Weekend Update

I've been working on a few projects and will have some fun stuff to show you guys soon.  For now, here's a quick recap of our weekend. 

My lunch with my new designer friend was fabulous!   She has a successful firm here in our small town, and it was great to hear that she started it from the ground up, after she became a mom to three.  Though she started the business before she got her degree, she's a big advocate for getting the education.  I thirst for the knowledge and want to know as much as I can about the history and origin of design and sourcing and organizing and presenting and all that comes with being a designer, as well as the logistics of running a business  It'll be a slow process for me (since my priority is spending most of my time at home with the babe), but the education and career will come eventually.

Frank grouted the porch tiles.  Check that off the list!

I attended a local estate auction this weekend, and it was so much fun!  Friday the place was open for a preview, so I went with a friend to check it all out.  We got a "catalog" that listed all of the items, and showed up Saturday for the main event.  I'll be sure to go again soon, take more photos and write up a whole post about it.  It's fascinating!  Unfortunately I didn't win any of the items I bid on, but my friend got some great deals.  

Elsie enjoyed her swing this weekend.  It was sunny and arguably warm at times. 

For the past two months I've been convinced her two top teeth would break through at any moment.  It's gotta happen soon, right?  Check out those bulging gums!

This hot mess is what's been keeping me busy this weekend.

Come back later this week to see the new and improved pantry!

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Empty Frames Gallery Wall

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Today I'm having lunch with a new friend.  She owns a local design firm, and I can't wait to sit down with her and pick her brain.  She commuted to WCU later in life to get her design degree (like I'm planning to do).   And, she's super sweet and charming.  Should be fun!

Onto today's topic...I mentioned on Wednesday the $1 frame I picked up while thrifting.  It was part of a project to spruce up the corner we look at the most.

I've touched on our awkward living room layout before.  Here's another glimpse at the floor plan for you spacial/visual peeps like me.

Today we're focusing on that bottom right corner where the TV is.  At first I tried having an armoire there, but it was just too big and bulky, and had to be set on an angle....all of which I didn't like.

A few months ago we passed the armoire on to a friend and purchased this cabinet and a wall-mount bracket for the TV.  I've been collecting empty gilded frames at various thrift stores lately, and this weekend I came up with an open frame gallery corner.

It offers so much more personality and depth, and the bonus?  It allows for two small seats.  (FYI the chairs are high on my list to paint and reupholster.)  In the pic above the TV is angled out so we can view it best from the couch.  Here it is flush against the wall.

I had been collecting frames with no specific intent, until I came across that huge one surrounding the TV.  It's about 24x36" and is almost proportionate to the TV.  The TV's silver sheen contrasting against the gold frames bugs me a bit.  I can't quite figure out how to rectify that.

 I just eyeballed the placement of the frames, then used a level to hammer two nails for each to sit on. By placing the nails a few inches in from corners of the frames, I can slide the frames to the left or right a bit to perfect the placement. 

I thought about filling the frames with pretty fabric or paper.  I could easily wrap that around foam core, and just pop it in each frame.  But, I like the openness.  I think it might be too busy if the frames were filled.  Though, perhaps it would help detract the eye from the TV when it's not on.  What do you guys think? 

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Thrifting in Asheville

Do you guys like thrifting?  I sure do.  Elsie and I joined my friend Beth for a good ole treasure hunt through some stores in Asheville.  Beth takes tired old furniture and gives it a new life through her little business, Re-deemed.  We set out last week to find some pieces for her to, well, redeem. 

  We started off at the massive Habitat Restore in Asheville.  It's huge!

In addition to the warehouse space there's a more finished store.  We saw some very cool pieces.  Old mantels...

Leather chairs from the Grove Park Inn

Vintage school desk and chair

Antiques on display for a silent auction

 A pair of marble top end tables.  Wouldn't these be fabulous painted?  Those carved details would pop, and the marble tops would shine against a pretty blue.

The books/music/art section was impressive. 

 They had quite a bit of original art.  My favorite was this oil painting. 

It was $75, so I left it there.   I did buy an old $1 gilded frame.  You'll hear more about that in my next post. 

Next we went to The Screen Door.  I chuckled this morning when I opened my Google Reader and saw that Rhoda posted about being there, too.  It really is an incredible place, if you're into antiques and unique decor.  We got some good ideas for our own DIY projects.  Some of my favorites...

This gigantic white candelabra greets you as you walk in.

Check out the colors on those spools.  And that light fixture is a metal bucket upside down, with holes poked for the light to come through.  Adorable. 

 Vintage wooden odds and ends create a map 

Same with denim!

Here's a neat way to hop on the letters trend...

This little boat was so precious.  I think it was from an old amusement park ride of some sort.  I can see it as a piece of folk art in a large room.

Mid century chairs

I love the way they've hung these chairs on the wall.

Woodsy chandelier

Vintage kerchiefs

I fell in love with this miniature doll's bed.  I should have put Elsie in the pic to give you perspective of the size.  

These Xs and Os were stamped on upholstery webbing.  Love that!  You could easily stamp out text for a banner along it.  Pottery Barn used it as a Christmas tree garland...I'm saving that idea for next year.

Elsie politely let us know she was ready for some lunch (ha), so we wrapped it up and moved on.  She's getting much more active and vocal lately.  Especially when we're out.  Here's Beth entertaining her so I could eat.

 After a few more stops we grabbed coffee and a treat at West End Bakery.

 Beth ended up with a few good pieces, and we all had a fun time.  It's always nice to have a girl's shopping day. 

Oh, and date night on Friday was great, too!  We had some yummo oysters at Hobnob.

Our friend Shelley's all-girl band played...The Sundogs.  They were excellent!

Between their sets we walked over to see another friend playing.  Here's Naren, an awesome musician.  He just released a great new album:

Fun times had by all this weekend!  I'm stoked about my $1 frame, but would have loved to score a find like Rhoda's.  She mentioned near the bottom of her post finding a thrift store near The Screen Door that had amazing prices.  I'll have to scout that out soon. 

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