Sixx Design

I immediately fell in love with the Novogratz family when Bravo aired 9 by Design earlier this year. I'm loving this interview with Cortney and Robert on coco+kelley. Enjoy!

Trip to NYC

More updates to come, but here are a few of my favorite purchases from this weekend in NYC. Both dresses are from Madewell, and both on sale!

The Tulum Dress...

and the Fall Forest Dress...

I snagged some amazing printer drawers from the Chelsea Flea Market that I'm going to turn into a jewelry case a la... 

I got 2 different sized drawers (neither this huge) for $32. They retail on etsy for $98. All I have to do is add the hooks!

Also really feeling my new nail polish 'Merino Cool' by essie.

Yay!

She's Pregnant! Bananas!

Table Time

So the quest for more furniture continues in the Big Apple! We have been looking for a kitchen table since we moved in two months ago and we finally found one. We came upon this table at the Housing Works Thrift Store in Gramercy. It is a great organization committed to ending the twin crises of AIDS and homelessness.

Anyway, back to the table... as you will see, much to my delight it is a mid-century design! It was made by the H.T. Cushman furniture company in Bennington, Vermont--we are guessing in the late 60’s. After much debate, we finally decided we gotta have it. Now comes the hard part...how to get the table home?

"Why hail a cab of course!"

"Too big?"

"Nah, we’ll hail a ‘van cab’."

"Great idea!"

Ah yeah, over 45 minutes later were still trying to hail a cab!!

Eventually we scored a “SUV cab” and it actually fit in the back! Finally home, I used some fine steel wool and a little wood wax.... and now we have another before and after. I was very happy with the results!

(click to see larger view)

-Nick

Willow and Gwyneth

Two videos I'm a bit obsessed with right now.

1. Willow Smith - Whip My Hair (9 year old daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith). Whoa

2. Gwyneth Paltrow - Country Strong from the movie of the same name. Is there anything she can't do?

 

PaperSource

A few months ago I ordered an address stamp that I really love. The only thing I wish I had done differently, is purchased a 'self-inking' stamp. It just makes everything so easy.

I just got an email from PaperSource announcing a new line of address stamps... all self-inking. Of course.
I'm currently coveting this lil' number...

Book Update

I hate admitting this, but I put down The Corrections. It was just SO depressing. I was reading it on my way to the dentist... in the rain... when I finally decided to part ways with the Lambert family. At least for now.

So I picked up Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain and I'm loving it. I may never eat in a restaurant again, but the stories are terrific and I love his 'voice' (talk about an eighth grade Language Arts term).

I think next I might try to plow through Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals. I'm in a bit of a Lincoln phase. Weird, I know.

Falsies

You all know I love Kim Kardashian with all of my heart. But this photo of her has me perplexed. Her eyelashes (false, I'm sure) continue to get longer and longer. How long is she going to let them get? I think it's really distracting!

Piper Lime

I can't wait for my trip to NYC this weekend! I'm dying to update my lack-luster fall wardrobe. I've been so enthralled in decorating though, I haven't been paying much attention to fashion. All I know is that women on the metro are wearing grey nail polish and everyone is talking about jeggings.

I think I'm going to make it easy on myself and just follow the advice of Piper Lime and their Fall Trend Guide.

1. Over-the-knee boots: I prefer these. But I like these too.


 2. Military: Love it

3. Lace-Up Boots: Willing to give it a shot. I like the more feminine versions.

4. Vintage Details: Duh

5. Skinny Cords: Check

6. Faux Fur: Jury's Out

7. Blanket Sweaters: YES YES YES

8. Cuffed Boots: Sooooooo NOT into these.

9. Saddle Bags: You bet

10. Feminine Jewels: Bring 'em on!

What are you craving for Fall?

So much to share...

Things I've been looking at and thinking about this week...

The Exquisite Book , is definitely on my wish list. Check out the video below.

I'm loving Covet Garden, a Canadian online Magazine. And now I want to name my unborn daughter Clover. Or maybe Puddle. So cute.

Speaking of online magazines. I'm having trouble. I love them, especially Lonny, but I miss the tactile nature of magazines. I want to touch and clip and stack them up on my nightstand. I know in time I will adjust. But it's taking longer than I thought!

I've been wanting to check out Anthology. It's a quarterly print! magazine, but you can also check it out online.

I've also added some new blogs to my reader. Any other suggestions? What are you reading?

Emily Henderson

Bryn Alexandra

Everything LEB

The Seventy Tree

Unruly Things

sfgirlbybay

Yvestown

Design is Mine

Did you watch RH:BH last night? You can watch it here. I only got to watch the first half, but it seems amazing so far... as promised. Washed up child stars, divorce, plastic surgery and all of them are DRIPPING in money as never before seen on RH. I'm in love already!

Next week on Finch...

Office redecorate

Trip to NYC

Books!

Suzani

Everywhere I look these days I see Suzani print. Wiki tells me it's an "embroidered tribal textile made in Central Asia". Namely Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

I can't get enough.

DwellStudio for Target Suzanni Decorative Pillow

Suzani Flat Woven Wool Rug - World Market

Suzani Fabrics at Calico Corners

Suzanni Jewel being my favorite.

Note: Suzani and Suzanni seem to both be acceptable spellings.

