To Ombre or not to Ombre?

Ombre.  A word that if you were not familiar with a couple of years ago you are more than acquainted with now.  You are besties.

A couple of weekends ago, my dear husband helped me mark one off my bucket list and took me to the world famous Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.  I took well over 400 pictures and will probably make you nauseous from all of the impending posts that are sure to follow.  Hold tight- they ARE on the way.

I took a decorating class conducted by none other than Carleton Varney, himself- master of color, decorator extraordinaire.  They had just installed new ombre drapes in the Cameo ballroom a few days prior and they were FAB.  I have cruised the web and don't think there are any photos of them out there just yet.  

Here is what they looked like before...

*Photo courtesy of Carleton Varney

It was amazing to walk the halls of such a historical place with the man who has personally decorated it for over 50 years.  Truly, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I have been itching to add a little ombre to my life.  Not in the extreme hair dying sort of way.  Been there, done that.  But more in the painting sort of way.  I have been in love with Designers Guild's Saraille Wallpaper in Acacia since last year. 

 I LURV it but those panels are for sure not in my budget.  

My doorways are in no way so grand but I secretly think (and hope and pray) the color will transform my living room.  Just trying to get the guts up to attempt the paint job myself.  I am expecting full disaster since I am not much of a DIY-er or painter for that matter.  

What do you think?  To ombre or not to ombre?  That is the current question.

Till Next Time,

Tricia

Why I Hate Mona

We have never exactly given proper introduction to our most loyal and least recognized employee, Mona.  Most would consider her to be a model employee.  Quiet, stoic, clean, and cheap.  Mona and I, however, do not see eye to eye.  Mostly because she has no head.  

 Mona is our mannequin.  She has been with us from the start.  And she is a massive thorn in my side.  Dressing and undressing her is a work out beyond anything that Tracy Anderson could throw at you.  She is 35 pounds of dead weight and the bane of my existence.

While we have been busily adding our home decor and furniture categories , Mona has been complacently napping in my hall closet.  We have not curtailed our clothing purchases.  We just really don't want to deal with HER.  Today I awakened Mona from her slumber and was quickly reminded why I had left her in the closet for so long.

ALL THE REASONS I HATE MONA:

1.  She has a 24 inch waist

2. She wears a 32D bra (yes, I measured)

3.  She has magnetic arms that must be pulled off with a great deal of force, making me feel like a wife beater wearing mannequin abuser.  And those damn magnets pinch my hand every time!

4.  She has man paws and by that I mean REALLY abnormally huge hands.  Quite often they don't even fit through the sleeves.

5.  She has a fairly nice bootie for someone who never works out.

6.  She is all in one piece so with every wardrobe change she must be picked up and wrestled with like a drunk college girl.  Here she is on my sofa like she hit every kegger on Frat Row.

Mona, Mona, Mona.  How I despise you.  I did get pics of a few new spring items today.  

Tanner of Carolina Maxi Dress

Alfred Shaheen Tunic and Pant Set

60s Palazzo Pant

I will get these pieces and more listed on the site later this week.  Assuming Mona will be a team player.

Till Next Time,

Tricia

The Eclectic Grand Opening

Just in case you have somehow missed all of our Facebook pics and Instagrams I thought I would get in your face just one more time via Blogger and let you know that we are brick and mortar, baby!  Well, more like brick and linoleum.  At any rate, RV recently decided to open a booth at the newly reopened and revitalized The Eclectic Etc. on Castle Street in downtown Wilmington.

Our storage was a little...ahem....cramped, to say the least.  And as much fun as it is to stalk all of our loyal customers by dropping off their web purchases via car pool and play dates, we also thought this would give our locals a chance to browse some of the merchandise at their convenience.  The booth is far from being done to our satisfaction (hello, temporary graphic and FAB wallpaper!) but we are open for business.

Currently we have a large selection of our jewelry, housewares and some truly cool furniture pieces at really sick prices.  No room for the rags but if there is clothing you see on the site we will be happy to drop the pieces off in the booth for you to check it out in person.  

Saturday, March 30th the store is having their Grand Opening party.  We will be there with bells on for wine, jazz, and chatter.  Stop by and see us!

Here are a few of my top picks from other vendors at the store:

Really ridiculous bar stools in blue vinyl and silver chrome

An amazing assortment of Tiki glasses for your summer party 

Cool retro lights for extra 60s ambiance

  

Metallic marbelized lamp

Great dresser with gold hardware

And AN incredible yellow velvet chair.  Sadly there is only one.  There had been a pair but someone decided to break my heart earlier this week and purchase but one of the two.  WHY!?!  WHY!?!  WHY!?!   If you are the offender don't dare fess up to me.  I may rip your arms off and beat you with them.  Then go to your home and steal your new yellow chair while you are having your appendages surgically reattached.  

