Welcome to The Refresh! Every week I share the things that are getting me over the hump and through the week. 

1 // 100 Days, 100 Mugs, 100 Handles

I recently came across the work of Lalese Stamps, creator of Lolly Lolly Ceramics. Last year, she did a 100 Day Project focused on creating fantastical mugs and I want every single one of them. Yes, even the one with the spikes. (Especially the one with the spikes? #notamorningperson)

Other black-owned ceramists that are lighting up my feed these days:

(from left to right) Nur Ceramics // Naked Clay Ceramics //  Not Work Related 

2 // A true refresh 

Summer is here! Like many homes in the Bay Area, our house has dated air conditioning, which makes June a blessing (warm summer nights on the patio are a thing again!) and a curse (the days are hot, y’all!). 

Our saving grace has been this fan. I’m not exaggerating when I say that it drops the temp in our home by 2-3 degrees. After buying one for our living room, we just bought another for the hottest room in our home–which also happens to be my home office because of course it is. 

Also this vintage-inspired version is pretty darn cute. 

3 // Collages for a cause

I’ve always loved the work of Sharlene Kayne, a paper collage artist based out of LA. For the last few weeks, she’s focused on portraits that highlight amazing women of color, with the proceeds being donated to important causes. This one of Josephine Baker stopped me in my scroll.

4 // A magical big kid room makeover

I’m working on a refresh of Mara’s room, and so far her input on the project has been “MERMAIDS!” This whimsical room makeover by the team over at Emily Henderson is just the kind of inspiration I need. 

5 // Reveals on reveals

It’s the final week of the Spring 2020 One Room Challenge, and that means one thing: REVEALS! Gotta hand it to this class of ORC — the last few months have been a challenging time to bring a project to fruition, but this was one resilient, ambitious group of creatives.

Here are some of my favorite shots:

Coco & Jack

Coco & Jack

The Hunted Interior

Pretty Real

Design Maze

Renovation Husbands

Can you tell I’m really into bathrooms these days? In the next few weeks, we’re finally breaking ground on our master bath, and I couldn’t be more excited! Though the designs are already finalized, I’m still finding little bursts of inspiration in these reveals.

The post The Refresh vol.5: 100 mugs, how we’re staying cool, and a magical makeover appeared first on The Vintage Rug Shop.

I’m about to share my secret for looking pulled together with minimal effort. Especially if you are suffering from the quarantine fashion blues. 

Ready? 

Jumpsuits. 

They’re chic but they can be as comfortable as pajamas. And best of all, they require almost no outfit planning or foresight. 

I swear the Jumpsuit Makers of America are not sponsoring this post. (Although if such an organization actually does exist, I would like to commend them and tell them that they’re absolutely killing it.)

There’s power in dressing up for your day, even if it’s spent entirely at home. From that perspective, this puppy has been the workhorse of my Shelter-in-Place closet. 

Jumpsuit // Shirt (similar) // Hat (similar) // Necklace (similar) // Boots

You throw it on and you go. 

It’s made of the softest fabric so you basically feel like you’re secretly rocking pajamas all day long.

In the Bay Area, things are starting to open up, and I’m not quite ready to go back to rocking jeans every day. So now I’m on the hunt for similar jumpsuits, rompers, and overalls to round out my WFH closet. Comfortable fabrics only need apply, thankyouverymuch.

A quick note on vocabulary if you’re as sartorially challenged as I am. The term ‘jumpsuit’ technically refers to the long-legged variety of onesies, while ‘rompers’ have shorts. And overalls are their own beast entirely, typically needing some sort of undershirt. (Ever the rebel, those overalls.) 

I’ve scoured the far corners of the internet to bring you the most comfortable onesies available, all in the name of elevating our collective WFH game. Or just in the hope that I can make your transitions back into the real world a litttttle more comfortable. 

Summer Jumpsuit Roundup 

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9

Do you have a summer jumpsuit you’re constantly reaching for? If so, drop a link in the comments. We’d love to see ’em (and wear them!)

The post Feeling the fashion blues? Here’s my one hack for looking effortlessly chic appeared first on The Vintage Rug Shop.

When we first bought our house, the backyard looked like this:

The previous owners of the home were big nature enthusiasts, and invested a lot of time and love into making the garden an oasis. They even hand-laid the brick path to represent a flowing stream.

I’m a firm believer in letting a house (and the land) speak to you. While we’ve slowly made improvements to our home over the last few years, we’ve pretty much left the backyard alone. 

As our kids have gotten older, we realized that it wasn’t really working for us–we needed to reassess the space and design it specifically around the needs of a family of four. 

