Chair Love Again
This week I have been slow. But, it just hit me. My daily Apartment Therapy email just came in, and there is was, this amazing industial looking chair. I do not know much about the chair itself, but Atelier 154 in France is the shop where this baby can be found, and the stylists of this blog that contains manygorgeous photos other photos are Elodie and Karine Kong. See them here: http://bodieandfou.blogspot.com .
Just simply beautiful.
P.S. I think that my weekly chair loves are so random and different because they tend to match my mood for that week (or day). I just noticed that as this chair even kind of matches the outfit I am wearing today. Casual, but classic, but also unique. Anyways…
Waste Not
Last night I stopped at my mom’s house and she was telling me about how my great-grandma used to save everything. She said that it their time people never wasted, and reused everything imaginable. I am pretty much a pack rat and always try to find new uses for old things too, but she had a couple of cool ideas I never thought of.
One no-brainer that she mentioned my great-grandma did was save her bread bags. She would shake or rinse them out and reuse them as baggies. Really? We use baggies for everything, so why had I never thought of this? You could use them as a cheaper alternative on dog walks, or even to bundle or store the items you normally use a baggy for! So simple, yet so green and effective!
She also mentioned that they often saved the same bread bags for making rugs. I have seen these in my grandparent’s old house. Here is a picture. Visit her site to see instructions for crocheting the round version here: http://www.myrecycledbags.com/2008/09/27/recycled-round-plarn-rug/
I think these could be really fun and funky. Now I need to learn how to crochet!
Other things that my great-grandma saved were more common, and things that we already frequently save, but still great reminders nonetheless. Cool-whip containers, coffee cans, other plastic, cardboard, or metal containers. These can be reused in so many different ways in the home. You can even recover or paint them to match! One more thing that she saved was the little plastic eggs her pantyhose came in. I had to laugh. My mom said she had tons of them. Hmm… what would you use those for?
Especially in hard economic times, but always to be healthier for our planet, its great practice to reuse such commonplace items. What other ideas do you have?
New Chair Love
This week I found this cute little Mid Century chair on Flickr.
This is a walnut and naugahyde rocker and ottoman. I’m not usually super into MCM furniture, but I can totally see this rocker being used in a living room or nursery for a new baby. The white leather look with the dark wood is great.
Chair (Bench) Love
This weeks chair love is not only a little early, but a little different. Its not exactly a traditional chair, but a bench. Hey, a bench is a seat too, right? When I saw this little vintage Hollywood Regency style bench on Etsy.com I just couldn’t help but post it. I think this would be adorable as a vanity seat, in a bathroom, or at the foot of a bed. My bed, to be exact!
Gorgeous! If I had any money right now I’d snatch it up! 🙂
Another Chair Love
This week’s chair love is a bit unusual. And very overpriced. Yves Saint Laurent’s art collect was auctioned off this week. This chair from the personal collection sold for $28 million!
The chair is called the ‘Dragons’ armchair and is from 1917-1919. For more information about the history of this amazing chair/piece of art check out the Christie’s website link above.
Gorgeous is all I can say. What do you think?
Wabi Sabi
Wikipedia defines wabi sabi as the Japanese world view centered on the acceptance of transience. Sometimes it is also described as beauty that is imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. I think a good description of this is finding the prefect ion in imperfection. I love the concept of wabi sabi and try to incorporate it into my home all the time. I truly do believe that things can grow more beautiful over time. Maybe its the fact that a well worn item looks well loved. I love how these items have a past, a history. New furnishings from some big box store are often not very well made and are also mass-produced. Meaning that too many of these items in your home and things might look exactly like some one else’s home. This to me is boring. Age and imperfections add interest. So, although we do mix modern items in with our antiques and used finds, we do have some wabi sabi pieces in our home. I thought I would show you a few of our currently well-loved pieces.
This is our little dining table. It is very old and imperfect, but, it has so much character and personality. Even the chairs are worn-in, and mismatched!
A close-up of our perfectly imperfect table.
This is an old table with an antique frame used for the top. We use it as our living room coffee table. It has its dings and scratches, but I think that's what makes it so unique.
The mirror top of our coffee table.
Here are a few more imperfect yet gorgeous items currently in our house:
A vanity bench in our guest room.
One of two old plant stands used as bedside tables in our guest room.
A worn coke crate is hung up in our bedroom.
Current Chair Love
This weeks chair love:
This guy is so ugly that its cute. I think if it were reupholstered in a fun modern material, the shape could be really fun a a living room or even as a side seat in a large bedroom. Maybe do away with the squiggly stitching?
This seat was found on Ebay and is described as a vintage retro mid century circle chair, love seat, or sofa.
I think it has strange potential…
New Chair Love
This week I have been a little sick, making me a little absent, but I am pining for a new chair. I had to share it with you. Its the Marais AC chair from DWR. Industrial. Colorful. Perfection!
This photo was on Apartment Therapy. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/flickr-finds/flickr-finds-bright-yellow-076197
Here is it in red:
I think these are just gorgeous! I would love either color. Or silver metal…
Oh, the possibilities!
This Week’s Chair Love
This week the chairs that I am loving are a pair from the home of Matt, whose home was featured on Apartment Therapy. I do not know a thing about these particular chairs, but will try to find out and update you. Check out these gorgeous darlings:
I am particularly looking at the chrome chairs on the ends. Love Love. Oh, and by the way, I also love everything else in Matt’s home, so check out the link and drool over more than just the chairs (and that grogeous wall paper!).
Making A Mini Bar
Currently we hold all of our drink glasses, servers, shakers and wine and liqueurs in one of our kitchen cupboards. But, I have always wanted to do something different with these items. I would like to have some sort of mini bar in the kitchen or dining room. This would be such easy access for entertaining. Also, it would free up more cupboard space in the kitchen, which for us is at a premium!
I have recently seen a few photos of DIY bars and am in planning process for making one of our own.
This redone shelf unit was posted on Apartment Therapy. I think this is great inspiration for our project. A simple shelf unit like this would be easy to find and probably affordable. I really love the wine racks and glass holders. I also like the idea of lining the backs of cabinets with colorful ,fun paper. Here is another picture of a mini bar with beautiful paper:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/inspiration/inspiration-lined-cabinets-075583 . Originally from Homes and Gardens.
I also like the idea of using a bar cart or serving tray with a few bottles and glasses, but options like the cabinets in the pictures would give us much more space and probably be safer with pets, especially if there are doors.
I am very excited to get started on this project, and will keep you posted!
Make Mine Eclectic 