Keeping the old with the new.

As mentioned numerous times before, I am a firm believer of mixing and matching different styles to create your own. Modern with traditional, hollywood regency with retro, the more layers you add the more complete a room looks. Another thing to keep in mind is old vs. new. This is a great way to make a home that looks more lived-in instead of like a page straight out of a magazine. For those that don't care for thrift stores or antiques, there are plenty of designers and stores out there to help create that casual, cozy, lived-in-all-my-life feel that makes a room feel rich, full of history and inspired.

Here is some design inspiration from one of those old looking but new furniture stores, World Market.

Part One: Serenity Now

Well, it's been one of those weeks so if you're just reading for the design inspiration, be sure to skip to the last paragraph. Trust me.

I now officially have way too much time on my hands to think. About everything. And anything. And it's is driving me crazy. To the point where I feel like running around like Frank Costanza screaming "Serenity Now, Serenity Now!" I am trying to put that energy toward something a little more constructive like this blog, a crossword, a walk, a book, etc. but somehow keep coming up short. I am actually in the process of reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (great read by the way) and am at the part where she begins her stint at an Ashram in India. I have to say, I could not be reading this at a better time because she just flipped out about not being able to meditate like everyone else because she can't stop thinking. Then she gets in a fight with herself about thinking when she shouldn't be thinking... and the frustration is at an all-time high. 

I thought to myself, "You go, girl. I am totally in that same boat (minus the meditation)." For some reason, it is so easy to feel helpless, get distracted, become lazy or lack motivation to do something (just look at my craft nook). And, without fail, all of those factors end up leading you toward frustration - oh, sweet mother of frustration - the hardest feeling to turn around into something positive. This, in case you haven't noticed, is currently where I'm at.

Never one to "get in touch with my true inner being", "solve problems through meditation" or "follow the light to find the meaning of life", I've decided to take a more surface level approach and give myself a new mantra to live by. And no, I haven't a clue what I was living by before this but I'm pretty sure it was closer to Frank Constanza's way of dealing with things. Inspired by the serenity prayer and a little bit of how not to act like Frank, I've decided on the simple five word one "it is what it is". 

To kick off this newfound way of thinking, I've decided to ask myself a question about my personal style:

If you were to choose three things you feel encapsulates the current style of your home what would they be? Mine: earth tones/patterns, vintage/retro and... cluttered.

photos from my home

What are yours? I would say that this point would be the realization of what you have to work with and the starting point for determining your personal style.

Let's play telephone.

Staying on the subject of antiques, I fell in love with some of the antique phones that were on display. If you are one of those people that still has a land line, you might as well go all out with an uber retro style. It's a little more stylish to display and a lot more fun to dial. Here are some phones I saw at The Grand Antique Mall that almost made me want to get a home phone. 

I also ran across an incredible telephone booth that, if I were redecorating an office, would totally incorporate into the design. It could serve as a place where clients could go to take a phone call, hold informational books a la the phone booth libraries or even an doorway into a conference room. 

Location Spotlight: The Grand Antique Mall

Feeling down in the dumps one day, my boyfriend thought that the perfect way to cheer me up was to head out the the Grand Antique Mall. Honestly, I was a little skeptical at first but went along with it because he's never steered me in the wrong direction before. As soon as we walked into the building, I was immediately overwhelmed with excitement. As seen in the pictures below, the overall decor of the building is not much to look at (unless you like clutter and pegboard) but the treasures that are displayed are absolutely gorgeous.

The mall is set up with 4-5 primary aisles that are thousands of feet long and hold numerous booths that contain anything from side tables to Nancy Drew books. Each booth is designated a specific collector and they can display the antiques however they would like. As mentioned earlier, it seems as though everyone's decided on throwing as many things as possible in the space and hoping for someone to dig out what they'd like. The prices are not yard sale-esque, but if you go in there looking to make an investment, you will not be disappointed.

Along with furniture and home decor, the place is filled with jewelry, purses, hats and clothes that will keep you searching for days. Sharing a love of vintage... well... everything, I took my friend Steph there a couple of weeks later to enjoy the eye candy. Here are some of my favorites. I apologize but I did not get a close up of the price or the vendor for purchase. 

A few things that would look great in an entryway. As mentioned in an earlier post, it is the first impression so you need to make a statement.

Some amazing sofas and chairs that don't even need to be reupholstered! Incorporate into your current living room arrangement to get that eclectic style that gets talked about.

DIY OPP: Sand, prime and spray paint any of these side tables a bright color (coral, aqua, lime green, etc.) to add some excitement to an otherwise neutrally designed room. Use that color as a guide when picking out throw pillows, artwork and other miscellaneous accessories to tie the room together.

A gorgeous TV console with timeless details neutral enough to go with any style. A very lengthy piece, position along a bare wall, hang or stand your TV in the center and pair with some artwork to help make your media center a beautiful composition.

Some miscellaneous pieces that can breathe life and add character to any room. I would use the library card file as a jewelry and hairpiece organizer, make the suitcase into a shelf and use the barstools for a kitchen island.