Creating a Colorful Vintage Bookcase

I adore Vintage books! I tend to collect books in varied colors and contents.

Here, I have grouped blues and greens together in a white corner cupboard for an eclectic way to feature a special collection. I have included cameras and my original and found art work.

Favorite collections: Blue and green books

In the 1940's black lacquer bookcase below, I have grouped books by color.  I have created a chroma of books from left to right, some books with interesting cover colors have been featured, by setting them sideways within the shelves, it adds additional interest.

Colorful books in a bookshelf from the 1940s

Below is the complete bookshelf, with globes collected atop the cabinet and green and orange arrow chairs flanking the sides.  I adore color as you can tell, and in my home… color rules!

What is YOUR bookshelf style?  Share your link below in the comments section.

Spring 2013

It's coming on Springtime and the perfect opportunity to grab a glimpse of the "Studio".  I enjoy sharing my "quirky", vintage and repurposed style!  In my world, each and every piece has a story... Each and every piece belongs.  They all make up our "Warehouse Chic" style.   Here is the story behind some of my favorite finds.  

First,  the vintage dining room table... an old, industrial, wooden table with glass inserts.  I adore it because the reflection off the glass brings light into an otherwise dark corner of our home.  This table lived out its former years as a display piece in a  little shop in Dekalb Illinois.  I knew when I saw it, it would be perfect for this spot!

Below, the table is set for a fiesta with friends!

    Lube barrels become side tables, cast offs from an old trucking company.

Below, collections of milk glass vases filled with flowers.

Believe it or not, 

The tool caddy and electrical supply box were found at different flea markets in different states!

My husband is a toolmaker by trade, I picked them up in our travels, as a nod to him!

They house more of my vintage milkglass collection.

+++

A glass container with mossy finds from our spot up north can be found in our bathroom.

Old spools, both metal and wood... repurposed as candle holders, brighten the mantel.

My crazy, colorful, original oil paintings inspired by places I've been

 and things I love.

An old carriage foothold acts as a mini canvas holder, and an old root

 from an ancient fallen tree, deep in  the Rocky Mountains... polished and mounted

 is a special gift from an artist and friend.

 Above, Colored pencils used in my artwork

and 

Vintage bakelite knitting needles and colorful yarn

 below.

 Metal film canisters from the 70's and postcards of the railroad, remind me of my Dad!

 The  kitchen is filled with light and color, I enjoy collecting vintage artwork by unknown artists.

The  painting below was done in the 1930s it is happy in my kitchen!

 On the counter, the fruit bowl is one of my favorite things!
It was well used and repaired after cracking many years ago, with old metal pieces.
 I imagine them from an old barn, shed or warehouse!
 I can't help but think about the hands that took the time to repair it.

"Keep your sunny side up"...hangs in the window
while an artist's rendition, in glass, of a sunrise
sits on the window sill above the kitchen sink.

Mirrors added to vintage saucers bring a sparkle of light to the arched doorway.

Cabinets adorned with colorful glass and Fiestaware, both old and new.

Below, some words to live by!
I don't know about you... but,
In my home, they ring true!

I love collecting and I love sharing the stories behind the collections...

What do you collect?

Share a link below in the comment area with a photo of your space and the story behind your shot!

Part 1: Home tour Opendoorstudio from The Vintage Bazaar

My interview with Katherine from The Vintage Bazaar in Chicago 

Copied from the Vintage Bazaar blog 2012  ... I have added photos to the original post for you to enjoy!

KATHERINE

9

  

First of all, your house is amazing. But I want to talk about how it was literally picked up and moved from one location to another at some point? I saw them do this with a house in my neighborhood when I was young. Totally surreal experience! Why did that happen?

Back in 1991 when we purchased our home, we loved all of the qualities of the 1930s cape cod but LOVED the fact that it seemed to have a “new” basement.  It was not until our elderly neighbor dug up the local news clipping highlighting our home on wheels that we realized its history.  In 1981 it was purchased for one dollar, put on wheels and moved to its location.

It reminds me of the 1940′s childrens book written by Virginia Lee Burton entitled “The Little House”.  I often show and tell visitors our little house’s story and say … ours was the Poster Child for the book!

