Quotable

"I am going to make everything around me beautiful. That will be my life."
- Elsie de Wolfe
Amen sister!!!

Daily Low: House Eclectic

House Eclectic has very basic pieces with a bit of a twist. Every item can be customized in any Benjamin Moore color, which I think is a fabulous notion. Their prices are exceedingly reasonable, particularly given that each piece can be color-customized! So, dear readers, scroll on and ch-ch-ch-check it out!
Roccoco Commode $1,530

Genevieve Screen $686

Chubby Parsons Desk $495

American Chippendale Side Chair $485

Daily High: Hollyhock

Hollyhock is a West Hollywood based store that mixes antique and custom-upholstered pieces to create a fabulous mixture of quirk and sophistication. I LOVE me some Hollyhock. So, dear readers, scroll on, and enjoy!
Moroccan Table with Mother of Pearl and Bone Inlay $2,000

Hollyhock's Catherine Chaise $5,300

Handmade Mexican Colonial Table $3,200

English Bristol Glass Decanter $750

Japanese Lacquer Low Table $7,500

Pair of Blue Opaline Glass and Bronze Cornucopia $2,700

Pair of 19th Century Venetian Bombe Two Drawer Petit Commodes $20,000

Faux Coral Plaster Sconce From France $1,550

White Webb Clearly Classic Alexander Table $1,275

Bed Contest: Step It Up Y'all!!

Hello my dear, lovely, fierce readers! So far, I haven't received ANY submissions for the weekly bed contest! Remember, the winner will get the chance to do a guest post on WHATEVER they want right here on Urban Flea! Yeehaw! So send me pics ASAP of your gorgeous, unique beds full of your own fabulosity. The deadline is next Wednesday, so step it up, and send me those pics for your shot at Urban Flea fame and fortune (well, maybe no fortune, but fame's a pretty good alternative)!
xo Katherine aka. Urban Flea :)

Daily High: Mecox Gardens

Mecox Gardens has a fantastically and ruthlessly edited selection of various antiques and found architectural elements that run together to make a terrific shopping experience. So, dear readers, scroll on, and enjoy the ecclectic wares of Mecox...
Gothic Twig Mirror, Antique Gold Leaf $850
Stirrup Canvas & Leather Box $195
Antique Blue Glass Seltzer Bottles $295
Santorini White Resin Vases $85
Portuguese Buffet $10,500
Belgian Iron Fence Post Caps $295
Inlay Screen $9,800
Queen Ingrid Upholstered Bed $5,100
Wooden Basket with Triple Staved Handle Shanxi Region $350
Vintage Brass Bar Cart $4,800

Bedroom Chaise, American, c.1940's $4200
Painted Avignon Console with Curved Front and Legs Cherry and Alder Wood $2500
Large Cast Resin Antler Wreath in White $650

Daily Lows: CB2

I love CB2. The less-expensive spin-off of the already inexpensive Crate and Barrel, they do simple, clean, modern design like no other. I love love love the recycled lanterns, and the axel bench, which looks like a simpler, waaaay more affordable version of the Bottega Veneta safari bench/ cot. So, dear readers, scroll on and enjoy the design stylings of Crate and Barrel's younger, hipper, sister:
Window Seat Chair $79.95
Verse Rug $299-$499
Smart Marble Top Side Table $169
Recycled Lanterns $14.95-$29.95
Indie Bed $499-$599
Halogen Credenza $499
Graffiti Pillow $24.95
Carton Vase $6.95
Briar Chair $699
Bauhaus Arc Floor Lamp $199
Axel Bench $299
Adaa Hand Sculpture $49.95

Awards: Softest Blanket EVER!

I consider myself a very tactile being, and one of my favorite things in the entire world is a good, fluffy, snuggly blanket. And, dear readers, I think I've found it...
Pine and Ivy Grey Faux Chinchilla Throw $198

Runner Up:
Swans Island Indigo Solid Winter Blanket $1,225 (single)

Style Icon: Diana Vreeland

You know that book "When I am An Old Woman I Will Wear Purple?" My version would be "When I am An Old Woman I Will Be Diana Vreeland." Known for
her impeccably eccentric and chic sense of style, Diana was the be-all end-all of all things fashion for much of the 20th century. Vreeland was born in Paris to British parents, so chic-ness was, naturally in her very bones. She rapidly ascended from a columnist for the New York Times to Fashion Editor for Harper's Bazaar and later the Editor in Chief of Vogue. All that can be said is here at Urban Flea, we worship Ms. Vreeland, and every hallowed step she made through the fashion universe.










A note: Vreeland was also a mistress of the quote. For your reading pleasure, dear readers, here are some of her bits of her fashionable wisdom:
"Blue jeans are the most beautiful things since the gondola."
"Elegance is innate. It has nothing to do with being well dressed. Elegance is refusal."
"I loathe narcissism, but I approve of vanity."
"Pink is the navy blue of India."
"The only real elegance is in the mind; if you've got that, the rest really comes from it."
“Too much good taste can be boring.” (my personal favorite!)

Legends of Design: Tony Duquette

Tony Duquete was a designer living and working in the golden age of Hollywood. He was discovered and mentored by the "Queen of Good Taste," Elsie de Wolfe. He was known for creating spectacular interiors, sets, costumes, and jewelry using found objects and dime store finds. He is absolutely one of my icons, and has been an inspiration to decades of designers following him. I've never seen anyone with an imagination quite as active as his! So, dear readers, get ready for a visual explosion that will surely make your head spin...

Tony and his beloved antlers

From Bergdorf Goodman window displays honoring Tony Duquette

Get this book NOW!!! I literally flip through it every night before bed!


Tony's LA office. Sure beats a cubicle, huh? I want one!!!