No, I'm not bitter at all.

Till Next Time, 

Tricia

The Danger of This Business

....you want EVERYTHING for yourself.  Sometimes I see things and know that they are good, but it doesn't quite hit me how good until I get them home.  

I don't buy anything without picturing how someone will wear it or in the case of decor,  where it will fit into someone's house.  I guess subconsciously I really picture how everything will fit into my home.  I want these for my home VERY badly.

RV Bird Ginger Jars

 Just look at them in my liquor cabinet!

 (No comments on how empty my liquor bottles are.  Hey, it is the end of the weekend!)

The colors are perfect if not in my cabinet then somewhere else in the house.  And I am SO not a ginger jar kind of girl.   The only problem is that I may have to off Jennings over a couple of stupid ceramic jars.  I know that she secretly wants them too!

Till Next Time,

Tricia

Broyhill Brasilia

Recently we had the chance to acquire a phenomenal bedroom suit.   Jennings and I both loved the clean lines and unique design that this set offered.  Jennings immediately wanted the double dresser to use in her house.  I was fanatical about the door chest for my son's room.  It made me sweat.

True to form we bought first and thought later.  Promptly after paying we asked, "So how are we gonna move this stuff?".  We quickly realized that a pregnant Jennings, plus skeptical Tricia, and back of a Land Cruiser did not equal a moving team.  We were forced to call for reinforcements.  Enter Sam, JD, and an unanticipated extra long lunch break for the boys.

After researching the set we are even more excited about our find!  The set was manufactured by Broyhill in the early 60s and is super collectible.  The Brasilia line premiered at the 1962 Seattle World fair and was based on the architecture of the newly developed city of Brasilia, Brazil.  The clean lines and simplicity epitomize mid century modern style.

Here is the door chest that I am OBsessed with.  It has two large bottom drawers, four small drawers in the upper chest and three shelves.  I have a similar one in my daughter's room and just adore the small drawers.  They are perfect for children's, socks, undies, and smaller seasonal things like swimsuits or hats and gloves.

This one sold previously on V&M.

 Here is our chest.  Same one!  

And just LOOK at my drawers.....

Jennings' Pick

The wood is so beautiful on this set that I just don't think I could bring myself to paint it.  Or could I?  The folks at Danish Modern LA  lacquered this version of Jennings' dresser and sold it promptly.

A reader over at Casa Sugar did this version in the reverse.

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I don't know...I am usually game to slap a coat of enamel paint on anything but I think these beauties are best left as is.  I mean that walnut is GORG.  And the dovetailing....the brass hardware.  Don't get me started!

During our research we have been in contact with the amazing folks over at Brasilia Connection.  They have been buying and selling Brasilia pieces exclusively for years and were kind enough to provide us with the linesheet for the original Brasilia division.  There is a room divider that is just SICK.

For the full Brasilia brochure click HERE.  

Our set includes the double dresser, nightstand, queen/full headboard and my coveted tall chest.

  

For additional pics  and dimensions visit Rogue Vintage.  

Since we are in the business of selling (as our husbands so kindly like to remind us), we have priced the set to sell.  Of course, there is a limited time frame for availability.  The more it sits in storage the more we want it for ourselves.  Move quickly on this one before we start re-decorating.  We would be more than happy to keep it!

Till Next Time, 

Tricia

Trina Turk Facelift

Can I get a "Whoop!  Whoop!"?  Happy 2013 to all of our friends, family and fans!  We have been noticeably absent from the blogging arena for the last month, who are we kidding- two months.  Writing that first blog post after a long break is akin to getting back in the saddle.  Not so much filled with apprehension  but more like, well...sheer DREAD.  Blogging is like pulling teeth for me.  I always have LOTS to say but putting it on paper is another story.

I have promised Jennings for three days now to do a blog post on a recent super exciting acquisition of RV.  Alas, that post will have to wait until tomorrow because it has been trumped this morning by a PHENOM delivery that I am just dying to share!

So for those who don't know me well, let me just say that my typical taste is ummm, not exactly of the bargain price variety.  However, being a stay-at-home Mom to two kids and a Great Dane who consumes more food than I do, I have certainly learned to think outside of the box budget wise.  The only thing I love more than a fab designer piece is a unique (cheap) piece that you can transform into something spectacular.  So here is my dynamic re-do.

I picked these chairs up two summers ago at a church yard sale for $10 each.  They were pretty disgusting but I loved the shape.  I think they were probably old office chairs that had been stored in a basement for 40 plus years.  Geez.  I wonder what confessions have been made in these puppies.

