Look for Less: Owl Table Lamp

West Elm, $99

TJ Maxx, $35

I think the TJM version is really cute and better priced for a trend item.  And now he's getting packed up to be shipped to a friend.

Vintage Scores of the Week

I'm obsessed with this lamp I found at Goodwill for $7.99.  I'm itching to get it painted and in use in my office but trying to pace myself until I'm sure on the color.  Also debating if I need to attempt a rewire.....

Paint the wood base black, white or gold?  And the lamp........coral?

World Market: Spotted in stores....

World Market is one of those stores that I always forget about when it comes to home decor items.  I have no idea why, but I've never bought a single non-food item there.  I was really impressed when I walked through the other day, there were so many items I loved.

I've been obsessed with cloches since seeing them all over the Paris flea market and these were well priced:

Loved these side tables:

If I wouldn't have bought a vintage drafting table off of Craig's List for my office recently this one would have been REALLY tempting:

Both of these made me wish I wouldn't have recently bought this shower curtain from West Elm for my guest bath:

It's not online but if I recall correctly the Chinoiserie curtain had a teal ruffle trim and if it's still on sale tomorrow I may have to get it.

The printed flat weave rugs were adorable, and super inexpensive:

Cowhides in a couple of different colors at right around $330:

This bed wasn't in store so I haven't seen it in person, but it may be my new favorite upholstered bed ever!  I love the shape of the headboard.  On sale right now for $500, but even the regular price of $600 is an amazing deal.

Has World Market always been this great or is this a new thing?

Impulse Shopping: TJ Maxx

I ran into TJ Maxx earlier this week looking for a (non-hideous) machine washable kitchen rug and left with a bag of weird random stuff.  I did find a rug that is actually cute enough that at $8 if they'd had more then just one in the size I needed, I'd have bought several.

I had to see what was in the Riedel box in the clearance aisle and was slightly mystified by the contents.  Bottle coasters.  Either I don't have enough friends that entertain or I've been living under a rock because I'd never seen one before. A quick google search later confirmed they were coming home with me.

The basketweave pattern called Bosa Nova is my favorite of the six:

I assume they're predominately for red wine (which I can't drink) to keep it from dripping onto the table/tablecloth, but I'll probably end up using them bottles of white wine that that won't last long enough to bother with a chiller.  Further proof that I'm a sucker for anything sparkly and pretty!

Vintage Scores of the Week

I'm on the hunt for a pair of matching upholstered benches/stools/ottomans so I'm trying to get to all of my local thrift/consignment/antique stores as often as possible these days.  Still no luck on the benches but did pick up a few things I'm really excited about!  

I could not get this Pagoda mirror out of a local antique mall fast enough.  The owner of the booth had it marked "gothic" and $55, he happened to be there and I offered him $40 (knowing full well I was happy to pay the $55 for it) and took it home for $45.00.

Pagoda mirrors are high on my (mental) list (of almost impossible to find locally) obsessions.  I love the details on this one along both the top and the bottom.  Clearly it'll be getting a fresh paint and I have no idea where it'll end up but I'm smitten nonetheless!

A few days later I was running a few errands near my house and stopped in another antique mall and came across this little Moroccan style table (or at least I think it is!) for $50.00.  It was labeled as a "Victorian Carved Side Table" and referred to as a plant stand by the cashier.  Whatever.  I can't wait to put some wood filler on the top and get some paint on it (yes, gasp, the horror, I'm planning to paint it).  I think the detail on the sides will look amazing painted!

The ironic thing is that I typically really dislike the local 'antique' malls.  Too many knick-knacky items, too few furnishings and far too little turnover and little new stock.  There are a couple of local consignment shops that mark items down 15% every month they're in the shop and at 6 months it either has to be picked up or it gets donated (wish I knew to WHICH thrift store!) and I typically have much better luck at those places.   Don't get me started on the consignment shops where the prices never move and items sit for years.  Lesson learned after this week though, if I'm in the neighborhood and have the time, I'll walk through the antique malls just in case!