Museum Farm in Riverhead’s annual fall festival; something the guild does biennially. The small rug-hooking guild was founded by Gail Horton in 1996 and is based on the North Fork, welcoming members from all over Long Island. With the goal of teaching and promoting the traditional art of rug hooking, their incredible handmade rugs are displayed for both show and sale. They also offer beginners’ kits. A bright and colorful handmade rug can easily add a little fun to an entryway or living area and can also be hung up on a wall. For information, contact peconicruggers@yahoo.com.