So here’s what I was thinking for the backyard, pre-COVID: 

• Phase I: Ignore backyard completely. (Phase I was already wellllll underway.)
• Phase II: Get frustrated about our lack of usable space and throw together some patio furniture, a kiddie pool, string lights, and maybe even a fire pit. Call it a day and spend the summer(s) dreaming about giving the backyard a true makeover.
• Phase III: As part of our home’s 2-5 year renovation plan, do a complete overhaul of the backyard when we redo our kitchen and our addition.

But then… March happened. Well, 2020 happened.

Suddenly the backyard space went from being a total non-priority to “we gotta do something about this ASAP.” Even after the Shelter-in-Place is lifted, we realized that any safe social gatherings in our future would probably need to be outside.

Time to get creative… and dirty

Instead of scrapping the project entirely, we decided to get back to our DIY roots and tackle the project ourselves. Our goal was to maintain the nature-like charm of the space while opening up certain areas to be more usable for our family. More of a refresh than a makeover. 

First up? Creating an open, flat grass area for our kids to run around. 

My husband and I tackled it like weekend warriors. Working on the backyard became my new Sunday workout, with some late night Peloton workouts throw in there. Eventually, I bribed my brother to help out to help with the irrigation planning and manual labour, but I gotta say I’m a little addicted to the feeling of calluses on my hands from spending all day digging outside. Swinging a pick-axe through the air is mighty satisfying! 

Step 1: Clear it out

First we asked our gardeners if they could help clear the area of any weeds. Then we used flat shovels to clean out all of the bark and to level out the dirt. We relocated the dirt and bark to another area of the backyard but if that’s not an option I recommend asking neighbors if they need dirt. Your local waste management can also pick it up.

Step 2: Prep the area 

To prep for the irrigation, we took a pickaxe and shovels to carve out our trenches for the irrigation pipes. Irrigation trenches need to be 8-12” deep to code so there was a LOT of digging to do. 

Step 3: Add Irrigation 

For the pipes, we used 3/4″ PVC and placed five sprinkler heads around the perimeter of the lawn. We set our sprinkler system to go on in 3 phases so as to ensure there was enough water pressure when watering the lawn. 

Step 4: Fill it in 

Once we tested the sprinkler system, we filled in the trenches and leveled out the dirt. The pictures of this step aren’t all that interesting — it really just looks like a flattened pile of dirt. So please enjoy this photo of me enjoying my Pickaxe Workout (patent pending).

Step 5: Finish it off with sod 

Then we ordered our sod.

This area is partially shady and sunny throughout the day, so we wanted grass that is soft, yet hardy, can withstand both shade and direct sunlight, and also self repairs. A tall order indeed. This is the sod we went with, and so far it’s thriving!

Step 6: Style it out with what you’ve got on hand

I still have some big furniture plans for this area, but we’re rocking 2 sets of these cocoon chairs from Target right now. I scooped up a set last year, and then gifted myself another set for Mother’s Day this year. They’re that good. And they comfortably fit Olive’s little Frenchie body, myself, AND my two kids. Show me another chair that can do that.

Ready for that before and after? Here it goes…

Whewwww that before and after! It’s that much more satisfying when it’s birthed from your own blood, sweat, and tears. While it’s not necessarily the backyard of my dreams yet, our family is using the space on the daily now, and that’s exactly what we were going for.

In the coming months, I’d love to beautify the space, add some string lights, maybe a potted plant or two, and create a few more hangout zones. My husband has his eye on this fire pit from Lowe’s and I’m hoping to create al fresco dining area for those hot summer nights.

Cost breakdown of the project
~ $1126 total
~ $728 – sod (Link)
~ $398 – irrigation materials
~ 4 full days of labour, spread out over weekends

The post How I transformed our backyard with $1126 and a little help from my friends appeared first on The Vintage Rug Shop.

(Source)

I’ve written and rewritten this post at least a dozen times over the last week. 

In the past, I’ve reserved this space for “joyful” things. That was part of the reason why I stopped blogging last year. When I lost my mom and dad within 10 months of each other, it felt inauthentic to continue posting when I could barely get through the day. I told myself that people wanted cheerful posts about interiors, not personal dialogue unpacking grief and loss. 

I (wrongly) thought that politics fell into that same bucket. 

But after watching the events over the last two weeks, my eyes have been opened to the systematic and institutionalized racism that is terrorizing Black communities in this country. They are in agony. They are asking us–pleading with us-–to pay attention, to speak up, to join them in fighting for their lives.

It’s clear now: this isn’t a political issue. It’s a humanitarian one.

