My Mind's Eye

You know me, always looking at pieces of furniture and imagining the "what ifs" ...like "oh look at those chairs, what if we recovered them and painted the wood, wouldn't they look fantastic?"  It's a gift and a curse, being able to see the potential in a piece is great because in my mind's eye I see what a fabulous piece it could become, but then it's often hard to convey that vision to others.  Sometimes when I post chairs on FINDS for sale I feel like I need to say "I promise these chairs will be unbelievably awesome re-done, just give them a chance!"  So when I stumbled across a re-do that was just like a pair of chairs that I have for sale at FINDS I was blown away because it is exactly what I picture the re-do for my chairs looking like...

Here are my chairs.  Asking $250 for the pair.  The fronts are in decent shape but the backs not so much, so if you wanted to use them with their back to the wall you would be fine.  I didn't even do a great job of photographing it, but the bottoms of these chairs has a great undulating shape that would really pop once it's painted.  I think re-covered these chairs would be SO fantastic!

Here is an UN-painted pair of chairs that Circa Who sold on One Kings Lane for god only knows how much but they look like they were only re-upholstered...

So this is the re-do that I stumbled upon that really brought to life what I pictured for these chairs....

I mean almost the exact same chairs and look how good they look painted!  I think the ones I have might be a smidge bigger and have better wood details...but doesn't this style chair just look fantastic all spiffed up?

I would think that even a more fun fabric color like green with white piping (you know how I love white piping) would make it pop even more.

What do you think of these chairs all made over?

Design Files: Franco Albini

One of my absolute favorite vintage pieces that I am constantly on the hunt for is the Franco Albini cane ottoman.  I currently have one in my house that I had planned on selling, but somehow it's never made it's way to the auction block.  I look at it every day like the Dread Pirate Roberts looked at Wesley from The Princess Bride and tell it, "I'll most likely sell you tomorrow."  I think it knows by now that there is no weight behind my words.

Albini was an Italian architect, designer, and interior decorator, and it seems that the height of his furniture design, including many famous chairs and this ottoman, occurred in the 50's.  

Here are a few of my favorite uses of the Franco Albini cane ottoman...I just love the way that it adds a different element to a space with it's unique sea urchin-like shape and orange-y hued woven rattan.

There are several copies of the Franco Albini stool out there, but generally it is the quality of the materials (ie is the rattan smooth and polished or does it have a rougher feel) and the distinct shape and pattern (mostly at the top) that give away the real deal.  If you find one of these beauties the best way to check it against the actual is to look on sites like 1ST DIBS or eBay and see what the real thing looks like.

available on 1ST DIBS

available on eBay

available on Etsy

So what do you think of the Franco Albini ottoman?

Sold Items and Florida Craigslist Perusal

I'm currently enjoying a much needed vacay here on the North Carolina coast, so of course the call comes from the Cheshire Cat gallery (where my booth FINDS is located) to tell me that all of the chairs in the booth have been purchased...leaving it essentially naked.  I hate having a naked booth and it's killing me right now that people might be seeing it and wonder where all the stuff is?!  I'll have to cope.  I don't think that I showed you the two things that sold, so for the sake of thoroughness let's look at them shall we?

These two blue chairs with pink velvet piping had me at hello.  Now that I've moved into my new apartment I was totally eyeing these thinking I needed to bring them back into my place, but I'm glad they sold and hope they went to a good home.

This thing is even more fun in person...you can't see in this picture but the back of this chair is done completely in green velvet.  I had it for a steal at $175...which I feel good about seeing that Circa Who had a pair of these chairs that are SUPER scratched up for $750...

via CIRCA WHO

I can't say that I don't love the vibe that CIRCA WHO has going on.  I even have several of the same pieces that they do (obviously for much less) so it got me thinking about Florida and all of the wonderful ish that comes out of there so I got on the South Florida Craigslist...prepare to feast your eyes and then weep with me (unless you live there) because it is that good...

