Realistic Chic

I've said this before, but I still feel positives and negatives regarding online decor mags; on one hand, they're completely free! No subscription fees! Nada! On the other, I can't find a lovely new mag in my mailbox every 4 weeks to cut and tear at and chop into little pieces for my design scrapbooks. I suppose I wish there was a paper-version purchase option. Say that three times fast.

When Domino died - *sniff* something I'm still heartbroken over - there was an empty space in my life. A meaningless space of apartment. Void. I am not exaggerating. Domino was my design epiphany. Luckily, about 6 months posthumous, the first online mag of it's kind was born: Lonny. Oh, Lonny.

And then there were two. Nesting Newbies is another fabulous free online magazine with a fresh, colourful approach to interior design and decor. See for yourself:


What's special about NN is that it gives equal focus to the experience when people visit your home as the decoration of the home itself; half of each issue is dedicated to tasty recipes, playful table decor and visually stunning dinner themes! It's the new online go-to guide for the hostess who's tried everything else. I don't host much, but I think I'll take their tips for when I do. LOVE IT.

P.S. This is my 100th post! WOOT! I wish there was a prize...

Amazing (and affordable) antique stores!

As previously stated, I went to Victoria - located on Vancouver Island - for the long weekend. I was determined to peruse all the old antique shops and thrift stores that my hometown is known for...yet I was sadly let-down: many of the antique shops that used to line Oak Bay and Fort street have gone out of business. It is possible that these higher-end shops simply did not have sufficient clientele after the recession, which, in my opinion, hit Victoria much more noticeably than the lower mainland. Not that I was ever able to purchase much from such stores, but looking through them was always a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. What I did find was a lovely NEW shop located about 10 minutes outside of downtown that I instantly fell in love with: a colourful little place called Impressa. Much to my relief, many of the prices were also highly manageable and the staff was both knowledgeable and friendly.

Address:
Impressa
530 Craigflower Road
Victoria, BC
250-294-0406


The shop is relatively small for how many settees were on display (I counted 8 at the time):
I fell in love with the upholstered chair selection; seeing these really made me covet a bigger condo:
There is also a collection of silver hairbrushes and mirrors (these aren't the 20th century plated ones, these are the real deal) as well as a collection of Ivory accessories:
While this shop has a strong focus on estate sales with pieces ranging from 20th century all the way back to the 17th century, they are also preparing to open up an extra space in the back - which was hidden behind lovely black and white striped drapes at the time of my visit - exclusively for vintage fashions. The owner, Min, informed me to come back later on in the summer to check out this new development. I. Can't. Wait.
I walked away with this lovely late 19th-century console table (I will be using it for my bar). I am in a state on whether I should leave it as-is or refinish it in a high-gloss white:

Advice appreciated!

So today is a lazy read-on-the-bench day; we have our cardigans on due to the summer rain showers that have been visiting us on and off throughout the day. I must say I love Ang's new shades:

Breaking down the look:

• Jeans - H&M
• Sweater - H&M (current collection)
• Tank - Smart Set
• Glasses - H&M (current collection)
• Wedges - American Apparel (current collection)

Et moi:

Breaking down the look:

• Jeans - Bluenotes
• Sweater - Volcom
• Tank - Urban Behaviour
• Necklace - American Eagle
• Scarf - Le Chateau (current collection)
• Flats - Sterling

Note to self: Take the shots standing from now on.

Now I've really seen it all. I was sifting through the thrift stores in Victoria over the long weekend - it's why I haven't been around since last Wednesday, and stay tuned because there will be much more photos of antique finds over the next few days - and came across the most ridiculous thing to ever be price tagged: a plastic peanut-butter jar of rocks. I'll say it again. A. Plastic. Peanut-butter. Jar. Of rocks. The price? 99 cents. That's right. A dollar. For rocks.

My sister, being the total ham she is, graciously posed with the lovely jar of rocks to share it here:
If you are interested in this item, hurry now to the Salvation Army on Shelbourne street in Victoria, BC...quick before this amazing jar of rocks is gone!

I'm very excited to introduce a new feature for Realistic Chic: a look at what my (and my friend Angela's) everyday fashions, every Wednesday for the rest of the summer! We hang out for our English studying a lot so it's easy to have two looks to share on a consistent basis. We both really love flats, leather bags, and basically anything comfortable and chic, so our styles mesh well together. Enjoy!

Breaking down the look:

• Jeans  - H&M
• Striped top - H&M
• Black sweater - Aritzia
• Necklace - Top Shop UK
• Flats - Aldo
• Bag - Marc Jacobs
• Glasses - Juicy Couture

• Jeans - American Eagle
• Top - Urban Behaviour
• Leather jacket - Danier Leather
• Beaded necklace - American Eagle
• Twig necklace - Icing
• Flats - Payless
• Bag - Roxy
• Glasses - Roots

I was reminded by the treasures I brought home on Monday of all the other lovely things in my home that I didn't pay a cent for. One person's trash truly is another's treasure! So here is a look at my other curbside or dumpster finds; these are things people didn't want anymore and couldn't be bothered trying to sell at a garage sale or on craigslist, ebay, etc.

Actually, maybe that's the purple I need for the last pillow on my window bench. Yes? No?

Do you have any brag-worthy freecycled finds? How do you feel about rummaging through discards at your local dump-yard or picking something out of the garbage (not, like, gooey restaurant-bin garbage, but something you see sitting on top of tied bags and cardboard, etc)?

So I've finally finished sewing the bench cushion for the bay window seat, something previously mentioned, yet not accomplished for lack of time. The bench area is over 8' long and 3' wide and the cushion I found is almost 4" thick, although I compensated for the squish by an inch in both width and height. I used a yellow ribbed cotton-upholstery fabric and white piping on all edges for a crisp look. I love how the sun bounces off the cushion, like holding a buttercup flower to your chin and, upon seeing a yellow reflection off the skin, finding out you do, indeed, like butter. I think it compliments the iceberg blue of my walls. What do you think of it? Opinions really would help! (Ugh, those blinds are simply atrocious. Just awful.)

Next up is the throw pillows to prop me up when I read the plethora of texts for my English courses. Here's some samples of the fabric I've bought for them. You can see the photo to the right that inspired the colour palate; I think the picture is from Domino? The salmon colour is a floral silk; there is a reversable pewter and seafoam floral silk; then there is also a ruched pewter silk with no pattern that I mean to use for a neck roll. The strip of purple colour chips is still in debate. I can't decide what shade of purple to go with for the last pillow (what do you think?):
Then I need to make a new shower curtain. I hate how sleep is required to keep me going. It really gets in the way sometimes...

Today I was walking to an appointment - hence, the late post time - and spotted this quaint little bistro chair discarded next to a big cardboard recycle dumpster. I can't believe no one saw the potential in this:

Then I get home to discover this gem left in the lobby of my building (there's a special table that anyone can use as a free-cycle area):

Who are these people? How could anyone not want this stuff? Well. You leave it to me and there'll be a coat of paint and new fabric on that chair in no-time! And some cat grass in that vase!

Today is all about: flowy beach wraps. These are so hot right now:


Now, obviously I can't afford a two-hundred dollar wrap. The fifty-ish dollar ones are nice, but I'm thinking I can get one for a fraction of even that price. Therefore, I am planning to make my own chiffon wrap over the next few weeks. If it works out, i.e. doesn't fall apart or look like a lunch-bag when I'm done, I'll post the whole DIY here, on Realistic Chic. Stay tuned!

I still can't believe that Vancouver doesn't have an Anthropologie, yet Edmonton does. No offense, Edmonton. I'm just jealous.

I mean, look at this place: