Purging Your Stuff (and part of your life) is Hard

I am moving out of the city and also into a smaller space (my old bedroom in my childhood home) and realize it would be easier and more efficient to limit the amount of stuff that I actually move from here to there.  I once lived in an efficiency and was fine with minimal belongings, but after moving into a "palace" in terms of square footage, I began to accumulate more items and furniture to fill the space.  In the picture below, the only other furniture missing in that picture was a double bed, dining table, folding chairs and a bureau for my clothes. The truly funny thing is that I still own everything in that picture, save for the lavender vase on the coffee table, which broke years ago.

Efficiency.  Arlington, 1997.

I started looking on the Internet to see how others accomplished ridding themselves of things. Check this article on Lifeedited for one family's experience doing this.  If you are also thinking of going this route, two books I have reviewed here before may help you: Throw Out Fifty Things (reviewed here) and Apartment Therapy: The Eight-Step Home Cure that I wrote about here.

For this task, furniture-wise, I'm only keeping what I love.

"Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." William Morris
Unfortunately, that is still too much for the space, but I'm going to make it happen.  The secretary desk turned dresser that I still mean to refinish, my IKEA desk (as future sewing table), my armoire (sewing storage), the chunky mid-century rocking chair, and a self-tiled mosaic table are what I mean to bring with me.  There's also the possibility of keeping the IKEA MISI table, seen in the picture below before its current paint job.  It has been an ideal sewing table with it's six individual drawers the perfect size for scissors, buttons, and other notions.

One bedroom. Arlington, 2003.

I can see that I've kept moving the same stuff from place to place even though many of the pieces were what I came across or someone gave to me as opposed to what I went out and got because it spoke to me and I wanted it. A lot of these items make me feel unsuccessful, like the loveseat a friend gave to me when she moved. She had purchased it years earlier from a thrift store and ten years later it is still in my living room. Underneath the slipcover, it is in horrible shape, to the point I'm ashamed of having people get a good look at it.  I guess I won't feel like I'm an adult until the day I can afford a couch that I choose myself, while this one just reminds me that my lean years are still here.


If you're going to find out who you'll become, you need space in your life for who you are, rather than storing reminders of who you thought you were going to be."
Wende Feller
The rest of my furniture has made its way to Craigslist. A Panasonic portable CD/ dual cassette player (a suggestion to also get rid of my other one was hard to take since I use my music as a way to destress), a bedside table that I repaired, stripped, and painted; an IKEA TV/entertainment center, another IKEA piece, a beautiful dinner buffet (just sold!). There are also two IKEA Robin bookshelves in great condition, a twin-sized futon and frame (remember those?); and a golden yellow (one of my first painted furniture projects) Queen Anne coffee table. Not enough? How about a mini Cuisinart food processor and a Braun 10-cup coffee maker. I am getting inquiries and I've sold two pieces, I just hope to get rid of more as I really need the money they would bring in.

One bedroom. Richmond, 2006.

I hope when I move into my own place again, that I will have the money to buy what I really like, so that my apartment (or house?) will truly reflect my personality and no longer look like I just moved out of a college dorm. I think it's about time.

My Grandma's Attic: Her Dinnerware Collection

Six months ago, my dad and I cataloged my late grandmother’s collection of dishes and cut glass pieces. We were pretty amazed at how much stuff that included, as most of this was never on display. Not surprising, I found that most of them were not my style. I love vintage but my taste is pretty specific and there was a lot here that I did not like. However, for our purposes of what to keep and what to donate, I tried to research the pieces I could identify from markings or specific details. It boggles the mind that my Grandmother had so many different sets of china, all styles, and an amazing large set of cut glass…everything! I’m going to post a few images and descriptions and at the end I’m going to show what made that whole afternoon of opening boxes, setting up groupings, and photographing it all worth it. Oh, so worth it!

Here’s the worst of the bunch, in my opinion the worst design I have ever seen on dinnerware and we are now in possession of a huge set of these:

Yes, your eyes are not lying, green and gold faux Victoriana plates from the Taylor Smith Taylor company. These were produced mid-century and manufactured in the U.S. The platters feature Victorian couples in the center surrounded with a deep forest green band with an intricate overlaid pattern in gold. Research shows this pattern has been known by collectors as Victorian Couple, George and Martha Washington, Quadrille, Romeo and Juliet, or Courting Couple. Each size plate, bowl, or cup shows a different scene. I think because of the green and gold colors that it resembles a holiday collection of some sorts. This. I do not like.

