Loveseat Prep Work

Philadelphia, like much of the country, has been experiencing a continuously hot and very humid summer. It sort of feels like the atmosphere is giving this city an angry bear hug and, despite our squirming to get out of its hold, we're stuck in the embrace. Sweaty, smelly, and stuck in an environmental bear hug. Yuck.

It's any wonder I've managed to find the motivation to get moving on this loveseat project I've been talking about for months now...but I did. In fact, Saturday is the big day: drop off at the upholsterer!

I found a quality upholsterer who gave me a good quote and, with classic charcoal linen in hand, I got started on the prep work I need to do before Saturday's big event. Primarily, that prep work involved a good cleaning, a frame tightening, and trim sanding and staining.

I got to work sanding the wood that trims the curved back and sides...



and then cleaned up the resulting dust before I began to stain. I am planning on sanding/staining a few more pieces in our "den," so the stain will be the unifying feature. We decided upon Minwax Wood Finish in 'English Chestnut', the same stain I used for that still-ugly footsool as well as my side chair covered in Alan Campbell fabric.

Staining went smoothly and, in spite of the humidity, the stain dried smoothly and quickly.





Joe the Upholsterer, whose details I'll share if he does a good job, promised this would be a quick project. I can't tell what I'm more excited about: the impending cooler weather of fall or this new-to-me loveseat.

Surrounded By Old Friends

My dream house is still years in the future but, as I wait for the day that we finally move in, I'm collecting inspiration for a room where I'm surrounded by some of my favorite old friends...you know, Virginia, Ernest, Kurt, and Jane. Certainly you've been acquainted.

(Miles Redd via Elle Decor)

(via ?...tell me if you know!)

(via Little Green Notebook)

(via Domino)

(via Apartment Therapy)

(Miles Redd via House Beautiful)

These pictures make my collection look skimpy. Hmm, I guess that gives me a reason to keep collecting more [old] friends.

The Second-coming of Brass?

While I'm certainly not the first to write about this, have you noticed the resurgence in brass decor lately? Just a few years ago the word brass and the connotation with cheap, constructor-grade fixtures would send a shiver down the spine of the style-inclined. Everything around the modern home was replaced with silver-tone wonder...stainless steel appliances, brushed nickel fixtures, and decorative accessories with a platinum trim were de rigueur.

While the cooler-toned hues of silver and stainless steel are far from over, I find myself having a bit of an out-of-body experience. I am finding myself drawn to...wait for it...brass!

(via M Design...I purchased a very similar table on Ebay for $50!)

Brass made even better with a Missoni pairing...

(via M Design)

While I'm not ready for a full-on brass explosion in my home, I thought a nice accent piece would be just enough...how about a vintage strapwork stool in brass?

(via 1stdibs.com...and waaaaaaaay out of my budget)

(via Modern Dose...price getting better...still $435!)

What about Etsy?

(via Etsy...though still about $125 too rich for my blood)

The warm sunniness of brass is surprisingly appealing and complementary to a brooding kilim or a linen sofa. I'm dipping my toe in the water of full-out brass love...and found this great little stool on Ebay for about $40. It will serve as the perfect side table to our den (a real work-in-progress that I've yet to share).

What do you think? Have you made the leap to brass?

Western Wedding, Part II

A few days ago, I managed to introduce only the first half of our trip to Colorado to celebrate the wedding of our friends Matt and Valerie (July wedding 2 of 3, if you're keeping track). To recap, we flew in to Denver, drove the mountainous drive between Denver and Steamboat Springs, and enjoyed our first rodeo!

On Saturday, there ceremony was held in a public botanical garden in Steamboat Springs on cloudless July day.


The reception followed about an hour later, at the original wing of the local library, which now functions as an event space. We drove to the reception and eagerly awaited the arrival of the newlyweds.

In the meantime, I enjoyed the comforts of a nearby swing...


...and we walked across a little stream.


