Could have been so beautiful ... in my apartment

Sorry for the late post today; Grunge Queen is feeling sick today.

She was feeling pretty ill yesterday too, when she saw this Oriental lacquer and wood screen on the way to doing a couple shopping columns.

I've always wanted a screen like this. It's not perfect, but you must know by know that I think imperfection has its benefits.

I tried to pick it up but it's solid wood underneath and was just too heavy for me, alas.

I see a lot of great things in the trash while on my travels - most temptingly close to my apartment. Much of the stuff I leave there as I'm on my way to do something and invariably running late. Other times the item in question - normally a solid piece of wood furniture - isn't something I can pick up and carry on my own.

I hope it found a good home. If it's still there on my way to work tomorrow I may have to hatch a plan!

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Proud of my Mommy

When I was at home on my vacation I snapped some pics on my parents' back deck before the frost would drive the plants in forever - or until the Spring at least.

My Mom has done this cute thing with potted plants and old chairs she's found in the trash along the side of the road.

This little guy is your average white outdoor chair, except it's a mini chair for a kiddie.

Check out this wee one.

It's wood and worn and has a definite Shabby Chic look to it.

And it looks just fine sitting next to those cheap faux wrought iron dollar store plant holders, thank you very much.













As I was about to go in the house I spotted this regular size chair, again distressed with time, at the side of the house.

Didn't get a chance to ask Mom what she had planned for it, but I bet I'll find out in the Spring.

Will she let it linger outside all Winter, I wonder?

No matter: Mom, you do this trash picker proud!

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Celebrate style with roses & reorgs

Men just keep giving me beautiful roses in my fave colour, this peachy orange hue.

This was a pleasant surprise indeed, sent long-distance from a kind man I do editing work for, on the completion of a project.

After my stressful and technically challenged week, they made my day.

And they just happen to look fab in the corner I re-jigged as a result of my angst-ridden decorating identity crises (yes that's an Antrolpologie lampshade, doesn't it look great?).

I've learned the past few weeks, the hard way I guess, that tweaking and de-cluttering is good for the soul (thanks to Sonya from Dime Store Thrift on her comment to this effect), but stressing about whether or not your design style is "good enough" is just so self-defeating.

So, this slightly pared down but still wholly me a la slightly junky-clunky Grunge Queen is where, happily, I'm resting.

For the moment, that is.

And speaking of tech challenges can anyone tell me why the photos in my Flickr badge aren't showing but the badge is? Or can you see them and I can't?

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My new dinner table

Thirty dollars.

When I was at my friendly neighborhood thrift shop, Stretch Thrift, and saw the price tag on this uber heavy solid wood dining table with slightly worn veneer on top, I was flabbergasted to say the least.

Why so cheap? A bit of wear and tear - charming in my opinion - but otherwise in fab condition.

Who cares, really? The purchase of the table coincides with my streamlining re-do. It confirms that Kelly's got her groove back, not to mention her thrifting Karma.

I can leave it as is, in its grungy worn state, or spruce it up when I'm feeling ambitious in the future.

I love the legs and the curves at the bottom.

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Worn rug finds happy home

Remember the 100 year-old Persian rug I bought for next to nothing? (click here to read about). It's currently rolled up under my brass bed as my CAT was destroying it. It'll stay there until he dies or I sell it (the rug, not the cat, silly), I guess.

This past Friday I was doing a shopping column in North Toronto and went into this shop I've been meaning to check out for some time, Around the Block.

It sells second-hand fine furniture on consignment. This hand-stitched rug didn't have a maker's mark, alas, but I loved it for two reasons: one, it was worn. I love the worn look - it means feet have walked over and people have lived around this carpet. An added bonus is that CAT could scratch til Doomsday if he wants; it'll only add to the overall look.

Two, it had the dark and light blues so rare in rugs of this kind.

Did it matter it was a long runner-type carpet? What do you think: I'm the grunge queen! It was only $95, a screaming deal.

I love the way it defines the space. That's my dining room, by the way.

It'll be my B-day gift from my Mom and Dad.

A bonus: this rug will complement the one I have stored away, so when I do take it out they'll be friends ....

Around the Block, 1903 Avenue Rd. 416-546-1760 unique@aroundtheblock.com

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Empty frames

Here are some effortless decor ideas, totally in keeping with la grunge queen philosophy of inspired yet easy-peasy decorating, gleaned from my garage sale booty last month ...where I picked up three wood frames for $2 total.

Actually the oval one is a frame for a table. It's been sitting on my floor propped up against the wall with the other frames until today, when I felt the urge (in the face of looking deadlines) to do a little refresh to my living space.

My first thought: hang it on the wall, as is.

And doesn't it look nifty? I think it really completes the corner in an interesting way.


My second attempt is still a work in progress.



















