When it comes to lamps, I might have a bit of an obsession. My living room, which is quite tiny, includes four table lamps. My bedroom, three. I even have two in my kitchen and one in my bathroom. I’d like to decorate with more, but I’ve pretty much set one on every surface available. Why do I love lamps so much? I think it’s the warm glow they give off. It makes a room instantly cozy. And, I refuse to use nasty overhead lighting. Maybe it’s just in the apartments I’ve rented, but overhead lighting tends to emit cold, sterile light that reminds me of a hospital. Not quite the feeling I’m going for in my home. Where does one vintage-loving lamp obsessed shopper like me find all of these lamps, you ask? Thrift stores and secondhand shops of course! I picked up all of the lamps in my home at secondhand shops and thrift stores—never for more than $10! I’ll let you in on some of my lamp-scoring secrets. What to look for Search for lamps that have a base that catches your eye. Sometimes I go thrift store shopping with an idea of a color of...
Industrial Chic: Decorating With Vintage Metal Fans
Sometimes you just have to buy an item for no particular reason except that you like it. It’s not practical. It may not serve any purpose. You just like it. And, that’s okay. At least I tell myself that. I tell myself that because I’m the kind of person who wants random items like a 50-75 pound ceramic elephant planter. (I’m still kicking myself for not buying that at my local Goodwill.) I’m also the kind of person that scours antique stores across Missouri and Kansas to find the perfect vintage metal fan. Just because I wanted one. Obviously I wasn’t drawn to vintage fans for their superior cooling capabilities. I like the look. Lately I’ve seen retro electric fans in almost every home magazine I open. One will be perched on a dresser, adding a splash of vintage style to the room without looking girly, as a lot of vintage items can. Or, one will sit atop a stack of books as a makeshift bedside table. Vintage fans just add a bit of industrial charm to a room. Plus, their look can fit with all types of decorating styles. See: After much searching, I finally found a vintage...
Vintage Love: A Barnyard Wedding
When done right, a wedding’s décor can make an already happy celebration just that much more perfect. That’s the kind of night it was at my friends’ vintage-inspired wedding. After an outdoor ceremony, the reception took place in the indoor-outdoor space of a converted barn on a working farm. The backdrop of rolling hills and planted crops perfectly suited the vintage items that decorated the tables, the walls and the dessert bar. In this carefully-thought-out wedding, everything just felt right. They had the vintage details down. From an old wooden chest holding programs, (which also doubled as fans!), to galvanized metal tubs storing bottled water to old spoons and wooden boxes decorating the tables, this wedding couldn’t have been more vintage perfect. Their colors even nodded to vintage. Bridesmaids wore pale, pale blue flowy dresses and groomsmen sported bright red vests and ties. Chinese lanterns in the same colors canvassed the ceiling of the barn, hung between strings of lights. Kelsey and Jon Pierson know how to have a wedding vintage-style. Check out some pictures from the vintage event below! [A friend of the couple hand painted this sign. I love how the vintage colors contrast with the more...
3 Steps To Create A Vintage-Inspired Desk
You vintage lovers deserve a workspace that complements your home decorating aesthetic. Whether you just use your desk to pay bills and surf the Web or your desk functions as your full-time workstation, you need a space where you enjoy spending time. If it looks vintage-cute, all the better! For me, an office space that combines vintage elements, artwork that I enjoy looking at, and functionality inspires me to write. Check out my desk below and discover how you too can fashion a vintage-inspired desk for your home. 1. The right desk The modern desks you find at furniture stores today often don’t offer the same craftsmanship as vintage pieces. Vintage desks are usually made of solid wood, not a combination of wood and cheap plywood like today’s furniture. Choose a desk for your workspace that you’ll actually want to work at. I salvaged my desk from a Goodwill for $20. With a fresh coat of white paint and green accents, it looks near-new and still has the retro look I adore. 2. Keep it minimal Choose the pieces that you place on your desk surface carefully. An uncluttered work area will help you get more work done. You...