Starts with Jackie von Tobel!  Our blogging buddy over at Jackie Blue Home is going to be debuting her new line of fabrics and pillows at Postcards Home, next week during the Las Vegas market.  Congrats Jackie!

Get all the deets here…

As you have probably already figured out by now, I’m obsessed with anything vintage.  I’m embarassed to say that I’ve dedicated the last eleven (yes, I said eleven!) weekends going to consignment and antique stores trying to find those unique pieces- ones that have a sense of “history” to them.

But let’s face it- sometimes we don’t want imperfections, small scale furniture, old fabrics and materials that go hand in hand with these antique pieces and we would actually prefer something new.

But how about something new that evokes a vintage feeling?  What a concept!  I found some fabulous pieces that have a vintage feel to them (but the beautiful thing is that they are all brand spanking new!)  Hold onto them long enough, and these pieces might eventually become vintage pieces themselves!

I just ordered these CB2 metal trunks for a client’s home office.  I completely fell in love with these modern treasure boxes when I laid eyes on them.  What a great idea for storing books and other random pieces.  Close them up to hide your junk or leave them half open to display antique books.

Anthropologie has tons of vintage inspired items..check out this Hushed Hours Bed.  It’s distressed and made to look like it came from an ancient clock tower.

And also this Cameo Wallpaper composed of Victorian silhouettes, elaborate frames, and vintage-like stamps.

Crate and Barrel did a great job of designing these Turner bar and counter stools to look like vintage industrial pieces.

I want some in every color!  Wisteria now sells stacks of Book Boxes– colorful books that resemble vintage French reads.

These AFK Art for Kids Barbie prints sold at Layla Grayce would make for a great series in a little girl’s room.

You can always count on Arteriors to produce something fabulous like this Fraiser Vintage Silver Desk Lamp.

I actually wouldn’t mind waking up to this alarm clock every day!

Mercantile sack pillows seem to be everywhere these days.  Take a peek at Restoration’s spin on it- with their French linen pillow covers.

Art-Deco influenced lamp at Horchow…

I remember when this Antoinette fainting sofa was all over the blogosphere!

Z Gallerie’s Cafe Chair collection looks like it could be pulled straight out of the 1950’s.

“Industrial chic” pendant by Barn Light Electric-

And how about a new book about old vintage treasures?  (available at Amazon)

Only one week left to enter our “Get Organized Giveaway”!  Winner will receive their very own Barbara Barry Luxe Organizer set.

To enter, click HERE.

Contest ends next Saturday, July 31, at noon (ET)

Good luck!

Candice and I keep running into each other EVERYWHERE.  It’s so strange, it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, and then BOOM!  She keeps appearing out of nowhere.  I find myself in a showroom asking the salesperson “who is the designer of this sofa?”  Candice. “Who is this fabric by?” Candice again.  “You don’t happen to know whose rug this is, do you?”  You guessed it…Mrs. Olson.

We’ve just had too many good run-ins lately, that I’m beginning to wonder if there is a place out there that doesn’t carry something with the Candice Olson name attached to it.

“Candice” is like the decorating BFF that you never knew (in person at least).  She seems so down to earth and friendly…qualities that could make a homeowner feel at instant ease.  She seems easy to relate to and perhaps that is why the Canadian interior designer has done so well in her career.

Most people (especially my clients) are familiar with her through HGTV’s Divine Design but I must admit, I’ve never seen a full episode.  This is the one place we haven’t run into each other (just yet anyways).  I know, a designer never having seen Divine Design?  Unheard of, right?  But 1) I rarely get to watch TV and 2) when I do get the rare chance to watch TV, I try to fill my mind with anything but design.

One thing I know of for sure is that Candice has made herself into a household name.  Through her extensive lines in various showrooms, she has created an empire that I can’t help but be jealous of.

In the recent past, Candice has teamed up with Kravet, Paragon, Silestone, AF Lighting, Surya, Revco, Norwalk, Thermador and York Wallcovering to make the Candice look available to designers and the general public.  I’m curious to know as to when this woman sleeps?  I feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day for little ole’ EJ Interiors, so I can’t even imagine Candice’s workload, all of the places that she has to be, and all of the decisions that have to be made day in and day out for her business.

