Restored Style

Store Spotlight: Woonwinkel

kirsten — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:00:24 +0000

Morning!

One of my favorite things about blogging is sharing inspiring spaces, products and people. Today’s store spotlight post covers all three of those things. Woonwinkel is a beautiful space filled with lovely products, and it’s also run by two inspiring women, Kristin Van Buskirk and Erica Essink. Portland Monthly recently named Woonwinkel best design store, and I can’t help but think Kristin and Erica have helped shape the new modern aesthetic: clean lines, but comfortable and natural. Colorful accessories and furniture can be found throughout the store, and the space perfectly highlights products from designers both near and far.

This weekend, Woonwinkel is turning one and everyone’s invited to the party. That includes all you out-of-towners too! They are offering up to 20% off everything in the entire store AND the discount is available online too!

As for the in-store festivities, there will be champagne, treats, and discounts. My kind of party! Now, here’s Kristin and Erica’s story…

Names: Kristin Van Buskirk and Erica Essink

Store: Woonwinkel

Store address: 935 SW Washington Street, Portland, OR, 97205

Website: woonwinkelhome.com

Tell us about you – what’s your story? We dreamed up Woonwinkel when Kristin was living in The Netherlands and really becoming enamored with Dutch design. Part of it was the quirky, comfortable modern aesthetic, and part of it was the admiration of the independent design scene there. It’s very well established–independent designers in Europe have been quite successful in delivering cutting edge work partly because of free education and grants and there also seem to be plenty of venues for showing work. There are some great independent designers in North America too but it’s harder to stay independent here–designers have to rely a lot more on the salebility of their work. So we decided to help in a small way by creating a venue for them.

Tell us about your shop – what products and services do you offer? We offer a carefully chosen mix of furniture, home accessories, and gifts by independent designers from Europe and North America.

What’s your style and what are you “known” for? We call our style new modern: warm, inviting, tactile, quirky. The objects in our store are often made of natural materials–wood, wool, clay–but with clean, modern lines. But what we’re probably most known for is our love of color. We love accessories in bold, bright colors.

Favorite product in your store right now? Our favorite product right now is probably a good example of our style. The Perrette bowls by Y’a Pas Le Feu Au Lac are inspired by old buckets like the ones you’d find on farms in the Upper Jura region of France. They’re made of a light-colored lime tree wood, and the handles are painted in cheerful, bright glossy colors.

Story behind your store’s name: Woonwinkel means home shop in Dutch. Kristin was learning the language when we cooked up the idea of this shop, and we sort of used it as a code word. But we realized it had a nice ring to it in English too—it tells a lot about us—it’s not too serious.

Favorite part about owning your shop: It’s really fun to be surrounded by beautiful things but most of all we love getting to know the people who shop here and sharing the stories behind our products.

We also enjoy having our families in the store with us. Some of our most cherished moments include Kristin’s mom and baby boy playing for hours on a blanket on the floor while we did inventory, or Erica’s son lining up illustrations on the window sill of the products he’d like to sell.

Where do you find inspiration? Anytime we get a chance to travel we enjoy seeing the work of designers all over the world. Milan Design Week (especially any show at Spazio Rosanna Orlandi), Mint in London, Frozen Fountain in Amsterdam, Dutch Design Week in Einhoven…the list goes on.

Most memorable store moment, customer or client? I think the first time a journalist came into the store and starting taking pictures we both ran into the back room and did a little happy dance.

Hottest trend of the season? Indulgently sunny yellow.

What does the future hold for your store? Soon we’ll start bringing more temporary shows of designers’ work into our space–we’re looking forward to that.

Can we find your store on Facebook and Twitter? Yes! Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/woonwinkel/133980386633358 and our Twitter handle is @woonwinkelhome.

Anything else you’d like to say? If you haven’t been to the West End neighborhood of Portland lately, come take a look. It’s changing every day and would be our favorite neighborhood in Portland even if we didn’t have a shop here!

Seems like this Saturday is shaping up to be a shopping day! It’s Portland Flea time and Woonwinkel’s sale…what else could you ask for?

P.S. You can find Woonwinkel at 935 SW Washington Street and they will be open 11-6 on Saturday. Happy shopping!

