Filing Cabinet – Page 8 – Making it Lovely

The #LoveYourThings Shoot with Scotchgard Brand at the Randolph Street Market

A few months back, Scotchgard Brand invited me to Chicago’s Randolph Street Market to hang out at their booth, chat with visitors, and take part in a video about things we love and how to protect them. There are always amazing vintage and antique pieces at the show — you might find your new favorite chair or rug, suitcases to stand in as storage, or maybe an old textile that has been (or can be) made into pillows.

The antidote to the all-white interiors trend, eh?

OK, but then you get your finds back home — these things that have already had a long life — and you don’t want to be the one to ruin them. And that goes for our new things too, of course. You know the pair of armchairs in our living room? Someone once spilled orange soda all over them when we were having a party. The person felt awful about it, and luckily the spill came right up, but if it hadn’t… yikes. Either we would have had to reupholster (two chairs, in this case, because they should match), live with a very strategically placed blanket, or ignore the stain. I use Scotchgard Fabric & Upholstery Protector on them now so nothing like that will happen again, because I don’t think we would have been so lucky had it been a drink like red wine. Once you see how it works, which is what we showed people at the Randolph Street Market, you realize what a good idea it is to protect the things you love with it. It repels liquids and blocks stains and can be used to protect your linens, furniture, rugs, clothes, car interiors and more.

Here are a couple of behind the scenes shots from our shoot.

And here’s the video.

I’ve used Scotchgard Protectors for a bunch of our things now. A purse, a couple of chairs, and yes, the crazy floral floor model chair I’m talking about above. I’ll show you how easy it is in an upcoming post. What are some things you love and want to protect?

January 21, 2016

The Best Pink Lighting

I bought a pair of pale pink ceramic lamps a decade ago. I loved them, and then one of my kids pushed one off a table two years ago in an act of defiance (he was shocked that it broke — what was he expecting?). I’m down to one now, but I still love it.

More recently, I bought and installed my pink tassel sconces in the library. They are amazing in part because of the shape, but also largely because they are the perfect shade of pink. The color makes everything better, I’m convinced of it.

If you’re looking to bring the perfect pink lighting fixture into your home, might I suggest these?

Vintage Bell Clip Light Hanging Lamp, Earth Sea Warrior, Etsy
Only one! Everything about it is delightful, down to the pink cord.
Glass Carafe Pendant, Anthropologie
A modern shape with the added detail of tiny bubbles in the glass.
Laura B Sconce, Stray Dog Designs
Happy little berries and asymmetry in a surprisingly large scale.
Currey and Company Flamingo Chandelier, Candelabra
Ombré beading in various shades of pink, done up in an empire silhouette.
Elsie Table Lamp, Kate Spade
Simple geometry, refined to a delicate, feminine form.
Pink Glass Jug Pendant, ABC Home
Two sizes to choose from, both in gorgeously thick pink glass (though other colors are available too).
The Tassel Sconce, Coleen and Company
Best sconce ever. Not that I’m biased.
Robert Abbey Delta Schiaparelli Pink Lamp, Lamps Plus
These faceted lamps come in a ton of colors, but the hot pink is so fun.
Totem I by Lindsey Adelman, The Future Perfect
A work of art.
Pharos Collection Pendant, Niche Modern
Plenty of shapes and colors to choose from, and they look amazing in groups.
Bebe Chandelier, Marjorie Skouras Design
Slices of agate!
Alphabeta Pendant, Archiproducts
Part of a customizable system with “10 billion possible combinations.”
The Tole Tent Semi Flush, Coleen and Company
A lot of charming detail in a style of lighting (semi flush mounts) that is often lacking.
Ezra Blown Glass Pendant Light, Urban Outfitters
You could choose clear too, but why?
Tea Caddy Lamp, Furbish
Updated Chinoiserie.
Vintage Pink Porcelain Bathroom Sconces, City Lights Antique Lighting, Etsy
A rare find in pink.
Serena Chandelier, Stray Dog Designs
A mid-century Palm Springs vibe.
Candace Coral Table Lamp, Layla Grayce
A lovely drop shape in an equally lovely shade of coral.
Token Pink Geo Pendant, ABC Home
Mouth-blown recycled glass, and a rainbow cord.
Sally Pendant, Stray Dog Designs
Pure fun and whimsy that calls to mind a Seuss asthetic.
Juliette Rose Table Lamp, One Kings Lane
Great shape, and the gold band details are a nice touch.
Painted Loa Sconce in Blush and Brass, Sazerac Stitches, Etsy
A modern sconce in a sweet color.