My grandmother has one standout set that is very popular and yet still very desirable. The pattern is popular in its own right and I have even seen it used on cell phone cases. The name is Blue Willow and you probably feel that you’ve seen it before, even if just at a thrift store. Like I said, it was very popular. This design or some kind of close variation was produced by many companies, such as Homer Laughlin (of Fiestaware fame), Spode, Royal Dalton, and Wedgewood. Our set was manufactured by Churchill, a British company and is marked so on the bottom of the pieces. However, when looking at the individual pieces I noticed some variation. Many had the inscribed Churchill mark on the bottom but the stamps would look different and the pieces themselves would have little discrepancies. This was not a one-time purchase, she probably accumulated these over time instead. If sold, it should be in groupings so that each set would have identical pieces.

This Ellesmere Furnival tureen is similarly colored but not related and unfortunately I have not been able to find any information more than the name marked on the base of the piece. Also note in the picture above that the two cups with the Blue Willow pattern have differently shaped handles, another example of their being multiple variations of that pattern in the collection.

  

Here are just a few of the unmarked cut glass pieces varying from butter dishes, compotes, salad dressing cruets to tiered dessert plates and hors d'oeuvre trays (not pictured).

Then there were these, the Whitney #5671 from Imperial China and manufactured in Japan. Again, not my type but I can appreciate its beauty. The white dishes with silver trim are surrounded with a leaf scroll design painted on a light gray band. We have a near complete set of I did a little research, I have much more to do, but I found out on one site that an 8 to 10 place setting, during a good market period, could bring in $700-900 depending on condition. So there is hope for our little venture.

Oh, and the items that made that entire day worth it? Feast your eyes on these!

A Blendo summer cocktail set!

Possibly from the West Virginia Glass Company, this frosted turquoise juice pitcher and eight-piece tumbler set, 2 each of bright aqua, coral, yellow, and sage green with gold rims. The company put out variations of these colorful sets where the saturated solid color at the base gradually fades as it rises into clear glass with a gold band marking the divide. Some were all one color sets, others were multicolor in brights and pastels. Check Etsy or eBay for "Blendo" and you will be amazed. Anyone who has seen my apartment (use the Home tag on this blog to see images) knows that these colors fit right in.  I adore this set. Though I have never 'had people over for summer cocktails', I will at least be prepared if the occasion ever does arrive.

I have a strong feeling that these were a gift to my grandmother because, come on, one look at the stuff above and then look at this...not the same style at all, right? Well, they are no longer packed away, though I would prefer that they were. My father put them through the dishwasher (No!*) and now has them on display in his home even though we agreed that they were mine to keep. I asked him to take care of them but I meant for them to stay protected in their bubble wrap. I hope to claim them in the future and display them when a place I live in is no longer considered a "hazardous place for delicate things to live".

A Log Cabin in Alabama

Sorry, no original content but I had to mention this not-what-you-expect log cabin in Alabama built by the owner, artist Butch Anthony. The place is incredible and he's still working on it. In fact, this is his second log house; the first, a one-room cabin was built when he was only 14 years old!

Mr. Anthony, who is in a relationship with sustainable clothing designer Natalie Chanin, has decorated the home on his 80-acre compound with unusual objects. The wire contraption in the picture above is actually an old wire bed spring, the seats of the two flanking chairs are woven with old neck ties, and the base of the platform bed is lined with recycled car license plates. Not typical log cabin furniture at all.

Yes, another quirky bathroom!

The rest of the house is furnished a bit more traditionally though there probably is always a little twist somewhere in the decor. He is an artist, after all.

Check out the New York Times slideshow here.

Images: Robert Rausch for The New York Times

Richmond Glass Building Update

According to this, the developer Justin French wants to make the Richmond Glass building into student housing for Virginia Commonwealth University. I understand the logic since the building is in the perfect location, just a block from the other two freshman dorms. However, I think it's a waste of what was once (and can be again) a gorgeous building. Using the refurbished Richmond Dairy Apartments, a few blocks away at Marshall as an example, the quality of the building can go down depending on the tenants.


201 West Marshall Street by 100wordminimum

I checked out the Richmond Dairy Apartments years ago when I first moved back and they were quite a disappointment. The apartments themselves looked great; high ceilings, and interesting loft layouts, despite the horrendous choice of wall-to-wall carpet* for apartments that were being marketed to beginning college students. I'm not denigrating all college students, hey, I'm still one! But freshman students, straight from living at home? Puh-lease! That carpet was marked for death at the get-go!

However, because they had decided on college students as desired tenants, the doors of the apartments were already littered with posters and personal notes. Yes, posters like you would see on dorm walls but these were outside in the public hallways! I clearly remember this as being the practice when I was in the Rhodes Hall dorm back in 1987, but even then the school supplied cork bulletin boards for this purpose. At Richmond Dairy, people were just stapling and using thumb tacks and tape on the actual doors. As I was touring the building, the employee who walked me around didn't even mention it, choosing instead to ignore the mess. That was all I needed to see that this was not the place for me (or any other adult) to live in.

So, I say to the developers working on the Richmond Glass Building, please rethink the final use of this building!

