Tuesday, February 14, 2012

school of vintage

Today, I sold my 55th item from my Etsy Shop. I'm feeling like a true Etsian, as they say. I listed my first Etsy item back in October. October 22nd. It's been about four months since then. My first semester. At least that's how it seems. I've been attending the School of Vintage.

I've been so inspired by my finds that I've been pulling apart my first floor and re-working colors and layouts. I've been studying the art of composition and arrangement. Dark colors against light backdrops. Mixing modern and aged pieces. Layering textures.

Thomas O'Brien is a master of mixing vintage, antiques, and newly purchased possessions in livable and artful ways. I've blogged about his inspiring modern vintage here.

Thought I'd share some of my favorite finds... although my favorites seem to change every day.

The ram's head is made of cast iron. I thought about picking up another and creating bookends. The antique shop where I found this piece had several old cast iron pieces. Right now, he sits upon my foyer table. If I created bookends, I'd have to turn him. I like having him face front. Such character. The old books we've had for years. Actually, they were puchased up in Washington, DC when my husband and I were dating. A co-worker had opened a used book shop. You can even see where our dog (many years ago) had chewed the corner of the top book.

This print art came from an antique shop just south of town. One of my favorites, The Covesville Store. I really don't know what it is a copy of. I'm sure it's something I should recall from my art history college class.. oh so many years ago. But, it had to come home with me. I passed it up the first time I saw it. The frame has a slight warp to it if you lay it flat. But, I kept thinking of that haunting face. It's a gentle face, but a bit haunting. I went back a few days later to find him. So glad he was still there. I've leaned the frame upon the antique dresser I found from the same shop.

These next photos are of busts that I've collected. I've included them in some previous posts. This bust seems to be cast of plaster or cement composite of some kind. I use a picture of this bust for my Etsy profile picture. All the pieces on my mantle are vintage finds.

This chalk bust was the first bust I purchased. This came from an antique shop north of town. A very elderly shop keeper still runs her own shop, filled with very valuable period pieces. This chalk bust was probably the only thing I could afford. She told me she was thinking of keeping this child bust. She wanted to paint it white and make it into a lamp! Pretty hip idea for a woman her age. (Mind you, she was waaayyy past retirement age...) I knew right then I had to buy this chalk bust. I love its age, markings, chips, scratches. And sill has such character. I'm glad it's still intact.

This chalk bust is the only bust I have for sale in my Etsy shop... and I almost couldn't part with it. Although, it hasn't sold yet.

I recently came across this chalk bust listed online from a British Antique catalog. So similar to both my chalk busts. Maybe both of mine were once mounted on marble bases.

(source)

And, that's the thing with all these vintage / antique pieces. Between Google Image, Ebay, other Etsy listing.. you're able to learn so much and so quickly about so many items.

I've always enjoyed digging through old antique shops, but have always been more drawn to furniture or what I find to be the more obvious items. Now I'm a picker. Or at least that's how my husband refers to it. Well, it's true.. I'm proud to be a picker. And, I try to pick at least once a week.

There is always something new to learn. I love the one of a kind feel these pieces give a home. While I may not know all the history, I know others have cared for these objects. I love having my Etsy shop, thinking of new ways to display unique pieces, and passing the story down the line.

Lots of "new" vintage items will be photographed this week and listed over the weekend.

Designer: Suzanne Kasler

I'm a collector of those large, coffee table sized interior design books. These are not books I put on my coffee table, but rather I attempt to curl up with them at night (difficult to read in bed ~ too big!) and read from cover to cover. It's how I end my day. I often go back and re~read and study the photos. I keep a stack under my bedside table. I love them all!

My latest read is Inspired Interiors by designer, Suzanne Kasler.

(photo credit: William Waldron)

The photograph above is currently my favorite in the entire book. (To say it's my favorite isn't really correct ~ the book is filled with inspiring arrangements and colors.) It's the trim color that has my heart pounding. I've been playing around the the idea of painting my family room built~ins and crown molding in a sage~blue~gray. I've been putting together more trim inspiration on my Pinterest pinboard.

