the junk haus

Haus Obsessed

quogg — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:45:20 +0000

Feathers are the new roses. If a guy were to bring me a bouquet of beautiful feathers, I would be more delighted than a vase filled with the most vibrant roses. Flowers die, but the beauty of feathers lasts forever. They come in many different shapes, sizes, colors all of which are charming. When you add a jar of feathers into your space, it adds a rich softness, a natural beauty. Flowers must be replaced, water has to be cleaned, they have to be pruned and taken care of, but a bouquet of feathers just needs to be dusted every now and again. And the options are endless.

Small flight feathers and tails feathers are perfect for small bundles in round glassware or mason jars. These ones are stiff and can be toyed around with. Try dipping them in a metallic paint or even glitter to add extra pazazz. For a more relaxed natural look, take some brown feathers that you have found on your walks and wrap them in a hemp twine and display them in a Mason jar on your mantle or shelf. Beaches or hikes in the wilderness are great places to find native feathers. If you only find one spectacular feather, frame it in a large rustic looking frame. These little additions give so much for little to no cost.

Then, there are the giant billowy feathers. Ostrich and peacock feathers are not the kind you will find on your weekend hikes, unless you call Africa your home. These feathers are however easily found at your local craft store like Michael’s, Pearl Paint or online with a quick google search. They are often over 2 feet in length and are glamorous specimens that will add quite a look to your home. Display a bouquet of red ostrich ones in a beautiful antique vase on your bedroom side table or stick a bunch of white peacock tails in a glass jar on your living room coffee table. They add a touch of classic Hollywood glamour and Parisian chic.

Feathers are also versatile in their function. Back in the day they were used for pens to dip ink. Luckily, in this day and age, we don’t have to get our hands messy with jars of ink. Just take the interior our of a pen you already have and stick it on a giant feather. A cup of all sorts of feather pens is great for a hotel reception or even your office desk providing you aren’t a prominent lawyer. Have a lampshade that needs a little somethin somethin, cover it with a gorgeous array of ostrich feathers, just make sure the feathers are far away from the bulb. You don’t need to be causing any fires.

I said it once and I’ll say it again, feathers are the new roses, hint hint. With a bouquet I can do so much and they will last until I get tired of looking at them. This is much more than I can say for flowers that wilt just as I start to appreciate their beauty. So instead of sending an expensive bouquet of flowers, mix it up and send a beautiful collection of feathers. Same price and it will last a lifetime.

Haus Obsessed

quogg — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:09:26 +0000

I was just up at Brimfield (post to come) and though I wasn’t in the market for them, I found my eyes drawn to the beautiful antique rugs that were all over the place. Some of the booths were filled with rugs upon rugs upon rugs. As overwhelming as that sounds, the look that created was actually inspirational. It made me think about how much depth the layers could add to a room without adding much clutter. Here are some shots I found on the web to verify my epiphany. You can layer a Persian rug over a Moroccan rug over a printed rug and it can still look chic. The photographs show a dining room, an artist’s studio, a living room, and a hallway. Even adding bright colors, like a bright yellow wall or table, doesn’t clutter up the space. So don’t be afraid to pull out your rugs that are in storage. They can make a room feel cozy and elegant at the same time and layering them just adds to the elegance. Just make sure that you think about the look you are going for and really choose some nice patterns. Bright pink polka dots might look great over some yellow stripes in a playroom, but you wouldn’t put either in your rustic living room next to your Eames recliner. Choose wisely, but be adventurous when you are decorating with rugs on rugs on rugs.

Featured in Etsy Newsletter

quogg — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:07:55 +0000

Yesterday an item in my shop was featured in the Etsy Newsletter. I didn’t even know about it until a fellow Etsy seller congratulated me. A shout out to IndieStyleSociety for the love! It was a great honor to be featured, especially with the punk rock theme. Punk is in the getting some attention lately. As the them to the Met Ball, the song of the LES and almost the core of New York, I was excited that Etsy considered my item cool enough to be a part of it.

