Sunday, January 31, 2010

All bottled up. New Finds of the week

Every once in awhile I get the chance to go to an auction.  It is so interesting to watch what dealers and other buyers gravitate to. 

I've have been wanting to find more aqua bottles to put in our garden window along with little milk bottles. 

Much to my surprise there were two boxes of lovely vintage and antique bottles at the auction.   Lots of people looked at them but only a few placed bids.  Guess who won?

I'd like to embellish some with vintage findings, crystals and others like a little beach in a bottle.

Some of them are 100 years old  made of hand blown glass.
There are few with pearlized areas but, I don't know what caused it.
Cobalt Milk of Magnesia and Bromo Seltzer

The aqua bottle in this picture is an old rounded bottom soda bottle.
The fluted ones say Julep on them.

Antique handblown ink bottle.

Box of vintage postcards and interesting items.

Gotta love that "for Ladies over 30" Special Party

Annual Insurance Premium for $7.75.  Don't we all wish?

Two old wood boxes in need of refurbishment. 
The smaller one had tools in it. 

My DB wanted this box of interesting items.

This is one of the items inside; an old envelope sealer that weights a lot. 
Apparently this should have a roller inside the well and a lid. 

He also spied this old pulley.  Vintage industrial kitchen item???

A box of old spools, and little jar of buttons.


The End!.

If anyone has any experience for cleaning out the old bottles I'd appreciate any tips.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Vintage Industrial Decor and Lab Glass

Posting on this blog has made it more apparent the list of things I like is pretty long.  One of them, is industrial and lab decor.  It shares decades old fondness with shades of white and the time worn.  Maybe, what makes them all so appealing is how different they can be or are.

978_1547belgian-iron-floor-cage-pendant-1900s2 Cage floor lamp Modern 50

The industrial part is likely due to the numerous hours I would spend in my father’s garage/work shop. I liked his old wood tool boxes, dolly’s, shelves, cabinets with all sorts of drawers of treasures,  jars and bottles of tidbits, oil cans, clamps, pulleys, work lights, metal stools, chains, gears, funnels, welding masks, pot belly stoves, plum bobs, survey equipment, table saws, corbels, oak planking, boat parts…..You name it.  The garage was also where we would end up talking.  Today, his garage is much smaller but, we still talk there and he still calls it “my office”.

modern 50 1507_french-boatmans-longbox-primitive3 Vintage tool box Modern 50
modern 50 1480_industrial-zinc-firewood-holders-6Vintage zinc dough buckets turned log holders Modern 50
modern 50 1495_metal-industrial-cabinet-comparments2Vintage cabinet Modern 50
Factory 20 603_1042belgian-clothiers-work-bench-industrial4 Vintage Belgian clothier work station Factory 20

Which leads me to our kitchen.  It pretty much looks the same as the day we moved in except for a new dishwasher and the counters have been decorated with a microwave and a coffee pot.
Copy of House 012


Copy of House 011


  Not shown: opposite the sink is a built in desk .  On the other side of the cook top is a bar stool height counter.  Next to the refrigerator is a small pantry closet.  Then there is the brick.  The arch part is kind of neat.  Why, couldn’t it have stopped there?  The brick is on the walls and backsplash too.

A remodel is not in the budget and thankfully we aren’t in need of appliances.  First, I’m thinking instead of fighting the brick work with it, maybe white wash it, refinish the wood cabinets and add some industrial elements. 

Like this vintage metal chair for the desk from Get Back.
getbackrrmetalchair13
blue ocean traders draftsman%20stool%20photo%202
Or these stools from this cool vendor Blue Ocean Traders 

getbackoakleytable2
Love this vintage table base from Get Back and the loft style showroom it’s in.  Notice the brick is whitewashed.
8260 Peddlers potato basket
8225-Gym-Basket by PEDDLERS
 
Reproduction potato and gym locker baskets by Peddlers another vendor’s  booth we like to stop at.


9375 wire fluted pendant lamp peddlers
7205 large metal fan lamp peddlers
7201-Glass-Cone-Hanging-Lam Peddlers Fluted wire, metal  and glass funnel pendant lamps by Peddlers


kitchen tune up stainless_steel_header


stainless living gallery-r13lg
Install professional 12 to 14 gauge stainless counter tops.  They look so neat and clean.
The bonus recyclable when the infatuation has faded.

Soapstone hgtv
Or maybe soapstone

blue ocean traders reproduction bottle%20holdersReproduction bottle rack Blue Ocean Traders


getback100_7338-29m Vintage foundry gear Get Back


Factory 20 814_wiremeshsteelindustrialcan--002 Vintage wire mesh steel can Factory 20


82828 Barreveld zinc finished zig zag hooks
Reproduction accordion rack Barreveld
9218 peddlers 9214 round card rack Reproduction memo racks


759_1253french-blacksmith-iron-pot-hanger2 Vintage pot rack Modern 50


820_1310vintage-lab-glass-apothecary-science1 Vintage beakers and bottle Modern 50

Lab glass affection started with a grade school science project. To add to my beaker and lab glass collection that I use for  flower vases, sorting beads, to holding small collections of this and that; test tubes to hold spices and florence flasks for olive oil, vinegars, water or ….

indigo test tubes in rack
572 indgo lab supply florence flasks
Indigo supply


Stainless canisters for coffee, dog biscuits, pasta…
Lab Safety Supply Stainless-Steel-Containers-LSS-_i_LB30459_01 Lab Safety SUpply Stainless-Steel-Biological-Transfer-LSS-_i_LBM94861Z
Stainless by Lab Safety Supply



I’ve also picked out a few things for some other rooms but that is for next time….

Thank you all for being so kind and patient looking at all these photos.  Do you think this can work as a modest update to our kitchen?  Please leave as many suggestions and comments as you care to write.  I’ve got some budgeting and convincing to do.




Monday, January 25, 2010

Simplemente Blanco design studio

As the name implies, the key color is white and the designs simple. We discovered Simplemente Blanco as were rushing through a trade show last year. The display, literally awash in shades of white stopped us in our tracks.

We were greeted by the lovely owner and designer Fernada Bourlot who explained almost everything, is made by hand and carefully done.

knit pillow simplemente blanco Beach House LivingCozy Ochtos pillow
nature frame simplemente blanco Beach House LivingA tiny touch of nature
gauze lanterns simplemente blanco gauze lanterns Beach House Living

These gauzy, airy linen lanterns are a favorite.  Wouldn’t these be great for a wedding? We recommend putting the tea light inside a glass vase before putting into the lantern.
Napkins simplemente blanco Beach House Living Napkin rings with organic touches.
napkin rings simplemente blanco Beach House Living bridalAnd, others with a touch of whimsy.
bath sponges simplemente blanco Beach House LivingSoap on rope simplemente blanco beach house livingSponges and soaps  
garden  simplemente blanco Beach House Living Beach and Bauble For the gardener.
To learn more about Fernada Bourlot’s design philosophy and to see photos of her studio click here.  Simplemente Blanco is available at Beach and Bauble.

Simplemente Blanco fresh, comfortable, organic, modern.