Tag Archives: thrifting

pops of pastels in my bedroom makeover

11.17.14

As often happens with dramatic overhauls, my bedroom reboot started with one piece. Over the summer I had the succulent poster I co-designed with Leah Duncan framed to hang over my bedside table. Problem was, the color palette wasn’t jiving with anything else in the room. We were overdue for new bedding and accessories anyway, so I did a revamp using black, white, gray, and pops of yellow and turquoise.

Below is my side of the bed. We already had the Heywood-Wakefield furniture and vintage ceramic lamp. I’d been wanting a tray so I can set down my earrings, ponytail holder, etc. before I hit the pillow. I styled it with a mini blush planter by Sea & Asters and brought over a Kostick bronze star sculpture from the living room. Geometric patterns to contrast with the botanical art were a must, so I chose a Pendleton wool lumbar pillow from Robin Cottage. The gray braided duvet cover and shams are from West Elm, and the yellow Sketch Grid pillowcases are Room Essentials from Target.

Below is Andrea’s turf. The two bedsides used to be mirror images, so I wanted to play with asymmetry by giving him an art cluster and a different lamp. The bird print is his own photograph, hung with gold gem magnets by Lynn Lunger (aka Una Odd). The Minerals print at top right is by Happy Red Fish, and The Last Summer is a painting reproduction by Kiki and Polly. The hanging planter is by ceramist Cathy Terepocki.

see my revised vanity, an amazing navajo rug, and other photos after the jump

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mom’s house and me: tupperware

05.22.14

Vintage Style

Over my Easter weekend visit, I connected with some of Mom’s vintage collectibles in a new way. I wrote about her milk glass here, and now it’s time for Tupperware! For as long as I can remember, her cabinets have been neatly packed with pastel leftover bins, harvest-colored pitchers, and other kitchen essentials ordered from Aunt Kathy’s parties in the 70s. Mom’s always been a practical shopper, so she bypassed the specialty items like frozen pop molds, instead stocking up on pieces for every day. And guess what? She still totes her fruit salad in the snappy Servalier bowl and drains her spaghetti in the sunny colander.

With four little ones swarming her ankles, Mom appreciated the shatter-proof plastic. These were (and still are) our family tumblers. Photo by Joe Vintage.

She was a fan of cooking a big supper and stretching it over multiple nights, so our fridge was always stocked with rainbow leftover bins of all sizes. Little Wonders photo by Wise Apple.

This was our orange juice pitcher. Mom bought frozen concentrate, and I agonized over this darn thing, waiting for the icy ball to dissolve so I could have a slurp after a long trampoline session. Photo by A Treasure Hunt.

She has these autumnal bowls with pleated lids from the Servalier line. If you spot the yellow one in the fridge before a party, you can bet it holds Mom’s fruit salad with sweetened condensed milk. Photo by The Passionate Flea.

Mom’s nearly 40-year-old colander is the most ergonomic one I’ve ever used. They’re easy to find on Etsy, so I might snag this one from The Wild World.

She doesn’t use her wagon wheel coasters much these days. I’d love to add their creamy sherbet colors to my Lustron, so I’ll ask whether she’s ready to pass these down next time I’m home. Photo by Atty’s Vintage.

Tupperware isn’t what it used to be. The company has expanded its offerings (food processors, insulated lunch totes, etc.), and you can still attend or host a party. But the plastic looks less hardy now, and the updated colors leave me cold. Since Mom’s collection has shown that the original Tupperware endures for decades, I’ll stick to raiding her stash and thrifting for the classics.

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my teak bar gets a new cluster

05.18.14

Design, Vintage Style

Decorating my Lustron is a never-ending project. I’ve been filling out and reimagining every prefabricated nook for nine years, so I thought it would be fun to share my ongoing adventures in thrifting. Lately I’ve been playing with clusters on top of my Danish bar cabinet in the dining room corner.

The McCoy black and white planter from Etsy was the sole decoration for months. Then the Russel Wright carafe, sugar bowl, and creamer that lived on the dining table took refuge on the bar because they were often jostled when Andrea worked on his computer in the dining room. So I decided to make them a permanent fixture and add a couple of tall pieces to the mix. I chose Danish modern teak candleholders (another Etsy score) and an aqua confetti vase by Shawnee pottery, found at Broad Street Antique Mall in Chamblee.

Here are resources for you to find similar treasures of your own:

Teak candleholders by Bee Haven Home // Starburst McCoy planter from Mamabirds Vintage // Aqua Shawnee confetti vase from Modernware // Reissued Russel Wright beverageware from Bauer Pottery

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mom’s house and me: milk glass

05.11.14

Vintage Style

We both like antiques, but she’s turn of the century, and I’m midcentury. She likes country accents, and I keep things modern. While my taste has changed a lot over the years, it’s always been really different from my mom’s. During my Easter visit to my family home in Louisiana, though, a few of her prized possessions appealed to me in a new way. I suddenly felt drawn to her milk glass collection, sherbet-colored Tupperware, and cornflower blue dishes. So, in honor of Mother’s Day, here’s the first post of a series that showcases some of Mom’s favorite stuff . . . and my own spin.

Here’s how Mom does milk glass — casual, shabby chic storage in the kitchen.

And here are some milk glass pieces I’d be happy to host in my Lustron.

Product info clockwise from top left:

Hattie Carnegie milk glass and rhinestone necklace from kiamichi7 on Etsy // Set of 3 gold-dipped vases from NellieFellow on Etsy // Danish modern milk glass and teak pendant from AvantGarden on 1stdibs // Paul McCobb brass and Vitrolite table from Black & Gold on 1stdibs

favorite finds at the rose bowl flea market

05.14.13

Travel, Vintage Style

A literal stadium full of antiques and crafts lured me to Pasadena.

Andrea and I just spent a long weekend in Los Angeles, exploring midcentury neighborhoods and relaxing near the beach. Sunday we drove to Pasadena for the monthly Rose Bowl Flea Market. I’d been looking forward to this shopping trip for weeks. This was a flea market in CaliFORNia, a modernism mecca! I was armed with a carry-on bag filled with bubble wrap and newspaper, thinking I’d load up on vintage goodies for my Lustron. Too bad I didn’t stuff one of those pockets with sunscreen and a giant water bottle. We saw only about a quarter of the vendors because the intense heat was draining us and frying my skin. How hot was it? 102F. The guys selling cheap hats and frozen lemonade made a killing. I did come away with two lovely Fire King bowls, some fun photos, and a lot of know-how for next time.