NEW AT THE SHOP: FAUX BAMBOO DRESSER + VINTAGE DINING CHAIRS

Three new additions to the shop!

First off, I'm like, a faux bamboo fairy godmother.

And this pretty sweet vintage, faux bamboo platform-style dresser is new to the shop and for sale! Measures 63"w. 30"h. 18"d. The last faux bamboo dresser I had available quickly made it's way to Boston, so don't wait too long or, I guarantee you, this will be gone! Click here to see more.

And then there's these vintage, Modern upholstered dining chairs from R-Way.

Gorgeous, right? This set is the definition of solid, and after a good cleaning and a fresh coat of paint to those legs, these chairs will sing! Think Jonathan Adler-style...or, reupholster them (ooh, grey velvet!!!) and add some additional nailheads to the back like so...

Verona Cross Chair (Shone Home/HD Buttercup) via Cococozy

Anyhow, don't tarry! Click here to see more. 

And finally, if you're looking for the perfect bedroom chairs, I have them. Every time I see these I just think boudoir.

And they'd look be quite the lookers minus the skirt, too. Want to take them home? Get more info here!

NEW BIZ CARDS (FINALLY)!

My January blog redesign marked the beginning of my new business branding. I'm a researcher by nature, so I had a file full of inspiration images to help me narrow down exactly what I wanted, which I knew was a clean design devoid of animation, animals, stars, or feathers or the like. I ended up with this new logo, which I love.

So I've been slowly but surely updating the rest of my business-related collateral material and knew that new biz cards had to be next on the list (tip--if you're embarrassed to hand out your business cards, it's time to give them an update!). Fortunately, around the same time I found Ciara Bird, a (then-) North Carolina (now LA-)-based graphic designer whose work is so...edgy and breathtaking and exactly what I've been looking for.

Ciara Bird

These images of hand-collaged prints from her personal sketchbook were what really sealed the deal for me, so I hired her to design my new cards with plans to do my website & additional material later. Once the cards were designed, the ordering process took quite awhile because I wanted a thick card--like 3-4 times the thickness of a standard biz card. Ordering online was a bit of a risk without being able to feel the weight of the card, but I took a chance and ordered the Moo Luxe Business Cards...and let me tell you, I LOVE them. 

I wish I'd snapped a pic to show you the thickness in profile, but the weight is just what I was looking for. My only gripe is that most of the cards weren't cut exactly right, so the spacing on the top & bottom border is slightly off. Still, it's an easy fix (and totally not my graphic designer's fault) so I'm 99% satisfied. And since I was on a roll, I also had some stickers made with my logo to use when I ship out purchases made via my shop.  

And these are perfect! I've got a list a mile long when it comes to business-related things I want to get done, but it feels soo good when I'm able to check something off my list. And now, finally, I've got a business card I'm proud to pass out!

**Sidenote: Working with Ciara was a dream! If you decide to contact her, let her know I sent you. :)

NEW IN THE SHOP (and a before & after, too)!

I picked these up last year with the intent on holding them to collect a set.  Unfortunately I never found the table to match, so I decided to refinish them to sell. Reupholstery debacle not withstanding, I  switched my fabric selection, finally got my cushions made and ended up with a pretty sweet set. 

before

after 

Can you tell I'm still crazy for that La Fiorentina pattern?? Just goes to show (again), classics never die. This set is now for sale in the shop, $225 for the pair...go here for more info.

Also for sale is this Dorothy Draper-style chest. 

I actually have a pair, but the other one will need a bit more elbow grease. $225-- see more here!

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And I want to thank those of you who left comments and sent me emails about my post on Thursday. Not only was it great to get so much support from each of you, but I was also surprised to see how many of you had the same dream! I believe it will happen for each of us, truly. I have big, big dreams, ones I wasn't ready to share here just yet, but the store is one that I'm so clear about that I know it will happen soon. Thank you all, old friends and new friends, for encouraging my dream. :)

MY DREAMS

I have big dreams and little dreams, partially thanks to Ted Turner and Oprah's Master Class. I once heard Ted talking about the importance of having big dreams--dreams so big they seem impossible, so that you always have something to keep working towards. He shared how his father's dream was to own a big house, have 100 acres and be a millionaire, and then shortly after he returned from the war he had everything he wanted. I'm clearly paraphrasing here, but Ted said he felt like his father became stuck because he, essentially, didn't know how to recalibrate and aim for greater because he'd initially aimed too low and quickly achieved his biggest dreams. I've heard people talk about these "big hairy audacious goals" (or whatever else you want to call them) but never really understood why they were important until I heard Ted's story. So today, I'm giving you a peek at my little (big) dream...

House of Honey via

Woodson Rummerfield via

liz caan

I've wanted this for awhile now, a cute brick & mortar store for all of my goodies so I can expand my empire and show others that vintage furniture is actually quite fun, oftentimes much moreso than new finds. I fell in love with a newly renovated restaurant in Downtown Decatur (No. 246) that has an awesome black brick facade that I wouldn't mind duplicating either. Makes me think of something like this...

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and it would be great if I had a great picture window (or two!) so I could do intriguing window displays ...

House of Honey via

and I'd travel the world and fill it with goodies from my stash...

Kelly Wearstler via

and i'd do cute little random vignettes around the shop like this...

Furbish & Liz Caan

but they'd be like idea labs, to guide people in how to pair items that they might normally shy away from.  And then maybe the rest of the store would look like this...

Again & Again

except with epoxy'd white, grey, or black concrete floors. And of course there'd be a design area, a place to showcase fabrics & finishes & trim...

Furbish & via

kinda like this, but much wider and with a table and chairs where people can work their design magic solo (if they choose), rest their feet and eat my tasty snacks. And then I'd have a back office and design studio for my employees and I where I'd meet with (and design for) private clients...

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Megan Winters

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Lonny

and of course, inspiration will be abound.

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So tell me, what's your dream??