Vintage Summer and Other Lovely Things

Spring has sprung, as they say, and it has been actually been so wet that it leaves many of us wondering what is in store for summer. I know that whatever is happening now it is ten times better than last year here in Michigan when it was so hot and humid so early in the spring that we never felt like we had a spring. Hey, on the whole, I am just grateful for blue skies, leaves on the trees and the enjoyment of early morning or late evening walks even if I have to wear a sweatshirt for either!
I cannot believe that it has been since March that I have not visited my page and shared my thoughts and information on the things I know and love and the memories I have of days past that made me the person I am today. 

The things that come to mind when I think of summer are many.  The last day of school, wrapping the textbooks in brown paper and cleaning out my desk, picnic lunches out on the grass by the rectory...all of these things were commonplace up until eighty

Downsizing Yet Retaining Your Treasures

Moving into a one bedroom apartment, downsizing from a four bedroom home with a living room and a family room and a much bigger kitchen was a painful exercise for me.  Not only was I bidding farewell to more space and a myriad of places to try out my design savvy, but also I was forced to inventory all of my "stuff" and make tough decisions on what to keep and what to let go of based on lack of space for storage and display. I was forced to acknowledge that I had less shelving, closet space, and walls upon which to hang frames and rooms in which to display my choices in throw pillows, lighting and accessories.  I had to put a stop to bringing home wonderful decorative elements from my trips to the thrift shops because now...I would have no place to put them. To me coming to this truth was the more painful part of the moving process.  Sure I lamented the loss of my home after twenty three years. But for me, the bigger realization was painful. -- I had to think like people in my life who had no idea what being sentimental is about and no appreciation for vintage or antique.Unless I could wrap my brain around this mantra, I was doomed to fail at making this move work.

I wonder who of you who is reading this can understand how hard it was to re-think my "keep, don't keep"  mindset  to make my relocation successful.  I decided to focus instead on the excitement of new surroundings and my joy at being employed after going for nearly three and a half years of part time work but needing a full-time career position and  wondering where I would go if I never again would be a full-time employee.  When I accepted my circumstances and committed myself to being grateful and use strength from there to move forward it became much less of a sad thing and more of a happy occasion to be celebrated. Once I was settled in my new place, no matter how small, I would have placed before me a fresh pallet upon which to exercise my creativity, exhale.  I would finally be able to take in the peace and tranquility that comes with smaller utility bills, having no one to cater to except for myself, and enjoy minimalism decorating which I would eventually come to embrace. I have learned there is something to be said for having less "stuff"  sitting on every open level spot and occupying every inch of wall space around me. I could find comfort in knowing that this new place symbolizes a rising up of a phoenix after a long arduous journey that had left me feeling out of hope and running out of time. Now, what better thing to do in this new place than to just be happy?

Well here we are a year and a half later and I am loving my space more than ever.  I found a way to keep my stuff and make it all fit in my new place.  I utilized a few tried and true tricks and a little bit of ingenuity.  I have a place for the extensive collections that I did not part with and a space for everything else that most would have either left on the curb or given away. I have reached a place where there is a healthy balance of "things" in my space and have avoided the sometimes unavoidable scourge of becoming looking like I joined the hoarders. My space is friendly, open, full of light and I have the things I love in enough quantity around me to tell each and every visitor what I am about, what I love, and what kind of person I am.  From the first step in the door people can see pictures of my children and special others in my life. They get a glimpse of my many collections and most importantly, the things I chose to display are conversation starters.

 

One of the things that I have done is use all the spaces I can that even you may not have thought of before.  I am using space above the cupboards in my tiny kitchen to display vintage kitchen wares, cake plates and china coffee and teapot collections, and various other pantry items.  I have some Hall pottery bowls, some refrigerator butter containers sitting up there as well as some pieces of various historic value displayed. On one wall I display some  plates that I have that I find very pretty.  On my counter top Homer Laughlin bright yellow fiesta ware creamer arranged in the corner.  Copper jello molds of various designs and fancy gold framed pictures hang about on the back splash behind the sink. There is no shortage of character in this kitchen, I made sure of that!

