Archive for September 2009
Secondhand Score: Vintage Glassware & Powertools
Check out these vintage cocktail glasses – a sweet $5 score from this past weekend’s visit to Virginia Bazaar!
There were four of them in the set:
I love the almost cheesy gold and teal design, perhaps because I imagine they’re the sort of glass I’d see in the hands of James Bond.
And they were just the touch I needed to add to my glassware collection in my cabinet:
On a side note, I also scored a much-needed reciprocating (I think) saw and a small staple gun, all for the grand total of $8!
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Window Shopping: Ikea
Sunday afternoon the boyfriend and I wrapped up a weekend of thrifting, flea-marketing, and yardsaling with a stop at Ikea. Here’s a snapshot (or six) of some fun finds (that I did not purchase).
First off, I found a potential solution to my living room design dilemma! As I mentioned before, the Ikea Lack shelves don’t come in the right wood finish for my space. After considering using black-brown and embracing the color difference, I realized I’m too hell-bent on matching wood tones. Thus, I was pleasantly surprised to find what I’ll call “almost-floating shelves.” Supported by just a two low-profile brackets, the shelves offer the clean appeal of floating shelves with (I think) a bit more stability. And between the four wood tones offered (not to mention white, black, yellow, red ) there’s sure to be one for your room.
(Sadly, I can not for-the-life-of-me locate them on the website.)
Next up: If you like the clean lines, round tapered legs, and warm golden wood of mid-century / danish modern furniture, but don’t want to sort through yard sales and thrift stores and antique markets to find [probably beat up] pieces, then Ikea’s Stockholm tables should make you a happy camper. They also come in the ever-popular black-brown finish, in case you want to have the vintage lines in modern colors.
On a less modern note, you can embrace your inner princess at this modern yet classic vanity table. (There’s a matching bedroom set, too, btw.) It’s made even more exciting with the small faux-crystal chandelier suspended over the right side. (Sorry, bad photo, so you can’t see it very well.) But what a great way to jazz up an otherwise mundane morning routine!
Wonderful Whites: If you’re as into white vases and decor items as I am right now, then you may be excited by Ikea’s array of options. They accessory area was just overflowing with them! I especially liked the Sockerart pitcher (which comes in three sizes, starting at $6.99) 
and this collection of small bud vases (only $1.99 each!)
What are some of your current faves at Ikea this fall?
Secondhand Score: Vintage Cake Tin & Stoneware
I am just so excited about some recent thrift-store finds that I had to squeeze in a quick post about them before bed.
Check out this cute and functional tin cake serving and storing dish. I have no idea exactly how old it is or what it’s supposed to be called – all I know is that I thought it was precious! At $4, how could I not purchase it?
Secondly, I couldn’t resist this large vintage dinnerware set from the late 1970′s: Lenox Temperware in the Sprite Pattern. Priced at only $10, it was a steal for that number of dishes! They’re heavy and sturdy and I just loooove the cute and whimsical floral pattern! Bonus: they claim to be freezer, oven, and dishwasher safe. I’ve tested the dishwasher part already, and they passed with flying colors.
Until now I’ve kept things simple with just four place-settings of my favorite Denby stoneware. However, they’re pretty pricey and although I’ve never had a casualty there’s always the chance. So it will be nice to use these most days, especially when entertaining groups outside. (Yay – no more need for plastic or paper plates!)
Now, after a moment’s research on replacements.com, I am jonesing for the matching casserole dishes and this coffee pot:
I also scored a cute old hat box for $2. Photos of that will come later when I reveal m vintage hat collection. Until then, happy thrifting!
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Also, I’m participating in Kimba’s “DIY Day” at A Soft Place to Land! Be sure to stop by her site and check out the awesome projects her readers have shared!
Secondhand Score: Can You Shed a Little Light?
Hello readers, I’m hoping one of you can share a little light on this situation. So to speak.
On the 4th of July, as my boyfriend and I were trolling through a New Jersey flea market, we spotted this awesome lamp. Our eyes lit up like – well, like lamps.
White and smoky grey plastic with chrome. And a little tray table. How awesome is that?
Obviously he scored it for his place. I now call it the alien lamp, because its shade reminds me of futuristic alien movies.
But we know nothing about it. So I ask you, has anyone seen this lamp? Does anyone know when it was made or by whom? We’re guessing between 1950 and 1980.
I must say it looks fantastic with his grey Ikea couch and red accent wall.
That’s it for today. Can’t wait to share my weekend thrifting, yardsaling, flea-marketing, and Ikea-ing adventures with you in the next few days!
PS: I’m participating in Today’s Thrifty Treasures over at Southern Hospitality. Please check out Rhoda’s great blog (her super cute office nook inspired me to finally create my new office) as well as the ideas shared by participants!
‘Tis the Season: Faking it
I never in a million years thought I’d say this, but just this fall I started faking it. Floral decorations, that is. In my own home.
*gasp*
I’m starting to see why people like artificial flowers. I scored a bunch of them, cheaply, for my fall decor, and have been working on arrangements all week. They may not be real, they may not be fragrant, but you know what? They may not wilt and die on me in a week or so. (Unless the kittens keep playing with them!)
I’m still tweaking the locations and styles of my home’s fall decor, as it’s my first year doing it, but I’d like to share a few examples of my newfound fake floral arranging skills.
I’m definitely digging the pumpkin baskets from Michael’s. I filled different size baskets with different items.
This one’s a bit blurry but I couldn’t wait to share my little white $4 pitcher from the Salvation Army.