HERE

$195

Ok so usually rattan doesn't float my boat, but this thing is so unique and dramatic I can't stand it.  Super pricey, but where are you going to find another one?  I see it with a really bold patterned cushion...next

HERE

I see this with a bunch of really pretty barware, maybe some green glasses styled up all pretty and some flowers to set it all off.  Maybe in front of a dramatic charcoal wall.  $125...a steal.

HERE

$200 for the whole set.  Yes I said for the WHOLE kit n' kaboodle.   I would offer $150 and I bet she would take it.  This one makes me want to get into my truck right now and drive to Miami.  Seeing this stuff literally makes me itch.  So good.

HERE

I get that not everyone would go for this kind of coffee table base...but I think it is so fantastic...with the right decor around it this coffee table would take over the world.  Alright maybe not but at $150 I would definitely pick it up...

HERE

Along the same vein...retro 60's ghost end table.  $100...they even said or best offer on this one so you could potentially get it for like $70 which is unreal.

HERE

This 60's Italian Art Deco bar...is what my dreams are made of.  $300

HERE

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  Legit vintage Mid-Century tufted chairs with chrome legs.  $300 obo

HERE

Brass tables are maybe my favorite...and these two have the best lines and look like they are in fantastic shape.  $100 OBO...I would scoop these up in a heart beat!

I could keep going...but then we'd both be here all day.  I'm thinking I need to road trip it to Florida to go buy goodies for FINDS in the very near future!

One Moment of Pretty

Here is what I am looking at this morning in my new apartment while I sip on my espresso.

Really nothing else in the place is set up yet except for maybe this one little corner.  I had my truck full of stuff to bring to the new apartment yesterday afternoon and a monsoon decided to land right over Raleigh and soaked EVERYTHING.  I think I just needed one moment of pretty.

Seriously the rest of the apartment has boxes and shit piled everywhere from the wet move.  I feel like I'm living in "Hoarders"

PS I am really starting to dig these brick walls...I wasn't so sure about them at first.

What Has Evie Been Up To?

So thankful for all of the support and congratulations sent my way after my big announcement!  Y'all made me feel good, and like I might actually be able to pull this off...which is something that I need to hear A LOT.

You may wonder, Evie, what have you been doing now that you don't have a job?  Let me tell you.  First I got on Pinterest.  I pinned.  A bunch of things.  Then I thought I might need to tone it down a little so people didn't think that I was just doing nothing but pinning all day.  

Both pics I'll be using as inspiration for my new office.

Oh what's that I didn't tell you that I moved?  Yeah, I've been spending the week moving apartments...talk about putting some major life changes all into one week.  

Next thing I did was pick up some furniture, you know since that is going to be my entire source of income now...

Picked up these beauties:

...and those are just to list a few.  They are from an old Thomasville set and I am over the moon with them.  The ab fab dresser has already sold, which lets me know that all is right in the world because that thing is amazing.

I have been painting some pieces for a customer who bought some chippendale chairs from me a while back.  They are going to look awesome when they are done...but they have been...ahem...difficult.

All I'm going to say is Rust-oleum's Self Etching Primer is jockeying for the top spot as my new best friend and we are both giving the stink eye to Rust-oleums "painters touch" spray paint.

Then, and this has been the biggest surprise, I have been falling into bed every night DOG tired.

No offense meant to canines.  Specifically this one who has taken to wearing bibs that my brother fashions for him out of dinner napkins:

Goodbye Corporate America...for now

OK....so some serious stuff has gone down this week.  I gave my two weeks notice to my corporate America job yesterday.  (do I hear crickets?)  I can't even begin to tell you how excited/scared-shitless I am about it!  I feel so free it's amazing.  However, now I'm looking at making a living off of my little furniture side business and that is terrifying.  I have been doing really well with it, so now that I'm going to be able to devote ALL my attention to it I'm hoping to kick some ass, take some names, and maybe make a few t-shirts about it.  That being said, say a little prayer for me, send me your suggestions on health insurance coverage, and tell all your friends about my furniture business!

