Lamp Addict

Hello, my name is Kelly and I am an addict.  This addiction has manifested itself in the form of home accessories, in particular lamps.

Since I introduced you to Rhoda a couple of posts ago
I thought I'd share her very pink apartment from
Mary Tyler Moore Show particularly because of the
awesome basket manequin floor lamp she had!
photo courtesy of sitcomsonline.com

I don’t know when my obsession with lamps started but it definitely seems to be growing to epic proportions lately.  It seems to have come to a head on my recent Charleston trip.  I had no idea this addiction had grown so out of control until I looked back at my photos from my Charleston adventure and just happened to notice a theme….

from Chic Antiques - Mt Pleasant SC

from Celadon - Charleston SC

another from Celadon - this time a pair

It’s a funny thing too because I have always had an affinity for accessories (shoes, handbags, jewelry, etc) – when nothing else fits or looks good a beautiful pump always feels good.  Apparently this general accessory trend has now bled over into my home…does that mean my home is having a fat day? 

Island Classic Interiors - Calabash NC

Zimmans - Lynn MA

Chic Antiques - Mt Pleasant SC

Either way, it’s clear from all of the pretty lamps I’m seeing these days that I am not the only one who is hooked on a beautiful lighting.

And one last fun
find from Miss Minnie's
in Calabash NC

Charleston...What's in a Name

So, I am still in search of the perfect wallpaper for a couple of offbeat places in my home and I am still striking out finding anywhere that stocks it.  I am determined though…I will persevere and find the perfect thing…somewhere, somehow.

I continued on this quest while I was in Charleston at a shop called Not Just Fabric.  I found this shop in Charleston Home & Design’s online magazine and they sounded like just what I was looking for…..carrying fabrics, vanities, window treatments, trims, wallpaper & furniture.  Awesome right?  Well, I hate to pop the bubble but I saw very little at Not Just Fabrics except….fabric.

Not Just Fabrics
1610 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., Charleston SC

If you are looking for beautiful upholstery or window treatment fabric at really great bargain prices this is a fabulous place.  There were so many patterns I was lured by…if I only had been prepared with some measurements and not been overwhelmed by the number of things I loved.  I will go back and next time, watch out!

Love the Green fabric in the middle - this would be
so fabulous for my Adirondack Chairs cushions

Oh my gosh that lobster fabric is so fun!  It
came in Navy too...

If you are looking for anything other than fabric and are counting on this to be your resource you’re likely out of luck.  They had a few wallpaper books you can order from (nothing in stock) and a few miscellaneous decorative items but Not Just Fabric was really “Just Fabric”.  Not necessarily a bad thing…they did offer up some really fabulous fabric options!

Am loving the oranges these days and
am especially loving all of the Sale tags
at Not Just Fabrics!

My next stop was Chic Antiques, a consignment antique boutique.  From their website I could tell this was just my kind of place – fun pretty vintage things.  When I arrived it was not at all what I expected – mostly vintage inspired newer pieces and repurposed consignment items. 

Chic Antiques

675-D Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Mt Pleasant, SC

There were many many items I drooled over but definitely not your traditional “antique” shop.  Again, not necessarily a bad thing….

This was what welcomed me...Love!

 One of the things that I really am inspired by these days is traditional furniture that is painted an unexpected color.  Chic Antiques had so many pieces that were such fun colors.  I mean I don’t think I would have the nerve to paint a huge china cabinet pink (a deep reddish pink but none-the-less pink) but the first vignette right up front at Chic Antiques featured just that and let me tell you…FABULOUS!

Such fun colors - this was more of a pink red in person

Chic Antiques also has a phenomenal selection of lamps & chandeliers.  Loved every single one of them!  It took everything in my being to restrain myself from buying all of them.  I guess its luck that I had just finished replacing the fixtures in my house so I couldn’t justify a purchase, don’t know if that’s good luck or bad luck though.

Feeding my Lamp Obsession

All in all neither store was what I expected from the name of the shop but both were definitely wonderful places.

Charming Charleston

I really don’t travel that much for my job but it seems like this summer has really been non-stop.  I have been lucky in that the places I have had to visit have all been really exceptional places.  My recent trip to Charleston was no different – such a lovely place I really think I could easily live there!

I was there to present to another group of co-workers.  When booking my travel I really was not sure what time my presentation was so flew in the day before and scheduled a late evening flight home after my meeting.  I ended up having a mid-afternoon timeslot so was lucky enough to have a bit time to explore.

Thanks to my good friend Mr. Bing I happened upon the online version of Charleston Home & Design Magazine and was from there able to scope out a whole list of “must see” Charleston shops.  It gave me a really great way to plot a plan of action to best utilize my time. 

It was also the catalyst for me to start my “shop bucket list” – a list of great places I read about.  I’m always making notes of these must see’s and then scampering to find my notes when I am actually planning a trip.  I put it in Excel so I can sort by town/state and I can also include things like shop hours, website, etc.  I feel more organized already.

So the first place on my new bucket list is a store named Celadon.  As I was heading toward the store from the airport a Celadon truck crossed my path – I took this as a sign that I was on the right path. 

