Benched

                                                                                                  Heres a better shot

When we bought the couch I mentioned that we'd ordered something else for the tv room.  It's American Leather's Rex bench, and we picked it up tonight.  White leather with buttonless tufting on a brushed steel base.  I'm pretty darn pleased with it in front of the fireplace.  I wanted something that would provide some seating when needed but not block the view of the fire.  Kind of mid-century, yet kind of contemporary.

My tables should be in soon, leaving only a chair (or a pair, depending on size), window coverings, a floor lamp and a couple things I'm painting and the big furnishing items are complete. 

One olive or two?

As much as we enjoy cocktails here you might think that we own martini glasses. We don't. While I prefer my gin with tonic and lime, occasionally a dirty vodka martini hits the spot. What never sounds good however is the glass.

Seemingly made to be broken, they're also perfect for spilling your drink. An added bonus, I always feel a little bit ridiculous holding one. On occasion I've even asked for my drink in a regular old fashioned glass. Now I may have to relent.

From last night's KC Auction Company sale, one sweet little white ceramic horse with a mane of wooden olive picks.

Though I've never really bought any, I like vintage barware. It makes me think of a time when lots of people owned ash trays and ice buckets and decanters, and reminds me of my parents monogrammed glassware and the little bowls emblazoned with "Nuts" and "Chips."

I don't think this is the start of a collection, but he seems like something that should be put to use don't you think? All I'd need are some good glasses and a shaker. And perhaps some linen cocktail napkins with embroidered elephants or penguins. And maybe a tray.

Reduce, reuse, replate - part two

I hit the first weekend antique sales in the Stockyards District last Saturday. The group shops keep growing in both size and number, and the dealers have all sorts of great things right now. There's something for any taste and every budget, from the pair of outdoor sconces in Christopher Filley's booth at Bottoms Up (fabulous, and priced accordingly) that I've been visiting for a few months, to the pair of 19 inch brass candlesticks shown above that I picked up for a paltry 15 bucks each.

The single 9 inch stick came from an estate sale over the winter and had just been hanging out in the garage waiting for some friends.

Acme Brass Plating isn't far from my office downtown (they're super nice btw) so I took all three over this past Tuesday on my lunch hour. Imagine my surprise when they called today to tell me they were ready. I picked them up and couldn't be happier with their new polished nickel goodness. And I've looked around, even with what I'm in for I'm still WAY below retail.

If you're local and you're not hitting the bottoms, or the Stockyards District as they're calling it now, on first weekends you're missing out. Stop at Fervere at 17th and Summit to pick up some bread, but do this first as they'll be sold out by noon. Then hit Genessee Royale for breakfast. And have a breakfast cocktail too, it's Saturday. And then scoot on over to the sales.

When you need a break I recommend the Coffee Cake KC truck. I got a really good cup of coffee to enjoy while I shopped, and then when I was done a coconut key lime cupcake to enjoy in the car (because really, nobody needs to see me tear into a dessert with that much buttercream piled on top). Next event should be May 4th and 5th. Go!

Resto Outdoor - S/S 2012

Did you get your obscenely large Restoration Hardware catalog complete with separate outdoor and small space folios all in a big plastic bag? Kind of seemed like it should have had a three-ring binder didn't it?

Theres a lot to like, especially among the outdoor offerings. The planters are great, like the round zinc ones above. The strap and ring adds a hint of utility I find really appealing, and they have feet, which they should if you're going to set them on a hard surface.

There are new furniture collections as well, including a number of terrific all-weather wicker ones available in four different shades. My favorite is the Malibu collection, shown above. My tastes seem to be running more and more to the clean-lined, and this is exactly what I would want if my patio furniture budget were bigger. Way bigger. I know things cost money, but man this stuff is expensive.

More like a room all the time

So we had the Chinese cabinet for under the TV and built the wall to fit it. Then came the rug, and we lived with the sectional that was entirely too big for the room, and a couple old pottery barn tables that have clearly seen better days.

Then came the sofa, which totally opens up the room. And over the weekend I started working on that asian-legged coffee table I bought off Craigs ages ago. With the smaller sofa it fits perfectly, and I can't wait to show you what I decided to do with it.