After many attempts at sanding the black paint off the legs myself, I convinced my husband to break out his sander.  Lesson learned quickly.  Why bust it yourself while you have
A.  a husband
B.  a husband with tools?

The legs were bare in no time and I just added a fresh coat of white enamel paint.

The upholstery left much to be desired.  It was a dusty and mildewed old blue and black vinyl.  It had to go!  It did leave me with the great idea to upholster the arm with vinyl trim, though.  I mean I have two kids and a dog.  That thing MUST have a wipe-ability factor of 10.

When we moved into this house 3 years ago I had ordered fabric samples of Trina Turk's indoor/outdoor line for F. Schumacher.  I got it from a design firm in Chicago who, at the time, had the best price around at $60 per yard.  Everywhere else it was $90 per yard and up.

Super Paradise (Left) and Pisces (Right) both in Driftwood were my absolute faves.  I was going through a grey and yellow moment.  

You can view the entire line of Trina Turk fabric online HERE.  I didn't end up buying any fabric then- let's just say it takes a village and a few years to put my plans into action.  Anyway, you know I did a straight up happy dance when both fabrics showed up in a local fabric shop for just $7.99 a yard.  Uh, yeah.  I'll take some of that.  Ten yards of each to be exact.  I had no idea what I was going to do with it but, PLEASE!!! It was almost free.

So after having the chairs for  a year and a half and the fabric for a year I finally made a pledge to use them both.  I got my new chairs this morning- freshly re-upholstered at break-neck speed.  I almost passed out as they were coming up the sidewalk.  

Inside in Super Paradise

 Back in Pisces

Pattern Detail at Leg

Side View

Oh, I'm sorry.  And I have TWO.  Now just scroll back through this post while mentally listening to "Play" a la Jennifer Lopez circa 2001.  

Oh, hell.  HERE you go.  

Now imagine that I paid $20 for the chairs, $120 each for upholstery and $7.99 for a few yards of fabric.  Less than $160 each for custom chairs.  That's right.  Take it low one time.  That's the kind of dancing I've been doing around here today. 

Till Next Time, 

Tricia

Holiday Flea at BAC

For the last two days we have been participating in a vintage flea market at the Brooklyn Arts Center.     A few days sans kiddos, lots of personal shopping, and some good eats.  What's not to love?  Oh right, and in between stuffing our faces and emptying our wallets we managed to sell a few things, too!

There is a great mix of vendors and if you are in the market for vintage Christmas decor this is the spot for you!  Here are a few of my picks.

The most adorable vintage Christmas themed note cards EVER from Paperwood Vintage.  These images were taken from 60's wrapping paper.  You receive an assortment of 8 cards for $12 and they are just plain FAB.  Perfect hostess gift.

  If you can't make it down to the flea make sure to check out their Etsy Shop.

There are some truly amazing wreaths fashioned completely out of 50s and 60s glass ornaments.  They are to-die-for and priced much more reasonably than some I have been cyber stalking this season.  There are even a few with those creepy mid century elves and what is Christmas without creepy elves?

LOVED this custom satin wrap from Tenderlane.  It is so sweet and feminine.  Really a lovely alternative to those chintzy pashmina's that everyone has scored on the streets of NYC for $10.  Pink is not my personal fave but how much would this pop against a basic black holiday dress?  POP, pop, poppity, POP!

Tenderlane also has an great assortment of vintage themed tags to add a little flair to your gift wrapping.

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These beautiful emerald green and gold glasses are from Flea Body's Resale Shop.  This is where I also scored my mini spoons and spreaders to step up Cordelia's tea party game.  

And, with luck, I rushed home last night and scored the matching set of 12 mini cocktail forks on Ebay for just $7.  Unfortunately this has catapulted me into tea party mania and I am now in search of mini sugar tongs, silver candelabras, etc.  It is truly ridiculous (and comical) how something as simple as a tiny set of spoons can send me into a shopping frenzy.

Beautiful vintage emerald and gold earrings from Sweet Tea and Moonshine.  

As well as a ridiculously gorgeous tinsel tree.  I love this tree.  I NEED this tree. I will dream of this tree.  Sigh.....

The Sweet Tea and Moonshine ladies have the best selection of retro ornaments ever!  I adore this kitschy ceramic salt and pepper set but I  am a little more than obsessed with the decorated eggs with the Christmas scenes in the center.  

And last but not least, a great ceramic tree with lights and Santa mugs from The Eclectic.  I have fond memories of both of these from my childhood.  Wish they were still around- they would be a great addition to my "Elf Magic" table.

Today is the last day of the flea and vendors will be there from 12 to 5.  Stop by the Rogue Vintage booth to say hi and enjoy 40% off fall clothing and jewelry.  We are already in spring shopping mode and are ready to load up on new goodies for next year.

Till Next Time,

Tricia