The Culled Closet: I Caved In

Contrary to the revelation in my "Culled Closet" post, I bought yet another accent piece.  I'm now the proud owner of a pink patterned jumper, which BTW looks great with a brown suede handbag I found in a SF vintage shop.  Having said that, I'm still focused on culling items and hope to hone in on my Spring 2014 "look" in a timely manner.  Stay tuned.

Do you have a favorite new item in your Spring wardrobe?  If so, please share.

Loving The Look: Vintage Brown Leather Sofas

Lately, I've been loving the look of vintage brown leather sofas.  Their patinaed finish and profile, reminiscent of another era, easily add character and plushness to any room.  Take a look at a few of my favorites:

Ebay and 1stdibs have  quite a few of these babies up for grabs.  Check on them here, here and here.  I say:  go for it!!

Images:  1./2./3./4./5./6./7.

'Til Monday: Weekend Plans

I came across these photos last night and was reminded of the start of the new year.  We spent the first day of 2014 with friends at Pescadero Beach exploring its many coastal wonders with our children.  It's hard to believe that the ides of March are here already.  The first two months of this year have been [beyond] busy with work, the kids' individual schedules and our ongoing home renovation.  In all this, it seems I've lost a bit of  my old "California wanderlust".  My weekend plans are to work in the garden and to reconnect with the landscape that surrounds us.   We all need to regroup and recharge in the most natural way.

Do you have plans for this weekend?  Whether you stay home or decide to head out, here's my wish for a safe and happy one. 

Potential [Counter Stool] Candidates

There are a few things that we're still undecided on for our renovated kitchen.  One of them is counter stools.  My original thought was to keep the seating profile clean with a backless wood stool painted in the color of the cabinetry.  Essentially to make them disappear, since I often like when certain things disappear from view.  However, after further scouting on the subject,  I've come up with some alternative options.  Some less expensive, others more comfortable, stylish and, of course, more expensive.  Take a look at what I found and why we're now considering them:

1. Arteriors Wyndham Wood And Iron Swivel Stool has an interesting brass leg design and a lightness to its profile.  The fact that it swivels is practical, but it may also turn snack time into playtime.

2. World Market Linen Hayden Barstool looks both comfortable and sturdy.

3. I've always admired the sculptural beauty of The Cherner Collection, but I'm not yet convinced that a chair back is right for our space.

4. Leyla from Organic Modernism has an interesting design, a beautiful wood grain and what looks like a perfectly molded seat.

5. The Gavilan Stool is funky and somewhat reminiscent of a Mid-Century design.  I like the brass legs and the leather seat available in many colors.  Pricey.

6. Target's Counter Stool in oak has all the right dimensions, can be painted and fits nicely in the budget, but is it interesting enough?

Which one do you like and why?  Help me out here.

Kitchen Renovation: Part 3

Last week we began the painstaking process of refinishing our  60+ year-old concrete floor.   After removing an existing kitchen island and a wall dividing the kitchen and dining room areas, not to mention the obvious wear and tear through the years, the floors really needed to be addressed.  The approach was to sand, mend and stain.  Everything was going as planned until the color was applied.  What we previously thought was a match, turned out to be completely wrong after the first/second/third/etc. tries.  Currently, after a week of sanding, we're  in for another couple of days of sanding and color matching.  At least this time around, the children are not home from school (ill with fevers) and Alex is back from his trip to Switzerland.  Take a look at the first few attempts:

Stayed tuned for what I hope will be the perfect color reveal.

Many thanks to Babik for providing [renovation] refuge for me and her Munchkins (including Loki).  Her hot meals, soothing spirits and comfy beds kept all of us in check.