my walden

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while homes and apartments have titles, so do den. in my new place, my den is called walden. i want to find a daybed/sofa for the space, so that I could, ideally, read for hours on the weekends. and, with the window completely covered in ivy, the little 8' x 8' room is my perfect weekend retreat. then, when discussing this with lisa, thoreau and walden came up, and i thought what a perfect place to spend a majority of my time figuring out how i'm going to simplify my life.

in college, when talking with my friends about the actual book (because that's what smithies do, stay up late discussing classic american literature...), we got in a little comment about the sanity of thoreau, and my friend made the comment that what thoreau really needed was some lady-love, and he didn't account for it in his master plan. if i need some man love in my walden, i can yell down hallway for A.

from an interior design perspective, i have a hefty desk and large horizontal piece of art for that room, but that's it for furniture. Using pinterest to guide me in my thrifting, these are some of my favorites pins.

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rustic

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eclectic with mid century accents

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white and black.

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kind love this one.

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the mix of rustic, b&w, and mid century.

Moving, Part 1

We're moving! Not the blog, but me (Lindsay) as an actual person. Two years of living in my garden apt. and four years living in either Lakeview or Lincoln Park, it is time for a change. Unfortunately, when I told my landlord that I wouldn't be renewing again, I did not know that the rental market in Chicago was as cut throat as it is. A and I made appointments to see at least 3-4 places, and they were rented before we could even see them! Luckily, we found a great place in Wicker Park/Bucktown, and we are very excited for the move. Here's some photos from the listing.

There's a couple things about moving and being sustainable. Hopefully, this is a place we will be at for a while (because who likes moving?!? and LOOK HOW BIG IT IS!)

• Actual Moving: Boxes, movers, how many trips back and forth? Cleaning? So many decisions. 
• Furniture: After we applied for the place and signed the lease, we realized how big the new space is compared to our current place. Plus, my brother and his fiancee are taking the futon (THANK YOU!) So, I will definitely be trying to figure out how to furnish this new place - using current items, recycled items, and things I make on my own. 
• Amenities of the New Place: Central Air, Washer/Dryer in Unit, and a Dishwasher....I haven't had the four of these things for four years. What to use? What not to use...these are the bigger questions that I'm trying to rationalized. Do I get a stationary bike that generates energy with us? Window solar panels?  
• The Garden Apt. - Everyone asks me, "Will you still call the blog  The Garden Apt.?" Yes! 

DIY Living Room Upgrades: Coffee Table + Pillows

I've been longing to update certain aspects of my garden apt. for a few months, especially after A moved in. I've got a tendency for cohesion and with the abundance of tech gadgets and equipment that soon invaded my apt., everything seemed out of whack. At the same time, I had the furniture, it functioned for its purposes - sitting, resting feet, storage, etc. I didn't want to toss anything out, so I decided to paint, redesign it, or recover it.

Final Result

My two main projects included 1) painting the iKea Lack TV unit (used as a coffee table because surface area is essential for us) and then covering it with Chasing Paper wallpaper top and 2) creating new pillow cases for my pillows (brushed up on my sewing skills at The Needle Shop)

BEFORE: Look at how pathetic those pillows look. I made the mini-black one at my Needle Shop class

First, I painted the coffee table. Before I cut the wallpaper, I had to flatten out. Great use of my weights (about the biggest use i get out of them)

Measured the wall paper so that it would align correctly on the table. Used straight edge to cut paper as well.

Peeled the paper and placed on table. My recommendation is that this is a two person job to avoid any air bubbles.  

Everything placed back on the coffee table - Grandma's tick-tac-toe set, candle, plants, remote, books, and great blanket storage.

Window sill above couch. I've got a bunch of gifted decorative objects, old candle holders, etc. They were all different colors and with my left over paint. I decided to paint them white for uniformity. 

My three pillows, super stuffed. I kind of like my brown futon couch now with these pillows.

Final product.

