over the weekend

i fell in love with a project in this month's (july/august) issue of met home

why?

maybe the palette of steely grays and apricots in that living room

(officially my new favorite color combo)

or her spot on selections of vintage furniture to pair with this 'restrained' modernist gem of a house

but what really swept me away was

her fantastic selection of 'found' objects

-caitlin

is bigger better?

while futzing around on the internet the other night, i came across this photo on the fabulous ms. wearstler's site.  imagine my excitement when i spotted the mini-version of our bianca jagger wall art.  

this kwid vignette seems to me like a good of example of so many elements that i appreciate: metallic accents, interaction of pieces from various time periods, the layering of textures and materials, how we at found really have our fingers on the pulse...

i don't always think that bigger is better, but when it comes to textural mixed-metal wall art, i think you know where i stand.

-tyler  

Ay Caramba!

I was reading one of my favorite blogs this morning and came across a post that I just had to share with you. I have always loved Ms. Kalman's illustrations for the New Yorker covers and so when I discovered the 'Pursuit of Happiness' this morning, it made my day. I love the rooms, the colors and (of course) her words. Enjoy.

-Caitlin

we'll miss you farrah

what a beauty she was.

lovely like 'Farrah' vase

 6"t x 5.5 dia; $125

green goddess table lighter

4"w x 4.25"h; $165

ladderback chiavari chairs with original rope seats

16.5"w x 42"h x 16"d; $1150/set of four

bar cart baby

Here, at Found, customers are often inquiring about bar carts. They seem to be quite fashionable lately. Personally, I think everyone should have one in their home. Consider it your little black dress (or tuxedo) for your casita. You don't necessarily need to be a drinker to put it to use; they serve as excellent 'tea' carts, side tables and a glamorous place to stow your extra desk accessories (even your printer, gasp!) adjacent to a tiny desk. 

We recently acquired a tall brass bar cart that is making her debut this week. I liken her to an old-school beauty, a classic lady of the early sixties and starring in any Slim Aarons book. Her look is timeless and her silhouette is decidedly feminine. 

Most importantly, your quality of life will certainly be improved by her company. 

a 'Babe Paley' of a Bar Cart

27"w x 16"d x 33"h; $300

-Caitlin

i love gooooooold

there are few things i love more than the combination of reflective surfaces and ambient lighting.  so much so, in fact, that when i got married there were so many candles scattered about the reception that no less than three guests caught on fire*; that i have to talk myself out of purchasing brass elephants, deer, bookends, etc. everywhere i go; and that i thoughtlessly said something along the lines of, 'i love the warmth of gold' in a recent interview, prompting countless mock-impersonations (mostly by my father) in which my words are spoken in the voice of goldmember, the villian of the third austin powers movie.

anyway, you can imagine my delight when i came across this photograph by ngoc minh ngo at wide open spaces this morning.  warm firelight brings out the sparkle of the various metallic accents - an especially elegant way to embrace the cozy, cave-like atmosphere.  

while looking around the shop today, i see many pieces that would assist in the creation of such a space (i am one of the two buyers, after all), but i think the following are my current favorites:

a gold, gilt, decoupaged lamp adds light and reflects (bonus points) 

a smoky cordial sets a romantic tone,

as does wilt chamberlain's namesake ice bucket (i suspect that he knew the persuasive power of a roaring fire).

a brass drum table is versatile, modern and glamorous,

and warm light diffused through lucite icicles is irresistably illuminating.

it's not often that i choose to align myself with an unattractive, ill-tempered movie character but, what can i say?  not much, i suppose, except i love gooooooold. 

-tyler

*nobody was harmed, but i thank you for your concern.

don't let this happen to your chair

While I admire this girl's ensemble, I do not like what is happening to the chair. The lesson learned from this photograph is that luggage stands are a necessity. You may not realize you need one until the day your cousin Carl arrives and tosses his dirty rolling suitcase on top of your pristinely made bed. Don't get angry with him, just make sure to be prepared next time. Stash one of these luggage stands in the closet or at the end of the bed. It (and you) will be ready and waiting to happily greet your guests. 

'for your guests that you hope don't stay too long'

$49; 20"l x 13"w x 23"h

'st. patrick embodied in a luggage stand'

$45/each; 15"l x 14"w x 15"h

-Caitlin

liberty again!

