KNOW Ryan Frank

06.16.2010

The first sentence of Ryan Frank’s website reads: “Sustainability, reclamation and his African roots are some of the influences and inspiration behind Ryan Frank‘s collection of free-range furniture.” And then I became mesmerized by the hanger made from newspapers…

Isabella, a totem pole style stacking stool

Strata, made from waste wood from old desks and chairs

Strata stool

clothes hanger, made from reclaimed British newspapers

You’ll find more great projects and salvaged inspiration in his blog.

All images via RyanFrank.net

READ Living with What You Love

06.15.2010

My dad’s cousin created an online photo album for our family to share pictures. It’s a really wonderful way to keep everyone up to date – especially those who (gasp) aren’t on Facebook.

Francie posted these old pictures of our family and I’ve been mulling over how I should frame and display them. I mean, how can I not?!

francie, aunt danna, aunt ann

aunt ann, uncle jimmy, francie, my dad

Recently, I read Living With What You Love, which furthered my determination to find the right way to design a photography tribute to my family.

Living With What You Love, by photographer Monica Rich Kosann, is chock full of ideas for making family photography displays, as well as heirlooms and collectibles, prominent and interesting. Monica also gives advice on everything from selecting the right frame to commissioning a family portrait.

I have the pleasure of working with Monica on printed materials and advertising for her jewelry line. So much of what Monica does is based around being inspired by and respectful of the past, which is certainly right up my alley.

I really love seeing family photos displayed in an thoughtful way. Especially when it’s done creatively, like oversized prints which Monica talks about in her book or something a little more unexpected like this frames wallpaper I found via Manolo Home.

Equally as important as the grouping or display is creativity in the sitting. I know that Monica makes a point of never telling kids to smile when she photographs them. She just invites them to play and be themselves then captures those special moments as they reveal themselves.

Though posed pictures usually bring to mind cheesy Olan Mills photography in which my brother and I wore matching outfits… I love how Making It Lovely documented her daughters first year.

After Francie posted those photos I’ve been on a hunt for more family photos to frame. Fingers crossed my walls can hold a couple generations.

STYLE Aga stoves

06.14.2010

Sometimes on Mondays I struggle to think of the proper way to greet you. After all, it’s the beginning of another stretch of workdays; do you want an ethusiatic “hello, welcome to another week!” or a sympathetic “I’m sorry there are only two days in a weekend?” Basically, are we overzealous or depressed? It’s hard to decide.

Mondays are especially difficult when I’m really into a new book and would prefer that the subway not arrive at my office after only a 40 minute commute. My friend loaned me her copy of Ruth Reichl’s Garlic and Sapphires, about her experience as the New York Times food critic. Ya’ll, seriously. The descriptions of the meals Ruth enjoyed are far too vivid for my stomach’s imagination. She inspired me to take a chance on fiddlehead ferns this evening. (Which, by the way, I highly recommend!)

All the talk of scrumptious provisions also made me think about her majesty, the AGA cooker.

Mark Guard Architects via Remodelist

My magazine inspiration clippings collection is littered with pictures of this old gal and I thought it would do us all some good to get to know her better.

In 1912, Swedish physicist, Dr. Gustaf Dalen was lost his sight during an experiment, and was forced to stay home. He learned that his wife was exhausted by cooking and he became determined to develop a new stove that was capable of every culinary technique and easy to use.

via Kitchen Clarity

Adopting the principle of heat storage, he combined a heat source, two large hotplates and two ovens into one unit: the AGA Cooker. The cooker was introduced to England in 1929.

via Apartment Therapy

While AGA has in recent years been criticized for her high-energy consumption and inefficiency (like many older dames), she is also known for her longevity with many cookers still going strong after 50 years.

via Apartment Therapy

AGA cookers have an enamel surface because it is long-lasting, scratch resistant and the color doesn’t fade. Which is perfect since modern AGA’s come in just about any color imaginable. Or, as seen in the AGA celebrity collection, they also come in patterns!

via Apartment Therapy

AGA is certainly not for the weak-hearted, I hear her price tag is in the thousands. But if ever I manage to own my dream country house, an old AGA would be just my cup of tea.

KNOW Ann Carrington

06.11.2010

My good friends Tanya and Neil are visiting this weekend from the UK. (Btw, did I ever show you the video BC and I created from our trip? It’s mostly us geeking out, but we like it.)