Image: from 100wordminimum's Flickr set

*I am sure they have regretted that BIG time by now.

Newlywed's First Home

Because of my finances I've been putting off buying magazines, but the latest copy of Country Living has been tempting me. It's a Makeover issue, I mean, come on?! Luckily, I have a friend that's been "paying me forward" with her copies after she's done with them (she's not a hoarder of mags like I am). So, at the moment, I don't have this issue in front of me.

However, yesterday I opened up my email and found a message from the guy who's story is on the front cover of the September issue and a link back to his design blog, Design Therapy. I thought the story of this little house was definitely worth sharing. You see, it's not just a typical design makeover story as the house was his parent's first home when they got married. They heard it was going to be demolished and had it moved to their property as a guesthouse. And then their son had it redone for under $4,000.

  Lovely, isn't it? Find more photos from the mag on his post here and the whole story complete with the before pictures on the Country Living site here. Images: Country Living magazine

Affordable cottage in the NYT

700 square feet and bought for $95,000!!

I have to give it to The New York Times. When they catch my interest, they usually get it big time. You may have seen this first set of pictures on other blogs already because this place in the Catskills is beautiful. But what what struck me is how it truly was something I would be interested in. That price is incredible, it's almost impossible to find a house that cheap here in Richmond, though of course most people I know can't afford a weekend house, let alone a place two hours away from where they live and work during the week. However, I loved how they furnished the place with hand-me-downs, and purchases from Craigslist and to top it off also used it as the venue for their outdoor wedding! That's the way to get the most for your money!

I love the use of the green, which seems to change color subtly throughout the house. It's definitely cute and country but not too so. Check out that incredible stove, unfortunately it doesn't work though.


(Click to enlarge)

That gallery wall- designed hallway blows me away and reminds me of another that I featured on this blog before. The newspaper was supplied with a rundown of their decorating costs. Decorated for only $2,352! Other homeowners featured in the newspaper's regular features can't seem to even get a closet organized for that little amount of money.

This cottage reminded me a bit of this cottage I found in an old issue of Cottage Living, from the 80s, that I bought when I was in Fredericksburg. I love the cottage aesthetic, the airy feel, and the simplicity. The use of the darker green for the window blinds is perfect, it adds a dash of color that works as decoration 24/7 when the shades are up, whereas white curtains (the obvious choice) would add nothing to the room.

In this bedroom shot (one of my favorites!) the different shades of green with the rich yellows, the red side table, and the orange tones of the spool-turned bed really speak to me; a mix of harvest tones mixed with white gives the room a warm and cozy feel.

Woo Hoo, More Wary Meyers!

I just found out from this cool blog (drew-o-rama) that designers Wary Meyers also have a blog!!!! It's only three months old but, still how did I not find out about this from other bloggers?

Bad bloggers, bad!

Well, if you didn't know before...now you know. Two of the coolest interior designers are now jotting down their thoughts and opinions over here. Have fun following along, I know I will!

They also have a book (!!) Wary Meyers' Tossed & Found: Unconventional Design from Cast-offs coming out in September from book publisher Stewart, Tabori, & Chang. The book is based on their Time Out New York columns where they made over discarded objects and furniture that they found on the streets of New York.



P.S. Even though I glossed over it before, you should really check out Drew's site. I just found it a while before writing this but it looks incredibly cool and his blog list is full of new goodies. He has the above personal blog and then a separate blog, Kitsch Cafe Studio, for his crafting and vintage businesses.

Ta Da, a Teal Tub and Toilet!

Before I read this whole post (via Retro Renovation) I got so excited. Oh, to have a teal blue toilet and tub set!

Alas, this wonderous place, brokenbog, is located in Surrey, England.

* In this cropped photo, the colors and shapes remind me of Russel Wright American Modern dinnerware.

Fools rush in...

This weekend I picked up a copy of Country Living magazine, which drew me in with its The Big Bargain Issue cover line. Flipping through it, the content and feel of the magazine seemed different. Of course while flipping through it I kept racking my brain trying to remember if this magazine was still in business or should I just back away from the magazine before I got my heart broken again.

In fact, the reason the magazine looks and feels different is that they got a new editor-in-chief and guess who it is?

Sarah Gray Miller!

Yes, THAT Sarah Gray Miller, founder of a little mag called Budget Living, the very first magazine that ended up crushing my little heart.

So SGM,** (yes, first name basis here) I expect a lot from you and your team. I like what I see so far, so I'll definitely be checking in.

Some of the treats I found in this issue:

Sweeps to win this specialty quilt kit on pg. 18
The 4th CL Women Entrepreneurs conference on pg. 23
DIY projects using discarded objects and furniture on pp. 67, 78, 80, and 86
Food "Just like Mom used to make" on pg. 134
Glorious gingham, pg. 122

So go out and "Help A Mag Today," by purchasing it on the newsstand, as those seem to be the only sales that really count!

