Repurposed + Modern = Cool Home

So many of our items are in this home.  I first met the owner, Jessica, as a customer in the store.  She had just purchased this ranch with a strong mid century lines and wanted it to reflect her style and personality.  Through the use of repurposed items, estate sales, and gin and tonics, this home has been transformed into one that reflects her lifestyle and taste.

Stunning signed print in studded frame by famous artist Mr. Brainwash pairs well with French country chairs.

The walls are filled with a wide range of artwork from different genres and pedigrees.  She likes what she likes with no apologies.  The trick was how to make all of this fit together.  It was simple.  By using soft gray walls and coordinating fabrics, all of her favorite things were able to find a home.

A refurbished table by The Humble Home with a marble top.  

  

Jess has very eclectic taste.  She loves everything from modern to French country and has no hesitations of mixing the two.  She is not the kind of person that would sacrifice clean and contemporary in lieu of having sentimental items around her.  

Jess' personal items find a comfortable home

Vintage Barcelona chairs make a comfortable nook.

After a late night of moving furniture, Jess and I came up with this cozy nook that turned out to be the epicenter of every party.  This is also one of her favorite places in the home where she curls up with a favorite book.  The cowhide helps to define the space and vintage Barcelona chairs add a modern touch.  Vintage posters, oil paintings, and contemporary artists form a gallery and interest to this nook.

The lesson here is that you should always listen to your heart. What speaks to you? What feels like home? Don't focus so much on having the "right" items. Pick what's right for you.

Humor Filled Homes

I have been noticing more humor and color in home decor.  There seems to be more of a "tongue in cheek" approach to interiors lately.  For example, below are two unique bathrooms with quite a sense of humor.

Love the toilet paper holder by Peter S. Balsam Ass.

Talk about waterworks. Andre Rothblatt Arch.

You may have noticed the use of vibrant colors such as Moroccan blue, chartreuse, and garnet red. Not ever being one who likes pink, I recently found myself having a magenta moment...going gaga over a bright pink side table I saw while vacationing.

Pictured below is a bright yellow sofa that is the centerpiece of the room.  It seems to say, " Hey, we're having fun here.  Come, sit, and relax!"

        

Humorous and fun pieces are popping up in even our most serious design magazines.  Framed pieces with funky quotes and quirky pieces adorning serious interiors seem to be all the rage.  Busts of both animals and humans alike...some painted in bright, funky colors.  These statement pieces remind us not to take ourselves too seriously.

Colorful bust to display necklaces from Fry Sauce and Grits

Today a customer came in the store that admired our Moroccan blue dining room table, but said she could never put it in her home.  The color was "a bit too bright."  Well, I have just one thing to say,  "Lighten up!"

Cuckoo For JuJu

Black, white, and awesome all over.  These awesome hats bring an unexpected and exciting touch to any room no matter what style.

Newly arrived JuJu hat in the store

I know that Juju hats may be a pass trend, but I still and will always have an affinity for them.  They add an unexpected touch and texture to a room while pushing the glamour factor.  They're a bold statement yet soft from the texture of the ethereal feathers.  Not to mention their ceremonious purpose and craftsmanship, makes me pine for them all the more.

Originally, these hat were worn by Cameroonian dignitaries during tribal ceremonies.  Now they have become the rage in interior design.  These African beauties can be a little pricey going between $250 to $600, but their workmanship and stunning nature makes them a great interior design investment.    

Stylist, Thea Beasley, Atlanta Home & Lifestyles

The picture above has two Juju hats flanking each side of the room.  The light color palette, textures, and light makes the room appear very feminine and airy.  The curve of the sofa and chairs also adds to this feeling.  Instead of a large artwork, these Juju hats take center stage.

Cotton commercial featuring Hayden Panettiere 

Every time this commercial comes on I am mesmerized by this closet.  The one prominent feature on is the Juju hat on the upper right.  It makes the room.

Yelp, this little beauties make me quite cuckoo for the Juju.

Cosmopolitans For A Crowd

Around the holidays, we make a pitcher of these. Just pour them in a shaker with plenty of crushed ice and you've got an instant party.

1 1/2 cups Vodka
1 1/2 cups Bacardi Limon
1/2 cup Cointreau
3 cups Cranberry Juice
1/2 cup fresh Lime Juice

For an added touch, you can sugar the rim and add a garnish of lime, orange, or cranberry.  Enjoy!

