Oui ou non?

I just purchased these antique wood church auditorium seats.  I really should have purchased a couple more since they fold up.  Anyway, I think they are pretty cool, but maybe I am wrong.

Nice bones

Sometimes thrift shopping can be a bit like looking at Lady Gaga.  Sometimes there are lots of over the top accessories and accoutrements that you have to look past in order to see the true beauty.

One needs the skill to detect what lurks underneath all of that crazy color and frippery.

Beautiful.

The same can be said when hunting for a specific item .  I am currently in need of a better lighting solution in my bedroom.  I do not know if it is that I cannot adjust to those CFL bulbs or if my eyes (meaning I) am just old, but I am having a harder time reading.  It could also have to do with the time I spend staring at my laptop screen.  All I know is that there is not enough light in there.  I decided I wanted some type of swing arm next to the bed.  I found a nice brass fixture for $2, but I found that it was going to be a problem trying to figure out how to hang it since the back plate was missing.  It was going to be so cool with an Edison bulb.  (No, that makes absolutely no sense since Edison bulbs give off almost no light.  I was still going to go blind, but my room was going to look cool while it happened.)  My search continued on.

Last week I was trolling a thrift shop when I spotted a pair of these beautiful sturdy silver swing arm sconces.  Now, I am sure that they were passed over due to those poor lamp shades.  The shades were beautifully custom made.  Mind you, back in the day I am sure that these shades were fantastic, but they would not be my choice today.  Anyway, I had to look past those shades and just concentrate on those beautiful fixtures.  The fixtures themselves  have a substantial feel and quality.  I figured that I could either work with them sans shades or I would search for some type of low cylinder drum shade.  Plus, there were two so I could place one on either side of the bed.  Thank you!

Naked.

So here is where the story gets really interesting.  After I got home I decided to try and find some info about the lamps and see if there might be lampshades available from the original company.  I came across the same pair in brass here on 1stdibs. Who knew?
  Once they are re-wired, hung and adorned with new hats I will post an after picture.

Recent small acquisitions

Just a quick post about some of my minor acquisitions from the past few months.  This walnut record cabinet will store a portion of my vintage vinyl in my bedroom.

No reason for purchasing this mini cast iron skillet.  Just because it was small and cute.

Some recent Arabia finds.  I actually found two of those blue faenza platters.

This poor Danish candlestick was all alone, but I figured that I can display it along with my others for a sculptural composition.  About 2 minutes after I took this picture the penguin fell off the cabinet and broke its nose.  I kid you not.

Puppy trance

There has been a radio silence due to the fact that I have been in a sort of puppy trance.  They are cute, but they can  suck up all of your time.  Not that I am complaining.  All of my money seems to be sucked up as well.   Sucked into everything related to properly raising and spoiling a puppy.  Well, yesterday I was returning a dog bed when all of that changed.  Something caught my eye.  How could I rationalize this purchase?  Oh, it would be my belated birthday gift to myself.  That'll work.

 

 

 

 

Isn't she beautiful?  Alessi, I love you.

 

She is even pretty on the inside, too.

Happy New Year!

 

Just in time for Chinese New Year, Ikea introduces a little East meets West with their Trendig line.

 

I will have one of everything, please.

 

Get me my gigantic cleaver so I can properly chop on this beautiful board just like my Mom used to do.

 

Don't need them, but who cares?

Up in the air

I picked this up the other day and at this point I am on the fence.  It was not a big investment, so that is not a deciding factor.  I am thinking of using it in the center hallway.  I currently have a plain hanging globe pendant light.  This lamp starts out simple and basic.  See above.

Then there are eight of these hollow glass hanging pieces.

See?  That adds a lot.  I feel like Coco Chanel would tell it to remove at least one accessory before leaving the house.

This is sort of what it will look like.  There will be some space between the gold disk and the tops of the glass baubles.  They actually hang down from hooks.  Also, it will look different having the light emanating from the bulb inside.  I cannot tell if it is too much.  Too granny.  Too glitzy.  I guess I will have to get it hung and lit up to decide.

Not for sale

I saw this in a post over at Door Sixteen.  It is part of a new collaboration with Ikea.  It is not yet available in the  U.S.  Here's the thing.  I think that the item I want is actually a styling prop. I want that rack that everything is hanging on.  It would be perfect for my office/studio.  I guess I am either going to have to DIY a similar rack or find something made out of a thrift store find.  Stay tuned.

Circle of Sound

 

I have been doing some major purging and changing around the house so nothing comes in unless it is extra special.  For some reason I have wanted these Zenith Circle of Sound Speakers since the first time I saw them.  It is strictly a superficial love of its physical beauty.  It has nothing to do what's on the inside.  Sort of like my feelings for Keanu Reeves.   I could not rationalize the price so I have never even thought of purchasing them.  Until now.

I found a pair of them for $6.99 each.  Not bad for all of that mid-century sexiness.  I have no idea what they sound like.  Who cares?  Just look at them.  What is that, Keanu?  I have not heard a word you've said.

