Home Sweet Home

Greetings from semi-sunny California! 

For those of you who don't know me well, I was born and raised in a small college town in Northern California called Davis. After graduating high school I attended the University of California, Davis where I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Design with an an emphasis in interiors. Literally the DAY after graduation I moved to Orem, Utah and I got a job working as an assistant to the incredibly amazing Lindy Allen of Four Chairs Furniture. I've been at the same design firm for almost four years now, but luckily I've moved my way up to Head Designer. Even better, my boss who started out as just my boss is now my best friend, stand-in-mom, sister that I never had, favorite person of all time. She not only welcomed me into her family but has also helped shape me into the designer that I am today. Basically, she's the best. 

Any who! Enough about my life. Like I said, I'm home in California for the weekend visiting family and friends and doing lots and lots of vintage shopping. If you've ever wondered where I get my love for flea marketing hunting from, the answer is MY FAMILY! We love flea markets, estate-saleing, vintage hunting, what have you. All of us. We all have different little styles and different little things we like to look for, but it's something we get to do together and I love that. 

So this weekend my parents and I went to a flea market on our way up to my parents ranch in the foothills (a post on that coming soon, it's too gorgeous not to share) and found lots of goodies! I'll be posting them up in the shop this week, but here a few snippets from the market. 

 My cute Mom! She's the best at finding bargains. I love shopping with her because she knows my taste and can always find something I love. 

 

Pineapples... no other explanation needed

Basket will be available in the shop later this week! My 2 favorite things to do with shallow baskets are 1. hang them on a wall and 2. use them in the center of my table. I personally hate table cloths but love having something to center my table. Shallow baskets are perfect!

New weights coming soon to Crossfit Lindon... JK my Dad just loves heavy stuff. This is actually an old shot put that weights about 8-10 pounds. As strong as I like to think I am, my arm was definitely shaking from holding it out to take this picture. Blogger struggles? 

 The cutest vintage shopper ever! If you follow me on any kind of social media, you'll know that I love my dog more than absolutely anything in the whole world. He loves to come to makers (he actually refused to be left... and i mean refuses) and we always get stopped 100 times by people asking to pet him. It's safe to say he's everyones favorite. 

 

Flea market's can be super hit or miss. Lucky me this weekend was a HUGE hit and I found lots of goodies for my house and the shop. If you're in the market for some new home decor, scroll back a few posts on tips for shopping second-hand OR check out my Etsy shop by clicking the link below. Lot's more cute inventory will be coming soon! 

XO

www.etsy.com/shop/SmithCoVintage

 

Drum Roll Please...

As promised! I am VERY excited to announce... 

Smith & Co Vintage Shop is up and running on Etsy!

 

I could tell you all about it, but instead I'll just leave you with a few shop items and the shop link so you can check it all out for yourself! 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SmithCoVintage

Happy Shopping! 

XO

Flea Market Finds FTW

Hiii Guys!

Happy weekend! Saturdays are my favorite because they are essentially dedicated to antiquing. I may have been doing a little too much shopping, not enough posting lately... so I figured I should share some of my finds with you. I went to a vintage flea market today with one of my all time FAVORITE humans and fellow new home owner (we'll be doing a before and after of her family room makeover, so stay tuned for that!) and we made a pretty good haul. I picked up all these pretties today and I couldn't be more excited about my finds OR the price. Here are a few of my secrets for second hand shopping:

1. Do you like something? Pick it up!! You can always put it back down. Too many times have I seen something that I wanted, not grabbed it, and watched someone else buy it. It's the worst... 

2. Finding a good deal is important. How do you tell if somethings a good price? Sometimes it's an easy yes or no... sometimes it's not. My trick is to double the price the vendors gives you. Would you or someone else buy it in a retail store for double? If so, it's a great deal! 

3. Don't forget to bargain. Prices are never set in stone and vendors will almost always work with you. If you can't agree on a price, try going back later. If it's towards the end of the day, vendors are more motivated to just make the sale.

4. Don't shop too specific. If I go shop for something in particular, I tend to focus on that and tune everything else out. You never know what your going to find, so look at everything!

5. Take a friend! It helps to have a second opinion and a second pair of eyes. Julie found me the little brass swans shown above that I never would have seen! Plus friends make everything more fun.

Is thrifting not your thing? Have no fear... thanks to the magical wonders of the internet  you can shop vintage from the comfort of your own sofa. Stay tuned for a very exciting announcement and the BEST place to shop vintage online.

XO

Still Screaming

You're probably screaming AT me because it's taken me so long to finish this post. Sorry guys, this week has been CRAY to the Z but here it is... top 5 trends... ready GO! 

5. Mud cloth

In case you haven't noticed, I love hand-mades and one of a kinds... and mud cloth is both. It's hand woven, hand dyed and hand painted in Africa. Each piece is unique and actually depicts a story with the different dots and dashes. Mud cloth comes in several colors and can be be used in many applications. I've seen them on benches, ottomans, cushion covers, and of course pillows. 

4. All things Brass

Brass is baaack! Not the awful 80's brass we twenty-something's grew up with, but the classy vintage brass we find at Grandma's house. It made a major come back last year and is still going strong. High-end designers are using brass in the staples.. hardware, lights, accent furniture, etc. but if you're not ready for permanent fixtures, try incorporating brass figurines. I picked up these cranes at an estate sale last weekend and they are right at home with my vintage brass fireplace screen. 

