Big Window Challenge

My friends and I often joke about different stores in New York where we would love to live. Bloomingdale's is usually not on that list but that was before Eddie Ross got his hands on their windows! In case you haven't heard, Bloomingdale's is sponsoring a Big Window Challenge and Eddie has been tapped to decorate the window for ELLE DECOR. Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan is of course designing the window for Apartment Therapy and Eileen Joyce is working on the window for Bloomingdale’s. The windows will up until January 28, 2010 and you can read more about them and vote for your favorite online. Eddie's windows seen here were inspired the modern woman who loves to travel and entertain. Sounds right up my alley! Wonder if they'd notice if I moved in!

Photos by Addie Juell

Good Things

In my haste to get my fabulous flea market finds into a cab and out of the rain, I accidentally left my silver edged glass cake plates with Eddie's even more fabulous flea market loot. He was kind enough to send them over today and to my surprise he included a little gift, Martha Stewart's Good Things from Tag Sales and Flea Markets! Eddie called it his bible and I especially can't wait to read the tips for how to clean your treasures once you get them home. Thanks Eddie! You're a good thing too!

Flea Market Fun with Eddie Ross!

I would have been happy with receiving just an email from Top Design contestant and Martha Stewart Living Senior Style Editor, Eddie Ross, but to go to the flea markets with him was a both a treat and an honor! Eddie is so amazingly talented and knowledgeable that I joked that I was learning from The Master but it really was the truth! Luckily, we got to take a few photos and enjoy the outdoor flea market at 39th and 9th before the deluge began!


Eddie, not surprisingly, had already done a walk-thru before we arrived and had started making a pile! His partner Jaithan, who also couldn't have been sweeter, joked that when they are driving Eddie can spot a tag sale and be out the door and have things under his arm before anyone else is even out of the car and I believe it! It was amazing watching him find things that the rest of hadn't even seen! You gotta dig!

Not only does he find things that others over look but he thinks outside the box so a ceiling light fixture could become a cake plate if placed on top of a vase! He is a creative genius!

Some of Eddie's purchases included a fabulous bar cart and Christmas ornaments because he's already thinking about his holiday decorations! Somehow this doesn't surprise me!

I saw these great marble lamps on his blog from his visit to the flea market last weekend and to my surprise the dealer still had them this weekend so I scooped them up without hesitation! They were $100 for the pair and had already been rewired so now they just need new harps and shades. One will look perfect on my desk now and the pair will look great flanking a sofa later when I have a larger apartment! We saw a similar pair later for $150 that didn't have anywhere near as nice a patina as mine.

The best part about Eddie is his incredible knowledge. He knows exactly what every utensil is to be used for like the cake fork and sugar spoons we saw today. I like to think I know a lot but being with Eddie made me realize that I need educate myself more about china and flatware! Anyone have any good book recommendations that would help with this task?

I loved all the beautiful wood, ivory and mother of pearl handled flatware on Eddie's blog and unfortunately we came across a treasure trove in the garage flea market on 25th Street after I had already spent well over my budget! Eddie was also great at teaching us how much is fair to pay for certain items at the flea market which was very helpful!

Another good rule of thumb is to think about a price that you are willing to spend on an item before you inquire as to how much they are asking. When I saw this fabulous box of gold Greek key bordered china from Heinrich & Co. of Bavaria Germany in a box on the floor, I was a little nervous as to what the dealer was going to say so when he replied $40 it was a no brainer! (I think I might have gotten an Eddie special though since he's a regular!) There were 10 dinner plates, 11 bread/dessert plates, 8 tea cups, 4 saucers, two different sized bowls and a creamer. More than you could ever get new for $40! The only problem is that I'm obviously missing some pieces and I can't figure out what pattern it is yet on Replacements Limited. If anyone knows or can figure it out, I would be eternally grateful!

The china is so beautiful that I can't stop looking at it! I might have to start drinking tea just so I can use them everyday! There is nothing that sounds as lovely as the tinkling of a tea cup and saucer! I recently bought some gold rimmed champagne and wine glasses at Housing Works that could lean a little too Donald Trump with the gold rimmed china but I think they might actually look nice together. (I also styled this photo as an homage to Eddie and his professional looking photos on his blog!)

I also bought a few other odds and ends including these chic gold cuff links for $10! I might give them to the Bachelor or save them for someone else who might appreciate their elegant simplicity. I also found an old book entitled Furniture and Decoration from 1941 for only $7 and a few accessories for the Bachelor Pad.

All in all, it was a fun and educational day and I want to thank Eddie Ross for being so gracious and sharing all his secrets! I always say that the people I've met are the best part about blogging but it's really true! We have to wait until November to see who wins Top Design but it's clear that Eddie is already a winner in my book!!!

Habitually Chic Redecorates

I'm blaming Brilliant Asylum for my overwhelming need to redecorate my apartment. I had already been thinking about it after seeing Domino editor Tori Mellott's new apartment in the September 2008 issue but then Brilliant Asylum posted about Eddie Ross from Top Design and Martha Stewart and that was it...once I saw all the photos on his blog (see below) I knew I was a goner. You know that old saying that the cobbler's children have no shoes? I don't want to be the interior designer with the less than chic apartment! That's worse than a hairdresser with bad hair! There really is no excuse!

Like Tori's old apartment, my current one has a lot of color but it's really not feeling cohesive or as sophisticated as I would like so I've come up with a plan...landlord and security deposit be damned! I'm going to paint all the walls a grey/taupe color (similar to the bachelor pad), finally strip and paint over the honey colored shiny wood trim in Benjamin Moore White Dove (wish I had done this when I moved in!), paint the front door a very high gloss deep dark brown (black won't really work), get rid of the chair that is too big for my living room (I kept it thinking I would want it if I ever moved. Two years later and I'm still here.), paint the television cabinet (not sure what color yet), cull my books (do I really need The Nanny Diaries? I think not.), find a glass and brass vintage two tier coffee table (anyone have one they want to get rid of?), rehang all my new art (I seem to have a small ebay addiction to buying vintage watercolors and abstract paintings), get control of my magazines and tear sheets (I hope I don't end up one of those people who die when their stack of magazines falls on them!), and start collecting more real china and hotel silver (darn you Eddie Ross for inspiring me!).

I also plan to do as much as I can on a budget so you can follow me to the flea markets and all my favorite thrift shops. Oh, and did I mention I'm not a morning person?! The early bird may get the worm but sometimes the afternoon flea marketer gets a better bargain. I'm sure there is no way I could beat Eddie Ross there anyway so there is no use in trying! Check back for more updates!