Urban Animal design project complete

The past year or so I've been working on the interior design of a Seattle based veterinary clinic, Urban Animal. With a perfect, centrally located Capitol Hill location, our aesthetic aim is to be the direct antithesis of other vet clinics in the region, with nary a trace of the usual veterinary interior schemes to be found. To this end, I spec'd materials, finishes, colors and furnishings not typically seen in vet clinics. 

Recycled materials (rough pallet wood lined walls & old windows), vibrant, color-saturated laminate from the Italian geniuses at Abet, and old-skool Steelcase chairs command attention in the lobby area. There, you'll also find a true-blue 1960's photo booth where you & your animal can duck into for a quick set of snapshots, and when you get thirsty, you'll find a water fountain with service for both you and the hound. Each exam room features a custom wallpaper created with vintage black & white photos of people and their pets, paying homage to that age-old, cherished relationship. And, during my past year's travels and picking adventures, I've been finding and stockpiling vintage art, signage and decor pieces. In the end, we accomplished what we set out to do, and that's to create a veterinary practice that's both unique and memorable. 

Hudson Valley, NYC & Toronto bound

larisa and i are off on an east coast jaunt, visiting the hudson valley, nyc and toronto. i'll start by saying i'm absolutely in LOVE with the town of Hudson, NY. it's as though the founders in 1785 said "we'll make this town so perfectly gorgeous that in 2014 sarah will want to relocate here." though the town has seen its share of fires, decay and misguided redevelopment, much of the original colonial and victorian architecture remains. we looked at a 15 acre property outside of town with a home on site that was built in 1745. yep, 1745. it included barns, a silo, a creek, pond and small waterfall. the home still has its original beams, posts, and wood floors, along with the rugged grey stone exterior. and, it all can be yours for $375,000! i mean, seriously. 

but, beyond the incredible structures and beautiful landscapes, for me, lies the most intriguing element of the hudson valley region- THE PICKING THERE IS INSANE. plentiful and varied beyond comprehension. like i said, this place is my jam. it's bananas.

a major highlight of where we stayed in Hudson was our airBNB apartment, named Six Ten Inn. it's situated in an ancient row house and is perfectly bright and airy with a seamless blend of old and new. it's right across the street from the saturday farmers market, and just a block from the main vintage shopping drag, warren ave. (warren also houses many restaurants, bars and boutiques. it's where you want to be.) make sure you stay here if you visit the hudson valley- you won't regret it. 

here's a few shots of what caught my eye. 

the front door of our apartment. don't be fooled- few people in hudson upgrade their facade in order to keep their property taxes down, as theyre awfully expensive as it is. but, once you open the door, you'll know you are exactly where you want to be....

seattle's Red Bear beans at Swallow Coffee, Hudson, NY. it was fantastic. 

a couple picks.

the Hudson River & the Catskills at dusk.

anyway, now it's on to nyc and then toronto.... loving my seattle junk love life. 

what's your favorite find?

people often want to know if i have a favorite item i've found, or what's the best thing i've ever picked. and honestly speaking, i'm not sure i have an answer to that. (other than the 14' nautical painting you see a couple posts earlier.... because, really you guys, that thing is an honest to goodness gem.)  i'm also asked frequently if i have a hard time parting with the things i bring home, and the answer to that is a solid YES. most days i do my best to let go of many (some?) of my finds. 

sometimes, the question as to WHY i buy particular items is a bit easier for me to pin down. almost always, the stuff i'm most attached and attracted to isn't very flashy or incredibly valuable, but, instead, has a sense of warmth and worn-out grit mashed up with a bit of tough, utilitarian charm. finding the simple stuff- like an old wool blanket, or a slightly crushed stetson hat, or a beefy cast iron lamp, or a cracked leather chair, or a faded sign for a derelict roadside attraction- these are the sorts of things that get me excited about my job. anyway, here's an assortment of some of my favorites i've picked this past year or so. perhaps you'll see something that's now living with you??!! thanks for your business, everyone. cheers.  

An old West Seattle house

Went to an estate sale in West Seattle yesterday at a great old, white wooden clapboard house. It was on set back on a double lot with views of Alki just down the street at the end of the block. This gorgeous old relic is bound for demolition soon, however, to make room for a mass of new townhomes. Sad to know that gorgeous, wide porch won't be hosting and more summer sunsets. Anyway, I found a couple fun things in the basement- a huge old canvas duffle bag and a set of black & white photos of Mt Hood, Oregon. And a sweet yellow rose bush. 

