Chinese Chippendale

Not sure why 

I love a Chinese Chippendale 

pattern so much.

Domino Magazine

It might be a result of the many trips 

we took to colonial Williamsburg

when I was a little girl....?

elledecor.com

Or it may have something to do 
with my love of history 

and architecture.....?

walpolewoodworkers.com

Maybe it's because the designs are simply beautiful?

Baker Furniture

Whatever the case,
I love it.


Classic. Timeless. Elegant.

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We had Chinese Chippendale 

porch railings, a screen door,  
and a gate added to

the colonial house 
that we used to live in.



And to think it has been around since
the 1700's. It really is timeless.

Screentight.com

walpolewoodworkers.com

Here is a little background information on Thomas Chippendale:

The Chinese Chippendale patterns 

are named after Thomas Chippendale (1718-1779), 

London’s most widely known furniture and cabinet maker
during the mid-Georgian, English Rococo, and Neoclassical styles.

This classic motif originated from his interest in incorporating Chinese 

and other Asian elements into various furniture
and cabinetry designs.

The geometric line patterns, usually within a rectangular framework, 

are varied and quite complex for a builder or artisan to execute. 

During the colonial period, Americans adapted and used

Chinese Chippendale designs for fence railings, porch balustrades,

railings on roof tops, interior staircases,
and furniture and accessory designs.

Chippendale elements are evident in the preserved homes and buildings

in colonial Williamsburg, and at Jefferson’s Monticello.

(Taken in part from Wikipedia and from thisiscarpentry.com)

ZieringInteriors.com

mattersofstyle.blogspot.com

RossWoodwork.com

1stdibs.com

elledecor.com

Do you like Chinese Chippendale patterns?

Do you have any in your home?

walpolewoodworkers.com

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day

to you and your family.

God bless the soldiers

past and present

who fought for our

right to be free.

With sincere gratitude

today and always.

To Market, to Market!

If you have ever been antiquing 

or vintage treasure hunting in Chicago,

you probably know about the 

Randolph Street Market.

Aptly termed a "mecca of cool" 
this outdoor and indoor market 
attracts over 200 dealers and vendors

from all over the country one weekend a month,

seven months a year.

Nate Berkus says, 

"I love this market ... the quality is incredible!"

You will find everything from antique, vintage and modern

furnishings, to clothing, jewelry, and collectibles.

(Photo courtesy of the Huffington Post)

Not only are there GREAT antiques and vintage
things to go CRAZY for,
there are vintage fashion and jewelry vendors, 
designers and local artists,
fresh foods, flowers and plant vendors too.

Each month there is a theme ---
this month's is 
GARDEN

Held on the last weekend of every month,

from May through November, 

this urban chic marketplace, 
now in it's 8th season,
is not to be missed.

Located in Chicago's historic West Loop neighborhood,
 at 1350 West Randolph Street,

this shopping destination is easy to get to 
and offers convenient

valet parking for suburbanites (like me.) 

Why do I love the Randolph Street Market?

Amazing Antiques and Vintage Finds

Fantastic vendors from across the country

Really great food

(from trendy local eateries)

Live musical groups

Beers and wines 

(so you can have a cocktail while browsing)

Fast Cash available ( ATM's)

Easy pick-up and loading service

Early bird shopping option 
The city skyline is your backdrop
(love that)

Fun people watching spot!

What's NOT to love?

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL......

BTW..... $25 will get you in the doors 
2 hours early (8 - 10am) for shopping 
before general admission. 
Worth every penny and
all the proceeds got to charity....sweet!

http://www.randolphstreetmarket.com/

I will be there with friends

this weekend 
for the grand opening

of the Randolph Street Market.

So jump in your car,
or hop on the next plane,
and meet us in the windy city 
this weekend, ok?




 What are you waiting for?

:)

My kind of town.      (Photo courtesy of myopera.com)

A garden folly

 One day this past week
my daughter and I took a walk to the lake.

We walked down a street that we've walked

down many times before.

But this time, something was different.

