Busy Weekend!

We Seattleites enjoyed an unexpectedly fantastic weekend- two days of sunshine and a win by our Huskies (!!!!). What more could we ask for?

On Saturday we held an impromptu dinner at our house with our favorite foodie friends. We took on a couple bottles of wine and completely decimated our food budget... good times! Adam prepared stuffed salmon, and he's preparing to post it this Friday!

Due to a sort of unpleasant dog-sitting episode (I'll just say that the event necessitated a bath for both the dogs and myself), I didn't make it out to the Greenwood garage sales.

Soooo, I got my scavenging fix at Sunday's Fremont Flea Market. It seems to be hitting a high point in these last days of summer- the streets are packed with shoppers and literally overflowing with finds. I ogled a hundred pairs of vintage cowboy boots (Adam wrinkled his nose and said, "would you actually put your feet in those?"), a bumblebee placard, a sumptuously soft fur stole (sorry animals...), and so many other lovely bits and pieces:

I always enjoy this vendor's booth- selling all the necessary parts for industrial-chic.

The no-nonsense displays are perfect: raw and appealing.

These caught my eye- cool for soap dishes or lipglosses?

I'd never be able to pick out just one letter- I want the whole tray!

Wouldn't this make a sweet bar set-up? Or a tub-side toiletries display?

I walked out empty-handed, but that's only because I came in with an empty wallet! Trust me, I'll be back next week...

Future Shack 2009

How is it that a long weekend makes the following week seem even lonnnnnnngerrrr?

I'm definitely ready for my weekend. I'll be:

• Hitting up Greenwood Garage Sale Day to see if there are any finds to be found.
• Enjoying the 80º weather while it lasts!
• Attending the AIA Seattle Future Shack event...

You might recall my post this summer about the house on my street that I have a little crush on.

I admire it each time I walk by. It's modern without feeling sharp, it's compelling without being jarring. It's a home, not an experiment. Remember that I wished for more information on the project?

Well, happy birthday, myself: turns out that this house is amongst the projects submitted for Future Shack, and we can all take a little peek inside!

Image by Frank Jenkins

Image by Hutchison & Maul Architecture

What is Future Shack? This is a competition started this year by the AIA and the Seattle Times to celebrate architectural projects that approach urban living from a progressive angle. The projects have been reviewed by two separate juries- one made up of community members, the other of design professionals. Selected projects will be featured in Pacific Northwest Magazine.

You know that I'm a girl who loves all things vintage and quirky- but I'm intrigued by the approach that Future Shack is taking with modern architecture. One of the criteria for submissions was "Past Forward: designs that incorporate the historic fabric into a forward-looking housing solution." Whoah. They had me at "historic."

Sunday's event will be a discussion between the juries and the audience about the merit of these projects and their impact on our city. Can modern innovation work around the constraints of city living without being sterile?

If you're a Seattle resident who plans on twiddling their thumbs this Sunday evening, I suggest you head on over to Future Shack! For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit the AIA website.

If you see me there, say hi! I'm hoping for a lively debate!

Inspiration: Less is More

I don't get the "less is more" thing. Don't play your word games with me- more is more, and we both know it. Modernist aesthetic and recession be damned, give me more.

And yet... I love this.

It's less, it's more, it's the destruction of my design philosophy.

This home in my neighborhood fascinates me. The ultra simple barn structure in matte charcoal gray... the row of square windows with brick-red trim... the no-nonsense concrete wall paired with the bare picket fence... and of course, the mounds of lavender.

It's tradition reduced to its most basic, graphic forms.

Just a perfect, harmonious chord.

What I wouldn't give for more information... or a look inside this house!

Treasure Hunting in Fremont

This weekend I was totally engrossed in a re-design of sorts in my apartment.  I framed pictures, installed shelving, completely reversed the contents of two closets, and cleaned as I went.  I swear, there was a point behind all of this nonsense.  Anyway, since I was quite buried in work, I err... skipped this week's CL room design.  Shame on me.  Don't cry though: I'll give you lots of pretty pictures to look at instead.  

Today, we tour Fremont, a Seattle neighborhood brimming with little independent shops and eateries.  To me, Fremont is the epitome of Seattle culture- it's where the socks+sandals granolas graze on New-Age Vegan food and the Starbucks-sipping yuppies browse the wares of local jewelry designers.  We spend a great deal of time in this neighborhood, as Adam works there, and we recently became members of a rather fancy-pants gym on the canal. (Let me tell you- my wallet is feeling the burn!)

It's downhill from here...

Since relocating to Seattle, Adam and I have officially re-joined the ranks of caffeine fiends (caffiends?).  One our favorite spots is the Fremont Coffee Company, tucked in an old house with a maze of study nooks.  The place is always buzzing with comfort noises- beans grinding, soft music, pages rustling.  If it's comfort food you're after, try their famous grilled cheese... 

 

Oh, the melty goodness.

Fremont is also a wonderful place for searching out vintage finds.  Every Sunday 34th Avenue transforms into the Fremont Flea Market, packed with oddities and equally odd customers.  The market is ideal if you enjoy rummaging through bins of old printing blocks, watch parts, and beads- and I do!

Another of my favorite weekend hunting grounds is Deluxe Junk...

This is the place to go for frames, lamps, and antique globes.

The interior itself is an inspiration- the ceilings are painted sky blue with clouds.

I always make time to peruse the Fremont Vintage Mall.  Though it offers mainly MCM, clothing, and music, every once in a while I find a real gem...  

 

This hanging terrarium reminds me of the one in the cabinet of curiosities I featured last week.  The blue-gray vase is one of a set that I've been admiring for several months- hovering just out of my budget!

After a long day of scavenging, Adam and I revive ourselves at Brouwer's.  I love the look- dark and cavernous, and Adam loves the beer list- it reads like a novel!  If you're not a beer aficionado, just pick one with a funny name!

 

For Adam, something as dark as his soul.  For me, Frambois: sweet as ambrosia and so pretty!