And it’s been going on right in front us for hundreds of years. White supremacy is woven into the very fabric of this country, and we are all complicit. As a white woman, I am just now understanding how true that statement is. I am waking up to the racial injustice that has been going on in front of me all along. I’m ashamed it took me this long, and I’m deeply sorry to my Black followers, friends, and partners for not being more vocal on these issues in the past. I was wrong. 

If you’d asked me a few months ago, I would have absolutely told you that I was an ally. In building my business, I’ve made a conscious effort to work with BIPOC partners — 33% of my vendors are BIPOC, and of this, 19% are Black. I’ve worked with many of the same vendors since I started my business in 2015, and a big part of what brings me joy as an entrepreneur is growing those relationships alongside my own business.

But I’ve fallen short. This is not enough. 

It’s not enough to be against racism. Going forward, I am committing myself to the work of becoming anti-racist. 

The Ongoing Work

To be an anti-racist is to actively commit to dismantling the structures and institutions that perpetuate racism. In order to truly make a difference, anti-racism work needs to be woven into every white person’s dialogue, actions, and thought patterns. Dismantling our broken systems–which rely on white supremacy–isn’t going to be easy. And this work needs to happen on every level, for every American. It starts with each of us.

After spending the last few weeks listening and learning (and frankly, unlearning), here’s where I’m at:

1. Pause, listen, and learn

• Seek first to understand — This is a time for action, but this is also a time to listen. Reading articles and thought pieces, following diverse voices, consuming media from people who don’t look exactly like me — this is key to enriching my understanding of the world with new points of view. And above all, when a Black person tells me about their lived experience in this world, I will believe them.
• Dedicating time and space to my own continuing re-education — Systematic racism, structural inequity, mass incarceration… these are complex topics. They’re going to take time to truly understand and unpack. I am committed to studying the complex systems of racism in our country through any means necessary. Though Black leaders have risen up to help lead the discussion, I know that ultimately this is my work to do and own.
• Recognizing and checking my own privilege — It’s important to acknowledge my privilege as a white woman in the white-dominated space of design. That doesn’t mean I haven’t had to struggle. It just means that my race has never been the reason I’ve felt pain. I want to bring that self-awareness into my work as a mother, designer, and as a business owner.

2. Move forward, even if it’s imperfectly

• Taking a stand is critical — Talking about these things publicly is critical. It de-stigmatizes the hard conversations we’re going to have to have with partners, with customers, with our employees, with our children, and families. It’s raw, and real and HARD. That’s why I’m sharing my process here with you, in the hope that it can help you with your own.
• This happens IRL — Much of this work will take place offline, in ongoing conversations with relatives, in the language I use with my children, and in how I commit to running my business going forward. While I’ve learned more from Instagram about racial injustice in the past two weeks than I ever thought I would, it’s important to carry that change out into my community and into my daily life. 

3. Keep going

• I’m going to get it wrong — Talking about racism is uncomfortable. But my discomfort will no longer take precedence over black lives. In diving deep into this work, I will likely stumble. But part of my commitment to be anti-racist is to show up, again and again. It’s about progress over perfection.
• The biggest impact on the cause is continual commitment — Protesting on the frontlines, voting, calling elected officials, engaging with local government, reading, educating, volunteering, donating, diversifying media consumption. I celebrate people in whatever way they’re able to show up right now, and we should all recognize that it’s going to be different for everyone. I will be investing time, resources and money in those areas that I can sustain over the long term and that I believe will bring the biggest impact to my local community.

My plan of action as a business owner

I believe design should be a refuge — inclusive for all, and encompassing of every human experience. In order for people to feel at home in this space, I am committed to building an equitable anti-racist organization. 

To put it simply: we at Britt Interiors and The Vintage Rug Shop stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, and will do everything in our power to dismantle the structures that support white supremacy in this country. 

Beyond that, we recognize our privilege and influence within our local community and social design spheres. We will use that privilege to engage deeply with anti-racism work, and to make it a core tenet of our business in how we buy, hire, and operate going forward.

