Filed under: Home
Fresh flowers for a warm welcome home
When I’m not at work I’ve been working to get settled in. Since life is a bit hectic I am working to make my home as cozy and comforting as possible. One of my favorite past times has been taking time to “curate” small vignettes around my little studio. I’ve found that one of the best ways to return home at the end of a long day is to arrive to fresh flowers. The peonies above are long past their season, but they were especially beautiful and welcoming.
The bar area is still a work in progress but I’ve enjoyed getting it going; somehow I’ve found the decorating part of moving to be exciting and quite fulfilling. I’m currently hunting for some inspiring wall art to help make this area complete but in the meantime, I’ll be moving onto my dressing room. (Yes, my tiny studio has a dressing room!)
A small bar area, work in progress
Candlestick Park Antique Faire
I took my first trip to the Candlestick Park Antiques and Collectibles Faire this past Sunday and had a blast. After a week of constant rain it let up just in time for the monthly gathering of antique dealers from all around the Bay Area. It’s not as big as the Alameda market, but it’s bigger than the Alemany one so it’s just the right size for me. So many great pieces I wish I had room for (the vanity and the gorgeous red American Tourister luggage!), and some that were just plain funny (vintage Playtex brassieres, anyone?).
I’ve always been fascinated by retro pop culture and lifestyle, but I’d never gotten into antique hunting until recently when shopping for home decor pieces. If you want more than a catalog design, antiques are a great way to add some fun and meaningful pieces that can be inexpensive and completely unique.
I ended up nabbing a first aid kit from 1941, some vintage bottles and spice tins, a vintage wood box for storage, and some old Look magazines from 1952, all for about $60. The first aid kit needs a tiny bit of cleaning in order to be repurposed. The cool thing is that the original band-aids and swabs are still in the kit, wrapped! I’m thinking I can find something cool for these outside of the kit.
I also loved these sheet metal cut-out letters and how they were strewn across the ground. I wasn’t searching for wall art, so I decided not to impulsively by a giant N. I have still been dreaming about the third bottle from the left below though. It was an antique absinthe bottle in perfect condition. I had to pass since it was on the pricier side at $70, but I was imagining it in my cluster of bottles with some fresh flower sprigs.
Looking for some interesting and meaningful accessories for around the house I came across these sweet little gems from VivaTerra.
The first is a self-sustaining ecosystem enclosed in a small blown glass globe. Living inside you’ll find algae, shrimp, plants, and micro-organisms. With indirect sunlight and moderate temperatures you can expect the life within to last anywhere from two to three years. Next day shipping is included in the price as the life inside needs sunlight to live. Buy here for $89.
The second is a fossil set with tillandsia plants. No two are alike, and maintenance is low. VivaTerra suggests using as a paper weight or general decor, but I must say the thought of one of these little guys on my desk would make me endlessly happy. Set of two, $35.
The last is a terrarium that comes with a recycled glass vase, sand, and four plants for you to arrange. Totally diggin’ the thought of playing with these. Buy here for $79.
So fun, so stylish…I love them all! Just looking at the pictures makes me happy.
[Images via Viva Terra]
Filed under: Home
Doing some organizing around the house it somehow dawned on me that my bedside books are pretty predictable, but also quite revealing. What do your bedside books say about you?
1. Curry Easy
5. Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight About Animals
7. Anti-Cancer
8. Notebook and pen
Oh, how I wish I had found these wonderful jars when I had canned my tomatoes last autumn! I know they’re only storage jars but they are just so sleek and sexy. Of course, they’re also completely functional with a reusable glass lid if you’re going the canning route. (Better than tossing the lids of conventional jars.)
I happened upon these Weck canning and storage jars (from Germany) just a few weeks ago and used them for the pickled chanterelle recipe; I really am not sure if I was more giddy over the mushrooms or the jars. Since tomato canning season isn’t for quite a while, I’m most excited to use these in place of plastic storage containers for leftovers. But then again there’s also their juice line that has so many potential uses, I’ll have to add a few of these to the list too. A great carafe shape with an air tight lid: score!
Available here in sets of six.
Inspiration Board – Sabrina Linn
I had a wonderfully productive weekend at home, just like I said I would! I got into the zone late Friday night and ended up rearranging the bookshelf and our bedroom. Our space is really small so there aren’t many ways to switch things up but I did manage to find a new home for a few things.
I think that much of my desire to do a bit of mid-winter organizing was because of the beautiful picture above. The inspiration board belongs to interior designer Sabrina Linn (which I found by way of the wonderful Black Eiffel) and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head since. Truly, I think I have visited this picture about 27 times in the last 10 days – it’s haunting me in the most fabulous way. Really, the entire composition is gorgeous, but the idea of proudly displaying a collection of inspirations for all to see is just…well, brilliant! Granted, it would take discipline to keep it presentable, but I am truly enamoured with this idea. With our tall ceilings we have a huge blank wall that’s been bare for the past year. Until I can afford to invest in an original Rex Ray that I so covet, I think this would be the perfect place for a thoughtful, well-composed, his & hers inspiration board. New project: identified!
I love the thought of organizing first aid supplies in this retro-style tin box, especially since I often find myself yearning for days of old where tin and glass were the container standards. This little guy is wall mountable for ease-of-use, but really, it’s pretty darn stylish too. Available here for $23.
[images via ModCloth]
Would love for this to be mi casa, but my loft isn’t quite this spacious or bright. I do however own those two pink tables below so I’m on my way, right? Well, Mi Casa is actually an online design mag (en español!) that’s a guaranteed time-suck if you’re a design junkie.
I am once again showing that I’m a sucker for pink accents against a creamy white back backdrop. Oh, and of course I’m loving the sparkly chandelier. There’s just something about the industrial style of the loft mixed with the soft feminine colors and accents that has me swooning.
[via MadeByGirl, images via Mi Casa]
Filed under: Home
I probably spend most of my time outside of work in the kitchen, and while I’ve gotten settled in my cozy city kitchen that doesn’t mean I can’t lust after beautiful kitchens that are the twice the size of our loft. This one in particular, with it’s modern cottage flair, has set my heart aflutter. Designed by architect G.P. Shafer this is just one example from their gorgeous portfolio. I could do so much damage in here; and what about that dining nook? Sigh.
To see more, check out the spread on desire to inspire. So many beautiful rooms and exteriors.
[via desire to inspire]
{image via flickr user elseachelsea}
Daydreaming of the beautiful room that sits behind this gorgeous balcony window in Budapest. Ahh, I can see myself just on the other side of the lace curtain.