Even though I will be moving in a few short months, the couch and coffee table will find its open in my new (garden) apt. With any left over fabric, paint, etc. I've got plans to use it for some other decorative projects, so that I use up what I purchased. Since my home diy projects all revolve around a similar color scheme, I can get more use out of them with other projects.

Giraffes

From left to right by rows: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 

Lately, I've had an obsession with giraffes in home decor (pillows, prints, sculptures, wall hangings, etc) as well as tech accessories (iPhone cases, wall paper backgrounds, etc). They are such elegant animals, and they've got a very peaceful, serene nature about them. I'm trying to gather inspiration/make a plan for my home, especially for my new place in July/August. I want to be very concrete and decisive about any new purchasing decisions. Right now, if I just randomly purchased what I would want, I would have an entire house filled of giraffe prints and pillows - excessive - but by the time August rolls around, I might have one or two. They also seem to have a gender neutral quality to them.

You know the whole people-animal look alike thing, well, mine is probably a giraffe. Even just the body - long, skinny on top, big booty. So other than their serene quality, I've probably got a natural affinity to the creatures. Then, last week, I watched The Campaign and thought that this clip is probably a metaphor to the visual impact I have when I wear heels.

Sits & Sleeps: Artist to Follow - Louise Despont

Louise Despont's The Host

When it comes to art in my home, I'm still figuring out what I like and don't like. I know I don't like bold graphics or mottos or figure paintings. Geometric, sketchy, somewhat abstract forms. In July, I'll be moving, and I'm looking for art and art inspiration to decorate the new place. I'm currently loving the work of Brooklyn artist, Louise Despont. Her art is typically graphite and colored pencils on antique paper - absolutely love the results and the intricate patterns. All images are from her website.

Louise Despont's The Serpens

Louise Despont's The Revelers

Louise Despont's Sandglass

Louise Despont's Constellation Symptom No. 3

The last one is my personal favorite, which one do you like?

Guest Post: Reduce & Reuse - Upgrading Your Garden Apt.

It’s best to reduce!  But this is America, and we can use with the best of ‘um.  So, I did both some reduction (as I didn’t buy anything brand new) and some reuse of vintage materials.  First, I searched for undervalued items at auctions, flea markets, on Craigslist or perhaps, in your parents’ basement.  These Michel Thonet-style bentwood chairs for example, with this blah fabric were won at a local auction house for $50 (plus 15% Buyer’s Premium, that’s another post).  

Admittedly, after I bought them, they sat in the barn for a full 8 months before at that same auction house two bolts of Japanese-inspired, German-made fabric (at least 20 yards) came on the block. I snagged both bolts for $60, after which I dropped both the chairs and fabric at my favorite local upholsteress (via Lithunia). At $20 per chair…presto and “Aciu“ (Pronounced AH-chu – which means “Thank You” in Lithuania)!  Rethought chairs! All for $190 plus an extra bolt of fabric for future projects.  Perfect for a game of Backgammon or our current craze Canasta!

The pagoda form lamp was another auction score. Check out auctionzip.com for your local auction spots!

About the Author: 

Christopher H. is an Auctioneer and Decorative Arts Cataloger in Jefferson’s Virginia, who enjoys antiques, Persian carpets, robot cookie jars, stone carving, 78 rpm records, Johnny Cash biographies, hoops, cooking followed by eating, wine, and fire. 

books.

Lindsay here - where to begin? I personally love reading, and after several years of acquire an assortment of books, then combining them with Adam's, it can seem like my garden apt. is overflowing with books. Even after I tried going through my collection, there's something about books and reading that are very personal to me. There's really nothing that can get me out of a funk like a good book.

Of course, there are thousands, even millions, twenty-somethings that have books in their apartment, usually to convey something about them. We've all seen it, we know what I am talking about too. The success books (ek!), the how-to, etc. However, I'm currently obsessed with very unpretentious ways of books in home decor - giving the impression that there is truly no other place to put them and going beyond the traditional bookshelf.

I'm a sucker for books in the kitchen!

I'd take a bath forever if this was my bathroom.

A table for your handbag! 

