My Home-The Formal Living Room

Here's a little peak at my house. When you get to the bottom you can read a bit about why I'm blogging on this and how I brought this room together. Hope you like it! :)
A portrait of my maternal Grandfather sits above the fireplace.

Note the settee/sofa is placed on the wall, instead of across from the focal point, which seems to work for some unknown reason.

The demi-lune is actually a French table I got at Goodwill for $5. I painted it, sawed it and attached it the wall with L brackets. Voila! A demi-lune.

Tater likes the cushy down pillows on the settee. This wall is huge and I'm slowly filling it with sconces and my collection of transferware and neoclassic statues and vases.

The dried hydrangae set the color palette for the entire house, as does the collection of blue coral and Wedgewood below.

The urn is filled with antler sheds and branches from our yard.

The little gray French desk with ormolu mounts is one of my favorite pieces and sits on the wall opposite the settee. Are those Christmas presents sneaking their way in the room?

My fave striped Bergere chairs sit regally in front of the fireplace.

Happy Holidays Everyone! I've been taking some much needed down time and I've cleared out nearly everything from my 2011 inventory to make room for a fresh start in 2012. I've decided to slow down and really enjoy this wonderful holiday time. I've also decided to blog a bit about my own home. I've never really done much blogging about my own digs before because I've always thought "oh who wants to see pictures of my house?" Then I thought, since I sell out of my home and so many people ask me about my finds, maybe I'll jump into a little blogging about it and hope you don't think it self absorbed of me.

I'm starting with my living room. This has been the toughest room in the house as it is not a traditional box shape and the focal point-the fireplace and large windows, sit opposite the opening so it is difficult to anchor the room. Plus, it's the first room you see when you are in my entry so I wanted it to be really striking. It's taken me 6 years to figure this out, but finally I have it working. Nearly EVERYTHING in this room I bought on CraigsList and it's wonderful quality furniture. I did this entire room for under $1,000. The most expensive thing in the room is the Evette Ethan Allen settee, but I hardly paid a dime for it. The gal I bought it from, bought it new but then moved, so never used it. I was the lucky customer who benefited from her move! Yipee! Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to know that you don't have to go to these pricey stores and pay a fortune for these items new. You can do this too!

The box style cream Bergere chairs are $1,700 each brand new at Calico Corners. I found them for next to nothing in perfect unused condition. They are big and comfy and fit my husband just great. My last addition, and the pieces that finish the room are the striped Bergere chairs in front of the fireplace. They are just pretty.

The only thing that is left to do in this room is the flooring. I would love this room to have a marble floor or even just hardwoods. Now I know THAT won't be under 1,000 so we will have to wait. The carpet is really throwing me off though. But I'm happy for now and we are enjoying building fires on these cold nights and relaxing in this room. I hope you enjoy the photo tour. Blessings, Kiama

Flea Free Until 2012 and a French Gray Table and Chair Set

Wow, I was super busy between September and November and did five vintage markets! Woof, that was a lot! But boy did I have fun and I met a lot of very cool people. I decided to take December off from the markets and just take a breather and enjoy some down time with the family and of course, work on my own home for the holidays. This down time will also provide me the opportunity to...drum roll please...shop for new inventory! Hot dog!

I do have a few last things I'm selling in 2012. Several tables and chairs (the set pictured here is $95 for the table and $275 for the 6 chairs). And of course if there is anything you are looking for in particular give me a shout. I just might have it hiding- awaiting the arrival of the new year and a new market.

Happy Holidays and blessings to you all in 2012!

xoxo Kiama

A Touch of Mink's Last Flea of 2011

Hi All,
I have one last vintage market coming up this Saturday at the Second Saturdayz Vintage Market in the back of building #30 in Sandpoint, Magnuson Park. This is going to be a very special flea indeed as the owners of Willow Nest (Linda and Ludmil) will be joining us and 25 other vendors for the day with their amazing booth. If you are not aquainted with Willow Nest you can check them out at www.willownest.net. Linda and Ludmil moved from the Pacific Northwest to Texas some years ago so it is a real treat to have these veteran vintage purveyors in our midst. This will be a great show you won't want to miss. Click on the Second Saturdayz link on the left of my blog for more info. Hope to see you there! Kiama

A Sneak Peak at my Booth at Ruffles & Rust Vintage Market

I am so thrilled to be part of the Ruffles & Rust Vintage Market this weekend. Set up went great today. Just a few more chairs to add tomorrow morning and some fluffing and we will be ready for the doors to open. If you'd like to come by just click on the Ruffles & Rust link to the left of my blog for directions. Admissions is $8 and the doors open at 9AM Saturday. Ruffles & Rust was recently voted as one of America's top 10 vintage flea markets by Romantic Homes Magazine. This show is not to be missed. Watching the other vendors set up today got me so excited. It's a gorgeous show! Hope to see you there! Kiama

Some Pictures from Second Saturdayz

Though I wasn't able to be at my booth for the day at Second Saturdayz my trusty friend Traci from A Mix of Madness was good enough to man the booth for us both. Here are a few pictures from a great day.

