New at Atkinson Row!

Lots of new things in the shop this week!  Here are a few of my favorites...

 This is a really beautiful antique cake pedestal in absolutely perfect condition.  The graphic detail around the edges really helps balance out the flowers - not too "sweet".  To me, this would make such a special wedding gift....

Oh, my favorite find of the week for sure!  This guy was peeking out from behind tons of stuff while I was already in the process of checking out at one of my favorite stops and of course I had to stop everything and go back for him.  I absolutely love the idea of giving this giraffe as a baby shower gift - not only because it would look adorable in a nursery (though out of reach as it's VERY heavy) but also because it could easily be engraved with the baby's name and birth date.  Cute, cute.

As I eagerly await the return of Mad Men, I guess I've had retro bar ware on my mind?  This ice bucket is just so fun.  I repainted the cane work just to make it "crisper" but it's my guess this was never used - it's in that good of condition.  Even if you aren't into Mid Century Modern things, this piece would still look great poolside....

 This marble dish was one of those pieces that I picked up and put back on the shelf about a dozen times....I knew it was very unique and obviously interesting....but I just wasn't sure what to make of it.  In the end, I knew it was too cool to pass up.  This is one continuous piece of carved  marble and the finish is so smooth and the colors so pretty...It's special.

Last but not least, I'm calling this watercolor painting one of my finest "rescue missions".  This piece was buried deep and in pretty rough shape but it's one of those works that you just can't stop looking at.  It's offbeat, colorful and would add a nice bit of interest to a bookshelf that's taking itself too seriously.  

Head over to the shop to check out the rest!

Collection #2 - Maps

Decorating with maps is not a new idea but these images remind me of how great a collection of framed maps can look no matter what your decor style might be.

These first two images are my favorites - I love the "faded" black & white maps and this would be as easy as taking any old atlas (old, new, no matter) over to your local Kinko's and then framing with a stack of these Ikea frames.  At $4.99, it's OK to buy 12 or so, right?

Elle Decor

Ralph Lauren Home print ad

And then again, the colors found in traditional maps are some of my favorites....

And, for the over-acheivers among us, you could certainly collect or copy vintage maps for a more "old world" look.

And, lastly this one has been one of my favorites - interior designer Kim Coleman hired an artist to paint a nautical chart of Long Island for a guest cottage she was working on.  (As seen in House Beautiful).  I love the "blueprint" style!

House Beautiful - see the rest of the house here.

"collected" not cluttered

I'm always so impressed with those that can strike this delicate balance so well.    I know everyone has their own level of tolerance for any type of "clutter" but there's something to be said for surrounding yourself with things you love and this homeowner does it just right.

This is the Chicago apartment of Devin Kirk, as seen in this month's Elle Decor...Enjoy!

 About picture-hanging Kirk says, "I agonize over it and then I just dive in with a hammer." :)

Kirk says, "I like great-looking old things, and things that will look great when they get old."

This black & white poster came from the Gap where the homeowner worked back in college.  I'm pretty sure I spot blue ceilings here and Kirk, being from the South, says that Southern front porches inspired this foyer.

This version of their kitchen was originally just meant to be a temporary "quick fix", but they ended up liking it enough to keep it.  The original appliances were oatmeal-colored and rather than replacing them, they just painted the cabinets the same color (Ralph Lauren's Peony).  The countertops are Ikea butcher block.

 The trusty old Expedit bookcase from Ikea looks great filled with books and treasures.


All images from Elle Decor, March 2011.  Photography by William Abranowicz.

dough bowls

I think rustic dough bowls look great both in and out of the kitchen.  I've seen so many great uses for dough bowls over the years - serving food, holding magazine and mail, holiday decorations, even lots of great planting ideas...but never for actually making dough oddly enough.

I've got a beautiful vintage dough bowl from Vermont listed in the shop now, in perfect condition.

Others to inspire...

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atkinson row

I'm happy to announce that all of my vintage items will now be available through my new Etsy shop, Atkinson Row.  Of course, I'll still be checking in here as well and offering sneak peeks of upcoming shop items.  I hope you'll check out the shop and let me know what you think!

I truly believe that there is no substitute for the one-of-a-kind charm and personality of vintage items and this shop is a fun way for me to share all the amazing things I come across.  It's my hope that Atkinson Row will become a trusted resource for those who feel the same and especially for those who enjoy giving vintage gifts.  Whether you're struggling with a gift for someone who seems to already have everything or just simply trying to show someone how special they are to you, I think giving vintage is a great solution - one-of-a-kind treasures that instantly convey your thoughts.

To  make things even easier, I plan to offer themed annual sales throughout the year in categories such as Wedding, Graduation, Baby, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc...with new items being added each week for last minute hostess and housewarming gifts!

