ANOTHER GREAT MID-CENTURY FIND

Granted, this loveseat looks pretty darn 'granny' at the moment, with its skirt and velvety yellow fabric, but before long, it will be looking very hip.  It has a wonderful shape to it, its low back broken by an elegant little pinch right where the back turns into the arms, very 'Japonais', very Frank Lloyd Wright... and all that tufting on the back, think of how great that will look with a graphic pattern?!  We plan on removing the skirt to expose the straight legs behind it (and possibly even replacing existing legs with a new tapered mid-century style leg which will give it even more of the feel of the period), and creating one seat cushion instead of 2- making it feel much more streamlined.  All bold, no granny!  It is always fun to look at what others have done with similar pieces, however, I was unable to find too many redos but certainly found a lot of comparable pieces...

And one great redo of a similar piece by Chairloom, love the dots, but not so much the skirt...

I am looked at a few possibilities for mine...

Very excited to get started!

WANDERING THROUGH ROWS OF ANTIQUES...

I love wandering the aisles of antique stores, especially ones where you can essentially get lost in amongst the musty piles of random objects.  So of course I love Euro Treasures Antiques in downtown Salt Lake City, and love it even more when I find something unique that I have room for and can also afford.  Last week I found this lovely, an Eastlake style tall footstool, which I cannot wait to bring back to life.  The wood is actually in very good condition, the joints are solid, and the proportions are excellent, however, the upholstery desperately needs help.  Hence the affordability.  But with some TLC this little piece will be better than ever. 
I always love finding original horsehair (or possibly the hair from some other animal)-

A good mark of an old piece.  I am guessing this is 1880s-90s.

Of course I cannot help but begin to look at fabric options immediately, and mocked up a few options right away. 

Stay tuned for the final result!

COOL, CLASSIC TILE AT BEDROSIANS

I was recently at Bedrosians Tile and Stone (an awesome resource for product here in SLC) and happened upon some really beautiful tile that brought back memories of my time in the Paris metro, small town Portugal, and particularly my father's intense love of all decorative tilework.

Now I just need a project for these....

And my favorite-

LOVE THIS IDEA

It is about time someone resurrected the good old phone.  I happened upon a tiny plug for this product in the recent edition of House Beautiful this past month and had to check it out.   I just love the thought of wandering around the office with a sturdy handset under my chin.  Even if it was comfortable to hold my cell against my shoulder (which it is decidedly not), I couldn't because the reception cuts out.  And for a mere $29.99, the Native Union POP phone is a no-brainer.  The only question becomes one of color.   Check out all the options here.

A LABOUR OF LOVE

It is always so fulfilling when a design project for someone other than myself embodies all of my design ideals and desires.  This humble house turn glam between the University and Sugarhouse in Salt Lake City was an absolute joy to work on.  And it goes without saying that an amazing client is always the kernel of a great project, and a client who shares my design vision is a wonderful bonus.  I doubt I have to draw the connections with my own home...a warm neural base palette with splashes of boldness in the red/pink spectrum, reupholstered and reinvented antique pieces, and an overall feeling of melding old with new.  Please enjoy.

REUPHOLSTERY IS FUN

I recently purchsed two chairs that I just cannot wait to reupholster and refinish. I know they will be stunners with the right fabric, their lines are just fab.  Look for the finished reincarnations coming soon!

HUDSON GOODS IS COOL

I love the ever increasing interest in Steampunk and Dark Nostalgia styles within the world of interiors.  If you are not familiar with these trends (you probably are even if you do not know the terms), well, that is a blog for another day...coming soon (but think updated Victorian, mixed with technology and a rough industrial element...the film equivalent would be the latest iteration of Sherlock Homes starring Robert Downey Jr.). 

One supplier I particularly like that embraces these styles, is Hudson Goods.  They embrace the industrial, the unique and the oddly Victorian. 

They are based on the East Coast but ship everywhere.  And so far, all the product I have spec'd for clients has been great.  Some of my favorite pieces which I have yet to use, are:

Essentially all their lighting, of which some similar versions have been popping up at Restoration Hardware lately (another huge proponent of the Steampunk and Dark Nostalgia):

The Industrial Bottle Lights for $35-$450 each:

The Industial Cage Lights for $250 each:



And the Vintage Tripod Lamp for $85:

And my favorite which they do not seem to be selling despite the fact it is on their home page....the awesome bowler hat pendant which I totally want in my house:

Some furniture I am hoping to use sometime soon, this very cool dining table:

 Any number of their console tables and cabinets:

And I love these recycled burlap pillows (wouldn't these be great in a rustic Park City home?):

Check out their website and all additional products here.

SHOPPING AT MoMA

Who would have thought the MoMA Store would be a great place to find affordable pieces of design?  Recently I have been working with some younger clients which is lots of fun.  Despite the fact they have somewhat smaller budgets, they are also very open to different design ideas and just having some fun with their space.  Often I troll the standards such as CB2 and West Elm, but I am always on the lookout for modern design that is not DWR or Hive Modern expensive.  One day it dawned on me to have a quick look at some museum store websites, and low and behold, MoMA Store was actually quite affordable!  I was thrilled to find funky light fittings, great rugs, and general interesting chachka....something different.  And everything is online so no need trek to midtown Manhattan (although it would have been a good excuse...)!  Here are a few things that caught my eye:

Phrena Hanging Lamp for only $92.00:

And the Midsummer lamp also only $92:

And this cool coffee table for $129:

The Unfinished Clock that sits on the edge of a shelf or ledge and is fully functional for only $47:

Love the loop candelabra for $28!

And how cool is the Conceal bookcase where all hardware is hidden and all you see are floating books?! $15:

Of course there are quite a few pricy items at the store too, but I must say I was quite impressed with the selection of affordable and different items.  Thanks MoMA!  Now if I could only afford some of the things in the museum....