It's been many years since I lived in Tokyo, and back then my idea of the ultimate shopping experience was Kiddy Land -- a 5-story department store full of toys. If I were lucky enough to find myself back in Japan, my first shopping stop would have to be Pass the Baton. Both an online and brick-and-mortar shop, Pass the Baton celebrates personal culture. Every consigned item is displayed with the name of the consignor and a little story about the item's history. Sellers also have the option of donating the proceeds from their item to charity. Beyond being a brilliant concept, everything is beautifully displayed to accentuate the value of objects that have enjoyed a previous life and haven't just emerged from a box or factory.
One of the few art projects that I distinctly remember doing as a kid was placing flowers on white sun paper, letting it sit outdoors for a few minutes and then rinsing the paper off to find the flower outlines transferred onto an indigo blue background. When looking for an online source for sun print paper recently, I was intrigued to find that the technology has now also been applied to fabric. I had to try it. The cushions above that I just brought into the shop are the result. I traced antique penmanship art images onto a sheet of clear celluloid and then sewed the results into cushions with linen backs. I had to experiment a bit with time and placement, but I eventually managed to get the images to transfer clearly on the rich indigo color that I love so much. Here are a few more ideas via Pinterest for sun fabric projects.
I've had customers ask me recently to let them know if I get any matching bedside tables in the shop. I don't have the heart to tell them that it's very unlikely. Part of what I love about selling vintage furniture is that I encounter so many one-of-a-kind pieces. When it comes to lighting or cushions, pairs can create a sense of continuity. But matching bedroom and dining sets just aren't for me. Someone described it to me as, "walking into a room and knowing within 10 seconds what it's all about." Vintage pieces help to layer a room so that you want to come in and explore. To me, these images of mismatched bedside tables are proof that if you love something, there's always a way to make it work.
Like its hallways, a home's stairwell is often treated as an afterthought. Because we don't congregate on the stairs, but rather pass through them on our way to somewhere else, it's not unusual for them to be ignored when decorating plans are being made. But even a small pass-through space can become a vision for the eyes. Decorative tiles, elegant carpeting, paint effects and art are all very effective in these small spaces. They retrain us to notice the humbler spaces in our homes and they prove that a little bit of effort can have a big visual impact. There's no reason the path to bed each night can't be an inspiring one.