Also, gift wrap is available for all purchases!   It's really important to me that the experience of both giving and receiving items from Atkinson Row will always live up to the sophistication and elegance of the piece itself.  You can always expect unique, undamaged, fully restored items beautifully wrapped and delivered in time for a special occasion!

Don't forget to check out the current items and here's a sneak peek of just a few of next week's items....

Sterling Silver Trophy

Original Canvas Oil Painting

Large Fenton Glass "Silvercrest" Bowl

Set of 5 Gold Leafed Japanese Trays

Cool Collections #1

When my brother came up for a visit back in November, we took many strolls through Boston and one day came across this window display at Allsaints Spitalfields on Newbury Street.  We thought it was pretty interesting so we snapped a few pictures...

(all photos compliments of the very talented DPG)

This installation is made up of dozens of antique sewing machines displayed in rows across the plate glass windows at the entrance of the store.  Even if you weren't aware that the store was there (which we weren't), this display definitely gets your attention - much more than a few well-dressed mannequins ever could.   I think Allsaints has created this same window display in other markets so they surely must have the lock up on all vintage sewing machines on the planet.

Here's a couple more images from A Proper Bostonian who was lucky enough to catch the "installation day" back in 2010.  Imagine this sidewalk chaos would soon yield such perfect uniformity!  I could definitely get wrapped up in a project like this and I guess that says a lot about me...

And just for kicks and because my adopted hometown looked particularly charming on that November day, here are a few more photos from our walk.  Thanks, D!

GILT HOME

Sorry for the hiatus!  I've been super busy lately hitting all the local flea markets and antique shops looking for the very best items to put in the shop - stay tuned!  In the next month, I hope to unveil a new look for the shop with a great introductory batch of inventory ranging from furniture, to lighting to art work - all local vintage finds.

Sometimes, I look to some of my favorite contemporary retailers to see all of their fantastic offerings (many of which are reproductions from another era) because it really inspires me on my next flea market outing.  Chances are I will find something very similar but with the unmistakable charm of a one-of-a-kind vintage piece.

There are so many to choose from, but today I've really enjoyed pouring through Gilt Home.  They are reliably on-trend with their products and the range is pretty great.

Some of my favorites today!

VINTAGE INSPIRATION

This spread is from a long past Lonny issue (April/May 2010) but it is still one of the most inspiring home features I've ever come across.  This home is located in Houston and is owned by graphic designer, Ashley Putnam - who is coincidentally also from my hometown of Baton Rouge.

I've gone back to these images many times simply to look at all the wonderful vintage items that Ashley has clearly been collecting for some time.  For me, it's the one-of-a-kind lamps, bowls, artwork, accessories and furnishing that makes this house so great.

Let's take as stroll, shall we?

The white bamboo lamp up top is great and you can never have enough mint julep cups, right?  More bamboo notes in the coat rack and, of course, a little home bar loaded with vintage wares.

I love the eclectic mix of artwork all through the house.  I see art like this stacked up in thrift stores all the time.  I also really like the antique secretary desk doing double-duty as the bar.  Definitely a clever idea.  

Even the red lacquer bathroom seems to be loaded with vintage charms.  And, I love the blue and white ticking on the dining chairs - looks like it's been there forever, right?

The graphic wallpaper in the master bedroom is by Ralph Lauren and adds a bit of drama without seeming too dark and I totally appreciate the mismatched lamps in there.  And, last but not least, the kids' room - just perfect and is a bamboo table?

couture color

A few color inspirations by way of your favorite luxury brands...

PS - I'm working on a new product (coming soon to the shop), inspired by that very distinct orange as seen below.  Check back soon!

Set of [2] Vintage Campaign Dressers

Vintage Set of Mid-Century Campaign Dressers

22.25" H x 24" W x 17" D

[ SOLD ]

I first saw this sad-looking pair out front of a local thrift store huddled together in the pouring rain!  It really was such a sad sight and the store was closed so...I turned around and just put them in the back of the car.  Kidnapping seemed like the right thing to do under the circumstances?  But don't worry, I did pay for them eventually.  It's a long story, but I've never worked so hard to buy something before.

These were made by Dixie and are in great structural shape, despite what looked like several years of neglect. The first thing I did was carefully remove and polish the hardware, then went about the usual repairs - smoothed out the drawer tracks, replaced a foot and sanded and filled in a few minor nicks and dents.  It was primed, painted with 3 coats of a high-gloss black paint and then finished off with 2 coats of water-based polyurethane, which will help extend the life of the paint job considerably - no scratches or chipping!

After yesterday's post, you may be wondering why I opted for black?  It was quite an identity crisis - I seriously considered every color of the rainbow.  In the end though, it was the hardware that steered me to black.  That hardware is really great and it makes quite a statement so I just figured, why compete?  I definitely think it was the right choice - these dressers are glamorous and sophisticated and will fit in anywhere.  I will be sad to see them go!