Archive for the ‘vignette’ Category

Coffee Table

Monday, February 7th, 2011

At this point I don’t even know how to say that I found another coffee table without feeling deep pangs of guilt and embarrassment. It’s turned into a bit of a sad joke, this whole switching coffee tables every month thing, but I just can’t stop myself when I spot something I really dig.

I’m addicted. I love coffee tables. Probably even more than I like sofas.

But, it could be worse, I could be addicted to eating a “household cleanser” or sofa cushions like those folks on My Strange Addiction.

Amazing what teak oil, Feed ‘n Wax and some elbow grease can do. Seriously, if you find a piece of wood furniture and it looks shabby and neglected but is structurally fine – GOOD. Ask for a discount and then get your oiling on! Trust me, it will look perfectly amazing with just a little bit of effort.

Curious about how to spruce up furniture? Check out this tutorial.

The Boy gets mad when I freshen up furniture on our patio since oil and debris get everywhere. Now I’m trying to do it out in our driveway to avoid the mess, which I’m imagining is such a great show for the neighbors. As if we weren’t weird enough already.

Come on. Give. It. Up.

This is a pretty incredible table.

I even vignetted it up like a proper stylist.

I can stack books! With things on top of them!

Are you guys coffee table vignetters?

I’m normally not. I don’t like a bunch of stuff cluttering up a table I use everyday since I like to put my feet up, have drinks and other things strewn about that are frankly, fairly ugly. I noticed that the first batch of pictures were looking kind of sad, so I thought “styling” would help liven this table up. Don’t expect my coffee tables to be like this if you come over.

I imagine there is this question of why the den’s furniture is laid out the way it is. It’s a weird little room. Difficult to photograph and harder to understand in pictures. It’s kind of like a big L with a built in desk on the other side and an entrance to the kitchen smack in the middle. Definitely challenging to space plan.

Oh, did you notice the old sofa is back. I know, I foretold it.

I also know that the portrait of what people like to refer of as “Lindsay Lohan” should be way lower. As a former gallery director and curator, I am ashamed that I’ve let this hang way above eye level  for years. Art hung too high or improperly is a giant pet peeve and I am a complete hypocrite for letting this happen.

Problem is, that if the painting hangs at the proper mid line it hits the wainscoting and hangs all wonky…then you hit your head on it when you sit on the sofa and it falls on you and hurts you and then people sue me. It’s one of those things I don’t think about in real life until I see it in a picture. Different art for above the sofa is a must, but I haven’t found anything appropriate so “Lindsay” stays super high. Tee hee.

Also, screw the wainscoting. It ruins my life.

Ceramic Addict

Friday, January 14th, 2011

Ceramic collection? Getting out of control.

Almost every surface in the house is starting to get covered in vintage pottery. It could be worse, I mean it could be covered in dolls or Precious Moments figurines.

*I predict vintage popularity of Precious Moments in 2020. Stock up now.

**For real though, do you guys ever wonder what the next big vintage collectible thing will be? I do all the time. Love to hear your predictions…

Thrifty!

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

The holidays tend to put a bit of a damper on the old thrifting route – meaning, not as much is getting donated and the stores are filled to the brim with terrible holiday schlock. Ugh. I know its a terribly unpopular thing to say, but I can’t wait till the holiday season is over. I dread this time of year.

The rounds have produced little in the way of big finds, but I continue to grab small bits and pieces here and there. Small additions mean its time to vignette the crap the house and this weekend I focused on the pipe shelves, which frankly, have been needing a bit of a once over.

My favorite small find recently has been this tiny hand carved elephant. He’s super light and beat up, but I love the chunky ham fisted carving.

This couple of blue and brown ceramic vessels hail all the way from vintage Japan. They moved across both time and space to be discarded at two different thrift stores. Good thing they ran into my greedy claws and could be reunited. The big one has a great cork lid and the little bud vase is simple and swooshy.

It’s hard to tell, but the left is a hand turned walnut bowl that is super thick and gorgeous on the inside. Of course I included the blandest, least informative photo possible…because I’m a failure. What? Its a wood bowl. Its not that exciting. Otherwise, the bowl on the right elicited a pretty sardonic response from The Boy, “It’s ceramic and wicker? Great.”

Doggy mail holder and giant wooden paperclip to hold all my important office bizzness. The cashier at Salvation Army asked me what that dog is and I said it was a vintage pacifier and they don’t make them like they used to.

Full of lead.

Ba-dum-cha (thats a drum sound).

In other random thoughts, I’ve been considering selling off the shelving unit. I know! Madness! I just have these all these other nagging ideas I’d love to try out and I’ve been less and less enthused with the design. I know, I’m the wackness. Imagine living with me. Its wicker and ceramics and moving things around 24/7.