The USA vs. England World Cup game is on Saturday. Coincidence? Nah, Neil totally schedule his trip so he’d be in NY to rub it in our faces if England wins. We shall see…

In honor of my friends from across the pond, today’s all about British artist, Ann Carrington, whom I learned about through my new favorite show, 9 by Design. Ann creates quite amazing pieces out of mostly found materials. Like old jeans…

shells…

horn knives…

shoe leather (my favorite!)…

and tires.

How happy are you that it’s Friday, huh? Yeah, me too! Have a great weekend!

INSPIRATION repurpose pallets

06.10.2010

I see them on the street all the time and never even realized what you call these. The pallet. So many possibilities…

via Inhabitat

via Greenupgrader

via Renest

via Re-nest

via Poetic Home

via Re-nest

via Desire to Inspire

via Ashley Ann Photography

The pallet bed Ashley Ann made to have a place to snuggle and read books with her adorable kiddies is one of my most favorite things ever. I often come back to this picture and marvel. Hmm… I bet I could make one of these and store it under my bed. Would certainly put to good use the featherbed I’ve been hanging onto since college…

SHOP Salvage One

06.09.2010

While Google readering the other day, I came across a post about a wedding held at Salvage One in Chicago. That’s right, an event held in an antique and salvage shop. Be still my heart!

Check out the set up of another wedding in the space.

This is basically my dream. But I don’t need a wedding, just a party. A fun party in a salvage shop would be good enough for me.

Imagine welcome cocktails from the art deco bar,

Then ushering guests over to the lounge.

It would be so entertaining to set up a photo booth area around a pair of salvaged elevator doors.

Or maybe there would be a foosball compeition, in evening wear!

I’d willingly forgo more traditional dancefloor lighting,

for a fireman’s spotlight.

I’d somehow work this piece into the bill, as it’s EXACTLY what I’m looking for for my living room!

And finally, a clawfoot bathtub. For the swans. No.. for the presents. A tub full of presents.

Is there anything more wonderful?

STYLE generational living

06.08.2010

When I was in high school I had a full on babysitting business. Things got a little intense when moms starting booking me months in advance. One of my families lived in a beautiful English Tudor home. This style is totally different from any of the other homes in my parent’s neighborhood.

Dude, I snagged this photo from Google Street Maps. Ca-razy.

The mother of the family who lived there once told me that they considered this house to be their family home (even though they’d only lived there a few years) and they wanted it to be the place where their children would grow up and eventually pass on to their kids. Now, this didn’t happen. They sold the home and moved away but I never forgot that conversation because I thought it to be so freakin’ romantic.

A real family home?! Passed down though the generations, like a piece of jewelry or furniture? Something straight out of a Jane Austen novel? Where as a child you’d one day come across a little secret hiding place that belonged to your great-grandmother? Sign me up.

In the June issue of House and Garden UK (international design magazines, my new obsession), there’s a really interesting profile of a home that’s been in the same family for 13 generations. That’s a lot of ghosts running around.

At first glance, the space appeared traditional, stuffy, totally what one would expect of a generational home, stuck in the past. But at closer inspection, I noticed….

A collection of swords is clustered above a door, instead of evenly placed, as might have done in previous generations.

A splash of bold color here and there.

Mixing old and new fabrics.

A staircase had been redirected so that the stairs didn’t cover a window, correcting centuries of bad design.

The homeowner noted that in the redesign he intended to “smoulder, not sparkle.” And what I think made this renovation so perfect is that it held on to the guts of the house, was appreciative of it’s own history, and then just… nudged forward. Just a bit.

In a world where old homes are too often gutted to make way for more modern digs… this was a totally refreshing read.

INSPIRATION old bottles as table decor

06.07.2010

The bottle, candlesticks, and mirror were Elephant Flea finds, the fish is Pippen Vintage. The sign around the bottle is from Fishs Eddy.

Somehow, my party of 11 ended up making it through a hot summer’s eve in my little Brooklyn apartment. It was a good call on my part to cook the ribs before the guests arrived. They stayed toasty, that’s for sure. Both the guests and the food!

Best part of my nautical inspired party decor? Beach Blanket Bingo and How to Stuff a Bikini playing on the TV.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get too many good pictures. But my favorite repurposed element for the party was the old fisherman’s netting (ordered from The Nautical Place) hung on a wall with white Christmas lights underneath. I did something similar in my bedroom with starfish.