Our public commitments to Anti-Racism

• We will support the work of Black artists, vendors, and manufacturers in sourcing for our design projects at Britt Interiors and for The Vintage Rug Shop. We are committed to conducting quarterly audits of where/how we are spending our money, and re-allocating to BIPOC businesses as necessary.
  • As of June 2020, 33% of our vendors are BIPOC, and of this, 19% are Black.
  • Over the next 2 years, we are committed to increasing this to 40% and 25% respectively.
• We will vet our partners and vendors, choosing to work with those that adhere to anti-racist policies.
• We aim to create a workplace environment that is conducive to conversations about race and culture. This will be a non-negotiable part of our quarterly planning, and we are proactively looking for ways to make this part of our continuous organizational learning as a team. These will not be one-off annual trainings, but ongoing discourse around how we can lean more into our identity as an anti-racist organization.
• As we grow our team, we will be aligning with hiring best practices focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. This policy also extends to our work with contractors and freelancers.
• We will use our platform to share and uplift Black voices and experiences. On the Britt Interiors blog and on our social channels, we will be focusing on creating content that amplifies the work of Black artists, makers, and creatives.
• We have a no tolerance policy on hateful and racist comments on our blog or social channels. If it is rooted in oppression, it is not an opinion, it is hate speech, and we will delete it in order to create a safer online space for BIPOC.
• We will be donating on a quarterly basis to local organizations fighting racial injustice.I acknowledge that I’m still learning (a privilege in and of itself), and so I plan to revisit and revise these policies as my team and I engage with this work more deeply.

It doesn’t stop here

While we’ll slowly start shifting back to design content here, I will not be moving on from this work or from these conversations as the news cycle turns over. This is just the start.  

Real, sustained change starts with each of us. And I’m going to do everything in my power to ensure that I continue this work in my own re-education, in crucial conversations with loved ones, and in running my business going forward. 

In that spirit, I would love to hear from each of you (via DM, email, comment, whatever is most comfortable). What is one thing you’ve learned in the last week? 

I’m here. I’m listening. 

The post My public commitments to fighting racial injustice appeared first on The Vintage Rug Shop.

Welcome to The Refresh! Every Wednesday I share the things that are getting me over the hump and through the week. And hey, Memorial Week was Monday, so today is basically Wednesday, right? RIGHT. 

1 // The kitchen tool that’s making dinner fun again

Anyone else feeling really bored with their go-to recipes? I’ve been looking for easy ways to spice up family dinner, but I’m scrapping the bottom of the barrel these days. 

Enter this Pizza Stone. Whenever I’m feeling uninspired, I declare it to be Pizza Night, and we get some handmade pizzas going on the grill. The pizza stone gives the crust that perfect fired taste. My husband loves an excuse to fire up the BBQ and my kids love playing with weird topping combinations. And I’m off the hook! 

2// How Katie Couric, a CEO, and a therapist are dealing right now 

Newsletters are the new blog, amiright? Girls Night In started as a newsletter and has now grown into a full-on media empire of articles centered on self-care, mental wellbeing, and interviews with badass women. I’m loving their May series, “How Do I Deal?” which goes “a few layers deeper as we learn how to manage all the grief hope, whiplash, fear, anxiety, and sadness we may be feeling in this moment and beyond.” Check out this article to see how 6 women are answering that burning question. I also loved this one, which outlines some much-needed rabbit holes to fall into if you’re in need of a good fluffy distraction.

3 // Fashion trend alert: smocked detailing

Adding things to my virtual shopping cart is my version of Shelter-In-Place window shopping. And I’m loving all of the smocked detailing out there!  

Right now I’m really feeling this jumpsuit and this shirt. Long live the modern renaissance vibe! 

4// Is it time for a challenge?

In that same vein, I’m contemplating doing a fashion challenge to get off that yoga pants/stretchy jeans train. (Although it certainly is a very comfy train!) My friend Shira Gill is doing a 10×10 challenge, creating 10 different looks in 10 days using 10 items. Maybe it’s time for me to do the same.

Skirt (similar) // Shirt // Shoes (similar)

5 // On taking the time you need to notice, think and grow

Jenny Odell is an Oakland-based artist and writer of the NYT bestselling book, How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy. Full disclosure: a friend gave her book to me last year, but I haven’t had time to dive into it. I know, the irony is not lost on me. 

But I loved this interview with her on how her creative process has shifted, the joys of birdwatching, and what being productive in a pandemic actually means. 

6 // All that glitters

I’ve been rocking this paperclip chain necklace lately, and I keep getting questions about it! #flattering

I got mine from my friend over at House of Talula, but I’m seeing similar styles at Nordstrom and Etsy. ALLSAINTS has some really funky chunky necklaces that I’m thinking about layering in.

7 // A peek at our bestselling items

We just wrapped up our Memorial Day Sale over on the Vintage Rug Shop, and here are the top 3 bestsellers by a landslide:

`1 Migration  // 2 Berkeley Table Lamp // 3 Brass Pepper Mill and Brass Salt Mill

8// The sweetest thing

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: Bakesale Betty is my all-time comfort food. And the Vintage Rug Shop storefront just happens to be right next door to their bakery. While you can still pick up pies on weekends (check their Instagram for details), I’ve been craving a slice of their banana bread all week.

