House Things

Up first on Top Three Thursdays on Etsy is a pillow that I immediately coveted from Swoon Studio’s shop. Love love love the green color and complementary designs. I just think it would be perfect on a porch or to freshen up your family or living room with a lighter summertime look. The two 18- inch pillow covers are made of a heavy weight cotton. The backs are in a coordinating solid oatmeal color fabric and have zippers in the bottom. The set of two is $30.

Those pillows got me thinking about wicker furniture, which in turn led me to Mary Bradshaw’s shop, which found me falling for this vintage ’70s wicker tornado end table. The swirl here adds so much to what would otherwise be bland, don’t you think? Mary added the glass top for some stability. The table, which she says in tip-top condition, is $95.

And finally, this adorable steel table and chair set for some lucky little girl from Carrie Marie Originals. I can pictures wonderful tea parties for dolls and toys here, just perfect for some special occasions at Grandma’s house. The set, which can be custom made to fit whatever colors you like, is $399.

I have a thing for bowls and thought this decoupage beauty from Julie’s Adorabowls shop was a showstopper to kick off Top Three Thursdays on Etsy. It’s 3.5 inches around, making it the perfect size for rings, earrings, car keys, pins — you name it. I would want to put things away if I had this bowl on my dresser! If this isn’t your color scheme, she’s got plenty of other colors to choose from. $14

This next post is for the DIYer who might be looking for unique drawer pulls for that children’s dresser you’re refurbishing. What child wouldn’t want to put their clothes away if they had pulls like these? Glamorous Kids Decor has 40 different styles to choose from altogether. You pick the number and she makes as many as you need. Each is $6. I’m particularly fond of 13, 14, 15 and 17. What are your favorites?

And finally, since I seem to be on a pastel and cute theme today, these kritter bug step stools at Arompatomus’s Shop would make some child very happy.

Measuring 7″ from floor to step, the Kritter Bug offers just the right boost for a child to brush their teeth or grab a sippy cup from the cupboard. The step surface is 12″ long by 8″ wide, offering plenty of room for little feet. The overall height measures 12″. The Kritter Bug’s heavy duty construction allows this tiny titan to hold up to 70 lbs, but with a total weight of 6 lbs, it’s light enough for a child to carry to his/her desired location. They come in other animals and colors. $39.

I happen to live with two map fans, so this clever use of maps featured in Carolina Cottage’s Etsy shop caught my eye right away. She makes them for whatever area of the world you want commemorated (depending on map availability of course). It would be fun to order one after a special trip, for instance, or maybe to reflect a future dream trip. The decoupaged tray measures 11 x 8 and is 3.5 inches deep and is protected with 3 coats of varnish. Price is $40. (And if maps aren’t your thing, the shop also features a lot of cool decoupaged goodies — coasters etc. — with different fonts, which I love.

I thought I’d continue the container theme on this week’s Top Three Thursdays with these handwoven baskets from Basketry Botanica’s shop. Having recently read Erin Doland’s book Unclutter Your Life in One Week! and interviewed her for life@home, I am fixated on getting rid of the clutter in my life. And that means I’m on the lookout for lots of cute storage options (at least that’s my story and I’m sticking with it). These baskets are inspired by Native American (specifically Eastern Cherokee) patterns and are made of imported reed and shellacked with two coats of clear weaver’s stain to resist dirt and moisture. Base is 5.5 inches, the height is 5 inches, and the top is 7 inches across. Price is a very reasonable $25.

Finally this reversible fabric organizing bag from Baffin Bags. The options for use here are limitless, as is obvious from her partial list in her Etsy listing: by the back/front door  to keep the keys, cell phone, mail; in the family room  to store CDs or DVDS, the many remote controls, books; in the bathroom where it can hold 2 rolls of toilet paper; in a child’s room for hair accessories, video games or small toys. It also makes a great gift basket for the holidays or for a baby shower, filled with whatever you want. The bags come in a multitude of colors and measure 8.5” x 5” at the bottom and are
6″ tall. Price is $18, so you really could afford one in every room that needs organizing.

People of a certain age will remember the bean bag phase — maybe even not too fondly. There was a time when no dorm room or first apartment out of college could do without one. They were cheap and they were abusable. Burke Decor has a variation on this theme but with a decidedly more modern, urban twist: The Fatboy. I make no apologies for the name because I didn’t come up with it. But I can certainly see how this chair would be popular with kids and modern decor folks who like a conversation piece. It takes whatever shape you want, as these two photos illustrate, and comes in a variety of colors. Price is $252 and apparently they also make an outdoor version.

Looking for a child’s chair that’s not plastic, not a primary color, and not mainstream? Consider this one at Bookhou. Made from steam bent hardwood, it has a removable industrial felt cover. I love the simple aesthetic and cool gray color. No surprise there, really, since Bookhou was founded by John Booth, who has an architecture degree, and Arounna Khounnorag, who is an artist involved in textiles and sculpture. The seat is  7.5 inches off the ground. Price is $250.

I’m kicking off Top Three Thursdays today with my first Halloween posting since it is October 1. I promise I won’t inundate you with too many Halloween moments this month, despite the fact that it is one of my top holidays. But I figured one little posting out of three would be acceptable. Besides, I’m sure there is at least one other reader out there who is a fan of October and Halloween as much as I am….And you know you think these dinner place settings are adorable. The set of six, available in Ps and Qs Shop, come complete with place cards. Each is 2.5″ tall. The set is $25. I would personally have them out year-round in the house, having them pop up in odd places as conversation pieces but that’s me….strange I know.

All right on to something else a little quirky — these little metal sculptures of frogs playing instruments caught my fancy. The man behind Creative Nuts makes them to order out of exactly what you think — nuts, bolts, paper clips. I think they’d make a nice little gift for a favorite musician in your life. At $24 each, you could give him or her a whole band!

Finally, for those who are not into whimsy, this terrific polka dots bowl made of — no joke — concrete, which means you can use it indoors or out. The owner of Impure Vessels’ shop — love that name — says the bowls can be used for serving vessels or birdbaths. I just love the colors and that it’s so practical. Size is 16″ X 11.5″ X 5.5″. Price is $120. I was only going to include one bowl, but as soon as I started clicking around the shop’s site I found about three more I loved. The second one is $90. Just love love love the colors!

This summer I checked out the BBC’s Walking with Dinosaurs show that’s making its way around America. It was surprisingly entertaining even though I’m long past the age when I could use taking small children as my excuse for going to this show. Anyway, while I don’t have children of dinosaur-frenzy ages anymore, I thought these DIY dinosaur lamps featured over one Shelterrific by way of Think Geek were pretty cool and that you’d be the perfect mom/grandma/dad/grandpa if you showed up with one of these one day. Made of flexible plastic that you slot together, they apparently only take about 40 minutes to make. They’re $20, bulb not included. ROAR!!!!

When I had my first child 24 years ago, we were broke. Everything I got was in tag sales or consignment shops. While I got some great deals, that time of hoarding pennies probably explains one reason why I just drool over today’s baby products when I’m trolling around for good web stuff. Not that I’m suggesting my kids should have babies yet! It’s just that everything is so much better now! Anyway Fawn and Forest is a retailer of modern baby and eco-friendly children’s products. This high chair, for instance, is a work of art.

Called the Svan High Chair, it’s ergonomically correct and adjusts as your child grows. The snap-on, snap-off tray allows a child to have their own eating and play space, and the dishwasher-safe Tray Cover, which is easily attached to the wooden tray, make clean-up a breeze. $259.95. Isn’t your little darling worth it?