January 14, 2016

New Lighting in the Library

The tassel sconces are here! I feel like they’re a love ’em or hate ’em kind of choice, and I don’t care because I happen to love ’em.

New pendants, too!

I had always intended to replace the pair of Victorian cranberry glass fixtures in the double parlor. They weren’t awful, but I prefer modern lighting to period in old homes. I let the lights fall on my priority list, but two years in, it was time for them to go.

I showed you some of the replacements I had been considering a few weeks ago. The library and living room are open to each other and I wanted their lighting to still match, but I think I was getting a little carried away with some of my options! I was looking at definite statement lights, but once I decided to order the tassel sconces it would have all been too much. The Modern Globe Pendant from Circa Lighting was still a contender, but pricey at $2100 — especially considering that I needed two. A reader recommended Restoration Hardware’s Circa 1900 Gaslight Pendant as an alternative, and I’d also been thinking about Rejuvenation’s Hood Classic Globe Pendant.

The Gaslight and Hood Pendants both come in several sizes and finishes, and depending on configuration, are only about 1/4 the cost of the Modern Globe. I was leaning toward a pair of Hood Pendants because I had seen and admired them in person at Yearbook. I knew Kim had one in her dining room too, so I asked her opinion about size since my space was similar in scale to hers. She said that her 14″ globe felt substantial, and also that she “read somewhere online once – a tip on a blog – that hanging a balloon in the right size can help you visualize. I always thought that was such a great idea!” And it is! After talking to her, adjusting my mockups, and yes, hanging something in the right size, I went with the 14″ opal globe shade and ordered a 42″ fixture in unlacquered polished brass.

I hung the new lights right away when they arrived.

Why did I wait so long? The size is great, the style complements everything without distracting, and they fit the home while still updating it. The brass will age naturally, though I like the shiny newness too.

Philips sent over a package with their new LED bulbs with a dimmable warm glow effect, so I was excited to try them out with the library’s new lights. The color temperature is similar to daylight when the lights are all the way on (which is my preference when I need bright lighting), but these are amazing because they get warmer as you dim them, looking more like traditional incandescent bulbs as the lights go down. So when we’re Eleanor’s doing her homework at the table or I’m doing an art project with the kids, we have brighter, cooler light to work by. Then when we have friends over and we’re relaxing, we can lower the lights to a warmer glow and the library feels more cozy.

The Hood Pendants are open at the top and I tried two different styles of Philips’ bulbs — same lumens and color temperature range, but one was clear and the other frosted. The clear one gave off a more crisp, defined light, but I preferred the softness of the frosted bulbs for general lighting. Clear bulbs are better suited to task lighting, and I put them in the floor lamp by the striped sofa.

I love, love, love the new lighting. Such an improvement!

December 15, 2015

Pretty Packages: DIY Laurel Leaf Gift Tags

Christmas presents go under the tree as soon as we can get around to wrapping them, so they become part of the decorations for a couple of weeks. I like to change things up each year with the wrapping and gift tags, and the kids help now that they’re old enough. I came up with these laurel leaf gift tags because they’re easy to make (important with kids, or when you’re going to make a lot of them and don’t want it to take forever), but they still look cute. Bonus: they lie flat, so they don’t get squished by the other presents.