Celadon
1015 Johnnie Dobbs Blvd., Mt Pleasant SC

Love the floor treatment - this is a very industrial
looking interior but don't be fooled - they have
such beautiful things!

Celadon is a local Charleston home furnishings store and let me tell you I could have easily spent hours and furnished several homes in this store.  The prices were awesome and there was literally something to appeal to pretty much everyone. 

I love the shape of these chairs - very chic

Isn't this just lovely - not your typical
"eco-friendly" look

Their look is pretty global rustic chic (if you can even imagine that).  According to a sign I saw at their shop Celadon is a founding member of the Sustainable Furniture Council and pride themselves on their eco-friendly mission.  I for one have a huge appreciation for this – I may not always take the eco-friendly route but I certainly greatly admire those who do!

Love the colors!

This is what made it into my still
way to small suitcase..great
for spoons & utensils

They also have an offsite warehouse where they sell their discontinued and overstock furniture items. The warehouse store is only open for 4-hours twice a week – can you even believe my luck that I just happened to be in the area when the warehouse store was open?  This place made me want to rent a U-Haul load it up and drive it home full of wonderful goodies.

Celadon Warehouse Store
2221 Noisette Blvd., North Charleston SC
open Wed & Sat 10-1 only

These were so cool - stools
made from sugar sacks!

This small trunk was tempting!  It would
look so great as an end table next to
my sofa.

Thank You Irene

I want to express my personal thanks to Hurricane Irene for helping to remind me how much I love 1970’s girlfriend comedies. 

This past weekend Irene blew through and luckily it didn’t hit the North shore too badly…a few boats beached, a few trees lost and a few days without electricity.  Sure could have been worse…of course I was not thinking this way as I worked my way through 3 days without power. 

I love reading so didn’t miss modern entertainment much until last night.  It was just too dark and too quiet at my house.  So, I logged on to Hulu and did some quick browsing to find something that would speak to me (literally)…I found Rhoda.

One of my all-time favorite shows ever is the Mary Tyler Moore Show.  As a kid I thought she just had the life…beautiful clothes, glamorous job and her own apartment where she could stay up as late as she wanted (I had an 8pm bedtime) with friends coming and going.  Even at 10 years old I had huge appreciation for her apartment.  Mary was the ultimate in glamorous to my mind.

Rhoda was Mary’s best girlfriend who after a few seasons living in the (very pink) apartment above Mary moved home to New York and into her own show.  She was a department store window decorator so of course she had a fabulous New York apartment.   I thought this was just great then and I have to say I still love it.  It’s so dated looking but so fun!



Rhoda's sister Brenda's apartment.  The posters
are so reminiscent of the 70's



Rhoda with her sister Brenda & husband Joe...look at
those textiles.  So fun!

Rhoda & Brenda in Brenda's kitchen...my Dad had a
refrigerator just like this one.  He covered the front with orange
and brown mushroom contact paper...he thought it was
stylin.

If you’re not familiar you should definitely check it out.  My favorite episode is season 1 episode 4 “Parents' Day” - so funny!

Photos from sitcomsonline.com

More Calabash Design

One of the many wonderful things about my NY/Calabash friends second home is that it’s so comfortable in a totally uncluttered way.  They have a fabulous screened porch (perfect to watch fireworks from) that in my opinion is just perfect for lounging on a nice plush sofa with a fabulous book.  Since it’s not 100% weather proof though it would need outdoor friendly furniture….I have a vision.

While adventure hunting in Calabash we were heading for Island Classic Interiors and I literally did a U-turn in the middle of the road when I saw a really cool bamboo patio set outside of Almost New Consignment.  I decided…Lisa had to have this for her screened porch…it was PERFECT!!! 

Almost New Consignments
6692 Beach Drive, Ocean Isle Beach NC
Isn't that sofa just an invitation to relax with a good book?

She didn’t so much agree but we did have fun looking at all of the other treasures at Almost New.  There were so many possibilities for someone needing to furnish a home on the cheap (I mean budget conscious).  

Furniture that is more contemporary in its age than necessarily in its design - there were quite a few pieces I would most definitely live with. 

Nice selection of Dash & Albert and Company C
Rugs..would add great color to any room!

Since I was limited in suitcase space (darn it, I really need to buy a larger suitcase don’t I) I settled on a beautiful blue plate that adds the perfect pop of color to my almost finished dining room.

Love that this has a seaglass-look quality to it!

Next stop was our initial intended destination Island Classic Interiors on Ocean Isle Beach.  What a lovely little shop – all I could think of was Earnest Hemingway (see his Key West house by following this link to Lulo Design's Blog) while I was perusing the British Colonial with a Beach Flair feel of this shop. 

I got so many ideas from this shop…I’ll never have enough time to execute everything I want to “knock off” for my house. 

I am so going to make this shade!

The striping on this brings such a updated look to this
very classic style...again a great way to bring some color
to a room.

 It might just be easier to sell my house and move in to this shop…do you think they would mind?