Fridays Finest Finds

Once again here are my favorite finds on DC's Craigslist...

Vintage Bamboo and Cane Barrel Chairs $250/pair {very elegant indeed}

Cane and Rattan Table & 6 Chairs $350 {need a patio set?}


The CL sun porch set above is lovely as is, but also would look fabulous painted black with new fabric...

Inspirational Image via NZ House & Gardens 

White Bamboo Style Wood Chairs, Glass End Table and Lamp $250/all {i adore this set. such a great price for all of that. i even like the lamp and probably wouldn't reupholster the sweet stripes. hmmm, maybe i can get it for my neice.}

Vintage Phillipinne Bamboo and Cane Settee $250 {this settee comes as a set, see below. would look smashing in a sun porch. wish i had a sun porch.}...

Or you could use the settee above in your entry...

Inspirational Image by Thornton Designs via Decor Pad

Vintage Phillipinne Chairs $250/pair {this a great price folks. can you tell i like caning?}

Twin Bamboo Headboard $40 {paint it orange for your daughters tween bedroom. remember to use zero voc paint...i mean come on it's right next to her head.}

Cane Backed Mahogany Sofa $1750 {this is substantially more expensive than the cane settee above. go check out the listing as the person has had it in their family since the early 1900's. now they're off to italy and can't take it. my advice to them...put it in storage.}

Wicker Furniture Set $300 {ignore the upholstery, that is unless you like it of course.}

Paint the CL wicker set above black, reupholster the cushions in white linen and you'll have a gorgeous set for your sun room...

Inspirational Image via Kelley Interior Design (a awesome local interior designer)

Haywood Wakefield Arm Chair $225 {just thought this was interesting. great accent chair for your sun room...yes i said it again.}

Bamboo Bar Cabinet $100 {for some reason i'm not feeling the color combo. i think i would paint it a solid color instead. either way it's still cool, especially with those knobs.}

Birdcage $45 {have birds? well i probably wouldn't put birds in it, but this would look nice in a sun room...i'm sorry just had to say it again. heehee.}

Holy wicker, cane, bamboo, sun room bat man! Now onto more...

Elegant Newly Upholstered Chairs $598/pair {love these chairs. great lines.}

Wingback Chair $25 {someone help this sad girl. remember that you can have the entire chair stripped to it's bones and new padding and cushions applied.}

Transform her into the magnificent beauties you see below...

Inspirational Image by Tim Kemp on Elle Decor found via Splendid Willow

Complete the transformation with this fabric by Katherine Rally. I emailed her awhile back about fabric stain repellents and she promptly responded that although their fabric is not organic, they at least don't use stain repellent chemicals. Nice!...

Pondicherry in Coral 

Leather Wingback Chair $75 {awesome for a man cave.}

Crate and Barrel Leather Dylan Chair $950 {you'll save over $1000 by buying this used, instead of new at Crate and Barrel. it's stunning too!}

Fabulous Vintage Mahogany Dresser $450 {i like.}

Baker Credenza $750 {this is just stunning...right? no paint required whatsoever.}

FREE Antique Dresser and Vanity {would be sad to paint, but looks like it needs it. free remember?}

Dresser $95 {they had me at the handles. for $95 it's a bargain.}

Faux Bamboo Mirror $95 {good price. featured on MoS too.}

Large Dresser $200 obo {change the knobs and you have something gorgeous.}

The dresser above reminds me of this beauty from Maison Luxe...

Brigitte Large Dresser $1650 via Maison Luxe

How about with these knobs from Anthropologie...

Ripe Melon Pull $6/each

Regency Chairs $350/all four {hot.}

Coffee Table Maison Jansen Style $200 {great price i believe for this beauty.}

Brass Coffee Table $100  {lovin' the swan heads.}

Matching Brass Lamps $75 {very regal indeed my dear lassies.}

Accent Chairs $50/each {should be titled fabulous chairs for an incredible price. get 'em paint 'em reupholster 'em and send pics.}

Table and Chairs Herman Miller Steelcase Chrome $375/set {for the set? really? naw? let's go on this together. i'll take one chair and the table. which 3 friends of mine want a sexy desk chair?}

Retro Chrome Chandelier and Sconce $250 {one sconce? kinda funny, but hey who cares that chandy is flippin' fantastic.}

Occasional Chairs $500 {i think i have a love for carved wood. the arms on these are so unique.}

Iron Table & Chairs $200 for Table and $100/each for Chairs {simply beautiful.}

La-Z Boy Velvet Wingback Recliner $75 {color doesn't match your home? see below.}


Can't afford upholstery and the color doesn't match? Why not paint the fabric! Kristy from Hyphen Interiors bought a Craigs chair similar to the one above and decided to paint because the cost of upholstery was too expensive. She was then featured on Emily A. Clark's blog (a favorite of mine) here with a full tutorial on how to paint fabric. Now I have stenciled fabric many times, but truly have never thought about painting a chair. Doesn't the after look fabulous...

     
Incredible right? Great job Kristy!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! xx Danielle

Hand-made Mugs to Benefit Japan

My dear friend is donating her time and supreme talent for Japan's relief efforts. Marianne is making 

Mugs for Japan...

