House Tour May Recap

Leonard Koh 5/3/10

Kelly Johnson 5/10/10

Lisa, Chris, Cameron, and William 5/17/10

Becke 5/24/10

all photos courtesy of homeowner. If you would like to have your home featured please send me an email or submit pictures of your home to the flickr group.

Sick

Well you may have noticed I've been absent. I came down with a cold on Monday and then it turned into a awful back sprain/ache/soreness that had me on the couch all week.

In that time I did an ton of thinking and I came up with an idea.

I'm sorta, kinda going to bring back 5 Things but not the weekly post. Yesterday when I was feeling better I purged a bunch of stuff. Now that I'm upwardly mobile I'm going to photograph it and list it on Ebay and Etsy.

Starting today you can look in the Vintage section of my Etsy shop and on Ebay and I will be listing a bunch of items I no longer have use for.

House Tour-Becke

Name: Becke
Location: Rural Ontario, Canada
Square Footage: 1700
Years Lived in: 1 1/2
Rent or own: Own
Describe your style: Modest Minimalist
Blog/Website/Twitter:
thevintagecabin.blogspot.com
twitter.com/thevintagecabin
thevintagecabin.etsy.com

What's your favorite free/found item?
One day I was driving by a restaurant that was being renovated and there was a huge pile of about 25 large red metal letters.
A B & C are now hanging in our office and I sold the rest.

What's your favorite purchased item?
Not only is it pretty but it's one of the most functional items in my house - a Le Creuset dutch oven I found about 10 years ago for $2.

What has been your biggest obstacle in decorating/design?
The fact that I care about interior decor and design at all sometimes feels like an obstacle. 
For example, I would love one of those new, overstuffed and super comfortable couches you find at horrible furniture stores but I could never
have one because I would get daily twitches from the ugliness. Or, rather than having to paint the exterior of my wood sided home every few years
I could just cover it with vinyl siding and never lift a finger for it again, but...I could never do that because I have an eye for aesthetics that
I can never change. Sometimes I feel like it's a curse but I love it anyway.


Is your design style organic or planned?
I would say it's a bit of both. I do plan certain ideas ahead of time like paint and fixtures but when most of your furnishings come from a thrift store,
you tend to do a lot of decorating around the latest find.

What is your favorite spot in the house?
I love the dining room the most. It is very simple, white and super bright on a sunny day. The room used to be an open porch way back and still
feels a bit like one. We see a lot of great birds in the bushes from the windows in there.




How has your style changed in the past 5 years?
I have always been a huge fan of bright colors and mid century furniture. To an extent, I still am. Since moving into this heritage home my taste has
simplified itself quite a bit though. 5 years ago, I had a coral pink bedroom with neon curtains and a weird looking homemade wooden bed. I had a lot of mid
century and kitsch in my place and I have phased out about 75% of it. I still like splashes of bold color and will always have a soft spot for
weird and kitschy finds but I think I have learned how to edit my finds & tastes a lot better. I've become a lot more practical about what I bring
into the house now.

What is your favorite resource or store?
Any flea market, yard sale, thrift store or rummage sale. I also love Etsy, eBay, Craigslist and Kijiji.




What is your biggest decorating/design pet peeve?
I don't really like to see decor that is focused entirely on one era or style. I find it too contrived and formulaic,
almost like it's a movie set with no soul.

What has been your favorite design trend?
I can't say I'm a huge fan of trends, they stress me out, but there are a few that seem pretty timeless to me:
maps, nautical and rustic/primitive items are always a sure bet.




What is the biggest influence on your design/decorating style?
Not sure how I'd pinpoint my biggest influence, as it's ever-changing. Decor items seem to find me, rather than me seeking out specific ideas.
Somehow, it all just comes together.

What in your home dictates how you design/decorate?
Layout certainly has a big say in what I can and can't do, especially in my livingroom.




What is the simplest thing you have done that has made the biggest impact?
Painted everything inside white. Well, almost everything.

all photos courtesy of homeowner. If you would like to have your home featured please send me an email or submit pictures of your home to the flickr group.

