Fashion meets furniture function with designer's new legs

Atlantan Wendy Blount may soon be known for her legs.

The interior designer, whose creations have been published in magazines such as "Metropolitan Home" and "Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles," recently debuted a line of glitzy furniture legs sure to spice up any ottoman or side-chair.

Partnering with fellow designer Brooke Taylor for their design business, House of Habit, the duo re-imagined furniture legs made of metal, wood, glass and even crystal. One version is encrusted with Swarovski crystals. The legs are now on display in the J Nelson showroom at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center, and available through Blount herself.

We chatted with the designer about her work and inspiration.

Q: You're known for your interior design work. What made you branch out into furniture design, specifically legs?

A: I’ve been a designer for quite some time and when I designed my own furniture pieces, I noticed there were only a few wooden legs available… it seemed to be a hole in the market. No one had done a line of highly decorative legs.

Q: Were your designs purposefully based on the high heel idea?

A: I did get a lot of inspiration from fashion and I did think they would be really fun pieces to use, so I think these first ones out of the gate are definitely a little like jewelry. They’re just a really cool accent to a main piece, and I thought they’d be most fun on ottomans and settees. Yes, we definitely used fashion as an inspiration and there are several in the idea stage that are even more fashion-oriented than these. The bronze leather leg was absolutely taken from a bronze leather shoe with a wood grain heel.

Q: What inspired the name "House of Habit"?

A: It could be that it's something we love, something that makes our hearts pound...an addictive-type habit. Or maybe [that design] is something we do and use everyday.