In the Pink for a Post-Holiday Vintage Tablescape

This past weekend's bitter and snowy weather found me inside tackling all those little things I had been putting off: taking down the tree, packing up all the garland and cardboard village homes, and encouraging my very zealous kitten, Harry-- who wanted to be a part of it all-- to find himself some other more kitten-appropriate hobbies. 

I even spackled some long-lingering cracks in my diningroom walls. It's almost embarrassing when I think about how long this project had gone undone! 

But my favorite activity of the weekend was definitely transforming the diningroom decor from Christmas Lite to springy pink good cheer.
The pink, burgundy, blue and green tablecloth was a long-ago thrift store find, as was the marble and crystal candelabra which I'd painted a pearl pink.

The pinkish purple goblets were purchased years ago from either TJ Maxx or Marshalls. And as you can see I'm using the beautiful opalescent "American Sweetheart" pattern depression glass plates I got via a friend and thrifting...

On the mantle, I coordinated with a rose-printed lace mantle scarf and some of my favorite lusterware plates.

I think these all came from the Red White and Blue Thrift Store, though not necessarily at the same time.

In particular, I love the shape and pattern on this one...

This little pink luster plate is one of my most recent finds.
And I figured I'd add in this nice luster bowl I'd gotten at the Goodwill in Indiana, PA a while back. It had been so dirty when I got it, you really couldn't appreciate its pattern and shine...
A little color goes a long way to soothe the winter blues-- particularly if it's got some winter pinks and winter greens along with it!

Do you folks do any decorating post-winter-holidays, or are you pretty well sick to death of the thought of decor after all the Fa-La-La-ing Festivities?

Choosing Wall Paint You Won't Regret

What is it about choosing wall paint that somehow ends up seeming like a deep, painful decision akin to Kennedy's pressures in Cuban Missile Crisis? I mean, it's just paint after all. Color. Something to slap on the walls, right?

And yet anyone who decorates knows it's so much more than that. It's an atmosphere. A mood. It surrounds you. And most of all... it's a commitment.

Oh sure, it's not like deciding to get married, or to move across the country. But these days paint isn't exactly cheap. So when you invest in your half gallon of the stuff, you want it to work.

So how do you choose paint that will really work for your space?

Well, I may not have all the answers. But I've learned a few things over the years that have made choosing a good color easier. And I'm happy to share them with you today.

• Don't try to decide on a paint right there in the store. Get paint swatches... and lots of them. The lighting in the paint store is not like your home. And it's the light that makes the difference in how a color appears. So make sure your take some paint swatches home and see what it looks like held up to the wall you'll be painting. This leads to the next point...

• See what those swatches look like in all different times of day. A paint swatch that can look terrific in morning light might look washed out at midday and take on a strange glow toward evening. Live with the colors a bit and see how they look and change. This can help you narrow down your choices.

• Remember that what looks very pale on the swatch card might look much bolder as paint on your wall. How does it compare to the furnishings you plan to have in the room? Remember the darker the color, the closer a room will feel.
  

• You can get test pots of paint made up in the colors you like. Spreading a sample of the actual paint can help you get a better sense of what it will be like on a grander scale. This won't necessarily tell you how dark or light a room will get from painting. But it will give you a feel for how the paint will look at different times of day.

• Think about the color itself. Does it lean toward cooler or warmer tones? For instance, you might say my Baby's Breath Pink above is just pink, right? But it's actually a cooler pink-- a purple pink-- as opposed to a more orange pink. The fact that it's a little more toward the blue spectrum of things instead of the hotter orange reds means it will go better with the eggplant and raspberry rugs I have in the room. By knowing whether your color leans toward cooler or hotter tones, you will have an easier time coordinating it to other colors.

• Once you paint, live with the color a few days before passing final judgment. A change of color -- especially if it's drastic-- can take getting used to. The room may seem cozier (or more claustrophobic!) or the color may feel like it's really opened up the room. So give yourself time to get used to the change, and really experience the color in situ itself.

The world's a bright beautiful place-- too beautiful to live without color. So don't be afraid. We all get a little nervous when it comes to making a paint selection. (You can click here to check out the tale of paint panic I had the first time I tried to paint a room!)

Just take your time. Think about your colors...

And then carpé paintbrush!

Wishing you good fortune and great color for all your future painting endeavors.

Treasure Box Wednesday: Heavenly Finds

And a-one, and a-two, and everybody sing...

Er, no, better not. Let's just talk about our friend the conducting cherub here, and the other found items for this Treasure Box Wednesday.

The elaborate winged fellows are a lamp discovered at Construction Junction architectural salvage. This has already made it's way into my blue room. I would say it probably was the land-speed record for lamp placement in America.

How the lamp managed to survive in that store amid the big chunks of heavy marble mantles, thick wood planks, and masonry, I can't imagine. It does have some issues, certainly. A chipped wing here, a missing bit there...

