Swallow Magritte

A neat little set up in my new place, right by the front door, circa the 1970's door jam just to the left...

DIY framed Magritte print, gold swallows (ha) from a flea market, glass cherry blossoms from a thrift store, bowler hat from some Korean man on the street, stand from my mom.

Just a place to toss your keys and hang your hat at the end of the day. 

Also, I wish I didn't look weird in hats. Troubled.

Thrift Store Finds: Moving Week Edition

During my usual rounds around the secondhand spots this past weekend I was met with quite a surprise – the places were PACKED. Duh, obviously it was the weekend after Boston’s annual (dreaded) August 31^st/September 1^st moving days. But even though there was slimmer pickin’s than usual on the housewares front, I did manage to knock a few items off my list. Yeah, I make thrifting lists now. Budgeting makes you make lists. Good times.

I needed a better way to manage my now overabundance of jewels, so I found a couple of silver cake stands, and a-one, and a-two, and a-three:

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Prest-o change-o! Makeshift jewelry stand. Take that, cheaply-made, overpriced Urban Outfitters versions!

The lady at the shop (who pinned me for a secondhand junkie as soon as I walked in) told me with a little polish and elbow-grease they would triple in value, but I kind of like the antique-y patina going on. Besides I have no intentions of covering these in cake anyways. Cookware and the like almost exclusively serves as décor in this abode.

Then there was this little guy, which I can only assume is intended as a fingerbowl. I actually have no idea what a fingerbowl is, but let’s pretend I know what I’m talking about. Anyways, its new purpose in life is to contain my rings. I’m sure that’s way more fun than whatever it is fingerbowls do.

At the end of the day, I’m always glad to add a little more gaudy-Italian-grandma-décor to my living space.  

Stranger Than Furnishing

This one’s on my list of awesome-yet-underrated movies. And although I love the plot and message behind the movie, probably my favorite aspect of watching is getting to explore the amazing abode of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s character. The renegade baker mixes florals, retro pieces, and a whole lot of colors to create the perfect kitschy residence I could only dream of inhabiting…

- Retro Diner Clock from Etsy seller MiesEnScene
- Beaded Chandelier from UrbanOutfitters
- Tree Branch Lamp from Shop.com
- Granny Afghan from ModCloth
- Floral Print Settee and Antiqued Seafoam End Table from HomeDecorators

And then of course there are these Flour Pot Measuring Spoons from ModCloth, perfect for baking warm chocolate chip cookies. They also reminded me of my favorite scene, when Will Ferrell’s character finally woos the woman of his dreams…

 

"I brought you flours.”

(Furnishing) Ways of Summer

Ah, another movie that is just so visually pleasing.  From the vintage dresses Zoey wears to the soft linens of the beds they seem to always be throwing each other into, “500 Days of Summer” makes for some excellent interior inspiration…

In my Summer Finn-themed room:

- Blue Toile Curtains from Home Decorators

- Framed Magritte print from allposters.com

- Record Player from Urban Outfitters

- Candid Candelabra from ModCloth

- Parsons Chair and Keys Console Table from Home Decorators

- LJUSÅS YSBY Lamp from IKEA…because you’ve gotta have SOMETHING from IKEA!

Le Fabuleux Appartement d’Amélie Poulain

Whenever I move into a new place, I get all these ideas in my head months before about how I am going to decorate.  Most of the time, these ideas come from beautiful set designs I’ve seen from movies or on TV.  There are tiny little nooks of my apartment that display nuances of my favorite films, but if I had the time (and budget) these would be full-fledged rooms!  And one room would have to be for Amélie:

Aside from the fact that this is the only movie I can think of in which the romantic protagonist who finally wins true love is a woman, I simply love the colors and textures used in this film.  Reds, oranges, blues, and greens along with a whimsical animal-theme give Amélie’s flat such a warm and creativity-inducing feel.

In my Amélie-inspired room:

                 - Framed Animal Portraits by Ryan Berkley

                 - Stunning Stampede Light Set from ModCloth

                 - Thistle Pillow, Birkin Chair, and Chelsea Anywhere Table

                    from Home Decorators

                 - Cobalt Blue Table Lamp from Overstock.com

                 - Damask Velvet Burnout Curtain from Urban Outfitters

And what Amélie room would be complete without a garden gnome?

Porcelain Gnome Lantern from Urban Outfitters