Hope chests, hoarding, planning for the future, living in the present.

Categories: decluttering · design · energy · interiors · vintageTags: Leave a comment

I really love the idea of hope chests. I love the idea of collecting beautiful treasures that you’ll use someday, for your wedding, or your home, etc. When I was a wee-teenager I remember asking my parents for new bedroom linens for Christmas. When they came I didn’t even open them, I saved them for when I had my own bedroom. Sadly we never finished the extra bedroom and I never used the bed linens. Then at some point it had been so long that they weren’t even ‘me’ anymore and that was that… I was never able to really…

Sometimes buying vintage really IS better. Sharing my favorite vintage spots in Chicago!

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You guys know I absolutely love vintage things. Buildings, furniture, clothes {even if I can’t ever find anything that fits me!}, you name it I probably love it. I came across this great article recently that talked about how sometimes it really is better to buy certain things vintage rather than new. I mean, duh. Often, you can get a great quality item, whether it’s furniture, a rug, art, or some other house ware, that’s made better than what you can buy today and is still in great shape. Vintage items like this don’t lose their value like new items do,…

Some spaces are better to renovate while you live in them…

Categories: architecture · bathroom · buying · creativity · design · interiors · investment · real estate · renovation · vintageTags: · · · · Leave a comment

A couple of weeks ago I found the most amazing place that had just come on the market. It hasn’t been sold in 40 years! It’s a massive condo in a vintage three flat and is a massive 2400 square feet on one floor. A sprawling three bedroom two bath space with tall ceilings and gorgeous original trim, it even has a picture rails in the dining room {be still my heart}! And of course it needs a lot of updating {that’s part of what makes it so great, in my opinion anyway!}, but has all the vintage charm that…

Wood trim: to paint or not to paint, that is the question…

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When it comes to renovations, there’s one topic that people always have strong feelings about… whether to paint the vintage wood trim and built-ins… People generally have strong opinions and are solidly on one side or the other of this debate. It’s either fine no matter what, go crazy and have fun… or you are the devil incarnate if you even think about defiling a vintage treasure in such an offensive way. I might be the rare bird who doesn’t have strong feelings one way or the other. Well, I take that back, I’m actually really conflicted about whether to…

A soda pop factory gets a stunning makeover

Categories: architecture · bathroom · bedroom · creativity · design · energy · inspiration · interiors · investment · kitchen · living room · real estate · renovation · selling · style · vintageTags: · · · · · · · Leave a comment

I love Architecture, and I’m obsessed with renovations and bringing an outdated or neglected space back to life. Recently I came across an absolutely jaw dropping space that just sold that I’m excited to share today. I’m so sad I didn’t make it over to see the space before it sold {in a whiplash inducing three days at just over $1 million}, maybe I can make friends with the new owners and get an invite over for dinner, ha! Too often people think that updates have to be very neutral and safe so that their space is appealing to the…

If I could buy anything ~ vintage highrise edition

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There are so many amazing places that I would happily buy. So welcome to the first of who knows how many ~ If I could buy anything ~ posts. . . today’s debut edition is all about the vintage highrise {drool!!} Guys, Chicago has some AHMAZING vintage buildings, but one specific type that I’ve always been completely crazy in love with are the vintage high-rises. Seriously, breathtaking, stop you in your tracks beautiful, outside and in. The rooms are huge, I take that back, they are normal sized, you know, from the days when you had a dining room and a living room… and…

Interior Inspiration: Incorporating Vintage Furniture

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So, as much as I love spaces where everything is brand new, I really love incorporating vintage furniture into a space. I think there’s something special and unmatchable in a space that is that perfect mix of new and old… it has a richness and character that other spaces just don’t have. But not all antiques are the same… and there is definitely an art to mixing them ~ both with vintage pieces from other eras and with new furniture. As always, design is subjective, but with that in mind here are some of my ‘rules of thumb’ for incorporating vintage…