It's no secret that I adore all things Liberty and I've already mentioned my crush on their 'Poppies and Honesty' pattern. You could imagine my delight when I was out hunting in Dallas last weekend and I found a set of four Fitz and Floyd dessert dishes in a happy version of 'P & H'. Sold! Two estate sales later, a set of eight matching napkins appeared in my line of vision. SOLD!

What a delightful picnic these two people would have had together with their respective cheery plates and napkins! One can only hope they new each other.

$65/set of four dishes and eight napkins; 7-3/4"diameter (plate)

-Caitlin

oh-so-pretty plate

8.25"d; $45

ceramic citrus tower

12"h; 8"w; $75

white ceramic birds - the extended family

large - 5.5"l x 6"h, small - 5"l x 4.25"h; $75/pair

today, while at found, i am dreaming about

the beautiful dinner enjoyed in the courtyard at foreign cinema last night;

gilt detailing on wallpaper, as seen in this bedroom designed by jeffrey bilhuber;

strategies to convince my husband that we should hire jeffrey bilhuber to design our non-existent country home (there are a lot of obstacles to overcome here);

where/how to incorporate more chartreuse into my current home;

a vacation at this resort, inspired by this blog post;

how to sneak this lovely lady out of found and into my office without caitlin noticing.

any suggestions?

-tyler

romantic lamps 'found' a new home

Last month I wrote a little ditty about 'tall drinks of water' and how much I love working with lofty lighting. I mentioned a project in Manhattan Beach and promised to post photos of the tall romantic lamps that my clients purchased from Found. Well, everything was delivered yesterday, and I thought I'd show you a snapshot of their bedside scenario. I'm delighted with how the headboard speaks to the curvy details on the lamp base.  Also, the scale and shape of the lamps lend a necessary touch of vintage to their bedroom, for no room is complete without a dash of the past.

-Caitlin

caitlin: glamorous tour guide extraordinaire

for their may/june '09 issue, california home & design magazine asked caitlin to take them on a tour of her favorite union street spots.  peruse the story (p. 69-72) here!

doesn't she look pretty?

-tyler

dream clients, not so much

last weekend i finally got to watching hbo's grey gardens (for the record, i have yet to see the maysles brothers documentary) and, let me just say, it disturbed me to the core to see the gracious east hampton estate go from this

to this

and then, after jackie and ari bestowed their kindness upon the family (i apologize for the lack of photos here), 

to this

although the home was restored to a habitable state, it was by no means returned to its former glory.  did it hurt anybody else's heart to see those gorgeous (albeit ruined) wallpapers slathered over in yellow and turquoise paint?

clearly big edie and little edie are not what one might consider 'ideal clients', what with their untidy ways and what i can only assume was undiagnosed schizophrenia.  while they possessed a certain glamorous appeal at one point, i think it's safe to say they surpass dream clients one and two combined in the personality-challenged department.  still, if they were to enlist my services as an interior designer, there are a few items from found that i think would incorporate their new lifestyle choices*, while evoking the home's original beauty.

seeing as how the ladies seemed to spend a large portion of their day in bed, these prettily patterned throw pillows could provide comfortable lumbar support,

while an attractive pair of bedside tables would create much-needed, concealed storage space.

and it couldn't hurt to add an extra side chair or two (remarkably similar to the original dining chairs!) for additional seating options.

 

while i would never condone the breeding of cats or the feeding of indoor raccoons, this blue dish would serve as a lovely food bowl for the edies' favorite friends.

and, seeing as how little edie craved the company of other species, a bird friend in a lovely brass cage might be just the thing.

tell me, chickens, how could they resist?

-tyler

* i use the word 'choice' loosely here

a portrait of someone's uncle

21-3/4"W x 26"h; $125

keep your pennies safe in this recession-proof bank

7.25"l x 4"h (larger piggy); $75/pair
SOLD

bookends

You really have no reason not to be properly displaying your novels now that Found is stocked with such a variety of bookends.

These brassy clam shells remind me a lot of my sister's shell ring from the 80's and are perfect for anything very 80's you may be reading. Hello, Inconvenient Woman.

 

It's proven that piano players have a higher IQ than the rest of us. Don't fret, you can channel your inner Mozart with these Bavarian beauties.

Or let your inner Equestrian rise again with these stallions of literature.

For the world traveler (or those who wish they were), you can reflect on your last trip to Kyoto (or pretend you took one) with these cloisonne urns.

Or for those mourning the loss of everyone's favorite decorating mag, you can join the Domino club with these evil-y excellent Fu Dogs.