Well today THEY ARE FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES!! No big deal. NYT doing a roundup of at-home recipes from beloved restaurants all around the country and Bakesale Betty’s Cinnamon Crunch Banana Bread is front and center. I think I know what I’m making this weekend.

The post The Refresh vol.4: Coping mechanisms via Katie Couric, our Memorial Day bestsellers, and a sweet surprise appeared first on The Vintage Rug Shop.

When I posted my favorite indoor trees a couple of weeks ago, many of you reached out and asked where I source large indoor planters. It’s often pretty easy to find unusual or funky indoor pots for smaller plants, but I’ve really had to scour the internet for larger indoor planters that still feel, well, pretty. And as a self-professed obsessive plant mama, I only want the most stylish outwear for my growing babies. They deserve it! 

The right plant + planter combo can really transform a space. So today, I’m giving up the goods and rounding up some of my favorite large and in charge planters. 

My hack for happy plants

I often find that bigger planters don’t have a drainage hole. So instead of repotting my tree directly into the planter—running the risk of root rot—I keep it in the plastic planter, which has multiple drainage holes. Then I use the more decorative planter as a cachepot. This little hack also means that you can easily size up on your plastic planter over time as your tree grows. 

Just make sure you line the bottom of your large planter with a plastic tray to catch any water overflow! 

Large Basket Indoor Planters

First up: the humble basket. There’s nothing like the texture of a good weave, and I love the way it brings a little organic flavor to a room.

Large Indoor Planters (15-18”+)

Up next, indoor planters in the 15-18 inch range. Number three is actually a Target find that’s so nice I bought it twice. It’s currently housing my new Ficus Alii and one of my Fiddles.

Extra Large Indoor Planters (18″+)

I’m all about extra large foliage, especially if you’re blessed with heigh ceilings. And extra large trees require planters with a larger footprint.

The post Roundup: The best large (but cute!) indoor planters for trees appeared first on The Vintage Rug Shop.

Welcome to The Refresh! Every Wednesday I share the things that are getting me over the hump and through the week. 

1 // Trend alert: Curves for days

Arches have been #trending for awhile now, and I’m still here for it. Last week, I shared the arched canopy bed that has me head over heels. And we’ve been rocking a curved wall mirror in our soon-to-be-complete master suite. (Similar here and here.) 

But now, I’m seeing curved lines everywhere. It’s not just doorways anymore, folks. Candle holders, styling objects, and planters are jumping on the arch train. 

2 // Pan-decorating is here, y’all. I’m not alone!

Two weeks into Shelter in Place, I redid my entryway, finalized plans for our bathroom renovation, and started blogging again (hi!). What can I say? I process by doing. And now that Vox has declared that pan-decorating is A Thing, I feel somewhat vindicated.

3 // The Chia Pet gets a chic upgrade

Remember Chia Pets? Well, the Terraplanter takes that idea to a whole new hydroponic level. And it vaguely reminds me of our Alexa.

4 // Cottagecore as the ultimate escapism

Do you follow @HillHouseVintage? Because you should. Her idyllic life in the English countryside is just the form of escapism I need right now. Loved this profile of her in the NYT where she discusses her former life as a fashion editor, accidental stardom, and finding joy in Victorian button-back chairs.

5 // My new Sunday night ritual

I’ve been more religious about my weekly skincare routine and my skin feels amazing after a facial steam–squeaky clean and fully refreshed.

6 // My weirdest (but best?!) quarantine purchase so far

I love bacon as much as the next carnivore, but in our house, it’s usually reserved for the occasional Sunday morning since it’s such a production. But I purchased this bacon-making tool on a whim last week and WOW. It’s legit the easiest, quickest way to make bacon. And there’s zero mess or grease to speak of.

I know I sound like an infomercial, but the world NEEDS TO KNOW.

7 // Last but not least: A sale!

To give a little extra sweetness to your three day weekend, we’re doing a Memorial Day Sale over on The Vintage Rug Shop! Use Code SUNSHINE at checkout for 20% off of your entire purchase! (Exclusions apply)

The post The Refresh vol.3: Chia pets, cottagecore, and my weirdest quarantine purchase so far appeared first on The Vintage Rug Shop.

Almost a year to the day, we broke ground on the build out of the Vintage Rug Shop storefront. Though I shared a little peek of the process on the blog, I was going a hundred miles a minute in that season of life, balancing ongoing home renovations, client projects, and the store opening. 