Then tonight came this:

From Drexel's Synchronicity collection, its the Lief drum table. I'd seen it when we were sofa shopping and liked it, but I had to think about it for a while. I love a drum table and at 28 inches in diameter it's big enough for the corner I need to fill. Plus the lamp I want to use has a huge base, so this will have plenty of surface left.

And while I don't like everything to match, I like a little bit of continuity, so for the other end of the couch I ordered this from the same group:

Its the Spiro serving table. I'm sure they call it that because its small and has that handle for easy moving. Except the base is iron, so its a little weighty to pick it up with anything spillable sitting there. With a floor lamp behind it we'll be good to go.

Anticipated arrival is May, which gives me time to finish the two furniture painting projects, recover a pair of pillows, replace some lampshades, figure out the blind situation (samples already here!), and maybe even install some dummy curtain panels and hang some art.

Perfect

Whoever writes the headlines for the Post, I love you.

Current crush

Alexa Hampton for Visual Comfort. 28 inches, also available in white marble. I like it way more in black. I also might prefer a drum shade rather than the flare. I love urns as much as lamps so you can imagine my brain when I saw it on Gilt. I googled to grab a picture and found it for slightly more than half of Gilt's price. Filing it away for the next time I feel like I deserve a present.

A pair of chairs

Perpendicular to the couch (and more importantly perhaps, the tv) I want a pair of chairs. Something that swivels wouldn't be bad, although you won't be so far from the tv that you'd really have to turn to see. Here's one from Drexel. I like that its kind of round, although in that fabric it screams hotel lobby.

There's also this from Mitchell Gold/Bob Williams. I like the round part, the skirted bottom really bugs me.

Or maybe since the swivel isn't absolutely necessary I should just forget it? This is another Mitchell Gold/Bob Williams chair that I like a lot. Just not in that fabric. I'd probably want something solid, with some texture, in one of the two blues in the rug this will sit on the edge of.

So what do you think? All three are about the same size, and all about the size I need. Do you mind sitting at a 90 degree angle to the tv if it's only about 8 feet or so away? Or maybe Chair #1 is considerably less lobby-like in a better fabric? Opinions wanted.

Can you believe it? We bought a sofa.

We're getting ready to maybe have a deck built, so Saturday morning we ran out to a deck supply place to look at decking materials. That led to a stop at Seasonal Concepts to take a look at patio furniture. The insane pricing there made us head out west to Family Leisure. Neither had anything we loved.

While we were so far west we thought "why not run by Nebraska Furniture Mart and see if they have anything. Plus they sell nice grills, and we're due for an upgrade." I know, I've never had much nice to say about NFM, and they DO sell an amazing amount of things I don't want. But they also have the Design Gallery where you can order Henredon and Drexel and the like. We planned to stop in there after looking at the outdoor stuff.

Then, on our way to the patio area, we saw the Rowe sofa shown above and I immediately said to Brett, "sit on that." Not bad at all. Firmer back cushions, which we both prefer.

Not fine furniture I know, but its not Ashley either. And its kind of a riff on the Florence Knoll sofa that I love. We looked through the fabric memos and actually liked the floor model's fabric best of all, and that's when it just got crazy. They have it in that fabric IN STOCK. So they're delivering it Thursday.

A side note, I'm not one for extended warranties and such, but they have a fabric protection plan that covers any one-time damage for 5 years. So if I forget I have a screwdriver in my back pocket and sit down and poke a hole in the fabric they'll fix it. Or replace the whole cushion. Or if thats not possible they'll replace the couch. We're a definite dogs-on-furniture household, so we thought that was 89 bucks well spent.

We ordered something else from the Design Gallery while we were there, but I'll save that for a post when it comes in.

I'm on a roll

The weather was great today so I spent the day in the garage with the sideboard we bought the weekend Brett sliced his finger open.

I've never been a fan of chemical deglossers (liquid sandpaper) but I tried one I've never used before called Paso. It seems to work really well, and my Fine Paints of Europe oil base primer seems to be sticking just fine.

You see it here about halfway through. I stopped shortly after I snapped this phone shot as my brush was getting gunky. Incidentally, Purdy brand brushes suck. I bought a new one for oil base paints and the damn thing loses bristles like I lose hair. (I'm way thin on top, fyi)

I've got some missing veneer spots at the bottom to fill and sand and I'll finish priming the case and doors. Then its a light sanding (after 24 hours of dry time) and on to the exciting part, the burnt orange high gloss FPE sign enamel.