If you would like to sign up for the Etsy Newsletter, which I didn’t even know existed until now, under you account preferences, change your email settings to be “On” for Newsletters (See pictures below). Then maybe you can find some interesting things to add to your home, or know when you have been featured. It’s worth it.

Haus Obsessed

quogg — Thu, 09 May 2013 02:41:23 +0000

Last week, I killed a lot of time with season 5 of Mad Men and eBay. I had the one week library loan to finish, and a need to keep out of trouble. Mix that with the black hole known as eBay, and I produced a watch list enough to style the entire set of Bewitched. But, who doesn’t love the 60s? They attempted to be modern with clean lines and simple design. They were chic, glamorous, and the people had elegance. At least that’s what is portrayed on the show. Watching Joan waltz around that office owning herself and her body is an inspiration to women of all shapes and sizes. It even inspired me to buy a vintage girdle. Why not? But what really caught my eye were the small round silver rimmed glasses that Don always drank out of. They looked elegant and eye catching, something I would want in my own space. A quick google search led me to the name. Apparently, other viewers wanted to know what they were called too. The Dorothy Thorpe Roly Poly glasses! Then came eBay and a list that never ended. There are pages upon pages of these glasses, some fake, some real, some damaged… You just have to weed through the junk if you want to channel your inner sixties ad exec. Instead of some mid century store ripping you off with ridiculously expensive authentic ones, or worse fakes, check out the search on eBay. Then next time you have guests, you can entertain like Don Draper did, drinks always flowing and Alka-Seltzer always at hand for the morning after.

These taller options, 6 of them for $25 or $32 with shipping.

This set of differing sizes, 3 pairs of small, medium and large for about $53 with shipping.

Then these were the nicest set of 4 for $70 with shipping:

This pair of mint Roly Poly glasses, 1 day and 21 hours to get the bidding starting at $10 going.

4/30/13

quogg — Wed, 01 May 2013 17:21:49 +0000

When stores go out of business or move locations it makes me nostalgic for the past and the comfort of what I once knew. When those stores are antique shops that I have been frequenting for four and a half years, that make me even sadder. Knowing that some new frou frou restaurant will replace these mom and pop gems is disappointing but something one gets accustomed to on this island. Leases end, prices go up and the old gets exchanged with the latest trend. So here is another of my favorites moving out of the area. But, I am happy to spread that they are having a sale to celebrate offering 50% off their inventory with the hopes of cleaning house before they go. Then, luckily for all of us, when they do go, they will still have a shop on 1stdibs.com and maybe another storefront coming soon.

The Lively Set

33 Bedford St (Btw Carmine and Downing St)

New York, 10014

(212) 807-8417

Mon – Fri 11 Am – 7 Pm, Sat 11 Am – 6 Pm, Sun 12 Pm – 6 Pm

Haus Obsessed

quogg — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 03:20:04 +0000

Vanity Fair to me is the epitome of classic and sophisticated elegance. So it wouldn’t be to any surprise that for their events they hire a design company that remains true to their aesthetic. This year BW Architects lit up the New York State Supreme Court Building building with 1600 LED lights as flowers attached to thin metal rods. These pink and blue lit blossoms swayed beautifully in the wind; just watch the video here. After looking at how peaceful and eye catching this installation was, I am fascinated by the idea of using LED lights elsewhere. These mini sparks are ideal for holidays, weddings, and any other special occasion when you need something bright to catch your eye. Imagine a front lawn covered in a sea of dancing lights for a Christmas party, providing no snow is in the forecast. Or think about walking down the aisle and surrounding the ceremony is a lawn of floating white lights. It all sounds very romantic, simple and elegant. That little extra effort could make an event memorable and unique. These lights require no electricity and last for quite a while considering they do not have a source of power. They also come in a variety of colors for any occasion. Way to go BW Architects for being innovative and creating a beautiful backdrop for the thousands of photographs taken that night. Vote for their design by liking the post on MOCOVote here.