I like the contrast of the heavy dark mirror frame and the shell of an empty frame below it.


















And I really love the dried up roses on the silver platter that match the pillow so nicely. I put my black velvet scarf from the thrift shop on the chair of the seat to provide some contrast.

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Peacock thrift shirt I wore as a teen

This is my sis and me walking into the sunset in Vancouver, British Columbia the summer before grade 11 or 12 (I'm in the green skirt).

We've walked into the sunset again: she and I are currently in Ottawa for our big high school reunion, which means grunge queen won't be posting until Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

Then I'll be returning to regular grunge queen programming - thanks for your patience letting me stroll down memory lane this week.

I actually still have the green skirt I'm wearing in this pic. I found it in a second-hand store in Vancouver that summer so long ago, and I wore it for years. In my early 20s, after high school, I busted the seam and got it repaired. It looked kinda funny after that but I just couldn't let it go ....

Now it's being used as a makeshift cover for a thrift store stool. I'm going to get it made into a pillow because I love the green peacock print. So I'd say this 1960s skirt still has some mileage left in it!!

See you in a few days, and take care!!

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Good Goodwill haul

Ever heard of a thrift quick fix?

It had been, like, weeks since I thrifted and I was getting a definite ITCH.

But with a busy long weekend planned, I had little time to troll the shops. So on Saturday on my way home from errands, I popped into Goodwill. I gave myself half an hour.

For $20 I left with a happy haul o' goodies. On time, on budget.

I love tarnished silver - it has an old-world elegance and slight decrepitude that I find alluring. This urn was $2.99.




The bohemian look is still going strong in my decor books.

This pillow cover from India, pillow included, was only $2.99.

It's sitting on my "new" chair from the trash - see posts below.


Meanwhile this beautiful boho vase (wine holder?) made in Greece was $3.99. I love the colours and pattern.

I also picked up a long night gown for $2.99 and THE MOST STUNNING 1960s maxi dress with halter top and fitted bodice that fits me like a glove for $6.99.

Will have to get a pic of me wearing it as it's just a gem --- now I need someone to invite me to a red carpet event!

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Clutch Crutch

I don't know if I've shared one of my latest thrift obsessions: retro purses.

They're just so darn easy to buy - normally less than a fiver - and the 1950s and 60s ones are so dandy design-wise.



This silver lace one was only $3.99 at Sally Ann.


This pretty quilted silvery one, made in England, was about the same price at another thrift store (short metal strap not shown here).

Sadly I don't lead a glam enough life to warrant the purchase of all these purses, though you can bet I try to get as much mileage out of them as possible when invited to press events and cocktail parties.

I've had particular luck finding clutches with tags that read "Handmade in Canada by John Hort."

This spanky little red number, again with short strap hidden, was $14 at a shop in Kensington Market in Toronto - it's in mint condition too.

You can tell this one is handmade - love how it's not symmetrical - and the circle detail clasp is just darling.

Once I decided I loved these bags I was able to pick them out of a dusty thrift store case three feet away. This is another John Hort (slightly out of focus, sorry), found at Goodwill for $3.99. It has a long chain link strap, and you can see it has the same clasp detail.

By the way if anyone has information on John Hort I'd love to hear it - all I know is he was based in Vancouver in the 1950s and 60s and won something called the Judy Award for design. His bags aren't too hard to find in thrift stores or the Internet so he must have been pretty prolific.

Later this week I'll show you how I display all these purses.

TIPS: I always open the bag and smell it to make sure it's not to offensive, and I always look for tags inside. If the tag indicates it's handmade I always pick it up. I also look for purses made in Canada and England - have one gorgeous one from Belgium I'll share soon ....

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Curbside chic

I feel like Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street: I love Trash!

Now that's Spring's here it's time to start trolling the streets for nifty furniture finds. Students are out of school any day so there could be even more stuff on the street this time of year.

I found this white leather chair on my street. The springs are wonky and the seat has sort of collapsed - something that could be fixed if I had the cash and the inclination - but I picked it up anyway as the rest of the bones were good.



I simply built up the seat by piling a couple old blankets. In the winter I had a white faux fur rug over the seat concealing the blankets but now that it's warmer a swath of silk material is less wintery weighty - it also pops nicer against the white.

The orange silk cushion picks up the orange in the material and adds an exotic look.

Tossing material over trash finds is an easy peasy, non-handy way to deal with a slightly ramshackle piece of furniture.

This teak veneer coffee table was a bit worn on top when I found it years ago, and now it's even more worn.
The objects I had on its surface looked rather hodge-podgey until I threw a black velvet handmade scarf (found at the thrift shop for a couple bucks) over the table top.

Now the items pop against the black, and the black balances the lacquer mirror and lamp base.

Voila: instant curbside chic.

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