This wonderful old building

has magically appeared

in the backyard of an old estate.

It was never ever there before.

It's very old, though you can't tell from my cell phone photos.

The homeowners must have purchased

this wonderful old garden folly

and had it moved here.

A small team of landscapers were

very busy moving dirt, new trees,

and plants. I tried to peek

to take some close up pictures of what
they were working on

but these were the only ones I

felt comfortable in taking ---

 the view from the street.
(My daughter was embarrassed that
I was taking pictures at all!)

In a month from now,

this fantastic new addition will look

like it has been there for a hundred years.

The architectural details are stunning. Original wavy glass window panes too.

This  similar structure Brookline, Massachusetts. Would swear they were the same, minus some figurines.

This one in Medford. Massachusetts

And this last one is from Wakefield, Massachusetts

Wouldn't it be interesting 

to know where this

one was moved from?

(I'll let you know if two figurines appear on the rooftop!)

The following is the definition for a FOLLY taken from Wikipedia:

In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting 

by its appearance some other purpose, or merely so extravagant that it transcends the normal 

range of garden ornaments or other class of building to which it belongs. In the original use 

of the word, these buildings had no other use, but from the 19th to 20th centuries the term 

was also applied to highly decorative buildings which had secondary practical functions such

as housing, sheltering or business use.

18th century English gardens and French landscape gardening often featured Roman temples, which symbolized classical virtues or ideals. Other 18th century garden follies represented Chinese temples, Egyptian pyramids, ruined abbeys, or Tatar tents, to represent different continents or historical eras. Sometimes they represented rustic villages, mills and cottages, to symbolize rural virtues.

Partial List of follies in the United States

• Bancroft Tower, Worcester, Massachusetts
• Belvedere Castle, New York City
• Bishop Castle,   Pueblo, Colorado
• Cabazon Dinosaurs, Cabazon, California
• Italian Barge, Villa Vizcaya, Miami, Florida
• Körner's Folly, Kernersville, North Carolina
• Lawson Tower, Scituate, Massachusetts

All older photos credit:

http://downeastdilittante.wordpress.com

The Game Room

 This is the game room in our house. 

It's where our teens and their friends 

hang out when they come by. 

Since our house is a converted polo barn and stables, 

there is no lower level basement 
to send the kids to
like most homes around here. 
We are on a big old slab.

Found this reproduction train poster 
on Ebay last year. 

What's notable is that this poster 

is advertising the Chicago North Shore Line 

which was the very same train line that brought people 
out from the city to see polo matches in our town

 at the same time when this place was built. 
This place was built in 1939,
and the most famous U.S. polo match ever played
in American history was played right here in Illinois,
 the East-West Clash of 1933.

Old school room clock and framed vintage game box top.

I added bases to the bottom of vintage glove molds to help them stand up. Now they are helping hands.

Put the bookcase up on my grandfather's old harvest table to balance the height of the game closet on the other side of the room.

There is a 1950's bowling game in the corner. My husband and I played with one like this when we were first dating. :)

Vintage game table has old board games and pieces under glass.

Believe it or not, ultrasuede is great with kids.... everything wipes off.

Found this old pinball machine game board at the Junk Bonanza in MN.

My mom sent me this red ruler covered box a few years back.

Wish I could say this was my little red scooter, but it isn't. 

Found this old display case for my vintage horse show ribbon and equine playing card collection.

Curiosity always gets the best of Max.

Love the warmth and texture of a used brick wall.

Wish we had more of them here.

One more thing.....

I just wanted to say

thank you to all of my faithful followers!

I cannot believe that there are more than 300 of you.

Please know how much I appreciate each 

and every time you stop by 
sharing your sweet and supportive comments. 
You keep me going! Thank you all.

Do you have a game room

or a play room where your kids can play?

Spending quality time with my buds

Many thanks to Ann at OnSuttonPlace for teaching me how create this collage! Thanks Ann!

Things are budding 

and some are even blossoming 

in the gardens here.

What's blooming 

along your garden paths?

Thanks for stopping by today.
Always look forward to your visits.