Some of her pieces that I drool over…

I actually just recently purchased this sofa for my own living room.  It’s the Tina sofa (in off white) from Norwalk and I’m loving it!

I just purchased this Milton sofa for one of my clients…and she’s loving it!  (well, from the tear sheet at least..it hasn’t arrived just yet)

We also purchased six of these Margot chairs for the same client’s dining room (and we selected these without even knowing that we were picking out even more Candice furniture for her house)

Candice’s fabric line for Kravet is just as chic!

I had another client who requested that we use a textured Candice wallpaper in her master bathroom.  We used the Sisal Twill paper and it turned out beautifully!  Now if only the backordered mirror and rest of the bathroom furniture would magically appear to top off this scenario!

{Sisal Twill wallpaper}

{Lattice Wallpaper}

Ok don’t make fun of me for Candice overload, but I want to use this dining table in another client’s home.  I haven’t been able to find a table (at this pricepoint) that has lines and a finish as graceful as this one’s.

{Fitzgerald Dining Table}

I saw this chandelier at The Patricia Group the other day and thought it was the coolest thing.  This would have looked great in my other client’s “man cave”.  Ok, ok I’ll stop!

{Metro Chandelier}

One more…this is my favorite lamp of hers…

{Opulent Table Lamp}

Now I’m curious to know…what’s next for Candice?  I have a good suggestion- how about a paint line?

Dear retailers and “to the trade” showrooms,

I have one, and only one, request of you this year.  Please make available more icy blue fabrics, wallpapers, paints, and trims.  You have done a great job of providing us designers with lots of blue-greens and gray-greens, but there seems to be a shortage in the gray-blue department.

Now I know this is a very specific colourway and it hasn’t spread like wildfire yet (like the turquoise has).  I also realize it is my fault for selecting something more forthcoming, but I beg of you, please save me from a shortage of fabric options to present my clients, and also save those clients from having to purchase these ridiculously expensive fabrics that I present,  just to be able to use this rare shade of blue.

And Target, if you are listening, please start carrying this icy blue hue too- because we all know, that once it trickles down to you, it’s just about everywhere else.

Sincerely (and desperately)

Emily Johnston

If you, like me, are looking for this rare hue, here is a list of fabrics that have helped me push through the icy blue famine-

Celerie Kimble- Hot House Flowers- Mineral (Schumacher)

Kravet Couture- Grace Horizon (Kravet)

Barbara Barry- Unity Glacier- Velvet (Kravet)

Kravet Smart Fabric

Highland Court trim- Jacquard Tape- (Duralee)

Aptos- Slate (Pindler and Pindler)

Crowning Glory- Ice (Robert Allen)

Nest, the home decor boutique in Snider Plaza is now carrying Mid-Century furniture for tots created by the company, Little Nest.  These adorable pieces of mini furniture would work well in any modern home or small kid-related commercial space.

Can you imagine how cute these would be in a pediatric dentist office?  I have started doing more and more pedo offices and I think a few of these modern unexpected pieces would look amazing in them.  Now to convince the clients how chic these would be!

We are SO excited to announce our latest and greatest summer giveaway– one that we are hosting with the chic online boutique, Shop Ten 25.  Shop Ten 25 consists of uber glamorous finds for the modern home and I think you will be as excited as I am once you see what’s in store for the lucky winner!

They are giving away not one….not two….but a set of three Barbara Barry Luxe Organizers to an MG reader.  I had to read the contest rules’ fine print to double check that MG bloggers were not allowed to enter 🙂 I have been eyeing this set for a while now, as I just love anything and everything that comes from Barbara.  She is truly the epitome of all that is classic and timeless.

We decided to make this contest easy breezy for you to enter too.  All you have to do is fill out your contact information HERE and you will automatically be entered into the pot to win this gorgeous set!  Winner will be determined on August 1 and announced here on Material Girls.

Contest ends July 31 at noon (ET)

When not out on the lake getting sunburned, I spent the holiday weekend shopping the sales! Today, most sales came to an end (and so did my weekend unfortunately); however, there is still one online store that is in full-on sale mode, and that is our friends over at Barn Light Electric.

You can take 10% off your order through Tuesday, July 6th, just by entering USAJULY4 at checkout (excludes already discounted or clearance merchandise and gift certificates).

So take advantage of the last 24 hours of guilt-free holiday shopping and click HERE!