Brimfield finds: Vintage wallpaper and paisley tapestry

I went to Brimfield last weekend. Brimfield comes three times a year: May, July and September. The last one is my favorite, because I think you can get better deals. Plus the September weather usually beats July or May.

I don't really need anything. Especially not four rolls of vintage wallpaper. But I love the pattern, and before I knew it, it was mine.

I also got this tapestry. Or maybe it's a tablecloth.

Whatever it is, I like the rich colors. Plus, paisley is one of my faves.

Pretty sure this wallpaper is going to make like my blog name and be filed for later. It's too good to waste on something less permanent than a wall!

Before and after: Console

Last week, my friend Colleen was in town. Lucky for me, she enjoys scouring Craigslist for good finds. Even luckier for me, she has a really good eye. I can pick out things that I like, but I never quite know what to do with them once they're in my possession. When Colleen is around, she works her magic and even the smallest surfaces are artfully arranged.

My very favorite surface that emerged from the week is a Craigslist find - a console turned bar.

You can see my front door just to the right of the bar. There used to be a small bench in this spot, but no one ever sat on it and it wasn't worth anything storage-wise. As soon as I brought the console home, I knew the bench had to go.

I painted it in a glossy white, and put a coat of gold on the hardware. Not only does the console have lots of storage, it also has room on top to display pretty things. Thanks, Colleen!

(The green and white striped dishes have since been moved, but I haven't had a chance to take more pictures.)

We also ventured to Ikea last week, and I was very excited to see their new textiles. Marc and I don't have a coat closet in our apartment, so we hang curtains in front of an odd shaped corner to block off our designated coat area. The new blue and white Ikea Henny curtains really brighten things up in the room. Plus, I love the way they look next to the old painting I found at a local consignment store. It used to be in an old, beat-up driftwood frame, but I like the look of the canvas hanging on its own - so fresh and crisp.

I don't stop to pour myself a drink every time I walk through the room, but I do stop to admire the new entryway. There's another little project to the left of the curtains, but it's not ready for a reveal yet. It's coming soon, though!

Patterns of blue and white

I love blue and white patterns in spaces with otherwise neutral colors.

(Coast Magazine)

It's amazing how two vivid patterns together can still look so calm. The wood tones and light filtering through the sheer white curtains probably help.

This is one of my all-time favorite pictures:

The ruffled edges on the pillows combined with the tailored headboards and the white night table is just right. I want to know more about what's on the ceiling. Also, I've searched far and wide for similar pillowcases, but to no avail. Do you know of any?

This rug has a similar blue to white ratio, but in a less traditional pattern:

(Coqo Rug from Anthropologie)

And this wallpaper is equally lovely:

Dedicated to the Tin Can Alleys

Here are the mugs we have. They're Tin Can Alley by Lenox, and are one of my favorite things in our kitchen -- especially when paired with blueberries and milk. See? I love white and light blue in any form!

In fact, if the mug were an entryway, it might just look like this:

Here are more pops of light blue in a picture of kitchen shelves that are filled with white dishes and golden-toned picture frames, along with silvery accents on the counter.

Something about the metal chairs in the dining room below is reminiscent of the whole Tin Can Alley line.

I don't think the next picture is from the same house, but they have similar color palates. I could picture a row of Tin Can Alleys hanging on something like this.

Maybe mixed with something like this?

And definitely hanging over something like this:

Raj Teapot from Sundance