Finally, the ones I am lusting over......I wish I knew how to play chess but until then, these alabaster bookends shall do.

-Caitlin

art

As an art loving decorator, I am constantly acquiring pieces for myself and clients. My approach to buying art is that I tend to let it find me rather than going out and hunting for it. I relish in that romantic moment when I turn a corner and fall in love with a dusty painting or vivid photograph. Because of this my collection is varied and, certainly, not serious.  Just a lovely mixed bag of paintings, photography, and prints that I have found on my travels or in my everyday. I tend to purchase art immediately because I know what I love (even when I can't explain why), and I'm also well aware someone else will be loving it in their home if I don't act quickly.

When it comes to hanging art for clients, myself and at Found, I typically take a 'gallery' (albeit  free-form) approach to the installation. I tend to lie things on the ground first and think about what my starting point will be before nailing anything into the wall. The largest painting/frame typically starts the rhythm of the hanging and I go from there. You have to consider the size, shape, and frame but really my attitude is GO for it! You should try to keep the distances between the frames around 2-4" if you can, but this rule doesn't always apply. 

Another note: you may not know this but I am basically obsessed with wallpaper (I truly believe that it will greatly improve your quality of life), and if I could I would paper every wall and ceiling in my home.  Sometimes, I find that once I have installed a room and the client sees the magical powers of paper they can get a bit frightened of hanging art on top of it. I explain to them that they should not fret; the room will look even better with that layer of art on top. After all, naked paper is meditative but it can also look a little lonely. If you have gone with something patterned and bold, just make sure what you hang on those walls jives with the movement of the pattern. Often times, glamorous mirrors look their best on top of vivid papers. 

Also, don't get nervous about thinking your art is not cool enough, not serious enough, not a real Cy Twombly and, therefore, convince yourself it is not important enough to be displayed. If you love it, hang it. Often times, tired pieces can be reinvented with a new frame or fresh matte (I love linen). I think it is so fun to walk into some one's home and see the people's personalities (and idiosyncrasies) reflected in their art collection.  For example, when someone walks into Found and sees our Muses... they know exactly what Tyler and I are about. 

Over the weekend I was enjoying the latest issue of New York magazine when I came across this article, which profiles a young prepster by the name of Maximillion (of course that is his name) and the dashing dorm room that he designed for himself. Check out this fella's acquisitions beautifully installed on some pretty fantastic oregano-colored walls.

I love it's organized haphazardness, a perfect representation of a young lad's dorm room, no? NO! I don't know about you but I never saw a dorm room look like this when I was in college. Where I went to school, boy's dorms had Bob Marley front and center, blessing their sacred space. Not Maximillion. He made his little room a mini mansion of chic-ness and the art has a lot to do with it.

Here at Found, we have recently moved some items around to show off our latest acquisitions. We had fun rearranging our art to work with the new pieces, one of which was the lovely watercolor at the start of the post. On it's own it is great (the sky is very spooky), but I love it even more accompanied by a friendly collection of our paintings. 

Sometimes friends make everything better.

-Caitlin

for your ladies lair in morocco

silk pillows in jim thompson's 'pink opium' 

20"square; $195/pair

aquati-rific kaleidoscope!

16.75"w x 15"h; $145

the fabulous baker boys

27"w x 27"d x 23"h; $1150/pr

SOLD

bar cart betty

whether you like yours at 5 or 6pm, this swanky bar cart would refine any cocktail hour...

23"w x 14"d x 21.5"h; $325

thank you, bea arthur, for being a friend

we at found were very sad to hear of  bea arthur's passing.

we knew her best as the lovably wry dorothy zbornak from this fabulous, golden quartet.

it's difficult to know how to honor such a lady on a shop blog, so we have decided to re-name a sofa in memoriam.  formerly known merely as the 'long and lean sofa', she will now be called 'long and lean, a sofa fit for bea arthur.'

i hope you don't mind my saying that i think it would've looked nice on set, while providing seating for all four housemates.

-tyler

and, just for the fun of it...

'rediscovered women', (6) norman rockwell plates by knowles

$125/set or $25/ea; 8 1/2" dia

'made with love by grammy', beautiful framed needlepoint

$195; 32"w x 23.5"h

lucky ladies

thanks, style court, for featuring our brass, green, porcelain, hobnail, and pottery vases in today's post!

who doesn't need a trio of gladiator globes?

$45/set