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My Latest Thrifting Finds

January 26, 2016

It’s been months since I’ve gone to the Scott Antique Show or done any major thrift store shopping. I’ve been feeling the urge to do some shopping the last few weeks and decided to stop by one of my favorite thrift stores on Sunday. I wasn’t looking for anything specific but I always go into a store with the hopes of stumbling along a great bargain. I’m happy to say that my outing yielded some great finds. Here’s a look at my latest thrifting finds:

The first item I came across was a set of 4 signed and numbered watercolor art pieces. The artist, Joan Heflin Rankin lives in Alabama and specializing in floral art. I think these would be great as part of a gallery wall or having as a collection in a bathroom.

I found several blue and white pieces and this piece was definitely my favorite. It’s a hexagon plate with a domed lid and I have to tell you, it’s simply stunning. It The decision now is to keep it or sell it.

This cute little sugar canister caught my attention right away. I loved the floral design and the typography. This is another keep or sell item.

I also find this Chinoiserie designed hexagon shaped jar. The touches of pink with the blue and white are really charming and I can just imagine it filled with a pink roses.

I’ve got a thing for small dishes and couldn’t pass these up…they were only $1.00 each. I’m going to use these to hold jewelry on dresser.

I always sell these silver-plated toast racks when I put them in my Etsy shop. I style them as a desk accessory to hold notecards and stationery which gives them a whole new purpose. This one is really pretty because of the tray bottom and the beautiful scroll design. The pattern is also on the bottom of the tray.

And the last piece I bought was the adorable ceramic monkey holding a bowl. Isn’t he the cutest? Imagine him holding Meyer lemons or kumquat on a kitchen.

For my first outing of the year I’m pretty happy with my thrifting finds. I’m planning to go to the Scott Antique market next month and hope to find some more treasures for me and my Etsy shop.

I’m adding new items to the shop this week so stop by Friday and check it out.

p.s. anyone else have the thrifting fever??

Vintage Finds From Everything But The House

September 9, 2015

Last Friday I told you about Everything But The House (EBTH), a revolutionary way to shop for vintage and antique items online. After getting to know how the auction system works and how easy it is to place bids on EBTH, I decided to give it a try.

One of the first things I purchased was this bamboo and wicker end table. The table is manufactured by Emerald Craft Inc., was in really good shape and has classic bamboo furniture details.

The only thing I didn’t like about the piece was the color but I knew a couple of coats of spray paint would give the table a new personality.

image via EBTH

So here’s the new look after a couple of coats of gloss black spray paint.

I’m so happy with the piece and how it looks now. The size of the table is ideal for a corner or nook and works great as a spot to drop keys near the door. I also like the three shelf surfaces which provide lots of decorating options.

A smaller brass tray {thrifted} fit perfectly on the middle shelf and works great for extra storage. And of course you know I love the combination of black and brass.

I placed a stack of books on the lower shelf along with a blue and white ginger jar. This beautiful Asian ginger jar is another piece I scored from EBTH.

{glass zebra tray from Michaels, brass bowl was thrifted}

New sales start everyday on EBTH so have fun bidding and I let me know if you win something awesome.

My Coffee Table Has The Blues (but it’s happy)!

August 26, 2015

I am constantly changing out the accessories on my coffee table but the one design element that remains a constant is a decorative tray. I use trays because they add visual layers to the arrangement and they’re great for holding small decorative items and books.

You might remember this brown wood tray that often makes an appearance on my coffee table. It’s sturdy, oversized and I like the texture and pattern of the woven liner but the tray was begging for a facelift. As as thing go, changing the look of the tray led to a mini makeover with the coffee table decor.

Books and flowers are usually the items that add color to the table arrangement but I wanted a bolder color statement so I gave the tray its new look with a coat of emerald green paint (Behr Crown Jewel #P420-7) and new gold handles.

Emerald green has always been a color I love and I plan to use more of it in my fall decor.

Once the tray got its facelift, I went about styling the table with some of my favorite pieces. I recently started collecting blue and white chinoiserie and love the combination of green, brass and blue & white. The combo is eclectic and happy but still has a traditional feel which is right up my alley.

Blue and white ceramics are such a hot design trend right now and I’ve been fortunate to score some great pieces at incredible prices from thrift stores, flea markets and a new shopping source I recently discovered (I’ll share more about it next week).

My coffee table is fairly large and the color pops create the perfect contrast against the darker wood table.

I love how the arrangement turned out and I think the colors are perfect for the last few weeks of summer.

When I’m ready to start decorating for fall, (I’m not there just yet) the DIY pumpkins I’m making will work great alongside the new tray and blue and white pottery.

Product sources:

Wood Tray–Tuesday Morning (purchased years ago)

Gold Handles (Ikea–spray painted gold)

Wood Box–Tuesday Morning (purchased years ago)

Wood Slice–Hobby Lobby

Gold Wishbone–Hobby Lobby

Small Blue & White Lidded Dish–Goodwill

Large Blue & White Vase–EBTH

Large Blue and White Lidded Bowl with Gold Trim–Local thrift store

Brass Turtle–Goodwill

Scalloped Brass Pedestal Dish-local thrift store

My Lastest Thrifting Finds

August 5, 2015

It’s no secret that I love trolling the aisles of thrift stores and flea markets whenever I can. It’s the thrill of finding a beautiful decorative piece or furniture that needs some TLC that makes it such fun. I’m always on the lookout for new stores in the area and recently came across a new-to-me antique store that was filled with lots of great bargains.

