The Old Abode
Vintage Kitchen Additions
While we’re on the topic of kitchen-y updates, would you like to see our new-to-us dishes?
When my brother and his wife recently moved into their 100-yr-old home, they discovered this awesome vintage set of atomic dishes in a basement crawl space:
And when he asked if we wanted them, I jumped at it faster than a cat on a mouse! Our only dishes are a pricey set of Denby stoneware. Therefore I’d been glancing at thrift stores hoping to find a few inexpensive vintage plates for casual daily use.
These fit the bill almost perfectly. And after a smidgen of online research, I now know we obtained Salem China’s North Star pattern, made in the 1960′s. They seem pretty popular amongst mid-mod enthusiasts. I’m just not sure about two things.
1) I don’t like to save things I don’t need. And I certainly don’t need the teacups and saucers that came with the set. For nightly mugs of tea I prefer a large mug. For a morning coffee or post-dinner-party coffee I use my “good” stoneware teacups. Should I split up this vintage set and give away / sell the teacups and saucers? Or should I store them in a box in the basement, so that the whole set can remain together? As a vintage dish fan, I’m reluctant to split up a pristine set.
2) I have no idea if this stuff is microwave safe. Anyone have any idea?
Check out the sweet platter that was included. And from what I found on Atomic Inspired, there’s even more fun to be had with the matching teapot, cream and sugar set, and casserole dish. If Ryan approves, I may have to hunt those pieces down on Etsy and eBay.
But that’s not all the vintage goodness we received!
Also in the crawl space was this set of white stoneware, made in and shipped by Ceramano in West Germany (circa 19-??). Even better, most of the dishes were still in their crumbling original packaging. Never opened or used. Would I love to know the story behind that.
All in all, our set is comprised of 8 dinner plates, salad plates, pasta bowls, mugs, and 1 cream and sugar set.
How much fun is the recessed circular pattern? The only thing I can’t figure out is why there is a mismatched black stoneware lid for the sugar bowl. Information on this exact pattern seems to be lacking, though a similar pattern, Ceramano Omega, exists. If you know anything more about these dishes, or can point me in the right direction, I’d love to know!!
So now we have not two, but THREE sets of dishes. Oh dear. I’m absolutely keeping the Ceramano cream and sugar set, because I can’t wait to make some small flower arrangements in them. And the Ceramano pasta bowls are awesome – a cross between large bowls and small plates.
So back to my anti-hoarding tendencies. There’s NO REASON we need three sets of dishes. But I can’t decide if I want to break up the Ceramano set either. So I told Ryan that for now we’ll store the white plates and mugs, and the atomic teacups, in a box in the yet-unused attic. And I promise to make up my mind in a few months. Decisions about mint-condition sets of vintage dishware are not to be made lightly!
In case you haven’t yet noticed, I have a thing for vintage dinnerware, Pyrex, and barware. What’s your weakness when it comes to collecting?
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Small Space Solution: Beautification Station
If you rent and/or call a small space home, it’s possible your life isn’t overflowing with bathroom storage options. Here’s how I tackled that design dilemma in my condo.
As the last two homes I rented had small bathrooms with pedestal sinks, I had to improvise a decorative and utilitarian storage space for all the girly stuff I primp with daily. A beautification station. In each situation, I created a space in the guest room for a small vanity area, usable by both me and my guests.
Thanks to a bookshelf I had on hand, and a mirror that I snagged on a serious budget, I put the space together for almost nothing. At Pier 1, nestled amongst the mirrors, was this gorgeous wooden one – with a bright little clearance sale price tag announcing the price of only $19. Marked down from about $100! Hello, bargain.
It was on clearance because there was a crack running through the glass. It was still awesome. Heck, that crack made it more awesome. The manager wanted to get me a new one. For full price. He reached out for the mirror, and I held tightly to my bargain, as he tried to tell me he couldn’t sell it to me. I argued that it was tagged with a price, displayed on the floor, and he wouldn’t get my money for a full-price one. Then I literally tugged it out of his hand. My stubbornness paid off. I got the mirror!
