Girl crushing on Lara Spencer - I Brake For Yard Sales + Flea Market Flip @HGTV!

Did you see the HGTV special yesterday?? I had heard about Lara Spencer's book, I Brake For Yard Sales, but loved that HGTV made a special show about it with Lara Spencer. At first, I was puzzled - Why is this news anchor suddenly becoming a designer? But that was before realizing her extensive history in antiquing (she use to host The Antique Roadshow!), thrifting and yard sale-ing. The first time I had seen Lara put spaces together with vintage and thrift was when she helped her friend Kathy Griffin redo her place. 

I Brake for Yard Sales

Lara on the east coast - shopping flea

for friend back on west coast.





I liked the look, and thought it was just a one time deal helping out a friend... but then seeing the spaces she fixed up yesterday - Not just for Sam Champion (LOVED that coffee table find + vintage 40's rug!!) and Robin Roberts (great vintage coffee table find!!), but the amazing home she pulled together for a girlfriend back on the west coast was A-MAZING!!!

Lara Spencer vintage mix makeover for Kathy Griffin.



What an entrance with the graphic lattice wall paper, black trim and gallery display running up the spiral staircase.... than the amazing use of pink + yellow + green + white in the living room.... and the thrifty transformations of sofas, plus the dining room set in an amazing shade of blue.... Girl - the heck with POP news on GMA - this is your calling!!! (Sorry GMA - LOVE your show + staff mix and Lara is a great add - but seriously, she's gotta do more of these REAL LIFE transformations!!)

Lara Spencer at home: check out the video!

I love the look and diggin' the vibe of her Mid-Century LA home... All in vibrant Mid-Century pieces she collected over time...

source





After Lara's special was another great HGTV show hosted by Lara Spencer called  Flea Market Flip. At first for this, I was thinking it was another show showing room transformations using thrift... but actually it was a little more interesting than that: Two teams of two people were given a project list & funds from Lara to to go hunt for at the Rose Bowl Flea Market and transform these finds + resell for a profit! The team with the highest profit won (the profit!) The list of projects was to 1. Find and transform a table & chairs, 2. Find a good bones piece to fix up, 3. Find a piece to reupholster, and lastly 4. Find a piece to upcycle for a new use. Great concept and refreshing show for HGTV! (yay - finally because I'm REAL tired of House Hunters taking up too much air time!) Lara would pop in and give tips, or compare their find price with research she'd do on the piece on her ipad. She shared some of her tips for viewers and was very energetic (as always and probably what I love about her the most - she's REAL!)

Lara featured in Redbook



"It's fun to decorate your home with items that speak to who you are.

The word home is like a big hug." -Lara Spencer

Truest words ever spoken from any design TV personality!

Did you see the shows? What did you think? Hopefully, they will replay again SOON if you missed them!

Thanks for stopping by!



High Point Market Week kick's off this weekend with Leslie Carothers & The Style Spotters!

Although this is the must go to event for designers - to meet and greet other designers, bloggers and manufacturers - I have yet to go! Hopefully, I'll be able to attend the Fall Market in October. There are so many wonderful people I'd love to meet up with from blogging, tweeting and facebook! One person in particular has to be Leslie Carother's - CEO of The Kaleidoscope Partnership. She has been the one most supportive person I've met (but not in real life) during my transition from brick & mortar (retail) into social media marketing & interior design. Her support will continue this weekend when Leslie will be teaming up with another design blogger - Jennifer Mehditash - and they discuss the power of Pinterest + Olioboard to designers & manufacturers this Saturday at High Point. What's so wonderful about that you ask? Leslie sees the potential for the industry these design boards can do for marketing - for both designers + manufacturers & retailers). Leslie is going to use my board designs to demonstrate that point during her presentation! (and I am truly honored!!)

LIFESTYLE SERENE RETREAT

Manufacturers can use Olioboard to create Lifestyle Settings of their product, and then pin to Pinterest, or hire online designers to create boards for them (think of it as visual merchandising online).

Jennifer will not only be partnering with Leslie this Saturday morning at High Point, but she is also one of the selected Style Spotters! Jenn will be tweeting some of the latest finds at the market PLUS: She'll be pinning those finds for us to share via Pinterest!