Supplies

Kraft Paper Key Tags • Card Stock (in two shades of green) • Green Brush Marker • Metallic Marker • Glue Pen • 1/8″ Hole Punch • Green Satin Ribbon

Instructions

Start with kraft paper key tags as the base of your gift tags. Cut simple leaves out of card stock in two shades of green, then drew a leaf vein down the center of each with a green brush pen or marker. Line up two leaves with the top of each tag, punch a small hole, then use a to assemble. Metallic markers show up nicely against kraft paper and catch the light, and green satin ribbon on each present ties in with the tags’ laurel leaves.

More Ideas and Inspiration

Looking for some other ways to wrap things up this year? Visit the following blogs for more ideas, and check out the hashtag #prettypackage (and feel free to join in and share your own, too)!

Brooklyn Limestone • Copy Cat Chic • East Coast Creative • Eclectically Vintage • Hi Sugarplum! • Honey We’re Home • Life on Virginia Street • Migonis Home • Rambling Renovators • Tatertots and Jello • That’s My Letter • The House of Wood • Thistlewood Farms

December 1, 2015

IKEA Stockholm Sideboard Review

Somebody sent me a message recently because he was thinking about picking up the same IKEA Stockholm sideboard that I bought for our entryway. Questions about it come my way pretty often, actually. Do the doors stay even? Has it held up well? Would I recommend it? Yes, yes, and yes. It’s my favorite IKEA purchase to date (which is saying something because I’ve owned many a piece from IKEA over the years), so I thought I’d offer a review.

I bought mine two years ago, shortly after moving in to our house, because I was looking for shoe storage in the entryway. I didn’t want “anything too precious since it’s going to be used on a daily basis by the whole family” and I deemed the style, scale, and price right. The sideboard comes in a painted beige finish for $389 or a walnut veneer for $449. I like the painted version for my house because it already has so much woodwork, but the walnut finish looks good too — much better than some IKEA wood tones of the past (I’m looking at you, orange beech).

We keep shoes inside, so I added cushioned shelf liners that can easily be removed for cleaning or replacement. The kids have the left half, and the adults have the right. Besides shoes and bags on the shelves, their drawer holds things like sunglasses and floppy hats during warmer months, and winter hats, mittens, and gloves when it’s cold. ‘Our side’ has things like a lint roller, comb and small brush, and reusable shopping bags in the drawer, the bottom shelf has a few pairs of shoes, and the other shelf is home to our baby wrap and diaper bag.

I spent some time adjusting the doors so that they would hang evenly when I first assembled the sideboard, and I haven’t had to do anything to them since. There are push-open mechanisms inside, and in my house, they’ve held up to a fair amount of abuse from the kids! The doors can be left plain but I drilled holes in mine for knobs. If you want to do the same, remember to leave enough clearance for the drawers inside. I’d hate to see someone make the mistake of drilling right at the top and then having the back of the knobs keep the doors from closing. And another note on choosing knobs — if you have kids and they’re anything like mine, you might want to go with something that doesn’t need to be aligned in a certain direction. All three of my kids spin them around, either on purpose or by accident, so something round would have been a better choice.

The Stockholm sideboard is sturdy and surprisingly heavy, making it feel like a good solid piece of furniture that should hold up long-term. My only complaint is that two years in, the top has a few small scratches and dings in the painted finish. They aren’t noticeable enough to bother me, but they are there. I’ve always thought that it would be nice to find a remnant of marble or travertine to top the sideboard, so that’s an option if the scratches worsen over time or I just feel like updating the look.

I’ve had people over who have commented on how nice the sideboard was, and they’re always surprised when I say that it was from IKEA. I highly recommend it.

