Some Boots, Booty and a Boot

My friends and I had so much fun in Atlanta! We laughed a LOT, talked non-stop and basically had a blast just driving around, shopping and eating. We each had a different goal for this trip (besides having fun). For Lauren, it was finding the perfect pair of black boots. For Jenny, it was having some drinks and fun on her wedding anniversary (which she spent with us - I know, romantic). For Arrione, it was knocking out her Christmas list for her family. And, for me, it was simply getting to peruse the coolness at Minty and the rest of the Antique Factory. We all were successful - quite a feat, I assure you.

We didn't make it to the Antique Factory until late in the day on Saturday (after a long stay at IKEA and some other stores), but I did snap some photos. First up, Minty! Yes, I was there. I saw it in person, and it is chocked full of goodness. I had a hard time getting photos in there though as the lighting was dodgy. Feast your eyes . . .

It's not this yellowy-green in person, I promise.

 

 

All kinds of brass, glass and lucite beauties at Minty.

Some of Jenny's yummy abstract art.

And in some of the other booths . . . 

The burled wood on these tables was beautiful. $900 for the pair.

Faux bamboo chrome chairs (there were a pair). Very cool.

Lots of Chinoiserie goodness here.

A lucite bar/cart with a top that swiveled. Very cool.

More lucite. Yum.

Very Kelly Wearstler.

And outside . . .

Is this not the coolest mod faux bamboo iron bench you've ever seen? Love the shape!

I need this fun set on my patio. Too cute.

And of course, this is the front of the building which I snapped on the way out. I do everything backwards.

If you're in Atlanta, you should definitely hit the Antique Factory . . . it is so worth it!

Here we are at Jenny's anniversary dinner after our outing to the Antique Factory.

Jenny, me, Arrione and Lauren at the bar. Lauren said it looks like she's an outcast.

After a couple of martinis that night, we returned to the mall and Lauren finally found the elusive perfect pair of black boots . . . 

I took this photo in our packed car the next morning.

and poor Jenny broke her foot after falling in the parking lot of Lenox Mall. Can you believe that? What a crazy end to our trip. She just found out today that it is indeed broken, and she'll have to wear one of these lovely boots for six weeks . . .

Definitely a memorable trip! Hope everyone had a great weekend. I've got to decorate my house a little more for the holidays. We're hosting supper club on Friday. Oh, the pressure.

Scott's and More

I returned late Saturday from my whirlwind trip to Atlanta. So much fun and shopping crammed into a day and a half. First, my friend Becky and I met up with Sissy from Blue Hydrangea on Friday morning at Scott's Antique Market. We shopped and talked and had a ball . . . like we had known each other for years. We ran into some other bloggers along the way, like Jenny from My Favorite and My Best . . .

Me, Jenny and Sissy. Don't we look angelic in the sunbeams?

Let me just say, that Sissy does not mess around. She is a woman on a mission and because of that determination found some great stuff. She has a great eye and went after the bargains with zest. I felt like I'd found a kindred spirit.

Sissy working the bargain table.

There were so many beautiful things, but I was so busy running my mouth that I forgot to snap photos of a lot of them. Here are the things I did manage to photograph . . .

Loved this mirrored Greek key coffee table. It was sold not long after we first saw it.

Cool mid-century lucite chairs.

Great rattan hanging egg chair.

 

I know I have an obsession with faux bamboo Chinoiserie chairs but these were nickel. Awesomeness.

I so should have bought this pretty watercolor. Loved the colors and the brass frame.

And the find of the day! Sissy got four of these fiberglass chairs for a steal. I'm sure she'll blog about it. Just had to share how cool these are.

 

 

In the afternoon, I met up with Angela from The Painted House at Scott's and shopped for a bit. She was so sweet and charming, just like she is on her blog. I also had the pleasure of meeting Sherry from Design Indulgence (who has been so kind and helpful during my blogging experience) and Emily from Emily A. Clark. Everyone was so nice and fun. Design bloggers are a great bunch to hang out with.

So, what did I buy at Scott's? A yard of this geometric maze/Greek key velvet fabric. I love it so.

Later that evening, we even got the opportunity to meet up for dinner at JCT Kitchen. Yum. Such a fun night!

