Weekend Before and After DIY

 Actually, this story would more appropriately be named "During and After". I thought I had photos of this table "Before" but I cannot seem to find them! I have had this table for over 5 years now.....one of the many pieces I have inherited from my mother's collection of furniture. She bought this table from Gallery of Functional Art in Santa Monica probably 25 years ago and had it in her home near Santa Fe. In its original form, it was multicolored like the top (I have not painted the top in this photo). Each stick was a different paint color and it looked like auto paint....metallics and very bright. 

It was fun table, but it never seemed to go with anything in the house. I did like the form of the table and did not want to sell it. I had wanted to paint it for years. But Mom was not on board. We recently tried to find out more about the artist and see if he was still working. Mom hunted around in her papers and actually found the receipt!  After contacting the gallery, we found that they had not heard anything about him for over 15 years, so it was a "go" for paint!

I was a bit worried about how to go about painting this. There were so many sticks, and getting to them all to sand them, prime them, etc. was near impossible. Thank goodness for my friends at University Art!  I went to ask their advice and they recommended a spray paint called Montana Gold Spray Color: Shock White. No primer needed and it sticks to pretty much any surface: wood, concrete, metal, plastic, etc. It dries really fast and there are 204 colors!!!! Sounded perfect. Off I went with three cans.

 The paint worked really well! It had a nice matt finish, which I wanted, and went on really nicely. The only hitch is that I needed three more cans for the size of the tables.....so many little crevices!. I think it still might need another coat, but I could not wait to try it in place.

I had a galvanized metal top made for the table a few years ago (which is why I did not paint the top!), so we put that back on. It now sits in the dining room bringing the outside in with a very large rustic birdcage on top.

 My mom has seen it and now likes it much better too!

What did you do last weekend? I'd love to see any of your "Before and Afters"!

The Peak of Sofas

 I get a little jolt of adrenalin and I am sure my pupils get a little larger every time I see a piece of furniture that is fresh, interesting and just well done. Sophisticated Living just hit me with a sofa that fits that bill. 

Sophisticated Living is a company located in Germany, with stores in Austria and Switzerland as well. I can only hope that bringing their line of furniture to North America is minutes away. Their design philosophy is described as "Lifestyle on the same wavelength".....

"A good wave and good timing is a must to get a kick while surfing. Both promise joy, a feeling of freedom and the certainty of not wanting to be anywhere else at that particular moment".

Design is like that too. Aren't we all trying to create environments where one finds joy and a feeling of not wanting to be anywhere else at that moment? Being a California native who grew up at the beach, I knew we were on "the same wavelength". 

Sophisticated Living brings me one step closer to finding ideas for making those kind of spaces for my clients. This particular sofa is named "Peak" after a surfing term....like all of SL's products. The metal base is so artful and the cushy comfort of the upholstery makes for a place where one could stay all day. Nicely done!

Catch a wave on over  and meet the team at Sophisticated Living and scope out the other cool sofas, like "Hang Ten", "Haleiwa" and "One Eighty". 

It'll make your summer.

We Interrupt This Program.....

Fun Furniture from Bungalow 5, Jacqui Side Table in White.

Photo courtesy of Bungalow 5 Press section.

Bungalow 5 Harlow Console and matching mirror, Brighton Lamps, and Lotus Vase in blanc de chine porcelain.

Photo courtesy of Bungalow 5

My PC has decided to have a spa day....or days....in fact I am hoping she has not skipped off altogether. In the meantime, I thought you might enjoy a little something new from Bungalow 5. A new versatile grey lacquer color on the Harlow Console and matching mirror, and don't you love those Pagoda style Brighton lamps?!

For a bunch more new things click HERE!

And for those of you in the New York area, Bungalow 5 will be opening a new Showroom in NYC in September! ( 251 West 30th, 10th Floor). Oh you lucky pups!

When my PC returns from her...ahem...vacation, I hope you will enjoy my blog post on the beautiful Lake Tahoe! Stay tuned!

Local Color: Fleuri

Linen covered chair, garden statue and flowers make for a very pretty arrangement.

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and visions of cherubs, hearts and flowers are dancing in the heads of romantics everywhere.

There is a shop in Sacramento (technically, Carmichael) called Fleuri that embodies the idea of romantic living. Antiques, and new things, furniture and gifts, vintage linen and burlap ribbons, beautiful accessories and whimsical table settings...they all are put together with a European flair.

I was shopping there last week, and thought you might like a glimpse.

Wicker may be making a big comeback! Lovely wicker and glass vase.

Trophies and Tartan Plaid, and a very nice armoire!

Such a handsome collection. Old silver, leather bound books...

White on White, always pretty and fresh!

Lots of flour sack pillows. Lovely tea table with mirrored top.

Such a romantic bed!

Tea....or sherry?

Custom made table with reclaimed lumber and Galvanized top. I may have to do this for my patio table!

More pillows and accessories, pretty linen lamp shade "slip".

Beautiful settee.

(A side note....the floors look like real wood, but were in fact some sort of sheet goods! I didn't even notice until I walked on it and it was sort of spongy! Interesting idea for a retail space floor!)

Wonderful vintage linens.

More nice Linen covered chairs and small treasures.

Garden Party Table. I loved the marble table! And the old ironstone mixed with new pieces.

Hotel Silver....who can resist?

A garden vignette with wicker and antlers.

Old work table topped with tole lamps with linen shades.

Burlap ribbon ....wonderful!

Showstopping Victorian styled birdcage.

Velvet tufted settee.