 This corner space would be a real snoozer without something to look at in an otherwise blank space. From the floor you can see a vintage tin biscuit/cookie canister with a Bakelite handle on it, a Spode Billingsley Rose coffee pot and a ceramic rabbit milk pitcher. 

 I like the color and shine of copper because it lights up the space. You can see my Halls ceramic bowl and the towle painted tray.   The "HOME" sign is more contemporary but that's okay!

 I have a few of these aluminum cake plates. I do use them and when I don't I have one up here on the shelf.  I think you may recognize the Mexican lady napkin holder and the milk glass sugar and creamer.  More copper and a birdhouse is there for the perfect red and yellow color it adds.


I love my little chicky egg timer and Homer Laughlin creamer...yellow is such an inviting color to introduce
into any space....especially the under cabinet areas in kitchens where light is minimal and there are gray shadows.



The positions of the wreath, copper and cauliflower relief plaque works because all have different textures.
It may seem like a lot to have in one corner, but the canisters are functional and the items on the wall
provide color. These things, if not for this space to show them, would be holed up in a storage
area or in a bin or given away.



I haven't used it yet...but I plan to. Most people think of these nik naks as dust collectors but I
refer to them as conversation starters.

I have a set of canisters filled with staples and a tin canister with a bake light knob, a cute vintage egg timer, and a  bright yellow Homer Laughlin Riviera creamer that is actually used from time to time. It helped a lot to actually add knobs to the cupboard doors! The landlord was nice about allowing me to have the freedom. to do that.  Purchased for pennies at a recent garage sale.   Most landlords are not as flexible about changing cosmetic items, save a single wall with an accent color on it.

On to the bathroom.  I have a lust and love for crystal and "bling" in general. Sometimes things can come off looking a bit gaudy, but in a measured amount, it can look tasteful and elegant. The bathroom in my apartment looked empty and boring being all white from top to bottom providing me the perfect backdrop for showcasing my shiny bright nik-naks. Everything surface in there is white, from the sink to the vanity top to the original small square vintage floor tiles to the tub surround, to the walls and ceiling. But I was inspired and introduced crystal into the space. I ordered some solid crystal knobs for the vanity from Ebay for a mere $2.95 plus shipping for the pair, brought out my $4.99 thrift store Waterford vase (someone obviously didn't recognize the piece as a genuine Waterford...good for me!) and a bouquet of cream color fabric roses.  These things would bee stored away in a box if not this opportunity!  I continued the theme with a crystal soap dish and a small crystal biscuit jar and a candle holder (2) on each side of the basin.  On the back of the toilet bowl I brought out my milk glass tray and set two of my many crystal perfume bottles on it.  White shower curtain with clear plastic hangers, white rugs and there....all of my beautiful crystal out in the open. I don't have to worry about any of it being broken cause there is just me in this space. And my bathroom shines and twinkles like the feminine space it should be after many years of decorating casual for everyone else in my family.  Every single one of these lovely items would not be out in the open if not for me choosing a design and color palate that required their use. 

                       

I never needed tons of counter space to manage my morning routine so
this look works for me!  Oh joy! These sparkling collectibles greet me first thing
in the morning and set my mood for the day!

Just a couple of simple crystal knobs dressed up this boring white vanity and helped to
make my collection of crystal perfume bottles, candlesticks and vases sort of
"belong" in the space.



The crystal biscuit jar and lotus candle holder twinkle
so brightly right after a cleaning. The candle is
one of those flame less ones. Out of the box and  in
the bath for a romantic light when guests come over.

This sits to the left of the white vanity basin. With the crystal and the mirror being so close together it all relates better. Most of the time before now my crystal vase was in a shoebox wrapped in tissue where absolutely no one could look at it and enjoy seeing something pretty!

The "towel rod" was packed away after I got it a the Salvation army. Heck, I don't know if it is a towel rod, but that is how I decided to use it. Anyway my pretty embroidered and lace towels, part of my vintage linens collection is now a showpiece under the pretty ornate picture frame. All of these cool accessories were staring at the inside of a cardboard box..until now.