3. Vintage Art

There's almost no escaping it... great art is expensive. Unless you're lucky enough to have incredible artists in your family like I do, it's hard to find hand painted pieces that won't break your bank. But notice how I said almost? It may be a challenge, but it's not impossible! Skip the poster prints and look for some second hand originals. Focus on the subject and the colors... frames can always be changed. I was lucky enough to inherit these pieces painted by my Great-Grandmother, but estate sales and flea markets are great places to source vintage art. 

2. Sabra Silk Rugs

Always back to the hand-mades... I just can't help it. Someone MADE this. With their own two hands! There's something so incredible about that to me. Anyways... I love using sabra silk rugs for everything and anything except rugs. They're just too pretty to step on in my opinion. They feel more like a blanket than a rug, so using them on ottomans, poufs, or benches is easy peasy. They can be sewn into duvet covers or pillows... shoot I'd hang one on my wall I love them so much. This sabra silk bench has my whole heart... it's currently available at Four Chairs!

1. Juju Hats

Nummmmba 1! Are you surprised?! I hope so... I'm a huge sucker for feathers, so it was love at first sight when I first started seeing juju hats in homes about a year ago. They took a minute to really catch on, but I think they're going to be all the rage this year. They come in several different sizes, colors, and are made with many different kinds of feathers. They originated in Africa as... you guessed it... hats, but now our walls are wearing them and it's sheer beauty. 

Well, that's all folks! I do want to take a second to sincerely thank all of you for reading and for your support! It truly means a lot and I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the kind feedback I've received. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or any topics you'd like to me to touch on. I've got a lot more up my sleeve.. so stay tuned!

XO

   

You Scream, I Scream..

We all scream for TOP TRENDS 2017!

Happy Friyaay friends! I'm sure many of you have been scouring the interwebs for the top 10 design trends for 2017, so I thought I'd help you out. Personally, I tend to hate the word "trend"because it makes people feel like styles will change and their space will be outdated. This can ABSOLUTELY be true.. but it doesn't have to be! Applying trends correctly, tastefully, and strategically can keep your space looking fresh for years to come. Here's a break down of my personal list of faves for this year and some easy and inexpensive ways to implement them into your own home. 

10. Green

Green is the color of the year for 2017 and I'm definitely not upset about it. I don't necessarily live by the pantone color of the year, but I think this year's choice is spot on. Now before you marry yourself to a velvet hunter green sofa, try adding pops of green with pillows, art, or accessories. I'm currently displaying these two books on my coffee table, both green and oh so darling. 

9. Green...ery!

Succulents have been all the rage for the past couple years, but it's time to step it up a notch. Invest in some larger house plants... fiddle leafs, palms, and ficus's are just a few of my favorites. My secret sources for large house plants are garage and estate sales. Pre-owned plants are usually well-loved, mature, and a steal of a deal! Mix things up by putting your plant in a basket instead of a pot. 

8. Macrame 

Just in case you've been living under a rock... macrame is back in full force. There's something about hand-made decor that makes my heart skip a beat, so I'm glad this trend is here to stay. Wall hangings and plant hangers are just a few ways to incorporate macrame into your space. I found these vintage macrame screen panels at a flea market for $10 and my Grandma gifted me these plant hangers from Etsy. Old or new, each piece is one of a kind and guaranteed to add some unique style to your home. 

7. Kitchen Stuff?

Yes.. kitchen stuff! Kitchens are the heart of the home but are often forgotten when it comes to decorating. This is the year for cleaning off your counters and styling your kitchen with practical decor. Stack trivets, display cake stands, layer cutting boards, and personalize your space with your favorite cook books or family recipes. Look for marble and reclaimed wood pieces to bring a natural element to your kitchen. Ceramic or glass jars for flour, sugar, and coffee are also practical but pretty. This vintage owl cookie jar was my great-grandmother's and is always fully stocked.   

6. Tassels & Fringe & Pom Pom's, Oh My!

Now don't go whipping out your hot glue gun and super pack of rainbow pom pom's... but adding little dangley's to something boring will bring it in to 2017. This trend is great for DIYers... there are endless how-to tutorials on Pinterest for adding pom pom's to baskets and tassels to pillows. If you're like me and much prefer shopping every home store ever created, be on the look out for soft goods with swag. I've been on the search for the perfect fringed-out shoe basket for my front room and I'm absolutely loving my new throw from Anthropologie. 

5 down... 5 to go! If you made it this far, you're awesome!! In hopes of not boring you to death with design blabber... (because believe me, I could go on all. day. long.) I'm saving the last 5 for my next post. Stay tuned!

XO

First Time's a Charm

Heeey Homies! 

For those of you who don't know me, I'm a twenty-something newbie blogger who is obsessed with all things design. I'm currently based in Orem, Utah where I work full-time as the head designer for a local interior design firm. I absolutely love what I do... maybe a little too much... because I don't ever seem to turn my 'design' switch off. Whether it's antiquing on weekends, exploring new cities, or watching hours upon hours of HGTV, I can't help but live and breathe design. I started this blog to create a platform where I can share my work and inspire others to create their own unique space. You don't need a million dollars to create your dream home... you just need some imagination and the ability to express what you love! Stay tuned for more designy posts... coming soon!

XO