Deal #3

Metal frame bench with upholstered seat (fabric is black/cream dots). Perfect for a foyer or at the foot of a bed. 60"w x 21"d x 26"h.
$125

Deal #2

Sorry for the delay, folks, but here's another booth item for which I'm looking a happy home.

Stone top table with iron base. 42" diameter x 30" high. Perfect library/foyer table or chic breakfast table.  $200

Deal #1

Newly painted black two-tier coffee table. Legs have bamboo detailing. Great condition. 40"w x 16"d x 18"h
$150
Email me if you're interested.

Bold Renovation

Happy Friday!

I'm leaving shortly for a weekend away with some good friends (hurray!) but before I jet off, I want to share this story with you from Thursday's Washington Post. It's written by Terri Sapienza, my favorite journalist on the newspaper design beat. I used to run out every Thursday morning to buy the Post when we lived outside D.C. so that I could read the Home section. (Full disclosure- I got to meet Terri several years ago when she wrote an article about Refined, my old business that I started with my dear friend Kathryn. Not only is Terri a great writer, but she's really sweet & full of style.) Anyways, I digress- back to Thursday's article, which covers interior designer Lauren Liess and the Herndon, VA home that she and her husband totally renovated in 6 months on a modest budget. Reading it made me want to go buy the ugliest house on the best street and work some magic- after all, there's really nothing quite like a nicely done home makeover.

I've seen Lauren's house in magazines and on blogs before, but I never knew what a total renovation she had done and under what constraints. Learning that she did this short on time, without a huge budget, and against the advice of her realtor & even her family makes me love it- and her- even more. You really have to check out Terri's article which shows some before shots of the house- yikes. You are a true visionary, Lauren. Congrats to you!

Dotkat

I am crazy over Kravet's Dotkat fabrics, which are part of their Echo Design collection. Made from 100% cotton and in five great colorways, this indie-feeling polka dot serves as a great neutral in combination with a print but also has the power to stand alone. Did I mention that it's really well priced? Let me know if you'd like additional information or want to order yardage.

Now, what needs reupholstering in the Applegate house? Off to search, because that green colorway is calling my name...

Anybody out there?

If any loyal readers are still checking in, let me first assure you that I'm still alive, despite my 3+ month hiatus from this blog. Secondly, thank you for hanging around and for continuing to check back in despite my unexplained absence, for which I have no real reason other than the the fact that I got busy with family, work, travel, having my email and facebook hacked, a fast crawling son and life in general. I have a bad habit of shutting down when I feel overwhelmed, thus the hiatus from my blog. But I found myself really missing this venue for sharing thoughts and inspiration and then read some wonderful posts by other working/blogging moms (all of whom seem far busier than me!) on how they juggle it all. I was encouraged and reminded myself that blogging (or most things in life, really) doesn't have to be all or nothing and so here I am to give it another try. I wouldn't dare promise consistency but for now it's good to be back and for those of you who are still reading...thank you.

Let's get caught up for a second, shall we?

It's with both a little sadness and relief that I share probably the most pertinent bit of news to this blog, which is that I have closed my booth at Hunt & Gather in Raleigh. I had two wonderful years of selling refurbished & reclaimed pieces at this fabulous consignment store and I'm so grateful for all of the people I met through this experience. But finding, refurbishing, and hauling furniture to Raleigh became a little overwhelming with a child in the picture and I couldn't devote the time I needed to towards my booth. Definitely the hardest part about this decision is no longer having a reason to buy (or place to store) great pieces when I find them (and, wouldn't you know, as soon as I decided to close the booth one fabulous piece after another has stumbled upon my path...torture!) So from time to time I might feature a piece or two on this blog that I just couldn't pass up in hopes of finding it a good home. Bringing old furniture back to life will always be a passion of mine, so don't look for me to completely stop my rounds through estate sales and second-hand shops (but I might have to clean out our shed for extra storage!) I also have a few pieces from the booth that I'd like to sell (can you smell a bargain?), so stay tuned for further information on them.

I haven't completely given up blogging over the past few months.  I've been honored to be a contributing writer for SavorNC's blog, and I've talked about everything from sustainable design to front doors to grasscloth wallpaper with their readers over the past few months. You can find me there every other Thursday; tomorrow I'll be discussing how the use of custom details like trim and nailheads can elevate and personalize the look of your upholstery.

So that's the skinny for now. Again, thanks for reading; it's good to be back.

Fretwork Chests

Some fresh new pieces are in at Hunt & Gather/AAI, just in time for spring! 

