ON THE HUNT: EARLY VICTORIAN DRAWERS

As part of finishing off our master bedroom, I have been saving my pennies to buy a set of early Victorian (mid 1800s) set of cedar or mahogany drawers for the master bedroom. We have a set of replica pine drawers which were a moving-out-of-home present from my parents. However they have yellowed over the years and the space can fit a larger set (and I will never say no to more clothing space!). I spied some on Ebay almost a year ago (here). The first set is still listed. Over the summer holidays we saw some other alternatives on the Mornington Peninsula which are also contenders. I prefer the older simpler styles - rounded wooded handles, slightly curved sides - the furniture becomes more onate in the late 1800s. Decisions....

 

EBAY WISH LIST

A little update as to what's on my ebay wish list at present.

1. Cedar chests of drawers: to replace a reproduction pine set of drawers we currently have in the master bedroom. The space can handle larger piece and I think something darker would work better with the other wood in the room. I want something chunky rather than too fine. Something like these perhaps?

2. Vintage wardrobe:  Although we have a built-in robe in the master bedroom, we can't fit our coats and my "party  dresses" in it. Therefore I am on the look out for a reasonable sized wooden wardrobe which I will probably paint (so the wood doesn't need to be in great condition), which can sit in either the hall or one of the other bedrooms. Not sure if I am in favour of a full length mirror on the outside or not?

INSPIRATION: POTTING TABLES

After spying these images of the potting table at the Hamptons home featured in Vogue Living's December Issue and an old post on Absolutely Beautiful Things about garden tables (here), I am on the search for a small table for our courtyard.

There are lots of lovely examples at places like Parterre, Architectural and Antique Elements or  Ici et La but they come with price tags that are out of the budget.

Ebay has some options such as the one below or another alternative would be to find a cast iron table base and have a custom marble top made up. I have found some potential table bases on Ebay but so far none in Sydney (and I am not sure it is worth forking out for freight on this).

EBAY PURCHASE: VINTAGE TRIPOD

I found this vintage tripod on ebay just before Christmas. I fell for its ceramic black & white label.

I am hopeful that the guys at Transco can turn it into a lamp for our living room. I have a lot of leftover linen from the blinds, so I will use some of that to have a shade made.

NEW EBAY FIND

Another new Ebay find has made its way into our lives. Just in time for the newly painted rear foyer to be put back together. This vintage hall table, was restored by a guy in Melbourne, and was all mine for the princely sum of $380 plus courier. It is just the right size for our little rear foyer, holds all the entrance hall debris and its displays of native flowers / leaves makes me very happy.

EBAY PURCHASES: CHAIR OVERLOAD

I am now officially long retro chairs.

I found a pair of these (very neglected) tub chairs on ebay and which have now arrived from the Gold Coast.

However before they arrived, I  found this pair of retro armchairs, with lines that reminded my very much of the original inspiration (here).

So now I have two sets of retro armchairs and as it turns out I love them both! I think the tub chairs are a better shape for the living room - as they pair well with the low charcoal couch - also purchased from ebay, but this time re-furbished by the clever people at EveryInch (heaps of great mid century and industrial stuff). I just need to spend some time working on the wood. It is going to take some serious effort to take it back to its former glory. Assuming this can be done, I am going to recover in a simply navy or dark khaki canvas.

 

That means retro wing-less wing back chairs are therefore destined for the guest bedroom. It will probably take me a while to get to the restoration of them, so plenty of time to mull over the fabric choices.

INSPIRATION: WORKS ON PAPER AND RETRO CHAIRS

The  living room colour scheme came to me the moment I opened these amazing works on paper which were a surprise gift from my super lovely bro-in-law's partner (blurry photo does not do them justice). So navy, natural, white and that great green it is.

I was also super inspired by this chair featured in TradHome via High Street Market.

So I have been hunting around on Ebay for the perfect pair of retro chairs - with the requirement that they can take navy upholstery with white piping.  So far I have uncovered these no-name ones:

 and these Parker ones...

Auctions end in the next week so fingers crossed!

EBAY PURCHASES

It has been a busy week for me on Ebay. Have ticked off two more items for the New Home.

