Spark

Spotted these at Uncommon Objects the other day. A darling little children’s tea set with the cutest little cream and sugar jar. Sugar is the mama and creamer is the papa.  The teeny little cups are the chicks.   Hello kitchen windowsill, here’s a darling little treasure for you to display.   Add a little vintage to your home.  Need some help finding the good stuff?  I’d love to go shopping with you to find amazing little accessories for your nest.   Send me an email at: curlin@sparkinteriors.com

curlin

Misty’s right.  One step inside my home and there’s no mistaking my love of vintage mixed with new or modern. It’s the happy tug between the past and the present that moves me.  Vintage cookie jar.  New patterned tile backsplash.

The pup in this picture sits on a wooden box snagged at Container Store.  Pup & Box (sounds like a new children’s show) sit beside an old silk embroidery I found a million years ago.   It took me a while to realize all these elements should go together.   On a red cabinet i have…that has lights that make the silk shimmer and the pup pop.

That’s the fun of collecting treasures and living with them for a while.  Move them around often.  See who ends up sitting beside what?   I like to make believe they find each other.

These cute little matching egg cups were an ebay find and recipe box was my mother’s and still has recipe cards inside in her handwriting.  I love them.  And miss her.   Don’t they look cute together?

I love how vintage treasures have stories either from your own family or from a family you’ve never met.   They have a history.  A little secret.  Choose those odd things that make you stop in your tracks, take a second look, call your friend over to see.   There’s no right or wrong.  It’s mostly about assembling things that resonate with you.   I’m going to be offering a special for Guided Treasure Hunts.   Stay tuned for more deets….

Ashley Sullins, our South Austin design darling, shares some of her inexpensive, innovative ideas for punching up her home. She has a knack for turning not-so-pretty bargain finds into pretty-darn-cute designer discoveries. Borrow some inspiration from Ashley or invite her over to talk “cheap chic” in your home. Adding a little ’spark’ to your home does not need to break the bank!

Ashley says. . .

Ashley's Modern Birdie Nursery

I needed a mobile for my daughter’s bedroom, so I made one using a fallen branch and Christmas ornaments. After the holiday season, I bought discounted bird ornaments in a range of styles and sizes to adorn the branches. I attached the branch to the ceiling with 3 cup hooks and clear fishing line.

You can see and old window in the mirror’s reflection that I turned into artwork. I simply painted the window frame then painted details on the back side of the glass. The nice thing is I can just scrape the painting off the glass with a razor blade if I ever want a new “view”!

Painted Shower Curtain

This bathroom is small , but I still wanted it to make a big style statement. I gave new life to an old pair of khaki curtains by painting rough, uneven lines in gold. I installed the curtain rod at the ceiling to instantly make the ceiling feel higher. I also painted the ceiling so there is no visual line to stop the eye. The room feels and looks much bigger…for free!

Grandma's Barstools Get a Facelift

When I found an outdated set of barstools at my grandmothers house, I immediately knew that they could be saved. I spray painted over the white with gold accents and recovered the taupe ‘pleather’ seats with a funky animal print. You can even use fabric samples for small seats-most fabric stores have discontinued samples they would be happy to GIVE you!

Floating Frame Mirror

I had a large framed piece of art that was hideous so I re-purposed the frame by removing the glass and artwork, then painted it a fun color. I hung it over an antique mirror for an instant updated look! It also takes up more room and is a great way to fill a wall without having to buy a large piece of art.

Wire Dress Form Dresses Up Fridge

You know that boring space over your refrigerator? Use it for something fun rather than storage for extra large cereal boxes. I have a wire dress form atop my fridge and I change out the hat occasionally (also been known to dress her up for holidays). We all spend so much time in the kitchen, so it’s a great place to add a little whimsy.

Do you have some clever, low-cost design ideas to share?

Uptown Modern

I love the idea of vintage and unusual items for decorating my room, but how do I find the good stuff? I get totally overwhelmed when I go in an antique store or flea market?

Hunting down vintage treasures can be just as rewarding as seeing how these goodies add warmth and character to your home. Unique, off-beat items add personality and depth to your home. It is absolutely worth it to wake up early, grab of wad of cash and start shopping!

Where to go? Start with special event antique shows and flea markets. This weekend is the Austin City Wide Garage Sale and the end of the month marks the kickoff of the 43rd annual fall antique fair at Round Top. Scan the newspaper and your neighborhood for promising garage and estate sales. Squeeze in visits to local antique and thrift stores while you’re running errands. We love Uncommon Objects, Uptown Modern and Gatherings in Georgetown. These sorts of stores have a constantly revolving inventory because the owners never stop scavenging and seeking out good buys.

Uncommon Object

What to look for? Look for what you love, what catches your eye, and what brings a smile of association. Now don’t go crazy and buy everything you adore (think hoarder), but don’t limit yourself either. Use your imagination and think of innovative ways to group and repurpose items.

Remember how I was recommending Emily Henderson’s new program last week? Well, I still think you should watch Secrets from a Stylist, especially if you want to see how to work with vintage pieces. Emily featured a great list of tips for tackling the flea market. Rather than say all the same things, I’m just going suggest you read her article. . . and visit her blog.

Round Top Antiques Fair

However, I am sure our dear Curlin will have a few shopping tips to add because the woman is a teensy bit obsessed (in a good way) with scouting out vintage stores. Ashley is also a whiz at repurposing cast-offs and making treasures out of trash. So if you truly are overwhelmed, let us know and we’ll send one our creative sparkly stylists your way!

For those of you who are vintage shopping pros, what are your favorite spots to shop?

Camping or glamping? My huz and I have been discussing low impact ways to build a vacation home on our sweet little lakeside plot in Maine. We’d like to pitch a tent to get used to the land and its quirks while we do our planning but, between you and me, I do not relish the idea of a sleeping bag on the cruel ground. The au courant idea of glamping is really working for me…

A yurt is a traditional nomadic style tent, popping up in hip retreats all over the globe. Imagine staying in the middle of a meadow in Spain for your next vacation – talk about close to nature.  This could translate easily to your backyard, for the next family reunion!

A fabulous updated yurt – a perfect respite on a rainy day – as posted on that wonderful design blog, Pillar Box Post.

Another rustic option posted on Pillar Box Post, this well considered temporary outdoor kitchen was unpacked from the trailer shown. Pick up some stout branches, lay a piece of oiled canvas over the top for a non-plastic rain resistant roof and start the kettle for tea!

If you are considering a more urban approach, what about a house at the touch of a button? illy set this box in NYC and served coffee to visitors while they explored the dwelling, designed by architect Adam Kalkin.

The dwelling was built inside a standard shipping container – it took just 90 seconds to unveil the five-room home with built-in kitchen, dining area, bedroom, living room and library.

What tricks do you have for comfortable outdoor living? Share them here!

~ sue lambe, your Spark exterior stylist.