4/15/13

quogg — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:33:37 +0000

Another thing that is always overpriced in New York City are flowers. Whether you are buying plants or cut stems, local delis and grocery stores rape you. When is a bunch of roses $25? And that will last 3 days max. If you brave Dean and Deluca or Whole Foods, you will at least be purchasing something beautiful but your credit card will be dented about $50. So what do you do when you want some reasonably priced spring accessories to add life to the tiny apartment you call home? Easy, you go to Joy’s Flowers and Gifts. It’s a joy . They have ranunculus, daffodils, hydrangeas, tulips, pussy willow branches, hyacinths, ivy… I could bore you for a while. The lady and her daughter behind the counter are so helpful and sweet that you almost want to pop in everyday just to say hi. I spent $30 on a bundle of branches, and two giant potted flowering plants. The icing on the cake, they accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover so when you run out of cash at the Hester St market filling up on lamb meatballs, you can put that plastic to good use.

Joy’s Flowers and Gifts

40 Hester St

(between Essex St & Ludlow St)

New York, NY 10002

(212) 777-7701

Haus Obsessed

quogg — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:25:15 +0000

The Hester St Fair is back on Saturday April 27th! Stop by for amazing food, vintage shopping, and other cool shit. Go to the Donut Plant first to get your sugar buzz rolling, then hit up this outdoor market for a couple amazing mini quiches, an ice cream sandwich, and the perfect vintage purse. Summer Saturdays in the LES are back!

Haus Obsessed

quogg — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:30:18 +0000

After years living in tiny apartments in New York City, I dream about loft spaces with open kitchens and giant pillars. Then I saw this West Village gem. Designer Shelly Steffee really knows what she is doing. Her apartment is a gorgeous blend of modern yet rustic and soft yet masculine. She brings elegance to her small though not humble abode. But what she does best and what I take away from her design is the dark and light monochromatic opposing tones that act as a blank canvas. Dark wood floors and black bookshelves are juxtaposed with an all white kitchen and white painted trim. She uses both ends of the color spectrum to create a dramatic and yet calming feel. Then, by decorating with large monochromatic pieces, accessories are able to stand out. Statement furniture in passive colors doesn’t overpower the room. The furniture blends in with the background and then, wow, a bouquet of beautiful pink flowers catches your eye. This is a very simple philosophy to apply to your own small apartment. Keep your walls painted white or a shade of grey, add white or black trim, and for the larger functional pieces: couches, chairs, tables, lamps, keep them of the same color palette. If the sofa blends in with the wall and the floor, you won’t notice it as much and your apartment will look empty. Then add a small pop of brightly colored art to the wall or a collection of colorful books to simple shelves. Introduce colors in small doses: accessories, art, bowls, books, and watch the space start to brighten up without being too overwhelming. And when you get stumped, look again at Shelly’s space. Designers know best.

4/3/13

quogg — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:12:46 +0000

Very few things in New York City come cheap, and usually if they do, they aren’t of any lasting quality. Framing is one of these ridiculously overpriced services. It costs upwards of $300 to frame a normal sized piece and $500 for a larger one. I do have some experience as I spent countless hours pricing frames for my old office at local Soho frame shops. “Do you want museum quality glass? Do you want a special non fade matt?” The number of extra fees is just silly. Having anything framed has been something I’ve personally always tried to avoid. I have duct taped large photographs to the wall rather than have pieces set in glass. Then, I ordered a beautiful Michel Delacroix lithograph signed by the artist. With an empty spot above my bed due to a relocated print, there was a need to frame and hang this 24″ x 36″ piece, but the thought of dragging it through Soho or the East Village and spending a fortune left me putting it off. After seeing this piece everyday leaning by my front door, I reached my procrastination breaking point. There had to be a better way. A quick google search and I found this Chinese hole in the wall. A little skeptical, I decided to pop in on my way to work. Low and behold, they were a legitimate framing company, and from the looks of their work on the wall, they could do a bang up job. Two weeks and $175 later, I had a brand new rustic looking frame, glass, and a classy matt for my piece. With one more satisfied customer, they have a referral to everyone in my circle. Now, maybe with a Google search I can find a cheap Chinese car rental, but somehow I imagine that unlikely.

Chinese Art Supplies & Framing Inc

7 Pell St, 2nd Floor (Off Bowery)

New York 10013

212.219.2828