And you know what? To this day the crack shines proudly, like a battle scar. From the battle of the broken bargain. But I digress. . .
The top of the bookshelf became the landing pad for my makeup, hair product, etc.
I grouped like items in brown wooden storage containers for a more cohesive look. I collected the containers over a month or two. My mom gave me the cute little cat ring holder years ago – it holds my Grandma’s diamond engagement ring when I’m not wearing it.
The bins, which I already owned, fit almost perfectly on the shelves – providing storage for hair accessories, travel toiletry bags, hair dryers, purses, hats, and other girly stuff.
I think I enjoy this cheerful little vanity more than I would have enjoyed a built-in cabinet in my tiny bathroom. And now my guests have a convenient place to primp, without tying up the only bathroom in the joint.
At the end of the day, the key to making your small rented home personal and functional comes down to one thing: creative thinking. If the apartment doesn’t have a functional space that you need, just create it. There’s always a way.
And now I’m curious. Do you have a vanity area in your home, or do you just use the bathroom area?
*New to this blog? Check out another small-space storage solution I whipped up in my guest room.
Rental Remedy: Ditch the plastic blinds
One of the easiest ways to spiff up a rental apartment is to ditch the plastic blinds and replace them with something – anything - prettier. Here’s how I instantly upgraded my windows, taking them from trashy to classy in one afternoon on a tight budget.
Check out how bare and ugly my windows looked before I brought in the bamboo. Of course, we don’t need to discuss how the ugliness of the windows was only accentuated by my poorly-chosen “neutral” paint. . . among other decorating disasters:
As soon as I installed those budget bamboo shades, it was like a different room. Of course, changing the paint helped, as did the addition of my custom-built furniture around the ugly wall heater.
And in the dining room-turned-office before:
And after:
Roman shades can be installed inside the window frame (aka “inside mount”) or outside the frame (“outside mount”) to suit your style. They come in fabric, wood, bamboo, and a number of other options. I’ve got to say that I’d choose shades with outside mount any day, because it covers the possibly ugly window frame and gives the illusion of extra height if hung correctly. That being said, here’s the step-by-step on how to spiff up your rental windows with roman shades:
Choosing and installing Roman shades in your rental home:
- Measure each window. If you’re choosing an outside-mount, make sure you allow for the shade to extend a few inches beyond the window frame on either side to ensure the shade covers it well. Also measure the length of your window from the spot above the frame where you’d install them to the base of the window ledge.
- Shop around to find the best deal going. I looked on Amazon, Overstock, Walmart, Target, Ikea, and then some before finally snagging my shades at Bed Bath and Beyond on clearance. Be prepared to pay $20 -$40 bucks per shade.
- Remove the existing window treatments, saving and storing all parts and hardware for when you move out. Don’t worry, mini blinds don’t take up much room in a closet.
- Install your new, gorgeous, fabulous roman shades. All you need is a drill, a level, a screw driver, and a tape measure. Mark the holes and level carefully. You don’t want crooked shades!
Tips and tricks:
- Remember, if you want to create the appearance of taller windows, plan to install the shades a few inches above the top of the window frame.
- If you have a large window, or several windows side-by-side, shop around to see which is cheaper: one large shade or a combination of smaller shades.
- If you’re looking for wooden or bamboo shades, match their color to that of the wood furniture in the room for a warmer and more cohesive look.
- Save a little dough: choose unlined shades for a better bargain. There’s a DIY remedy for the privacy liner, which I’ll share Friday.
Installing custom shades may sound tricky, but trust me: It’s really simple. I had 5 shades installed in about 3 hours. It cost me about $175 in all – and it was worth every penny.
Live a little
With the plant-attacking foster kittens finally adopted out to a permanent home, my living room was ready to live a little. I couldn’t wait bring the outdoors in with a small grouping of houseplants. They’re fresh, they’re cheerful, and you can’t beat having a real live air filter.
