I am very happy to introduce myself to La Contessa’s readers.
Nella Miller of Nella Miller Design, honoured and slightly curious as to how this sweet woman thinks I might interest you with my story!
At any rate here we go!
I have been married to the same man for 50 years, and the mother of two grown sons, who are my life and joy, living and gardening in the same home for 47 years… truly unheard of these days..I was born in Italy and grew up in Canada from the age of two ..I received my degree as a radiological technician, but left that career path to stay home and raise my two sons. Living in the country in a small town led to loads of time for home crafts, cooking and playing Martha, a huge influence on me, at that time, and being on a budget as a young wife, I made everything myself! I took every course and craft out there! By the time the boys were in high school I was working in retail, design and manufacturing and setting up trade show booths, as well as expanding a painted line of garden containers and potting benches sold across Canada. I opened a destination lifestyle store called Acorn Lane Vintage Living, a dream come true, in our carriage house for 3 years and subsequently moved it to historic Jordan Village, for another 12 years.
It was featured on a HGTV program called The Treasure Makers, in Country Gardens magazine and Canadian House and Home.. an honour and thrill for me. To quote Dolly Parton .. If you done it, it ain’t braggin ! I closed the store to help take care of my Mom, and a few years later fell into an 8 year stint as a wedding/event florist and the beginning of
A part of my life which I am so grateful for..
the opportunity to make one of the most important days of a couples life, beautiful and magical and to be able to bring all their dreams to reality…
something which added so much to my creative journey..
I am forever grateful to every beautiful bride that chose me for that role.
After set up at my last wedding event,
May 2019, I was 69 years old.
I live in beautiful Niagara wine country, on a 5 acre parcel of the Niagara Escarpment surrounded by award winning wineries and lush orchards and vineyards…also known as the Golden Horseshoe on the shores of Lake Ontario, Canada.
I am currently in a state of flux, wondering what my next chapter will be professionally..
I truly believe the minute you stop creating, learning, sharing, loving your life, your story will end!
How would you define your own style?
I would define my DECOR STYLE as ENGLISH COUNTRY STYLE.
Elegant English style, with a relaxed country feel.. layered interiors, with collections accumulated over time that have meaning to me in some way… I always bring something back home with me after our travels, porcelain, fabric, art to frame, silver, linens..anything that speaks to me in some way.. I’m not a purist, it doesn’t need a pedigree ..I just need to love it!
I will always find a spot for it!
Do you have a muse in this world or do you stick to your gut instincts?
My fashion sense is a cross between Helena Bonham Carter and a Chanel “ esque “ Penelope Cruz.. elegance with an edge..I’m always torn between the two extremes… e.g..I love opera but I also like listening to the Rolling Stones! I never match anything, and tend to add something quirky to my outfit at the end! I keep everything that I love or is a designer piece..I’m still the same size, so everything good will eventually come around again.. I’m small framed and my fashion sense over the years hasn’t really changed.. I turned one of my son’s bedroom into a walk in closet..
Right now it is a mess!! I need to purge and reorganize..I’m sure I’m not alone!
Are you enjoying this time in your Life?
If you could change one thing about AGING what would it be?
I find this time in my life, entered into the 70’s as not the easiest…I can’t seem to find my next path..am I relevant? Am I useful in my skill set? I’ve always been productive, financially and creatively and I still feel I have so much to contribute and share. Covid has slowed everyone down the last few years, and I feel so disconnected and irrelevant. If I could change one thing about aging it would be the phrase “anti aging”assigned by society, the media, fashion magazines etc.. Aging is a fact of life! A part of the cycle of one’s life..everyone will get there! The privilege of growing older…I hate to use the cliche, but it has brought courage and strength, I never thought I had.
What are your FAVORITE color combo’s?
You can have MORE than one!
My favourite combos are colours to wear, that work with black are neutrals…white, taupe, camel, lace, velvet, silk and linen.. I love black and think it is best with my skin tone! My olive Italian skin!
Favorite accessory……..WHY?
My favourite accessory is earrings and bracelets. I’ve always worn my hair long, so it gives me the freedom to wear big, bolder shapes.. and of course being Italian, my ears were pierced by my Aunt Carlotta before age 2! Running a close second are shoes… hard to resist a new pair of shoes!! Favourite designers for shoes Dolce e Gabbana, I love their fearless, unapologetic creativity, I would wear almost anything they design if I could…and a new Italian shoe line called A.S.98.. so fashionable and fabulous, beautiful leathers, and Geoxx for comfort, and style. Can’t go out without my lipstick! I have been wearing Clinique Black Honey since it was launched in the 70’s! So creamy…and used with lip liner Plum by Mac, a constant in my makeup bag.
Can you share your FAVORITE skincare routine and products?