Looking back, it was a hell of a project, and one I’m still incredibly proud of. We built out the entire space in a little under three months. Tight timeline? Check. Designing a whole home experience, complete with living room, kitchenette, and bedroom? Check, check and check. 

It was an dust-filled, nail-biting couple of months before we opened those doors, but I’d be lying if I said the thrill-seeker in me didn’t love every dang minute. 

Today I wanted to dive a little deeper into how we found the space, the design process, and some lessons learned.

Sometimes you just need a literal sign to push you in the right direction

Let me take you back to February of last year. Just a few days after my dad passed away, I was riding in a school bus with my son’s class on a field trip. As we drove through downtown, I saw a man putting up a ‘for lease’ sign in the window of a building I’ve always loved. 

Only three months prior, I had quit my corporate job to take The Vintage Rug Shop full-time, but I was already starting to feel the itch to do something even bigger. When I originally drew up my five year plan for Britt Interiors, I had planned to open a retail/office location in year 2-3. A physical storefront was the horizon, but definitely not on my radar–until that moment. 

One of the ways I deal with grief is putting my body and mind into motion, and that for-lease sign was the match that lit the flame. Side note: you’d think that the terrifying state of my home office would’ve been the tipping point, but I had managed to willfully ignore that for months. 

After the field trip was over, I hopped into my car and drove all around town, writing down the addresses of each available retail location I could find. I spent the next few days putting together my business plan and fine-tuning my financial projections. The creative in me is all about throwing caution to the wind and following my gut, but the finance nerd loves a good financial forecast. It’s all about balance, baby. 

Hitting the pavement is still the best way to scout for store locations

That whole driving around town thing? I was surprised to learn that was really the most effective way to find lease locations for the store. There are sites like Loopnet but not all available retail locations are publicly listed. More often than not, they are listed directly by the owners, many of whom prefer to work directly with the potential renter. That’s actually the case with the space I’m in now–and I doubt he would have chosen to work with me if I’d been communicating through a broker.

Trust the process

Then, I began negotiations on what I thought was my dream retail space. Ultimately, after an extremely painful and lengthy back and forth with the property broker (a story for another day), it fell through. I was gutted. To drown my sorrows I went to grab lunch at Bakesale Betty’s in Oakland–one of my all-time favorite comfort food stops. As I got in line, I noticed the space right next door to her was for lease. WHAT. I nearly dropped my keys–and my phone.

So, sandwich in hand, I dialed the number on the sign with shaking hands. The landlord answered after only a few rings. I told him I was interested in the space for my brick and mortar location, and he paused and asked, “Any chance you’re available to see it right now?” 

Five minutes later, I was touring the space. Every fiber of being knew that this was it.

The building has had an interesting history. It was an Aikido Studio for 15 years, then a fitness studio for a couple years after that. What was previously a mirrored wall had been taken down to the studs. Quite frankly, it was a hot mess. But it was my hot mess. 

After an anxious few weeks, I finally got the call that we had secured the space, and on May 1st 2019, we broke ground on the project.

You won’t regret investing in flooring

The floors were a mix of asbestos tiles, rugged concrete, and plywood. One of the biggest investments we put into the space was installing hardwood floors throughout. I remember my stomach flipping when we got the original estimate. But I knew solid oak floors would complete the look of the store. We had to do it. 

I went with Build Direct because they sell final runs of beautiful hardwoods at a more affordable cost—almost like the Nordstrom Rack of flooring, ha.

Pre-COVID, not a day went by without a customer stopping to admire and compliment the flooring. And truly, has anyone ever said they regret investing in a quality hardwood? Nope. My beautiful rug babies love it. 

A fresh coat of paint–and new wall detailing–does wonders

We all know this to be true. Well, all of us except for the people on HGTV’s House Hunters. 

We went with my favorite white, Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace, on all of the walls. We also choose vertical paneling across the back wall and behind the cash wrap to create a neutral but textured backdrop. 

Leaning into the existing architecture

From the beginning, I knew that I wanted the store to feel like walking into a home, with distinct spaces for a living room, a bedroom, and a kitchenette.

When we did the first walkthrough, there was a wall cutout that had lived a previous life as a bulletin board. It was in a sorry-looking state, with shedding bits of paper and cork. My contractor suggested we fill it in, but I wanted to maintain some of the quirks of the original building, and knew it could be the right dimensions for the store’s kitchenette display. 

I had this vision of creating a backsplash and installing a floating shelf in the center and got to work designing the cabinetry with our cabinet maker. 

This was the first rendering I did for him. I actually love the way it turned out even better than the original design. That backsplash is Cle Zellige Tile in weathered white, and yes, it was love at first sight.

