Friday Finds - Peacock Fireplace screen

It is really cold outside, temperatures are expected to fall in the coming weeks...and it is the season to curl up in front of a fireplace. A cup of hot chocolate and a nice book would be more than perfect! On that note..let me share this week's find. A fire place screen to dress up even the most drab fireplace. A very dear friend  showed it to me on our (virtual) antiquing trip :P.

This is how it looks when folded 

And then all opened up! Amazing isnt it...I was in total awe when i saw the ad...Solid brass and well made 

Image via craigslist

Talking of peacocks, and how could I forget Gagan - of peacocks and paisleys :).

Friday Finds : A Vintage, Dual Purpose High Chair

This friday, I am all set to share an amazing two in one baby chair. As usual, I found it on one of my trips on the Craigslist.

High chairs are nothing unusual, but ones which convert into multi purpose furniture, are a rare find. This one won me over as it is a vintage one.(Ah! is'nt it something i love). 


This pretty piece comes with a caned seat and back and a leather strap to support the baby.

and then, it converts into a rocking chair for the baby!

Lovely vintage support system

Beautiful isnt it!..I wish i knew more about this piece, it seems to be unmarked and is on sale for $100 :)...Let me know if you have any information about such pieces.

Pics courtesy: furniture owner via craigslist

Once Upon a Tea Time....Design Stories Annouces a Giveaway

It is raining giveaways. :)...Priya of Once Upon a Tea time..Design Stories has announced a $50 Anthropologie sponsored giveaway on her blog. I am super excited. 

However, the giveaway is for Residents on the other side of the Atlantic... she has promised to organize a giveaway to international audience as well (soon). Rules are very simple so what are you waiting for!!!...:) All the best folks

PS: If you missed the link in the post ...click here >>Giveaway time: $50 Anthropologie gift card

Patricia's Hand Painted Feature Wall (with updates)

Dont you just love this feature wall...All hand painted and wonderfully done!

Wondering where i picked this picture from? It was a feature wall in Patricia's previous home. I was hoping to write about hand painted feature walls but then decided to dedicate a post to this fabulous wall art


sneek peek via a mirror on the opposite wall...

  
Colours used

Work in Progress

The peacock was painted free hand.. most of the borders were done with normal water based paint for walls... The peacock was done using acrylic.. and shadings were done with pencil, pastels and crayon!!

All done...Beautiful feathers!

The Elegant peacock..wow!

A glimpse of the entire painting and the wall

Anyone familiar with the Home Design & Decor blog scene would surely know Patricia, of the Colours Dekor. She is among those is always encouraging and appreciative of fellow bloggers and takes time out to interact with them. An amazing lady who is open to ideas and is personal with her blog post and her comments on others' blogs. (oh yes! I can keep going)

Patty! do what you are doing and we all love you for that :)...Wishing you many more wonderful blogging years ahead! Looking forward to all the wonderful things you are doing with your new home!

Read more about the hand painted wall >> Here and many more wonderful things on her blog >> Here

An update: A very dear friend and a wonderful blogger, Rashmi of Ethnic Indian Homes had done a post on Patricia's wall earlier (thanks patty for sharing this as well)...It is a complete DIY guide to how this wall was done...a must read :) - HERE

Pictures courtesy : Patricia  Thankyou patty for the pictures...your pics make the blog look beautiful!! 

Pree's Giveaway

Blogged about pree's giveaway >>here

Friday Finds - Shhhhh....

This week's find has an off beat name. :-)...hence the teaser!


I came across a shiny piece of kitchen utensil (so i thought) in a small thrift store and loved it. I clicked a few pictures with the shop owner's permission...and came back home to research about it, not knowing where to start, the picture went into my folder and lay there for a while. And then I saw this ad on craigslist and was thrilled to know the name of this mysterious kitchen utensil. It is called the Silent Butler. Funny name isnt it. The purpose of this kitchen accessory wasnt that funny though..:).. Before you laugh it off...you should know that these pieces are priced anywhere between $100 to a few thousand depending on the period, make, material used and the amount of work done on them :-)

craigslist

Silent butler??
A small receptacle with a handle and hinged cover, used for collecting ashes and crumbs.
(source: yourdictionary.com). 

Interesting isnt it!...How about looking at a few other silent butlers :)

A truly unique piece of sterling silver to add to your collection, this is it! Made by Tiffany and Company

replacecments.com

Antique European Silver Silent Butler engraved with a pretty floral motif and trimmed with a figural scroll border. 

