I love nothing more than strolling around our neighborhood with El Granto & Odin. Coffee in hand, walking wherever our feet will take us. We like to stroll and visit new areas, window shop, and often come home with some new purchases.
One of my favorite places to window shop is the Junction. There are some great shops, and two of my absolute fave shops; Smash and Post & Beam Reclamation.
Storefront of Post & Beam Reclamation
This past weekend I was wandering through Post & Beam and thought I’d share some of the awesome things I spied there. I would have loved to have brought home every last one of these pieces, but alas our budget is being directed at the coffee bar & backyard this spring.
So here are some of my picks.
The front window display showcasing some awesome lights and iron orbsHere’s a closer detail of one of the iron orbs. Wouldn’t this be great with a hanging fixture and Edison bulb? (or take a cue from Restoration Hardware and hang a small chandelier inside)Wouldn’t this lantern be gorgeous hanging from the ceiling of a lovely gazebo? Or as the entryway light for a coach house.Loving this classic mantle. Made we want to bring it home even though the storefront doesn’t have a fireplace! Would be cute with stacked logs in the hearth. Oh and check out those warehouse lights! Fab over an island or dining tableAren’t these lovely? Would be great feature in a stately kitchenThese lights would be great in a powder room or boys bedroom or office (although those bulbs are all wrong)Love their outdoor pieces including this fella. Would be perfect for an English style gardenMade from reclaimed materials, these industrial stools would be great at a dining table or as end tables
Did you fall in love with any of these finds? Whats your favorite place to window shop?
Two years ago, El Granto & I were walking through the Junction headed for an Americano @ Crema, when we spotted a great worn black bankers chair outside the front of a reclaimed architectural salvage shop. The chair was great. It was worn in all the right places, had fabulous old castors, and was a steal for $25. Problem was, we were still living in the loft, had no place for it, and were walking about 3km from home. We decided to pass for now. El Granto sat brooding over the chair for the next day, and decided to go back to see if it was still there. Alas of course it was gone. Someone else had the same vision we did. Since that day, we have regretted that decision, and have been on a hunt for another bankers chair. Skip ahead to last spring. We were at my favourite place on earth; The Aberfoyle Antique Market when we spotted a guy selling not one, not two but THREE bankers chairs. He had stripped and refinished them all with an (ugh) honey oak finish, but they were in excellent condition. We could either live with the colour, or refinish them to something darker. Problem was, we were at Aberfoyle with El Granto’s Mum, and were driving a small car. The chair was not going to fit in the car. We visited Aberfoyle a month or so later, and (of course) all of the bankers chairs were long sold.
Now that the office is progressing, we really really need a chair. Do you think I can find one? Not a chance.
I could buy gorgeous one new at Restoration Hardware for $495. Uhhh no, that’s out of the question.
Restoration Hardware 1940′ Banker’s Chair Weathered Oak Drifted
How about Pottery Barn’s Swivel Desk Chair? Oh wait, $533? HA.
Pottery Barn Swivel Desk Chair
So I will continue to haunt Craigslist & Kijiji in hopes of finding one in my price range (aka free – $40). I know, wish me luck.
Our other temporary option, is buying a $35 Ikea Ivar chair, and giving it a paint job. Then finding another use for it once we finally find a bankers chair.
Ikea Ivar Chair
Why is it that every project always has one sticking point? One missing piece of the puzzle?! *sigh