This little grouping only set me back 20 bucks, pots and all, during my last trip to Ikea. And let me tell you, they seem to really be enjoying the little bit of sunlight they get in that window. I wanted an interesting grouping of textures, so I paired the spiky leaves of the aloe with a small bushy plant and the taller braided tree. I really like how it turned out.
Ahhh, that bright dose of green really does keep things cheerful. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for gardening season. These guys will tide me over until then.
New Patio Furniture
This past weekend I reveled in the warm spring weather while doing two of my favorite things: furniture shopping and home decorating. Shocking, huh?
My patio upgrade is by far one of the most useful projects I’ve done here at the Borrowed Abode. Every spring, summer, and fall, the menagerie and I can often be found hangin’ on the back patio area. As of this weekend, we’re now hangin’ in style.
When it came to patio furniture I – surprisingly – knew exactly what I wanted:
- Solid wood that was ready to weather the outdoors
- Not made in China
- Table space for 2-1o people
- Seating for both dining and lounging
- Reasonably priced (but of course!)
- No wicker
I did a ton of research to find the perfect pieces. I’m confident that Ikea has the best deal around. They have a slew of outdoor dining and lounging options, all crafted from solid Acacia wood. Acacia furniture is resilient enough to live outdoors from spring-fall, and it only wants occasional oilings to keep in shape. The only catch? Each Ikea gets one shipment of the Acacia stuff per year. Once they’re out of furniture, you’re outta luck.
And that is why I dipped into my savings to score a patio set early Saturday morning. I didn’t want to miss out. An hour later, Strawberry-Basil Caipirinha in hand, I set about assembling the furniture. It was the easiest Ikea furniture assembly I’ve ever performed. I was done in a jiffy.
These sturdy and adjustable armchairs can do double duty for lounging and dining. I sprung for the slightly pricier versions ($70 instead of $50) which can be adjusted from an upright position into a slightly more reclining one. I passed on the matching taupe cushions. I can DIY colorful ones for much less than $30 each.
And at only $20 a seat, these folding wood chairs are awesome and uber-useful. They’ll provide classy seating for a bbq – but can be folded and stowed in the closet when not in use. Heck, they’d even look ok if I had to pull ‘em out for guests at an indoor party.
And now for the pièce de résistance. I wanted a table with extra seating options, and boy did I get it. The Applaro Drop-Leaf Table can seat anywhere from 4-10 people. In its smaller form, the leaves can hang at each side – or they can be removed altogether in about 5 seconds. Here she is in her smaller form, with the leaves attached:
And here she is in all her extended-leaf, 10-seater glory. Isn’t she fabulous?
Now for the part more impressive than my ability to assemble the furniture alone. She’s only $99 at Ikea. Isn’t that fantastic?
Sure, I could have gotten a table and chairs for less, maybe on Craigslist. But this set was worth every penny. As I write this, I sit at the table with the dogs at my side, and the cat rolling happily on the table top.
Bonus: The furniture wasn’t made in China, and was made of sustainably harvested wood. Plus, with no need for stains or paints, it’s pretty environmentally friendly to maintain!
But what do you think? Are there better bargains elsewhere? Or are you as impressed as I am?
A Shady Solution
Remember when I told you I was making an effort to drastically reduce my heating bill and save some dough? Well, now that the balmy days of March are here, I finally whipped up a little insulated roman-esque shade for my drafty kitchen window. Better late than never.
I sewed it from a fabric remnant I’d been holding on to for years. The fresh green botanical print and my home’s spring green accents were a match made in decorating heaven. It even tied into the green flower pots on my homemade back door shelving. I think the blind adds a much-needed dose of classy cheer to an otherwise dreary and dingy back door.
Am I the only one whose cats see a DIY project in action and think “Project! Yay! Something to sit on!”