And this fellow is completely sans-arm. But I think some clever patching will make it less obvious, and just add to the character. Too much was brilliantly intact for me to care very much...
Sometimes I think it's the imperfections in well-made old pieces like this that make them even more worth rescuing to me. Like I have to save them from further damage!

At the Salvation Army yesterday, there was absolutely nothing wrong with this pink hobnail vase...
I've seen this in white milkglass a bazillion times over the years-- in fact my mother had one-- but never, ever in pink! This was quite a surprise to me. I believe I recall it being an Anchor Hocking piece, but don't hold me to that.

I had also picked up this green Depression glass platter...

Funny, I'd been in line, saying to the friend I was shopping with how there were just a few small chips on the bottom, but how no one would see those. And the woman in front of me in line sniffed, "Well, I can tell you're not an antique dealer, then!"

Er, yes. I probably wouldn't expect people to buy from me something that had chips. But given it was for my own use? Well, you all know how I feel about that. Again, it's another pretty item whose beauty isn't ruined by the little flaws.

And my last second-hand venture of the weekend was attending a flea market at a local synagogue. It was set up almost identically to the church rummage sale I went to just a week or two ago. And there, I set my eyes on this great sandwich-glass and lightly-lustered amethyst dish...
(Here you can see an aerial view)...

And this excellent large, old mirror for a whole $2...

So it's been a pretty heavenly week for fun finds! And a nice respite from working on that fireplace.

• Folks who've not yet seen the whole fireplace installation extravaganza can check that out here.

It's going well, by the way. I installed the rest of the trim last night. It still needs a few coats of paint, and then I have some other touches to add. Oh-- and the mantle shelf. But the mantle shelf issue is one I'll share with you later. I think you'll laugh.

Take care, and I hope you'll pop back on Sunday for our next post!

Treasure Box Thursday: Cool Finds on a Hot Day

After a couple of weeks of either staying home to get chores done, or attending happy events like my friend's wedding, it was really great to hop in the car and head down Route 30-- one of my favorite treks-- and do a bit of thrift-'tiquing.

The item above wasn't a thrift find, but was too amazing to pass up. This came from a booth at the L&L Fleatique in Adamsburg, and is a 1940s/50s ice crusher in original pink and absolutely amazing shape. You can see the box right there-- printed as bright and clear as if it were yesterday. I had eyed this up during a few of my visits to the Fleatique, and finally caved and brought it home with me.

Pink must have been on the brain a bit, because I also found this vintage lidded Pyrex casserole dish in pink for $3.


Amazing to find the dish and lid intact. I have to say, when I do dishes and wash up all these pink Pyrex bowls, it is just one really charming dish drain.

(Heh- not that anybody else ever sees it, really. But still... atmosphere!)

Lastly at the L&L Fleatique, I picked up a small blue vintage pottery vase. I just really liked its lines...


I guess by the time I made it to "Junk for Joy" in Jeanette, PA, the pink bug had fully gotten me. But what a fun 1950s/60s pink cookie jar...


And just look, the original label is still on it.


It reads: "Lustro-Ware! Elegante-- Guaranteed unbreakable for one year"... It must be the extra "e" in "elegante" that makes it so very durable, eh?

At the Good Samaritan Thrift Store and Goodwill I found some sheep planters.


I think most of the vintage lamb planters used in my Easter display actually came from the Good Samaritan. It's become a fun running joke with the nice lady who runs the shop. She saw me coming to the register with this one and started chuckling. I imagine she knew what I'd be taking home the moment I stepped through the door! I need to print some Easter pictures out for her sometime to show her the flock.

I also found a nice book of interesting Victorian-influenced floral wrapping papers. I'd gotten some of these a few years ago at a Barnes and Noble outlet, so was glad to find this. Great for birthdays, mother's day, etc.



And before we go today, I wanted to announce that The Thrift Shop Romantic has found its Official Blog Flower. Or rather, the flower has found the blog... and let me tell you why!

My blogging friend Claire is a talented hobby photographer. While usually she takes glorious landscape photos on her hikes, she recently has been hitting the gardens around her England home for inspiration. When she posted this lovely...


...I asked her the name of it. And she came back laughing, telling me it's name is-- get this-- ARMERIA Nifty Thrifty.

I kid you not. And honestly, because dear Claire is a bit of a kidder herself, I wasn't entirely sure she wasn't pulling my leg. But no, Bluestone Perennials confirms it. And therefore, I dub it the Official Flower of The Thrift Shop Romantic!

Thanks a million, Claire, for uncovering it, as well as for letting me use your great photo. You're, as they say, a star!

• And speaking of stars-- if you missed the extra-super-special Wednesday non-Treasure Box post, with more information about one of the actresses on my postcards-- courtesy of the actress' own grand-daughter, click here.

• Or if you missed Sunday's post on touring the 1950s Total Electric Home, click here.

Hm-- I've got that ice chopper. Sounds like it's pina colada time! What do you all say? Who wants one? :)