5/31/10

Memorial Day Theme - Divide And Conquer

So while our friend, Brad, was in town this weekend we took him to Charley's Flea Market to see about some more chairs for the coffee shop he's about to open. The whole family went after having lunch at Gailey's which meant Sebastian had spent the entire time chatting up the ladies behind the counter while they made his pancakes and refilled his chocolate milk. He loves those "ma'ams" - what he calls anyone in the retail/food/airline, etc industries. Anyway, he was a little high on pancake syrup and chocolate milk but really I act about the same when we step into Charley's. This trip was no exception as my favorite vendor had a few new pieces rotating through.

I was barking orders (nicely) left and right for Brett to grab tags and watch Sebastian and fan me at the same time. Well not the fanning part. I was trying to keep my cool about so many great things that were suddenly available so that I didn't make a rash purchase or lose my son or track of time as I had to be somewhere and I just needed a cool breeze....it was one of those trips. Thankfully we managed to figure out the most fabulous record player I've ever seen did, in fact, not work before the no return policy left us with a piece of useless furniture. Brett took care of the two chairs above while I watched Sebastian as he poured water and skittles from styrofoam cup to styrofoam cup in the parking lot. We got home in one piece and Brad even found some chairs!

These mid-century chairs need some new covers and maybe a cute pillow or two but their bones are great and they are the perfect small-medium size for our small-ish living room. The orange one isn't as bright as in the photos and the brown-ish one is a swivel chair. They aren't from the same line, obviously, but their shapes are almost the same and will be easy enough to reupholster (crosses fingers) with a little help from YouTube. We'll see! The above photo was taken this morning after I borrowed our friend's truck to pick up the chairs as well as Sebastian's bed frame and mattresses. He was climbing over everything in only his underwear and I have very fond memories of doing the exact same thing when I was little on moving days.

Thanks to our generous friends who are making space for their two new children, we are the recipients of a like-new full size mattress, box springs, and metal frame! I went out today to pick up a set of sheets, bed skirt, and knit throw to keep him covered until his birthday quilt is finished and got sentimental about this small little rite of passage. We said goodbye to his toddler bed and made a big deal all day about how great his new bed was and had a little extra story time to make sure he went to sleep in his new environment with happy feelings. The next part is deciding on a headboard and locating one to finish the look. It'll happen.

I doodled an art journal page about two months ago about all the things I wanted (realistically) for our current house, half expecting that I'd go without for awhile. I saw it again today and showed Brett that all but two of about nine haven't made their way to our house! Isn't that fantastic! Including the two vintage chairs today, I had also drawn a spindled bench, a garden, a tree swing, new green grass to fill in our old flower bed, a wooden play kitchen, and an art piece for Ruby's space! It makes me happy to know that there are ways to make your home an enjoyable place to live, reflective of who you are, and mostly filled with things you love if you put energy into looking for things and getting your hands a little dirty. And it doesn't take a lot of money! Now, if only it would keep itself clean...

xoxo,
Rachel
p.s. I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Brett got to shoot a canon off at a service at a local cemetery and had about ten kids ask him what kind of guns they were carrying.
p.p.s. That sure was chatty!

19 comments:

pinksuedeshoe said...

Those chairs are seriously awesome. I love that feeling of freaking out when you find something great! Sounds like a great day :o)

Roxanne said...

That was chatty, lady! And I loved it! Glad to hear you had such a wonderful weekend; I can't wait to see your fabric choices for the chairs!

Kristin Ryan said...

I always love reading your posts. You make the idea of having a family seem wonderful. :)

Anonymous said...

Love those chairs!

Love that Sebastian calls women "ma'ams" and enjoys wandering and climbing in his undies. (My 9yo son is finally getting over the need the wander the house in his drawers!)

Love that you were able to easily create so many wonderful additions to your home.

Love you and your gentle spirit!

Sarah Rhodes said...

this post is SO GOOD! so inspiring! and I love your writing style! :) Congrats on good finds- it's one of the best feelings!

Lexi said...

LOVE the chairs! Just had a funky, old orange chair found for $7.50 recovered in black and white houndstooth! So fun finding cheap, cool chairs and giving them a facelift :)

Holly said...

I just did a post about chairs that I want for my new place and tub style chairs were on it. Love these, especially the brown one :) Great find!

Big Yellow Dog said...

What a great post. You're posts really do give inspiration that your home can be made reflective of your personality and family without alot of money.
Margaret

me said...

How wonderful that your home is coming together the way you want it! I'm slowly working on mine too. I always enjoy your posts :)
Please check out The Gratitude Project- An Expression of Thanks at http://4get-regret.blogspot.com/2010/05/gratitude-project.html

lili est folle said...

seriously, these chairs are awesome, especially the orange!! i adore it!!

m said...

Loving those chairs - super cute. Your blog is just super cute too. Michelle ;o)

Unknown said...

LOVE those chairs!! what a great find!

Cheray Natalie... said...

Those chairs are amazing!! What a find!
Also great that you managed to get all the things from your list - I need to post a winter to-do list and get a move on! :)
x

Anonymous said...

Amazing finds. At first I thought they were going to go into your friend's café. That would have been nice as well. If the orange one isn't stained or worn, I would keep it as-is. But I love orange, and I know it's not everyone's favorite... :)

Unknown said...

*phew* what a great post! Love the chairs, love the climbing in underwear, love that your house is becoming more and more a home!!

Anonymous said...

I love that orange chair rachel-how rad!
And i'm a bog time planner and list maker, I'm always writing down what I need to do or want to have happen. Makes me feel more organized.
Ta!

Katie said...

those chairs are terrific finds - and great job on subconsciously tackling your list, i love when that happens!

Alicia said...

Those chairs are really great! Please keep us posted on the reupholstering if you can! I'd love to see your process, I know they're going to turn out great!

Gypsy Sparrow said...

those are great chairs! hope your youtubing upholstering goes well!
<3 clare