My Style...

... is always evolving, naturally. Lately I have found myself loving all things Apartment Therapy and leaning a little more mid-century modern than usual. But today when I saw this post on Design*Sponge, I felt like I had come home. I LOVE all that color. PLUS she has my bamboo kitchen chairs. It's like we're kindred spirits. Do you like it?

Speaking of the UK...

I was perusing the latest Boden catalogue the other day and really like some of pieces from their collection. Is that lame? Is Boden like the Talbots of GB? Maybe it just feeds my desire to be British. What am I talking about? I've loved Boden forever!

And I LOVE these shoes!

asos

Lovely news from my other favorite cousin who I'm not actually related to. asos, a British online fashion retailer is in the U.S. now! Yep, that's right. And... free shipping both ways. Now we're talkin'!

A Full Tuesday

Yesterday I spent the day volunteering at a local Habitat for Humanity build. I got to work side-by-side with the future owner of the home (obviously we talked decor!) and learned a lot.  My arm still hurts from all the hammerin' but I had a great time. Have you habitated lately?

After I scooted home for some quick grub and a shower, I headed over to ole AU for an event planned by my lil' cousin, featuring the one and only, Gloria Steinem. That's right. Gloria. I definitely got goosebumps and I'm wicked proud of my lil' Q!

Furniture Care

I would like to thank KPQ for having me as a guest contributor! I am so happy to be part of a great blog like Finch. I’ll be blogging about my (and KT's) new apartment in NYC and I hope our findings will provide you with enjoyment and help you with your spaces as well!

Since this apartment is much bigger than our last (whoop!), we have been on the look out for new furniture. I am personally really into mid-century design. And it just so happens, I am lucky enough to have parents with great eyes for design and purchased this coffee table years ago. Then they were kind enough to hand it down to me:

I love this piece. It is about 5 feet long and 16 inches wide. Not exactly sure what we are going to use it for yet. Books? A TV stand? Do you have any ideas?

Before all that, this piece needs a bit of work. Enter: The Brick House. KPQ directed us towards this site for another apartment related reason and I am addicted! This particular link discusses the process of refreshing vintage wood. I followed their directions and will recap my experience below:


So I bought all the supplies:

Murphy's Oil Soap
Teak Oil
Howard Feed-n-Wax
Fine Sand Paper
Super Fine Steel Wool
Rags

First Step: I sanded the troubled areas (scratches, watermarks, etc.)

Second Step: I sprayed the surface with Murphy's Oil Soap and wiped it down. This is to clean up the dust and dirt from the sanding. Also using a small hand held vacuum (ours is called "The Shark") proved very helpful in getting all the excess dust up!

Third Step: With the use of a lint-free rag, I started rubbing the Teak Oil onto the surface. The minute I started rubbing in the Teak Oil it started looking great. I waited 10 minutes or so before putting a 2nd coat on. The wood drank 3 coats of the oil before some of the oil stayed on the surface and wasn't absorbed in (my clue that it was done). Now only one more step to go!

Forth and Final Step: I used the "Supa Fiiiiine" Steel wool to apply the Feed-n-Wax. I wasn't afraid to use a lot. Any of the wax that does not take can be wiped off later. I let the wax sit for 10 minutes and then wiped off the excess. All Done!

Here is the comparison (click to enlarge):

Verdict: I was really hoping for a "WOW" moment when I was done and I was disappointed. I think my expectations were too high. I also think I might have sanded the trouble areas a little too much because they stand out next to the non-sanded areas. Does it look better after? YES. Does it still have water marks and other wear and tear and I was hoping to get rid of? YES! I think the only way to make this piece look new would be to really sand the top and basically remove the top layer of wood! Which in a NYC apartment is tough! All in all a good learning experience and now it will last longer and be less susceptible to other forms of punishment. Hope you all enjoyed my first post. I know I did!

-Nick

Can it be true?

I would like to welcome Nicky to finch! Nick has been a huge supporter of finch since its inception and has often provided ideas, material and comments along the way. Now, he will take on a new role as guest contributor!

It's true.

Nick recently moved into a new place in New York City and is going to keep us posted with all things apartment.

Stay tuned!

See Jane Work

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Work has been a bit silly and this rain has really got me down! When will it end?

To brighten my day a little, I just bought a new iPhone case. Mine kicked it a few weeks ago when I dropped my phone. Luckily it was the case that took the brunt of the fall and not the phone.

I noticed this little ad in Daily Candy and decided to bite the bullet on this adorable Jonathan Adler (yummy!) case from See Jane Work. With the 30% off discount it was pretty good deal!

Lots of other fun colors too!

Yay for Friday!

It's Here!

And it's just as yummy as promised. Click here to check out the first issue of the new shelter magazine Rue!

Zara Online!

Ahhh! How did I miss this. I have always wished Zara would open up their stores online and now my wish has come true! Wooohooo!

In other news, I had my second sewing class yesterday. I'll post pictures of my new hand-made pajama pants tomorrow. Above is a little pic of my new favorite thing... my tomato pin cushion, complete with emery strawberry. So classic. Tell me this doesn't remind you of rifling through your mother's sewing kit to find scissors (that were totally off-limits). That's right, I'm hardcore.