Honestly, this picture feels like it captures the night most accurately. Everyone kicked their shoes off, got comfortable, enjoyed some amazing food, and had lots of laughs and discussion (mostly around the hilariously silly beach movies.)

So. This idea of using vintage bottles as table decor is not uncommon.

Maybe you saw Design*Sponge‘s gorgeous wedding tables?

I love this idea (from Bash Eco Events) to paint the old bottles. Totally different spin that yields a completely different feel to the tablescape.

Long neck bottles accommodate some long stem flowers (or in this case, long stem tissue flowers made from sewing paper via Green Wedding Shoes)

Taper candles work in those long necks just as well.

Wow, looking at these makes me ready for another weekend and the next dinner party.

Regardless… Happy Monday!

INSPIRATION: repurposing nautical

06.04.2010

It started as it often does; with a dinner party. This weekend, I’m hosting a small group of friends for a summer potluck. (Oh, the parties I’d throw had I more space – you would all certainly be invited!) And of course, no potluck’s complete without a party decoration theme, right?

I challenged my guests to bring “summer picnic/BBQ” types of food but my decoration brainstorm started to go in a tragically tiki direction. Not that I’m against tiki, mind you. I was just hoping to be more elegant that kitsch for this particular party. And then… summer… water… boats… nautical!

There are many lovely nautical products made from sea materials. Like this adorable lamp from Furbish Studio made of an old buoy.

Or this candleholder made from real driftwood by Nature’s Cabinet.

I love these sea creatures on old book pages by Black Baroque. (And was inspired to do something similar myself but didn’t have time to seek out the perfect vintage sea read as my canvas.)

Austin Modern has a fabulous selection of vintage bottles with sea specimen tops in their Etsy shop. The sea makes some pretty amazing pieces of art.

Ooh, this is lovely. A seashell frame by SilknLight’s with many of the shells collected along the NC coast! And really, what’s a nautical theme without some shells anyway?

But when it came down to decorating my place for the party, I had to get back to basics. So rather than looking for the stuff that was already repurposed and made, I clicked over to Ebay to look for materials and vintage supplies to get the look for less.

Things like this vintage lantern from EGlowWorm‘s shop.

Or this cool life preserver from BleuGardenia.

I absolutely adored all the colors of the glass balls for sale, these through TheDiffChico. Though I must say, these seemed to be pretty expensive for what they are.

I ended up going with just a few key elements; old fisherman’s netting (purchased through The Nautical Place on Ebay, a vintage lantern found at Elephant Flea…

and this super cheeky fish glass container (from Pippen Vintage Home) that BC volunteered to carry around all night serving up shots from.

So I’ll take some pictures of the party so you can see the full effect.

Aye, Captain, you have a great weekend!

ADVENTURES IN REPURPOSING: red hot lacquer table

06.03.2010

I just love makeover movies, don’t you? Admittedly, one of my favorites is The Princess Diaries. In middle school it was pretty much my dream to wake up with braces and go to bed with a tiara.

I also like makeover projects and I’ve been working (and working and working and working) the last month or so on entirely too many projects around my house. It’s apparently a compulsive habit. And the problem with doing all these projects at once as it takes that much longer to finish any of them.

Meet Sarah’s former table. Cast off in the great storage unit purge of 2010.

I’m pretty certain as soon as it was under my guard I decided to paint and lacquer it red.

The scroll on the sides is what really makes red the only choice, in my mind. It reminds me of old chinese pieces.

My favorite part of this process was going to my local hardware store and asking for lacquer. His response “We don’t carry lacquer… we don’t get too many requests for lacquer around here.” Ha, point taken.

I’m not one to give advice on these types of projects, as I’m definitely learning as I go. But I will tell you that I coated this sucker with about 3 coats of red and an additional 3 coats of lacquer. And lacquer is no joke.

Stay tuned for many new projects to come. Oh, also, I’ll be putting this red hot lacquer table (and her twin) for sale at a yard sale in a couple of weeks. Feel free to contact me if you’re interested.

Salvaged Grace

Monthly Archives: June 2010

KNOW Ryan Frank

READ Living with What You Love

STYLE Aga stoves

KNOW Ann Carrington

INSPIRATION repurpose pallets

SHOP Salvage One

STYLE generational living

INSPIRATION old bottles as table decor

INSPIRATION: repurposing nautical

ADVENTURES IN REPURPOSING: red hot lacquer table