4 Charmingly Vintage Laundry Rooms

Apr 10, 2012 by

Laundry rooms and I have always had an eclectic relationship.  When my husband and I lived in the Hollywood Hills, our laundry room was outside on our deck, which was tucked into a gorgeous hillside with trailing leaves and lush foliage.  I loved doing laundry there – until the raccoons decided to live under our deck and torment our dogs.  When we lived on the slopes of Haleakala on Maui, next to the rainforest, our laundry room was also outside, which was fabulous unless the trade winds were not blowing – meaning the mosquitos were biting me as I was sorting our colors.  Now we have a somewhat “normal” laundry room in Los Angeles, which is jammed in a tiny room that dumps us out into the garage, and I’m scrambling to make it a more bearable place amidst dirty socks!

Did you know that the average American household does 400 loads of laundry every year, according to the California Energy Commission?  That means we spend an inordinate amount of time washing, drying, folding, and ironing!  To help make our time in the laundry room as pleasant as possible, I’ve rounded up four charming, vintage inspired laundry rooms that can easily take the pain out of cleaning stains!

From Southern Living comes an enchanting laundry room in a relaxing soft blue (specifically, Sherwin-Williams Waterscape) that is especially lovely on the wood plant walls and ceilings.  Vintage charm from the porcelain enamel pendants makes laundry time lovely both day and night.  Using open shelving with glass jars makes the room feel airy, while lending aesthetic appeal.  With the washing machines and dryer tucked neatly under the black soapstone counter, I would not mind laundry day so much if it were in this charming room!

 

White and light grays are the perfect backdrop to clean laundry, as beautifully showcased by Cabbages & Roses.  The vintage accents, ranging from the tin sign and wash board to the metal canisters artfully holding detergent, can infuse personality into any laundry room.  I especially love the curtains below the counter, perfectly accenting the deep farmhouse sink.

 

The vintage industrial ambiance of this laundry room from Elle Décor tops my list!  I just love how the garden room and laundry room can live together so harmoniously.  The deep trough-like sink, vintage bottle drying racks (perfect for drying intimates – genius!), and the fantastic collection of galvanized watering cans make me swoon.

 

Home & Harmony  has created such a warm, relaxing, and achievable laundry room, and I especially love the vintage industrial touches throughout the room, like the galvanized locker-style baskets and the hanger, which are such genius organizing ideas.  Even the fruit baskets tie in beautifully with the entire feel of the room.

I’m inspired to transform my laundry room dungeon into a place that can cleanse my soul – and our family’s socks.  How about you?

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In Pictures: How a Chesterfield Sofa is Made

Jul 31, 2011 by

The chesterfield sofa is an iconic furniture piece that exudes sophistication, wisdom, and comfort all at the same time.  If you have ever wondered just how these pieces are made – and why they last for so many decades – just take a look at the step-by-step, handmade process that goes into each one of these creations by The Original Sofa Co. in the UK. 

Every fine chesterfield starts out as a lovely sketch.

 

The hardwood frames are handcut, and then the construction officially begins.

 

Don’t forget the padding for years and years of comfort!

 

I love how this process is literally sewn by hand!

 

Here comes the tufts or which chesterfields are famous.

 

And voila!  A true masterpiece ready to grace any den or study for decades.

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4 Iconic Vintage Chairs Interpreted into Beds

Mar 31, 2011 by

Great furniture design transcends not only time, but its original form.  Let me illustrate with four examples of iconic chair and sofa designs – and how they beautifully translate into beds!   From chesterfields to Eames, it is clear that these antique and vintage designs live happily both in living rooms and bedrooms.


While Pltrona Frau’s white chesterfield sofa is a recent design, the chesterfield itself is as iconic as an antique sofa gets!  Of course, the chesterfield is beautifully interpreted as a bed, which is the Kensington from the collection of faux leather beds by Our World of Interiors.   Remember, not any button-tufted headboard will do, as the gently wrapped lines of the chesterfield are just as important.


The chesterfield button style combines with the classic wingback chair to create a piece that stands the test of time — and different rooms.  This wingback chesterfield chair from Sevens becomes a lovely headboard for a bed, which is the Sandringham, again from the collection of leather beds from Our World of Interiors.  This type of darker leather chesterfield inspired bed is great for a gentleman’s room or even a modern couple’s bedroom.


The Eames Lounger is one of the most iconic and coveted mid-century modern pieces.  If you want your pup to have as exquisite MCM taste as you do, then the Vurv Ellipse dog bed fits the bill!  This is the perfect canine sleeping interpretation of the Eames Lounger.  Wouldn’t it look lovely at the foot of your bed in your mid-century modern inspired bedroom?

Modernica’s Case Study Alpine Bed takes the beautiful, iconic lines of the Eames bentwood chair and turns it into a work of art for your bedroom.  I appreciate how the design thoughtfully translates the feet and curves, but I do think the headboard could have paid a bit more homage to Eames.  Nonetheless, it is a lovely bedroom interpretation of the Eames bentwood chair.

I’d love to hear about any chair-to-bed transformations you’ve seen – or would like to see!

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A Glamorous Library Card Catalog Renovation

Sep 27, 2010 by

Have you ever seen a library card catalog don high heels and sip cocktails?  Me neither — until I saw what the couple at Dream Book Design did!   The DIY couple repurposed a library card catalog into a glamorous, renovated buffet that is divine!  First, let’s take a gander at the “before,” with its hardware stripped.

And here is the stunning after!  Does it remind you too of a librarian dressed in her chicest outfit at a fancy 1940s dinner party?

While I disagree with the title of their post, “turning old junk to beauty,” as library card catalogs are absolute treasures that are slowly becoming extinct, I do wholeheartedly agree with the beauty part!

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Spring Cleaning on Poetic Home

May 3, 2010 by

 

Poetic Home has needed a spring cleaning for many seasons, and I am very proud to unveil the new look, which I believe is much more symbolic of the Poetic Home aesthetic.  The website is not 100% complete just yet, as we have a few bugs to work out, but I’d love to hear your feedback!

With all of the spring cleaning, I’m also hoping to get your input about what type of content and regular features you’d like to see.

Would you like more repurposing goodness, vintage interior design posts, and peeks into chic vintage-inspired homes?  I’m also thinking of introducing new regular posts, such as a weekly round-up of library card catalogs for sale, as well as guests who share photos and stories of typewriters in their lives.  What do you think?

I sincerely welcome and appreciate your thoughts!

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If Poetic Home Designed a Vintage Motorcycle…

Apr 27, 2010 by

When I was young and reckless just five years ago, I would ride around on the back of my boyfriend’s (who turned into my husband) GSXR motorcycle wearing cocktail dresses and stilettos after partying around Honolulu.  While I thought we looked quite dashing then, imagine if we were riding around on this BMW motorcycle, as seen via materialiste!  It’s not just a rendering — but a real Art Deco motorbike that BMW recently found in a crate in one of their “sheds.”  It was created before WWI, but never went into full production.  Let’s keep our fingers crossed that it does one day!

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