Brooklyn Flea

As usual, I have more things I want to do than time to do them, but I was finally able to get to the Brooklyn Flea this weekend.  This Sunday it was in very trendy, very hipster Williamsburg and my immediate thought upon entering the tented area was that I should have opted for an outfit other than a white collared shirt and bright green cable knit sweater.  I tried to blend in by trying on the lens-free eye glasses at one of the multiple stands selling them, but I decided it was a losing battle and just owned my lack of trendiness.

The flea market was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline.  However, unless you're going for a very Bohemian look, I think you're better off sticking to Manhattan fleas for your treasure hunting.  There were a few things I did love, though, and could have seen in my home if I weren't currently on a spending freeze...

Shop Around the Corner

One of my favorite things about living in NYC is all of the choices you have right at your fingertips.  For instance, if I'm cooking dinner and find suddenly that I am out of eggs, I have about eight stores within a two block radius from which I can choose to restock.  Although the advantage of being within short walking distance of about 75,000 chicken eggs is a little bit difficult to define, this abundance of choices happily extends to furniture stores, which I find has a measurable, direct positive correlation with the productivity of my Saturday afternoons (sadly, it also has a direct negative correlation to the balance in my bank account).

One of my new favorite furniture and home decor shops is right around the corner from me and is one of several locations in NYC and LA of the wonderful Olde Good Things company.

Unloading a shipment of circus animals?  Not sure what that's about but I think I like it.

 I want to go back this weekend and take some pictures of my favorite items but I also plan on heading to Brooklyn for their famous flea market so we'll see if I can fit both in!  Check back soon for my favorite flea market finds!

My salmon pink dining chairs DIY!

I can't really remember the last time I was this excited about a set of dining chairs.  Perhaps never.

I have to say I was pretty nervous about this move...painting my mom's old dining chairs bright salmon pink in extra high gloss was a bold move.  But now that they're finished and amazingly reupholstered by my mom in Ralph Lauren chintz, I don't know if I've ever loved a piece of furniture more.

Pairing with a glass-top table I think helps prevent too much going on in a small space.  I also love the way my grandparents' silver tea set looks, lending some polish without adding any additional color saturation.

Adding some wall decoration is the next step.  Perhaps the cat portrait from my post below...?

Source: picasaweb.google.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: picasaweb.google.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: picasaweb.google.com via Sarah on Pinterest

The view from my kitchen

Source: picasaweb.google.com via Sarah on Pinterest

And the before...

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The chairs were a whitish cream color before.

Here they are set up in my parents' front yard, ready for a good sanding!  Emily is going to help...

Source: picasaweb.google.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Yes, this is the upholstery color from before.  No, it did not ever appear this way in my mother's house.

Source: picasaweb.google.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: picasaweb.google.com via Sarah on Pinterest

I ended up doing all the painting with a flat oil paint brush. It allowed me to apply an even layer around some of the trickier turns and corners. Plus, I sometimes like when you can see some brush strokes (as opposed to spray painting) because I think it gives things a handmade quality.

DIY Navy Blue Lattice Dresser

They said it couldn't be done!

My mom tried to convince me to not take her hideous old washstand (her words!) to my house but I was sure I could give it a new life with a coat of paint.  Plus, it had my all-time most favorite attribute - it was free.

I forgot to take a "before" picture so here is a "mid-project" picture:

 You can sort of see evidence on the door of how beaten up it was to start with.

And here is the "after":

The drawers used to have pulls instead of knobs so I hid the extra holes inside a criss-cross...

Yup, it needs a little decor help but, hey, I'm just getting started!

I got some inspiration from these lovely dresser DIYs - so many fun ideas to choose from!

Source: blog.ctnews.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: blog.ctnews.com via

Source: fabgreen.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: diyinspired.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: sheridanfrench.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: lucitelavender.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Pink Dining Chairs

This weekend I started painting my dining chairs a pink/orange/red color.  I am fully aware that this will embarrass me in about 15 years or fewer but right now I think it's pretty great.

I'll post pictures when they're all done.  In the meantime...fabulous or decor disaster?  I think FABULOUS.

PS to my mother and sister:  See the grey couch in the second photo?? I told you it would match!

Elle Decor

House Beautiful, January 2011

Oops, I went to the Leesburg Antique Shops Again

It's a good thing I live over an hour and a half away from Old Lucketts Store or else I might seriously run the risk of cramming so much furniture into my bedroom that I can no longer step inside.

I may have mentioned before that I currently share a house, approximately 10'x11' of which is mine to fill with furniture.  So far I have a queen-sized bed, a desk, an armoire, a footboard box, two side tables and about 20 framed pictures.  And now a chair.  And two more pictures.

The two drawings actually came from German Favorite Antiques, which is a really very cool store.  These two puppies were just so cute that my mom bought them for me!  I'd like to put them in an entrance hall or above a writing desk, if that space weren't already filled in my life.

This chair came from Old Lucketts and was so perfect for only $70 that I had to have it.  I plan to reupholster it in a bright lattice fabric.  No idea where I'm going to put it....

Matching Red Leather Chesterfield Sofas, Vaulted Ceilings, White Walls, Navy Rug

Favorite picture of the day from Apartment Therapy - a bright, cozy apartment in Gothenburg, Sweden.

And a winning combo of classic and modern!

Fabulous Office Spaces

I'm changing positions at my company on Monday and along with the new job comes a new desk.  My old office had cheerful Chinese lanterns hanging from the ceiling but my new desk is out in the middle of an open room leaving no way for me to decorate!  :(

That's why I've got my dream office on my mind this week....

Full House

Melissa Warner via House Beautiful

James Michael and Phoebe Howard via House Beautiful

David Kaihoi via House Beautiful

The Decorista

Habitually Chic

Carolyn Espley-Miller via House Beautiful

Vanity Fair

Pillow Fix

Couches are expensive.  But you know what's less expensive?  Pillows.  An excellent way to give a couch a makeover without the expense of slipcovers or a new couch.  And one of the best places to look for statement pillows for less is on Etsy.com.  Here are some of my favorites:

SwoonStudio

SwoonStudio

WillaSkyeHome

WillaSkyeHome

PointDeAmour

fabricjunkie1640

fabricjunkie1640

fabricjunkie1640

habitationinc

Samantha2818