I love and use Emminence products for my skin, 100 percent natural, made in Hungary ..wonderful serums and reasonably priced and good for my skin at this age..I try them all! Currently I’m loving Citrus and Kale potent C and E serum and Mangosteen Gel Moisturizer…my aesthetician Diana @allessandrosalon is knowledgeable and skilled and I trust her with my face! I get a facial every few months, but don’t go overboard at this stage, if you haven’t looked after your skin, it’s not going to make a huge difference now! Genetics play a significant role in my book, if you’ve got good genes thank your mother! I don’t do any procedures, it’s not for me, but I totally support anything a woman does that makes her feel good and look beautiful!
If you HAD to sell one skincare product which one would it be and why?
The most noted feature that changed overnight was my eyes..
They lost their sparkle, my big, dark brown eyes changed almost overnight..nuff said!!
What happened to your eyebrows??
They disappear!
I find extra mascara and liner is better than shadow and an overly made up face doesn’t work for me..
I’m still trying to find the perfect set of eyelashes!!
Sunglasses are a great asset for mature women, and I’ll splurge on a great pair when possible!
Anna Wintour was certainly on to something!!
Back in THE DAY what was your favorite department store?
Today, what is your FAVORITE ON-LINE shop to visit?
Growing up my favourite store was Wallace’s in our home town St.Catharines..
The Italian community where Linda Evangelista, the supermodel grew up!
(CONTESSA saw her in FRANCE and nearly fell off her chair at the cafe!I was about 20 years old.)
We didn’t have a lot of money, but my Mom bought us the best she could afford, twice a year, Easter and Christmas.. new coat, hat, shoes and gloves! In high school it was the Model.. where everyone my age shopped …where I bought my wedding dress.. the first one I tried on! With my best friend Maria, just the two of us.. !! I bought my wedding shoes at Holt Renfrew, a Canadian department store in Toronto similar to Saks or Bergdorfs…a pair of white heels that laced around the ankles.. I was 21…When I started working it became Roseanne’s , my first Diane vonFurstenberg leopard wrap dress … I loved it! My Mom bought my wedding trousseau at that store.. those were the days of proper outfits to suit the occasion..so stressful… don’t you think? Love it much better today! I did wear hot pants to my bridal shower, and high platform sandals, looking like Cher..with my long brown hair down to my waist! My Mom was not impressed! After I got married, I sewed my own clothes from Vogue pattern books, I still have kept a few.. when I opened my own store, shopping wholesale opened up a whole new world to me! Trade shows in the States and bigger cities made shopping fun and definitely more affordable..I started wearing pieces that had longevity and style… but always the same… an edge to everything.. fringes, animal prints, polka dots..I love to cover up…so coats, jackets, long swishy skirts, maxi dresses and well fitting pants work for me! Fall dressing is my favorite season for clothes.. I think a woman can be interesting and seductive without baring every inch of her body..
Unfortunately, I just don’t have good luck on line, hardly ever!! I love Anne Fontaine, Sarah Pacini and Ralph Lauren, and of course Dolce è Gabbana and the tailored precision of Chanel… study the classics and make your own rules..
How I’ve always done it!
Any ADVISE for women “OUR AGE”?
DO this but not that………..
I don’t have any words of wisdom for women on maturing…age gracefully, just accept it and focus on your health, agility and mental well being.. and love those who you love and love you back…work if it makes you happy and fulfilled, regardless of age.. we can mentor, inspire and encourage younger women to be their best at any age!
Be an example to emulate!
Can you tell us from your past decades what made YOU HAPPY?
YOUR 20’s ~
YOUR 30’s ~
YOUR 40’s ~
YOUR 50’s ~
YOUR 60’s ~
I was at my best and happiest in my 50’s.. my sons were adults and on their own, I opened my shop, Acorn Lane Vintage Living.. it became everything I dreamed it would be.. I felt at the top of my game then..
I know YOU LOVE YOUR GARDEN from your INSTAGRAM posts.
Can you tell us about it?
I cannot close without telling you about my garden.. I really started to garden after my Dad passed away.. it has saved me many times, been my refuge, my therapy, my safe place from the world.. I could live out there every day in the summer! I consider it my canvas.. I grow dozens of hostas and rhododendrons.. it is a shade garden and really it’s more about texture than varieties and species…however I love peonies and roses and hydrangeas.. and the list goes on…I’m so grateful for this beautiful spot on earth I get to call home! I learned almost everything from my Mom..she could grow anything.. she loved the earth and knew how to work it, till and augment it, to make it fruitful and abundant..the rest I learned from books on famous and not so famous gardeners, and their gardens.. my preference is the English garden style…
I collect vintage garden books..
I LOVE THEM!
Thank you Elizabeth, for pushing me out of my comfort zone..
You are so kind and have an open heart..
I can tell, even though we have never met…I hope your readers find this post inspiring and interesting..
Love, Nella
TO FIND Nella Miller ON INSTAGRM GO TO nella_miller_design.
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I am forever grateful to every beautiful bride that chose me for that role.
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