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!

Anniversary weekend in the city

Yesterday was Dan and my 13th Anniversary … for the past several years we’ve decided that our “gift” to each other is to get away for one night in the city. We look forward to it all summer.
So my parents graciously arrived Saturday morning to stay with the boys and off we went. 
After 13 years, Dan knows me well enough to guess that I would want to go visit a few of my favorite home stores while we were there.  Our first stop after lunch was to West Grand Ave. … and you guessed, The Painted Lady … and she didn’t disappoint.

How sweet is this lamp that is shaped like a knight’s breastplate?  I would have snatched that up in a minute when we were decorating our nursery years ago with it’s subtle fairy tale theme.

A cluster of old demijohn’s in the window …

So many soft and wonderfully vintage-looking grainsack pillows …

I totally loved this driftwood inspired candelabra.  What a statement piece for a dresser like this, or a dining room table.
I checked out a few of the other stores along Grand Avenue too, but the Painted Lady is still my favorite.
After checking into the Hotel Dana and enjoying a couple of mojitos on their rooftop lounge we worked our through River North and over to the Mag Mile. We decided on a meeting time and place and then split up a little bit so we could each do a little shopping.  I was anxious to check out the new Anthropologie just off  Michigan Ave. on Chicago.
Anthropologie is one of my all time favorite stores.  I love their clothes but I also just love the overall vibe of each store. There’s a warmth and quirkiness … a laid-back elegance, a wonderful patina to everything … I kind of want to just move in!  It’s always amazing to see how they transform a new space into something that looks like it’s been around forever. This one has a wonderful street level entrance and then you actually walk down a grand staircase to the main part of the store.  (Swoon.)
Again, more driftwood inspired candle holders … and the large tin bottle is a vintage perfume storage bottle, believe it or not. I love how they tag some of their vintage pieces and tell the story behind it.

After shopping it was back to the hotel to put our feet up for awhile before heading out for our night on the town.  We primarily picked the Hotel Dana for its great, walkable location to so much great nightlife.
Our first stop was Studio Paris, the lovely rooftop lounge atop Paris Club.

Rooftop bars seem to be the place to be in the summer and we were happy to go along with the trend on this lovely evening.  Our next stop was the rooftop of Epic (appropriately named Epic Sky) with it’s great skyline views. (By then it was getting dark and I forgot to take any pictures.)  Finally, for dinner we headed to Roka Akor … one of the “hot” new openings of the summer … everything was melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Sunday morning the game plan was to sleep in as late as we could  (why is it that once you have kids, your body is somewhat incapable of sleeping late?) head to brunch at Orange (I talked about it in this post) and then head over to the Randolph Street Market one more time before summer is over (and while we could take our own leisurely time sans kiddos.)
I didn’t take a lot of pictures this time (I truly was trying to not “work” and just enjoy the day, but I couldn’t help snapping a few …)

If the time were right, I would have loved to snatch up this table and chairs for our dining room and then reupholster the backs of the chairs in a fun print.

Cool old door turned mirror ….

Authentic old fishing floats.
So what did I get?  A few fun little treasures …

I spotted this vintage metal T in this great coral color with a rich patina.  There was only a T, so I think it was fate.  I love the pop of color on our mantel and how it ties in with the other pops of coral I have in the room.
Dan found this baby and I was so thrilled.

As a writer and former journalist, I love its symbolism and like to imagine what wonderful novels or newspaper articles were created on it.
Someday it will sit prominently on the built-in bookshelves of my newly remodeled home office.
Have you seen these sugar molds in the NapaStyle catalog?
I’ve always liked them as a centerpiece to fill with candles, flowers, or … as they’ve shown … some “nibbles” for your guests. Plus I like how it can have a dramatic effect, yet you can still have eye contact with the person sitting across from you.  The price for the long one?  $189.
I picked this one up for $30 and it’s even longer …
For now I’ve got it on my buffet … and I still need to get some glass inserts, but I can’t wait to use it over the holidays.

Scary to think they’ll be here before we know it! Yikes!

Small treasures

So, as promised, I’ve got pictures of the things I purchased last weekend at the Randolph Street Market … and they were each under $25!   Truth be told, that’s one of my favorite things about this market … the little things I sometimes come across that just make me smile. The big pieces of furniture or mirrors aren’t hard to spot. But the true treasure hunt begins when you stop at a table filled with items and take the time to look and find that one special little thing you just have to have.

My first find was this wonderfully weathered, hand-carved corbel …

(That’s Kyle all dressed for the pool but willing to be my blog assistant before we headed out.)
I like to imagine what old building it came from … and where its siblings are currently residing.
For us, it will reside on a wall in the kitchen as a little shelf.
We haven’t hung it yet, but Kyle wanted you to get the idea.
The cost? $25.
I recently saw another great use for something like this, if you were ever able to snag a bunch of them. This is especially great if you have a rather uninteresting kitchen island that you’d like to spruce up. Like this one.
And this is what Kristen of k.f.d. designs helped transform it into.





Don’t you love it? You can read more about the transformation here.
I also couldn’t pass up this beautiful hand-painted box.
The colors, the pattern … they just made me swoon. I wonder what has been kept inside over the years.  A pearl necklace?  Love letters?
The cost? $16

I also picked up two of these antlers. One for me, and one for a client.
They are kinda like this one from Restoration Hardware … 
that costs … ahem … $129.
(I actually like mine better.)

(And it only cost $15.)
Hope everyone has a Fun, Fabulous Fourth with Family and Friends.  I’ll be back next week!

Randolph Street Market Festival: Take 2

Okay, so if you read my post from about a month ago, you’ll know that my last trip to the Randolph Street Market over Memorial Day Weekend lasted only about 20 minutes before we were hit with a monsoon of epic proportions.

So, my boys promised me we could try again for the next one which happened to be this last weekend, and a beautiful, sunny, 70 degree day.

Lots of interesting things ….

Upon first entering was a huge table filled with all of these wonderful grain sacks:

So perfect for making pillows or table runners.
I loved this old steamer trunk. I wonder who D.R.G.M. is, and what grand ocean liners it traveled in its day.

Think of all the clothes and shoes you could carry in that thing …. even a 7 year old boy!

A demijohn! (love)

My husband and I were eyeing up a pair of these industrial shelves (on wheels) for our office.

Kyle and Braden thought these old movie theater seats were way cool.

I’ve always liked the idea of lining a mudroom with lockers … wouldn’t these be great painted a bright color?

A wonderful old suitcase I’m now wishing I bought.

Mirrors are always fun.

Love this weathered pedestal table … AND the turquoise dresser behind it!

A Louis XVI style chair in a bird print! (Swoon.)

More mirrors … with fantastic old tin frames.

I would love to build a room around these old factory mirrors.

And still … more mirrors. These antique cog wheel mirrors would be perfect in a swanky bachelor pad.

And I was so excited when the lovely Gosia of Architectural Anarchy recognized me as I approached he booth and said hello. I didn’t even know she would be there. She had some lovely things as well, although I realized after we got home that I was so busy talking to her that I forgot to take very many pictures of her booth. I am still overdue in getting to their showroom down in Pilsen.
I did love this antique clock face.  It is not a working clock, but would still make quite a statement on the right wall.

Also loved this chalkboard globe.

And what, if anything, did we purchase? 
I’ll share with you later in the week!