so, we’re all finally back from holiday (i know — i took my time getting back to work, but i’ve missed you!) and i thought i’d share a look at my wee modern cottage. you’ve seen the bedroom and the bath, and now i’m sharing the ‘grand room’ — that’s what you call a combo-living-kitchen area these days, right? i’d hardly call it grand because it’s probably only about 300 square feet max, but it is the main living area.

this is definitely a work in progress, and i’m still wrestling with having pared down and attempting be more minimalist. it’s not easy for me! i can’t decide if i need a grouping of art on the wall, or if i just stick to this one large photograph. also, debating about adding more color in the way of accessories, but here you have it for the moment.

some pieces are brand new, but many i’ve just repurposed from my last apartment. i’ve provided resources for my collections below (a lot are vintage from flea markets & craigslist) but if i’ve missed something, please feel free to ask. and, i’d love to hear your ideas — so bring ’em on. a look at the dining room coming up soon!

sources: the print is a photo enlargement done at san francisco’s blow up lab from a small 4×4 vintage print i found at the flea market and framed (is this somebody’s aunt & her cat? it could be!); and i’ve finally found my elusive dream sofa — the beautiful ink black chester tufted sofa from dwellstudio.

sources: ink black chester tufted sofa from dwellstudio; west elm souk rug; vintage coffee table from ethanollie; pillows: lisa stickely london, west elm dip-dyed and h.d.buttercrup in bed’s ikat print; sheep skin from black sheep white light; vintage saarinan tulip end table via eBay; and white pouf from fab. matching dog, lucy, not included.

sources: black leather eames-like lounge chair, three-legged stool and long, low bench all from mid century modern finds; ’36’ painting by lisa congdon; vintage paint by numbers via hazel & gerties.

note: mini blinds are going!! bleeck. i’m awaiting a simple white roman shade to arrive. and, i’m having a custom-built wall shelving unit made by michael woo who built everything at makeshift society. it will be built around window with shelving and storage — more on that coming soon.

sources: santa barbara print by liz kubal from 20×200; oh darling print from fifi duvie; downie brothers circus print (my family’s circus) photographed by walker evans and ordered from the library of congress; vintage hillcrest outdoor metal chairs (that swivel!) from the alameda flea market; swiss cross pillow from enhabiten; white expedit shelving from ikea; schoolhouse electric factory no. 5 pendant lamp.

sources: ikea grundtal wall shelf & pot rack; schoolhouse electric factory no. 5 pendant lamp; clock via crate & barrel outlet.

sources: designer ariele alasko’s cheese board from brooklyn to west; vintage mid-century modern sugar bowl from stuff; vintage lab bottles for spices from am radio; anthropologie’s horned bottle opener; log salt & peppers from the curiosity shoppe; ‘salt’ cellar from rae dunn ceramics; large wood & white ceramic salt cellar from pot + pantry.

• all photos © victoria smith, sfgirlbybay.

i just feel like cozying up at home this weekend. it’s bustling and busy everywhere, but a little downtime sounds good to me. i hope you have a relaxing weekend, too. see you all monday!

• image via eightmood.

oh boy. i felt a bit of pressure on this post. why? well, today’s ‘art goes here’ is very close to home. victoria’s home to be exact! yep, you’re looking at victoria’s lovely new living room. she asked me to suggest some artsy options to go right here over her dwellstudio sofa:

and so i did! first up, an economical but beautiful way to handle this big space:

choose a fabric {or three!} from one of your favorite designers, and have it stretched over a frame. ba-bam! gorgeous, bold art! all of these stunning fabrics were designed by brooklyn based artist luli sanchez. i think her black and white patterns are gorgeous, but if you want a little hit of color, no problem – she’s got you covered!

ok, it’s not always easy to find one big piece {victoria’s dwellstudio sofa is 88″ long} to fill a wall like this – so hang two instead! i’ve written about canadian artist amanda happé here before. it’s because i really want one of her paintings, so i’m projecting it onto victoria! and why not when they look like this:

i think these would be perfect, especially because i know that victoria loves a nice hit of pink – granted, i’m not sure how she feels about pigeons and cardboard boxes, but i’m hoping she likes them too!

now, if you can in fact find a long, lean piece that is similar to the length of the space, then go for it:

gasp! gorgeous!!! these are large scale oil pastel drawings on vellum, by cathy daley. i love them so, so, so much. victoria?

so, i’d usually stop with three suggestions, but once i got going i couldn’t stop! i found these, and just had to run it past you all:

paintings on salvaged wood by pascuala lira. i think either of these options would be amazing in here. i love the tension created by hanging that man and woman together on the same wall {what’s he so mad about!?}. which do you like best? shall we flip a coin?!

oh my gosh. ok, i loved that, and i sure hope victoria did too! hm, maybe all of you should start sending photos of your rooms that need art! i think, yes! ~ danielle {aka the jealous curator}

it’s beginning to look a lot like home around here. after many weeks of purging and packing up 1,000 square feet to move it all about 10 blocks away, into about 600 square feet, we’re finally making some real progress. i like it here. a lot. it’s peaceful and quiet and though it’s tiny and old, i’m trying to make it into a modern cottage. i look forward to sharing more soon. in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek. oh, and many, many thanks to all the guest bloggers who stepped in the last two weeks to help me get moved!

i hope you all have a wonderful long holiday weekend — happy thanksgiving! and i’ll see you all back here on monday.

