Four score and seven months ago…
I decided upon my first furniture DIY.
Reclaimed wood.
Hairpin leg.
Bench.
Inspired via The Stir and Kriselkeeper.
Which were inspired via Julianne Moore’s George Nakashima coffee table via Remodelista.
And later via The Brick House.
***No Starbucks Via were harmed during production of this post.
The DIY benches as listed cost around $100.
I knew we could do better.
Months passed- carts were filled on hairpinlegs.com, but never purchased. Ebay bids were made-fruitlessly.
I just really didn’t want to spend much money on this bench. But I had to have the bench. I purchased a runner at Ikea to place under the bench. Which lay, spot holding, in the dining room. Mocking me.
Finally, a weekend trip to one of my favorite vintage modern spots found—–
An $18 hairpin leg ottoman. The same day, a drive down the street found—– an abandoned pile of wood waiting for a pickup that was probably never coming.
A good dig, and one dirty, bug infested 12′ plank later we headed home to construct our bench.
We scrubbed the wood with steel wool and various cleaners and left it out overnight to reveal any creepy crawlies.
The legs were harvested from the rad yet sad paint splattered red vinyl ottoman.
Uh oh. Removal of the vinyl revealed the legs were embedded and glued into the wood underneath. No little feet. No screws. So the wood from the ottoman had to come with and become part of the bench.
We attached the chunky wood hairpin leg corners with shiny industrial looking L brackets from The Home Depot for a few bucks, rounding out cost at completion to around $25. I win.
Bench Fin.
Hairpin Leg Bench.
A Life Full of Saturdays.
Interiorious Monstrous
I have been Goodwill shopping three times in the last week. My mid-century sofa has yet to show itself.
I can wait mid-century sofa. I am patient. You will lose.
I have a new obsession with the color white, or non color if you will. Will you?
Recently, I can’t stop wanting white stuff. Clean. Clear. Uncluttered (lolz.) Whiteness.
White objects. White linens. White paint.
Super white stuff doesn’t blend very well when your home design aesthetic up to this point has included a vintage, lodge, farmstyle color palette.
But.
One day I shall drink scotch with the Eames’, Eero Saarinen, Florence Knoll, and Harry Bertoia at my barn studio in upstate NY.
Baby steps.
I realized this morning my new fixation has been building for some time. Over the last year my closet has been overtaken by a row of assorted, soft, worn in white t-shirts. All white, all the time. White t-shirt jeans blazer uniform=me.
My point is.
I need to pay more attention to what my closet is trying to tell me. Maybe you should too.
Chew on that for a while.
I’ll chew on biscuits with white cheddar cheese.
Love Jwoww
My valentines! Head on over to Kate Spade for some radness in your heart, and then send that radness via free ecard to the ones you love.
Summer time thoughts on Fall 1.0
Oh by golly! Good to see you again my fluffy lil Biscuits!
I’m sorry to have neglected you for so long, but can we talk?
First, a request. Please stop wearing cargo shorts. Why? Tell me why you need all those pockets? Are you transporting cargo? Are you a carpenter? Are you camping? If you answered no to these questions just take them off. Right now. They’re unnecessary. Dont worry! Old Navy will find another way to stay in business if you stop buying them. They’ll always have fleece.
With that out of the way I really want to talk about Fall. I realize it’s the middle of August and most of us are still poolside, maybe stomping it out on the town bare legged in five inch heels…But it’s coming!! Fall! I can feel it riding in on the the breeze. And before you think I’m getting poetic-I really jus wanna talk about boots and jackets and cardis and scarves and stuff!!
Boots. You must own a ferosh ankle boot. You must. This is non negotiable. I love Elizabeth and James. Mostly on sale Elizabeth and James. And I don’t care if they look like mon chi chis (you know who you are) them Olsens got style.
Mon chi chi style.
The twins added footwear to the line last Spring, and Fall is on pre order now at Saks. It includes many hawt ankle boots.
My staple ankle boot is a great Seychelles number similar to this in brown. Whether it’s with tights, leggings, jeans, skirts, dresses, or trousers; the ankle boot is your versatile friend for fall. Do it.
FB, you ask, what other shoes can’t you live without in the coming season?
Definitively, my Fryes. These would be my one chosen item in a deserted island scenario. Had them forever, will always. Nothing says classic like a boot that’s been around since 1863. My mother had a blonde pair in the seventies that she got rid of. I still haven’t forgiven her.
My final shoe thought for Fall is one that may scare some of you off in a saddle shoed penny loafered child kind of way. For the boho hipster crowd that remains…2007 saw the return of the oxford for women as a chunky heel. The last couple years, I was turned off. It seemed an oxford heel could go from Anthropologie romance to Wet Seal street walker very quickly. Twas a slippery nineties slope. However, this Fall I’m singing a different tune. In 2009 the oxford has lost its heel, kept the laces, and returned to its roots as a flat wingtip style shoe. I’m on board, and not just because I have a pair of green Hush Puppies in my closet that have needed a spin since 1997 (lies- I wore them last fall ). An alternative to flats, this shoe gives women a no fuss, comfortable, easy shoe decision. Its hot in an Annie Hall kind of way. Top Shop has some classic and colorful options.
Even the Princess is in on the act:
Ri Ri does the oxford.
Well, I’m exhausted. Don’t forget what it means to be a part of this relationship and stay tuned for thoughts on Fall 2.0. Until then…
Peace Luv and Biscuits,
Jess
PS Jeff Lewis, PR, Rachel Zoe.
