Little Augury on One Kings Lane

One of my favorite bloggers, Patricia Gaye Tapp, is having an exclusive Tastemaker Sale tomorrow on one of my favorite websites, One Kings Lane. Her blog Little Augury is on my shortlist of places to visit whenever I need to feel a dose of style and beauty that's slightly off the beaten path. 

                       

                       

Here are a few previews of what's up for sale:

1.  A fine European trophy racing cup from the 1920's. So perfect for your fancy desk pens. Or your not-so-fancy toothbrush. Or as a bud vase. Or next to the kitchen sink to hold your wooden bristle brushes.

This is what race car drivers in the 1920's looked like. Wonder if the cup belonged to someone like her?

 (The alluring Hellé Nice. Via here.)

2. A vintage French grey-painted step back bookcase and two drawers in the Louis XVI style. It would make a great bar cabinet, don't you think? (I would put a silver tray with spirits and liqueurs on the main shelf, stack glasses and accoutrements on the two shelves above, and hide not-so-pretty mixers behind the doors.)

And don't think this wouldn't fit in with modern furnishings. See photo below for proof that Louis XVI gets along with everyone.

                              

                       (photo from September 2011 Lonny)

3. A 19th century Swedish settee purchased in Paris with original paint and gilt.

I'm a sucker for any kind of long bench like this because I really do feel that you can put them everywhere. At the foot of your bed, against the bottom of the staircase or at your dining table, like I do in my house (see below).

(Photo by Marcia Prentice via Apartment Therapy.)

The sale is live at 8am PST Thursday. See you there!

Peter Dunham Does It Again

(Peter Dunham)

I missed his One Kings Lane sale in August because I was on an island called Unst in the Shetlands surrounded by sheep and spotty Wifi. I actually contemplated jumping on the ferry to Scotland (a 14 hour crossing) just to be able to go online and bid, but common sense eventually prevailed.

However, he's having another sale tomorrow and from the advance peek I was given, I think his items are going to sell out in record time. I'll be there at 8 am sharp. Will you?

Primping Painting

Original price: $620, Sale price: $249

Louis XVI style bergere chair

Original price: $1900 Sale price: $599

Black floral vintage suzani fabric pillow

Original price: $370, Sale price: $179

Pair of Italian armchairs

Original price: $4200, Sale price: $949

(interior, Hollywood at Home)

Update: I purchased this lovely 1949 photograph of the Coliseum in an antique maple frame. My husband's mother is from Rome, so it has a special resonance for us. There were other things I had my eye on, but they were already in other members' carts by 8:02 am. You have to be quick on the trigger for Peter's sales.

Yes.

Re: the Nathan Turner Tastemaker Tag sale at One Kings Lane on Saturday...

I went, I saw, I did a little bit of damage.

I bought the black Flores chair (loved the red one, but it was already in someone else's basket and I have two red leather chairs anyway) which will go next to the fireplace in my bedroom...
...and this huge 33" by 42" framed photograph of an English cottage circa 1900, which I love love love. I think the 1930's ghosts living in my four cracked leather photo albums are going to like it too.

And now, my lovelies, I must go sew. I'm in the home stretch and think/hope/pray that at some point today, I actually...cross fingers...might be...knock on wood...dare I say it?... D-O-N-E.

Sands of Time

About a month ago, I bought a brass ship's hourglass from one of my new favorite online shops, One Kings Lane.

I've become quite addicted to their hugely discounted designer homewares over the past few months; last week, I bought a beautiful gift box of Claus Porto soaps for just $19.

Anyway, back to that hourglass. I bought it because I had a sudden revelation on where it absolutely needed to hang in my house.

(Kitchen)

It's a thirty minute timer, which is exactly the length of one episode of "Phineas and Ferb", "Johnny Test" and the regrettably-named "Kick Buttowski." I'm not wholly parsimonious with my son watching television, but I'm hoping that having those sands of time slipping, slipping away right in front of him will make him consider what else he could be doing. Plus, I just like the way it looks up there, its delicate structure offering a gentle counterpoint to that black thing anchored to the wall (living with two males, I have reluctantly come to accept that sports and cartoons are considered as essential to life as air and water.)

In other news...

My friend Andrea over at C Magazine emailed me that One Kings Lane is holding their first Tastemaker Tag Sale this Saturday, April 10th, and seriously, the only break I'm taking from sewing this weekend is to be online when the sale begins. I was fortunate enough to meet the dashing Nathan Turner...

(Nathan Turner; photo courtesy of All The Best)

...during a party in Almont Yard recently and he told me that the chair I've had my eye on for about two years now...

(Flores chair designed by Nathan Turner)

..is going to be in the sale at a crazy reduced price. Be still, my heart.

Andrea also sent me a photo of this pair of Foo dogs which will be on sale for $109...

...and this incredible hand-painted lantern ($599) that would grace my entry foyer so nicely.

All the items were handpicked by Nathan, which is kind of cool, I think. If any of you buy anything, you'll let me know, won't you?