The Great Wall of China: Getting the Look For Less

So, let’s talk China. And I don’t mean East Asia/most populace country in the world. I’m talking fine china. First off, I don’t have any, and I’m really ok with that. I’ve seen patterns I like, and ones I could stand to see collecting dust in the china cabinet between dinner parties. However, in all honesty, I, like many folks, reserve the selection of china patterns and purchases for wedded “bliss.” I do think it would be kind of funny to roll up in Macy’s or Tiffany & Co. to pick out my own china pattern….Bitter, party of one….Bitter, party of one. However, I think I’ll save myself for marriage. Do you think I’m giving up the chance to go around Crate & Barrel and point a price gun at things I think I want, need/may never use? Hell No. They always say the registry price gun is for the groom, because apparently we like guns and gadgets. But 2 grooms? I don’t know if we’d fight more over who gets the price gun or if we’d fight over lemon zesters, stainless steel mandolines, and pastry wheels. Maybe both. Don't worry, I'll let you know what he and I argue about once we finally meet. It will probably be in 2071, in a nursing home, so we'll argue over things like what color Rascal Scooter to buy or about who peed on the sofa. Joy.

While I didn’t intend to get on a registry tangent, this reminds me of comforting words from my good friend Sarah Jean. Sarah (who’s an amazing hostess, by the way) trying to help me see my bachelor glass half full (of Makers Mark, of course), reminded me that if I get married later in life, she and all of my friends will be more established in their careers, will have more money, and will be willing to buy nicer wedding presents. Hooray for silver linings. Married tomorrow in this cluster of an economy? You’re getting the toilet brush and dish towels. Married in 20 years? We’ll talk Kitchenaid Artisan Stand Mixers. (I’m totally kidding. I’m actually pretty anti-registry when it comes to giving gifts. I’d much rather find something unique I think the couple would love/maybe didn’t think of. Favorite gifts have been arranging a nice picnic basket, packed with dishes, napkins, a blanket, wine, etc for one couple and a silver party ice bucket, packed and ready for a summer shin-dig (Lilly Pulitzer cookbook, margarita glasses, personalized cocktail napkins, etc.) for another. I think I’m noticing a theme. Baskets and buckets packed for a party. Good. If you’re one of my friends who are getting married this year, act surprised when you get a picnic basket or party bucket. Ok, great, thanks.

Ok, so where were we? Ah, yes…the road to China. Let’s face it, we all have the set of Correll Corning Ware in the cabinet, and that’s a beautiful thing. We throw it in the microwave, we throw it in the dishwasher, we throw it against the wall when our boyfriend tells us he’s leaving us for someone he met online…wait, what? The everyday dishes are a beautiful thing in their own place. However, we turn to the china cabinet or the box in the storage room for those special holiday gatherings, dinner with the spouses’ boss, and when we’re trying to show off and one up Miss Town & Country Lockjaw 2009 who was running her mouth about her new subzero freezer at the Junior League last week. But what about me? Am I supposed to serve my guests on paper plates at the next dinner party? I think not. What do I do? I get the look for less. How do I know I pulled it off? When a dinner guest complimented me on my “china pattern”…deception at it’s finest. If you start to look at a lot of major retailers, you’ll start to really see that it’s not just delicate china, dense Corning Ware/Crockery or bust. There are a lot of great, affordable, happy medium options in between. When we think of fine china, we think of our Mothers or Grandmothers trying to delicately and carefully remove these elegant, thin plates with silver or gold leaf details and intricate patterns from the china cabinet (it’s especially fun to watch after they’ve had a few Manhattans). So that is what I look for: quality dishes that will last a while, but have a lighter, thinner feel, a flat rim, and a smooth texture like fine china. You can find a lot of nice boxed sets (typically service for 4; 16 pieces) that will more than do the job, still give your table an elegant look, and leave a little green in your pocket.

