I’m still rubbing aloe vera into my sunburned chest and calves after Saturday’s marathon trip to Round Top with Karly, but it was worth it despite the hellish heat. I scored some goodies, saw some expensive shit that made me appreciate what I already have, and got a day away from the tasmanian devil that is masquerading as my baby boy. I’ll give the baby report at the end of the post for anyone who cares, but for all the rest of you good people, it’s on to the special awesomeness that is the Round Top experience.
Some vendors have a very odd sense of humor.
Too bad there weren’t six of these sexy chrome and leather cantilevered chairs, or they may have come home with me.
A pair of unaffordable blanc de chine lamps.
A monumental lucite chandelier for a jaw dropping $4500. No one ever said that Round Top necessarily equals cheap. if you like this, wait until you see what I bought for my dining room on Ebay (for much, much less)…
Awesome hooded wicker chair with groovy upholstery.
Big brass Polly.
Sweet little Asian credenza. The white is fly.
Brass cylinder lamp that Karly spied on Friday. I was considering it for my dining room, but ultimately passed. Hope I don’t regret it…
Three of six Milo Baughman chrome cantilevered chairs.
I really liked these barstools but didn’t even ask the price because homedude thought his junque should fetch a higher price per ounce than gold.
For unknown reasons, Round Top is very baby head friendly.
If baby heads can be friendly, that is. Somehow the packing tape makes the whole mise en scene much more ominous.
Hot pink poles make everything better.
Enormous 60s abstract that was about $4,400 over my budget.
At some point I realized that almost everything we spied with our gimlet eyes was made of brass. Chalk it up to magpie vision.
If you’ve got some spare change, you can add these trunks to your Louis Vuitton themed house.
I have a trestle table crush.
I reallllllly liked this long, sexy $900 table for my dining room, but A) it’s way too narrow and B) it’s 900 freaking dollars. That’s not how momma rolls.
Round Top is a haven for dead things — most of which are garden variety — but these birds are pretty fabulous.
Ok, on to the stuff that managed to find a way home with me:
60’s Italian hot air balloon chandelier for Ike’s room. The dealer had it marked at $135 and I took it home for $65. Boo ya!
Initially I thought I would paint it black, but now I’m wondering if I should do white with black accents or black with white accents? Will the details get lost if everything is black?
Crazy deco tripod lamp that may or may not live in my dining room. I am considering painting the shade black or gold… what do you think? Or are you a purist like The Hunny, who wonders why every purchase must be spray painted? Does that question even deserve an answer?
Lest you think that Karly and I only purchased lights, Look! I bought a lucite towel set to match a lucite towel stand I already have. The toilet paper holder alone is worth the $15 I paid for the whole kit ‘n’ kaboodle.
And finally, on to the baby Ike report:
So, my darling, sweet 11 week old baby stayed home with his dad and my mother in law, who did a very excellent job of keeping his antics under control. He took an uncharacteristically long nap, which was bueno, but then HE REFUSED TO TAKE A BOTTLE. FOR THE ENTIRE NINE HOURS I WAS GONE. They had to feed him with a medicine dropper. Gawd, just writing this makes me feel like the worst mother in the world, but he totally took a bottle from me days before I went to Round Top! I swear, this is the most stubborn child ever born — a trait he obviously picked up from his father. Anyway, he’s back to his normal fussball self, so I guess all is well, but I’m afraid it will be a long time before I get to leave for more than three hours again.
Ike with Grandma, doing the cute act. Don’t be fooled.
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Good finds. I am all for spray-painting stuff, but I don’t think the deco tripod shade needs it (at least, from the pic, I think that. Maybe it looks different in real life).
Awesome floor lamp score! …and Ike the tyke should really be a spokesmodel for cuteness overload.com.
I think Ike is staring me down me. He looks like one strong-willed little man.
LOVE his new chandelier – too adorable for words!
I love the lamp – what a score – and I agree with Heather and the husband – I like the white shade.
Maybe Ike was just aggravated that he wasn’t there to play with the doll heads?
You’d think Ike would be better behaved if he knew about that awesome chandelier you were bringing home for him!
I’m not sure if it is always this blog or most blogs, but it is heartbreaking to always read negative remarks about a baby, even in jest. This is coming from someone whose mother gave me one compliment my entire life: “You are really good at loading a dishwasher.” And who has spent $30,000 trying to have a second baby. To exasperated blogging moms in general, I say remember that the Internet lives forever, and your baby thinks you’re the greatest, so please get out of the habit of criticizing your child.
You scored some great stuff! The hot air balloon light is adorable – I vote for white with black. Thanks for posting a recent photo of baby Ike. I’m in love!
Good grief, get a sense of humor! Being a mom is hard work, and sometimes we have to laugh or we’ll cry. Nevertheless, Ike is the light of my life, and even at 12 weeks old he knows it. I’m sorry your mom was a pill, but that doesn’t mean we all are.
Sorry, I’m not trying to hate on you. I’m just pointing out that you seem to have some resentment issues and it also makes for a bummer of a read. Would you think it hilarious if your husband said this to you?
I got a day away from the tasmanian devil that is masquerading as my wife.
I swear, this is the most stubborn wife ever born.
Anyway, she’s back to her normal fussball self.
Wife with Grandma, doing the cute act. Don’t be fooled.
