Doing Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta

Normally if I am "doing" Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta, or Lakewood 400, I am referring to going and shopping, however, this weekend I turned the tables. I was a dealer for the "extravaganza" weekend!

There were many of those "what have I gotten myself into" moments, like when they told me to arrive at 4:00 in the morning to set up. Or, when I drove up, long before dawn, in my loaded-up Prius and got in line with all box trucks and huge trailers on trucks.

This was somewhere between the little engine that could, and that terrible sinking feeling.

Then, there was the actually loading in with huge diesel trucks, diesel fumes, and tons of glorious furniture wheeling off the trucks. Not to mention the beautiful rugs, hides and tapestries. I love seeing all the action, breathing the fumes for 4 hours, I can do without.

Then there was the lovely, rich displays that I didn't feel like I pulled off.

Their display- rich and riotous

Their display- beach-tastic

My display- clutter and contemporary, not to mention overwhelmed by the giant furniture behind me.



However, I learned more than I could have possibly imagined! The dealers around me were gracious, funny, and generous with tips and suggestions. I understand the market better, which will guide my buying in the future. I learning that these folks are successful because of years of building a base of people that come to them regularly. They have a clientele just like interior designers and I plan to count myself among their followers! This is not about showing up with the latest trend and assuming people know the trend, want to adopt it, and will buy. This is about educating the buyer, and yourself, about trends, makers, product components, furniture construction, etc. This is an "always learning, always moving" business and as one dealer told me, "we are gypsies" referring to the always picking for shows and going to them across the country lifestyle.

There is a good chance I will not be back as a dealer any time soon. I have to do some deep thought about it and make good plans. Best of the show was that I made some excellent connections that would have taken years to develop, as just a buyer. Also, I have a new outlook on my space at Interiors and Antiques.

I look forward to going back next month, or maybe January, to shop and see my new friends.

Library candles now available at Interiors and Antiques in Vestavia

 I am very excited to carry a new line of candles in my booth space at Interiors and Antiques in Vestavia Hills! I smelled these in a friends shop about a year ago and remembered then when my sister suggested a line of candles.

 They are lovely to look at, great for small gifts, perfect for book club and hostess gifts.

Best of all the full size candles come in a box and the travel size is perfect for sampling all the scents. They would be perfect for under the tree and you can stock up on the travel size- which is actually a nice sized two wick tin of candle- for the gift shelf. My gift shelf is called the prize closet, because everything on that closet is a winner and something fun to share. Candles make a great gift for all the reasons people like candles, but also for the reason that you can give them year after year and not have to remember what you purchased for someone so as to not duplicate. With candles, they will have used it up but the time the holidays roll around next year!

I'd tell you my favorite... but they are all fantastic.

By the way, check out that nice barrister bookcase! It's is vintage from grandmother's basement. It did break my heart a little to pain quarter sawn 100 year old oak... but the interior of the shelves needed some light. In the end, I will be glad I have added the white paint.

Sale, Sale, Sale! Interiors and Antiques Market in Vestavia!

Interiors and Antique Market in Vestavia Hills is having a HUGE sale this month. In my shop, everything is 30% off! Cash, check or credit card! Let the shopping begin!

30% off sale in the shop at Interiors and Antiques

I have marked down selected items that, though I love them, it is time for them to find their forever home! You can find them at Interiors and Antiques in Vestavia Hills on Highway 31. My booth is number 6- Laurl Designs.

Fantastic tables, lamps, and vintage pieces are not 30% off, sometimes more, than the original price. It is time for me to move these pieces so that I can add new items for the holidays.





Here are some of the items just marked down!

Love this pair of tables!

Lovely tall black lamp with striking high end shade.                                        Great black shutter with ribbons for messages.

Great vintage bedside table or an end table! I love the pale moss green, of course it could easily be painted!

Before and After- the linen chair furniture flip

Lovely linen chair with contemporary carved cabriolet legs, Queen Anne foot, and pretty nailhead detail. Detail image.

Nothing says comfort to me like linen- love it in clothing and furnishings. Nothing says dated like bargello Herculon- the king of industrial strength acrylic fabric... enjoyed by those who like the 1970's, itching, and fabrics that basically wipe clean. Ovbiously, I'm not a fan of the ol' Herculon.

