steal this idea: vintage mirror collection
While buying a crazy cute pair of shoes from Madewell over the weekend, I was momentary distracted by a rather genius decorating idea. The shop featured a collection of wooden handheld mirrors displayed on one wall near the dressing rooms. Some were so antiqued that the glass was no longer reflective, but I thought it’d be great idea in a bedroom, a guest bathroom or perhaps an entry way — anywhere where you might want to stop to check your lipstick quickly! A quick search on Etsy shows that these are relatively easy to gather, with most priced under $20. Still, with spring flea market season upon us, it might be more fun to do a scavenger hunt and find your own. They key would be to find ten or so that worked well together.
Do you have any great collections you’d like to show us? We’d love to see them!
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etsy find: nature photos and oil landscapes
I just finished hanging crown moulding and adding taller baseboards to the master bedroom. Ouch. Definitely used muscles I haven’t used that way since the last time the husband and I tackled crown moulding together. We also took the leap and changed the walls from almost white to a warm gray NatureMandalas to hang over nightstands (I’ve raved about Allison’s work before), but still needed a small piece of art for the opposite wall. Which brings me to the oil landscapes. Although there’s lot of original oils on Etsy for under $100, Carol Schiff’s work caught my eye, especially the marsh paintings. My soft spot for watercolors remains, but I’m looking forward to adding an oil to the mix. The smaller framing cost will be a nice change, too! (Sorry, no before pictures of the bedroom. We tend to leap before I think to snap pictures. As soon as it’s finished, I’ll post some after photos.)
want it now: porcelain lobster riding lady
What kind of person decides to make a butter dish in the shape of a lobster WITH a flapper girl riding on its back? I don’t know, but he or she goes in my book as a genius. If I had $150 laying around, this 1920s extravaganza would be mine. Since prudence rules this day, however, the lovely combo could be yours. A quick search on ebay turned up another funky Art Deco piece of kitchenware in the form of a full-skirted woman as napkin holder. Charming though she is, she doesn’t quite capture my heart like her lobster-riding friend.
meet catherine nolin: our etsy artist of the month
As part of our newly freshened up Shelterrific design, we are going to be featuring an artist a month on the site and in our header. This month’s artist is Massachusetts-based Catherine Nolin, whose work we fell in love with via her Etsy shop. With ornately decorated rooms, wallpapers, patterns, and fancily-dressed ladies, they conjure up fantasies of tea parties in grand estates. Our favorite, however is Tree of Life, which you see on our header, with its exotic birds and flowers.
We asked Catherine to tell us a little about her work, and her where her sense of decorating flair comes from.
Your work features a lot of elaborately decorated rooms. What inspires them?
When my parents did a big living room makeover it made a big impression on me as a 8 year old. I remember being involved in the process looking at swatches of fabric, carpets, and paint colors. When it all came together it was quite a thing. When I create an interior I am pulling together all those elements and I just love it.
What’s your favorite room in your house?
My favorite room in my house is the living room. We painted the walls a dark olive which was risky but turned out to be the perfect backdrop/ canvas for all the eclectic furnishing we have collected over the years.
How would you describe your painting style?
I don’t quite have a name for my style although some have said contemporary realism. I am very inspired by Matisse, Vermeer and Hopper to name a few. I learn something everyday when I paint.
For more information about Catherine Nolin and her work, visit her website and Etsy store.
r.i.p. eva zeisel, wonderful artist & ceramic designer
My husband gave me (well, us) a wonderful gift for Christmas. A set of Eva Zeisel’s classic dishware to go with the gorgeous gravy boat and serving dish we already have. We’ve been coveting it for years, and have been making the splurge. It is so delicate and simple. Design at its purist.
This morning I read in The New York Times that she passed away, at the age of 105 (!) after a lifetime of doing what she loved and bring delightful objects into the world. We have written about our admiration for this remarkable woman and her work before.
Tonight, I’m going to serve some Swedish meatballs in this bowl, and toast the New Year in Eva’s honor. — Angela M.
Previous posts on Eva Zeisel:
A peek in Eva Zeisel’s studio
