Category: <span>Finds</span>

Published January 11, 2010 by

Rebirth of the Toast Rack

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As you may have noticed, I’m a big fan of creative reuse. And when it comes to antique tabletop, the possibilities are endless. The Victorians had a special piece of silverware for nearly everything: bonbon scoops, bacon forks, lemon picks, cake breakers to name a few (click here for more). Today much of this food-specific silverware now reads as alien, but that doesn’t mean these objects don’t have a use.

The other day I had lunch with an old colleague and friend, Eddie Ross, and he was telling me that of all the things he sells at his Etsy antiques shop, silver-plate toast racks are by far his most popular item. Though his customers may have purchased them to step up their Sunday brunch presentation, my guess is most of them didn’t buy these racks with toast in mind. A compact silver accessory with a series of rungs, a footed base and an ornate handle–that doesn’t say breakfast to the average lover of creative reuse: it says organization. For bills or stationery, a toast rack is the chicest way to file. Plus, it would be so eye-catching on a desk or in a foyer.

Though I love the thrill of stumbling upon a treasure at a flea market, when you have a specific type of item in mind, the Internet is the way to go. I did a quick search for toast rack on a few of my favorite online sources for antiques and found these pretty options available for purchase.

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Etsy.com continues to be a fabulous source for one-of-a-kind designs, and Eddie Ross’s Etsy shop is among the best. He features vintage finds, all under $100, and he always delivers handy tips on how to enjoy them. Eddie is also of the toast-rack-organizer philosophy and suggests it for this English brass piece, which is selling for $90.

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LiveAuctioneers.com is another great online source for antiques. This silver-plated toast rack is a great buy–especially considering that it comes with a three-footed dish (were not sure why, but it does). Starting bid is $50.

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Ebay had over a 100 options, with starting prices at $2. I liked this one by Asprey London for its simplicity and ball feet. Valued at $52.

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And cleverly enough, Mothology has caught on to the demand for toast racks, and it is now making gorgeous reproductions: $84 for the small and $148 for the large.

Finds

antiques design trends tabletop

Published January 3, 2010 by

The Chicest, Cheapest Kitchen Stools

kitchen-decor-counter-stoolsOkay, I’m little embarrassed to admit it, but months ago I made the amateur move of buying counter stools without first measuring the height of the island for which they were intended. The seats I coveted came in two sizes, so I just went with the shorter ones–after all, this was an island, not a bar. When the boxes arrived, I knew immediately I’d flubbed. We unpacked the four dwarf chairs just to give them a fair chance, but we would have needed booster seats to make them work. Kicking myself the whole time, we returned them and spent the next six months sitting on folding chairs.

During that period we hunted and hunted for new barstools that were the right height and with the right look, feel, and price (under $100 each). There were very few options. IKEA, known for its inexpensive but attractive furniture, was the first place we tried, but when it came to stools its selection went from frumpy country to uncomfortably modern–until recently. This fall the Swedish retailer added Glenn chairs to its collection, and all our seating problems were solved, for less than $80 a chair.

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Chrome-plated steel legs in a flowing U-shape are simple and pick up the sheen of the appliances, while the high-gloss polycarbonate plastic seat complements the island’s white base. And with a sleek and flexible ergonomic back, it’s a surprisingly comfortable chair.

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With a complete set of stools, our island is now a casual dining area, and our kitchen is the heart of the house.

Finds

Anne's buys kitchen our house seating

Published December 3, 2009 by

The Right Rug

right-rug-living-roomThank you again to all who voted in the Rug Runoff; the rug has arrived and I couldn’t be more thrilled with your pick! Le Poeme adds just the right amount of pattern and contrast to the room. The color of the cursive picks up the chocolate tone of the couch and the beige backdrop is nice moment of calm amidst the silver sage walls and fuchsia accents.

Right-Rug-closeupI love the fact that the pattern comes from the words of a French fable, but I didn’t want the verses to feel quite so obvious. By turning the rug in the opposite direction and having the text run upside down, it doesn’t scream script; instead, you see a swirling pattern before it registers as cursive.

I was a little concerned that, as an outdoor rug, it might feel crispy and awful to the touch, but it’s surprisingly soft. The letters have a raised pile and give it just enough texture. Plus, the all-weather surface is bound to buy us a little spill security.

But perhaps the best part about this rug, after a year of fiendish decor spending, is that an 8-by-10-foot was only $579 at Ballard Designs. That was hundreds, if not a thousand, less than the others in the runoff (thank you).

Le Poeme is also available with black script and will be available in sage and denim in spring 2010.

Finds

Anne's buys living room our house

Published November 11, 2009 by

Rug Runoff

Rug-RunoffIn decorating and politics, Mike and I agree on most issues, but, for some reason, selecting a rug has been an ongoing battle. As hard as I try to get him to embrace florals and pink palettes, I cant seem to sway him! So, with that in mind, the final rug selection has come down to a series of abstract and geometric designs that I think we both could love.

Though we are getting closer to making a decision, the debate is still on. Let us know which rug you think will work best for our living room.

Note: Our palette right now is silver sage, chocolate brown, creams and golds (and a few fuchsia pillows I’ve sneaked into the mix). The room needs a punch, but were open to whether it comes from pattern or color–though I’m thinking, a double whammy of both pattern and color might be a bit loud, considering the rug will be the first thing you see when you walk through the door.

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I love the texture of Angela Adams’s hand-tufted wool rugs. Undoubtedly, the appeal of the Betty rug is not only how it will feel under our toes but also that it will highlight the gold hues in the room–namely, my to-die-for Barbara Cosgrove lamp and the feather pattern in the upholstery on our French chairs.

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I first saw this Liora Manné design in Metropolitan Home’s Showtime House and fell in love. I adore the idea of words as pattern, and the French verses of the Jean de La Fontaine poem, scribbled out in cursive, nearly have me sold. With phrases running off the edges, this Ballard Designs rug is completely unconventional, but the neutral palette keeps it sophisticated.

Home-decor-teal-rugThe green in this Thomas Paul Flock flatweave rug matches our walls exactly. Not that I support matchy-matchy rooms, but this rug could be a nice way to harmonize the space while adding a spunky pattern.

Home-decor-pink-rugFor the record, this bubbling pattern is not pink. As far as Mike is concerned, its a bright burgundy, and I’d like to keep it that way. Avalisa’s Wonder Wool rug is modern, playful, and great for hiding stains.

Home-Decor-Floral-RugWith such an oversize pattern, this rug is barely floral (work with me), and when you cover it with furniture, the pattern will become that much more abstract. Okay, fine! I admit it: Mike has already vetoed this one for its overt girlishness, but anyone who doesn’t live with a male should consider buying the Portier Ecru rug from Designers Guild; it’s gorgeous.

Those are the final selects. Which one do you think will work best in my living room?

Etc Finds

living room rugs