Cheap and easy

So I hit the auction Tuesday night and came away with this 48 inch pediment mirror from Uttermost. Not fine furniture by any means, but kind of fun. Definitely a little heavy on the gold leaf and black though.

Here it is this afternoon on sawhorses out in the garage, with its new gray primer and the glass covered up with magazine pages.

And finally, here it is with its new white paint. Please pay no attention to anything surrounding it here in our crappy kitchen.

No clue where we'll use it, but we'll find a spot, we still have lots of empty space here. I've not painted anything in ages, it felt really good, and I've got plans for more over the weekend.

Hello Martin

After a spin through River Market Antique Mall today I stopped in at Urban Dwellings to see what Mitchell Gold sofa frames were on the floor. Meet Martin.

A strong contender in my never ending search for a sofa, I'm taking Brett to look at this Saturday. Clean-lines, ample seating, relatively firm (which we prefer) and pretty reasonable. If you order it in the poly low pile velvet shown its a jaw-dropping $1295. There were other fabrics I liked even more, which wouldn't add too horribly to the total.

Schnauzer Chic

Tucker was in need of a new collar. I usually prefer our locally-owned dog supply store (Hey Brookside Barkery!) but their selection of Tuck-sized (tiny) collars is lacking. Out running errands today I stopped at Petsmart.

In addition to his new charcoal colored collar, they had a nice selection of decent looking engravable tags. We like our boys to wear our phone numbers, so I choose the small round pewter tag with the bone on the front. Then its a quick visit to the self-service lazer engraving machine that was a breeze to use.

If your dog needs a new ID tag you should stop and take a look. The tags are at the checkout counter.

60 Years

Six decades is a long time for anything. Many congratulations.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

I posted some website shots of the Kauffman center when it opened this past fall. We went to a concert tonight and I took a few phone shots of my own and thought I'd share. You enter the building and then take stairs or an elevator up to the main level where this was taken. Yes, the front wall and ceiling are glass. And yes, its stunning.

There are two performance halls, the Muriel Kauffman theater, and Helzberg Hall, both serviced by this lobby. Multiple bars make grabbing a pre-show drink a breeze, and Chris the cute bartender made it a pleasure.
We had super seats in the orchestra, third row center, which you actually walk down to from the lobby. Since we had a little time we took our drinks up a level and walked the length of the building. Its beautiful from pretty much any vantage point.

This shot is inside the theatre, and its a little bit deceptive. Those panels that front the balcony and boxes are indeed reflective, but far less harsh in person. They don't reflect so yellow in person either, the way they do here and in every photograph I've seen. When I first saw pictures I thought it might be a little bit garish but its really not. There is a lot of color in the seats, carpets, and wall panels, so its not subdued, but its nothing crazy either.

We saw An evening with Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin. I enjoyed the show, but it made me realize the one way in which I'm a bad gay: I have almost no knowledge of, or love for, musical theatre. Brett has a little more knowledge and thanks to him I now know Patti Lupone was the definitive Evita.

We turned around for one last shot as we walked a couple blocks to the car in the bone-chilling night air. I think the symphony will be our next ticket and I'm really looking forward to going back.

Monster Marbro

The auction house I hit most here in town shuts down a little before Christmas through the end of the year. Tuesday night was the first sale of 2012. Nothing I needed badly, but there were three Marbro lamps I wanted to see. I don't know a lot about Marbro other than they were in Los Angeles and they made some pretty spectacular lamps back in the day, which sell for quite a bit on eBay.

The first was a crystal column with bronze fittings and a grey linen shade, the sort of thing we could totally use around here. I reluctantly let go at 80 and it sold for twice that.

The last was a bottle-shaped, carved marble number with a carved and pierced floral band around the body. People at auctions go crazy for marble and I never even got in the fray. I think it ended up going for 170. And then in the middle there was this:

Yes, that's a normal wine bottle, so yes, it's huge. In fact from the table to the top of the finial is 46 inches, so its just shy of four feet.