Ohhh Sheeet. I just stumbled into a mess of snakes. OK- BACK TO DESIGN LADIES! Keep the Shade white- AND Love the Hot Air Balloon chandy! I would start with changing all the blue to black and keep the yellow bits- the black/white and yellow scheme will keep it detailed but more modern, but still whimsical… and we all know how you love a yellow accent!
Oh. forgot about hte red… keep the red or make it SILVER. may I introduce you to my best friend – its called Rub N Buff… check it out!!!
and the more I think about the above hot mess .. it’s your blog- I read it the whole way through and when I read the comments I didn’t know WHAT THE HECK was going on- I didn’t notice any improprieties…
Well, I am the most stubborn wife ever born, so I suppose I would think it was funny.
In no way, shape or form do I resent my child. Period. He is a baby who has no control over his behavior, but I really wish he would take a bottle, and then I could worry less about his stubborn/fussy behavior. So far I have only been away from him for a total of 14 hours for his entire life, but he needs to know how to eat when I’m away. It scares me that he won’t, and I can either laugh about it, or I can worry obsessively. (Not that I don’t do my fair share of that, too.)
I hope this clears the matter up for you.
Oh, sorry that you wandered into the mess, Susan! Thanks for your ideas about the balloon chandelier. Like the black, yellow, white idea.
Oh, and Rub n Buff and I are very well acquainted. That stuff is awesome!
Diana,
You hateful cow.
How dare you come on someone’s blog and preach to her about her parenting. You do not know Erin personally or anything about her home life.
Deal with your own neuroses and leave the rest of the world alone.
I loathe “concern” trolls like you.
“hateful cow” may be my new favorite term of derision right behind “silly bitch” LMAO
Great purchases…especially that sweet balloon chandelier – I think whatever way you decide to paint will work – its so freaking unique that its details could never be lost. And cutie Ike – those eyes – its like he is trying to brainwash me through the computer!
And I am going to avoid hateful cowisms even though my personal fave is the “ass clown” hehe
BTW – my damn dogs won’t stop their incessant whining today…guess I should step out and take out my aggravation on some baby seals. Or maybe just other bloggers? Perhaps my dogs might read this comment someday…
Don’t know what to say about the whole baby thing. I call my cats assholes all the time and they still think they’re god’s gift (and i’d be lying if i didn’t agree).
Looooove the balloon light fixture. It’s pretty awesome. I definitely wouldn’t paint it just black, but black and white or white and some other color (what does Ike’s nursery look like?) would be smashing!
Diana,
Please refer to Raina’s comment, she’s taken the words right out of my mouth.
But incase you do need something from me: which do you think is worse, only giving your daughter one compliment or being the type of person who can’t let go of their childhood issues to such a degree that they find it appropriate to criticize complete strangers when they are obviously joking?
-Karly
Erin,
Ike looks JUST like Ben in that picture!!!!
Also, I like white for the tripod lamp and a solid color for the balloon one. I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, aren’t i?
You prominently featured baby doll heads today, so you obviously love your baby. Duh. People are so dense. Actions speak louder than words.
I think you should get that portrait that is so startling that it makes the neon pink pole upon which it is mounted disappear into the backdrop. Put it in the dining room with creepy Cat Stevens/naked lady. No one EVER does disturbing portrait art as a dining room theme! Take that, Hollywood Regency! In your face, Mid-Century Modern! Disturbing Portrait Art – I can see it on the cover of Met Home as I write this!!
I’m just being factual. A simple blog search reveals only negative comments about the baby. Of course she loves her baby, but the subsconscious digs at her baby are in no way humorous. And Raina, I had to laugh when I saw your blog. You’ve got the market cornered on hating! And yes, I am that person at the playground who will tell you that maybe you don’t realize it, but you’ve been yelling at your child for ten minutes for going the wrong way up the slide. I stick up for kids, and I’m proud if it! Continue hating…
Amy, Alison and Barchbo, thanks for making me laugh!
Karly and Raina, you iz my ladies
Oh, and Karly I hear you on painting the light fixtures loud and clear.
Diana, I don’t think my baby needs sticking up for, but you are entitled to your opinion. Of course if I ever meet you at the playground and you offer me unsolicited advice about my parenting, that will be another story.
Ok, enough distractions, already! This is a decor blog, right?
Amy’s dogs just told me they have joined a support group along with Alison’s cats. If you want, I bet could find out the name so you can pass it along to Ike.
Brace yourself: I vote for ZERO PAINTING on the tripod lamp. I love it as is. I would second the black & white idea for Ike’s balloon chandelier, except I’m concerned it’s an expression of your subconscious resentment towards him. As a concerned bystander, Erin, I would strongly encourage you paint it pale blue, because that is the only appropriate color a baby boy’s bedroom should be. I’m not trying to hate on you; I’m just concerned about his well-being. A black & white chandelier will DEFINITELY put him in the Trust Circle with Amy’s dogs and Alison’s cats.
Well then, black and white it is!
(Love you, DB
yay for the B/W
but please with the yellow fleurs?
I concur with DB that the tripod should keep on keepin’ on unmolested. And I… I actually like the balloon lamp as is. But I would agree with susan that you should keep some color. Great finds though, and Ike is getting so big! Those baby blues are making me crave one of my very own! I’ll see how you weather the storm before I decide to make any real commitments…
Kristin, I think the storm ends around the time they graduate from college, so you may be waiting a while…
But trust me, you want one!
LOVE the tri-pod lamp. LOVE it as is. Dont change a thing! ALso love the hotair balloon chandelier and all of its beautiful colors. How wonderful for a child’s room! Also would say dont change a thing on that