Flea Market Fun: June/July Edition

I missed my June post about my flea market adventures, so this month I bring you double the fun! The following vintage treasures are a mix from Irvine and Long Beach markets. 

I scored a Hall teapot and four yellow Hall mugs all for under $10. (P.S. The tray is from West Elm, the tea towel is Crate and Barrel, and the spoon is a 1957 design by Arne Jacobsen, available here)

I had never heard the name Ernest Sohn until yesterday, but a quick web search turned up some photos of a chafing dish identical to the one I picked up yesterday. I'm now quite a fan of Mr. Sohn.

This little metal cabinet with our wedding motif was my end of the day deal. I paid next to nothing and with a couple more coats of white spray paint and it will be ready to hang in our bath, right above...

This little storage bench. Also a steal. Sure, it looks kind of funky now, but a quick upholstery job and it will be the perfect place for my toddler to stash all her bath toys.

This incredible coffee server, first mentioned in this post, turned up at an even better price at Irvine. I actually spotted it twice at Long Beach, too! In two different sizes! You can buy the smaller version here on Ebay.

There were many other appealing items, too many to show in fact. Here are some highlights:

1. Two Russel Woodard patio chairs $300

2. 70s Kitchen storage tins

3. Mahogany/Sterling ice bucket by Pyrex

4. Unused date book w/ four note pads to get you organized in retro-style

5. Vibrant silk-covered photo albums, never used

6. A sea of glassware. This booth must have had a half dozen tables of dazzling colored dishes.

7. Betty Crocker Party Book had some great illustrations and ideas that included a 'Space Age rocket party for the kids'. Check out more images and snag a copy here on Etsy. 

8. The cover art on this album totally had me dreaming of a future kid's party inspired by the film.

9. These three chairs needed an upholstery job, but could be made over and nestled around a round coffee table to form a conversation nook

10. Fun wall-mounted vintage spice rack. Love the bottle shape.

11. This free-standing cabinet with sliding doors was a decent price at $150 (potentially even less with a little haggling) and had nice dimensions for a hallway (only about 10" deep)

12. Catherine Holm-designed bowls always have me ready to fork over the cash, but they are a pretty penny. Check out the selection here on Ebay and I'll leave you with a lovely image by Viviana of her collection.

Photos #1- 17 by Grace Hilton

Photo #18 by Vivianna via Emma Lamb

Child's Danish Modern Armchair at Mid-Century LA

Okay, just one more quick post about Dwell On Design and I promise I'll stop. There are just too many good things to recap it all in only three posts (Part I, Part II, Part III). 

These mid-century children's chairs are just so good, they deserve their very own post. They're not vintage (although modeled after an authentic Danish Modern design), which means they're readily available in your choice of upholstery. It's such a great option for stylish parents who want a comfy place for their tot to sit, but also want it to blend with their decor. 

Since I have a little one of my own, my eye went straight to these mini chairs, although David at Mid-Century LA had his booth set up with all kinds of goodies for adults too. Check out his website to browse his vast selection or contact him about ordering one of these adorable children's chairs.   

Dwell On Design: Wrap-Up

To wrap up my series of posts on Dwell On Design, here are a few more things that caught my eye.  No particular theme to this post or common thread between the the products, except for good design, of course! If you missed Part I and Part II of my DOD recap, check it out.

What products that I've featured are you favorite? What products were you drooling over at the show that I missed in my recap? Do tell! 

1. Donate your heart(beat) to art! For a good cause.

2. These pillows from Balanced Design  are lovely and eco-friendly to boot! 

3. The pillows would actually coordinate well with this custom wallcovering from Aztek by 1960s artist, Jim Flora

4. The Charley Harper Studio booth had the dinnerware line by Todd Oldham for Fishs Eddy that I featured in this post was on display.

5. Herman Miller Eames' Aluminum Group chairs get an update in matte black and white. 

6. Stokke adds three new finishes to their Tripp Trapp chair -- Oiled oak, green, and oiled walnut; Best kid's highchair ever! 

Dwell On Design: Beyond Basic Lighting

Next up on my series of posts on Dwell On Design is lighting. I gravitated toward companies that are definitely thinking beyond just your basic lamp shade and base. There is a focus on flexibility and functionality, not just good looks. Although, these lamps look pretty great, too! 

This light is full of function. -- The arm allows it to be adjusted for reading or used as a general light and the pivoting shade means you can transform into an uplight to bounce light of the ceiling. The Fork Adjustable Table Lamp by Foscarini Lighting + Diesel Home (Yes, that Diesel...the fashion brand. Check out their other furniture and textile collaborations with Moroso and Zucchi. They call their first home collection 'Successful Living by Diesel'); The full collection including table, floor, and task lamps by Diesel + Focarini available at Lumens 

Silva table lamp was one of the many beautifully crafted designs from Cerno Group. They also offer a  unique wall sconce that allows you to quickly adjust between diffused and direct light. See it in action here.  