We also kept the original window added by the former tenants. All we did was paint the wood trim black, and it was ready to rock. It means we have filtered light pouring all day long from multiple directions–aka every photographer’s dream.

Selecting a paint color? It’s always all about the lighting

I agonized over the colors for the kitchenette. Originally I was planning on a blue or black palette, but nothing specific was really calling to me, and my favorite color fallbacks just weren’t working in the space. So I got ten different samples from Farrow & Ball, painted them on scraps of wood and leaned them against the kitchenette wall, desperately hoping one of them would pop. 

The kitchenette sits directly under a massive skylight, which I didn’t really account for in the color selection process. In that saturated light, all of the darker colors looked straight black, and all of the shades of blue looked too bright. Wayyyy too much pop. 

But was on a deadline and had to deliver paint to my cabinet maker. So I went to the paint store to order my paint, hoping along the way I would just make a decision. But instead, I spent an hour in the paint store, holding samples of muddier colors, instead of the blues and blacks I had samples of. 

Then, on a whim, I picked up Salon Drab, which was far muddier–like, nearly brown–than any of the original colors. And that was it. 

I didn’t even get a sample, I just went with it! Life on the edge, designer edition.

The Before’s, The After’s and everything in between

We love a shiny before and after around here (who doesn’t?), but I specifically wanted to include the messy progress shots. As a designer, I often find those to be the most inspiring. When a project is at that near-complete, construction zone of crazy, I always have one of those, “Is this really going to all come together?” moments. But it always does.

Next week I’ll be sharing some more details on the buildout of the storefront, including our most Instagrammed wall, our cash wrap, and our open shelving. See you back here for round two!

The post Before, during, after: How I designed the storefront kitchenette appeared first on The Vintage Rug Shop.

Welcome to The Refresh! Every Wednesday I share the things that are getting me over the hump and through the week.

1 // Dealing with negativity on the internet

Elsie and Emma of A Beautiful Mess, aka the undisputed Internet Queens of DIY and OG bloggers, had a frank conversation on their podcast about the perils of making your private life public. I’ve been following these two sisters since their early days, and it was really refreshing to hear how they process negativity, criticism, and feedback. 

2 // This article about the false promise of a chick-flick-worthy kitchen 

After the first installment of The Refresh last week, I got a ton of DM’s about the two kitchen island choice à la Nancy Meyers. And then THIS article popped up on my feed. 

The author had the same question as I did (TWO Kitchen Islands?!) and unpacks that with two of her friends–who she refers to in the article as “Friend Who Has The Best Taste of All My Friends” and “My Rich Friend, Whose Kitchen Is Actually Bigger and Better Than Nancy Meyers’s, and also has Two (kitchen) Islands.”

It’s worth a read if you have any feelings at all about the seemingly pristine kitchens that serve as backdrops to our favorite shows and movies. I’m looking at you, Big Little Lies. 

3 // Daniel Radcliffe will read Harry Potter to you–ahem–to your kids

J.K. Rowling just launched “Harry Potter at Home,” which aims to brings the Wizarding World to a new generation of at-home readers. Each week, a new chapter of the first book drops, with a new celebrity narrator. The first chapter is read by none other than our very own Daniel Radcliffe aka ‘Arry Potter, the Boy Who Lived.

Watch here for the video version or on Spotify for the audio-only. Audible is also offering the first Harry Potter audiobook for everyone for free!

4 // These seasonal wreaths are my new go-to housewarming gift

I’ve been looking for a way to brighten up our front door now that our entryway is looking fresh as fuhhhh.
And Google led me to this family-run farm in Santa Cruz that sends handcrafted wreaths straight to your door. They even offer subscriptions for those who are looking to switch it up every season. 

I’m a firm believer in buying yourself flowers every once in a while, and these feel like the designer version of that self-care practice–plus they age beautifully! I have a similar lavender one hanging in my bathroom and it’s still looking/smelling pretty dang good, considering it’s a few months old.

I think they’d make for a perfect hostess or housewarming gift–especially if you’re trying to send well wishes from afar. 

5 // Virtually touring (and voting on!) every space in Apartment Therapy’s Small/Cool Contest

Apartment Therapy brought back their annual Small/Cool Contest, and I’m having a blast perusing and voting on all of the contestants. Retro boho to desert chic to whimsical and weird–every possible style is represented! It’s a good primer on how to best maximize your space, even if you’re living in more than 1000 square feet.

6 // Playing the oldest known board game

I’ve never been much of a puzzle or games person, but I’ve recently gotten into backgammon in a big way. My brother has a vintage set that has marble chips and beautiful leather detailing that we’ve been using. And now, of course, I’m on the hunt for my own. 

