KEEPING YOUR VINTAGE FINDS MODERN

I love going to flea markets, secondhand stores and vintage shops to find a great piece that can immediately transform the look of a room. It's true, vintage or antique pieces stand out as works of art when paired with the right decor style. Traditional decor can feel old, and modern decor can "get" old, but regardless of the style of house, you can always incorporate a few vintage or antique finds to keep it interesting. The challenge is keeping your vintage finds modern. Keep in mind that interiors aren't meant to "match", but rather "coordinate".

The best way to incorporate vintage/antique pieces into your decor is to intersperse them throughout. This will act as a more eclectic and international feel. Designers do this best by making sure they have one vintage piece in every room. If you're lucky enough to travel abroad, you can probably bring home some amazing finds....for all of us others, we will continue to scour the endless sea of vintage items at our local flea markets!

The only rule here is to make sure you balance cultures, styles and time periods. You can't go wrong....and these pieces make your style really stand out!

This vintage yellow tufted wingback chair adds color and character to the corner of this elegant dining room.

Believe it or not, this is a "mud room"! The room includes vintage items such as the white hall tree against the wall, the settee from an antique mall and a vintage table found on ebay.

In this sophisticated, turned rugged living space, these red vintage number signs (once used at an old gas station) add color to this space.

This room's designer created an illusion of height by placing wallpaper on the ceiling and to inspire the rest of the furnishings, she added a vintage couch (still in it's original upholstery).

While updating this home, the designer opted to keep the original 1947 molding over the doorway. It brings charm to the room, don't you agree?

All photos courtesy of Lonny Mag

The painting in this sitting area was purchased by the homeowner at a market in Thailand. Always bring back pieces when traveling.

Bottom line is to mix vintage finds with modern pieces, don't over think it, go with your gut, and if you buy what you love and put it where you'll enjoy it, it will always work!

 

GOOD READS AND COFFEE TABLE ENTERTAINMENT

At it's best! I enjoy coffee table books....I have a small love affair with one of mine- KELLY HOPPEN "HOME-From Concepts to Reality" . I am constantly drawn to it over and over! A hard cover, and 192 pages to drool over...She is one of my absolute FAVORITE designers and this has been one of my beloved design books....EVER.

Kelly Hoppen is a high-end interior designer, celebrated in the pages of Architectural Digest, In Style, and the New York Times. Her cool, modernist aesthetic is at once timeless and at the cutting-edge of style today and KELLY HOPPEN HOME offers readers a chance to learn from the world-renowned British designer's chic design philosophy. Giving a clear picture of her approach at every stage-from the conception of an idea, through preparation and decision making, to implementing plans and achieving a reality-Kelly shares her insider secrets and reveals how to get the most from a living space.

Kelly's skill in understanding how a home works is illustrated in a portfolio of projects from the UK, United States, Israel, and Switzerland. Architectural plans and drawings, alongside stunning photographs of her latest work, help explain how to reconfigure a space by transforming ideas into workable schemes. Insightful text, practical tips, and information from expert consultants help explain how readers can become their own interior designer. That's what made me fall in love with her book and her design style.

Maybe you will find a new love interest in one of the coffee table books below! If not, at least enjoy looking!

Money Well Spent!

If there's one thing you can learn from my home remodeling experience, it's that you CAN decorate like a designer-without the high price tag!

Many of my friends know me as the woman who can always find a great deal. My husband says "I have champagne taste on a beer budget". However you spin it, I can find the look I want at a price I can afford....and that means NEVER paying full price. I've gone to the extent of having furniture custom made, simply because I couldn't find what I wanted for a price I was willing to pay. By doing this-you avoid the retail mark ups, and in most cases, get better quality at the same time!

Let me explain....I searched and searched and searched...for a simple dining room table. I wanted solid wood...none of the veneer stuff! I found ONE I loved, but they wanted $2300! Umm..NO! Even though it stole my heart, I was unwilling to invest $2300 into a table! So here's what I did....

I was able to have this dining room table custom made, to my specifications-for only $700! It's solid alder, 96" long, with espresso stain. It will last FOREVER! And to top it off, it's one of a kind!! I literally drew out what I wanted, chose the size specs and picked out the espresso stain.
Oh...the chairs, that's another great savings and fun restoration project. You can check out those amazing details HERE!

I also had a matching console made for only $300. Same style, wood and stain!

I believe a lot of homeowners end up paying the high retail or designer prices, because it takes a lot of time to find a great deal. I get that....sometimes it's just easier and quicker to buy the darn thing! So, I'm doing some work for you and featuring some SUPERB deals on some GORGEOUS decor items that might save you some designer bucks. 

First up...we have Swiss Dot Personalized Table Linens from Grandin Road. These crisp hemstitched napkins, placemats, and runners feature borders of embroidered Swiss dots that artfully add a classic touch. Currently on sale for $19.99-79.00. Comes in ecru (shown) and white.

Antique Copper Finish Glass Lantern Chandelier from Overstock.com. Add a touch of old fashioned styling to your home decor with this lantern chandelier. Only $166.99!

