A Pair of Vintage Chairs

I love nothing more than a pair of reupholstered vintage chairs. No matter what kind of space you have, it can always be updated with these little blasts from the past. I've got three sets in my house: mustard colored club chairs in my office, turquoise midcentury vinyl waiting room chairs in the dining room and a set of blue-gray barrel backs in my living room. I can't resist a good pair of vintage chairs. How about you?

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And here are some vintage chair pairs from my abode:

Mud Cloth

Bògòlanfini, otherwise known as mud cloth, is a handmade fabric from Mali traditionally dyed with fermented mud. Just like the Kuba cloth I mentioned in yesterday's post, I am seeing versions of this fabric everywhere. I love it. Some of it is the real deal, but most of it is a mud cloth-like reproduction being manufactured for mass distribution. Either way, I think the black and white designs are my favorite:

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I Love Bulk Trash

This weekend was bulk trash pick up in our neighborhood.  A friend of mine once told me that she rents a truck and prowls the fancy Dallas neighborhoods during bulk trash weekend.  I've heard of people scoring entire Restoration Hardware patio sets, beautiful Midcentry sofas in mint condition, pairs of Victorian wingback chairs, lucite console tables and more!

This weekend I scored two wooden rocking chairs from the bulk trash.  They needed a paint job, some new screws and a little wood glue.  I also found a door with little square windows.  It was damaged around the edges, but not so badly that it couldn't be repurposed.  I painted the name of our home on the glass panes and hung it from some rings and an "S" hook.  The weight of the door (this mother is heavy!) rests on the ground and the hooks keep it upright.  So, thank you bulk trash for the free spring update!

Dressing Up the Patio

Spring has arrived here in Dallas and one of the things on my To-Do list is to freshen up my back patio.  We spend all our time out there in the spring and its looking a little dingy and dusty.  Here are a few photos from my inspiration file to get my juices flowing!  Happy spring!

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Aged Perfection

I just finished the new issue of House Beautiful, which I look forward to reading every month.  I always find wonderful ideas to take away.  But I always feel a little put off when I see spread after spread of rooms which have been designed with all new furniture or completely refurbished furniture and fixtures.  Isn't it okay to have old, worn pieces in our homes anymore?  Of all the things in my home, the pieces I love most are worn, frayed and loved into aged perfection. 

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If these walls could talk...

My home was built in 1971.  There is nothing special about my walls.  Their construction and their history is pretty mundane.  But the walls in the photos below have a story to tell that begins well before the Nixon administration.  If these walls could talk, I wonder what they'd say.

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Very Cool Coffee Tables

If anyone has an extra one of these coffee tables just lying around, please send it on.  These coffee tables below kick all over my little Craigs-lister from 2009.  Just email for my address!

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And on a totally separate note... 

For those of you who have been following along in my weight lost journey via Smaller Sarah, I'm so excited to report that I'm down 36 pounds since June 1st!  I'm almost half way to my goal of losing 75 pounds by June of 2012!  You can't see it, but I'm doing a little victory dance.

Fresh Mix

This morning, I have a random selection of photos for you.  What ties them together?  The white walls, the soft palette, the natural elements and the fresh mix of objects. 

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