Hallways have always been regarded as a pass through.  I have a very small hallway but plenty of boring tall walls to display family photos and a few choice prints that I have come across in my thrift store and antique mall visits.  This space provides the perfect backdrop for all of them.  And no...my hallway doesn't feel smaller...it feels artsy and fun!  It is fun to give my guests the 2cent tour when they come to visit.  Most of the family photos are in black as are the frames to keep the "noise" at a low pitch in the space. I think that these choices made this space work better.  Oh, and the little table..rescued from someones curbside garbage heap, became a useful drop off point for keys or maybe a small vase of flowers from time to time. Charmer!

  <All my favorite b&w  family photos.













       My special friends>

Do people really put much thought into their bedrooms?  It is a functional space for most of us and we are in there to sleep, dress and well..that's about it.  I wanted to celebrate the opportunity to move away from my last bedroom with all the dark colors.  This room has a very large window that streams in light...and love I say...and it needed to be decorated right.

Initially, I was a little disappointed when I found out that my windows had no moldings. But no matter, I dressed them up with a crystal embellished rod and light and airy silk panels in a pretty taupe.  I have a mirrored nightstand and a crystal lamp and have adorned the space beside each side of my bed with more crystal and white and taupe collection pieces, again pulled out of the dark side of a closet. I have my vintage Buzza prints hanging next to the upholstered headboard. These prints are in aged fashion and the color evokes history and charm.  With those I have mirrors and ornate framed pictures hanging there too.  A crystal jewelry jar sits on the mirrored nightstand and a Waterford crystal vase with white and blush pink posies resting in it.  I guess you can see I do like roses. The main thing with this bouquet is that they introduced an additional speck of color into an otherwise monochromatic color scheme which bounces off of the rose print that hangs above the bed. It all works together!

This "bluebird of happiness" print is what I am all about.

I love this frame by Cynthia Rowley..totally vintage charm

My beloved Buzza Prints!

A pretty vignette of crystal, silver, and bright bright white. All the little things that make this room cozy and allow for bringing out all of my "stuff". When I roll over in the morning I have something lovely to look at.

Corners are not always meant to be empty. I couldn't let the corner be a blank space and I had a chair that I thought would have to go into storage. Fortunately, my new room design worked so well with the color and style.  The cabriolet legs and the ivory moire fabric upholstery lended itself to the color of the walls and the silky taupe fabric of the curtain. A bit of bling sealed the deal...a pillow I had been keeping for just the right place to set it embellished with tiny silvery glass bead work.  Voila! What could have been a tired empty corner is a showplace and a quick place to sit to put on my slippers or just take rest.  I have a collection of hatboxes and these provide storage for cashmere scarves, gloves  and various other accessories for use whenever I need them.

I so love this chair!

Don't let anyone criticize mixing pillows of many different looks.  This is YOUR space..and no, i don't mind moving all of this around when I turn in at night. It doesn't take but only a few seconds! Notice that everything balances and all the colors in the room are accentuated and displayed even though I may be breaking a rule about quantity.  Dusting the furniture is not any more tedious than without all this to work around and they are things that I can look at as I awaken in the morning and see and smile at. A nice way to start my day.

Sparkly and fluffy bright white and cream colored pillows are propped up against the shammed ones on the bed and sit on each chair.  I had a collection of pretty throw pillows in various designs and shades of white, ecru and taupe.  They were in a zippered plastic container until now.  Throw pillows are vastly underrated!  They are, by far, the cheapest way to spruce up and add color and character to a boring sofa, bed or chair. They don't have to match...just have to be interesting! No rules to their use. 

This mirror is something I absolutely treasure in my space. It sparkles like mad! The chair was a $25 find. The great thing about these kinds of chairs is that I can change the look with a simple and inexpensive slip-cover if I move it to any other room.

