Why My House Will Kick Ass

That is because this pile of crap is actually a treasure trove of things I love and have collected over the years. Some from my travels, some from shopping (secretly) during working hours. Some I've bought with John. Most of them are also things I've pored over and thought long enough before I buy.

Some things in my possession (this will be a LONG LIST).

My furniture!

*A sewing machine table (with the sewing machine intact) that I bought when I first got the sewing bug. I am not interested in the machine anymore but the table is staring to grow on me in a vintage modern kind of way.

*A midcentury slipper chair that I bought from some guy in Long Beach.

*Grete Jalk coffee table that I had John pick up from ALL THE WAY in Ventura. RIGHT AFTER WORK. Yes, I'm ruthless. But it was a SCORE if there ever was one.

*An Ikea storage/side table. Hey, who said this is only for snooty furniture?

Our appliances (okay this is not a lot)

* Our Philips 40 inch LED TV -- a gift from my brother. Best. Wedding Gift. Ever. (Apart from the huge lump of cash from my folks -- yes, I'm greedy/poor)

* A small Emerson mini fridge from Target (bought on Sale).

* Another Target find: Our ceramic heater with remote control and thermostat.

* Our vaccuum cleaners (my besties) -- a Bissell Deep Cleaner and a Dirt Devil Stick Vac.

All of our other stuff, some gifted (from the wedding), some thrifted, some bought.

Cuisinart Blender
Cuisinart Slow Cooker
Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker
Cuisinart 7 cup food processor
Giada de Laurentiis Panini Maker
DeLonghi Clothes Steamer (from Ruelala ... this was bittersweet)
Aroma Rice Cooker
Crate and Barrel Queen size Mattress Pad
Giada Triply Cookware Set
Giada Buter Warmer Pan
Tfal nonstick cookware
Hampton Forge Knife Set
Oneida Flatware (2)
Le Creuset Dutch Oven 3.5 qt
Le Cresuet spatula set with crock
Bormioli Rocco jars for my spices, tomato sauce, and milk
Acacia Salad Bowls
Mango Wood Bowls
Native Placemats

Crate and Barrel Shopping

I know it's lame, but I bought some stuff earlier at Old Town Pasadena and I'm showing off product shots from the website (yup -- embarassed!!).

I really just wanted to buy this citrus reamer in a yummy yellow color! It appealed to me so much, and in fact this was on our registry but we didn't really get any small stuff off the registry (which Im thankful for, actually!).

 

I have been wanting this pitcher design for years now (when there were no diffusion line options yet). I wanted to pass up on it til John said I really should just get it already.

I am a huge fan of Nigella Lawson's kitchen line and I just can't affor her wooden salad hands, so Im glad I have this as a substiture (don't get me wrong, I am still lemming for her set).

 And yes, this is a veggie brush! I have been wanting to organize a cleaning arsenal already.

My Dream Kitchen

Will be white, with lots of small jars and knick knacks. The cabinets will have glass fronts so I can see everything -- my china, tableware, pantry items, and small appliances.

If the view wouldn't be to pretty, I will not complain. Instead I draw attention to some pretty drapery. The well placed line in the subway tiles is also a very pretty touch.

I mentioned it will be white, right?

With lots of bread-baking going on, and a tiny herb garden.

Images from Apt Therapy and The kitchen.

Splash of Color for the Kitchen

These midcentury Bauer pieces were from a few weeks ago from a North Hollywood estate. Price-wise, this set went for a pretty penny (I wasn't a fan of the estate sale company -- they're always massively overpriced) but it's not very often that I come across these pieces. So I caved.

I actually paid slightly more for this lot compared to the Heath set I got a while back. If you ask me Estate sales are fast becoming a joke -- prices are way too much nowadays. It certainly wasn't like this when I first got into it!

I am just grateful that I was able to acquire some precious and dear things to me at prices that are much more reasonable!

A Trip at Lowe's

Proved to be quite surprising! I will admit I am much more comfortable going to Home Depot and I thought it is the bees knees.

I didn't expect to see really nice light fixtures! This is a pendant light with rack in one. Brilliant. I love the industrial look of this.

Really nice lamps in MCM colors.

You have to admit that the blue lamp is lovely!  

This is the kind of mosaic tile I've been looking for! It's like sea glass, I love it.

John wants this for his (future) garage!!

So actually I didnt get to mention that John went here to purchase a drill press for himself. :) Yay --- more tools!

A Beach Picnic

So these past weekends have been very eventful for me and John. Saturdays are reserved mostly for yard sales and shopping but Sundays are special in itself as we started a new hobby/tradition: beachcombing and beach picnic!

So yes, our ice chest is very ghetto (we actually tossed it in the beach can) but we will remedy that soon enough.   You're also looking at the first quilt I made, which is a lap quilt really, but it's VERY comfy and soft. :)

We actually didn't really find anything (John tried out his metal detector) but we did find a sanddollar --- that counts, right?