Chinoiserie chrysanthemums on a white background, with a gilt base, pull chains as well as an inline switch on the cord. The quality is there, this thing is heavy as hell. Looking over the body it appears to be flawless. It was lit at the auction house so electricaly everything seems to be in working order, although I always feel better when vintage lamps get new wiring. The base even seems good if just a bit dusty.

I love a big lamp, and you know I love a little Asian flavor, but sadly this bad boy doesn't really fit in here. Someone's got the love as well as the perfect spot though, so this weekend its going up on eBay. Of the 60-some Marbro lamps currently listed there are a number of chinoiserie styles, but none this big or this model. I'm hoping it does well as I still have one brass lamp here to take in for nickel plating. Wish me luck. Or even better, bid your best!

The Facebook makes me laugh

A strong DIY urge

I've been in the mood for a project. Unfortunately I've also been a slug. I had every intention of starting my burnt orange faux-lacquer sideboard last weekend. The weather was nice enough I could have opened up the garage and started stripping the old finish, but as the snow is falling outside now I fear that ship has sailed.

Still there's this:

It's already down in the basement, where its warm, along with a plastic dropcloth. A non-toxic, low VOC stripper would be fine to use down there.

I want to strip it down to bare wood and take a look at Minwax's charcoal gray stain. They have a couple other gray options too, and Sherwin-Williams has 25% off January 12 through the 29th.

But there's still the issue of the top. The wood frame around the edge is just fine, but the "field," consisting of some patterned veneer is done. Some is curling up and some is just plain gone. I was thinking about a stone top and stopped by Carthage Marble here in town a while back. I asked about off-cuts or remnants, which they'll cut and edge. For my 42 inch table the price would be right around 700 bucks. Obviously NOT what I'm going to put on my 50 buck Craigslist table.

But what about filling in with this?

Its slate, the color is Silver Shine. Best of all, it's veneer. A tiny slice of stone backed with fiberglass, easily cut with hand shears and applied with plain old construction adhesive. Best of all, two 2x4 foot sheets are $109.

Now if I can just pull myself off the couch this weekend and get started.

The emancipation of Ladybird

photo credit: JoeMyGod

Well, the race just got a lot less funny.

Odds, ends, and a recipe

Its Christmas Eve eve, the work week is done, and I'm in good shape for my weekend. I do need to make one run to the grocery store which I will do tomorrow when I'm rested and more likely to withstand the crowd.

I want to wish you a merry Christmas on Sunday, or a happy Chanukah right now, or whatever you celebrate, may it be everything you hope for.

I also missed posting something I do every December 15th, so to a certain man out there who reads the blog I'd like to say one more time, happy anniversary baby. 14 years, who would have thought.

And finally, a little gift to everyone reading who needs a vegetable side for the weekend. Not exactly a recipe because I don't really measure things out, but here's how I do brussels sprouts, and they're always a hit:

You'll need:

1/2 of a white onion, thinly sliced

3-4 strips of bacon (I like thick and peppery), diced

1/2 stick unsalted butter

Sprouts (I usually get a full third of a plastic produce bag)

Decent olive oil, but don't feel like you have to use super-good stuff

white wine vinegar

2 tablespoons of a good stone-ground or french mustard

Set your oven to 350 if you're going to roast. With no oven I use a crock pot on high and it seems to work just fine.

Clean your sprouts by removing bad leaves, and make a fresh cut on the end, then cut them all in half unless they're small and bite-sized.

In your skillet brown the bacon until its crispy. Remove. You may pour off the excess fat if you wish, frankly I leave most of it in. Fat is delicious.

Melt butter in same pan, add onions, and cook until they're golden and soft. Add bacon back, and sprouts. Move everything around to coat the sprouts in the butter and onion, and cook for a few minutes until the sprouts get some color on them.

While sprouts are cooking, mix about 1/3 cup of olive oil, about the same amount of white wine vinegar, and the mustard. Voila, vinegrette.

When the sprouts have some color (5-7 minutes maybe) remove from heat. Pour vinegrette over and toss to coat. Pour everything into roasting pan, and finish in the oven until tender but not mushy. I'd say 30-45 minutes, but you should test with a knife or a toothpick. Or do what I do and eat one every few minutes.

If you're trying the crockpot like me the time is about the same. Last time mine went a bit over an hour and I would have liked them a little more firm. Just test and go until they're as done as you like them. Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve em up warm and enjoy.