Fresh pick Wednesday

Just grabbed this metal topped workbench and Art Deco floor lamp. Pretty sure the shade isn't original & I'll replace it at some point. Apologize for the poor photos but had to get em in my van before the seller realized I scored such a great deal. ;) it's a good day, people!

SOLD pair of 9' vintage wooden benches- $310

last week i spent some time down in oregon roaming around the coast and then heading up into the hills of logging country. in the midst of an excursion during a pouring rainstorm, we rounded a steep bend and came upon a tiny little hill town. we slowed down, parked the van and rooted around for some cool stuff to buy. in under an hour we had done our business, loaded the van up and headed on down the road with bunch of stuff to sell to you. here's the first item to consider- two 9' long wooden benches with Formica tops and aluminum edge banding. they're solid, functional, and even better looking than your average wooden bench. picture a pack of your favorite people sitting on these benches around your dinner table, picnic table or backyard fire pit, enjoying an evening of great food and greater stories. these benches come with their own small-town history (who all sat on these benches?? loggers, school kids, community center bazaar-goers, junior varsity basketball teams?), but they're ready to take on a new chapter. (9' L x 18" H x 11.5" D)

working for Salt & Straw- Pdx scoop shop superstars!

lately, i've been on the junking trail again for perhaps my most favorite client ever, Salt & Straw, Portland's ice cream dream. "http://saltandstraw.com/" their shop on ne alberta street is killing it, and they're set to open scoop-shop #2 on 23rd (@ kearney) in the very near future. so, that means i've been knee deep in picking mode- finding them furniture, furnishings, lighting and such, in addition to designing something interesting for the bathroom. this building on 23rd/kearney was originally constructed in 1912 as a movie theater (The Nob Hill Theater), and endured a good run until 1986 when it sadly shuttered its doors. since then, this address has housed a number of retail/food scenarios, and these folks did their darndest to cover up any of the old theater's charm. but, thankfully, Hammer and Hand (Salt & Straw's amazing contractor) is peeling back the layers of "remodeling" to unearth a few remnants of what once was, and returning the space to modern-day glory. the stately old timbers and massive trusses have been nicely preserved and appear ready for their new life out in the open again.

so, stay tuned for updates! and in the meantime, here are a few photos to give you an idea of just what all is happening in the land of salt & straw and seattle junk love. cheers!

and by the way, salt & straw will ship pints of their incredible ice cream right to your door. via the magic of dry ice and ups.

SOLD vintage schoolhouse map set- $395

well, here's something you don't see everyday- a set of seven maps on a single, spring-loaded roller, circa 1934. made by the webb costello co., chicago heights, each full-color, canvas-backed lithographed map can be rolled down and viewed one at a time by way of the technologically magical "multiple map holder" system. (this revolutionary patent was issued to W. B. Wilson in 1927. there's a small brass tag on the wooden mounting frame listing the patent number. a cool detail that makes this thing even cooler.) maps contained on this roller are: africa, south america, north america, asia, united states, europe and the world. there is some light water damage at the base of each map, but as it unrolls, the condition rapidly improves, revealing full-color maps in incredible detail. dimensions are 57" x 46". someone is going to be real real happy to have this beaut hanging in their home. right now that person is me and i'm happy as heck.

SOLD Globe Wernicke wooden inbox tray- $37

inbox- a box or tray (as on a desk) for holding incoming interoffice mail.

tray- an open receptacle with a flat bottom and a low rim for holding, carrying, or exhibiting articles.

who doesn't have a need for this vintage office accessory? (circa 1930's) it's right for a million reasons and wrong for none. functional, good-looking, wooden, and with the original label still affixed, it's ready to go to work for you. 15" x 10" x 3"

SOLD vintage roll-down schoolhouse map- $155

if you're looking for a little bit of regional cartographic history from 1940, then look no further. this is a gem of a map that deserves to be prominently displayed and appreciated for its beauty and wealth of information. not only does it display the states of washington, oregon, montana and idaho in stunningly vivid color and detail, it gives you the head's up on natural vegetation, annual rainfall and population distribution. these canvas-backed roll-down maps are a dying breed- they once hung proudly for generations in schoolrooms across the country, but are now only found stashed away in attics, boiler rooms, closets, and in this case, an old barn about an hour north of seattle. dimensions are 55"h x 44"w.