Crowds gathered on the banks of the Yampa River, just behind the library, because the newlyweds arrived in the coolest way possible...by raft!

So cool, right?

TGIF, 8/6/10 Edition

Happy Friday, friends!

As you can guess, Adam and I are off to another wedding this weekend, that of my high-school friend Matt. We are heading to Boston this afternoon and are very excited. The wedding will be held in Concord, as in the home of the fictional Jo March! I'm hoping this weekend allows for a visit to Orchard House!

My lovely transferware sugar bowl-turned-vase holds some late summer flowers, and it just reminds me of Jo, Marmie, and Meg. The bowl was a $2 Colorado find...which reminds me, I am very behind in my wedding recaps!

In spite a long week and a series of travels, it's so nice to know that we will be enjoying one more event before wedding season rolls past.

Western Wedding, Part I

As promised, I am sharing on the backlog of events we've been lucky enough to partake in this summer. The second wedding we attended in July was that of our friends Matt* and Valerie, resident New Yorkers and world travelers at heart.

This couple has been together for many years before tying the knot and had, together, experienced quite a bit. They enjoyed living in Amsterdam, Bangladesh, and the wildest place of them all, Spanish Harlem (known affectionately to us as "Spa-Ha"). They are one of our "couple friends" in New York that we miss dearly now that we are living in separate cities.

Matt and Valerie are both from Colorado and, given their wandering spirit, it seemed appropriate that we travel for the event. Their wedding was made into a 'wedding weekend,' and friends gathered from near and far to enjoy the natural beauty of Steamboat Springs, where the event would be held at the end of the week.

Adam and I arrived in Denver on Friday morning and decided to drive the 3+ hours to Steamboat Springs. What a drive! You'd don't see scenery like this driving the NJ Turnpike between Philadelphia and Connecticut, let me tell you.


Adam smiled, despite my anxious reprimands ("Drive slower, Adam!").



Mid-trip, we stopped in a little town called Idaho Springs for breakfast and a much-needed stretch.


We stumbled into a thrift store, where I promptly purchased two vintage matching pressed flowers in frames along with some books (All the President's Men, some Charlie Brown paperback, etc.) all for $3.50!

We arrived in Steamboat in the afternoon and, with a little nap, we were back at it. Friends and family gathered for a celebratory barbecue and then we were off to the RODEO! Good times were had by all (except maybe a horse that was injured...ouch!) and, yes, it was our first time at the rodeo.




*Funny aside about Matt: Ever seen the Dennis Quaid movie "The Rookie"? You know, the one that airs only 70 bajillion times on ABC Family? Well, Matt is a gifted baseball player and appeared, along with his UT Austin teammates, as the baseball team in the movie.

(image via Google)

That's Matt second from the right. If you've seen the movie, you know Matt's great outfield catch and his signature dance (which he graced us with at his wedding reception).

Weekend Recap: Furniture Find

Good Monday morning, readers! How was your weekend?

Our weekend was fantastic, spent enjoying the wedding celebration of a friend (no, not Chelsea...) in my home state of Connecticut. The event was lavish while also intimate and personal. More on that joyous event this week!

But before getting into all of that, I wanted to share my weekend acquisition. It's just not like me to leave a state without some sort souvenir! Check it out:


This charming and very comfy chair was a CT Craigslist find (a very late-Friday-afternoon-bored-at-work-waiting-to-leave find, I might add). We picked it up from a very accommodating couple in Canton, CT for only $40. On the ride home, with the chair rattling around the backseat of the car, I was already imagining it's transformation...

I'm thinking Alan Campbell for Quadrille "Lascaux" in Camel II on Tint.

(via Quadrille)

The fabric's spendy but hey, with only $40 invested, it might be fun. Just look at it on a once-staid side chair:

(photo via Quadrille via NY Homes and Spaces)

What do you think?

Also, we're seeing Arcade Fire and Spoon tonight at the Mann Music Center tonight! We're so excited!