The next place you can find us will be at the big Ruffles & Rust flea October 21st and 22nd (you can check it out by clicking on their link on the side of my blog). There will be over 85 vendors there and it is a show not to be missed. It was just ranked in the top #10 flea markets in the nation by Romantic Homes Magazine. My only problem will be focusing on selling rather than buying everything I see! Hope to see you there! Kiama

Where You Can Find Me

I'm doing quite a few shows between now and the end of the year, so I thought it would be helpful to share the list. I hope to see you at one of these venues! :)

October -8th Second Saturdayz at Magnuson Park
October 21st & 22nd Ruffles & Rust at The Monroe Fairgrounds
November 3rd, 4th and 5th Pickering Barn Craft and Antique Show in Issaquah
November 12th Second Saturdayz at Magnuson Park
December 10th Second Saturdayz at Magnuson Park

Links to Second Saturdayz and Ruffles & Rust are on the left under favorites. I'll provide info on Pickering Barn as it approaches. It's gonna be a crazy time of year for me but I'm so looking forward to it all! I'll have tons of French chairs (as usual!) some Gustavian inspired pieces, pillows and so much more...see you soon. :)

19th Century Forged Iron French Campaign Bed

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This is such a special find. Plucked from a garden gazebo in France is this 19th century forged iron French campaign bed. Beautiful chippy blue paint (don't know if it is original paint or has been re-painted in past years). All the slats and pieces are intact. So charming! $525.

I've decided to change things up a bit at A Touch of Mink and expand my selling platforms. I'm opening an Etsy storefront where I will be featuring some of my pieces, including my custom French chairs and lots of my smaller items such as pink depression glass and other nifty finds.

Plus, my besty Traci from A Mix of Madness and I are going to be in at least 5 (yes 5!) fleas between now and Christmas. Stay tuned on my blog where I will be posting a complete list of where you can find us.

Lastly, I will be creating a section on my blog with a list of services (such as custom furniture painting/distressing) as so many of you have been asking about custom work.

Keep in touch and happy hunting!

Kiama

Have a wonderful day!

French Gray Bergere Chair in Linen

I just finished a pair of these and I think they've sold already at $180 each. French gray frames, lightly distressed with taupe linen upholstery and toffee trim. I'll be looking for more frames like these and finishing them with the same treatments as they seem to be quite popular. Enjoy the last weekend of August! We are starting to get excited around here for some new farm additions. Hoping to pick up our first set of goats in the next few weeks. Who knows, you could get a pound of fresh goat cheese with every chair purchase from A Touch of Mink! :)

Pictures from a Great Sale in Yakima!

Wow! Traci, Jane and I could not have been happier at the Clayson Farm Primitives Flea Market this past weekend. As usual the turn out was fantastic. I sold all but one of the chairs I brought with me and most of my furniture pieces. Lots of lookers on my French iron daybed-straight from a gazebo garden in France no less, but no takers. So that little gem will come with me to the Ruffles & Rust show in October in Monroe. Jane sold a ton her vintage French fabrics and Traci was stripped of her smalls! A great day of fun filled with terrific people. Thank to Leslee at Clayson for all your help!

Getting Ready for the Big Clayson Flea in Yakima on Saturday! YIPEE!!!

Next Saturday August 13th is the Clayson Market in Yakima and I'm so excited to be one of 50 vendors selling our one of a kind finds there. Don't let the "primitives" part of the Clayson make you think that's all that will be there. Vendors with all kinds and styles of vintage wares are at Clayson and the deals are not to be believed. The Clayson Flea has all of the charm of a good old fashioned flea but bumped up a notch with so many great vendors. Not too big, not too small but just right! I will be sharing two booths with my fabulous partners in crime, Traci from A Mix of Madness and Jane from Found Collections. We have a ton of finds! I will have at least 4 or 5 of my signature French chairs. A fabulous authentic antique wrought iron French daybed in it's beautiful original chippy blue paint, tons of pillows, and one of a kind finds. Click on the Clayson link on the left of my blog for directions. It's a great way to spend the day. Hope to see you there!
Kiama

Darling Petite Regency Style Dresser

Gotta love that vintage faux bamboo. My beloved Dorothy Draper popularized this look so well. This little baby is priced at $120. SOLD

More Restoration Hardware Look-A-Likes

The first top picture is of a Restoration Hardware table priced at over $1700. The bottom 2 pics are tables I've done- painting and distressing them to get a similar look. Mine are priced at $180. :) It was fun trying to figure out the right paint combinations and just the right amount of sanding to get the look. I'm working on chairs to go with them now. Have a great day!
Kiama

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