I have been able to collect  more information over the years.  The former owner would frequent the vintage sales in my front  “secret garden” to share tidbits of information.

our "secret garden" front yard, through the  wooden door arbor we created from an old door.

   I  have found out that it was located only about 1/2 mile from our home and was rescued to make way for a strip mall and local grocery store. At the time of the house move they also moved our town’s implement shed, so that serves as my studio, our garage and storage space.

When folks stop by, they often tell us about the parties they went to in our home, they talk about it having been a two flat just years before we purchased it. 

Our bathroom AFTER the remodel, I designed the room and the tile floor.

The " new"  shower carved out of the closet, tile purchased on Ebay

 Repair men who come to work on our home say they know all about the electrical and plumbing in it. Seems it was built by a renowned builder that made a name for himself in the older sections of Naperville.  This was his home, and you know what they say about the home of a builder: never completed and short cuts all around!  

Look for part 2 of the 3 part post... later this week.

It's Flea Market Time Again!

We are excited to being our 2012 season...
 Planning the markets we will be attending and adding inventory to sell.

    We have Applications out there and are waiting for responses

 Some of our favorites are
 The Vintage Bazaar  in Chicago
 and
Viva La Cottage's Flea market in July in Door County!

We have so many great industrial pieces, rolling carts and plenty of "warehouse chic" styling!

We will be attending Elkhorn and will be bringing the little travel trailer along too!
Who knows....

Keep Tuned in here for more information on the shows as they become available!

             Here are some views from the years past!

if you LOVE color... we've got it!

notice the sod on the table!

this photo was from 3 years ago... my colorful trophies...an original idea!
These sold to Tommy Hilfiger for their ad campaign

vintage market and art faire at LIL RED SCHOOLHOUSE

This past season at elkhorn... note the numbered chairs

this past fall at Elkhorn, Wi

New Listings! Coming Soon to Opendoorstudio.etsy.com!

"Etsy Finds" Email Feature July 15 2011

What a surprise this morning when I learned, via my friends Laurie from Birdie1.etsy.com  and Kathy from Flumestreet.etsy.com who emailed me, that my home was featured yet again on Etsy!  This time in the Etsy Finds email for July 15th! <--- click here to view with links.
 I NEVER tire of the honor!
              Here is a copy! You can share it with your friends if you like!

 What an honor it is to be recognized by Etsy yet again! And, I have been told by Christine, Etsy admin,   Mine was the most viewed and commented "Get the Look Decor" blog post in Etsy history.  I am sure that had to do with all of the support from the Vintage Etsy Society Street team! ( join us ...won't you?)
         Enjoy... I am!
 martha

Warehouse Chic Style

My latest find!

Last week I traveled to Nada Farms Spring Boho Event!

It was a lovely evening!

My friend Mary Ellen and I began our trek heading through Dekalb, IL

While there, we found a darling little shop that was downsizing and moving across the street. Megan Morrison's was full of cute, fun, bright New and vintage items. There were some wonderful tables for sale. My eyes cast to a 9 ft vintage folding table in a chippy yellow patina. I had the sales gal pull the tag for my final purchase. Just as I began to pay, my eyes cast to an incredible industrial table.

6x6 inch posts, glass, bolts, wheels... LOVE !

i quickly switched my purchase to this one, thinking my husband and Son would need to help me pick it up in a day or two.

We took the trek on Sunday morning and picked it up, hoisting it out the front door and rolling it proudly down the street in Dekalb, home of Northern Illinois University.

Once home, we took it out of the truck and I had all intentions of putting it in my studio. I remembered a vintage set of folding chairs I had purchased years before. Wonderful, wood and comfy. I pulled one up and voila! I thought... Dining room table!

Our current table was round, I had thought of painting it white for many years... never did. It ended up being a pass through room and a catch all for all of my Etsy orders.

NOW it is a proud new dining room table, 2 weekends ago, I happened upon the vintage trough which I pulled from my supply room and added as an easy arrangement to the top of my "new" table.

What once was an industrial roll around cart... is repurposed!

Warehouse chic style at its best!