Funny thing about all of my furniture likes...I am varied in my choices and those I had on hand from my past..but here they all sort of "sing" together. The symphony created is beautiful when combined with my furry silk trimmed blanket and sparkly taupe comforter that lays at the lower part of the bed. The ivory, white, taupe and blush pink colors throughout the room mingle gently and the style differences add that extra something.  I love my room. Soon I will be hanging a vintage crystal chandelier in there to replace the boring light/fan that hangs there now.

My point here is this: you can take it with you to your smaller next home, just be sure to follow the guidelines such as these:

1.  Evaluate your new smaller space.  Make your choices as YOU like for what to fill it with and remember that the more you put up the smaller your space will eventually feel to you.

2.  Minimize minimize minimize.  No one needs to display twenty sets of toothpick holders, I don't care how much you love them.  Collections that are small individually but grow to humongous numbers are the collections that require you to vet. Remember, designing in a small space is about showing what you are about but not being so one dimensional that people begin to think of you as the "crazy toothpick collection lady."

3.  Utilize the boring spaces as places to display your stuff.  That space, if you are fortunate enough to have it, about our kitchen cupboards, not only valuable as storage but also a great place to design a vignette that will impress even the most hardened "throw it out" kind of guest that comes to visit you. Another tip to follow is to keep things up off the floor if you can because this will fool the eye into thinking you have more space.

4.  Be smart in your design. Make your displays follow a theme rather than a mishmash of objects. Making sure that the objects all relate to one another in their function is the key. Kitchen items belong in the kitchen.  There is no reason to put old tools like wood planers and hammers there. Your display should make sense, tell a story, explain something about you, what you love and how you live your life.

5. Keeps the proper items in the proper rooms.  Try to stay away from showing off your gun collection in your smaller living room. This  is something that requires a discriminating decision and maybe belongs in the basement, garage or man cave.
 
6. If you have an interesting collection of anything that you think might be enjoyed by others on a larger scale, connect with your local library about setting up a display of your things there. Libraries have glass enclosed showcases that are there specifically to feature such displays for a month or two at a time. I have enjoyed displays of Southwestern jewelry, pottery or doll collections or even milk glass collections.  Libraries love to provide a venue for collectors because it is free and educational for their patrons.

7.  I have always loved beautiful pillows. I have so many down filled silk covered pillows and I can find a place for ALL of them in my new home. People seem to forget that pillows are a great way to introduce color, style, and bling into an otherwise plain room.  Don't be afraid to have too many either..only people who do not wish to bend a flex a little taking them off of the bed at night and setting them back up on the bed in the morning fail to appreciate this. 

8. If you must use floor space under tables and chairs, use pretty boxes as storage to double duty the space.  Hatboxes come in all kinds of sizes and those pretty storage boxes that look like luggage are perfect for storing books, jewelry, scarves and other accessories.

9. Accept that you may have to give away, donate or store many of your things. Decide what to keep by evaluating like this:  Does it hold a memory?  Does any of my children want this?  Is it valuable monetarily?  Have your tastes changed?

What I did was look at the second half of my life, symbolized by my moving out of my big house to a smaller apartment, and asked myself what really mattered in my life and moved forward.  This was more about starting over, second chances and that includes second chances at changing my personal surroundings to reflect my new confidence and excitement about my life, including my family, my career and the rest of my life. I had embraced a renewed attitude of gratitude and a pledge to shed the old and embrace the new.

Take a look at the photographs here and get inspired.  Look through decorating magazines and picture what you see in your space. You can make it work and find a place for all the things you love there if you just open up your mind.  So long as you are not mixing 1960's orange and brown mushroom wallpaper with crystal and milk glass you should be okay. You will instinctively know where to put what before you end up putting "it" in a box to give away or throw away. 

I would like to someday own another house.  I hope to have a cozy cottage type dwelling. Until then I will be a happy and stylin' apartment dweller.  I am content in my comfortable place of refuge and will continue to entertain guests as I have been up to now. But for the absence of a second floor and three bathrooms, company will be just as comfortable in my place as I am.

Take care until next time!