Opening this post with a photo of kumquats, you ask? Yeah, well – I washed them and dumped them on the countertop yesterday before I put them on my plate at breakfast time. They’re so beautiful I had to snap a photo! I honestly couldn’t help myself. I guess this goes without saying, but color can do wonderful things to your mood. I seriously got a whirl of happiness when I saw that color combination happening on my counter top. Which leads me to this post: there will be rainbow color-coded accessories involved, I promise.
Even though it feels good for the New England Estate Sale season to be kicking into gear, the first pre-thaw sale proved to be a bit of a disappointment for treasure hunting. However, the property it was held at was certainly something else – those BARNS!! I wish I could get my hands on that house and those outbuildings, omgosh it has so much potential! I went early to the sale in hopes that I would find something, but no luck. There was a set of vintage Lane end tables that caught my eye, but I quickly decided they felt a little too country for the look I am trying achieve in the #ABCDJewelBox.
Later that day I ventured to Kent, Connecticut. I popped in and out of my favorite antique stores in town. I know I told you about Scott and Bowne several times in the past – you might remember the martini pitcher I gave as a hostess gift and 19th Century Glass Canisters with Brass Lids that sit upon our vintage partner desk – they’ve always got a lot of great merchandise at Scott and Bowne and this last visit surely didn’t disappoint. You should have seen the antique work table that was being carried out as I walked in – WOW! It was a beauty.
The moment I saw these Campaign style end tables, I knew they were right for either side of the Queen Size Daybed. The only trick was to convince the Mr that we need more furniture. (He says we need furniture like we need another hole in our head.) These beauties are solid Mahogany by Beacon Hill. I love that they have a pull-out tray for water glasses so that you don’t leave rings on the wood. I texted the Mr a photo with a price and explained how I could envision them not only being used now, but in our future. To my great surprise he wrote back “Okay.” HA! I wish he was always so agreeable. 
A few years ago I stumbled upon beautifully designed hard-bound Penguin Classics at Michele Varian’s shop. My mom was accessorizing her home at the time and I turned her onto them. (See her amazing Red Secretary below – I A-D-O-R-E that piece!) Ever since then, I have coveted her collection. Perhaps it’s time I procure a set for myself? After I set my eyes on those dressers, I realized my time has come. What would be better to place on those bookshelves, other than a collection of color-coded classics?
And on our last visit to Tennessee, our friends took us to a Smoky Mountains art and crafts center chalk full of handmade Appalachian crafts. It was there that I saw a slew of Blenko water bottles on display together. I’d seen them a million times before singularly on their own – they are not precious collectibles, but beautiful and very affordable – don’t they look incredible as a rainbow collection? At 8 inches tall, they’d easily fit on the shelf, but would be great on display somewhere else in the apartment as well. I could use them for water, but also as cut flower containers. 
Even though we’re going with a decidedly neutral base for the flooring, paint, kitchen and bath finishes – between color coded books, the Blenko water bottle collection, the colorful vintage crystal tumblers I picked up and (hopefully!) the Waterford Mixology Collection – the NYC apartment is shaping up to be a jewel box after all!