Mugs for Japon $15/each from Jutsu Studio on Etsy

"100% of the proceeds from these mugs will go to aid Japan (aside from a $3 fee to go towards material costs). The cost is $15 per mug, so $12 from each mug will be donated directly toward the American Red Cross relief effort. 

I can do various colors (blue, green, brown, white, clear, black, and brownish-red or you can pick "artist's choice" for coloring). 

The mugs are being made to order, so it will take around 4 weeks for the mugs to be made, fired, glazed, and shipped." 

These mugs would make a great gift. I plan on purchasing two in blue with no handles and giving them to my sister-in-law with a box of Japanese Green Tea. 

Thanks Marianne for sharing! 

A Bathroom Makeover Part 1

So Mr. C (yes I am a goof ball and call him Mr. C) woke up this morning and was delighted to see my birthday wish post for him. We then rushed off to school and I bought 3 dozen chocolate glazed donuts with rainbow sprinkles for his class...he was thrilled. He was also surprised to see part one of his bathroom makeover...

I purchased the squid attacking shark print from Matty 8080 on Etsy weeks ago. When I received it in the mail I was delighted to see that he sent a fun postcard as well. I love to support artists on Etsy, more personal than prints from a store. I framed them last night in Goodwill second hand frames. Goodwill is where I get most of my frames and I'll either keep the frames as is or spray paint to match my decor. 

Now I would like to buy this shower curtain to complete the room...

The Beat Organic Cotton Shower Curtain by AphroChic

But this is what I currently can afford...

Striped Shower Curtain from West Elm

I'll be making a cafe curtain out of this fabric...

Premier Prints Titan/Birch Togo Fabric $10.99/yd

And here is a little print Mr. C did himself that I will add to the collection...

A Mr. C Original 

I am not bragging, but man he really is an incredible artist! I am always in awe and totally envious because I can't draw to save my life. Abstract painting...can do, but not draw. He will draw these massive battle scenes that blow my mind...maybe he'll be selling prints on Etsy someday to a mother for her son who she loves more than anything in the world. 

A Happy Happy Birthday

This day 10 years ago I gave birth to a magnificent, kind, witty and handsome little boy...

Me and Mr. C

He is my beach boy...

Me and C-man (just had to add this pic...he loves the beach so much)

I let him know every single day how much I love and appreciate him!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LITTLE MAN!!!! I am so lucky to have you!

Image via artifice

Guest Posting at Primitive and Proper

Today I am guest posting at Primitive and Proper by Cassie, one of my favorite blogs.  I really enjoy seeing her transform old dingy dressers into pieces of art as evidenced below...

Before

After

Beautiful right?

So here's a hint on what my guest post is about today...


Miles Redd

Go ahead and pop over there to see what I my little post is all about. Hope you enjoy! xx Danielle

Color Recall: The 1990's

Number five in a series of design thoughts through the decades of my mothers life...

COLOR RECALL

This era invoked a decorating epiphany for me.   Once the 80’s “mauve” era was over, in my mind design took on a more classic look.  

Image via Architectural Digest

Neutral colors created restful palettes and eclectic looks were popular.  Feng Shui was also in there somewhere.  This allowed home owners to mix and match their home furnishings.    Identical lamps on identical end tables became passe and furniture no longer hugged walls, but moved to face focal points in a room (e.g. a fireplace) or placed in areas for reading or conversation. 

Image via Architectural Digest

Hardwood floors replaced carpets and the latter was relegated to bedrooms or eliminated altogether.    Modern, professionally-styled kitchens were coming to the fore even though people were cooking less and less. 

Image via House Beautiful

In line with my new way of thinking, we moved to London, England at the end of the 1980’s and were there into the early 90’s.   

Westminster Palace via Wikipedia

During our stay we joined a historical society that entitled us to visit the historic homes and landmarks in the United Kingdom.  We must have gone over the edge because the owner of this blog made her father and I draw up an agreement that she would accompany us on these excursions, but would not be required to go inside.  We all signed the document and as a result, on many trips to these glorious homes she sat in the car and we would run out and check on her every so often. 

Chiswick House Interior via the culture concept

Now, of course, she regrets her lack of interest because inside these homes, many of which hearkened back to the 1500’s, were design elements that she is now using in her own home and writing about in this blog.   The craftsmanship and opulence of these dwellings opened up a whole new world of home decorating for me.   

Hampton Court Dining Room via you and your wedding

Of course I knew that I couldn’t replicate the décor at Hampton Court, Henry VIII’s magnificent mansion south of London, but I could use the rich colors and French inspired themes in my own modest home.

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Thanks again mother dear...looks like I ruled the roost back then ; )! Not only was I travelling to historic homes with my parents, I was also visiting many of these same homes as part of  school field trips. At some point I had had enough of these manors and castles, but my mother is right, I regret not writing copious notes and taking countless photos to catalog my visits. I do have fond memories of the historic home I lived in as well as those of my friends. No one lived in a home younger than 200 years old. I vividly remember high ceilings, divided rooms, white walls, chintz, majestic curtains with valances, floor base molding as large as the crown molding, large leaded windows, hidden rooms, spiral staircases, crystal knobs, gilt mirrors and gorgeous fireplaces in every room. Living in London was truly a visual and design paradise. 

Below is a favorite image of mine that reminds me of London with a modern twist...

Jonathan Berger via House Beautiful

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! xx Danielle