Fretwork chests, 2 available. $795 each or $1,495/pair. 42" x 18" x 33", brand new condition.

I loved them so much that I had to keep one for myself!

Amanda Nisbet in Coastal Living

Coastal Living Magazine keeps getting better and better. I must say, I'm starting to look forward to finding it in my mailbox almost as much as I would Domino (almost). The March edition is packed with images that had me salivating- tons of color, bold prints, unique furnishings, and, of course, beautiful coastal images. (Is it summer yet?!)

The featured Long Island beach home designed by New York-based Amanda Nisbet was no exception. Her use of bold colors, rustic textures, and refined whimsy make this home work both functionally and aesthetically. It looks like a home where sandy feet and wet bathing suits are welcome, but not at the expense of style; and that's my kind of beach house. 

Plates Not to Pass

I realize I'm way behind on this discovery, but I've recently begun watching Sarah's House on HGTV. While I'm actually not a huge fan of this network and its lineup of DIY shows that are often devoid of inspiration and style, I have enjoyed watching Sarah completely renovate old houses room by room. I'm most interested in her team of contractors, from whom I learn the most every episode. At the end of each show I vow to get my contractors license someday...add it to the list, right?

Anyways, my point in bringing up Sarah's House is that she renovated a basement guest room on an episode that aired this weekend and had a unique approach to inexpensive art for the walls of the room. She purchased some great plates ($9/piece) and had them framed in shadowboxes and hung. I love this because you're getting cheap art, but it's a change from your run-of-the-mill plate hanger display. Actually, once framed you can hardly tell that these are plates!

Image via HGTV & The Beautiful Shelter

So, naturally, when I got my daily email from fabulous e-decor shop Joss & Main this morning and saw that they're featuring Thomas Paul plates, I was excited. Here are some of my favorites that would make incredible artwork for your walls, especially framed in shadowboxes! 

Happy plate shopping!

Walk on the Wild Side

This week over at SavorNC, I'm discussing leopard print rugs and how to keep 'em classy. Join me, won't you?

Something to Savor

There's a (relatively) new magazine out for us North Carolinians to enjoy, called Savor NC. And-get this- it's a real magazine- remember those? They have wonderfully glossy pages that you can actually turn with your fingers while curled up on the couch with a blanket and a glass of wine (there's no better way to read a magazine, is there?) But, I digress...

Savor NC is a great publication devoted to "savoring the good life" in our great state. From wine and food to travel and decor, this magazine does a wonderful job of celebrating North Carolina in a way that we can all appreciate.

In between issues, visit Savor NC's blog, where (full disclosure) yours truly will be blogging a few times a month about all things relating to the world of design. Today I've posted my top ten white paint colors, an arsenal of basic neutrals that work for practically any room. Be sure to check it out and keep your eyes peeled for the next issue of Savor NC, found at various locations near you.

Best Dressed

Image via Huffington Post

Most inspirational dress at last night's Oscars? Cate Blanchett's Givenchy number. Oh, how I love it. She's made me rethink lavender, a color of which I've never been a huge fan. But after seeing this dress, and then mentally translating it to the world of interiors (bringing it back, people), I could live in a room of these colors (love the splash of canary yellow!) and textures. Lovely.

It's funny, the critics are very mixed on Cate's dress and it's been very controversial today; whatever, I say. I'm no fashion guru, but I thought it was elegant, interesting, and timeless, which is a win in my book. And I love how the colors remind us that spring is finally around the corner!

Who won your vote for "Best Dressed?"

Pardon me

...but this is what I've felt like for the past few weeks. (minus those magnificent windows, unfortunately)

A certain 6-month old has demanded every last drop of my energy & attention lately, which has left me no time for posts. I'm praying for a restful weekend and that we'll be back in business on Monday.

Island Design

The February edition of Coastal Living features the beautiful Bahamian home of Marcie Bond, the owner of a clothing shop (Marcie Bond Resort Clothing) in New Providence Island. Each image had me both wanting to hop a plane for the islands and redecorate my house- with lots of color. 

Bond's Caribbean cottage was built in 1963 and needed lots of work when she and her family moved in. But, instead of tearing it down in favor of new construction (where's the fun in that?), Marcie restored the house to its original layout and retained many windows, doors, and other distinctive features. She also decorated with mid-century furnishings, fabrics and accessories as well as local art, giving the home an authentically vintage Bahamian look. Her decor is not only gorgeous, but it's livable, cheerful, and a smart nod to the home's original charm. 