Before with a kind of bargello- diamond herculon upholstery. Detail image.

Before chair

However, I found this Herculon-tastic chair with great lines, good wood, and it was sturdy.


So, after purchasing it and thinking about it for a few months, I decide to leave the wood natural and add a simple neutral linen upholstery fabric.



Then I found this fantastic Union Jack linen pillow and my decision was made. Off to the upholsterer we went!




She's a beauty!

After chair, now available at Interiors and Antiques in Vestavia.

New in the shop- new items in Interiors and Antiques

I have just added some jewels to the space in Interiors and Antiques in Vestavia Hills. Round tables are a coming trend and this channel back chair is great as is or re-covered! Happy shopping.

Great channel back side chair! Neutral upholstery now, could be re-upholstered in something funkier, too!

Love this double armed lamp! It is perfect for the foyer or on a large desk.

This cute little table is a tilt top. Perfect for small spaces where you can tilt the top vertically and store it against a wall.

Super psyched about these two mahogany tables that I just brought in today. Custom glass on the top and pretty finishes. Love the dog paw feet on the lower table and the drawer on the taller one.

drawer detail of the mahogany table

dog paw foot detail of the mahogany table

view of the taller of the two new tables.

If you are interested in any of these pieces, please contact me or head over to Interiors and Antiques in Vestavia Hills. I'm on booth 6 (dealer code LARL). If you have any questions about the pieces or would like the chair recovered, please contact me.

I'll let you in on a secret...

So, I love secret pin boards on Pinterest. It is where I store all the great ideas that I want to interpret into my own style. I am working on my Halloween shop design, as I type, and I thought I would share a couple of ideas I plan to interpret in my shop in Interiors and Antiques in Vestavia Hills.

The first comes from Sagebrush Ridge and is a pumpkin from a book. I am interpreting into different shaped pumpkins and I think I will be doing silver wood stems and silver pages with silver vintage German glitter.


This item is actually for sale on Etsy from The Dusty Raven, love the shop name. I love the concept of the corner spider web. I'm thinking silver, not barbed wire,  less Tim Burton-ish and probably a wire spider that hangs low from the web.



A few years ago, when I was a corporate librarian, I decorated a library space for Halloween with waves of bats circling the main reading room. The image below reminded me of that space. (It is actually Martha Stewart's bat mobile) I will definitely be doing the walls in wave of bats in the shop. I'm thinking the look will be like the Bat Cave in the Devil's Sinkhole State Natural in Texas where the bats emerge from at dusk most of the year.



What are you storing, secretly, on Pinterest?

Fave of the weekend picking... Hollywood Regency lamp- understated

Though I love the new desk that I just added to the shop... which I stalked, plotted, staked out and woke up really early for, this lamp is my favorite pick. I don't know who made it; I have no history on it. It is just good design in a solid Hollywood Regency package.

Love the black shade on the white ceramic base and the scale of the shade. Nice pagoda shape, bas-relief bells, or maybe it is tassels, and the faux bamboo details. The two bulb lamp has parallel sockets, which allows for the shallow shade.

Close-up of the bamboo and bell details. 

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!

Dorm Decor week- hyper-local accessorizing for college

This week, I will be focusing on Dorm Décor. It is that time of year, and decorating a dorm room is a young person's first steps for learning their own mind, make a creative decision, and forming a personal design aesthetic. It's an exciting time for a young person and for their parents watching them grow!

First of the series will be about shopping hyper-local and choosing items that can establishing a personal aesthetics and can encourage design choices. Below are fantastic ideas and items that can be found at Interior and Antiques Market in Vestavia Hills- in the old Ethan Allen building on Highway 31.

Bookends are the perfect desk accessory for dorm, desk, or first apartment!

Buddha's calming effect will be appreciated come mid-terms and finals week!

When the princess goes away to college, she will need a crown to take her place on the throne at university

Giant metal initials are perfect for dorms! What a great gift for your new roommate.

Never let them forget that they are your sunshine!

... for the aspiring writer.

Everyone needs a lamp, why not make it fabulous.

Just a hint to hang up those clothes.

Love notes, pictures, cards, reminders, need a place to stay- keep reminders the cool way!