Memorial Day 2010

Many of us celebrate Memorial Day by spending the day at a lake, beach, or pool with family and friends. While I don't have a lake cottage or beach house to decorate, if I did, the red-striped upholstered armchair in this photo would surely find it's way into my decorating scheme. Have a fantastic day and remember to give thanks for our men and women in uniform. Happy Summer!

Red, white and blue decor in this cottage...tres patriotic!

Photo from Coastal Living

Lake Michigan Beach House

There's a terrific story in Chicago Home Magazine this month about a Lake Michigan beach house that I encourage you to check-out online or in print. The owners of this home have perfected the art of incorporating antique furniture into modern design. These antiques are anything but old and stuffy and, paired with this gorgeous home, are my idea of vintage design perfection.

Vintage Eames chair

Hans Wenger table and chairs

Mid-century modern bench

Fin Juhl Chieftain chair

Photos from Chicago Home Magazine

Red Porch Swing and Geraniums

While still thinking about my weekend of gardening, I bought two gorgeous red geranium hanging baskets for my porch. I usually have ferns, but was inspired by a trip to The Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island last summer to make a change. If you haven't been, this hotel in northern Michigan is really fabulous and has an amazingly long front porch lined with red geraniums. I'm not sure if it's the flowers I like or the memory of my vacation there, but either way they look great! The below photo is from Country Living magazine and loved the vintage red porch swing, probably from the 1940's or 50's, and how it looked with the geraniums. Now all I need is the porch swing... 

Photo from Country Living

Red Geraniums at the Grand Hotel

Photo from Grand Hotel.com

Metal Watering Can for the Garden

This weekend the weather was amazing and I spent a good deal of time outside working on my landscaping. I've got a long way to go, but managed to clean out a couple flower beds and plant a few perennials that I bought at the market on Saturday morning. After planting and watering, I realize that I need a larger watering can. There's a monthly antique market this weekend near my house and one vendor that's usually there specializes in vintage garden equipment, so I think I'll seek out a cool metal watering can. You have to really inspect for rust holes, but generally can find good-looking and functional watering cans for $10-$25.

This is an awesomely organized gardening cabinet

with a great vintage watering can.

Photo from Martha Stewart.com

Atlanta Antique Shops...plus one great restaurant

I'm home from Atlanta and had a great weekend visiting some of my favorite places and people. Miami Circle certainly didn't disappoint. Dearing Antiques has an amazing collection, specifically of majolica: colorful ceramics made in 19th century Britain, Europe and the USA with molded surfaces. Foxglove Antiques & Galleries is home to more than a dozen dealers and has lots of great finds. Unfortunately for me it would have been tough to fit a wing-back chair on the airplane, so I went home empty handed. For less-pricey finds, Kudzu Antiques in Decatur has lots of funky finds and good mid-century modern goods. If you're looking for a great restaurant while in Decatur, go to Watershed; everything on the menu is super yummy!

Maple theater chairs from the 1940's at Kudzu

Photo from kudzu antiques.com

Photo from Fox Glove Antiques.com

The Watershed in Decatur, Georgia

Photo from Watershedrestaurant.com