No, I haven't died. In case you demand an explanation for my absence, I have prepared the following excuses for why I have not been posting:
1. I've been extremely busy (this is kind of a lie).
2. I've been doing all sorts of exciting summer activities, and I'm having so much fun, I forget to take photos (This is closer to the truth).
3. I haven't even brought my camera anywhere in weeks, though I've been at rooftop parties, pool parties, motorcycle rallies, summer rental houses, beaches, and other exciting adventures which should be documented (This is the whole truth. Sorry).
I'll get better. Don't give up on me yet. Here...look at some photos of my house. We renovated this Chicago 3-flat three years ago, and I am getting decorator-stir crazy, so I'm about to rip into it again. Some of the photos are old, so I apologize for my awkward camera angles.
Always wanted a house with a red door, just so I could direct people to "the house with the red door". Nobody remembers house numbers. I certainly don't. Speaking of house numbers, these beauties are from Restoration Hardware, and I intend to hang them on any property I own, regardless of the address.
This is what my living room looks like when it isn't decorated for a party. I have a habit of compulsively changing the artwork every weekend, as you may have noticed. The sofa is a refurbished 50's number from Post27, and is also the best napping sofa ever built.
Speaking of changing artwork- the Marie Antoinette painting is now in the other corner of my living room, hanging out with Buckley the cement deer. He is a deceitfully heavy little bugger. The record player was an awesome vintage find in Philly- it still has the original receipt and a full maintenance history inside. The radio worked until someone knocked it over.
Mr. Simon Tinsel, the deer, was purchased for the cabin-themed holiday party of 2011. I wanted to name him Simon and Adam wanted to name him Mr. Tinsel, hence the full title (for a not-so-full animal). The typewriter was the guest book at our wedding.
This dining room is going to be the first room to get redone- since I made the new pipe and flange bookshelf and commissioned my friend to build this table, the room doesn't seem to make sense anymore. I can't wait to build a more industrial light fixture, and replace the lucite stools which I received as a Valentine's Day gift six years ago.
This credenza is a Kent Coffey-esque piece refurbished by White Attic. It is actually bursting with craft and art supplies. When I was 19, I was helping my mother pack up an estate to be dropped off at Goodwill when I came across the chrome lamp. I fell in love, took it home, and then noticed the Pierre Cardin badge on it. After a few seconds searching on the internet, it popped up on 1stdibs- a rare 1970's Pierre Cardin floor lamp! It was a pretty exciting find for a nineteen year old. Unfortunately, it took a beating when I moved cross country and a motorcycle fell on it, so I can't sell it when I'm hurting for cash.
The claw foot tub was actually on the top floor of our building, in my brother's apartment, and I made a crew of strong friends and family members carry it down to my floor. They hate me. The light was handmade by the incredible people at Schoolhouse Electric in Portland.
A vintage medical cart holds all the household toiletries.
Ok, here is one of those old photos I hate. BOTH LAMPS ARE ACRYLIC, AND SIMILAR IN STYLE. I know, I blew it on that one. But look at the hand painted wallpaper! And the poorly constructed but incredible heavy headboard from Brocade! Just ignore those pillow cases. I would reshoot my bedroom, but if the bed isn't covered in dogs, its covered in their hair.
This gas Heartland stove was the greatest Craigslist find in the history of the website. It has six burners, a convection oven and broiler, and it is completely modern. It has hidden digital controls. It sells for almost $8000 new. My husband was diddling around on the internet and found it in Wisconsin, in a garage, for...wait for it...$800!!! I love it more than him. I love it more than my dogs. I love it more than all of them combined.
Oh, and did I mention that $800 also included a separate wall mounted unit, with two additional independently controlled convection ovens? I hand painted the wood floors myself, and I almost lost my mind doing it. The Big Chill fridge was purchased at a hefty discount because of a dime-sized dent which I am yet to actually find.
Everything else was an Ikea/Restoration Hardware mashup.
Obsessive-compulsive pantry, with tiny hand-written labels on every bottle, and another fantastic light fixture from good old Schoolhouse Electric.
This sofa is the 73" Bantam sofa from DWR, custom upholstered in Maharam fabric. I spent a lot of time picking the fabric, and the color, and waiting for the sofa to finally arrive...and then our puppy destroyed it. He ripped out the stuffing, tore apart the zipper, and covered it in dog hair to boot. I wanted to make him into a rug. Those Norwegian reindeer antlers were another pre-holiday party pickup. The tables were picked up at CB2 after someone sat on our last coffee table during a super bowl party.
And finally...the reclaimed wood wall. This is actually a compartmentalized build out which holds all of our electronics- printers, computer, television, and scanner. It also holds a huge humidor which rolls out on casters and a track, and has a compartment for all our overnight guest supplies. It has a built in sound system and built in edison bulbs (of course). I salvaged most of the materials for the wall from parts of the house we ripped down.
There. I hope that makes up for not posting for a month.