The silent butler sits on four claw feet and the hinged opening displays a charming shell finial. And the lovely ivory handle adds an exquisite touch! The silent butler derives its’ name from the concept of decrumbing a table with the presence of a hovering bultler. Charming indeed! A suggested modern day use- fill it with candy or nuts and place it on a coffee table. source: nelsonandnelsonantiques.com

This piece was made in Italy circa 1935/40. Comes with an ivory handle 

silvercollection.it

How about a beautiful porcelain silent butler in the Kalk style. Rose & gilt floral pattern w/ moriage detail. Features Victorian style brass hardware & design

ebay

Another antique heavy gold gilt hand painted silent butler that is marked Royal Crown hand painted and numbered, but I can't quite make out the entire number. It has lovely floral either rose or apple blossom sprays and brass findings. It is in good working condition and has no chips and no cracks and very little wear. It measures 10 inches long and the thumb handle measures 4.5 inches tall overall. It has gold decorations inside on the bottom

cyberattic.com

There are rectangular box type ones as well. This piece has enamel work done on it.

worthpoint.com

Craftsman style hammered finish, in copper 

coppertolane.com


It is said that apart from silent butlers, hostess also used a crumb tray to collect food crumbs..Trays and silent butlers were paired with a brush...exquisite isnt it!


Edwardian style crumb tray and brush

carters.com

I love finding such amazing kitchen, furniture and utility pieces...Let me know your thoughts..and you are welcome to share such vintage finds to be featured on the design enthusiast!

Of Peacocks and Paisleys announces a Giveaway - Yay!!!

Gagan from  - Of Peacocks and Paisleys has announced a CSN gift card giveaway. She is a super cool, ultra hep blogger who makes me smile (believe me ..its tough to get me to smile :))...with her posts! Her blog is among most popular ones and thats quite an achievement given that she started blogging in June 2010. Its her great writing style, immensely positive vibe and pleasing personality that has her readers hooked to her blog.


Gagan, Dear I admire you for all that :)

Link to the giveaway >>Here
What you need to do? (quoting from her blog)

Four entries per person (extra entries will be culled). Leave a new comment for each enrty. Giveaway open to U.S./Canadian residents. Residents of other continents---You may still enter for a loved one in the U.S./Canada. The winner will be announced on December 1st, just in time for the holidays!
Entry#1: Leave a comment with a link to your pick from the CSN website.
Entry#2: Follow P&P and leave a comment. If you're already a follower, just leave a comment so it can be counted.
Entry#3: Spread the word---Blog about it and leave the link in an additional comment.
Entry#4: Facebook/tweet about the giveaway and leave a comment.

All the best folks..

Aarohi - An Artist and her Exhibition in Bengaluru

I have been following Aarohi and her art blog for a while now. You can read more about her wonderful art work and about herself on her website and blog- Art by Aarohi. Gagan's blog - of Peacocks and Paisleys did a wonderful profile on Aarohi >>here and also check out Aarohi's guest post on The Key Bunch. 

Her website and blog

And now, good news for Bengalurians (aka bangloreans)....Aarohi's latest work is on exhibition. Cool isnt it!!...I recommend the exhibit to every art lover. So do take time out and visit with friends and family...there is something for everyone to appreciate!!...Here is a sneek peek into her work

And now more about the exhibition...

When:

25 - 28 Nov, 2010

Where:

PageTurners Bookstore 

#89 Kannan Building, MG Road, Bangalore

Timing: 11am - 8pm

Take a look at her lovely poster!!

All pictures and screenshots: courtesy Art by Aarohi

PS: A detailed artist profile coming soon on The Design Enthusiast...:)

The Week that was :-)

I joined a blog party via my food blog and then made new friends...cool na!.

then moved a few plants indoors..(brrr! its getting cold outside), 

and clicked a few pics of a cute pair of candle stands I bought for a very dear friend...:-)

..And thgt id join in pattyz weekend wrap up series. (Need to congratulate her on a successful week 7 wrap up)..so here i go...:-)..




you should join in too. Have a great week and do stop by for a few more interesting posts coming your way via all my blogs..:-)

Friday Finds - Gossip Bench (A reintroduction!)

I had written about this furniture piece in a previous post back in the month of April 2010. It just got lost in the pile. I decided to reintroduce this fascinating furniture piece as a Friday find. I appologize for the repetition but wanted to rejuvenate reader interest on some previous research. :-)

I recommend that you read through my previous post and let me know what you think>> Gossip benches. I tried my best in mentioning about various furniture styles via this post. 

Indya Kaleidoscope - Annouces a Giveaway

Announcing a super cool Giveaway!! If you love Indian Handicrafts, then this giveaway is just for you.

Preethi, who blogs at Indya Kaleidoscope, has announced a giveaway on her blog...I would recommend each one of you to enter it. It is a lovely wooden elephant with copper and brass accents. I have fallen in love with that little guy..I am sure you will too. So rush over to Preethi's blog and enter the giveaway. Just follow a few simple instructions.. Bloggers and non-bloggers are all welcome...

