Flea Market Finds and Fresh Flowers

There is no cheaper pick me up for a home than fresh flowers. I've been treating myself to fresh blooms all winter including flowering the Quince branches above. They last a few weeks and are a beautiful harbinger of spring which definitely feels to be sprung in New York. 

Another great inexpensive pick me up is a trip to the flea market.  I stopped by The Garage and parking lot on 25th Street the last two Sundays and found some really great items.  Yesterday was a very lucky day that resulted in the loot above.  I spent about $120 for everything and I couldn't be happier with each piece. By the way, please ignore the color of my floors. If I owned this apartment, refinishing them a darker color would be priority number one. 

The vintage wooden tennis racquet is a fun addition to my umbrella stand from Pearl River Mart and umbrellas from J.Crew and the 2009 Whitney Art Party. 

I love that this blue and white porcelain vase is painted on the bottom. The top lid comes off and has holes in it.  If anyone knows what it would have originally held, please feel free to enlighten me.

I was looking for a new lamp for my side table and this one was only $20.  It will need to be rewired and   a new shade and harp will have to be purchased but in the end, it will still cost less than any new lamp on the market.

The same vendor who sold me the lamp also sold me this covered dish for $5.  A steal!

This is the mark on the bottom.

The little silver box is wood lined and was only $25. The top doesn't close on the right side but you really can't tell. The mark on the bottom reads "WYLER, EPNS, MADE IN ENGLAND. I found the Flaubert book underneath last week and bought it just for the pretty blue cover. 

So if you're in need of a little spring cheer, I highly recommend some flowers or the flea market.  You can't really go wrong with either! 

Spring has Sprung!

It may have felt like summer in New York last week but it definitely looked like spring! I don't remember Central Park ever looking as beautiful as it does right now so I thought I would share a few photos with you. Happy Spring!

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

Spring Ahead

I've been out shopping for clients lately and I've been noticing that everyone is ready for spring! One of my favorite window displays is at Bunny Williams and John Rosselli's shop Treillage on Lexington Avenue at 73rd Street with it's table set with blue and white porcelain and vases of flowers and potted hyacinths. It's an absolutely beautiful arrangement that would be very easy to replicate at home.

I have a very old set of dishes that are a knock-off version of the Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted pattern but I am looking forward to checking out the flea markets and thrift stores for vintage pieces to add to my collection. There is something very cheerful about blue and white porcelain, especially for spring.

The reason I was out shopping was to look for faux foliage for two of my clients. We want to add some greenery to their homes but they work long hours and are afraid they might not be able to take care of a live tree. Treillage has a fabulous Sweet Bay Ball Tree that is perfect for those who don't possess a green thumb. It looks absolutely real and I can guarantee that no one would ever suspect that it was faux. It comes in two sizes including the 3.5' version shown above.

I was thinking that the taller 5' size Sweet Bay Ball Tree might be a good option to hide the window air conditioner at the bachelorette pad project. The trees obviously cost more than one you could find in the flower district but they last for years and you don't need to water them, although you probably should dust them regularly!

Another idea that I had for the bachelorette pad was to display two topiaries on the front entry table. The wall behind the table doesn't have an outlet so I can't use a lamp and it might be nice to add a little more greenery to the apartment. Right next to Treillage is Lexington Gardens who create beautiful faux topiaries out of preserved boxwood in square and traditional round shapes and various sizes. I think I would prefer a different planter so I am going to try to look for a pair of vintage urns. I killed my real boxwood topiaries quickly so these might also be a good option for me!

I mentioned previously that we picked out some blue and white porcelain at Pearl River and here is some of it displayed above the kitchen cabinets. We need to buy a few more pieces but what's there already brightens up the kitchen. I also found a new painter who for double the original estimate will not only paint the kitchen but also the bathroom and will build a radiator cover for the bathroom. He comes highly recommended so I am excited for him to get to work!

Even Williams-Sonoma Home has spring fever! They has a lovely display of their Blue Willow porcelain and flowering branches. I am longing to see the trees in park in bloom but that is going to have to wait since it's snowing again today! Just another reason to bring the outdoors in!

Katie's Tablescape

If you haven't already seen it, you must check out Katie's beautiful tablescape and flowering quince branches at Katiedid that she was inspired to create after my post about forcing branches. I have to say that she could give any top interior designer a run for their money. It's one of the most beautiful displays I've ever seen! Kudos to Katie!!!