Tip of the hat...

So this blogging thing is still very new to me and I find that I can't always keep up with posting...or come up with ideas for posting.  It is hard to find original ideas in this day of shared information where everything seems to have been talked about already.  Then I realized that it is okay to pass on info from other sources and to share their resources.

My super talented and amazing friend Carol has a blog called The Design Pages.  www.thedesignpages.blogspot.com  You have to check out her blog...she is inspiring and creative and just...well....worth following.  She recently blogged about these great bowl/mugs called "The Baby Buddha Bowl" by Flavour Design www.flavourdesign.com
I was so in love with them at first sight and remembered them when this styling job I am working on called for original and cool looking mugs.  Carol I tip my hat to you for introducing me to them. See for yourself how great they are!

I love the great colours they come in (more than you see here) and that you hook your thumb in them and cradle them...exactly how I drink my morning cuppa.  I think they would be a welcome addition to anyone's kitchen...and what a good gift to give a friend...a couple of these and some tea from David's Tea (my new favourite passion) www.davidstea.com or a pound of coffee beans.  Who wouldn't love a guest that showed up with those?  Oprah even listed them as her "favourite things"...

While trying to find some for this shoot I am styling, I emailed the company to see where I could get my hands on a few. Of course now that the client fell in love with them they had all but disappeared.  The owner, Elan, emailed me back within an hour...and that includes the 3 hour time zone difference...Elan was helpful, polite and so kind.  She helped me find a store that carried them and I now have them to present on set...I really hope that after the shoot one of them might find it's way into my kitchen. 

So....from reading about these on one blog, I have been inspired to re-post on my own....reminds me of that commercial from the 80's..."and she told 2 friends, and so on and so on"

Let's not ever be worried about stealing sources, resources or trade secrets...I think the more info the better and if someone ever finds something I write about worth re-posting, I will be flattered and happy to share the wealth...that's what this blog world seems all about to me anyway.  Thanks Carol for the inspiration!!

New vs Old

So I have been searching a lot lately for pieces of furniture...for work, for my house and for other people.   Along the way I have found lots of treasures...some unexpected and some rediscovered.  I have been to the usual suspects...Ikea, Homesense, CB2 and many other furniture shops.  I have also checked out kijiji, craigslist and antique/junk shops.

Which lead me to start wondering....when should you purchase new...and when is it worth it to buy a piece and refinish/rework it?

There are so many great new items out there...Ikea has always lead the way in style at an affordable price.  They are trend forward and put out some really great things.   For example...

 

Ikea Docksta Table...a Saarinen inspired piece

This table is a timeless design.  The style has been around since the 50's and is still considered current and chic.

But I think there is a time to consider investing either time or money into a few key pieces.  There is something to be said for quality design and craftsmanship and materials built to last.  These days too many furniture items are made of particle board or other wood substitutes.  They look great on the outside, but won't really stand up to years of wear and tear.
Think of real hardwood floors vs. laminate...they both look okay but after years the hardwood will wear better and to me just feels better....any nick or scrape in real solid wood adds character while in a laminate or veneer will show the difference in quality.

So...when is it worth it buy something and fix it up?  If you read my last post you know I am working on a table for our kitchen.  I knew it would be worth the effort and time if I could find a solid piece with great lines and solid construction.  If you find something that you love the look of....proportion, shape, contours etc..then it is worth the effort.  You can't ever change the proportions or bones of a piece so if you see something that you love the lines of and it is solidly made, it is worth either refinishing or fixing up.

I am still working on my table, but the fact that it is well built with good design will make the hours of work pay off in a piece that is good quality and finished exactly how I want it.