I have put in my comment for the chance to win., you should too..:)..Wishing you all the very best

PS: If you havent found the link in the post already...go via here >> Indya Kaleidoscope

Friday Finds...Mate` pot & Bombilla

On a recent trip a local Antique market, I came across this exquisite piece. It was a tiny gourd, scopped out and dried, and then decorated with silver. It came with an equally beautiful silver straw with a unique filter at one end. Although I have seen use of scooped out gourds as kitchen and decor accessories, I was fascinated by this pot like piece and decided to feature it as a Friday find. The gourd part is called the Mate pot and the straw is called Bombilla...:)

pic: wiki

Here is how the straws look...beautiful isnt it!!

Pic: timepassagesnostalgia.com

I saw a few pieces with really elaborate work and carving, both the pot and the straw...sigh!!

stylehive.com

mexicowoods.com

Bombilla!!

silvercollection.it

This pot is a classic South American pot /cup  used to serve a special drink called Yerba-Mate.(read more on wiki)...Yerba Mate is a traditional South American drink made by infusing leaves and twigs of a yerba mate plant. From what I read about Mate, I understand it is like our traditional Indian Chai and is said to be a drink enjoyed with friends. (nice!!)..The dealer also mentioned that people in South American countries still prefer to be served this mate and pref in a mate pot. Cool isnt it!!

Read more about this beautiful piece of South American cultural heritage >>here

Happy Festivities

I hope all of you had a wonderful diwali. Thank you for all your wishes and a special thank you for being a part of my blogging journey. I have vowed to be more frequent with my posts and do my best in terms of researching about vintage, old and new in the world of home and design. 

Here is to a wonderful year and for the best of what ever is remaining of 2010 :-)

I take this opportunity to thank each one of you who stops by the design enthusiast and shares their idea via comments and suggestions. Lots of love!! 

Friday Finds - Linen Press

This week's Friday find is a very functional antique furniture piece which was a staple in affluent home in the mid 1800s.

source: amazon

Oh no, I am not talking about an ironing board. :-). What I was to showcase is called a Linen Press. Probably a predecessor to our ironing boards and the steam iron :-)

Linen Press seem to have been a popular utility furniture item in the 19th century. I first saw this piece in a local furniture museum and researched more on the origins and the use of such well made piece of furniture. It looked more like a printer/binding press (I was almost right in guessing its purpose). It turned out that households in the 1800 and early 1900's used them keep their folded linen creases free. Amazing isnt it :-)

source: galenfrysinger(com) 

This is how it must have looked in a room set up

source:oldandinteresting(com)

A little history...

"LINEN PRESS. Poland, Gdańsk, c. 1700. Table-linen presses are of particular importance as examples of Gdańsk richly decorated functional furniture. They are in the form of a table on which the main part – the press – is placed. It is regulated by a large screw, framed by spiral columns. The sculpted figures at the top are personifications of Faith and Hope." source:wawel.krakow.pl

This is a miniature on display courtesy krugercollection

Little more info...
LINEN-PRESS, a contrivance, usually of oak, for pressing sheets, table-napkins and other linen articles, resembling a modern office copying-press. Linen presses were made chiefly in the 17th and 18th centuries, and are now chiefly interesting as curiosities of antique furniture. Usually quite plain, they were occasionally carved with characteristic Jacobean designs. source: 1911encyclopedia

Another piece of furniture which a namesake: a simple Armoire or a cupboard. While reasearching about the linen press I came to know that a simple cupboard was also called a Linen Press.


Quoting wiki

Traditionally, a linen-press (or just press) is a cabinet, usually of woods such as oak, walnut, or mahogany, and designed for storing sheets, table-napkins, clothing, and other textiles. Such Linen-presses were made chiefly in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries and are now considered decorative examples of antique furniture. Early versions were often quite plain, with some exhibiting carving characteristic of Jacobean designs. Examples made during the 18th and 19th centuries often featured expensive veneers and intricate inlays, and were designed to occupy prominent places in early bedrooms as storage closets for clothing.

In modern houses, a linen press is often a built-in cabinet near bedroom or bathroom, for easy access to fresh bed sheets and towels. Analogous terms are laundry cupboard or linen cupboard. In Ireland the term hot press describes an airing cupboard used for storing linen.

source: woodcraft (com)

I recommend this article on Linen Press in the Old and Interesting repository. There is a lot more for you to explore on this site...Do take a look. 

Probable use of a linen press found via an Illustration

note the perfect crease/folds on the table cloth: source: expositions.bnf.fr

Hope you found the find interesting!! :-)