NORTH MIAMI VINTAGE

Open a door to wonderful treasures in a long forgotten neighborhood, but local vintage shop. Sometimes being thrifty and window shopping can go hand in hand. You need not buy something all the time. Sometimes, just get out and drive or walk around these long forgotten areas where you live for a fresh breath of (re) designing air... or treat yourself to a new gem to create a refreshed focal point...

LOVING THESE MIRRORED PIECES!!!

(sorry for the glare!! SO SUNNY in Florida!!)

Some shops are also available via the internet.

Unfortunately, not all shops were "open",

but they are located in North Miami at 125th and Biscayne.

I'll have to pop back by and hunt for more finds to share!

Thanks for visiting!

Christmas Window Displays

NYC Christmas '03 photo by Lynda Quintero

After 25 years of working in the Retail Industry, I found myself this past Black Friday overwhelming disconnected. I didn't have to be at "the store" to pass out snow=globes, Rudolph antlers, or a silly red lit noses at 4AM. I was home watching it happen on the television. But as I watched the news report of the stores, eagerly awaiting the onslaught of shoppers, I learned of an actual exhibit paying TRIBUTE to the LOST art and craft of Holiday Windows and Displays... all things CREATIVE. Window displays, especially as theatrical as Christmas, has actually become a part of OUR AmerciCAN history. So much so that the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, in Washington DC,  is exhibiting the trade in all its glory.

Woodword-Lothrop 1965 postcard displayed SMITHSONIAN.com

Main Aisle Marshall Fields 1956 photo featured at SMITHSONIAN.com

“Holidays on Display,” is an exhibition examining the art, industry and history of commercial holiday display from the 1920s to the 1960s. It is open on the museum’s third floor, west. Recently, Larry Bird, the show’s curator, guided visitors through the gallery, narrating the colorful history of parade floats, including examples from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Tournament of Roses Parade, and the theatrical settings and window displays of department stores like Macy’s, Marshall Field and Co. and John Wanamaker’s 

Elephant Balloon float 1927 SMITHSONIAN.com

1940's Catalog Cover SMITHSONIAN.com

LONG BEFORE THE INTERNET, Catalogs were the extension of the brick & mortar means of shopping. The styling and production of the catalog is yet another loss to the retail industry.

MACYS CHRISTMAS 2003

photo by Lynda Quintero

It not only brought a tear to my eye, but a smile to my face to know SOMEONE appreciates the craft and talent that goes into displays. Over the years, I've watched it shift from being talent to task oriented (especially down here in South Florida).  Before it was about "giving" a form of entertainment to consumers and to help lure them into stores. Now all stores do is slap up a banner screaming 50% Off! and then they are expected to meet or beat some kooky sales goal some suit in an office in another state dreamed up the night before.

Stack Out Merchandising at Macy's NYC 2003

"Stack 'Em High and Watch 'Em Fly"

Me merchandising Christmas Home Fragrance - Claire Burke - '94 at JCPenney, Aventura

Although my experience in display and merchandising was developed down here, I was raised seeing and being a part of Americas history while strolling down Fifth Avenue with my Godmother. I can't be up north this Christmas, but I still reminisce of the fabulous window displays I was raised on. A few years ago, I was able to journey up to the City to see them, and even looking at them today, I find their presentation timeless...

NYC Christmas '03 photo by Lynda Quintero

NYC Christmas '03 photo by Lynda Quintero

Above are stores utilizing a technique called Color Blocking, which in Interior Design would be called monochromatic, or now-a-days, color pop. This technique in window displays creates a greater IMPACT, causing the shopper to STOP dead in their tracks. Here's where the hope of the retailer is to compel you to come in.

Brooks Brothers Christmas Window NYC Christmas '03

photo by Lynda Quintero

Banana Republic Christmas Window NYC Christmas '03

photo by Lynda Quintero

Again, here retailers not only hoping the color impact will stop to bring you in, but the subtly of the sweepstakes also plays a part in the allure to lure.