Portland Blogger Summer Social

kirsten — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:00:24 +0000

I decided yesterday that 2013 is gonna be my year to rest. So until then, I’m going to run myself ragged and keep traveling, DIYing, partying, and the like. With that said, I’m throwing another party next month. With my friend Jenn, that is. It’s an evening just for home decor/design bloggers and it’s going to be really swell. Seats at the table are limited (and cheap!) so sign up sooooon. And if you have any questions, you know who to ask. Me.

And for those of you who don’t live in Portland, you can bet we’ll be taking photos of the tablescapes and the lovely ladies who attend. So you can kinda be there, even if you can’t.

Who: Portland design and home bloggers

What: An evening full of food, fun, and inspiration…and dinner too!

When: Wednesday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Seek the Unique – 931 S.E. 6th Avenue

I have a fabulous Store Spotlight coming up tomorrow…stay-tuned!

Coming this Saturday: Portland Flea

kirsten — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:00:53 +0000

This weekend, another lovely season of Portland Flea kicks off. This makes my heart happy for many reasons.

I love old stuff.
I love supporting local businesses.
I love good food.
I love Portlanders.
I love that I can find all of these items in one spot on a handful of Saturdays this spring/summer/fall.

To kick of the begining of flea market season, Kate from Portland Flea is stopping by to give us the low down on all things flea this year! Take it away, Kate.

What’s the story/inspiration behind Portland Flea?

I have always been drawn to dependable, well-loved goods that have stood the test of time. “Stuff” just means more when it has a story and a soul. I grew up in Portland and moved back not too long ago after a stint in London. My husband and I bought an old house in NE, and while restoring and furnishing it, we found ourselves yearning for the convenient, one-stop access to antique and vintage goods that the markets in London provided, in addition to their energy and charm. Portland has such a great vintage culture – so many incredible shops – but it takes time to visit each one! Why not bring everyone together?

What vendors will be at the flea?

We’ll let the postcard take this one:

What can shoppers find at the flea?

Well, I’ll start by telling you what you won’t find: anything new. Well, not brand new at least. Like many Portlanders, we are passionate about re-use and have made it the guiding light of the market. Our 20+ vendors specialize in items that have old industrial, vintage or antique appeal. This typically rules out anything manufactured within the last 25 years, but does not rule out handmade or refurbished items made from recycled antique/vintage materials. We have phenomenal furniture dealers (mid-century especially), clothing, jewelry, ephemera. A little bit of everything.

Flea logistics – schedule/place/time/ect?

WHEN: Third Saturday of the month. May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15 & October 20.

WHERE: We’ll kick off the season on May 19^th indoors at UNION/PINE and, permit pending, we’ll move outdoors in June!

Any spring design trend predictions?

Heather Joy just did a photo shoot in my house about decorating with neon. She brought all of these great accessories over and the vibrant pops of color were so energizing! Think Portland folks could really benefit from this trend given all of the gray days. I bet fewer people suffered from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) in the 80s!

Flea shopping tips?

Of course!

First, it’s all about negotiation. Don’t be afraid to make an offer that is lower than the asking price.

Second, cash is still king. I know everyone takes Square these days, but always bring cash to the Flea. A great negotiating tactic is to hold up a set amount of cash and say “this is what I have to spend. Take it or leave it.”

Third, don’t forget, you have your own little Antiques Roadshow appraiser in your pocket! Read the tags/labels/engravings on Flea finds and look them up on your phone before you purchase. You can usually find some indication of what a fair price would be.

Favorite item you’ve ever found at a flea market?

I found an old Picasso print when we lived in London nestled in a dirty pile of horrible art and frames. It is one of his lesser known paintings and the frame was filthy so you couldn’t see the signature and edition number. I grabbed it, paid next to nothing and literally ran away from the market before anyone could ask any questions. Thinking I held my retirement in my hands, I immediately looked it up when I got home. It was a fake and not worth a dime. I still love it though.

Where do you see the PDX Flea in 10 years?

Hoping it will continue to be a destination spot for members of the community. Have a cup of coffee, meet your friends, walk around. A place where people can find quality one-of-a-kind goods that will last forever. I’d like people to think twice about heading to Ikea if they can find what they need at the Flea. The Brooklyn Flea guys have been really supportive of Portland Flea and have offered some great advice. I hope I can foster something similar to what they have created, but keep it uniquely Portland.

You bet your bottom me and my crew will be at the flea on Saturday. Hope to see you there:).

P.S. Get sneak-peeks of Portland Flea goods by following them on Facebook and Twitter.

Update: Vintage Little Girl’s Room

kirsten — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:00:31 +0000

Morning!

I hope all you moms had a wonderful (and sunny!) day yesterday…we managed to see lots of family in one busy day, and we are thankful we had the opportunity to celebrate the special ladies in our life.

Speaking of mommas, I’m currently helping a dear friend of mine decorate a room in her home for her two young daughters (the original mood board can be found here). It’s coming along rather nicely, and there will absolutely be some fun “after” photos to share this summer. But before we get to the finished room, I thought I’d share the rather busy design board with you. The theme is “vintage modern” and we ran with the colors in the vintage quilt that Jess purchased on etsy. You’ll see there’s no pink - we stayed away from “predictable pink” and went with yellows, teals, and corals. It’s warm, bright and fun.

Also, the unique challenge I must mention about this room is that we are working with a crib and a twin bed, as opposed to two beds. So, in order to make those pieces work together, we are painting the furniture (the crib and the bed) a beautiful Benjamin Moore teal and giving the girls very similiar bedding. I checked up on a few of the pieces that Jess has already purchased from the design board, and I’m happy to report things are looking rather darling. Here’s a quick iPhone photo I snapped of the goods…

The fabrics are the exact ones in the above mood board, and I love the color and boldness they bring to the room. The walls will be a soft grey, so we’re letting the fabric do most of the talking in this space. Kinda like this room…

The fun has just begun…I have 4 more fun posts scheduled this week!

Momma’s Day

kirsten — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:47 +0000

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this life, it’s that you don’t truly appreciate your parents and all they sacrificed for you until you become an adult. When you are an adult, you have a much better understanding of the demands and responsibilities of life, and I’ve begin to wonder, how did Mom do it all? Looking back, she really was wonder woman – she worked full-time, exercised every morning before work, prepared me and my brother for the day, drove us to numerous after school activities, planned fun trips for us during the summer, and she never once hired help to clean our house. And our house was clean. Always.

And it’s not just about what she did, it’s about how she taught, guided, and loved us. She did it with ease and she let us become who we wanted to be. She focused on what I wanted, and not what she wanted. The best gift you can give your kids is to let them make their own decisions, and my parents were (and still are!) really good at that.

And while we are on the topic of amazing Moms, did I mention I am a lucky girl when it comes to my mother-in-law? She’s rather terrific, and although I’ve only known her for 5 short years, I’m certain she’s one of the kindest, most thoughtful women around. She has the grandma thing down too – my niece and nephew simply adore their “nana” and it’s clear that Patti was made to be around little ones. She’s always giving me insight into Kyle and teaching me about marriage and life, and I am beyond thankful for her unwavering love and support.

Finally, I have one last lady I would be remiss if I didn’t mention. My Aunt Holly also falls into the Mom category, as she’s been by my side since I was a wee one. She’s the kind of person I aspire to be – patient, flexible, and totally unselfish. She puts others before herself. Every. Single. Time. She keeps things in perspective, and on top of everything else, she’s a super smart and wordly lady.

Yippee for Mother’s Day – I am counting my blessings for such wonderful ladies in my life! Cheers to celebrating Moms and all of their selfless acts of kindness.

Featured! Cottages & Bungalows Magazine

kirsten — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:00:08 +0000

Morning!

Our little living room was recently featured in the June 2012 issue of Cottages and Bungalows magazine and I just had to share the article and photos with you! It’s fun to see our cozy space in print and it’s nice to see another room in our home get a little love, as I feel like our kitchen has had its day in the sun.

It’s practically impossible to read the text, so I apologize for posting a totally impractical photo, but it gives you an idea of the photos and tips they included in the article.

I’m looking at my May calendar and for whatever reason, it’s jam-packed with blog goodies, including some incredible giveaways for our second blogoversary! Stay-tuned:)…

New York: Part Two

kirsten — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:00:04 +0000

And we’re back with more NYC updates! Just typing this out makes my feet hurt. Again, the four days we spent in this magical city were ones we’ll remember for a long, long time.

Here’s a recap of the rest of our trip (the first few days can be found here), in photos…and this time, I won’t use any vintage efffects. These are the real deal.