End of Season

It turned out to be a mid-century end of the season for me.  This is what I acquired at the final rummage sale of the season.  A nice Cathrine Holm casserole.

Lovely salad servers.

Fondue forks.

Don't Let the Doorknob

Yes, I waffle a lot.  I was originally looking for a door with glass panes, but then I came across this wonderful piece.  It is solid oak from the 1890's.  It was taken from a house in a town that exists no longer.  The wood is beautiful and I could not pass it up.  I threw in that garbage can to add a little extra style to the photo.

Look at that doorknob!

I was also able to get the original hinges with it.  Now to just get it hung.

Recycle Again

Today I found another building recycling place.  This one is close to me and it is actually cheaper than the other recycling place in Chicago I posted about earlier.  They do not have as much inventory, but there is more than enough to pick through.  Lighting.

  I thought this door was really neat, but I have no use for it.  There was a pair of them and they had that interesting slanted curve to their shape.  Also love the metal grating in the bottom panels.

Old stained glass church windows.

Pews.  Oh, if I only lived in a loft.  I think these were free.

I loved this piece, but I could not figure out how I would transport it and then take it up the many flights of stairs.  I am pondering yet another door.  This one is solid oak and has no windows, but it is a beautiful old patina with great hardware.  I will have to decide in the next week.

These are what I left with today.  Tiles to re-do my kitchen back splash. A mixture of glass and stone.  I bought them for a steal.  Do you think they are too trendy?  Maybe so.

Like a Dog with a Bone

  I would like to start this post out by stating that I am highly suggestible, in case you did not already know this.  You see, I read this article in Bon Appetit and all of a sudden I wanted one of those vintage drafting chairs.  It didn't have to be this exact chair, but something similar in looks.  I just thought it would be great to use as I sat at my work bench.  What was not so great?  That price.  $425?!  Most vintage drafting stools ran around $200- $300 on eBay and etsy and I did not find any on Craigslist.  Maybe that restaurant trend had driven up the prices.  So, I knew that I wanted the wood seat not metal and that it had to be adjustable.  I did not want one of those that just sat high up because I am so short.  I need to adjust the height.  This became my quest at the last Elkhorn flea market of the season.  I was on a mission and nobody was going to stop me.  I had a list of things to find and this was at the very top.  The chair above is the winner.  I know that it looks like it is at regular sitting height, but it actually adjusts up about another foot.  It was only $25.  Mission accomplished.

Rebuilding Exchange

  I love it when I find something by accident.  I was driving in the city today when I passed a building with a "Rebuilding Exchange" sign.  I love looking through recycled building materials.  I quickly turned around and headed in.

Appliances everywhere.  They are currently 60% off because they are getting to move down the block shortly.

Jacuzzis!  I never really wanted one of these, but as you are confronted by a sea of them you start to think about how grand life would be if you just had a jacuzzi in your bathroom.

If you cannot find a suitable sink here, you are extremely picky.

Tile and beautiful marble. 

Reclaimed wood.  They seem to always have a lot of it.  I think I might go back for some if I can create plans for another project.  Like I need another project.  They had beautiful bowling alley lanes, but they are all sold out.  But the seats are still available.

They have everything here.  Where else can you find a motorcycle like this?  I have no idea what this is.  There is a mini room attached to the back.  Someone suggested a float, but I am thinking that it might have been a mobile library.  There are books stacked on shelves in there.

Incredible antique fixtures.  Look at those old stoves.  I LOVE this old triple sink.  It is so beautiful.  $2,000.  Not bad for a great antique fixture like this.

There are just great things to be found all over the place.  Not all of them are for sale, but still, they are nice to look at and get ideas.

Very nice built-in hutch. 

So, this is what I am thinking of purchasing.  I have not done so yet.  It will need to be stripped and refinished, but I would like to swap this out for one of my interior doors.  I will have to go back and see if it is still there and also check out if the wood underneath will work for me.  Wish me luck.

Murphy

This weekend was the small (thirty or 40 vendors?) outdoor flea market that only happens twice a summer in the parking lot of an antique mall.  It is hard to predict what you will find at this one, but you can be sure that you will more than likely find something inside the mall if you don't score on the outside.  I found this outdoors.  I do not think I could have imagined it on my own.  I like to compare it to a Murphy bed.  I do not have loads of space at home, but I should not complain because I am one person in a space sometimes occupied by small families.  Can you guess what this is?  The two rubber stoppers on the top are a small hint.

Look!  It has wheels, too.  I can take it on the road.

That box on wheels unfolds to become this wonderful work space.  Those rubber stoppers were on the bottom of two legs that slide into the box when closed.  For now, it solves my workbench question.  I am currently avoiding moving my butcher block table up many flights from storage.  For now, this will do the trick and it will not take up much space when not in use.  How clever is this?  I will probably add another piece of wood on top when I am working so I do not damage the existing table.

All of that dedicated tool storage.  A notch and a hole for everything.

Below we have shelves for hardware and supply storage.  I now have no excuse not to get my butt moving and set-up my workspace.