My personal favorite was the Trapeze table lamp by Peter Stathis for Joby (the manufacturers of the popular Gorilla Pod) It was on preview at the A+R shop and will be available exclusively through their store this fall.  LED technology coupled with a sleek 3-axis design that allows it to pivot every which way. Of course when it comes to winning top honors from me, it doesn't hurt that it comes in a selection of fun colors -- Orange, yellow, blue, green, plus black and white

Two clever designs from Blu Dot include Bender (top) in black or white steel with a fabric shade and the Rook (bottom) which can be tilted and twisted as you please.  It's solid walnut and linen.  These two table top options are just $199 a pop and add a dash of fun to home or office. The Rook is a great option for next to a bed, since it's easy to manipulate the light for reading.  

If you're looking for more than just a table top upgrade, Trufig offers a full makeover for all the lights in your home and beyond.  This company is out on a mission to clear up wall acne. Outlets, switches, thermostats, even speakers can be a  bit of an eyesore. Trufig offers the option to make everything flush-mounted, so the architecture and interior design take center stage and all the bells and whistles disappear into the background.  It's not just for new construction either. They have a clever drywall patch that allows you to quickly swap out existing controls. It's fully compatible with Lutron, making it a breeze to upgrade your entire lighting, media, and HVAC system to get this sleek look.  

Dwell On Design: Kitchens + Baths

Before the weekend was finished at Dwell On Design, I was convinced no home is complete without a dishwasher that has a 'beer glass chilling' cycle, a built-in steam cabinet in the closet, and kitchen appliances that are wi-fi connected to alert you of maintenance issues. I was also dazzled by all the sleek shapes, fab colors, and impressed by the attention paid to every last detail in the kitchen and bath.  There are some really fancy solutions out there these days and we're come along way since this....

Not that I don't have a soft spot for vintage kitchens and I love browsing Pam's galleries over at Retro Renovation and her site Save The Pink Bathrooms.  But in a world where we consult our smart phones for everything, doesn't it make sense that we get a text if our refrigerator seems to be on the fritz? 

In addition to the high-tech products mentioned above from LG and Miele, here are some other brands that caught my eye including:

1. A sleek Duravit vanity with integrated towel bar

2. A new faucet collection from Kohler called Toobi, which has an unexpected shot of bold green color

3. Also from Kohler, a rainbow of finishes from their line of enameled cast iron

4. Infinity Drain, which is so much cooler than the average drain your contractor would opt for!

5. A trendy metallic tile from the Rondine group. 

All photos by Grace Hilton

Made By Girl

This print from Made By Girl had to be mine from the moment I saw it.  It has claimed a spot right on the desk in my office. That's where I retreat in the mornings when my husband allows me a few minutes of baby-free time to enjoy a mug (always Fiesta -- Today the color choice was turquoise. I switch it up daily) filled to the brim with coffee and I start my daily rounds on the blogosphere.  Coffee. Blogs. Happiness. 

Photo by Grace Hilton

You'll notice a couple of books in the photo that are also tied to blogs that I highly recommend. Apartment Therapy, of course. If you don't already follow it, start now.  You can also buy their books here, here, and here.  The other books are city guides by Kaie Wellman that feature all locally-owned truly unique businesses. Kaie has never steered me wrong. These mini books the perfect size to toss in a handbag and are essential for exploring your own city or when visiting one of the 22 cities she's covered. Buy them here and you can follow her 'ramblings' on the Eat.Shop site for even more goodness. 

Now for the best part of today's post. Jen Ramos of Made By Girl is graciously offering Grace Hilton blog readers a 10% discount off anything on her site! How amazing is that?  Just enter code GIVEAWAYMBG2011 It expires in one month, so start shopping! And of course, check out Jen's blog right here. 

Todd Oldham + Charley Harper

Thanks again, Todd Oldham!  First, you compile a book of Mr. Harper's illustrations (now available in this smaller size) Then, you bring good ol' Charley to the dinner (and lunch and breakfast) table with this new line available at Fishs Eddy.  There are seventeen different options from salt and pepper shakers to trays and bowls -- all ceramic. I'm especially a fan of the puffer fish sauce dish (pictured top). Happy shopping!

Reader Question: Semi-Custom Corner Bookcase

I had a question from a reader about the bookcases discussed in Cordelia's Nursery and shown completed in Cordelia's Nursery: Part II.  The IKEA Billy bookcases in the 41" height are not meant to used as a corner solution, but I devised a way to make it work by creating a top out of birch ply. It's actually a fairly simple IKEA-hack, despite what may seem at first glance as intimidating directions (see below). If you have a program such as Google SketchUp (bonus - it's free!), it makes the hack that much easier.

