Indescreet with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman

While the entirety of this move is quite gorgeous and perfect in that 50s 60s genre of light drama / early romantic comedy, I was especially attracted to Ingred Bergman's character's London apartment. Here's some screen shots of what is clearly a Design*Sponge "Sneak Peek" worthy apartment:

Ooohh, color. And upscale eclectic feel, big fat lamp in the corner, big comfy chair, sofa, lounge, built in banquette seats, carefully colored pillows.




French doors at foyer, Picasso and art everywhere.




Banquette with oversize lamp, picture frames, wall sconces.




Polka dot robe with that couch.




Aren't they adorable?




And, her wall length windows open to the terrace fully for some great indoor / outdoor living.




How perfect is this kitchen? Tiny, but adorable, with the windowpane dividing wall. Cary Grant smiling at her so!




Built in banquettes--perfect for what looks like the most romantic breakfast possible.

Panton Flower Pot Lamp

Dear Flower Pot Lamp,

I have a perfect spot for you in my office. Please come over soon. I'll even take a cute enough knock off.

Yours,
K

Today's Pics

Koala wall hanging, $60. Monkeypod bowl, $22. Porcelain lamp, $34. Lampshades (one pictured, sold as pair), $55. Set of 4 calico place mats, sold. Set of 8 Bombay hors d'ouvres forks, $5 (several sets available). Pole lamp, with original box in near mint condition, sold. Transparent blue vase, $65. Log bowl, sold.

At this point, I've got my new Etsy stores finally lined up (thank you Etsy support!), the furniture starting to get up for sale/auction on eBay, and TONS of photo'ed listings needing to be added, going all the way back to the Aloft photo shoot, up through some of the newer things that have been popping up here on the blog.

Wish me luck with my slow (building provided) internet! Today was day three of the requisite hour-long phone calls with Verizon, looking to get an individual (and speedy! oh I miss you speed!) DSL account. They are going to "update" me on Wednesday as to why it is they can't seem to figure out how to give me service...

Mint Pole Tension Lamp with Box

Mint condition pole tension lamp in store with the original box it was stored in--not even the slightest layers of dust or wear! Casts gorgeous turquoise light... Available in store for $245 or on Etsy. Hoping to get a preview of our Pennsylvania finds up later today too!

On the CL

Don't forget you can keep up with our current furniture selection on CraigsList!

DIY Bead Chandlier

Can't say enough how in love I am with this DIY project on Design*Sponge. IN. LOVE.


Click here for directions.

Hot Lust: Midcentury Czech Pendant Lighting

I want them all now. All available in Prague Kolektiv's 1st dibs site, or check out their website, or their showroom in Dumbo.

Here's a little on Czech design as well, pulled from their website:

what is czech design? The pre-war and post-war periods in Czechoslovakia produced outstanding designs in extraordinarily different political, social, and economic contexts. In many of the pre-war Czech pieces that we carry, the influences from the Bauhaus and architects such as Le Corbusier, Mart Stam, Adolf Loos and Mies van der Rohe are unmistakable. As Kenneth Frampton noted in his work Modern Architecture: A Critical History "The one country which has always been inadequately represented in any account of the International Style is Czechoslovakia." Czech pieces from this period imbue interiors with an elegance and simplicity that are as appealing to our senses today as they were eighty years ago.

Some people may be familiar with the tubular chrome-plated steel and lacquered wood typically used in functionalist furniture design in Czechoslovakia as elsewhere in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s, but most people are not familiar with the designs that emerged in Czechoslovakia during the 1950s and 1960s. While the Communist rule of that period did have an impact on much of the creative and entrepreneurial activity in Czech society, sensible and attractive designs in the decorative arts continued to emerge.

Announcing Ilampe Designs at Deluxa

As longtime Deluxa favorites, I am so thrilled to get to share Ilampe's special one of a kind found object lamp constructions now available in the store. John and Kirsten's Ilampe designs are so beautifully executed mash-ups of hardware parts, doo-dads, thingies, and a serious dose of industrial elegance that I hardly can part with them in the store myself. There are only 3 designs in stock at the moment, but we're hoping to carry a few more, and to always have a few on hand.

Chemical Brothers. Pair of lamps with integrated Bunsen burner components. Perfect for bookshelves or bedside tables. $300, pair.

"Twisty" Fully bendable gooseneck desk task light. $120










"Schmidt". Table lamp with integrated Schmidt metal plate, $175.

All the lamp parts are brand new. All bulbs have been chosen for their special incandescence and light spaces beautifully. While they are made with specialty bulbs, they are widely available at lighting stores. Believe me, the special trip is totally worth it--one thing I have to credit Ilampe's John and Kirsten with, is teaching appreciate the subtly of good lighting, especially when it comes from a well designed lamp.

Check out Ilampe's website here. Also note that they do take commissions!

August Window

It's early I know, but our cute NYC Department of Education sold to a nice girl on Cheever Place--so an early peek at August's window including our newly reupholstered (by me!) Eames lounge-alike.

Hmm...These Look Familiar...

Found these today on 1st Dibs for an undisclosed price (contact dealer).

My table lamp available in store and viewable on Craig's List here for $85.

DIY Projects

Today I finished rewiring my first lamp after a revamp. Found on the street, the lamp was originally in the category of Haute Tacky. Sadly no photo exists to document this, but take my word that some ugly 70's faux baroque flowers had pretty much attached themselves on the surface like leeches.



About 5 coats of white paint and $7 bucks in rewiring tools and two trips to the hardware store and three attempts at putting the lamp back together correctly and wired in the right order, a handfull of cuss words, and voila! An improvement, but not stellar. Something about the white being too white and the weather worn base contrasting a bit much. I did buy some gold spray paint as well (one of my favorite crafting tools of all time) and am considering the switch a la $1950 1st dibs recast Stiffels.

$3900 for the pair at Dual on 1st Dibs

I'm considering it a learning piece, and am looking forward to more DIYs in lighting--and I owe a major major thanks to John of ilampe for putting me out on the right foot with this one, and putting up with my constant lamp troubles.

My second project that I started today is another street find. This sweet shaped bentwood chair with a broke cane seat. I got about half of it sanded down, and spent some serious hours wrestling with the old spline and webbing, and have a feeling this one is going to be a beauty. Already with the layer of grime and old varnish coming off, she's being coaxed into grace...

New In Store

Timex alarm clock. $18.

Industrial style metal floor lamp with adjustable arm, $130.

Vintage fabric wall art, $90.

Don't forget you can see almost all of our available furniture, lighting, and wall art on Craigslist here.

My Laurel Lamp

This is my beauty--a shame she has a broken shade though. From what I've read, occasionally replacement shades do pop up on ebay and go for $80-$100. She's available in the store for $160 or she's up for ebay auction here.

The full specs:

This is a beautiful authentic vintage Laurel lamp from the 60's. The shade has been broken and repaired (this is the condition I found it in), although, if placed against a wall or in a corner, it very nearly vanishes. The span of the crack is aprox 1/3 of the face of the shade, leaving 2/3s quite normal looking and ideal. The repair job on the shade was done a bit messily, leaving a shine on the crack where its been glued together. There is also on small part on the inside of the shade where the glue has dripped, and when lit makes a very faint dark spot on the shade, smaller than the size of an eraser head.

The brass base in in beautiful condition--no corrosion or spots, only very very light, to be expected scratches for a piece of this age. Marked with Laurel Co. label under the shade. Wiring is perfect. The switch on the underside has been repaired by a professional; however only a stainless switch was available--a very minor difference though.

In all though, a beautiful Mid Century Mod dream!

Measures 13" tall by aprox 10" wide.