Displaying posts from June, 2008

It’s been a busy weekend so far here at casa di Kim. I should be studying for a big test coming up at work, but who wants to study when it’s beautiful outside and there’s tons of thrifting and decorating to be done? I thought I’d share with you all what I managed to get done around here and some of the things I picked up yesterday.

I FINALLY got around to painting my rattan patio set. Luckily I bought 4 cans of spray paint (Key Lime), because that’s how much it took – and it really could use a final coat. But by the end of the fourth can, my fingers were killing me. And next is to stencil the mammoth fence behind it for some added oomph.

About a week ago I went to Zone, one of my favourite home decor shops, in search of some deer heads to put on the wall above my yellow chair in the living room. It was looking a little bare with only my cuckoo clock. I couldn’t find any that would work, so instead I bought a box of magnetic plastic flowers by Umbra. Not sure that I like them, but I stuck them up anyway and I hope they grow on me, because I’ll have 25 holes to fill otherwise.

A parcel arrived from Jo last week that I was SO EXCITED about. She sent me 4 Balinese flags for my backyard, a bunch of pillow covers made from some awesome fabric she found on eBay (I’ll use them in my bedroom if I ever get around to decorating it…the pillow in 2 photos above is one of them), a bust vase and a West German pot. The box showed up totally smashed in on one corner, so I’m amazed everything made it in one piece.

Yesterday I went to pick up a framed Tretchikoff print I won on eBay the other day. Now if I could just find more of these in thrift shops around here. I haven’t figured out where she’ll be hung yet.

I also went to a thrift shop near me and found a few goodies. (I almost ended up with 2 more peacock chairs but luckily they were too big to take home). The magazine rack is in the living room (see second photo above). The glasses are so pretty, with etchings in the glass you can’t really see.

On a walk downtown last night (the rain finally let up), I found a little Asian dress shop that was open and acquired a few more trinkets.

That’s it so far….it’s still early in the day….

I hate my kitchen. It’s 80s grey laminate with chunky wood trim and it’s ugly. Alas I rent and what makes it worse is that I rent in Australia, land of the “can’t do anything to your apartment” rental laws. I’m in the process of sewing a new roman blind and looking for handles to swap out the chunky wooden ones (which of course appear not to be of standard size – sigh!) but I thought I’d cheer the place up by painting my fridge. No new shiny fridges were harmed in this exercise. I don’t have a new shiny fridge. My old faithful has been with me for a while but the seals are good and it’s energy efficient(ish) and I just can’t justify a new fridge. I shop for fresh food everyday (love doing this) so I don’t need a big gee whizz bang refrigerator. This one will do me just fine. The chalk sayings have changed almost daily as does my “favourite” postcard art. Decal from here.

WINKS – weekend links. Here we list what has come in during the week, things we’ve found and things we think you’ll want to see. If you’d like to see your blog or website featured email us and if we think it fits with our readers we’ll link you. So what’s in this week?

• • Kimberly McCabe of Curiouser & Curiouser Designs emailed to share these new prints in her Etsy shop. Kim are you paying attention. Perfect for your chick wall. Love the boho Marie Antoinette feel of these!

• • Georgina Manghi is a chef and blogger from Argentina. She passes on her fabulous recipes on her blog and recently started writing in English as well so now I can follow the recipes instead of just salivating over the pictures. Check out her website Buenos Aires Pastry and dream of living round the corner from her boutique restaurant.

• • Shelley emailed to introduce her website Bohemian Hellhole. Lots of eye candy, ideas and sources. Thanks for sharing Shelley!

• • Claire Eglizeaud and Paul Moreau, a designer and a graphic artist from Bordeaux developed Bonjour mon coussin in 2007. They’ve created a wide range of cushion covers which are inspired by old found documents or elements of their lives. Too cool! Check out the whole range here. Thanks Paul and Claire!

• • Here’s one out of the box! Live in L.A.? Join the crew from Ghettogloss for The Bronx Zoo every Saturday afternoon at La Cita from 2pm to 8pm all summer long starting June 28, 2008. $5 cover at the door and drink specials inside. But wait there’s more! Every hour, on the hour there will be an APE ESCAPE where 4-7 bikini-clad girls in gorilla masks will be released to pose for quick figure drawing sketches. Get out your sketch pads and don’t take it seriously. Just let those creative juices flow!

• • Emily and Laura the creative dynamos behind OrangeBeautiful have their gorgeous new line available in their Etsy shop. I’ve got a thing for typography and these letterpress note cards are just too cute!

• • Jaime (super blogger Design Milk) emailed to introduce us to the next print in her chandelier series: Salmon Birds on Crystal Chandelier. Limited edition so rush over to her Etsy shop.

• • Something a little exotic and Moroccan but definitely not traditional. Dar en Art is the gateway to contempory Moroccan furniture and accessories. In French but English coming soon.

• Angelica emailed us. “We’re getting out the vote…for some talented student photographers who’ve imagined Karastan rugs in some original and clever settings. It’s part of a photo contest, ‘Rug-ged America’, celebrating Karastan’s 80th anniversary. Some of the top photography schools from across the nation have been asked to ‘make a statement’, and, as you’ll see, they’ve really risen to the occasion.” Check out the photos and vote for them here.

Emily of New York City wrote us looking for chandelier inspiration:”I was wondering if you had a collection of chandelier photos, specifically funky, alternative or painted. I may be moving to an apartment with boring, gold chandeliers and fancied painting them, but need some inspiration!”. My first thought is if you don’t like the light fixtures, then replace them (either with cheap ones you don’t mind leaving there when you move out, or save the existing ones in the back of a closet to put back up). But if you’re serious about going the DIY route, then hopefully the following photos will get your creative juices flowing. It’s got me thinking of what to do with the 3 ceiling fans (gross!!) in my house (although 2 of them aren’t wired to a switch in the wall so I need fixtures that turn on and off from the light itself – UGH).

Living Etc.	Jay Jeffers
Gaelle Le Boulicaut	Tsao & McKown
Jeff Andrews	Michael Graydon
Selldorf Architects	Alex Papachristidis
Beau Monde Villas	Living Etc.
Light Locations	Frank Roop
House of Pictures	Rees Roberts
Ghislaine Viñas	Wallpaper
Shamir Shah	Shoot Factory

We received an email yesterday about interior designer John Barman and his home in the Hamptons that will be on the Kips Bay and Architectural Digest House Tour this weekend (the first half of the photos above and below are of his home). His designs are captivating, and he can knock out a contemporary, classic or eclectic space like no one’s business. Talk about versatile…”striking perfect balance between the sumptuous and the seriously hip. Barman is known for his clear-cut, sophisticated style, bold new ideas, and a strong point of view. He favors handsome, crisp lines; the unrestrained use of strong, resonant color; new uses for traditional materials; and the successful marriage of functionality and fine detailing.” Yeah baby!