I’m also pretty pleased with how this tiny arrangement of leftover flowers spiffed up my bedside table. Of course, it helps that my bedroom is practically built around fall colors:
And finally, it was so easy and convenient to exchange some dried real flowers for some fake fall flowers in the bud vases in my guest room:
Don’t get me wrong…I still loooove real, fresh, fragrant flowers. But with my current budget, I’ll choose a season of cloth flowers for every room for less than $15 total instead of one fresh $8 grocery store bouquet that will last a week, tops . Yep, this fall I’m faking it. What about you?
Small-Space Storage: Beachy Bathroom
When I moved into my rented condo I was faced with a dilemma common to many tenants of old apartments: a lack of bathroom storage. Thankfully, my landlord had at least renovated the bathroom, installing a gorgeous large sink, glossy white tile, and a large mirrored cabinet over the sink. But let’s face it – only a true and devoted minimalist would find one cabinet to be sufficient storage space.
The wall over the toilet would have become home to another wall cabinet, if it wasn’t for the ugly, old, broken and oh-so-permanent wall heater that lived there. And by permanent, I mean not-gonna-come-off-without-a-sledgehammer permanent. (Just for the record, I wouldn’t have installed an over-the-toilet hutch, no matter how “attractive” it was. I hate those things.)
I had only one option: utilize the narrow floor space next to the sink/across from the bathtub. Do it attractively and cheaply, of course. This is what I came up with:
Inspired by a good friend who built a massive wall of bathroom storage using only simple Ikea drawers, I picked up two sets of Fira Drawers from Ikea. They currently offer three different drawer configurations (Update: RIP Fira Drawers…)
I stained them a combo of two colors – blue and green – to tie in with the beachy accessories in the bathroom. Voila!
I sorted all my little bathroom items into the drawers. I’ve got a lot of travel-size toiletries that I collect from hotels. They’re super handy for guests to use (or for me to grab if I run out of something at home).
What I love about the small-drawer approach is that there’s a place for everything. Soaps and deodorants up top, a tooth-care drawer, a razor drawer, a nail care drawer, etc.
Next steps: I think I’ll get two more drawer units to set next to the current ones. I’d like them to look a bit more substantial. I’d also like to install wheels on them so that I can roll them out of the way when I scrub the floor. (I tell myself it will encourage me to scrub it more often!)
What about you? Any tricks up your sleeves for clever bathroom storage?
‘Tis the Season: Fall-ing in Love
Welcome, Autumn. Every year I “fall” in love with you just a little bit more. I can’t wait to finish decorating for you!
Here I am preparing for your arrival. Hopefully you’re stuck in traffic because you were supposed to arrive yesterday, but I’ve not finished decorating for you. I’m in the midst, though:
My cat’s ready. She can’t wait to run and hide from you, as she does from every visitor. She’s even the right ominous color for the candy-loving holiday that accompanies you!
Why don’t you take your time and maybe stop for a Starbucks or something. I’ll be ready by the weekend.
Question for Readers: To float or not to float
I’ve got a living room design dilemma, and I want to know what you think.
Now that I’ve hung my enormous modern painting on one wall of my living room, the next steps are as follows:
- Choose wall shelves to hang above glass-door credenza
- Decide where to hang (or place) collage of black-and-white photos in black frames (currently living on hallway walls)
- Refinish asian-style cabinet (end table) with a glossy red
- Obtain gray sofa cover (or dye existing one)
- Find mid-century fabric to recover ottoman and make some pillows
- Recover lamp shades to coordinate
- Find a fabulous grey, black, red rug (budgeted for November)
- Finish accessorizing
- Find new additional mid-century seating (now that my two chairs moved to the new office)
It’s those first two tasks that stumped this chump. Below you’ll see the photo of the glass door credenza above which I’d like to hang two shelves. Two floating shelves. (Don’t worry, I’m fixin’ to paint this wall ASAP.)
Below that you’ll see a very rough illustration of the shelf arrangement I’m considering. Two floating shelves of differing lengths. I have two antique cameras as well as an old-school wet-plate photograph (currently framed in silver, on the credenza) that I’d like to display on the shelves. I will then move my old black and white family photos (hanging in hall) to the shelves.
(Disclaimer: The messy laptop and speakers and fall decor items will be moved posthaste.)
Dilemma: I found that the Ikea Lack shelves I’d hoped to use do not come in a wood tone that would match my credenza. I really want to avoid big shelf brackets because I’m trying to keep things in line with my clean and streamlined mid-century modern furniture.
Here are the options. The shelves must be at least 10″ deep:
- Build two floating shelves; stain to match. Upside – what I want. Downside – a lot of work.
- Install Ikea Ekby shelves (or my boards) with Ekby Bjarnum brackets instead. Upside – easy peasy. Downside – the brackets are chrome. Not wood colored.
- Install other shelves altogether. Suggestions, please?
While I’m at it with this ”ask the reader” business, is the current lamp too short? Should I move the lamp from the end table over to the credenza? (It’s much taller)
Finally, what should I hang over my sofa? I was planning to make a mid-century modern inspired art piece on a canvas. Or maybe I should make a grouping of smaller art pieces? I don’t want to take away from the large painting on the opposite wall, but at the same time the sofa wall can not be neglected.
So, to sum up, the questions are as follows:
- Should I build “floating” shelves and stain them to match the credenza, or should I purchase something that isn’t quite “floating?”
- Does the staggered shelf look work with the lamp, or would a taller lamp (like the one by the sofa) be better?
- What should I hang over the sofa? Should I make my own art on a painter’s canvas?
Please let me know what you think! All opinions will be fairly considered! Thanks so much for stopping by.