I might have to get this one for my bedroom! Brighton White Linen Storage Ottoman from Overstock.com. Upholstered in an elegant off-white shade that will match any decorating style, this ottoman is perfect as a seat or for storage. With a double-layered linen top, it is comfortable and plush, yet sturdy enough to set things on. For $201.99 it's tough to pass up!

Here's a peek inside!

Again, I will be grabbing a couple of these clover gems for myself! Do not under estimate decor items from stores like Lowes! Yes, you heard me...this 30"H x 30"W Quatrefoil Cloche Octagon Framed Mirror is from Lowes! You can get it at most stores, or order it online. And the finish is a beautifully hand-painted expresso. But wait....get ready to fall over! It's only $64.97!

And last, but certainly not least...what would you do without a signature piece? Absolutely beautiful Tufted Signature Ottoman from Overstock.com. This elegant ottoman/coffee table showcases a light tan-colored linen top, accented with button tufting. Carved wood detail on legs and millwork on apron completes the look. It's finished in espresso stain. How much, you ask? $215.99!

Close up of the signature pattern....pretty? Oui!

I'm guessing that you'll be hunting for some open spaces in your humble abode for these inexpensive, but "champagne" taste finds! Happy shopping! Let me know how it goes!!!



FLIPPING OUT...AGAIN!

As some of you already know...the new season of Flipping Out is here! And, I don't know about you, but my Tuesday evenings now revolve around BRAVO! Fly home from work, have a quick glass of wine, chat with my hubby about our workday, watch the dogs and chickens play, make a quick dinner...all just in time for some great entertainment!

I ♥ this show! 

Jeff Lewis' humor is a bit on the dark side (I do LMAO though), but his interior designs are to die for. I had to share these photos of his personal residence (Valley Oak 2), which he initially bought to flip. It was placed on the market for the low, low price of $2.4M until he decided to make it his permanent residence! To top it off, it's nestled in the middle of Griffith Park! What a gorgeous home, don't you agree? Wish I could afford it!

Valley Oak 2 is a two-story, mid-century modern, post and beam house that was built in 1963 and has been flawlessly renovated.

This Chef’s kitchen includes features such as a Viking range, custom cabinetry, built-in Miele coffee maker (Oh I wish I had one of those), Bosch dishwasher, SubZero refrigerator, wine fridge, and an oversized pantry.

This amazing home has it all! Clean lines, open space, as well as spectacular views from downtown LA to the ocean from the pool. So jealous!

HIDE AND....FOUND!

Zebra printed cowhide that is! I finally got my zebra cowhide rug....now it's time for you to get yours! 

Cowhides stand in for exotic zebra, striped in tones of rich black/brown. Warm colors, natural texture and a unique shape and size make these hides a wonderful accent over bare floors or carpeting, whether surrounded by seating in the living room or standing on its own in the entryway. I love this look, cowhides are so timeless and add character to any space! My blog followers get FREE SHIPPING! Email me to place your order, along with your profile name.

Zebra print hair on cowhides

$360

Brindle and spotted hair on cowhides

$310

SHOW AND TELL TAKE TWO!

Rewind....back in 1962 this was a stylish family room/kitchen.....in 2010, not so much. After a couple of years, blood, sweat and tears, removing walls, etc. we have almost finished this part of the house. We still need to paint some trim, add some art work, etc. But the big projects are done!


Before:

We removed the wall between the kitchen and living room, gutted both rooms and replaced the 6' slider with 10 feet of french doors.

Kitchen in progress, before the floors, faucet and fridge.

We also demo'd the rocks on the fireplace and removed the 15" bench!

Time for the floors! It was messy, but worth it! We used natural maple wood flooring, with dark hickory borders,which separates the Italian marble in the kitchen and entryway.

Now:

All that's left to do in the kitchen is to add the kick plates to the bottom of the cabinets!

Now...we must finish the rest of the house....ugghhh!

Dark espresso stain on the french doors, ties together the dark hickory borders.

To see more remodel pics for the rest of the house, check out my post on our powder room, entryway and dining room projects.

TOTO...WE'RE NOT IN AFRICA ANYMORE!

But there are zebras everywhere! I cannot get enough of the zebra hide rugs. Not sure if I like zebras because they have mohawks or because each one is unique.....

This, my friends..... is my dream living room! I can't tell you how much I love the look of a white couch against a zebra rug. The custom table by Plantation is simple, yet the perfect accent to a gorgeous room. In my opinion, a hide rug is a requirement in a classic modern style home! Can't wait to get mine!

IMPERIAL TRELLIS CURTAINS!

I discovered these curtains made out of KelIy Wearstler's Imperial Trellis fabric! They are on Brown Design's blog (which is absolutely amazing-you should take a look). They designed this gorgeous living room and included my favorite fabric! My goal is to find a similar fabric for a smaller price tag and have some flat roman shades made for my living room. So, my quest to find this rare fabric begins......stay tuned!