Archive for the ‘thrifting’ Category

THRIFTY! WALL SCULPTURE EDITION

Monday, June 6th, 2011

I’ve been hunting around for some over the fireplace “artish” options for an interior I’ve been helping out with and recently ran into this vintage 1970′s torch cut wall sculpture on my thrifty rounds. Well, I wasn’t totally sure it’d work but the size was right, the idea of a brass wall hanging was interesting and the low price made it a “just grab and try it out” kind of thing. Unfortunately, it ended up not working out so well with the insanely awesome chandelier that’s the true focal point of the room. The two big metal pieces clashed and the leaves lost.

These things happen. Sometimes you take a chance and it ends up being so very wrong. Oh well, at least it points out the right direction.

So, I had this thing sitting in the house, all the while looking for an over the fireplace “artish” option for my living room as well. I wanted something more fiber and funky but pickings have been slim and nothing perfect has popped up. Then I was thinking a brutalist type wall sculpture would be good option and possibly easier to find…

Yeah. These big leaves ain’t so brutalist. They are as brutal as a puppy kiss or a nice hot shower. Like maybe I should be going to a wine tasting or something.

BUT – I think I love the idea of a brutalist brass wall sculpture.

Of course, it will have to be a wall sculpture that is perhaps not as autumn themed or swirly as this bad boy. I think this is actually a fun and funky piece and a great scale at 40″ wide. In the right house it would look incredible, but I think the rigid architectural and minimalist masculine tone of the living room makes this curly bit of whimsy feel a little out of place.

Some day I will replace you fireplace mantel. Some day.

Sorry, metal artist Whitish from ’77. I like you, but I think this might be a temporary relationship…you know, until I can trade up to something a little more brutal.

Thank you for pointing out the right direction, though. Trust that it’s not you, it’s me.

So…don’t let the door hit you on the ass on the way out (when I find the right thing of course – you can hang out here for now).

++++++

BTW – I feel like a lame-o narcissist, but since this happens to be my bloggity and I only get to say this once a year – it’s my 29th birthday today! You guys got me a work crew? To help with the landscaping? No? Crap.

Oh jeeez, typing that made me realize that my fancy free twenties are almost over. Must take advantage of this last year to go silly nuts. Getting serious is for your thirties, right? I’m just going to say yes and worry later.

FILED UNDER: art, decorating, fireplace, thrifting, thrifty

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Thrifty!

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

Awhile ago I found this super amazing mini chrome arc lamp and thought, oh I really love it, it’s so amazing and 70′s and sexy and sassy and makes my mouth water. The only problem is that it’s all by its lonesome.

BAM!

Now I’ve got a pair. How is this possible? By what crazy miracle, right?

Well, one day I get this text message from Sharon that is like, hey, is this your lamp? Then the picture pops up and I freak out, because yes, it is the other half to my lamp and someone I know is standing very close to it. I asked where are you? Where is it? How do I get my greedy hands on it? Turns out it’s in an antique mall (you know the kind, with all the booths of faux Victorian and beanie baby stuff) and because the place doesn’t traffic in “vintage modern” stuff it turns out that the price is delectable.

I immediately text back buy buy buy and amazingly she did because she is amazing. Now it’s here chilling in the bedroom even though my plans for finishing the bedroom do not necessarily include these bad boys. I have another place I’ve been dreaming of putting them…

Gratuitous dog photos, I know, but it’s becoming kind of an issue to take photos without these two getting all up in my grill. Truthfully, more like Bowie getting all up in it, since he’s the camera slut.

The bedroom needs some work. The textiles are whacktastic, but mainly they are functional place holders – except for this brown blanket which I love and will always remain. (Thanks Summer!)

Still need:

highboy
headboard
bigger rug
closet handles
proper bedding

Never ending stuff to do around here, peeps. Important, life altering, serious high minded work to be done – like picking out sheets once and for all. Serious business, I’m telling you.

FILED UNDER: bedroom, thrifting, thrifty

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Thrifty!

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

I headed out with Laure, Abby and Beth to Palm Springs last week to shop, eat and do girl crap.

We scuttled around to all our favorite vintage haunts and they found things here and there, but ultimately, I was the greediest girl when it came down to buying some stuff and then mushing it into Laure’s poor car.

First to be shown off (of my recently attained loot) is this brass lotus lamp from the 1960′s. I’m not sure what designer or manufacturer it can be attributed to, but one of my favorite expensive vintage ateliers has a bunch that I can’t afford – you know, if I wanted a pair or something. I found it at the Revival’s Thrift and selfishly yelled “DIBS” when I saw it hanging from the ceiling by all the bric-a-brac.

The Boy and I installed it in the hallway. Once again, we had to resort to weird ceiling covers and lots of finagling to figure out how to properly mount this bad boy. With vintage lighting its always such a hassle to get all the mounting stuff right. The nipples and hex nuts and other titillating pieces are like a puzzle of sexy despair.

I need to patina that bright brass ceiling canopy. Yikes. It didn’t even bother me till I sat and really looked at these pictures…

Getting a really good shot of our main hallway is impossible. There are five entrances in the space of like 100sqft and the combination of all the walls, angles and doors create a labyrinth of impractical camera blocking horror.

The lotus lamp is the perfect scale and more interesting to look at than the boring ol’ Ikea Fado lamp that had been installed in the hallway for the past three years. I think I’m in love and I think I’m keeping it forever and ever and always. I don’t say that all that often, seeing as I love switching stuff up, but this time I think I may actually mean it. Maybe.

FILED UNDER: after, lighting, thrifting, thrifty, vintage

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