In health
barbara-ann

My latest addiction (or afflication, as my husband might say) is collecting aprons circa 1930 – 1950.  Not being much of a June Cleaver-esque housemaker, I team ‘em up with jeans & boots, or skirts & flip flops.  It’s fun when people stop me to ask about them – and most have no idea I’m wearing an apron!

If you’re ever in the Tampa Bay area, be sure to stop into Buffalo Gal Vintage (BGV) for the most unique collection of finds from late 1800’s to 1970’s.  Stock includes “old new”, “new old” and everything in between.  Located in a fab vintage home, it’s filled with treasures galore for the girliest of girls (and slickest of daddy-O’s).

What makes this boutique incredibly unique is the painstaking attention to detail that Desiree (aka, Buffalo Gal) takes to ensure every piece is like new.  Unlike vintage shops that reek of musty incense, everything in BGV smells divine, like fresh linen waters from decades ago.  That’s because every vintage piece is laundered and pressed before making it into the shop.

With Halloween just around the corner, BGV is a great place to shop for a cool getup that you’ll be able to wear long beyond Halloween.  Now that’s the way to “eco-shop”!  Whether you’re into Rockabilly stylin’, Audrey Hepburn chic or Bettie Page pinup, BGV has it ALL.

And speaking of pinup, it is THE place to go for a professional pinup photography session.  There are even rumblings about burlesque dance classes, for those of you looking to cut a few moves.  The BGV website is not fully functioning just yet, but you can check out some fun photos here.

As much as I love many of the hottest eco-friendly fabrics, gorgeous clothing and talented designers, the prices are astronomical.   In the current economic climate, it just doesn’t make sense (or cents).  I believe being kind to our environment includes being socially conscious by purchasing locally and supporting small business, so have fun and do your part to repurpose, reuse and / or recycle!

In health,
barbara-ann

In health,
barbara-ann

Bright colors are vibrant and upbeat.  Pastels are typically more serene.  And there are g’zillions of shades of “whites” because of the seemingly unlimited number of undertones available.  Depending on the type of material walls are made of, they may be painted, wall-papered, tiled, textured or acid-treated – just to name a few.

Decor may include a specific design style, such as mid century modern, industrial or shabby chic.  Often, it may include an eclectic mix of several different styles with one distinct style prevailing.  In general, I think people typically respond to designs they feel the most comfortable with.  For some, it may have nothing to do with “designing” or “decorating” – it may be as simple as surrounding themselves by collections of family photographs.  And if that creates a happy environment for someone, then life is good!

Architectural style consists of more structural elements in a home, such as cathedral ceilings, staircases, skylights, wall and / or ceiling angles, fireplace mantels, etc.  Like decor, there is often one style complemented by several others.  But again, many people do not care about anyting architectural.  Maybe they are content with using color to “color their world”.

And then, of course, there is scent.  Some scents lift us from a fog; others calm us.  Mother Nature provides the means from which we can extract essential oils and scent our world.  So are these wonderful scents natural anti-depressants?  I am not a physician, so I cannot make medical claims, nor provide a prescription.  But like Jonathan Adler offers a prescription for “anti-depressive living” through art and design, I am comfortable saying that scent is part of my personal prescription to help me live an anti-depressive life.  I have tunnel vision on this subject, so there may be lots of people who do not know, or care, about scenting their environment.  Can you imagine that?!

With a few stackable crates, blank artist canvases and some spray paint, you can transform any area from “blah” to “ahhh” in no time flat.  My color picks would be greens and blues. And since I have no artistic ability, I’d just spray each canvas one single color (one in light blue, one in cobalt blue, one in sage, etc.)  Art stores sell canvases in a multitude of sizes, and you can also find plain wooden crates to use as clothing baskets or shelving units for your cleaning products. Vintage crates add instant artistic flair and can be found on ebay or at garage sales, flea markets, antique stores, etc.

When it comes to design, an eclectic mix is perfect in a laundry area. A cross between shabby chic and Scandinavian design sounds like uber-fun. Personally, I like the idea of taking old and/or abandoned items originally designed for one purpose and re-using them for a totally different use.  It’s a fantastic way to recycle without spending a dime.  For instance, if your laundry area is in your garage, you might have an old refrigerator in there that hasn’t worked for eons.  Why not give it a new life and purpose?  Remove the doors and mount them on the wall for insta-shelving.  Pretty laundry products sitting inside an old weathered piece (or vintage pieces – used as art – sitting atop a funky new shelf!) are such an awesome combination. Combining new pieces with rustic, old pieces is – as is often stated in the fashion industry – “the new black”.

And how about using the actual fridge unit as your new clothes basket organizational system?!  The configuration will depend on whether it’s a top/bottom or side-by-side model, but the basic idea would be to arrange the shelving, breaking it up into 3 to 4 sections for each clothing category.  Then apply magnetized labels, such as: “Whites”, “Brights”, “Darks” and “Delicates”. Be creative and make it fun!  It does not have to be expensive, especially if you re-use and recycle as much as possible. Check out local garage sales, flea markets and salvage yards for diamonds in the rough.