Hi everyone! I´m having an amazing time on my 9 week European tour so far. We´ve been to Galicia, the Picos de Europe in Astoria, Santiago de Compestela, San Sebastian, Bilbao, and now we are in Barcelona (All in Spain). Tomorrow night we are leaving to travel Italy for two weeks. I promise I´ll try and upload photos at one point! But luckily for now the awesome Coco from
Cococozy had written an awesome guest post!
COCOCOZY'S FIVE FLEA MARKET TRENDS!
Hi Decorology devotees. I'm Coco from COCOCOZY here on guest duty. I want to thank Ashley for having me guest blog while she is on her fabulous journey abroad. I live in Los Angeles (in the Hollywood Hills) to be exact, am not a professional designer but after over two years of blogging about interior design 3-6 times a week, I might be what would be considered a "designaholic" (Can you do that? Just add "aholic" to any word to indicate someone is obsessed with something? Hmmm...please let me know...)
Anyhoooooo...onto my post...here goes.
Was at the Rosebowl Flea Market in Pasadena, CA a few weekends back. Hadn't been to this flea market in about 10 years. It was time. My plan was to get up at 6:00a on Sunday, be at the market by 7:00a, get all of the design scoop with my Cococozy camera and find some great items all by 9a. By 10a, the plan was that I would be home to take dog for a walk (I never take dog for a walk so don't know how this got into the planned schedule but it was) and perhaps be at a breakfast with some friends in Los Angeles by 11:30a. Well...I made it to the flea market by 9:45a...so much for keeping to schedule.
The Rose Bowl Flea Market was packed. Throngs of people trying to find the most interesting items possible. So much to see...so many interesting finds...
With thousands and thousands of items on display, one might think it would be hard to make sense of things...but if you can believe it, in all of that, I did notice a few recurring trends.
TREND 1 - ORANGE
Love these orange wire nesting tables. They were my favorite of the day! I could so see them in my house. Too bad they were at the beginning of our journey through the flea market so I never got back to them.
Orange...whether originally orange or painted orange...orange has been an "it" color for the last few years in decor...and it is certainly a hit color at the flea market.
For no reason at all, I also coveted this orange metal coffee pot from a vendor from Sweden. He wanted $30 for it...I wanted to pay $10. He said "30", I said "10"...he said "Okay $30" and I said "I can pay "10"...and it went on and on. Clearly the deal never worked out!
TREND 2 - COLORED GLASS PENDANT LIGHTS
Lots of these amber, blue or green colored pendant lights. They were reasonably priced. Couldn't seem to get out of the vendors whether they were newly made or recycled pieces. I think they are newly made though to look like 70's kitsch. I had an eye on the small amber one on the left. Thought it would look good in a hallway (not my hallway...but some hallway). The vendor wanted $75...I would have paid $35. Again, no deal.
TREND 3 - CRANES
Lots of bronze crane statues. Don't know what this was about but I saw at least 4 vendors selling tall bronze statues of these birds. One vendor said he got them from the furniture sale of a Las Vegas hotel that was closing. These particular ones were going for $125 each.
TREND 4 - VINTAGE LANTERNS
Saw a million and half vintage Dietz lanterns (kerosene lanterns and railroad lanterns). Cleaned up they could be great at an outdoor living space or if really shined up, even inside in a bay window. I wanted to pay $4...the lady wanted to sell three of them for $20 (they were marked $28 each). No deal there either. Hmmmm....note to self...need to work on negotiating skills.
TREND 5 - VINYL 1950's DINING CHAIRS
We ran into so many metal and vinyl chairs. They looked like they were ripped right out of the 1950's and placed at the flea market in 2010.
I particularly liked the light yellow set of chairs. I can't remember how much these were...but since my price point was at about $10, I knew I wouldn't be able to afford.
Well that is it from my day of trend sight seeing at the Rose Bowl Flea Market. I definitely regret not getting the orange nesting tables...but other than that, I am happy with how the day went. I left pretty much empty handed with only a dish and four glasses that altogether cost me a total of $18. I enjoyed the day...browsing, dickering and flea market trendspotting.
Ashley, hope you have a great rest of your vacation. Decorology readers please stop by
COCOCOZY for more fun design finds!
Thanks Coco, and thanks so much to everyone for stopping by even though my posting has been so spuradic!
love these canvas buckets!
The store also features some really cool vintage/flea market finds.
Check out more on the site!
I always have lots of hooks on hand because they are a life saver in kitchens. NYC apartments have maybe 4 cabinets on average, though I've dealt with less, and having items hanging from the walls is VERY handy, and makes for a nice cottage look.
Flea market finds like the section of iron fence, or the grate as a pot rack, make for inexpensive DIY projects.
Instructions for the image above - I'm a huge fan of using jars (after all - you buy the spaghetti sauce, eat-it, and then your left with a handy organizational system)
A great solution to a common problem, (too many cookbooks, not enough book shelves in the kitchen). Bring in a small bookshelf and top with stone (this you may need to make a trip to the hardware store to purchase and cut) - so now you have storage and more work surface.
Making a caddy (this one was a tool box given a new paint job), keeps things you use everyday handy and portable while cooking.
The frames are all flea market - and the wine jugs as well
Collections always make interesting decor.
If you want to display a range of things but keep it looking neat make sure they all share a characteristic - like color. Notice the platter behind the bowl is hung backwards with twine to display the artist's name.
via Woman's Day
The eclectic look is perfect for decorating on a budget. Found textiles look almost glamorous when mixed and matched like above. The decorative piece of iron on the wall is also salvaged.
objets d'art abounds at flea markets
via Notebook
You can create nice displays with mix n' match flea market or basement finds.
A large mirror can act as a light source, and looks more casual when propped on the floor. Flea markets are the way to go if you don't have a large mirror. I found one for $20 once, all I did was paint the green frame white and it looks great now!
Ad flavor to your space by accessorizing to your heart's content. Mixing patterns and textures is fine as long as they color coordinate.
This is a cool idea I've seen a lot, but my books aren't really that colorful - but you can try arranging them by color and turn your bookcase into art.
Single blooms can add more interest than a formal bouquet, in my opinion.
Memorabilia and collections are best displayed all together, like in this salon style wall.
Install wainscoting along the entirety of one wall for a custom headboard look.
Painting a stair runner and varnishing it is easier to clean than carpet - plus you have freedom to do whatever you want! Masking tape is your friend here.
From "Cottage Style Decorating"
Lockers in the entrance - what a great idea!
A home office from flea market finds
Check out the stairs in the back!