For example, if you’ve been outside of your house/bomb shelter in the last few years or receive one of many design catalogs in the mail, you may have noticed coral has made a comeback. Who knew it was possible for marine colonial polyps to be chic and fashionable? Well, they are. We see hints of red coral on pillows, prints, upholstery, and coffee table books giving a shout out to the “Cabinet of Natural Curiosities.” I have to be honest, I’m a fan. I like a little pop of coral here and there, but that’s just me, and not surprising for a beach bum at heart. I came across a gorgeous, coral china pattern while “shopping” (I’m using the term shopping very loosely) at Caspari, on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall. I loved the bold, graphic pattern. I figure I have the rest of my life to eat off of white plates, why not have fun now? Don’t get me wrong, I love Caspari, I’d like to live inside of it, and I’ve had dreams where Heaven has been decorated similarly. I have a cocktail napkin fetish (similar to my lamp fetish) that makes my going inside, highly dangerous. It doesn’t help that I live 2 blocks from the Downtown Mall. Seriously, I’ve considered moving because of this. It’s the kind of beautiful place that you remember your mother nervously taking you into as a child, and begging you to please not touch anything. Mostly because if you broke something, she would owe both you and her next-born to the store owners. While the coral china was gorgeous, I couldn’t justify spending a week’s grocery money on one charger. I mean, what’s the good in having nice china if you can’t afford to buy food to eat off of it? “Could I offer anyone more hot water and saltines on this $75.00 plate?” No? So, I set out on a mission to find an affordable alternative.

After a bit of searching, I stumbled across the solution at Belk (I literally stumbled…like I almost knocked the display over. I’m not kidding.) I found a 16 piece, serving set for 4 by Oneida, in a pattern called “Island Hues.” The plates and mugs feature a bright coral pattern in shades of “orangey” red and chocolate brown. The brown bowls feature a piece of red coral depicted inside, and I love them all. I’ve even been able to mix and match pieces with plates from a white and blue china-esque collection I purchased a few years ago. You might look at these pictures, and say Ed, these are not the same plate or even the same colors. First off, no crap, Nancy Drew. These plates aren’t meant to confuse folks in a police line-up, they are meant to achieve the feeling and the idea of the Caspari plates. They are by no means a dead ringer, but they provide that same fun, yet elegant pop of color on the dining room table.

This is the Caspari Coral Pattern. This isn't a picture of an actual plate, but I found the pattern online. I'll be damned if I'm going in there and risking the possibility of buying more cocktail napkins, just to get a photo of a plate I won't be buying. (Photo lifted from Caspari Showcase Online)




Update: So, I was in Caspari with a friend to buy some napkins (I know, I told you I have a problem) so I snagged this photo of the coral china. I think my plates are an even better match than I remembered! Especially the cup/saucer.


And these are my plates. I dig them, in a big way. I hope you do too. The first picture is mixed with a plate from another set of dishes I purchased from Bed, Bath, & Beyond a few years ago.

The icing on the cake for me: They were 60% off. I paid $37.00 for service for 4, considerably less than I would have paid for one charger at the aforementioned specialty store. I mean, who doesn’t get gratification and satisfaction from a receipt that says Thank you, Ed. You saved $58.00 on your purchase? The icing on the cake for you: I was in Belk picking up a wedding gift last night (from a registry…I know, contradiction. Work has been busy, don’t judge me. I’ll start making picnic baskets again soon) and the whole set is still 60% off! So, if you love this look for less, it can still be yours in a heartbeat.

So remember, if you want the look of fine china but not the commitment or the cost, look for plates with a smooth texture, thinner body, and a flat rim. These aren’t the dishes you’re going to pass on to your grandchildren’s grandchildren, but that’s not the point, so keep that in mind. Shake it up, find a fun pattern that meets your design style, suits your entertaining needs, and don’t be upset when one of your guests has a few too many Tangueray and tonics and breaks a plate. That’s actually the sign of a successful party.

Just because you aren’t ready to go to China, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go to China Town.

Cheers,
Ed


The Look For Less. How Can You Beat That?

A Labor Day Giveaway: What a Difference a Shade Makes

Are there any fans of A Christmas Story in the house? Don’t hate. You know you love it, even if they play the movie on TBS everyday from Thanksgiving until Christmas, and all day Christmas day. You’re probably wondering what this holiday tale of Ralphie and his quest for a Red Rider BB gun has to do with a Labor Day Giveaway? Well, to be honest, not a whole hell of a lot. However, I keep thinking about the scene when Ralphie’s father comes home to find his mysterious “major award” marked Fragile (must be Italian) on the front porch. After eagerly prying open the wooden shipping crate, he delicately removes the emerging, now infamous in American pop culture, leg lamp. The look on Mr. Parker’s face with a mix of pride, excitement, and eagerness to display the leg lamp and its radiant glow for all of the neighborhood to see is one that’s hard to forget. It’s also an expression I mimicked last night after receiving some great news from one of my favorite local Cville specialty shops. The best part? The new addition to the bungalow is not an illuminated thigh, wrapped in fishnet stockings, supporting a silk shade, trimmed in burlesque fringe. It’s way better.