Handmade Friday

Continuing on my love of cephalopods I present to you this awesome Squid Tea Towel from Squid Ink Kollective. I really wish it came in yardages so I could sew some stuff out of it or even sheets!

Have a great weekend! The series finale of Lost is on Sunday and as of right now that is my ONLY weekend plan

Submissions

Sadly there is no 'Things We Love' post today. I ran out of submissions and got so busy I didn't have time to seek out more. Hopefully I will find some for next week but in the mean time I would love it if you (yes, YOU!) submitted something.

It's easy and painless. All you have to do is email me a picture of a treasured item and a little bio on how it came into your life and why you love it.

Thank you!

To Do

Finish sewing curtains for both offices
Sand and paint bookcase
Drama light fixture for bedroom
Second lamp for living room
Find Kitchen table
Fix mobile in office
Find speakers for turntable
Get cabinet for printer
Find place for charging dock
Hang Kitchen shelves
Clean Downstairs Rug
Get 2nd CD Cabinet

Solve the above the TV blank wall situation

Stair runner

Get art framed

Do something with the ceiling in the bedroom

I've been able to cross off most of the stuff but then I add more...never ends does it?

TV Stand Project

Another stop at my favorite thrift store yielded great results. I was actually going back for a Sunflower Pyrex dish that, sadly, was gone but I walked away with two pieces of furniture and a Ben Seibel bowl for $14. The furniture I purchased was a really cool mid-c bookcase that needs sliding doors and a homemade table. The bookcase I'm still working on. I need to figure out what to use in the place of the sliding doors. It has to be very thin and not bow...more on that project down the road. The homemade table however I'll show you now:

Pretty ho-hum right? I didn't think much of it as I passed it but I've been on the lookout for a TV stand in the bedroom. Right now we're using a rolling cabinet from Ikea:

My Husband (I'm just going to call him 'B' from now on, hope that's cool with you)...so anyway B has complained since I set this up that he can't see the TV because the cabinet is too low. So I've been on the lookout for a new table for it and that's exactly what I found for $4.99. 

Ever since our last trip to L.A. I've been wanting to use 'Surf Blue' by Benjamin Moore. I thought about using it for the dresser and the bookcase but decided against it. So I felt now was the time. The blue would go with the blues in the bedroom and the cushion on the rocking chair in there. The paint was triple the price of the stand! So all in all the whole project cost me $20. Here's how it turned out:

Not too shabby right? It holds the dvd player and the other electric gadgets needed to make it run perfectly in the hollow part beneath the television and B is happy because now he can watch 'Forensic Files' without sitting up.

While I'm at it I'll show you the bedroom now that the guitars are in there:

House Tour-Lisa, Chris, Cameron, and William

Name:
 Lisa, Chris, Cameron, and William
Location:
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Square Footage:
1500 sq ft
Years Lived in:
 1 year
Rent or own:
 Own
Describe your style:
 Not sure it has a name – Cozy? Warm? I like wood and stone and pottery and neutrals, so maybe Organic? I would love someone to look at the pics and tell me what my style is!
Blog/Website/Twitter:

www.wickednweird.blogspot.com

What's your favorite free/found item?



The painting above our bed was given to us by our friend David Hannon in lieu of gas money. We were at his place and he told us to take our pick, so we literally took it off his wall!

What's your favorite purchased item?


Hmmm, that is tough. I do love our butterfly cabinet, which is currently in the dining room holding our stereo and booze. Sadly, I think it doesn’t quite fit the room or anywhere else in the house, but I am loathe to let it go!

What has been your biggest obstacle in decorating/design?



I would say being a packrat! I have only recently had the resolve to pare down our trinkets and knick knacks, cheap hand-me-down furniture, etc., Our recent move was a great opportunity to take a hard look at everything we were packing. We tend to accumulate so much stuff on our travels, from our families, and from shops here and there on a Saturday afternoon. I find it difficult look objectively at a piece from a decorating perspective (i.e. does it work with the space?) rather than a sentimental perspective.

Is your design style organic or planned?



Most definitely organic. As I say above, we pick up things here and there in a sporadic way, but since our aesthetic is consistent, they generally work together.

