steal this idea: custom flor coasters
I have a huge glass coffee that I absolutely love. It’s perfect for a messy craft project, spreading out work papers, or having a casual dinner while watching a movie. But, after a while, I got tired of having to constantly clean it b/c my coasters weren’t measuring up. While cute, they didn’t absorb any moisture and left me with watery rings to constantly wipe away. But — ta-da — enter a crafty solution! I went to my local Flor store and picked up three 6×6″ carpet samples (for $5), cut each sample into quarters with a sharp utility knife, and voila – cute coasters that actually do their job! Flor has a huge selection of colors and textures that would fit almost any decorating style, and because they’re so inexpensive, than can be switched up when room styles change. So, what do you think of my new coasters? — Rebecca F.
Photo credit: Rebecca Firlik
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want it now: colorful thermometers from basic french
In our shanty of a rental apartment, it’s always summer. No matter what time of year it is in a city that enjoys four distinct seasons, the apartment’s one shining constant is that it will always, without fail, feel a balmy 85°F in the shade. And while one should get used to the temperature differential after a while, it has at times led me astray in the wardrobe department, and on those days when I’m flying out of the apartment in the morning, there’s nothing I’d love more than an accurate (and cute!) thermometer to shoot me straight. The Basic French gets it right with these colorful enamel options. Mercury-less and usable both indoors and out, $28 gets you a sleek design and peace of mind. Now if only I had a place to mount one! Woe. Manhattan, you win. Again. – Sarah C.
hopping on the bar cart craze
Have you hopped on the bar cart craze yet? It seems in every magazine I read — whether digital or printed — there’s at least one. A search for “bar cart†or “serving cart†on eBay returned the usual multitude of results. While Etsy returned considerably fewer vintage options, the difference in style and price of the $75 garden cart and $750 mid-century cart are a good showcase for the options you’ll find. Me? I like the idea of a bar cart but am afraid all those glass bottles are inviting disaster. — Sarah L.
flea market wish list: mccoy vases
I’ve become the person that never makes it to the flea market on time. The result? I see a lot of good stuff walking out. This year, I resolve to make it to at least one flea market with the early birds in the hopes of scoring a deal on a McCoy vase. While I like the simplicity of the deep green glaze, there’s something kitschy and exuberant about the bird and animal vases that makes my heart go pitter-pat. You can see a gallery of McCoy pottery, along with a history of the family-owned Ohio company, here. — Sarah L.
glazed and enthused: hand-crafted motawi tile
For all the love we give Etsy, there are a lot of artisans working for larger companies that deserve a shout out. Case in point? Motawi Tile in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Nawal Motawi started the company in 1992 in her parents’ garage. Now the company has its own space (tours available) and is carried at nearly 400 tile dealers nationwide. The glazes are inspired, in part, by Rookwood while the designs are a definite nod to the Arts and Crafts era. If you’re interested in ordering tiles for display purposes, you can shop online through the Motawi store. — Sarah L.
