Don't Type Cast Me, but GROOVY IS IN!

 I had a shopping date and lunch with some great friends yesterday and the subject of this-here blog came up.  One friend mentioned that by blogging about salvage and thrift stores, I might be scaring potential clients off who have different styles and I should blog about some of the projects I have done recently with new items, new furnishings, and modern or contemporary styles.   Oh, boy!  I will - I'm just getting started here!  So hang tight.  Don't turn the channel just yet!  I promise, I'll get to it!

She's right, though.  I should clarify a few things regarding my love of junking and my love of decorating.  It's two hobbies, really, and they are sometimes (but not always) intertwined.  She mentioned that not everyone likes old stuff, just NEW stuff.  Not everyone shares my interest in junk or antiques.  I thought it was good feedback and I thought it would make for a good blog post. 

I want to be clear that if you don't like old stuff, I can still be helpful in tying your room together in your style...inexpensively to boot.  Style is personal and money is tight.  This blog is my way of showing you where to find things,  and how to look at items differently than you have before when it comes to home decorating.  It is important to note that, where I do like old things, my interest in and knowledge of decorating spans more than one style.  Decorating is about layering.  Starting with the basic floor plan and furnishings then layering lighting, fabrics, rugs, window treatments, artwork, and accessories.  This basic formula spans ALL decorating styles.  If you like old stuff or new stuff, this formula is the same.  The only thing that varies is your personal taste and style.  I mentioned before that if you need help, I'm not going to push my style on you and I won't ever bring in something old and traditional if you love new and modern.  If you are a minimalist, I'm not going to show you a bunch of stuff from Hobby Lobby!  Don't worry - I am flexible and adaptable.  My forte is cheap decorating now matter what you look you want to achieve!!

With all that said, (whew!) let's really explore this old vs. new thing.  Did you see that Target commercial about the new line they are carrying - Missoni.  It is straight out of the groovy, swinging, 60s-70s.  It's outrageous that this is coming into fashion, but it is back - just like bell bottom pants coming back around, home fashions are cyclical, as well.  You can buy new stuff that looks old, or you can actually get the real deal.  I'm on it!  I found some great examples of this while thrifting to show you (some are repeats - sorry).  

First look at one of the new Missoni offerings at Target:

Now look at my vintage find:

This crazy afghan has wild 70s colors.  Imagine it with a fluffy duvet folded on the foot of the bed, and some shams in a plaid or funky floral.  It would be a very cool edition to a boy's room paired with browns and and a sports theme, too.  This is in my Etsy.com shop!

But, it's not just Target.  Did you recently get that huge, thick, JC Penney-type, catalog from Restoration Hardware?  It has page after page of new things that look OLD.  They are not going after the 1970s era look, but instead they are focusing on the look of antiques, rough/peeling paint and rusty finishes.

Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel are doing it, too!  The CB2 line from Crate and Barrel looks like this:

 See anything that looks familiar?!!

 

Here are more examples:

Remember my post about using a Scrabble board for a coaster?  Here is how Restoration Hardware is doing it - not as a coaster, but as a fancy-schmancy wooden game board to have as a home accessory...

I'll see your Monopoly and Scrabble and raise you a CLUE!

The Maid with the lead pipe in the Kitchen...These vintage Clue game pieces would be such a conversation starter in a small bowl on your coffee table (that is if you don't have children under 3).  This is the real deal from 1972 - who wants a remake of a classic?!  Home accessories are everywhere and places like RH and PB know it!  Now you know it, too!

Remember the vintage glasses I showed to you...I know you thought I was crazy...but RH is doing something similar...

Get the real look for less with your own spin.  You see, I'm not copying them...they are just recreating what already exists in the vintage world.  History is repeating itself.  It's out there for the taking - on the cheap!!Don't get an expensive replica NEW.  Get the real thing OLD really cheap.  It's okay to decorate with vintage!  Target is doing it, Crate and Barrel, RH and PB are doing it.  Everyone is doing it...you should try it...a little won't hurt...I'll be your peer pressure for experimenting with home accessories.  Trust me!!