This was my first attempt at freehanding a roman-style blind, and I made some mistakes - and learned a lot – as I put it together. I’ll save the in-depth tutorial for next time, when it’s sure to go much more smoothly. In the mean time, here’s a quick recap:
With the help of my trusty feline sidekicks, I put together the blind from scratch. I hemmed the fabric, then added plastic loop tape to the back. (The loops wrangle the ribbons, allowing them to actually pull the shade up in a uniform fashion.)
I forgot to sew the insulating liner to the green fabric before adding the loop tape. Laziness prevailed, so I sewed the liner over the back of the blind, loops and all. Then I cut small slivers in the liner fabric and pulled the loops through. The back may not be the prettiest, but it’s completely functional. Problem solved.
I don’t have the numbers exactly, since I already had all the fabric and trimmings on hand, but I’d guesstimate that this project cost less than $10. While I can’t replace the ugly old back door, at least I can dress it up with some cheap and pretty “insulation.”
If you’re curious about those fabulous red stools, click here.
Shared at Kimba’s DIY Day at A Soft Place To Land as well as Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative.
Sweet Find: Stool Time
Ever since I sold the ugly dining table and converted the dining room into an office, my mother’s been freaking out because I didn’t have a dining table or bar stools. What can I say? I was waiting for the right vintage bar stools to find me. Frankly, most inexpensive modern bar stools are too large and overbearing for my small, lighthearted mid-century inspired space.
My mom can rest easy now: Last night, like love at first sight, these two cheerful mid-century bar stools found me. (Craigslist is like my eHarmony of furniture love.) Disaster averted.
I just love how cheerful the bright red looks against the granny apple green wall. I can’t get enough of this color combo lately, especially in this small room that doesn’t get much natural light.
I guess my love of the color combo accidentally carried over to the kitchen, where I whipped up a tasty and healthy meal for the 7th night of my 21-Day Cleanse diet: Basalmic grillled Portobellos topped with roasted red peppers, with rice and a brussel sprouts.
Aren’t the stools just the cutest? Bonus – An original label on the bottom of one stool says it was manufactured in 1954. Awesome!
And if you’re looking for some reasonably-priced mid-century furniture in the DC area, let me know. The man selling these stools was super nice, and he’s clearing a ton more mid-century stuff out of his storage unit.
Living Room Reveal
Last week I gave you a sneak peek at my beautiful new custom-built furniture in my living room.
And now I’m ready for the big reveal:
In the fall I realized that I needed to do something to cover the hideous heating unit that protruded from my living room wall. As a renter, I wanted a simple modular solution flexible enough to work in future homes.
The solution? I designed a piece of furniture that two small, simple bookshelves with open backs, which would be placed on either side of the heater. A long (matching) board placed across the tops would create a functional surface while giving the pieces the look of one large unit.
I love, love, love how it turned out. It may not be the fanciest thing you’ve ever seen, because that’s not the style I go for in my home. Simple, functional, and beautiful is more my thing. With just a twist of mid-century charm. Kinda like a James Bond martini.
The shelves by the door hold my keys, dog cleanup bags, and a bowl full of cat toys. On the other side, one shelf functions as a media center, hiding my old Powerbook, its speakers, and my iPod. Laptops and speakers never look pretty when out in the open!
I designed tapered round feet so that the bookshelves would blend seamlessly with my mid-century furniture.
Aren’t the feet precious? And look at the gorgeous wood grain. And the way the corner is perfectly joined.
You’re probably wondering how I built this. I must confess to you that I did not. I’d planned to, with the help of my dad and his workshop tools. But then my former boss, whose son is an incredibly talented furniture craftsman, volunteered to get it built for me. And let me tell you – it is one amazingly gorgeous, perfect piece of furniture. One that I will use and love for decades to come.
Now tell me this. . . what the heck do you say when some talented guy you’ve never even met builds you the most amazingly awesome piece of furniture just because his dad asks him to? Somehow “thank you” just doesn’t seem to cut it.
Shared in the Before and After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick!