A Midcentury Modern Weekend

I am really proud of most of what I score at yard sales, but this most recent one is my favorite.

I am a huge fan of Heath ceramics -- I think they are the epitome of mid century modern table ware. Very California too in its' simplicity and practicality.

I hope I will not have to forget where these treasures come from. A huge part of their charm lies from who else treasured them. These Heath pieces are from a World War 2 veteran who lived in a wonderful home in Hollywood Hills.

Here's another find - 5 bucks but I consider it to be free with the purchase of an art print.

Midcentury and Danish (yep -- this is marked Made in Denmark!). This is from the home of a Hollywood writer. I was having good day!

A Crazy Shopping Weekend

This past weekend has been very eventful, shopping-wise! John and I started out with scoring a really nice Warren Kimble framed print and a Danish-modern bowl for $25 total. We also scored 7 sets of cups and saucers which are vintage Heath ceramics. Love! We threw in a sugar and creamer set also from Heath -- got all for $50. I know it's a LOT of money to throw for a couple of cups and saucers but these are Heath ceramic stuff! And if you know Heath, you know they will always look brand spanking new.

But what really took the most of our time is shopping for fabric!! It's so funny how I just left my massive stash where' Im from, but now I'm wasting no time building up a new one!

I will be working on a quilt this week -- my very first one. Wish me luck!

Married for a Month

It's been more than a month since John and I have gotten married in Santa Monica. I think that begs the question, "until when will we be newlyweds?"

I remember my ambivalence in first coming here to live with his family --- trepidation, ire, and desperation which ultimately led to me consenting without protest. I can say though that I am well-adjusted now. I am there but not quite yet. So far I've been spending less time cooped up in our room, and spending more time sewing and hanging out by the living room.

Our weekend have been eventful so far, going to thrift stores and estate sales, and downtown L.A. If only it weren't so expensive; our weekends have been so costly!

*Insert Silly Grin*

I know this is really shallow, but I just want to share with you my newest cookware set. The one I've been lusting after for a LONG time.

This is Giada de Laurentiis' TriPly Clad Cookware set! I LOVE Giada de Laurentiis and I think her Target line is really stylish. I am planning on getting most of them -- cutting board, sieves, bakeware sets, etc. This is the priciest of the lot -- I already have a Giada Panini maker and butter warmer. Also had a food processor but I got a dud and the store didn't have a replacement. :(

Ikea for the Divinely Inspired

I am DIGGING Ikea's new catalog. John and I visited my favorite Ikea (Costa Mesa!) to ogle the new staging and to return a bench I decided I didn't like.

I know I said Ikea, not Borders Books (which is now closed *tear*) but I was really feeling all the girly colors of the books that they used. Sadly they are not for sale (and I don't speak Swede anyway), but I took a pic anyway to remind me of the palette -- this is definitely something I will look into.

The glass mosaic tile in one of the kitchens also caught my eye.

Ditto for this pretty farmhouse sink.

I really am also in love with the shelving -- the beadboard is too pretty and shabby chic not to take a note of!

It's Getting There!

For God knows how long, I've daydreamed that I would be here in L.A., sewing home dec things for our space. This morning I spent 3 hours (!!!) making these:

I know this is the most elementary project I could have taken, but at least it's a success and it is giving me enough courage and interest to take on more challenging projects! This past Memorial day weekend, John and I drove all around Los Angeles and one of our stops was Downtown L.A. (which happens to be rehtially close by). I bought 4 yards of this fabric from Michael Levine -- my new favorite store. This was a buck a yard, on sale. That they did not charge sales tax during the holidays was the icing on the cake.

I also want to share this cute little vignette that's on our wall shelf.

Cute little owl from Marshalls, bottle and paper flowers from the Hollywood Bowl, vintage cameras from an Orange County yard sale.

Vignettes scare the whack out of me -- I am reminded of mannequin styling and visual merchandising I am expected to do sometimes in my previous job. So far I like what I came up with!

My Turning Point: A Wedding

My own, to be precise. I got married on early August; it wasn't perfect but I couldn't say it was anything less than beautiful.

Me and my beautiful niece.

I Found Some Finds

Anthropologie Love

Cups, glasses and bowls are my weaknesses. I already have quite a collection. These are from the shopping trip John and I took early this week.

I Would (Much) Rather Be Thrifting!

I don't know which is better, buying and bargaining for these things or taking photographs of them when I take them home!

My favorite by far is this art print that the original owner custom framed in Corona del Mar. The frame itself is in fantastic condition; on top of that I love the blond wood. The print itself is so curious -- the colors are amazing, and the print is very pretty as well!

This bud vase below is so darling!  It says "Sink your roots into the earth" and from there, I was sold! I picked it up for (get ready for it) -- 89 cents! I looked this up online and found out it's handmade by a local San Francisco potter, Rae Dunn.

These bud vases are also SO cute! I picked up 4 of them in Newport Beach.