What is your favorite spot in the house?



The sun room. I decided to put my nursing glider in there when we moved rather than the nursery and I couldn’t be happier. It is the ideal space to read or knit or get lost in blogs! I often have to fight my husband for it. ☺

How has your style changed in the past 5 years?



I think it is getting a bit more sophisticated and cohesive. I am getting a better sense of what I want my space to be about.

What is your favorite resource or store?


Well, we have a LOT of Ikea in our house, but I find that for the price, they have a great modern look. I have also had some luck with Craigslist, but it can be hit or miss.

What is your biggest decorating/design pet peeve?


I always get so annoyed with those design shows or before & after shots where they seem to get all new stuff for the space. I wish there were more examples of fresh design that incorporates furniture and accessories that you already have and love!

What has been your favorite design trend?



I love that design now seems to be more about ‘curating’ a space. Rather than going for a certain look (and getting all new things to fit it) the spaces being featured now have such individual personality, defined by the objects and furniture the owner chooses to showcase. It is like seeing an exhibit on the homeowner, where every artwork, vase, and table has a story to tell and represents a piece of his or her life. It is a comfortable and authentic way to live.

What is the biggest influence on your design/decorating style?



My parents. They have always put a lot of thought into their decorating, and I find myself emulating them a lot! I think they have great taste, and they have passed on to me an appreciation for beautiful and well-made things.. ☺ I also am very influenced by the many blogs I read every day (like this one!).

What in your home dictates how you design/decorate?



Real life – it needs to be kid-friendly, durable, useful, have storage, etc. And it needs to make me happy when I look around.

What is the simplest thing you have done that has made the biggest impact?


 
Clean up! I have been making an effort to tidy regularly rather than doing weekend cleaning marathons. Having clear surfaces and uncluttered rooms has highlighted all the beautiful things we have, and I find it much easier to enjoy whatever room I am in.

Handmade Friday Interview

Today's Handmade Friday is a little different. I was lucky enough to interview Estela Romanos of The Felt Bird and and Stelabird who I featured last year.

Name: Estela Romanos (Stelabird)
Location: Enid, Oklahoma
Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/stelabird
http://www.thefeltbird.com/

How did you first get started crafting? When did you learn to sew?
I learned to sew my freshman year in college when I saw a flier in my dorm hall that was for sewing lessons. I loved it so much that I changed my major to apparel design and that’s where I learned more techniques. I’ve always loved creating things; but I mainly used the hot glue gun, painted on clothes and drew back when I was younger.

I've always found that creative people had a crafty mentor, usually a family member, is that true for you?
To be honest, the only creative person in my family was my grandma who could crochet but I wasn’t interested in that when I was 5. I still don’t know how to crochet, and that makes me sad.

When did you start Stelabird? When did you start selling on etsy?
It was early Spring of 2007 when I started making felt birds to decorate my apartment. My friends loved them and wanted them in their places and also encouraged me to sell them at stores. I started researching on how to sell my work and that’s how I stumbled across Etsy. It was so inspiring to see people selling their handmade goods online! I got prepared and opened up my etsy shop in June 2007. After I graduated college I moved to my hometown of Enid, OK and opened a boutique downtown called The Felt Bird, which I named after the first thing I sold. I, of course, carry handmade goods in my shop and I was so happy to have met other artists through craft shows & the blogosphere!

What was your first craft fair/booth like? Any advice to give for people who are just starting out at craft fairs?
My first craft show I attended they only provided a table, which some don’t even do that. My finance built a pegboard wall which I used for my art. We used cute plates from home to put our jewelry on, and a yarn basket for our owl snugglies. We pretty much used furniture & accessories around our house for displays! It was easy and cheap.
It depends on what style you want your booth like, but anytime I went to a thrift store or garage sale I kept my products in mind to see if they could make a great display. If I hated the color I would simply paint it. Thrift stores and garages sales are great places to find cheap displays. If you’re looking for nicer displays like black fabric covered jewelry stands, I would suggest going to used store fixture warehouses or to stores going out of business.

