a couple more tricks of the trade.....

a couple more flea market and antique store shopping tips.....(and little Steve Jobs tribute..Thank you Steve for making this world so much easier to navigate.)

you can tell if that figurine is real ivory or bone by looking at the cut edge..real ivory has a crosshatch pattern...composites do not.

And in case you didn't know, If you are unsure if something is real gold or silver, test it with a magnet! Real gold and silver are not magnetic.

Flea Market Tips..

Who knew that Heidi Klum likes to go flea market shopping?

Here's some tips from her blog from Michael Ostrow, brilliant decorator and owner of GRACE Home Furnishing... With some of our extra notes...

Go early so you get the best selection.( or go late to pick up real bargains at the end of the day)

Bring a pen and paper so you can take notes on the items you like, and remember where you've been.

Always have plenty of cash. Most vendors won't be able to take credit cards or checks.

Bring a camera so you can reference what you have already seen. ( I also sometimes just snap a pic of the vendors sign and phone number for future reference)

Bring a measuring tape, and have the dimensions of what will fit in your home if you are looking for large items.


Know the difference between "antique" and "vintage" so you are aware of what price you can be expected to pay. According to Michael, antiques are considered over 100 years old, and vintage items are between five and 99 years old.*Sellers usually charge less if you are purchasing more than one item, so request a discount on the total price if you are buying in bulk.*Head deep into the stalls so you don't miss anything/

Stay focused, and try not to get carried away- you don't want to get home and realize that what you thought was treasure is actually trash.( This is also very true of shopping on vacation.. Flea markets in other cities/countries often seem very exciting, to you get purchases home and realize that you dont really want an antique butter churn or red carpet from the souk)

Review your photos so you don't forget anything before leaving-relax, and have fun!

size matters...

I was very excited when I saw this pair of Foo Dogs on Ebay at a very good price, because I loved their whimsical Dr Seuss quality, and I had a client I knew would love them. When a very tiny box arrived..Oops, not 15 inches tall, 5 inches tall! On either side of a doorway, they look like chess pieces! But I love them and will keep them, as I now keep a tape measure next to my desk to assess every size before making a bid on an online purchase...Once bitten, you know.

flowers..

This is how we like our flower arrangements best. A big bountiful bunch of one thing, simply arranged. And you don't need to be a florist to manage it. Leave the formal arrangements to the pros, and just plop twice as many as you think you need in a big vase, or pitcher or pot. It always works.

rethinking the entryway....

This was a large and lovely entryway piece, but ultimately impractical. The two interior shelves were shallow and the height made in difficult to place things on top.We relocated it to a den where it gracefully serves as a perfect party bar,and rearranged pieces from the rest of the house to make a comfy spot to put on or kick off shoes, dump a handbag, and stash mail and magazines with a watchful Buddha to keep an eye on keys and cellphones in his lotus bowl. But most importantly, the vibrant Annie Wharton painting gives everyone an upbeat welcome!I smile every time I look at it, and isn't that what you want to do first thing when you open your door?

two more coffee tabletops.....

so after yesterday's post I saw this gorgeous coffee table in this gorgeous room in APARTMENT THERAPY that fit my tabletop design template perfectly!...http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/re-nest-kirsten-and-kyles-home-tour/item/269690

and then I saw this equally gorgeous room with absolutely nothing on the coffee table (with this much color and fabulousness going on, the coffee table needed to be a rest spot!) to remind me of course that all design rules are made to be broken, and there is no absolute "always"ever.

table toppings....

All decorators have their own little formulas that work over and over again. We find that whenever we dress out a coffee table, we follow the same plan.. a little stack of books that serves as a pedestal for an unusual or compelling object that catches the eye, and something tall, either flowering or green. Fill in with a candle or something that adds a good smell. We like to put our displays on trays, so they can be easily whisked away when its time for a coffee table supper or bananagrams!