First off, my office was open on Labor Day, so hooray for laboring on Labor Day. Needless to say, I probably wouldn’t have even remembered it being Labor Day if the NBC 29 News crew didn’t continue to drop phrases like “your Labor Day forecast” and “be sure to perfect your macaroni salad recipe for Labor Day.” Great, not only am I at work, but I’m being taunted by local news personalities. I guess it wouldn’t be the holidays if there wasn’t some form of obligation and someone didn’t get their feelings hurt. Happy Holidays. However, I digress.

While I was thumbing through some old messages on Facebook, I remembered the mentioning of a Labor Day Giveaway from the Shade Shop & Lighting Gallery in Charlottesville, a great, local establishment specializing in lamps, chandeliers, shades, and lighting design. Seriously, folks. If you love lamps and the art of lighting like I do, the Shade Shop would be the equivalent of a Porn Shop. Although, you won’t want to leave the Shade Shop with your purchase in an unmarked, brown paper bag. Anywho, a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to vote for a lamp that would be given away in a drawing to loyal, Shade Shop facebook fans for Labor Day. There were two lamps to choose from, both of which were beautiful and unique in very different ways. While I would have been honored to win either of these amazing Shade Shop lamps, one really spoke to me. The other lamp? Well, it reminded me of a time I was shopping with a dear friend. As you can imagine, being the gay friend, I’ve often found myself outside of many women’s dressing rooms, offering my “honest” opinion about debated cocktail attire, if one’s butt looks large in a pair of Rock & Republic jeans, or whether one is too old to pull off something designed by Mylie Cyrus (just in case any of you were wondering the answer to this question, unless you are Hannah Montana herself, the answer is Yes, you’re too old.) My friend emerged from the dressing room of a major department store in a black cocktail dress, seeking my unbiased, and honest opinion. My response? “It’s a pretty dress. It's just not your pretty dress. It’s somebody else’s pretty dress.” It’s a pretty lamp, it's just not my pretty lamp. It’s somebody else’s pretty lamp. So, I casted my vote for the lamp that “spoke to me” (and by “spoke to me,” I mean the lamp I selfishly thought would look really great in bedroom number 2 of the bungalow with its juxtaposition of masculine steel, soft curves, airy negative spaces, and large, textured, linen drum shade that goes on for days.)

Upon looking back into the contest, I discovered the lamp I voted for and secretly lusted after, had been chosen for the Labor Day Giveaway. To win this coveted metal lamp, retailing for $298.00, the next step was to post a photo of your favorite desk/task lamp on the Shade Shop’s facebook page, and hope that your submission would be drawn from the entries. After a Labor Day full of labor, I took a quick 2 minutes to post a picture of a white Jonathan Adler horse head lamp I have an interior design crush on and went about my evening. After going about my Tuesday and recovering from my exciting Labor Day (sarcasm noted), I was met with great excitement and surprise when I received a message ala Facebook saying I was the winner of the beautiful lamp from the Shade Shop! I was very eager to get it home, plug it in, and enjoy this functional piece of art, all of which I quickly did.

The Shade Shop & Lighting Gallery really is a Charlottesville treasure (and not just because they gave me a $298.00 lamp for Labor Day.) My family has been in the men’s haberdashery/department store business since 1915, so I’ve always grown up with an appreciation for the local businessman and hometown customer service. I really believe in trying to buy locally and support local businesses whenever possible. Unfortunately, I think the art of true customer service and pride in one’s product is becoming a lost art for many. However, the Shade Shop does more than preserve all of these principles. Hell, when I went to pick up my lamp, the ladies on staff practically cheered for me (and I most likely wasn’t going to be giving them any money, that’s customer service with a smile!) Not to mention, they carry an extensive collection of beautiful, unique lamps, shades, and lighting fixtures. They’re definitely worth a long look!

