Swoon Interiors

interiors that make your heart skip a beat.

My favorites from Randolph Street Market Festival

Yes! We made it down on Saturday afternoon. The weather was lovely and the crowds weren’t too bad.  I snapped some pictures of some of my favorite things … including a couple of purchases for myself and a couple of “Wish – I – Had -Boughts”.

Isn’t this pretty?  I love the chunky wood bowl and the assortment of blue and green glass balls. I was about to scoop up a selection of them for myself and then learned they were $20 a piece. Yikes!  Not everything is cheap at a flea market.
On the other hand, just a few feet away were these wonderful vintage fishing floats. I have seen these in magazines and stores for $75 plus a piece. These were only $30! Score!  Mine now gives a lovely pop of color and some visual interest to the the bookshelves in my family room.

I loved these colorful letters of the alphabet … each one was different, with lots of character, color and pattern.  These would be cute in a child or teen’s room.

How fun are these vintage shoe molds?  I’d love to see the whole collection on a man’s dresser, but even one makes an interesting prop on a bookshelf or console table.
 
I love, love, love these chairs … and would have bought them in a second if I didn’t already have chairs for my kitchen table.  Perfect for kids as they would easily wipe clean. I love their industrial look …

… and the variety of colors! 

While not personally my taste, Braden would have liked to bring this green dinosaur home.

Oh how I wish I had a place for this cart.  I think his would be perfect in an older kitchen that is in need of an island or it would be great as a dining room buffet filled with plates, wine bottles and pretty napkins in the little drawers.

We ALMOST came home with these lockers to put down in our lower level for all of the boys’ indoor sports equipment.  We kind of chickened out because of the size and not knowing how to get it home.  It definitely helps to have a very large vehicle with you at flea markets, just in case you come across something great that’s also BIG!
How fun is this dresser?  It would be easy to replicate with an old dresser and some paint.
If you read my post on Friday, you’ll see that I did come across several of the things on my Treasure Hunt List.

This great old corbel …

… a nice little vintage suitcase (that I purchased for Braden’s room)
… and some great vintage signs.
So that was our trip … looking forward to the next one!

What to scout for at the Flea Markets

I’m super excited that the first Randolph Street Antiques Market of the season opens this weekend!  I’m hopeful that rain, high heat and some soccer and baseball games don’t keep me from going!

Besides just the Randolph Market … the season of Flea Markets has begun! So I thought I’d put together a guide of what to look for if you’re heading out to one in the upcoming weeks or months.  To me, it is truly like an adult treasure hunt … finding those special, unique little things than can add character to even the most contemporary decor.

So here is your Treasure Hunt List:
1. Blue Ball Jars

These are pretty easy to spot with their bright blue color, which also provides just the right pop in your home.

Southern Hospitality

I love to use them as vases …

(Useless fact: when the first machine-made Ball jars were produced in 1896, the distinctive script on the front boasted “Ball IMPROVED MASON,” with an extra loop after the last “l” in Ball that almost looks like a fifth letter. From 1900 to 1914, the script was shortened to “Ball MASON,” while from 1910 to 1914, some Ball jars bore the words “BALL PERFECT MASON” in big, block letters.)

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I’ll bet that you just ran to check your jars, didn’t you? What year are yours from? Mine say Ball Perfect Mason so they must be from somewhere between 1910 and 1914.

ANYWAY … moving on …

2. Vintage Suitcases

Ethan Ollie

I always see these at Flea Markets and have a few in my son’s room peeking out from under the bed. A fun place to store things and add a bit of travelers’ whimsy to a room.

Stay Elegant

Homedit.com

3. Old Signs

Keep an eye out for interesting old signs.  They can be used as art, nestled on a mantle or above a window.

Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

Funky Junk Interiors

4. Crusty old corbels or architectural elements

Bellina Designs

A pair of these can turn a plain old wood board into a fantastic shelf …
Inspired by Charm
A single piece can make an interesting focal point on a bookshelf …
Painted Lady

5. Vintage Books

Etsy
You can find tables and tables of these at most flea markets. It’s worth it to spend a little time searching through to pick out some gems.  They don’t have to be in perfect condition. Just look for titles and colors you like.
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Pinterest
If you have large bookshelves to fill, this is a great way to fill them for cheap! But I also like small stacks on tables or consoles around the house.  If you have a small spot that just needs a little something, try a stack of 3 vintage books topped with a small vase or interesting artifact from your travels.  Books can elevate it to greater importance.
Elizabeth Ann Designs

6. Antlers

These babies can be pretty pricey at home design stores and boutiques, but I’ve gotten some for $10 a piece at flea markets. A great sculptural piece for your mantel, coffee table, bookshelves or centerpiece.

Wednesday Custom Design

7. Old Crates

There are so many ways to use old crates … as planters, trays, shelves or tables. Keep an eye out for sturdy ones with great typefonts or color.
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Caisa K
Kristinel Dridge Photography

8. Old Art … even if it’s ugly!


Just look at the frames. You can buy ugly art for really cheap … and sometimes the frame is the best part. Take it out the old art and replace it with art that makes you swoon.  It instantly gives it an heirloom-quality look.  And a whole wall of it would be stunning.



FromTheRightBank.com

9. Anything else that speaks to you …

Chicago Home + Garden

An old beverage dispenser … who knew it could make a fantastic lamp? And what IS that above it on the wall?  But it looks kinda cool, doesn’t it?  If it makes you swoon … go for it!

Hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend! Happy treasure hunting! Let me know what you find!

What’s Blooming … On Your Walls?

I love that everything in my yard is so lush and blooming already … and it’s not even Memorial Day! My favorite florist is carrying the most gorgeous blooms … even the flowers at the grocery store are in full abundance. 

Maybe that’s why I’m loving the work of artist Lulie Wallace lately …

Based out of Charleston, SC, her work was recently featured on the cover of the latest issue of House of Fifty …
… as well as a feature article inside.
Some of her paintings were also featured on One Kings Lane as part of it’s Domino Magazine: Get the Look sale.
I think her pieces are so lovely and would add a wonderful punch of color to the right wall or room, especially a room where most of the other pieces are fairly neutral. These are not your Grandmother’s Still Life’s.
New paintings are added to her site weekly and she also does commissions.  She works with many brides … re-interpreting their bridal bouquet on canvas. How wonderful is that?

Ok … so they are a tad more pricey than a bouquet of real flowers … but just think … these will last FOREVER!

Feathering Our Nests

I apologize that my blog posts have been rather sparse as of late.  But it is actually a good thing … I have been quite busy this spring helping many wonderful families feather their nests. It has been really fun.

And speaking of nests … my son Kyle and his friends found a lovely nest in one of the bushes on the side of our house. Imagine their surprise when they saw what was inside!

With squeals of delight I was summoned outside to see “the coolest thing ever.” Pretty cool, indeed!
Mama Robin had just flown off in search of food and I ran inside to grab my camera and telephoto lens. This little nest was less than 5 feet off the ground. Soon we heard Mama Robin above us on a telephone wire.  She seemed to be eyeing us suspiciously so we skedaddled pretty quickly.
In the short time I was there, I was awed, not only by the baby birds, but by the quality and architecture of the nest. How long did it take that mother bird to find all of those pieces to create her perfect nest? And how did she possibly wind them together so tightly? It’s like a fortress.
  Is she really any different than us mothers who search store after store, place after place, for the perfect pieces for our home … whether it’s a comfy sofa, beautiful nursery bedding, a plush rug, fluffy pillows, inspired artwork … all the things that make our homes the kinds of places our kids feel happy and safe.

So Happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing Mama Birds out there who not only feather the nests for their family but do a million other things every single day. Enjoy your special day! I know I will!

(Notice the worm in her mouth … what’s for dinner at your house?)