Follow the High Point Style Spotters via Pinterest!

and when following the tweets, follow at #hpmkt

The 2012 Spring High Point Market Style Spotters include:

Tobi Fairley

Tobi has a successful interior design business and has been featured in major shelter publications. Named one of the Top 20 Young Designers by Traditional Home, Tobi also has a hugely popular blog, an online design service, and hosts design camps. www.tobifairley.com #hpmkt

Shay Geyer

Shay has been a professional interior designer since 2001. Her work has been published in several magazines and she is the design expert for Good Morning Texas. Her passion for home furnishings as well as her outgoing personality has landed her celebrity clients and projects across the country . www.ibbdesign.com/blog #hpmkt

Patricia Shackelford

Patricia Shackelford is a writer from Kansas City who has blogged for over five years as Mrs. Blandings, which is an on-going look at timeless design, beautiful products and the people who create them. She has contributed to Spaces Kansas City, Elle Decor and archdigest.com. http://mrsblandings.blogspot.com/ #hpmkt

Traci Zeller

Named one of Charlotte’s 50 Most Stylish People by Charlotte Style, Traci – as an interior designer and mother to active twin boys – creates clean, sophisticated spaces where children are welcome and encouraged. She writes a popular design blog and has been seen on television and in magazines. www.tracizeller.com #hpmkt

Jennifer Mehditash

Jennifer is an interior designer based in New York. She approaches each project with a unique viewpoint, and is influenced by her experience working in London and Portugal. Her signature style always includes a splash of color. She also helms the design blog Dec-a-Porter. http://dec-a-porter.blogspot.com/ #hpmkt

Jamie Meares

Jamie's style is bold, witty, southern, and full of color. She started the popular design blog I Suwannee in 2007 and quickly gained thousands of followers. A hobby became a dream when she opened the doors to Furbish Studio in 2009. She enjoys karate chopping pillows, weekends at the coast, clean sheets, and asking inappropriate questions. http://www.isuwannee.com/ #hpmkt

Mat Sanders

As the current Market Editor for Domino Magazine and former Apartment Therapy dynamo, Mat’s work has been featured in books, magazines, blogs, and television – both behind the scenes and on camera. Today you can catch Mat on LogoTV’s NewNowNext, also stay tuned for his upcoming series with Left/Right TV. www.dominomag.com #hpmkt

Crystal Gentilello

Crystal cofounded Rue Magazine and is the editor in chief. She speaks regularly on design, entrepreneurship, and social media and stands at the forefront of change as the relationship between publishing and the design industry evolves. A long-time design enthusiast, Crystal also writes her popular blog, Plush Palate. www.ruemag.com #hpmkt

BTW: HAPPY BIRTHDAY CRYSTAL!

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVE STYLE SPOTTER PINS!

At the end of Market, the most popular pinboard will win that Style Spotter a free trip to the October High Point Market!

One of the other events happening will be on Monday April 23 at 7PM: An Upcycle Boutique & Fashion Show will hit the runway! DStripped Magazine and Market Square & Suites challenged designers from the apparel, footwear, jewelry, and accessory industries to create unique products that represent their area of expertise using recycled fabric swatches. Who says fashion + decor don't work together?

High Point Market Week is a six day event - Visit their site to read more about it

at HighPointMarket.org

And don't forget to read more about Leslie's talk with Jennifer Mehditash:

This Saturday - April 21 - 10AM - 11AM High Point Antique & Design Center

Market Square, Antique & Design Center - Mezzanine Level Seminar Space

CLIENT CONSULTATION BOARD:

My before photos of room, inspiration images (from Elle Decor and later Pinterest), and the concept created on Olioboard.com.

Are you going to High Point Market Week?

Say hi to Leslie and the Style Spotters!

Thanks for stopping by!



DIY: HOW TO STAIN A WICKER BASKET

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? A while back I had mentioned I'd probably be thrifting less since moving out here because the thrift assortment was a little different, but it's actually been working out pretty good! Late Saturday afternoon, I went to  a few local thrift stores, and found something I've been hunting for to change up our decor mix while living here in AZ: baskets. Baskets are great for fabric storage, or stashing extra throws. They also make wonderful textured containers for indoor plants and the large flat, round baskets (known as sifting baskets) make awesome wall decor. Although I found some baskets, (at a great price!) they were exactly the shade & tone I was looking for - so I tried staining them and they turned out pretty good! Here's what I did...

 

This planter basket was only $2 at a Boys and Girls Club Thrift Shop I popped into.

 

 Although the basket was too light, I got it anyways. And rather than paint it a color or black, I used my "go-to" stain on the basket: MinWax Jacobean Stain - and LOVE it!

 How to Stain A Basket in Two Steps

1. Brush on the stain first with just a chip brush.

2. Wipe off the excess stain.

By doing this, you'll allow variations, shades, tones and textures naturally be highlighted.

I've been collecting some other baskets for the walls, using them in the bedroom plus adjacent bathroom, and this stained basket with the palm was a good mix. To save money, I bought a smaller interior majesty palm (with a gift card at Home Depot), but I still wanted / needed some height. To add height to the palm, I used two of my unused containers from outside: one upside down as a riser in the basket + the other on top (w/a clear dish underneath to catch excess water.