As always, a few of the items I find when thrifting are for me and others are for my Etsy shop. Here’s what I found recently…

Blue and white pottery is such a popular trend right now and finding nice vintage pieces is becoming harder and harder. I found this lidded jar and this blue and white vase and both pieces are really substantial and are in great condition.

Rarely do I pass up a tray when I see one and this woven wicker tray was a steal at only $1.00. And the leather side handles were an added bonus.

I spotted this little wooden chest one day but left it in the store. I couldn’t get it out of my mind so I headed back the next day and snagged it. The carving detail on the drawer fronts is really beautiful and I love the overall look of the piece. It would make a really great jewelry cabinet and would also look great on a bookshelf.

I have a major obsession with brass and found some great pieces. A little polishing and these babies will be extra stunning.

I loved the colors in this ceramic vase and the gold details make it even prettier. I have so many ideas on how this piece can be used.

Here’s a up close of the blue and white vase.

And probably my favorite piece is the beautiful brass bowl and I’m trying to decide if I want to keep it or put it in the shop.

The World’s Longest Yard Sale starts tomorrow and this is the first time in 4 years that the hubs and I won’t be making the trek. So I don’t go through complete withdrawls, we’re planning a little weekend getaway and I plan to pop into a few shops along the way. If you want to read about our WLYS trips you can read about them here and here.

Let’s Entertain–My current product obsessions!

July 28, 2015

You always know when the holiday season is nearing because the stores start stocking their shelves with new dinnerware and tabletop accessories.

Here’s a round-up of some of my favorite pieces, all of which I think will sell out pretty fast so get ready to shop!

blue and white bowls / Cabana Platter / Gudari Salad Servers / Gudari Dinnerware / Tortoise Tumblers

Sarah Richardson’s Design Style

May 29, 2015

The list of designers that I admire is long but right there are the top of the list is Canadian designer Sarah Richardson. I’ve written about my admiration for Sarah’s design style before and I’ve also shared my love of her fashion style too.

Recently I came across this blue and white kitchen she designed and was mesmerized at how gorgeous it is. After a period where painted cabinets were the hot trend, white cabinets are making a comeback. What I love about this space is that Sarah combined a painted island with white cabinets, giving this kitchen the utmost style.

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My 2015 Design Trend Forecast

January 9, 2015

As a designer, one of the requirements of my job is to keep my eye on which design, style, color and fabrics are trending or fading in the home decor industry.

I keep up-to-date by attending trade shows, spending lots of time on the web, reading countless magazines and shopping lots of stores in person and online. Every year I see new trends come on the scene. Some evolve and gain popularity while others fizzle out before they can even get started. Needless to say, the home decor industry is constantly changing but some trends are here to stay (at least for the foreseeable future)!

Here’s a look at my Top Trend List for 2015!

ECLECTIC DECOR

We started seeing eclectic designed rooms a few year ago and I think you’ll see more of this in 2015. While there are a few common threads that tie rooms of this style together (ie: elements of black or gold, floral or geometric patterns), what makes these spaces so great is the artful combination of patterns, prints, colors, finishes and styles. Eclectic decor has and will continue to be a great ways for homeowners to express themselves through their decor and it’s also the ideal design style that effortlessly mixes and matches old with new and refined with funky.

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GOLD & BRASS

When it comes to finishes, silver in no longer the leader of the pack in the design world. Gold and brass have truly become the top accent color and finish choice in furniture, wall decor, decorative accessories and even textiles. If you love silver, don’t worry because you’ll still find this finish in lots of decor and mixing gold and silver is no longer considered taboo!

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BLACK DOORS & TRIM, BLACK WALL and BLACK CABINETS

10 years ago, the idea of having a house full of black finishes would not have gone over well with most homeowners. Back then everyone wanted walls with color, crisp white kitchens and pristine white trim. Today, black is looked as a dramatic not drab and sophisticated not sorrid! One of my design mantras is that every room needs a touch of black and this trend is definitely one way to make that statement in style.

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WATERCOLOR FLORALS

Watercolor prints are one trend I am going to embrace in 2015. Floral patterns have always been a traditional and popular design statement, but watercolor versions give floral patterns a fresh, modern feel. When decorating a room, you don’t want to over-use floral patterns so watercolor floral pillows or artwork are great ways to incorporate this trend into your decor and still have impact.

p.s. black and white stripes will also continue as a hot trend in 2015

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OVERSIZED LIGHTING

Every design magazine I looked at in 2014 and every showhouse I toured featured rooms with oversized lighting. I see people are moving away from multi-arm chandeliers and using large lantern styles for indoor decor. I think you’ll continue to see larger light fixture in both living spaces and kitchens for 2015.

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BLUE AND WHITE

I think blue and white rooms feel fresh for 2015. Once considered super traditional, blue and white is making a comeback through new and modern patterns, updated styles and variations of the color blue being mixed together vs a single tone. The room below feels updated because of the pattern mixing, style mix and texture combinations.