While my trim isn't even 1/8 of this foyer woodwork, I love the set apart use of pale, gray~green on the pediment and pilasters of the opening that lead to the dining room. As Suzanne Kasler explains in her book, the use of this shadow like color on this doorway helps make the space a bit less formal and more inviting. Just beautiful!

(photo credit: William Waldron)

Another reason I love this book is Suzanne's use of white as the backdrop for her compositions. She writes about layering the whites instead of matching them. This staircase pictured below, with its amazing railing, has a wonderful, white foundation. The white of the walls, trim, and risers as well as the banding in the runner give this metal railing the breathing room it needs to be seen. Suzanne hung the framed pieces in a random order on the wall. It's a great balance to all the more formal lines of the X railing and runner banding.

(photo credit: Courtsey of Benjamin Moore and Co.)

The dining room walls, pictured below, are covered in a beautiful, watery, turquoise grass cloth (I'm a big fan of grass cloth). I loved the story behind this dining room. Suzanne had found the amazing mirror and later found the curlicue chairs (as she refers to them). The chairs were such a great compliment to the mirror, but there were only three of them. So, she mixed the chairs with another style. And it works so well. Suzanne tells her clients to buy what they love and she'll make it work. What a great example of "making it work".

(photo credit: Southern Accents)

This book is filled with ideas, inspirations and explanations by Suzanne. I always know I'll enjoy the book when the designer is the voice. Some interior designer books are authored by a writer, rather than the designer herself or himself. I'd much rather be reading the designer's words, rather than a book~length article about a designer. So, while I haven't finished reading Inspired Interiors, I'm already inspired! Suzanne Kasler's book is on the top of my bedside stack of design books!

More inspirations....

(photo credit: Pinterest)

Get this look, from House Beautiful Magazine, by shopping the Suzanne Kasler Collection through Ballard Design.

(photo credit: House Beautiful)

(photo credit: Kenton Robertson Photography)

(photo credit: Veranda)

This dining room is a wonderful example of how to use pink. The pink against the taupe walls, finishes, and fabrics makes for a comfortably sophisticated room. This photograph, found in Suzanne's book, is from her own dining room. She describes the taffeta curtain panels as lined in a platinum colored taffeta, so that she could reverse them if desired. Love that option!

(photo credit: Veranda)

Love, love these black cabinets, mixed with the limestone hood and white island. The zinc top kitchen table and chairs are pretty dreamy too.

(photo credit: Veranda)

(photo credit: Southern Accents)

Thought it would be fun to add a picture of Suzanne Kasler's design office in Atlanta.

(photo credit: Atlanta Home and Lifestyle Magazine)

Get a copy and get inspired!!

Modern Vintage

In my mind, Thomas O'brien is the King of Modern Vintage.

(photo credit: Thomas O'brien)

He can put together pieces old and new like nobody's business.

(photo credit: Thomas O'brien)

(photo credit: Abrams books)

It's all laid out for a wonderful, insightful read in his book, American Modern.

(photo credit: Thomas O'brien)

After reading- and re-reading- and studying his work, I've been on the hunt for vintage.

(photo credit: Abrams Books)

With lots of ideas brewing.....

(photo credit: Abrams Books)

Next NYC trip: a visit Thomas O'brien's shop, Areo. He's a collector of sorts as well as a product designer. In his book, he talks about bringing in just the right piece from his collection to a client's home; a candlestick for a custom mantel, a collection of vintage prints above a bed or a staircase wall, a mid-century tray on a sofa table holding a collection of books, pottery, and objects of interest.

Oh, I love it all...

...and have been feverishly working- hunting- collecting for my new venture...

Muraca Design Shop on Etsy

No items listed yet. Still working on the photography and learning how it all works. But, hope to have it up by mid October! I'll be blogging about it more as time draws near.

Here are just a few of my over 120 plus (and growing) items I'll be listing.