November 19, 2015

So Close, Chandelier

My taste in lighting runs toward the OMG-how-much!?, so finding new fixtures for the double parlor was not a pressing issue. Oh, there are plenty of lights I like — finding those is no problem! Finding lights that I’m crazy about and can afford? Not as easy. I love these…

Roll & Hill’s Modo Chandelier, 3-Sided, 10 globes, milk glass and brass finish, $5850.
This one has been on my mind for years. (It’s in the huge lighting roundup I did a few years back.) There are knockoffs for less, and other more affordable options that took pretty liberal inspiration from this design, but it doesn’t feel right to go for those.
Caviar 8 Light Cluster Pendant, Large, Rose Gold, $4032 (or a mere $3780 for the non-adjustable version). Pink! Rose gold! I can’t spend that much on a light (times two)!
Pretty Much Every vintage Stilnovo light on 1st Dibs. Beautiful! Perfect! Price upon request! (Never a good sign.)

There are certain things that I think are worth the splurge, and lighting is one of them. It’s not in my budget to splurge quite that much when we have rewiring and repairs and other more pressing needs in the house though, so I’ve held off. I’m always watching the new collections in stores, waiting for a light to come out in my price range that I loved enough to buy times two for a matching set, and I figured that maybe my lights-to-be weren’t out there yet.

Then the Gooseneck Pelle Chandelier came along from West Elm. Whoohoo! I thought we may have had a winner! $799, but it was on sale for a while at $639. I love the shape. I prefer polished, unlacquered brass over brushed or satin, but I liked the finish enough to go for it. And no bare bulbs! I’d been hoping to find something with milk glass, but the frosted glass was pretty close.

Pelle Chandelier - Gooseneck (West Elm)

Then when I saw the fixture in person, I didn’t like it as much as I’d hoped I would. There is a texture to the glass that I’m not into (and that I suspect would collect dust), and they had a cool white cast vs. the warm ivory I prefer. So now I’m on the lookout again. I don’t want to put a light in just because it’s better — I want to find something that’s going to be amazing.

And then I went and spent all my extra dollars on a pair of sconces instead anyway! (I bought them with a trade discount, but still.) They should arrive this week, along with some hardware for the doors along the base of the bookshelves.

The Library Bookshelves' Jewelry

We’re putting so much into this house — time, effort, money — that I’m trying to step back and really think the more permanent things over before I bring in anything else that I’m not completely in love with. Carved wooden tassels, painted pink? They’re probably not for everyone, but I’m so ridiculously excited about them. They’re going to be the awesome necklace to the unadorned outfit that is my oak-oak-oak library.

Now if I could just figure out the chandelier/pendant/whatever situation. Want some mockups? Ahoy! (Ignore the weirdness along the base of the bookshelves. I Photoshopped out four chairs.)

Library Lighting Photoshop Mockups
Modern Brass Chandeliers

Roll & Hill’s Modo Chandelier, The Future Perfect ($5850)
So perfect, but I can’t.
Pelle Chandelier – Gooseneck, West Elm ($799)
Am I being too picky? It is the best option under $1000.
Bistro Globe Milk Glass Burst Chandelier, RH Modern ($1765)
Very cool. Slightly too fifties for my liking. A little too expensive too, but can be had on sale.
Voyage, Cedar and Moss ($225!)
Brandon doesn’t care for it.

Modern Globe Pendant, Circa Lighting ($2100)
More classic than I was initially considering, but isn’t it lovely? Not in the budget right now, but I could stretch and save for it. Except it doesn’t play as nicely with the dining room fixture as the others, so then that would need replacing too.
Medium Glass Balloon Chandelier, Shades of Light ($1590)
I like it a lot but I don’t think I love it. And for that much, I need to love it.

Well, there we go. That’s the vision. Eventually the room will match what I see in my head for it, whether something else comes along or I save up for one of the options above. What do you think? Have a preference? Or better yet, a recommendation for something else that I haven’t seen?

p.s. Here’s the rug in the mockup. Sold out in the larger sizes, but on clearance if you’re looking for a cute small rug.

November 16, 2015

Category: Filing Cabinet