Turns out, there are thousands of beautiful backgammon boards to choose from. You gotta love Etsy–and Johnathon Adler.

7 // The margarita mix that tastes like pre-COVID cruise

As part of my ongoing campaign to Make Weekends Actually Feel like Weekends, I’ve been whipping up craft cocktails on Fridays and this margarita mix has been on regular rotation. A little tequila, triple sec, and Tommy’s blended smooth! You can’t go wrong.

8 // Lastly–A plea to Moms everywhere

Since losing my mom last year, Mother’s Day has a bittersweet hue. It’s important to us that our kids remember their grandparents, and so we’ve tried as a family to use this as an opportunity to honor the memory of my mom and Antonio’s mom. But I don’t have any photos of my mom with my kids, and only a handful of my dad and my kids. And in going through my mom’s things, it gutted me to realize that we have shockingly few photos of my mom. She was usually the one working in the background to wrangle us all and take the photo.

So, here is my impassioned plea to parents (and specifically moms) everywhere: Take photos of your kids, sure. But take photos with your kids.

I was talking about this with my girlfriend Carly the other day and I think the biggest hurdle for most parents is purely logistical–it can be tough to find someone to take a picture of the whole family. I sent her a link to my favorite tripod and phone holder, and now I’m passing it on to all of you. Get out there and take some family photos with you in them! Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

The post The Refresh vol.2: armchair critics, the false promise of a perfect kitchen, your new hostess gift appeared first on The Vintage Rug Shop.

It’s been over a year since we finished Phase 1 of our Master Suite. 

We knocked down a wall, lifted the foundation, paneled the ceiling, de-oranged the wood beams, finished the floor, and even built out a reading nook. 

Whew. Looking back (and writing that all out), it was an ambitious project, but now we’re on the final stretch. For real this time. 

Since then, it’s been living a second life as a multi-functional rec room. It’s our office space, our gym, and the kids’ play area when they’re wiling out the Wiggles. It even served as The Vintage Rug Shop’s unofficial headquarters/stock room for the six months leading up to the store opening. 

We plan to fully move into this room once the bathroom is finally complete, which (fingers crossed!) should be in the next couple of months. I got word last week that we’re officially next in line on our contractors schedule. 

Now that the end is in sight, it’s finally time to draw up design boards. Aka my favorite part of any project. Pining and planning for this space has truly been a balm for my interiors-loving soul. 

A clean palette

We plan to keep the reading nook as well as the Peloton in the room, which leaves only one natural spot for the bed—in the center in the room under the vaulted ceiling. 

Three beds, three designs

Since we’re playing with such gorgeous high ceilings, my head goes straight to beds with a lot of WOW factor and that can take up some visual height. Specifically, canopy beds. 

Who hasn’t daydreamed of owning a canopy bed? It’s got serious sleep swag, and I’ve always wondered if they sleep as great as they look. I don’t want to go too overboard on the whimsy as it’s just not my thing, and so I’m leaning towards a cleaner, more traditional silhouette. 

So last night, after a Pinterest frenzy, I whipped up three different design directions based on the epic canopy beds I found and the rugs I have stashed away.

Design Direction # 1: Moody Sophisticate

Bed // Nightstands // Sconces // Sofa // Rug

This bed!! I cannot with this bed. It certainly brings the drama, but it’s got this element of sophistication that I just can’t shake. The steel frame would play so well with the arc mirrors going up in our master bath.

Design Direction #2: Eclectic California Staycation

Bed // Nightstands // Lamps // Sofa // Rug (similar)

Sometimes it’s tough for canopy beds to escape their association with tropical locales. Here, the white oak frame and clean modern lines are perfect for that laid-back California interior scene which I heart so much, without being too Swiss Family Robinson. I think it pairs well with the classic shape of these nightstands from The Vintage Rug Shop.

Design Direction #3: Chic Parisian hotel

Bed // Lamps // Sofa // Rug

This one has me thinking of an old school cool hotel room somewhere in France. It’s hard to resist the classic silhouette of that sleek four poster bed. But are we playing it too safe with this option? It’s definitely the most tame of the bunch. Those nightstands are launching over on the Vintage Rug Shop soon, and the moment I laid eyes on them, I knew I wanted to find a way to work them into my own home.

What do you think?

If you had to pick, which bed would you choose? I’m leaning hard towards choice #1 but also feel the classic look of #3. It’s possible I’m entering into one of those zones where I’ve stared at my options for juuuuust a little too long.

The post One room, three canopy beds: Our Master Suite Dilemma appeared first on The Vintage Rug Shop.