No.1 - a tortoiseshell cane day bed which is destined for the sun-room. Seat needs re-upholstering - plain calico most likely and then a bunch of green & white cushions.

I already have some of these lovely ones from The Brown Trading Co. No doubt I will find some more on my travels.

No. 2 is a small pine desk picked up from a lovely family just a couple of suburbs away. Perfect second bedside table for the spare room. Have abandoned the idea of painting it a bright colour. It is perfect as it is.  

CELADON LAMPS

I am on a roll - second purchase for the New Home is this old celadon lamp (again via ebay). A real bargain at $30 - and is apparently in working order.

The plan is for it to co-habit with celadon lamp no.1 (another ebay find) in the spare bedroom.

I think both of these deserve new and more exciting lampshades. Have ordered some samples from Florence Broadhurst with the vague notion that I may be able make some lamp shades - sounds ridiculous but I was inspired by this post from Julie at Olive & Joy. Love the fabric she used on this lamp below.

FIRST EBAY PURCHASE

I have taken delivery of my first purchase today for the New Home. Not on the high priority list but on the list - so that's a start. Its a cute little two seater retro style sofa - I have it ear-marked for our bedroom under the windows. Needs recovering (loving that musty old fabric smell) - but will stay tucked away in storage until we move.

Which gives me lots of time to think about fabric. The room will eventually also need a new fabric bed head, roman blinds and potential a ottoman (space permitting). Unless I try very hard, I will end up covering everything in greige linen. Working up the courage for a bolder green floral fabric somewhere in the room and I think it could really work on the little sofa. Maybe something like Christopher Farr "Carnival" fabric (seen here in Darryl Gordon's apartment via Live Breathe Decor);

Or Peter Dunham "Fig Leaf" see here via Diane Bergeron.

EBAY WISH LIST

Last week was a little dry on Ebay. But here are a couple of things on my radar this week.

1. Australian colonial maple drawers: S.P. has never had a bedside table in our existing place - not enough space! I have an old maple pot cupboard. In the New House this will all change and S.P. will finally have his own bedside table. These drawers would tie well with existing pot cupboard and create some extra storage . And given they are very likely to be relegated  to a spare room once we get around to decorating the new bedroom - they meet the key criteria of affordable and local!

2. Retro Bamboo chairs - I have spied a similar pair at HFOC - these are similar in style and more budget friendly. Seeing seat cushions in cost effective calico.

In the near term they can sit with much loved Ikea couch and vintage metal sideboard in the family room in the New House (whichever room that ends up being!), replacing the Featherston dining chairs which have been moonlighting as occasional chairs in our micro-mini family room. I have another plan for them......

INSPIRATION: BRIGHT DESK

One of the very less critical projects in the To Do List is currently occupying my mind thanks to this picture posted on Absolutely Beautiful Things today. Yes I am easily distracted.

Our spare room in the New House (room opening onto the front balcony on floor plan) will have room for both a bedside table and something on the other side of the bed. Current sole bedside is a basic white cabinet  (gussied up with some anthropologie hardware post this photo) so rather matching that - thinking small colourful desk? Given my green obsession will be hard to go past Kelly Green.....or even Chartreuse (greeny yellow I think?)

Ebay has thrown up this option so far. Handily located nearby for pick-up. Again anthroplogie hardware  could be called upon to finish it off?

EBAY WISH LIST

I love Ebay. So much great second hand stuff, searchable and purchasable from the comfort of your chair. I love Ebay on Ipad even more. Sure, sure Ipad was meant to be birthday present for S.P. But doesn't hurt him to share. A small sample of some of this week's wish list.

Cane day bed. Thinking economical seating for sun-room in near term.

Small writing desk. No real practical need but love the bamboo, interesting shape, potential for painting. Unfortunately missed the deadline on this but didn't sell so maybe re-list opportunity.

Fabric ottoman. Yes U_G_L_Y but an easy re-upholster job. End of bed, coffee table substitute.....

Only problem is that until we sell our existing home, I have nowhere to store these potential purchases....so all hypothetical for now.