How do you decide on your displays for your booths? I love your suitcase setup!
I decide what products I will be selling and go around the house to see what they look best on. I use my own personal jewelry holders for the jewelry I sell. I try to keep it easy and stress free. I also keep in mind what I can fit in my car!

Things We Love

1960s Signed Robert Sargent Lithograph

I purchased this lithograph last year from eBay. I loved it from the moment I saw it and was determined I was going to win the auction. I was shocked when I was the high bidder at $50! I love the color combo - blue, orange and black - and the abstract style. It's definitely my best eBay purchase to date.

-Becke

thevintagecabin.blogspot.com

twitter.com/thevintagecabin

thevintagecabin.etsy.com

Guest Post

Today you can find me sharing my Banana-Chocolate-Coconut Ice Cream Recipe over at Queenie Takes Manhattan.

More Vintage Finds

This weekend was a good one for me for thrifting. On Friday my best friend and I went to the Salvation Army and I found a pair of stools for $6. She asked me what I would do with them and I said I had no idea but my husband would ask the same damn question and sure enough he did when he saw them.

They're in desperate need of some sanding and TLC but I discovered they fit perfectly in the front window alcove and that works out perfectly for one member of the family:

Normally Lola sits right on that subwoofer but this stool gives her an extra two inches. The other one sits hidden behind the couch arm and holds all our 2,000 remotes.

Right next to the Salvation Army is a Antique Mall. When I used to live here it was a lumber yard and I hadn't been in it since we moved until Friday. I wish I had stopped in sooner! They have a ton of Mid-Century stuff all at great prices and some below what they should be, gotta love that! 

On Friday I only walked out with an Orange Dansk bowl...now I warn you this image is unbelievably cute:

and Saturday they were having a big sale so I came back and picked up this chair for $35:

I actually have an identical chair to this one that reclines but it's been dismantled and sitting in my in-law's garage for seven years and I don't think I'll be seeing it anytime soon.

Check out this kitten proofing I had to do to the banister. Bruce is so curious, like kittens tend to be, I had to prevent him from falling through the banister to the stairs below so I used parchment paper and some teal Duct tape...at least it's a pretty color right?

 The new chair allows both of us to chill out and listen to records. I moved the guitars into the bedroom because that's where my husband usually plays them anyway. I think I will reupholster the cushions eventually but they are new and in perfect condition so I'm in no rush to get to that project.

House Tour-Kelly

Name: Kelly Johnson
Location: Chicago, IL
Square Footage: 800 sq. feet
Years Lived in: 1.5
Rent or own: own
Describe your style: scavenged chic; cozy maximalist

What's your favorite free/found item?
My entire bedroom set (bed and two dressers) was my grandmothers. Her parents bought the set in the mid 1930s, and she has kept it in pristine condition since then. My favorite found item is the huge aerial photograph of my hometown in the 1950s. It was in my elementary school library when I was a kid, then they had stuck it in a forgotten hallway with broken desks and chairs. I found it there and persuaded the engineer to let me keep it for posterity sake.

What's your favorite purchased item?
It's hard to decide -- all of my furniture was bought after painstaking months (sometimes even years) of searching and waiting. All in all, I'm rather partial to the oak pedstal dining table and blu dot desk (both from craigslist, both $50), the wallpaper, and my Schoolhouse Electric lights.

What has been your biggest obstacle in decorating/design?
Time/Space/Money. I sought out a condo that retained it's original layout, with several smaller rooms, halls, and doorways. I like having the apartment divided up - it gives each room a distinct space and feel. Because of that, though, each room is small enough to limit possibilities for different layouts, type of furniture, etc.


Is your design style organic or planned?
Very unplanned and organic, but still very specific. I function more on inspiration, waiting for a perfect piece to appear at the thrift store, letting the space "speak" to me, and collecting things that I love. My dining room curtains, for instance, are made of Marimekko fabric that I got on discount from Crate and Barrel Outlet two years before I moved into my condo. I knew that the "right" use would eventually come to me -- and it did! At the same time, I get a very clear vision of a specific piece of furniture/art/fabric that I want and I will search until I find exactly that.