Angela, Sherry, Sissy, my friend Becky and me at dinner. Sherry, sorry I got you blinking.

 

 

The next morning, we hit IKEA.

Becky scored some loot. I just bought a couple of things. The main thing was this light fixture for Meg's room. It's too cute.

Unfortunately, the lucite chairs I wanted were out of stock. Boo. Maybe another time.

Then it was back to Nashville and reality. I hope everyone had as great a weekend as I did!

Sources: MIL and IKEA

Hotlanta

I just returned from a quick trip to Atlanta. The impetus for this trip was my daughter Meg's birthday (last month), her friend Abby's birthday (this month) and their mutual love for American Girl Dolls. So, as a joint birthday celebration, Abby's mom Becky and I decided to take the girls to the American Girl Store in Atlanta.

It was like they had returned to the mother ship . . . they were totally in their element. I think love of shopping must be genetic. 

Must have doll outfit. Looks like she's in a shopping coma.

While we were in Atlanta, Becky and I managed to squeeze in some shopping of our own. First, there was the Ballard's Back Room outlet near where we were staying in Alpharetta. Becky scored a hanging lantern and some cool art. Nada for me. Just wasn't my day.

The next morning before heading back to Nashville, we made a prolonged pit stop at the Scott Antique Market. I've only been once before, but Becky had never been. She was blown away. Now, first of all, shopping a huge antique market with two young girls is not ideal. We flew through at breakneck speed to curtail their boredom and whining frustration and to keep them from trying on every piece of jewelry in the place. Second of all, I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked. I was too busy corralling my daughter away from the priceless antique china and tchotchkes. 

But, here's what I did spy . . .

How cool is this industrial rolling shelf with metal baskets? I have nowhere to put this in my house, it would not have fit in my crossover SUV, plus, it was already sold. I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

Next, I spotted these beautiful French dining chairs. The velvet upholstery was in decent shape (a few worn spots), but was a great shade of dark blue. I'll call it Prussian blue (just because that sounds nice). They were $675 for 6 chairs! That's just over $100 a chair, people!!! Great deal. Once again, didn't need them, but oh, how I wanted them.

I loved this small worn red leather Chesterfield sofa. It spoke to me. I think it was saying, "Take me home. For $350, you don't need a place for me now. I can sit quietly in the basement until you find the perfect spot." But the reality of paying for it to be shipped set in. I just need to bring a U-Haul next time. And there will be a next time!  Sidenote: I showed this photo to my husband who commented, "It looks like something out of a horror movie." Not exactly a ringing endorsement of my taste/decorating skills. What does he know? I told him, "Chesterfields are very "in" right now. Check out Restoration Hardware if you don't believe me." I don't think he cared.

I just liked the shape of this simple English chair and at $375 for the pair, I thought the price was decent too.

I was digging the bamboo on these small stools/ottomans. They were too expensive for me (I can't even remember the exact price; I want to say around $600 each), and, I must say, there was a ton of this stuff at Scott's - furniture painted greige or white with burlap upholstery. This one obviously had the Chinoiserie vibe but there were just as many French pieces with the same treatment. I know this style is very popular right now, and I like it, but it just seems like everyone's doing it.

Of course, I had to include a piece of art featuring a lady. The colors in this one were truly spectacular. However, at $950, I had to pass. Sigh.

And last, but certainly not least, I loved this campaign chest. The natural wood (looks like pine), the brass hardware, the leather top. But, it was cracked down either side, and I felt sure my husband would have thought I was on crack if I came home with this. Plus, I could not find a price or the booth owner, so it was not meant to be. I may regret this one.

A parting shot of my dear daughter with one of her American Dolls (sporting a new raincoat and boots). This chair was just too groovy not to photograph. Meg gave it a thumbs up.

So, what did I buy, you might ask? Nothing! Can you believe it?! The things I loved were too expensive, and the things I could possibly afford, I didn't really need (or couldn't transport). However, my daughter did end up purchasing something at Scott's off the dollar table . . . 

A small bowl made in Japan (my love of all things Asian must have rubbed off on her) for her American Girl Doll, of course.