treat

I have a busy work period coming up ... but at least that means more money in the bank. I am planning on saving most of it, but a girl can spoil herself a bit, right?

I saw these replica Pablo side tables at @home over the weekend and have fallen in love. The tray tops are removable, so one can change them around.

Image: MAIYA

lounging mid-century style

Images: La Maison d'Anna G, Apartment Therapy, Old Brand New, Rhan Vintage

what's a girl to do

Ok, why am I being bombarded with awesome retro things that I can't buy lately? All these beauties are in Cape Town. Big sigh.

Well, apart from this print. It is in Howick, which isn't too far from Durban. We could just go and fetch it... R300

Italian chair. R500

Display cabinet. R900

Dropside table. R600

Curved couch and chairs. A bargain at R2 400

yah or nay?

Ok, I'm still feeling like an elephant sat on me, but I promised to get back to blogging today, so here I am.

I saw this retro extendable table on Gumtree over the weekend. Yes, it's not in the best condition. It needs to be sanded and stuff. But, it's R450, which I don't think is a bad price. And we'll have space for a dining table in the new flat. What do you think? I do love the legs...

wanted everything, bought 5

Here are the pretties I bought at Vamp while in Cape Town.

Images: Moi

bargain vs bling

I bought the cutest retro orange and white striped hanging glass lamp from O.live yesterday. It was on sale for R50. This beautiful light below is a bit more expensive - $120.

Image: Design House Stockholm

new old

Jason Lewis makes insanely beautiful retro-inspired furniture. Though I prefer buying the real deal (buying secondhand is more eco-friendly ad all that), I can't deny the fact that I would probably buy his stuff if I was a rich girl

Images: Jason Lewis Furniture via Rhan Vintage

1 of each

I will be in Cape Town with my parents later this month and one of the places I can't wait to visit is Vamp. It's a bit of of the way for me, but I've promised myself that I will get there this time. Just look at some of the awesome things they sell.

Images: Vamp

semi-successful shopping

So I didn't find a desk yesterday, but I did get a few other things. One of them was this pair of 60s sunglasses for R10 (that's about $1.50)! There's also a retro coffee table that I might buy today. It looks kinda like the one below, just not painted.

Images: Me, Remedy

retro desk search

I am dragging the husband to all the second-hand shops in Durban to look for a retro desk tomorrow. I almost, almost got this one from Mint yesterday, but some sneaky man paid for it without even asking if he could have it. Grrrr. I was so not happy.

Image: Mint

nice, but no thanks

This dining room chair reupholstery kit is such a great idea. Pity it's so flippen expensive. I mean, $120 to cover one chair? Sjoe.

All materials necessary in one cute little handprinted box to re-upholster a dining room chair, including one piece of fabric with the custom designed image of your choice. (Fabric approximately 25" x 25", designed and cut to cover your chair seat dimensions).

Includes:
-Custom Designed Fabric (in 100% cotton duck)
-Interactive Fabric Design Process with Renderings
-Instructions with illustrated reupholstery tips + hints
-Stapler
-Staples
-Pliers
-Screwdrivers
-Marking Chalk
-Batting
-Cambric
-Pre-Sewn Cording in same base fabric

Images: En Route Studio

boom

I haven't bombarded you with decor inspiration in quite a while, so here you go.

Images: Hilda Grahnat, Love made me do it, La Maison d'Anna G, and the rest I don't know, so if you do, please comment!

bargain

I bought two wall plates like the ones below at an antique fair in a mall over the weekend. R50 each! I've seen ones on the Internet that sell for up to $100 each!

Bjorn Wiinblad designed this series for the Danish ceramics company Nymolle circa the 1970s. Featuring whimsical illustrations, the series depicts the twelve months of the year and tells the story of a young couple meeting, falling in love, courting, marrying, and the birth of their child. I have January and December.

bright is right

I think everyone in cold South Africa could do with some bright decor right about now.

Images: Casa de Valentina

handsome holders

Etsy has some amazing mid-century furniture and decor. Good thing I don't live in America else my credit card would be whipped out in a flash. I really like these two magazine holders I spotted.

Images: Etsy

old plate, old feeling brain

I struggled to find anything to blog about yesterday. Hmmm...maybe my 27-year-old brain is starting to let me down?! It still seems a bit slow and sluggish (and maybe a bit grumpy) today, but I thought I should at least blog about this awesome plate I found on Bid or Buy. Still deciding whether I should bid on it or not. It might take me a while to decide though...

"A Homemaker breakfast plate designed by Enid Seeney for Ridgway Potteries in 1956 and sold exclusively through Woolworth stores in the UK. An iconic design of the period, it is decorated with images of furniture (like the boomerang table) and other household items that were fashionable in the 1950s. The Homemaker range is now one of the most sought-after tableware designs from the mid-20th century."

Images: Bid or Buy

ring ring

I never really liked those old telephone tables, but this one on the TLC site has changed my mind. Love how it's been made to look sophisticated. Am definitely going to keep an eye out for one that I can restore.

Image: TLC

Bridgette 1977

I bought the mirror above from the Boeremark (farmer's market) in my hometown a while back. I paid R20 for it. When my mom saw it, she told me she had one similar to it when she was a teenager.

The signature under the illustration reads Sara Moon, but from my research I found out it was painted by a Persian artist named Bijan. He was commissioned by Red Baron Publishing of Los Angeles to create commercial works of the female form. Four years later Bijan parted company with Red Baron. For their part, Red Baron continued to satisfy demand for new Sara Moon work by commissioning the artist Christian to paint and sign images as "Sara Moon".  

Each one features a different girl with her very own name. I am in love with them all, but I am glad I have an original Bijan.

I only hung Bridgette up yesterday, but now I think I must find another one to hang next to her so she doesn't feel lonely.

Images: Sara Moon

top gear

I flippen love my car - a zippy little yellow Kia Picanto. It's seriously the easiest car - especially for a driving challenged person such as I.

But I must say this Orla Kiely Special Collection Citroen DS3 would be a pretty cool ride.

Just check out those details on the floor mat thingie and the head rest thingamagig.

Images: Citroen