Here & Now: Simple Pleasures

Thank goodness for Friday, an end to a mean little week, a series of pesky disappointments, and (for my poor fiancé) a nasty bout of food poisoning. There's often a simple cure for what ails you. For Adam, a day of sleep and soup. For me, feeling low and uninspired, $10 and some fresh air. I walked up to our neighborhood farmer's market and bought asparagus and a peach (the first of the season), an iced latte from Peets, and a single stem from my friend at the flower stand. By the time I got home, the stings of the week had faded. Today we both feel much better.

I know what you're thinking, dear readers. "Wait a second, Elizabeth- what's that in the picture? Your sofa isn't leather, or wingbacked, or tufted, or trimmed in brass nailheads!" Very true. My old couch was sadly none of the above.

Meet our new couch. It's a beauty. And I plan on spending my Friday in its embrace with cats, coffee, and magazines by my side, watching my peony unfurl. 

xoxo

Elizabeth

Here & Now: Our Dining Room "After"

My dining table has made many appearances on this blog- usually as the backdrop for one of Adam's gourmet creations. I'm feeling brave today, and I thought I'd show you how it fits into our dining room (or our dining alcove, to be more accurate).

For those of you who've started reading recently, last year (at about this time) Adam and I were informed that his job would be moving from Seattle to Berkeley. We had very little time to decide our course of action- and only a weekend to find a new home in California. Our apartment was selected for its practicality rather than its prettiness. In fact, it was downright ugly. If you don't believe me, check out the "before" pictures here. 

The only remotely charming feature of the otherwise bland apartment was the bay window in the dining area. I thought, "I can do something with this." And I think I did.

The One That Got Away

I found the perfect green velvet chair for $30 on Craig's List...

Envision it with a limed wood trim and a ruffly pillow.

And I missed it!  Nooooooooooo!

A Vanity- For Him

Last week I spotted this beautiful photograph by Helen Norman featured at Good Measure.

Photograph courtesy of Helen Norman, Via Good Measure blog.

It's an antique gentleman's shaving stand- one part utilitarianism to one part narcissism. Perfection. A quick search turned up a few other results, some of which are actually in the Bay Area (though none of which have the pared-down elegance of the inspiration image). 

Victorian shaving stands in various levels of frill.

Of course, since Adam's rocking a mountain man beard a shaving stand would need to find a new form of employment around our house. I'm thinking that it would do quite nicely in our little entry- for that last lipstick touch-up and a practice smile before I grab my keys and dash out the door to an interview.

Definitely something to add to my flea market scouting list!

Craig's List Christmas Wish List

One day after browsing through the bleak job postings in the Bay Area, I decided to cheer myself up with a quick dip into furniture for sale. Though nobody in California wants to employ me, they do want to sell me some excellent stuff.

First up, this gem- a Shiny Red Pharmacy Cabinet.  

No price, which signals that I should back away slowly, but my goodness, how lovely.

It reminds me of these cabinets from Mothology (and these from Restoration Hardware), which are definitely on my "someday, maybe" list.  

The Craig's List find has a much more appealing shape, but I'm not sold on the sporty finish- I prefer the raw and weathered look shown here. 

Certainly would make for a sassy liquor cabinet!

The seller of this antique Cast Iron Industrial Shelving was apparently entertaining reasonable offers- but not mine! Oh, misery! 

I hope he got his $395 asking price- what a deal.

Rotten luck that this one got away, as it would have been a great alternative to the unspeakably expensive Decker Bookshelf at Anthropologie.

The wheels make for practical kitchen storage, and it has a masculine edge and historical aura that would earn Adam's approval.

And lastly, this Wardian Plant Conservatory. Oh, my. I have a place for this in my heart, and also in a sunny corner of my Berkeley bedroom. I already have an elegant little plant mister and an orchid. Give me this, a sarcastic butler, and a British accent to match and I'm living in a Henry James novel. Yes please. Now let's have tea and feign aristocratic ennui. Yes please.

Only $250, quite a bit better than the retail price.

Sooooo... if anyone is really stumped about what to get me for Christmas this year, allow me to recommend a Craig's List gift certificate (also known as "cash").

A Long Lost Sibling

Scanning through AT the other day, this picture caught my eye.

Image Courtesy of AT via Tocar Interior Design

What's that on the coffee table? A sculpture? A vase? An urn?

Recognize it now?

Did the light bulb go on in your brain?

It's the ceramic base of a vintage Chinoserie lamp... identical to the pair I bought on Craig's List and refurbished!

Separated at birth!

