Decor Arts Now

By Lynn Byrne.  Perhaps overabundance?  Certainly, overwhelmed.

That is how I felt during my first trip to the Brimfield Antiques Market.  Nothing that I read before I went (and I have read plenty), prepared me for its vastness.

No worries, though.  Even in my stunned and dazed condition, I managed to capture the flavor of the market for you to enjoy. 

There were just two shots that got away.

The first is for those of you who are stalking Celerie.  If  you wanted a stuffed peacock, like the one in Celerie Kemble’s living room, it was there for the asking.

Celerie Kemble’s Living Room via Lonny

Indeed, stuffed peacocks must be a trend of sorts, because the September Elle Decor featured another homeowner who kept hers in her dining room.  
So now you know where to go to get one for yourself.  I just gaped at it and forgot all about my camera.

Similarly, if you are digging the tribal look, you could have scooped up loads of the black and khaki fabric seen below made up as pillows.  You just gotta trust me, it was there.  I was too busy snapping tribal baskets to get the photo of the fabric.

Next two photos from 2 different homes in the September Elle Decor

I did manage to snap evidence that the “steampunk” look is still very much alive and well.  I most often saw industrial parts converted into lighting or mirrors.  Take a look. 

Further on trends that have not died, there was loads of sea life and everything found its way under a cloche.  

All of these coral lamps were marked sold.  

Love this giant piece of coral for  an empty fireplace. 

And check it, sea horses under a cloche. 

Staffordshire dogs also will not die.  Like cats, they must have at least 9 lives. 

Sometimes I wondered what came first, the Brimfield merchandise or the use of an object by a major design firm.  For example, I saw lots of colorful bobbins like these.

The display couldn’t help but remind me of the vignette at last March’s Diffa By Design, created by design firm 2Michaels.  The firm received a lot of press for their use of bobbins to add color to their vignette.  Do you think the Brimfield vendors offered similar items on theory that folks might want to copy the look?  I wonder.  

What do I think will be a new trend?  Surely, there will be more rooms showcasing colorful bright kilims like the one below.  They were simply everywhere. So eye catching and a great base for a room.

Other items that caught my eye included  these cheerful lockers.  They would be fun in a mudroom.

And maybe because I have a new nephew, I kept drooling over children’s items.  Isn’t this dresser darling?  And the connestoga wagon is a lamp!

More charming children’s items.  Smitten with the wooden bridge and ferris wheel, and I can just see a sweet toddler chilling in the elephant chair.

Winner of  the “too big for the car” category, is this monumental table with giant concrete feet for a base.  I’m a thinkin’ we may see it in a fancy loft of an uber cool person featured in Elle Decor or Vogue.  Do you think it should be paired with a hand chair?

I nearly cried leaving these beds behind.  Adore them.  Maybe someday I will have my own little antique store in Montauk, and will have a reason to buy the things I like but have no use for at home or for a client.

If I were buying for my (hopefully) future, beachy antique shop, these andiron anchors also would have come home with me.

What did I get? 

Mere trinkets.  My main purpose was to check out the scene for the aforementioned dream store of mine.  Plus, I had fun scouting with my friend Lisa, for her store Reposed NY.  

We got lots of cool merchandise for Lisa, including this neat metal table and deco style mirror.  I think the pair would be great in an entry way.  Lisa is located in Hiden Galleries and Antiques & Artisans gallery in Stamford CT, plus she maintains a store front in the East Village in NYC.  Click here to see pics of her store and for a link to her website.

I hope next time I go to Brimfield, I am buying for my Montauk antique store.  What are your design-related dreams?  Do tell.

Except as noted, all photos by Lynn Byrne for Decor Arts Now.

By Lynn Byrne.  Since I started this week with a tree planting, it seemed fitting that I would close with some eye candy from the preview party for the New York Botanical Garden’s Antique Garden Furniture Show and Sale.  

Spring has finally arrived in New York.  Hallelujah!

The good stuff goes at lightning speed at this show.  Larry and I attended the preview party last night.  You need to run through the tent to nab the best stuff.  Sold stickers are everywhere, even if you arrive right on time.

The Botanical Garden is a fantasy land. 

The show booths are lush and dreamy.

Here are some of the goodies I spotted.

My favorite: this monumental starburst mirror (diameter 56 inches) in tones of copper and verdigris, and attributed to Maison Jansen.  

I think this alligator would be perfect on the lawn of a Palm Beach estate. 

This massing of pendant lights is so colorful and exotic.  The dealer said they came from several different countries. 

I can see this large, long capiz chandelier hanging over a center table in a double height foyer of a Hamptons home. 

Bunny Williams needs to buy this (although I suspect she has no difficulty finding charming rabbits). 

This tiny squirrel is so adorable.  

Single blooms in a row of bottles remains a popular display technique. 

Now that is a bird house.  I think it is bigger than some folks’ Manhattan apartments. 

These heads would look cool anywhere. 

There were lots of mounted objects.  These fossils and the shells that follow them also would be great in a beach house.

But it was this sweet little frog that captured my heart.  Love his eyes and he looked so adorable on the polka dotted mushrooms that I had to get him.  He will be right at home with my family of frogs that live on the edge of our pool in Montauk. 

Kips Bay on Monday.  Have a great weekend everyone. All photos by Lynn Byrne for Decor Arts Now.