What is your favorite spot in the house?
The living room. The windows look out on a big tree and the front yard of the building. The light filters through the linen curtains just so. It's all very soft and light and cozy. Also, my record player is in there.


How has your style changed in the past 5 years?
My last apartment was all white walls and the biggest brightest decorations I could find. It was even more eclectic and haphazard. My condo now has a lot of the original features from when it was built in 1920, so I've been more interested old fashioned decorating, antiques, and darker colors. I'm much more into layers, patterns, rugs, and fabric. I strive for 'soft' over 'pop.'

What is your favorite resource or store?
The Salvation Army, Craigslist, and my parents' basement. I've gotten a lot of things at Brownstone Antiques on Clark St., too.

What is your biggest decorating/design pet peeve?
When someone pulls everything from the catalog of DWR. There's some killer 20th century design, for sure, but having a house full of Eames is no better than a house full of Pottery Barn or Ikea.

What has been your favorite design trend?
Rustic, cabin-y, woods-y. I love exposed beams, sheepskin rugs, stacks of logs, and a potbellied stove. I dream about living in a cabin in the woods.


What is the biggest influence on your design/decorating style?
I love Neil Young's music from the late 60s and early 70s, as well as the Stan Brackage short, "The Weir-Falcon Saga." Other things, like the French Jura, traditional American handcrafts, and Autumn move me. A lot of my decorating has been an attempt to recreate the feeling that I get from those inspirations. My family has also been a strong influence. My parents have a great eye for decorating; my paternal grandmother also had an amazing home. Considering half of my furniture has been passed down through the family, I have no choice but to be influenced by them.

What in your home dictates how you design/decorate?
The light, the wood. The ghosts and feeling of time. Honoring the age and trying to highlight the original details of the apartment.


What is the simplest thing you have done that has made the biggest impact?
I would say painting, but that's not simple -- it's a horrible, messy pain in the ass. The simplest thing was taking down the dark miniblinds that the previous owner hung and making light-filtering curtains. The white floral Marimekko and beige linen curtains couldn't be any simpler, but they add a huge amount of class and coziness.

all photos courtesy of homeowner.

If you are interested in doing a House Tour please submit photos to the flickr group or email me.

Handmade Friday

I have a fellowship of favorite animals. Sharks, Owls, Rhinos, Peacocks and the Octopus (FYI Octopi is an incorrect term). For today's Handmade Friday item I bring you this:

Awesome isn't it? Hand screen printed by Michael Phipps of phippsart this badass "Tattoo Octopus" has crawled into my heart.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Things We Love

I am a sentimental person with treasures all around my apartment that I adore, but few things make me happier than my vintage Pyrex collection. My Pyrex obsession only began in March of 2009, but already I have collected close to thirty pieces. Thoughtful friends gave me some of my favorites, and the others have been discovered in thrift and consignment stores in the Salt Lake area. I love the thought that went into the design and construction of each bowl, cup, plate and casserole. I like to think about where each piece lived before it came to me and about the amazing stories that each piece might tell. More than anything, I love the beautiful array of colors and patterns that vintage Pyrex came in. It never fails to cheer me up and always makes my food look just a little prettier.

-Sarah Nicole
 http://moneyandaroomofmyown.blogspot.com

If you would like a treasured item featured on a "Things We Love" post. Email me or submit your photo to the flickr group.

Thrifting

Well I'm really kinda bummed. I had a great picture of some thrift store finds I got last week but I seem to have deleted the picture. So instead I'm using a picture of a cool bowling alley sign that I came across on the same day I went to these stores...I hate it when that happens!

Anyway I was going to share the finds with you and tell you about two new tools I discovered now I'll just skip to the tools.

The first is only useful to you if you have an iPhone/iPod/IPad. It's called the "Yard Sale Mapper". It's a free app and it works in conjunction with Craigslist and maps out all the upcoming yard sales near you. It shows you where they are on a map and gives you the original listing so you can see what they're selling.

The next is a really awesome website called "The Thrift Shopper". You put in your zip code and it brings up all the local thrift stores near you. I love this site, it showed me some stores I had no clue about.

So this weekend put these tools to use and have some happy hunting!