Sunday:

Rockefeller Center

Top of the Rock

CookShop for Brunch (delish)

Chelsea Market (darling)

High Line Park (pretty place)

Madison Square Garden

Empire State Building

Fish’s Eddy (adore this store!)

Show on Broadway – Memphis (incredible!)

Times Square (this time in the daylight)

Dinner at Osteria Morini

This bracelet from Chelsea Market was my one and only NY purchase for myself:).

Monday:

Subway to Brooklyn

Breakfast at Allswell (in love with this place!)

Walk/shop Williamsburg (so much like PDX)

Brooklyn Park

Ice Cream at Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory (yummy)

Walk Brooklyn Bridge

Wall Street/visit the infamous bull

Trinity Church

Battery Park (view of Statue of Liberty)

9/11 Memorial (very touching)

Katz’s Deli (lots ‘o meat)

Dos Caminos for dinner

Tuesday:

Pack our bags (sad!)

Run through Central Park (beautiful)

Lunch at Spring Street Natural with an old friend (thanks Danielle!)

Shopping in Soho

Dean & Deluca (speechless)

ABC Home (7 floors of home decor goodies)

Eately

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Head to airport:(

And that’s a wrap. I’m already plotting my next trip!

We probably visited 5 of the 45 restaurants that were on our list, so we need to go back just to EAT. And SHOP. And people watch. And the list goes on, and on…

What’s my next trip? I’m hoping it will be San Antonio in July…I’ll keep you posted on my travel plans as you guys are wonderful at travel suggestions!

New York: Part One

kirsten — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:00:52 +0000

One of the most highly-anticipated trips Kyle and I have ever taken together lived up to the hype. New York was legit. It’s a magical city and it stole our hearts in a matter of hours. We packed a lot in, maybe even too much. This trip was not about relaxing – it was about discovery. We walked away feeling inspired and full of good food, history, and people.

We spent four days being giddy tourists and taking a lot of photos. Today’s just part one of the New York madness, and covers the first few days of our adventure.

Friday Night:

Check in to the New York Palace

Coffee pick me up at Caffe Reggie (Greenwich Village)

Dinner at Minetta Tavern (thank you Emily!)

Saturday:

Breakfast at Ess-A-Bagel

Walk and walk and walk Central Park

American Museum of Natural History

5th Avenue

Chrysler building

New York Public Library

Grand Central Station

Dinner at the Oyster Bar

Times Square

And that’s really just the beginning! So many more places and photos to share – stay-tuned for more NYC goodness tomorrow. The best is yet to come…

Cheers to a great week!

TGIDIYFriday: Stenciled Pillowcases

kirsten — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:00:08 +0000

It’s that time again – hooray for another TGIDIYFriday craft! Today you can find me over at hi,friend chatting about stenciled pillowcases – an easy project that makes a great gift, especially since wedding/bridal shower season is upon us.

Without further ado, pop on over to hi, friend for supply information and full DIY instructions for today’s featured project.

As for next week, I’ll be spilling the beans about New York City. Still can’t get over that amazing place. That city is alive.

Cheers to the weekend!

Open House This Sunday

kirsten — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:00:50 +0000

Hi folks!

My lovely blogger friend Sarah from Cozy. Cottage. Cute who was set to guest post today had a beautiful baby boy a few days early, and for obvious reasons, she’ll be visiting another time. With that said, I strongly encourage you to check out the amazing nursery she created for her bundle of joy. You will not be disappointed – it is perfectly perfect in every way. Congrats on your sweet little man, Sarah!

So, I’m interuptting the regularly scheduled House Guest programing to tell you we’re holding an open house at our little abode on Sunday from 2 – 5 p.m.We’ve been dusting, scrubbing, and polishing up our home for its big debut!

If you are interested in learning more about our home, check out the website here and click on the “contact” tab for additional information.

And because everyone loves photos, here are a few exterior shots of our home that I’ve snapped recently, but haven’t gotten around to sharing on the blog.

I was going to include a few shots of the interior of our home, but that’s old news to you guys.

Get ready for tomorrow’s TGIDIYFriday post…it’s a good one! Oh yes, and we are back from NYC. It was INCREDIBLE. Lots of photos and stories to come next week on the bloggity blog.