After reading this article, I don't know what I want more- a trip to the Bahamas or that fabulous pink & brown China Seas canopy over my bed!

all images via Coastal Living

Sweet Dreams

It's a bit hard to see from the picture (pardon the iPhone image), but I've got a sweet pair of iron twin headboards in at the booth. Perfect for a girl's or guest room, or used together as a king headboard.

I love starting off the week with pretty new things.

$250/pair, found at Hunt & Gather

Matchbook

It's a cold and rainy day here in Winston-Salem, but the gloom has been kept at bay in the Applegate home thanks to warm chocolate chip cookies (I've had 4 in the past hour), a sleeping baby (yay for long naps!) and this delightful surprise:

Matchbook is a new online lifestyle magazine that covers everything from decorating to fashion to cooking to travel to books to pretty much anything else that will help you lead, as they say, "a charmed life." In fact, the entire publication is dedicated to this cheerful aspiration, but not in a saccharine, "I've seen this a million times," way. No, Matchbook is clever and fresh and quite enjoyable. In addition to the expected topics such as Classics For Your Closet (which, don't get me wrong, I always enjoy and take note of) and interviews over coffee with various style makers, Matchbook also includes unique pieces such as the history of the Burberry trench coat and "10 Things You Didn't Know" about Princess Margaret (which is even more interesting if you've recently seen The King's Speech...a brilliant film, by the way.)

It's easy to get overwhelmed with the growing amount of online magazines these days and it can be hard to know which ones are worth your time. I really believe, though, that Matchbook is. Co-founders Katie Armour and Jane Lilly Warren do a phenomenal job of making this smart and relevant e-magazine stand apart from the crowd.

Just as I do with Lonny, I'll now eagerly await a notice in my inbox that a new issue of Matchbook is live. Although it's still not the same as having it arrive in your mailbox, as Domino used to, it's a great read nonetheless, full of style and inspiration (and did I mention it's free?)...so I'll take it.

Buttermilk Pudding Cakes

Did you see this recipe for Buttermilk Pudding Cakes in the latest edition of Lonny? I made them this weekend and can testify that this recipe's a good one. It's pretty simple, too, which (paired with being delicious) makes it a new dessert staple in the Applegate home. 

Buttermilk Pudding Cakes with Sugared Raspberries

Buttermilk Pudding Cakes:

¾ cup sifted bleached all-purpose flour 

1½ teaspoons baking powder

2 large eggs

¾ cup whole or low-fat buttermilk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

⅓ cup sugar

4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature

Raspberries:

8 ounces (2 cups) fresh raspberries

½ cup sugar

Whipped cream (optional)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees with a rack positioned in the top third of the oven. 

Sift the flour with the baking powder in a large bowl. In a second large bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk until creamy and yellow, and then whisk in the buttermilk, vanilla, sugar, and butter (the mixture will look curdy and broken; that is fine). 

Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture, and whisk until the batter is combined and smooth.

Divide the batter among 8 standard (3-ounce) nonstick muffin-pan cups, filling them two-thirds full. Bake for 9 minutes. Check the cakes by inserting a knife tip between the rim of the cake and the muffin cup and pulling gently to expose the side of the cake. If the side of the cake appears evenly browned, the cakes will hold together when inverted and are ready. If not, bake for another minute and check again.

While the cakes bake, place the raspberries in a medium bowl. Shower them with the sugar, and then use your hand to gently toss them in the sugar until they have a light dusting on them. (If the berries are overripe or bursting, or wet because you washed them, the sugar will dissolve on them. This is fine—they’ll still taste great!)

When the cakes are done, invert them onto individual small plates and divide the berries among them, mounding them on top and around the cakes, and top with a dollop of whipped cream, if using.

Daily Painters

It's Friday already?!? I'm certainly not complaining, but where did the week go?

Part of my distraction this week stems from a new website that my Mom introduced to me called Daily Painters. Each day it features the work of many different artists, which you can buy right from the site. I would love to collect more art, and this site has given me many new artists to consider. Some of my favorites from this week are:

Nancy Poucher

Carol Marine

 Michael Naples

 Cori Solomon

 Delilah Smith

 Debbie Miller

George Coll

Mark Adams

If you're like me and forget to check certain websites frequently, you can sign up to have the daily paintings emailed to you. Whether or not you're in the market for new art, it's a treat to see beautiful paintings each morning and to discover new artists. Be sure to check the size of the paintings before buying; most all are pretty small, making them perfect for displaying on a bookshelf, in a gallery display on a wall, or on a table top.

Enjoy browsing and happy weekend!