You will need:

Plywood of your choice (1/2" to 3/4" thick)

A board of the same species of wood as the ply

Circular saw

Circular saw guide and clamps

Dowel Guide

Dowels

Drill and bit to match the dowels

Wood Glue

Finish Nails and corresponding Nail Punch

Hammer

Extra wood

Clamps

Small wood screws

Table Saw

Miter Saw or Miter Box and Japanese Back Saw

Finish of your choice (I used urethane)

Layout

1. Lay out a plan view of you bookcases

2. Add a half inch on all sides except for the back

3. Divide that new shape into sections no longer than 8' (which is the max. length of a sheet of ply)

4. Try to do this so that the grain runs parallel with the front of each bookcase

5. Dimension the SketchUp sections and lay them out on the ply.

6. Using a circular saw and guide, cut the sections out.

Joining

7. Lay your pieces out as they would be when installed, but upside down. Be sure to not scratch the good side.

8. Using a pencil, draw three small lines across each joint. equally spaced to each other and the ends of the joint. These will help us align the dowels.

9. Align the dowel jig to each of the lines you just drew and drill holes into the ends of the boards to accept the dowels.

10. Prepare to glue. Lay two scrap wood pieces approximately 2" x 1/2" x 12" parallel to one of the joints. Make sure they are set back about a quarter of an inch on each side of said joint. Also, make sure that you have at least two clamps that are wide enough to get around both of these pieces.

11. Screw these two pieces to the BOTTOM of the two boards. Make sure the screws you use are not long enough to penetrate the finished face or you'll ruin the pretty side.

12. Apply glue to the edges of each board and too the dowels you'll be inserting. Attach the two boards together and place at least two clamps onto the screwed-on scrap pieces to hold them together.

13. Use a damp cloth to clean up any excess glue.

14. If you have additional scrap wood and clamps you can repeat steps 10-13 for all the joints while your first joint dries. If not, wait for it to dry per the glue manufacturer's recommendation before doing the next joint.

Edging

15. Use a table saw to cut down the birch board to a series of strips approximately 3/8" x 1". Because the pieces are so thin I recommend you use a feather board to keep the wood against the fence and a push rod.

16. Use the miter saw to cut the edge strips to size, making sure the corners are properly mitered together.

17. I pre-measured the location of the finish nails on the edging and pre-drove them for each piece.

18. Apply glue to the ply and edge piece and hold together. Drive the nails in to hold the edging in place. Use the Nail Punch to recess the heads.

Finishing

I used a random orbital sander and 80 grit to make sure the edging was flush to the ply. Then I worked up to 120 and 220 before urethaning.  I put on four coats, sanding in between per the manufacturer's recommendation. I left the nail heads exposed. If you wish, you can use some wood filler to fill in the recesses left by the Nail Punch. Also, our walls were straight enough that I didn't want to scribe the top to them, but that is something to consider if you want the fit to be really, really tight. If you are going to scribe, I would make the boards a bit wider to account for the material you're going to eventually cut away.  Good luck! 

Dwell On Design

Yesterday, I finally got around to registering for Dwell On Design, which is coming up June 24 - 26th in Los Angeles. I missed out on the early bird tickets for the home tours though. Darn.  I actually had a blog post draft to remind you all about early bird tickets and then didn't even remind myself!  Welcome to motherhood.  There are never enough hours in the day to check off the many things on the to-do list.

Which brings me to my next update which has nothing to do with Dwell.  As you may have noticed, it's next to impossible for me to keep up the pace of daily blog posts. New clients plus new baby and home remodel equals zero time to blog.  I do really enjoy sharing my favorites things, events, and updates on the restoration of our Cliff May Rancho and my drafts folder is bursting at the seams!  So, I will keep posting and aim for at least once a week.  For now I am just trying to limit work distractions so that I can enjoy this precious time with my baby daughter.  She turns one year old in just four more months.  It's crazy how fast the time goes!

Back to Dwell.  Tickets are still available for the show and all the home tours and you can find a full description of the ticket packages right here. Below are photos of some of the homes included in this year's home tours.  Happy Monday and see you soon!

Images via Dwell On Design

Flea Market Fun: May Edition

Better late than never. Last month's recap of the Long Beach Antique Market  is coming to you mid-June. In all fairness, this sale was right at the end of last month! Long Beach actually hosted not one, but two, sales in May. I missed the first one since I was out of town, enjoying a much needed mini vacation with my husband to celebrate our second wedding anniversary.  So, I was excited to hit the sale on Memorial Day weekend. Below is a glimpse of some of the goodies that I spotted.  

Next month, keep an eye out for the June Edition of my flea market adventures which is set to include a recap of my trip down the 405 to the Irvine Flea Market. 

Look closely. 

Yes, that pattern is pig musicians and their friends dancing to the music!  

This 50s glassware set was so odd, but adorably so. 

Four dining chairs recovered in sherbert-colored fabrics

They reminded me of the Ruthie Sommers-designed room below -

This desk and chair were in great shape, at an equally great price (around $200 for the set, as I recall)

I wish I hadn't passed on this cute tripod lamp

A trio of bullet planters for $50 each although they needed a little TLC

Rainbow-colored lockers in fun colors for $400

Great 60s fondue pot snagged by my sidekick for a mere $20

I hope I get invited to dinner some time to see it in action!