• resources: sofa – dwellstudio; black eames chair – mcmf; coffee table – trampoline; iron chair – alameda flea market find; sheepskin – black sheep white light.

When decorating, a lot of us can’t just cut loose and spend a lot of money all at once. Like anything we do, we’ve got to create a decorating budget and take things slowly, adding elements to our homes over time, rather than in one fell swoop. so when anthropologie invited me to write about three different design budget scenarios for you in their magazine, i thought it could be something helpful for y’all. here it is live, on the anthropologie magazine. i hope you find some inspiration, whether it be an easy diy, or the whole big shebang!

i’ve got a lot of work to do this weekend, but at least i can do it horizontally. have a super swell weekend, y’all! see you back here on monday!

Hello! Will from Bright.Bazaar here filling in for Victoria whilst she is in New York City (lucky duck!) with some of the bits and bobs that have inspired me lately.

The UK has been experiencing some unseasonably warm weather for the time of year recently so I guess that’s why I’ve been pinning lots of boat images over on my Pinterest boards. That said, I’ve always been keen for (read: obsessed with) all things nautical, and it tends to show in my fashion choices over the warmer months – you just can’t beat a Breton stripe! And, of course, given my love for all things colourful, I’m guaranteed to be lusting over something bright, like this gorgeous Oswald sofa. What are you loving at the moment?

Things I like: Boat 1 | Boat 2 | Oswald | Tee shirt | Bag | Cushion

Thanks for having me, Victoria!

i’m so excited to begin sharing these “it lists” from creative people i’ve come to admire from all over the interwebs! first up, is one of my personal favorite blogs, emma’s design blog. i can’t go there without wishing i lived inside emma’s fabulous finds. always inspiring!

emma fexeus of emma’s design blog shares her “it list” – a dozen things she’s hankering for right now. here’s why:

“I’m always in the mood for black, white and gray. I have tried using more colour in my home, but the only one that stays with me is yellow, in very small doses. Most of the things on my list are by Scandinavian designers which fits my style perfectly, I love clean lines and natural materials as they feel very genuine and timeless to me. I’ve soon seen enough of the industrial lighting trend, but the Triplex lamp is not a mock-up, it’s the real thing, formerly used in hospitals and factories, which makes it special to me. All of these things would go into my newly renovated living room, except for the kitchen cabinets obviously, and would give the room the perfect finish! The Marc Jacob’s perfume is actually for myself, I only use men’s perfumes as I find the ones for women much too sweet and flowery for my personality, I guess I’m more of a green, woody, citrusy kind of person.“

get emma’s “it list”: 1. Gunnel black & white plastic rug from Brita of Sweden;  2. Nesting by Cilla Ramnek and Pia Ulin;  3. A Triplex lamp;  4. Woody Shelf from Hay;  5. Themis mobile by Clara von Zweigbergk;  6. Marc Jacobs for Men edt;  7. Etcetera by Sibella Court  8. A white Fire candle holder by Anna Kraitz;  9. Dropit hooks from Normann Copenhagen; 10. Binth Matching Game.

11. Rest sofa by Andersson & Voll for Muuto; and 12. The Gallery kitchen from Marbodal.

eklund, via grey.

so, i’m getting the itch (maybe it’s terminal) to redecorate my living room again. i know i just got here, but i crave a comfier look. and a vintage, or a vintage-inspired new sofa just may be part of that equation. ideally, it’s black, and it’s leather — sounds rather naughty, doesn’t it?

i’ve seen some of these around, and a nice worn in, supremely slouchy leather sofa might just be the look i’m going for, or perhaps something deep and tufted. here’s a look at some vintage-inspired sofas i love.

this is a look i really covet, a vintage black leather sofa like this one, via elli popp.

i’m not even opposed to some color, like leslie siegel’s sofa, via design*sponge; and this pink slouchy beauty from jj locations, via the diversion project.

via lonny.

mikael beckman, via desire to inspire.

kitka’s living room, via emma’s design blog.

this essex sofa, from west elm could work.

a pale look, via light locations.

anthropologie’s old school battersea and cotswold leather sofas.

more of a mid-century modern look, via emma’s design blog.

i like this slouchy linen, too, via french by design.

]]> http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/2011/01/05/vintage-finds-for-a-modern-world-sofas/feed/ 21 http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/2010/10/13/free/ http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/2010/10/13/free/#comments Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:00:29 +0000 http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/?p=27450

you just never know what you might find hanging out on the street, waiting for a new home. i didn’t grab this baby, but i am never beyond trash picking. lucy, either — she’s a good little shopper.