Our BIG Announcement

I'm sure by now that you've noticed that Shock the Bourgeois has been a little... sparse lately. We promise, it's not because we don't love you. Let me esplain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up:

In real life, Cook Adam is a biochemist, and his employers very recently informed him that they would be moving to the Bay Area. Remember how Adam and I went to San Francisco "on business?"

Well, Adam is moving to Berkeley in October.

If that news hit you like a ton of bricks, try to imagine how we feel!

We're still in a fog about this whole thing, and we've got a lot to do in just over a month.

• We need to locate an apartment in Berkeley (we're thinking Gourmet Ghetto area?) that is large enough for Adam, Matilda, and most of my earthly belongings, but cheap enough that it doesn't swallow our income. (This is proving to be tricky, as apparently living rooms with no doors rent for $600 per month.)
• We need to pack and figure out how to get our things from here to there!
• We need to stage a major yard sale to sell things I thought I'd never have to part with.
• We need to get me moved in with my parents.
• We need to sedate me so I don't freak the hell out.

Okay, mostly kidding about that last one. Mostly. It's hard to feel positive about staying behind when my favorite things in life are moving to California- especially because we have no idea what the future holds. Will I get to join my little family in 2010? We don't know. All we know is that we've chosen, and now we have to make the best of it.

What does this mean for Shock the Bourgeois?

• Posting for the next month could be infrequent. After that I'll be back to daily posts, because... I've gotta pass my lonely hours somehow!
• For the meantime I'm shifting away from Craig's List. Nothing against you, Craig, but it's a bit depressing to search for home furnishings when you no longer have a home to furnish. Of course, I will using CL to get rid of my lovely things...
• We'll be documenting our adventure as much as possible, and showing you our inspirations from two beautiful cities!

So, any San Franciscans out there? We could sure use your advice...

Just Another Bird on the Wire...

That's right, avid Shock the Bourgeois readers...

You can now follow me on Twitter!

Image courtesy of D. Keith Robinson, Flickr

And, since I am also the proud owner of a new old iPhone (you know I like to do things cheaply)...

You can expect frequent tweets. Because I AM that obnoxious iPhone owner who feels the need to flash her most prized possession like, every 5 minutes. Especially when someone is watching. Oh, hey there- I'm just checking out some sweet finds on Craig's List. On my iPhone.

I am sooooo with it.

Fixed: Because I'm Just that into Spoons

Yeah, spoons aren't really my thing. Here's an easy way to adapt this week's fixer to display your jewelry collection:

• Paint or paper the interior.
• Select a wire mesh, perforated metal, or piece of caning (simple mesh at your local hardware store, neat designs from McNichols or other online specialists), and have it cut to size.
• Use small brass tacks or nails to secure it to the front of the spoon rack.
• Hang up your favorite jewelry- using little brass s-hooks if necessary.

Like so...

Utility... but not for utensils.

This will work well for earrings, bracelets, pins, necklaces, hair accessories, scarves, you name it. A cheap way to showcase your expensive gems (like the sparkly things from Anthropologie that caught my eye- especially the Beams & Sparks bracelet and the Stormy Night earrings, *sigh*).

Fixer: Collector's Edition

This week's Craig's List Fixer is dedicated to all you spoon fanatics out there (or spork fanatics, I don't judge).

A lovely Spoon Rack

Just the thing for displaying prized utensils, only $20, spoons not included.

For those of you not scouring the world eBay for commemorative gems like the 1920 Slesvig Lion & Castle Finial spoon or the (be still my heart!) Toronto Zoo Largemouth Bass spoon... how about we shake this thing up a bit, eh?

PS: To learn more about spoons, this guide is an excellent resource. Were you aware that a spoon's "main purposes are for conveying food to the mouth and for stirring, though it has a number of other uses?" The more you know...

Things You Never Knew You Were Looking For...

Some of you may wonder, "how does she do it? How does ShockTheBourgeois reach into the black depths of Craig's List and, week after week, find a gleaming gem??"

Truth is, there isn't much magic to it... just a little method.

When I'm looking for something specific, I don't waste time wading through the mire of really, really gross furniture, but I also don't limit my search to the point where I'm missing things in the periphery. The key is thinking like a decor thesaurus. If I want an armoire, I'll search for that. I'll also run a search for a wardrobe, a chifferobe, a chiffonier, a closet, and a cabinet. I never limit my searches by price or location- because the seller of that $1,000 sofa could be so %*@#ing sick of it that they'll sell it to me for $150 and drop it off at my doorstep. You never know.