This is what I added to the repertoire this week...

$230 as is

These will need to be reupholstered but the bones and the lines on these two chairs are just un-freaking-real.  I imagine these in a solid color like green or navy with some contrasting white piping and my heart goes pitter patter.  Show stoppers.

This is where my brain goes to when I picture these chairs re-done...

See how the contrasting piping just brings out the great lines of a vintage piece?

A great print like this with white piping would be amazing on these chairs too.

See how stunning a bold color with a little white trim is?

Next up....

$280

So at first glance this vintage peach velvet sofa is ok, but nothing out of the ordinary...but then when you see what sort of detail it has going on...it's game changing...

would you look at that fretwork wood trim detail?  Have you EVER seen anything like it?  I haven't.  I think it's so fantastic.  I would love to see that trim painted white and see what a little bit of new upholstery would do to the couch even though it really doesn't need it.

I Go Grenade

Currently dancing to this.  You should too.  Tribal costume optional.

Stencil Stupor

I have long been obsessed with Otomi fabric...and well frankly I think so has everyone has who has ever seen Grace Bonney's Otomi headboard (middle photo below).  So imagine my sheer and utter delight when I saw this Otomi pattern stencil on Etsy.

I go dumb when I see this.  I just love it.  I want to re-create that green wall paper look in the picture in the top left corner.  SUCH a good option for renters like me...all the benefits of wallpaper, none of the permanency.

You can find the stencil HERE along with many other fab choices from the Etsy shop Bluedoor17.  I'm ordering one as soon as I finish this post.  

Yes let's re-create this look with a stencil.  Big red lantern and all.  My mind is reeling.

Monkey Bitness'

Hello friends, I took a lovely few days off after the 4th and a quick overnight trip with A to New Bern, NC.  We stayed at a hotel that had a pool so you know where this girl spent a considerable amount of my time...

Whilst there I also picked up this beauty:

Yes that is my Bojangles cup.  You don't have Bojangles where you live?  You should.

Loving the fretwork on this piece.  I see it painted high gloss white...maybe the recessed parts of the fretwork painted a diff. color?  Need to ponder this some more.  

We had a really big weekend at the booth which was super exciting and something I wish I could repeat every weekend.  

Sold this little gem of a bowl..did I ever show you this?  I don't think I did:

Vintage Horchow monkey and banana bowl.  Retailed for $210 in the 90's.  I sold mine for $190.

I'm kind of going through a monkey phase because look what I added to the booth this week as well:

Little blue and white monkey candle holder.  I love him.

These people have all apparently also caught the monkey fever and I applaud.

via Designsponge

Some This and That

I'm sorry to have to play catch up yet again with y'all.  I have been gone for 7 whole days to the beach and then meetings.

The beach was great, the meetings not so much (I had to miss my hip hop recital which was akin to pulling Michael Phelps out of the 200m fly), but luckily on my way home from the meetings (which were in South Carolina) I picked up this beauty:

Three drawer Dixie Campaigner.  I picture it some fantastically bold color like green or red...or maybe coral?  The part that gets me is this:

Stamped on the inside of the first drawer.  I want this logo everywhere.  Tattoo it to my body, hang it on my walls.  Everywhere.  Love it.

$100 for the dresser as is

$180 painted the color of your choice

Now on the FINDS page

Found this distressed table out in the middle of nowhere NC.  I love the shape of the top and the faux bamboo detail on the legs.  You can tell that this was a really quality piece based upon the craftsmanship.

I didn't feel like re-staining it so I took the glamour up a notch instead...

$58

It has already been purchased by someone who sells on One Kings Lane.  Pretty exciting no?

By the way, OKL I would totally love to sell some awesomeness on your site...just saying.

Took this beauty to this...

$85 available on  FINDS

Oh yeah...this is what my apartment looks like right now....thank goodness all pieces with the exception of that table have been sold...otherwise I would turn myself into "Hoarders:  furniture edition."