Monday, January 30, 2012

The Flea, a Fail and Fish

Crazy title, I know, but all will be revealed. First up, the flea market which I hit up on Friday with some equally designed-obsessed blogger friends (Melissa of Insane Domain, her friend Brandy who will soon be blogging, and Modfrugal). We had a ball, and while the pickings were slim (not as many vendors in January), Modfrugal and Brandy had some luck (Melissa and I - not so much). But here's a little bit of what we saw . . .
Brandy nabbed this chrome, brass and glass table for an amazing $10. We peer pressured her into getting it even though she didn't really have a spot for it. That's what friends are for.

Oops, let me back up a bit. I've gotten ahead of myself. Before the flea, we all met up for lunch and on my way there I happened upon a moving sale. Of course, I had to stop. They mainly had some serious crap junk but one thing caught my eye and I just had to grab it - it was only a $1.
Isn't it cute? The irony - I don't drink tea nor do I collect teapots, but I just couldn't resist the gold squiggles. It's so modern-looking. Kind of like if Kelly Wearstler made a teapot. Anyway, it's made by Sadler in England, a very popular teapot maker. They're apparently pretty collectable. Who knew? The point of the story is that even though I've never cared a bit about teapots, I kept seeing them at every turn at the flea market as you will see. 

More flea finds . . . 
This thing was crazy ornate, but so interesting. It had a marble base with a malachite veneer. I've never seen anything quite like it.
Teapot #2.

You never know what you'll find at the flea, and this is the perfect example of that. These vintage chrome hotel luggage carts were massive and so pretty (in a weird way). They would be so cool re-purposed as . . . something.
Teapot #3, McCoy Pottery. 
Yes, I have one of these as do a lot of people. But I still have to stop and appreciate the bamboo. Those are my Christmas boots in the mirror. 
 Brandy holding teapot #4.
They had two of these super cool ram/Aries swings. Loved these but alas have no need, place or money for them. 

And last, but not least . . . 
Teapot #5 with matching cups, saucers and sugar bowl. It was a beautiful vivid orange (although it looks a little red in this photo). 

After I left the girls, I hit a little antique mall on the way home. There I found a couple of things . . .
This footed brass bowl. I know, I'm obsessed with brass - I just can't stop myself.
And this porcelain bowl/dish made by Block Spal in Portugal. I just thought it was pretty and would look nice with some fruit in it.

Okay, now on to the "fail." I present the scene of the crime . . .
Yes, I'm afraid that's exactly what it looks like - several shattered glass shelves at the bottom of my etagere. And there's the telltale bottle of Windex with a paper towel. I knew one of the shelves was not perfectly secured, but thought I was being careful. Apparently not. That's what I get for cleaning. Now, I'm sure I'll be paying more than I paid for the whole thing just to replace three glass shelves. FAIL.

And, the "fish?" Well, you'll be happy to know my dolphin table or the "fish table" as my children lovingly call it is now in its rightful place in the basement serving as a desk. 
We finally got our nasty basement carpet replaced this weekend, so we're slowly moving some furniture in. Here's a quick before and after . . .

BEFORE: Gross and stained (disclaimer: these stains were here when we moved in, and in our defense we only used this room for storage before) . . . 
AFTER: Clean and cushiony . . .
We now have an about-to-be-tween daughter who was practically begging for a space away from her brother where she could watch TV and play on the computer and hang out with her friends. So finally, after five years, we decided to make this room into something usable. Stay tuned for updates. Here's how Meg describes the space: 
Well said. It will be one kick-ass tornado room. Glad it has so much glass in it - very practical.

16 comments:

Bri@Meyouandawiener said...

Damn girl that sucks! I hate to say your right about the coat of replacing the glass. On the other hand love the color of the basement room!

Especially that camel colored chair against it. Wish I could have joined y'all. :(

Melissa Crochet said...

The room is amazing and the next big storm, I'm on my way over to hang out in that bunker.

Ashley said...

Tornado room? Your new carpet really sets off the next phase of your basement, and I'm sure Meg will appreciate all the necessary preteen alone time in it!

Love the brass footed bowl and green & gold bowl you found.

Sam said...

The Block Spal dish is gorgeous! I definitely would've snagged that up immediately.

Sorry to see your etegere in ruins!

nelya said...

Oh no!!! Damn. Shit. Sorry. What a bummer. At least it's glass and replaceable.

But that room is looking so fabulous, surely that is some consolation! That's hilarious that your daughter would call it the tornado room. We have one down in the basement, as well! And as for the teapots, I have to send you a pic of a set I have...inherited from my parents that I have always loved. It's the doppelgänger to the orange one you spotted. Mine has the pot, sugar, and creamer in orange and tiny cups and saucers in multi colors.

Interior Design Musings said...

OK, I have to say that after seeing those luggage carriers, I can't get them out of my mind. There just has to be some way cool thing they could become. Will be thinking about this as I go to bed tonight! M.

Erin said...

Your basement is looking DIVINE. The console! The fish table!!!

That's one hell of a tornado room.

Sorry about the glass. What about having some plexi cut for it? Cheap and somewhat less fragile...

ModFruGal said...

Love the Tornado Room. The dolphin is perfect as a desk..problem solved!! Sorry about the glass, the people downtown had pretty good pricing on glass shelves when I had to get some for my etagere.

Emily | Recently said...

The broken glass is sooooo something I would do! No worries, you can replace it one piece at a time and still be happy you found that piece! I'm also jealous of your daughter's tornado room. I want one!

SHERRY HART said...

$10.00....that was way to good to not have someone to buy! Glad you did the right thing. So sorry for the glass...big ass bummer!

Brandy@MAKE+MODEL said...

Friday was fun....so sorry about the shelves. Maybe the cost won't be as bad as you think. I have a $10.00 glass table you can put in the tornado room :)

InteriorGroupie said...

awww - heartbreak over the etagere! So so sad...

Stacey said...

blog hopping today and i think your room is looking fab. some great flea finds too!

Full House said...

i was this close to buying that same teapot at an antique shop in salt lake city when I was there a couple weeks ago.

Kim said...

ohhhh...the new carpet makes such a difference. I like the pattern!

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