Usually window displays are about a trend, but at Christmas time, they can be themed as Saks did one year with music...

 

photos by Lynda Quintero

Or windows can be nostalgic, dreamy, and whimsical

photos by Lynda Quintero

My faves by far are those with glamor and GLTIZ....

photos by Lynda Quintero

So if you're in a bubble,

break yourself free,

and take a stroll down Fifth for me...

Lord & Taylor Entrance Christmas 2003

photo by Lynda Quintero

Thanks for stopping by...

 

MIRROR MAKEOVER & GALLERY WALL

Over time, while hunting, gathering, and finding objects you adore, you also notice patterns or similarities. Taking this, and lack of any budget into consideration, I attempted to step out of my comfort zone box. I attempted to arrange a collection of mirrors as a focal point on our accent wall in the great room. I gathered all the mirrors and leaned them together at the bottom of the wall. For over a week, I'd imagine different compositions. Friday, I drew up a composition I thought would work, and used it as a guide.

I even finally got to those "meaning to do" projects:

like paint these great mirrored wall sconces black.

I've seen on shows, blogs and articles where they pre-cut craft paper to the measurements to be hung. I've even seen Candice layout frames on one sheet of craft paper and mark of holes as a template. I've seen a Design Star candidate use blue painters tape to mark off wall displays. I was hesitant on going through all of that. What if I went through all that and didn't like it? (cause that DOES happen!!). Since our wall is a dark charcoal, I opted for the simplicity of CHALK... and couldn't have been happier!

As I do on paper, I was able to draw guidelines, notes, and measurements. I was able to start to apply the drawing. I was able to make changes easily with a damp sponge... or even draw another "option" directly over its original plan.

After drawing and measuring on the wall, I'd step back to see if it looked and felt "right" for the space. It's quite a different arrangement for our home. I'm use to lining pictures up verticle, horizontal, or as a grid. Flowing the chaioss on the wall was kind of frightening.  I think I was finally able to overcome the fear of trying it because I'm no longer surrounded by chaioss. Where I had worked was pretty chaotic and I always wanted to come home to o r d e r. Now that I see order all the time: I WANNA MIX IT UP!

At first, I had thought all the frames should be black. After they were up and in place, I sat in my fav chair, watched TV and kept looking back over to the wall. My poor husband thought, "Oh great. You don't like it", and thought I'd be changing it again. It's not that I didn't like it, but it was missing "something". The "something" was silver. The all black on gray looked too flat. Strategically adding the silver not only popped the flow, but it tied into the added sparkle of the Christmas decor, tied into the B&W printed pillows and finally tied into JOY. Joy is special. I only use these letters at Christmas time because Christmas time is special and so filled with JOY.

This focal point added visual interest from the kitchen looking into the great room. It also doesn't compete with any other focal point in the room, like the soft wall of panels behind the sofa, or more importantly: my husbands HDTV. Mirrors are far too distracting to hang around a TV. The pair of lamps helped give lighting balance to the space as well.

Coincidentally, the same day I installed the mirrors, Ralf Martson posted an inspiration quote about mirrors:

"FILL YOUR WORLD: Life is a mirror that reflects back to you what you do. The way to improve the reflection is to improve what's being reflected."  from http://greatday.com/

I may have not yet filled my world,

but I sure did fill my wall... with mirrors mirrors... and JOY.

GALLERY WALL - MIRRORS

DECEMBER 2009

Over time, you can add to your gallery - layering in art like black & white photos...

GALLERY WALL JANUARY 2010

MIXED MIRRORS & ART

featured on: Translating Trends at Simplifying Fabulous

GALLERY WALL 2011

MIXED MIRRORS & WALL ART

Updated with: a revamped $5 thrift lamp, red redux to a 10 year old thrifted buffet, and adding gold paint to some of the silver & black mirror frames.

So take a little time to "live" with your new gallery... and watch it grow!

Thanks for stopping by!