* Don't worry, I won't be subscribing. I'll buy it on the newsstand, just so I can keep them in business.
** By the way, is she wearing a Wiksten Tova shirt in her editor-in-chief portrait?

Do they know me or what?

Have you tried the Sproost quiz?

It was right on the money concerning me, so you should go check it out:

50% Rustic Revival
You can take kid out of the country but you can't take the country out of the kid... or is your theme "you can take the kid out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the kid?".

Either way you play it, you are one of the unique individuals who loves a mix of modern and country. The clean lines of the modern softened by rustic/vintage elements is the perfect mix in your mind. And can we blame you? You've taken the best aspects of two popular designs and mixed them in a manner that appeals to young and old alike. A subtle background of white or light colors provides a nice canvas for all the wonderful flea market, eBay, or garage sale finds as well as the classic modern pieces that you love.

50% Cottage Chic
Who says that cottages can't be modern and chic? Who says that they have to be floral and cheesy? Not you!

You love the carefree spirit that the cottage interior inspires, but you are also serious about your appreciation for modern art and hip treasures. You love old and new alike, and love to highlight them all to expose the uniqueness of each. What better way to show off these treasures than with a light background?

NYT Home & Garden Section to the Rescue?

Surprising, huh?

Last week, the New York Times decided to task five NY interior designers/decorators with sprucing up the homes of five New Yorkers who had just lost their jobs. They were tasked with using a budget of only $300. Sounds good right? The article says that many got miffed about using that tiny an amount of money and only one was able to come in under budget. Bravo for Christopher Coleman, who was the winner in my book with a final balance of $296! While it was not my style, I have a feeling it fit well for his single-bachelor-tech-geek-client.

Styled by Christopher Coleman

You would think the others would realize that future clients; people who will be looking at their work in this assignment, might find it a plus that a designer CAN actually come in on or under budget.

Rearranged by Hilary Unger of Perianth

Well, at least for me that would be considered an important quality to have in a designer. Not that they did that bad, they still all came in under $500 and the results were all lovely. I just felt bad for the designers that could have easily come in at or under budget if they had just invoked some DIY and repainted furniture or items that the client already owned. Of if they had installed hardware and stitched the simple cushions and pillows themselves instead of hiring outside workers. What a great message that would have sent too.

Rearranged by Bradley Thiergartner

Links to the makeovers:

One-bedroom - $296 by Christopher Coleman

One-bedroom - $304 by Bradley Thiergartner

Studio - $326 by Hilary Unger

2-story house - $452 by Fawn Galli

Shared apartment - $490 by Elaine Griffin


This story was published in the NYT on March 12, 2009.

Adaptive Reuse for Living

A co-worker directed me to a compilation of stories on WebUrbanist about adaptive reuse projects. These projects range from a family home created in an airplane to a complete beach resort contained within an airplane hanger. Links to more complete stories on each project are included in that post. Definitely don't miss the story about the chapel-to- apartment or the house within a pigsty.

There was one (via adaptivereuse.net) that especially interested me; it involves the bureaucratic troubles one owner encountered when trying to convert his garage into a small residence for his mother-in-law. Even though the project was designed to fit into the preexisting urban landscape and was created with an architect to meet all city codes, he still came up against problem after problem. You can follow his story on his blog, Bottleworld. But first, some pictures of the project:

Exterior

Interior Loft


The alternating tread staircase that "the City" did not like.

All photos: Bottleworld

Wood In All Its Natural Beauty

Even though my blog is a pretty small fish in the huge blogosphere-pond, I still find myself receiving many emails from businesses and artists that want to be mentioned on the site. (Thank you all) As other bloggers know, a lot of the submissions will have nothing to do with content on our blogs or the products just aren't up to snuff.

However, sometimes gems like this get through:

A few weeks ago, I received an email from Greg and Alison Gallegos of Haslett, MI that was right down my alley. Greg, a self-taught artisan, believes in using found or reclaimed wood for his work and the resulting pieces are beautiful, tactile, sensuous, and yet still quite affordable. Please see for yourself by checking out their Etsy shop, Natural Selection Studio.

Ballistic Burl Vase, Natural Edge Red Cedar Vase

Black is the New Red Cherry Bowl, Yin Yang Black Walnut Bowl

Piet Hein Eek, I love you...

Reclaimed flooring

How can you not love these floors? From Piet Hein Eek's Demolition Wood collection, this floor is a patchwork of tree woods, different finishes, and a tapestry of textures and colors.

After going to the website for Piet Hein Eek, I found that they use this technique on a few of their furniture pieces and...again, I love what they do.

Bed

Cabinet

Cabinets

Though I have to admit I think combining multiple pieces of this in one room is a really big mistake.





Images: Piet Hein Eek