Anyone looking for a little romance just might want to stop into Fleuri.

Ask to be put on their mailing list for upcoming Flea Market sales in the parking lot with many other vendors as well!

Fleuri

7301 Fair Oaks Blvd.

Carmichael, CA

916-973-9848

What Is In That Box?!

I had a delivery at my house last Friday. And there were two very curious canines ready to help me open two largish boxes. There was a label on the outside from one of my favorite retail websites. But pups can't read....so they were anxious to get them open.

Two of these cross-leg stools were inside! I was in need of some extra seating in my living room and had been searching for some affordable stools for awhile. Originally I was hell bent on finding a pair of these:

Photo from Style and Substance by Margaret Russell from Elle Decor

A pair of Jean-Michel Frank stools like this white one used by Albert Hadley . And mind you....I have not given up the search. But I need something in the meantime.

So Nullah and Cooper kept me company while I opened my boxes. They were very patient and did lots of sniffing and playing with wrappings.

They stood a watched while I moved them and inch this way and that.

So here they are, and here they will stay....until I can track down a pair of Jean-Michel Frank stools in my price range. I saw a stool "in the manner of" Jean-Michel Frank that was priced at over $5000 in my online search, so I do not think my new stools will be going anywhere soon. (Perhaps I can have something made.....always an option.)

But I do think Cooper approves.

Please Help Me!

I have never done this before. Promote myself in a contest or give away. And I am kind of feeling a little ambivalent about it now too. But here goes.

The lovely Brooke Giannetti at Velvet and Linen blog has been offering a give away the last couple of weeks: a gorgeous Brickmaker's coffee table from Bobo Intriguing Objects.

Brooke had been discussing how things from retail catalogs such as Restoration Hardware or Wisteria can be made to look personal in one's own home just by how each person puts it together in their own style. She received a comment from Mark Sage, owner of Bobo Intriguing objects who offered three tables for a give away. His generosity is so amazing!

Well, I have been trying to furnish my office space, and on a budget, sometimes things can be a bit tough. I think this table would be so perfect!

So, I am hoping you all might help me out and send a vote my way. (pretty please?)

If you hop on over to the Velvet and Linen blog HERE, you will find the voting link on the upper right hand side of Brooke's beautiful blog and be able to read all about the contest and see all of the finalist photos. There are ten finalists, and three tables. I am hoping to be one of the three winners. (please!) Voting began today and runs through Nov. 29th.

I am not proud. ...PLEASE help me win one of the three tables? Thank you, thank you!

Local Color: Le Jardin

Le Jardin....what better place to find local color? A garden is filled with all of the colors of the rainbow, and this Sacramento shop is no different. I am very lucky to live so close to this jewel of a shop. I drive by almost daily and peer into the windows to see what new treasures the ladies who own this shop have found.

Mother and daughter team Linda Fairley and Janice Fairley Winn have a way with putting things together: vintage French style furniture and leather bound books....topiaries and leopard print pillows.....

all mixed in with industrial tables and architectural remnants. I love it all! And isn't the floor brilliant? They painted the yellow and white checkerboard right on top of the concrete. It looks just like handmade glazed pavers.

The ladies always seem to have beautiful alabaster lamps on hand.

I almost took home these gilt banded glasses the other day.

This white wire cage would make the perfect table base!

The green window frames....perhaps a headboard for a twin bed in a little girl's room? And that gilt mirror!

Dashes of mercury glass, some vintage, some new add a bit of sparkle. And there are pieces of coral, and antlers and vintage paintings....

These chairs were particularly nice covered in an icy blue velvet.

I spotted the interesting wicker table up above, and thought of countless possibilities....and then there was the Bergere...

What a beautifully scaled mirror this was! And hiding below it , the green headboard....so pretty!

So.....if you are in the neighborhood....or even if you are not....Le Jardin can be found at:

2598 21st Street

Sacramento, California 95818

And since there is no website quite yet....if you see anything you like, you can call:

916-739-6726

Stop in a pick a few flowers!

Cool: Gardenhouse

Vintage yellow aluminum Love Seat with White Patent Leather Seat Cushion.

I was recently introduced to Gardenhouse, a wonderful shop located in West Palm Beach Florida. Owned by a very creative couple, Cheryl Maeder Antonio and her husband Gary. As with any creative person, Cheryl is multi talented. She studied photography in Switzerland and traveled Europe before moving to San Francisco to start a photography studio there. In San Francisco, she met her sculptor husband Gary. They began antique hunting for fun and the fun soon turned into a passion....which ultimately resulted in their very colorful and happy shop, Gardenhouse.

I am smitten....and knew you would be too. So I am so excited to share some of the objects of my affection.

Red High Gloss Wood Bench for Outdoor Canopy or Indoors

Each piece is lovingly transformed by Cheryl's unique point of view which she describes as "vintage, with a modern twist". Happy paint colors and modern fabrics certainly give each piece new life and vitality.

Vintage Metal Table Lamp with Green Metal Shade.

Cheryl has many more brilliantly reborn vintage finds, so I hope you have minute to click on over and check out Gardenhouse.

Chalkboard Dresser. Unfortunately already sold....but had to show you!

Black and White Slipper Chair with Decorative Nailheads.

OHHH!! And be sure to check out Cheryl's dreamlike seaside photos on the Gardenhouse site as well. Here is just a little sampling:

Beach Series VI

Sea and Sky V

I am headed off to dream of new furniture for my naked back patio, and sunny summers at the beach .......while the rain beats steadily outside my window.