Adding a plant to the bedroom helps breath in life to the space, plus a palm just naturally works with woven accents such as the basket planter and sifting basket wall decor.

 

 The zodiac disc was actually a gift to my parents in New Jersey from friends who had gone to Florida for a visit.

 

Great wall decor! A sifting basket I got at Goodwill!

The wall baskets I actually first started to collect while in Florida: One I found at Faith Farm Thrift in Ft. Lauderdale for $3, but most new finds I have thrifted here at Goodwill.  I like the simple mix of rounds in the bedroom, since the living room is filled with so many square frames. I did use a few framed photos in the bedroom (shots of textured details from our trip to Italy), which aren't "tribal" but they tell the story of us plus the black and white photos mix well with the baskets. I guess you could say the baskets add tribal influence and mixing personal photos help keep the space from looking too themed. Like with any room, it will continue to evolve over the time we live here.

Thanks for stopping by!

LINKING POST TO:

Under the Table and Dreaming - Sunday Showcase

The DIY Showoff - Project Parade

Skip To My Lou - Made By You Monday

Between Naps On the Porch - Metamorphosis Monday

3 Thrift Events To Check Out!

Earlier this year, I had asked and wondered how people could take the thrill of thrifting to the next level. Happy to see, many around the country are doing just that! From A "Sip & Swap" event happening in NYC, to a Pop-Up Thrift Shop happening in Texas, to special Goodwill Sale Days with 50% off being held right here in Arizona - Here's a quick re-cap of some of these events:

A peek at two amazing Thrift Studio vignettes from Dwell With Dignity: Above sponsored by the Container Store and below sponsored by Designer Michelle Nussbaumer. Both fantastic photos are by Lance Selgo of Unique Exposure Photography.

DALLAS POP-UP THRIFT SHOP

APRIL 13 - MAY 13

Thrift Studio is a bi-annual 30 day pop up shop created to provide financial viability and fundraising for Dwell with Dignity through selling their warehouse of overstocked donated, gently used furniture, housewares, accessories and high end designer finds to the public. This limited time only thrift shop concept will be open Tuesday - Sunday (closed on Mondays) during April 13th – May 12th from Noon – 5PM. It's located in the Dallas Design Center at 1250 Slocum Drive, Suite 550. The Thrift Studio will also be hosting a Pledgers Preview Party on Thursday evening April 12 - from 6:30PM - 9PM. Tickets are $125, and are available at Dwell With Dignity or at the door. read more about the event at Dwell With Dignity and my previous post A Pop-Up Thrift Shop.

NYC SIP & SWAP

APRIL 28 from 2PM to 4PM

The Sip & Swap is a fantastic way for ladies to update their wardrobe for Spring - without spending  thing! The event, held in NYC is being hosted by Thrift Blogger Patrice (author of Looking Fly On A Dime) with OSoChic.com. By invitation only (get your invite HERE) you can bring your gently worn or unused clothing to the even, which will be serving up complimentary cocktails (from Ciroc) as well as raffles hosted by NYC famed thrift shop  from Housing Works.

ARIZONA 50% OFF SATURDAYS @ GOODWILL

Happening every Saturday in April & May!

Goodwill stores already have a great selection of budget friendly second hand goods (and even new donations including tags!) so if you're looking to stretch your budget even further - for your home or your wardrobe - this event is not to be missed! Although I am not a nut about being at any store the moment they open for a sale (especially after working in retail!), last Saturday, I did venture out to check out this event and I was blown away! It was rockin' like a Black Friday at a big-box retailer! And here's a Tip: Scope out your local AZ Goodwill on Friday!

Loved the clean lines, simple turned leg detail and 
the bookmark veneer front drawer!

 

 

Great little find for a small hall or entry: only $15 at Goodwill!

I spotted this small table on Friday marked at $29.99. It's an old sewing table, already sanded down, and for 50% off - a great little find! Since I arrived at store at its opening for the Saturday Sale, I was able to walk right up to the piece and walk right up to the register before the lines began! (and trust me - they had lines longer than Ross!) At my local Goodwill, off Power & Ray Road, every shopping cart in the place was put to use, while extra staff members were on hand to replenish the store - with both new goods to the floor and put-backs from the fitting rooms. 

 

One persons trash, is now this person's new treasure!

I also checked out a few more local AZ Goodwill stores, where I was able to add some more wall baskets to the new collection I'm starting (a great way to add natural texture to a space!)

 

source

If you're in these above areas, will you be attending any of these events? I'd love to hear about your experience! What are some other thrift events happening in your area? If you're on Pinterest, you can check out some thrift board finds pinned by another local thrift blogger at The Goodwill Gal, plus also check out my finds on Pinterest too...

Thanks for stopping by!