Murano glass- a primer

I recently purchased a piece of Murano glass, solely on it's beauty... and to sell. Once I got to the listing stage, I realized how little I knew about it. For example, I spelled it the way I pronounce it: Ma- RON-o. So, here is a visual primer to prevent you from being a Moron-o about Murano!

New items in the shop- The back to school edition

Just added a fantastic desk (vintage Drexel), vintage luggage train rack, end table/ nightstand (also vintage Drexel) and did some fluffing. Here's the new vignettes.

A study in cream and light sage- pretty cream chair (actually a pair is available), fantastic nightstand with a custom cut glass top, a brass lamp that sold for twice my price on One King's Lane, and the vintage brass luggage rack from a train that is storing pillows.

Lovely vintage French Provincial writing desk from Drexel. Nice desk with a little brass rail that surround the back. I added a vintage Drexel side chair and an awesome vintage typewriter.

For the details of the space-

Vintage side tables for Bromberg's Studios. They used to have custom furniture made of them. There are a pair of these tables and they are weighted- a well thought out design feature.

Really nice end table of nightstand from Drexel. A great shade of creamy same with gold detailing. It's the best of neo-rococo from the 1950's. I think the glass top, custom shaped, is a very nice high end detail.

Brass luggage rack from a train would work well in a kitchen/ mud room for holding hats, bags, coats. etc. Or, it would be great in a bathroom to hold towels.

It even comes with extra hooks which fit on the top rails.

All of these items are currently available at Interiors and Antiques in Vestavia Hills... in the old Ethan Allen building! Great location, tons of ideas.

Now, what does all this have to do with back to school? The desk is a great study area, the night stand is a great way to update a child's bedroom and offer storage for books, kindles, etc. and the Train luggage rack, I think would be a great gift for mom to keep the jacket's and other cold weather gear from piling up at the back door!

Furniture flipping- the under makeover

I have been acquiring furniture to remake and when I saw a mid-century modern piece on a local "Craig's list" like site, I jumped on it. It was blond wood two tier table with great lines and I picked I up the next day.  Though I thought the table was well made and heavy for it's size, I didn't realize the quality I was getting until I put it in the car. I would have felt guilty writing a check for dramatically less than the value of the piece. When I turned it over to lay it in the car I saw this logo on the bottom of the piece.

I knew I had just struck gold! There was no way I would be painting this piece, but it needs some TLC.
Heywood Wakefield is synonymous with 1950's "mid-century modern" style, as well as really good turn of the century wicker. These table are most popular in two shades of blond- wheat and champagne. As the company name, without any of the historic pieces and information, was purchased in the recent past, the formula for the original finish has been lost. They do have a new formula, manufactured by Sherwin Williams, which they are using, but it does not perfectly match the layered lacquer that was originally used.
I have read many a forum, advertisement, "for sale" listing and opinion on refinishing, DIY, and how-to's on how to solve the table top condition issues. The posts advise everything from "do nothing", the equivalent of "do no harm" to the medical practice, to "DIY it with my fabulous and expensive product!" I lean toward the do no harm- though I would like to find the product that would just melt the lacquer a smidgen!
To refinish or no to refinish, I can't answer the question... yet. I do not that for now, I am very excited to have the piece and though the original plan was to purchase and resell, I think I will be living with, and enjoying, this piece for a while!


Please know that the images used are not the actual images of the piece but ones I found on the web of the identical piece, though in perfect condition- unlike mine. Once I find the solution to my needs, I will post before and afters of the actual piece.

Pink Anodized Aluminium for the home

Using vintage items is a great way to recycle that doesn't involve taking anything to the curb!

I love finding cool things that can bring character and personality to a space. Here are a great collection on pink anodized aluminium  from Etsy. Please click on the names of the items to purchase any of these items!

Sweet cream and sugar from Pink Neon Vintage
This is such a sweet set in great condition andwould making having tea more fun!


Pink vintage tray, 16 inches from Better Vintage.

I could see this on a wall as part of a collection, in a little girl's room as part of her dresser/ perfume tray. And at 16 inches, this tray would be a nice side of a kitchen table centerpiece for a 1950's kitchen.


Set of four canisters from Vintage Cellar Door
These remind me of my grandmother. She has a set that looked hammered with wood acorns on the tops. It brings back good memories of baking cookies and pies!


Set of spices canisters from Baby Cat Vintage Crafts
I am facinated by the spices that the makers through were som important they added the names to the containers. It probably speaks of the time of the exoticness of spices in the foods of the 50's.


Sweet little saucepan with a pink lid from Hobart Collectables.