Tony's spectacular California ranch, a real fantasy land...

One of Tony's super-deluxe fab brooches

Yet another shockingly beautiful window honoring Tony from Bergdorf Goodman

The Semantics of Botanics: Fleur Chicago

Fleur Chicago is all about combining hard to find flowers in whimsical ways, and I certainly think they deliver. So check them out, and take some time to stop and smell the flowers!

Editorial Inspiration: Chloe Sevigny in House + Garden

I love the offbeat simplicity of the talented and stunning Chloe Sevigny's NYC townhouse as featured in the now tragically defunct House and Garden. Chloe is always true to herself and her quirky sense of style, and, dear readers, I think that is definitely something to look up to. So scroll on and ch-ch-ch-check it out!

Shopper: Paris Hotel Boutique

Paris Hotel Boutique is an incredible website featuring vintage and antique pieces from various hotels primarily in France. The selections are ruthlessly edited and nothing less than superb. So, dear readers, once again, vive la France! Scroll on dear readers, and get ready to drool!!
Vintage French Style Carved Banquette $1,750

Vintage Gilt Metal Italian Leaf Table $385

19th Century French Game "Question Geographique" $95

Vintage French Chateau Monogrammed Napkin $20

Vintage French "Tip" or "Bill" Tray $70

Vintage Blue Glazed Ceramic Pagoda Lamp $450

Antique Iron & Glass Lobby Sign $450

The Blue Fox - Duncan/Beaton 1st Ed. 1951 $70

Vintage French Terrestre Globe SOLD (but still adorable)

Vintage Hollywood Regency Tole Sconce $345

Large Vintage San Francisco Bus Roll Sign $1,275

Vintage Hermes Cigarette Case/ Box $485

Vintage French Porcelain Apothecary Jar $85

Antique French Jeweled Crown $345

Vintage "City of Paris" San Francisco Train Case $175

Mid-Century Italian Glass Cased Decanter $165

Vintage Gucci Horsebit Cocktail Pitcher $290

Vintage Chinoiserie Desk $1,250

Antique Plateau Mirror $155

Fixation: Casamidy

I've always been a huge fan of the Mexican design house Casamidy. They have some of the most unique hand made pieces and everything is made to order, which makes each item feel special. The interior shots you will see below are from the two owners homes in both Paris and Mexico. Can you say JEALOUS??? So, dear readers, scroll on and check it out!











For more information, go to Casamidy.com, some pieces available at Vivre.

Thematics: Mexican Folk Art

I've always had an affinity for Mexican Art; it's vibrancy, it's celebration of both life and death, and it's consistently handmade look. One of my ultimate inspirations has always been Frida Kahlo, and introspective genius that took the art world by storm. So scroll on, dear readers, and check out some of my inspirations for this week's thematic:




And now my lovelies, check out some gorgeous merchandise you can get to bring out your own inner Frida:
Tres Amigos Painted Cabinet $599

Far Flung Arts Seguro Espiritual Wall Votive $245

Frida Self Portrait in Green $54

Vivre Casamidy Hacienda Headboard $3,250

El Diable Loteria Card $27

Casa Mexicana Lacquered Picture on Painted Wood Cross $24

Item du Jour: Home Hero Fire Extinguisher

Home Hero makes the cutest fire extinguisher I've ever seen. It makes me want to get one even though I rarely cook and can't imagine ever using it, besides to show off to my friends! (oh come on, you know we all do it!) Domino Magazine featured it in their "It Doesn't Have to be Ugly" section (brilliant idea by the way) and it was love at first site. So, dear readers, go ahead and start a fire! (I'm not promoting pyromaniacy, but how else are you going to give this thing the glory it truly deserves?)

NEW Weekly Contest: Beds!

Image taken from Apartment Therapy House Tour
Hello my lovelies! Now that we have a winner for last week's Bookshelf contest, I've got to give y'all a new contest assignment for your chance to win a guest post spot right here on Urban Flea!!! This week's contest is... drumroll please... just imagine the sound... I haven't figured out the whole mp3 thing just yet... BEDS!!! So show me your fabulous, gorgeous, luxurious, quirky, sexy, beeeeauuuteeeful beds! Email me your pics at urbanflea@gmail.com ASAP, and join the fierce (as in Christian Siriano from Project Runway FIIEEERCE) competition! Much love my lambs, and keep spreading that sweet Urban Flea gospel!
xo Katherine aka. Urban Flea :)

And the Winner Is.........

BECKY HARRIS!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

I'm IN LOVE with the simplicity and thought-out design of her bookshelves! I love the continuity of the little pots scattered throughout the shelves, and it's such a serene set-up! So CONGRATULATIONS my darling Becky!! Becky's prize is a guest post right her on none other than Urban Flea! So get your creative engines started, and look out, dear readers, for Miss Becky's post, which I'm sure will be absolutely crammed with fabulosity! So look out, dear readers, for the next weekly contest later today, and know that every contest's winner's prize will be a guest post right here on your favorite design blog, Urban Flea!
xo Katherine aka. Urban Flea :)

Weekly Etsy Show and Tell: Glass

Pair of Vintage Glass Candlestick Holders $18

Retro Mod 7 piece Cordial Set $24

Pink Mason Jars $10

Magenta Vintage Glass and Pitcher Set $38

Vintage Green Glass Lidded Decanter $12

Chandelier Vase $20

1930s Carnival Glass Tumblers set of 4 from Hex Optic $30

Pair of Black Amethyst Glass Vases by L.E. Smith $40

Anchor Hocking Royal Ruby Georgian Tumblers $6

Daily Low: Blick

Blick recruits various talented lifestyle and graphic designers to create awesome wall decals that will spice up any room. Don't like commitment? If so, dear readers, Blick is for you!