Of course, when I'm not looking for something specific, and I have, say, 15 minutes with no immediate obligations... woohoo, the rules are out the door! Using stream of consciousness search terms is like writing Dada poetry: sometimes you get gibberish, sometimes you get enlightened. (Uh-oh, is my English major showing?)

I pulled three random adjectives out a hat, and voila- poetry.

...Blue...

Feeling all kinds of blue: a sweet vintage floral framed in gold bamboo ($60.00), or an antique Romanian sideboard that I am totally dying to possess (but can't afford for $575.00).

...$40...

For the $40.00 burning a hole in your pocket: a vibrantly green mantle (that would kick ass in my bedroom with a new coat of gray paint... hmmm), an empty antique mirror, or a chartreuse bistro table.

...Industrial...

Perfect for that factory loft vibe: a rusty metal stool ($80.00), a stainless display cabinet circa 1969 ($1,675.00), or a pair of sculptural oxen yokes ($66.00- $74.00).

Good Clean Design

In the process of redecorating my bathroom I pored over my image files for inspiration- and I was amazed at the consistency of my taste! What do these images have in common?

Solid furniture and patinated metals...

Pristine white fixtures and bit of whimsy...

(Image by Domino Magazine)

Soft neutrals and a vintage apothecary vibe.

(Image by House Beautiful)

Yes, I'd have to win the lottery to make any of this happen (you know, to buy a house with a bathroom bigger than broom closet). But if I do, and I'm simply drowning in money... I'm still turning to Craig's List for the goods!

I'd combine a rusty relic...

Victorian wrought iron fencing (Craig's List, Full Set for $225.00)

With an elegant chest...

Distressed black French Country dresser (Craig's List, $350.00)

To create a totally original bathroom vanity!

The fencing would be perfect for hanging a simple beveled mirror, hand towel, decor, & jewelry.

The dresser can be modified to accommodate for plumbing- without sacrificing the six outer drawers.

It's easy to find accessories...

I'd take a quirky Santa Barbara lavatory faucet (California Faucets), a floor of classic white hex tile (Craig's List, $7.00 per square foot) with dark grout, and the sleek hanging fixture I've been sighing over at Harold's.

I highly recommend Pottery Barn's organic hand towels ($9.99, shown in "Soft Lilac"), I love the old-school pharmacy look of their classic glass bath accessories (Pottery Barn, $7.99 - $19.00), and I wouldn't mind saving some cash on a Hollviken vessel sink (Ikea, $90.00).

The result? Old-fashioned aesthetic with the convenience of modern plumbing- a timeless combination. Timeless, as in: when I'm filthy rich, I can bubble-bath in here for hours.

Suffering from a Touch of Recession Depression

I'm thrifty. I live for the thrill of bargain hunting. I cackle gleefully as my pennies accumulate. And when I do splurge on something, I generally make up for it by trimming back on other expenses (usually the unimportant stuff, like, say... "food").  

However, as much as I pride myself on maintaining a strict budget and planning for the future, responsibility can be a pain in the ass. For example: gritting my teeth and using my tax return to supplement student loan payments instead of "stimulating the economy." Let me tell you- if I had this kind of willpower at the gym, I would be a much thinner Lizzie. *grumble*

So, in today's "doomed to wishful thinking" spirit, here's a Room Design that's also a Dare to Dream. If I decided not to pay the bills and redecorated my living room instead, it would look something like this:

Educated Decisions

Put a Vintage Twist on Storage

 

Antique Library Card File ($850.00, Craig's List) + Well-Traveled Steamer Trunk ($50.00, Craig's List)

Sink into Something Soft

 

Lovely Tufted Velvet Sofa ($400.00, Craig's List) + Sophisticated Black Velvet Pillow ($32.95, Crate & Barrel)

Help Yourself to Some Refreshments

 

Black Balloon Wine Glasses (6 for $29.99, Target) +  Pedestal Serving Bowl ($23.99, Target) 

Keep Things Polished with Chrome

 

MCM Eames "Laurel" Floor Lamp ($175.00, Craig's List) + Shining Serving Tray ($39.99, Target)

Take Notes

 

Salvaged "Hardware" Frame with chalkboard paint ($15.00, Craig's List) + Industrial Chic Wrought Iron Easel ($17.95, Crate & Barrel)

Achieve Studied Style

Pom Pom Chestnut Branches ($16.95 each, Crate & Barrel) + Test Tube Vase ($29.99, Target) + Black Globe ($39.95, Crate & Barrel)

Anyone want to give my living room a $2,000 bail-out?