Caramelized Onion, Bacon, and Gorgonzola Dip

We make this dip every holiday season.  It's always a hit.

6 Slices of bacon, chopped 
3 Medium onions sliced thinly (use a mandolin if you like)
Sprinkle a pinch of sugar, salt, and pepper
4 Large cloves of garlic
2 tsp of fresh thyme
1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, chopped
4 oz of cream cheese, softened
1 cup of sour cream (Greek yogurt also works)
1/2 cup Olive Oil mayo
1/3 cup Gorgonzola, crumble
1/4 Cayenne
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Note: Reserve some bacon and onions for garnish.

Fry until the slices of bacon until very crisp in a skillet. Set aside. Drain, leaving two tablespoons of fat in skillet. Sauté onions in the pan over medium-low heat on the stove, scraping fond in bottom of pan. After about a minute, add a pinch of sugar. salt, and pepper.
Cook the onions until they have become soft and deeply browned, about 20 minutes. Turn off heat and add 3 clove of finely chopped garlic, thyme, and parsley. 

Mix softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayo. Add warm onion mixture, chopped bacon, gorgonzola, and grate last clove of garlic. Add cayenne and Worcestershire. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with good kettle potato chips, corn chips or fresh vegetables. You can serve it immediately, but it's even better the next day.

p.s. It's great on burgers too!

Quirky Touches For The Home

We are always in search of affordable, quirky items for the home to fill the shop.  I was recently going through some old pictures and was amazed at all the funky finds we've had at the store over the years.  Here are a few of our favorite unique pieces in no particular order.

The first is a picture of our old location, but what I really want you to see is the gigantic, antique fishing net that was about 10 feet long.  We had three of these and they were one of the most unique items we came across. It offered a terrific opportunity to add scale and texture to a room without taking up too much space.

The old Humble Home location.  The gigantic, antique fishing net was one of my favorite quirky items.

The next item was small, but I loved its simplicity.  These could be used for anything.  It's the perfect combination of form and function, and it adds a shot of glam at just the right moment.

Vintage brass lotus bowls

The lamp below is so Jonathan Adler.  I did change the color to white and later added a black shade which made it pop all the more.  And yes, I have to admit to having a slight "Godfather" moment.

White horse head lamp.  

It was something about this trash can that really attracted me.  The knobby texture added an almost surreal quality.  It is glam and crafty at the same time.  Needless to say, it didn't last long in the store.

I was mesmerized by this unique, knobby brass trash can.

Words can't describe how much I loved this table.  The marble top just sparkled!  It was a lot of hard work getting it to look this way, but boy was it worth it.  It only lasted two days in the store, but it went to a great home.  Did a mention it may appear in a movie?  Well, that's another post.

Regency inspired marble coffee table...stunning.  It initially said 1970, but I say fabulous.

Little unique touches like these create a home that reflects you...your values, taste, and creativity. Your home should be the one place that makes you feel safe and content, surrounded by items that evoke memories and  hint at your dreams for the future.

How I Spent My Junkstock Vacation

I know we haven't posted for a while, but we were swamped with the preparation and aftermath of Junkstock.  Junkstock is a great bi-annual event where "junk-o-philes" get together to sell cool vintage stuff at an old dairy farm on the outskirts of Omaha.  There's plenty of music, food, a petting zoo for the kids, and tons of cool vintage stuff.  The event was expecting 15,000 people to attend.  It was a lot of work, but it's a great place to meet cool people, sell some stuff, and have a great time.

Since the epic storm of the June event, I decided to overcompensate and build a little structure this time around.  We already had plenty of lumber, old doors (thanks Brad!) and several windows (thanks David!) so how hard could it be?

What the h*** was I thinking?  The posts alone took all day in 90 degree heat.  But with the help of my father-in-law Cal, friends Elizabeth and Nathan, (not to mention my husband) we got it done.

And if I don't mind saying, it turned out pretty awesome!

Our Junkstock garden shed made with old doors and windows

Behind closed doors

Every window and door was measured and charted on graph paper.  Needless to say, a lot of drinking and cursing was involved.  

The building process 

Two bottles of wine later

The best part of Junkstock was spending time with my main man Nicholas.  Here he is at the petting zoo.

Nicholas at the petting zoo

Thanks Sara and Junkstock crew for all your hard work.  It was a great affair. (The American Pickers guy did not participate in our garden shed event but we're sure he'd approve.)