Some coffee tables!

A fire place filler!

Love reading ~ you can follow me and what I'm currently reading on Goodreads.

Also, for Chicago folks, I'm looking for recommendations for a good book club.

Local Feature: Gethsemane Garden Center

Famous to most resident north-siders, Gethsemane Garden Center is the place you need to go to purchase your plants. As a person with a history of killing house plants (my ivy plant during my first year at Smith, several plants in previous apartments, and countless other experiences), I can't kill the plants I purchased at Gethesmane Garden Center. I've had 7 plants for over a year, and I haven't even killed them yet. In fact, they've grown tremendously. 

As mentioned before, to be more sustainable, I've chosen plants over flowers. If you by them from a great retailer, you are committing to the greenery, and not getting the flexibility of changing flowers each week. But plants, as a non-pet owner, are my little pets that I nurture, and I've learn to love my commitment to them in the effort of being more sustainable. 

Gethsemane Garden Center | 5739 N. Clark St. | Chicago, IL 60660 | (773) 878-5915

This is not a sponsored post.

A Lesson on British Silver: Determining the Hallmarks

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Scrapping silver. Driving gold and silver prices in the last year has attracted ambitious investors. And, why not? Silver is currently priced 1.7% to $28.97. In recent weeks, I have come across several consignments of silver and silverplated objects. With its current value in today’s market, it is crucial to accurately describe and distinguish between the two. Shameful to admit, prior to this recent exposure I had known very little about the distinction between the two; therefore, I decided to do more research. Throughout my research, I came across an incredibly useful and reputable site, of which the following has been referenced - 925-1000.com: An all-inclusive resource for various silver makers, hallmarks, articles, and other resources

There are 5 simple steps to determining British Silver Hallmarks: 

1. Determine if it has a Silver Standard Mark. This is important, as it determines the purity of the silver. If a Silver Standard Mark is not present, the piece is likely silverplate or has a different country of origin.
2. Decipher the city mark. There are quite a few, but with a quick look-up – it becomes simply a matching game.
3. Check for a duty mark. This will be pre-1890, as the use of this mark was abolished thereafter. It will be a profile of a monarch’s head.
4. Date letter. This will be of varying format and is represented by a single letter.
5. Maker’s mark. This is the maker’s signature; a stamp to ensure that forgery will likely be avoided. 

I am relaying this information not merely for the potential financial rewards it may yield, but for my continued fascination of the material culture that we live in and the everlasting imprint these objects leave for future generations.

So, next time Grandpa offers you that silver tankard you previously rejected, take it and do the research!

-E

Other resources: Silver Makers Marks // Silver Collection // Silver Mine

let your work be an extension of who you are

The first Wednesday of each month I will review a documentary pertaining to Art & Design. I have watched several documentaries that have sparked an exploration into various fields that I had previously known little about. I’m hoping that my reviews will initiate an interest for you to explore different artists, styles, mediums, or trends.

This past month I watched the 2011 documentary film, Eames: The Architect and the Painter, about American designers Charles Eames and Ray Eames. The film chronicles the accomplishments of this husband - wife team and touches on iconic designs that have molded what we know of today as classic Mid-Century pieces. This dynamic duo joined forces to create affordable, high-quality chairs for the average person. They experimented primarily with molded plywood, fiberglass, welded wire mesh, and cast aluminum, inexpensive and abundant materials. Their success is witnessed in chairs, such as the Eames Lounge Chair, the Aluminum Chair, and Eames Wire Chairs. Through joined forces, the Eames’ popularized functionality and aesthetics in each next best example of the ideal chair.

The take-away point from this documentary is parallel to my intention for this blog – whatever the medium; let your work be an extension of who you are and benefits are sure to follow. I am continuously exploring ways to become more environmentally conscious as I immerse myself in the world of antiques, fine art, and design. Though I am yet to find the most efficient means of furnishing my garden apartment, I am on a continuous search for affordable, environmentally friendly ways to become one step closer to living a more conscious and responsible life. For more information check out this site.