The meaning in the mayhem: Maybe a new lamp isn’t in the budget, and you aren’t in the market for a new showpiece to dangle above the dining room table, but you can still take advantage of more affordable fixes and upgrades. A new shade and finial can totally transform the look of your tired old lamp. Small, black, raw silk or paper shades can even transform a basic, builder’s grade brass chandelier. And let’s face it, shades get damaged and worn out over time, so why hang on to a cracked and stained lamp shade that survived your parent’s 1975 neighborhood fondue party and still adorns that avocado green lamp in the living room. Switch it up and switch it out! Just keep in mind the proportions of your lamp and your shade. Example: A larger drum shade can balance out a lamp with a wider body/base. See what a difference a shade makes?


Images lifted from The Shade Shop & Lighting Gallery

The beauty in the breakdown: Don’t be afraid to put your name in the design hat. We often think, who really wins these things and we don’t even bother to enter. Just ask Tiffany Gutshall of Charlottesville, who less than a year ago said “who wins these things?” as she entered to win a paid honeymoon to Fiji from a bridal magazine. Who wins these things? Tiffany Gutshall wins these things, and she and her groom Coleman have the photos of their honeymoon to Fiji to prove it. So put your name in the hat next time. What do you have to lose? Maybe 2 minutes of your life. What do you have to gain? A beautiful, unique lamp that might be outside of your everyday budget and one that you’ll enjoy for years.

So, thank you, Shade Shop for making my Labor Day a little less laborious, and for making bedroom number 2 a littler sexier and a little sleeker, and for making Cville, simply, a little brighter.

Cheers,
Ed



While this may not be the permanent "new home" or final resting place for the new Shade Shop lamp, I thought it was a great match for the soft grey walls and dark furniture of bedroom 2. The lamp is featured on an antique dresser my parents purchased for me as a child from an estate sale. The top of the dresser is covered in pages from a few, old, collapsing, wayward volumes of an encyclopedia I picked up from a thrift store in the "free! take me!" box. I chose pages that I thought would add to the masculine feel (as well as pages that had significance to my life, e.g. Thomas Jefferson, rugby, liquor laws, jazz, etc.) They're all protected under a piece of glass, custom-cut to fit the dresser top.

The lamp is coupled with a vintage mesh seltzer bottle (purchased for less than $15 from Circa of Charlottesville), an antique Georgetown Relay trophy (purchased for less than $30 from And George of Charlottesville), my favorite sunglasses, and a hexagonal lantern (purchased on sale for $9 from West Elm in Richmond-- http://www.westelm.com/) to balance the weight of the lamp. What's in the lantern? My first pair of saddle shoes from childhood. Why? I'm not a huge candle guy, so sorry if you come visit and my house doesn't smell like vanilla or fields of lavender. I think lanterns provide a clean, modern alternative to display cases and the curio cabinets of yesteryear. I'd much rather see a clean, modern lantern full of a few treasured childhood keepsakes or travel mementos vs. a cherry corner cabinet full of China Dolls, Precious Moments Figurines, or Willow Tree Angels. Who's "Baby Got Back" on the wall? He's a reprint by one of my favorite photographers, Bruce Weber. I think this print is proof you can show a little skin without being revealing and bawdy. Well, I neva!

I like the consistency of grey and silver tones, and mix of heights and textures in this grouping. While it may seem like a lot of items on one table, the design of each piece lends to an open feeling (e.g. the open spaces in the lamp and being able to see the wall/print through the glass of the lantern.) Who says you can't pair a $298.00 lamp with some consigment/thrift store finds and hand-me-downs?

Life is Way Too Short to Live With Ugly Wallpaper.

So here goes. When I told my friend Alexis I was going to start writing a blog, she responded with a chuckle “haha, if you want to start telling people what you had for lunch, then knock yourself out.” In a world of blogging, facebook status updates, and “tweeting,” I know exactly what she meant. After following friends’ progress on building new homes, exploits of circumnavigation of the globe ala Semester-At-Sea, and even after sitting through Julie and Julia with one of my best friends in a Washington, DC theater, one begins to wonder, what do I have to offer perfect strangers and the occasional friend through the art of the “blog?" Should I cook my way through Ina Garten’s cookbooks and call it “Barefoot and Starting to Look Pregnant?” Nah. I don’t think any self-respecting bachelor should be making profiteroles or Meringues Chantilly every night.

First off, I’m not a trained Interior Designer, a professional event planner, or an executive pastry chef. I’m a 20-something, Southern bachelor (not by choice, unless by choice, you mean the choice other people have made not to date me) with a job I adore (UVA/Higher Education by day), a small bungalow in the heart of downtown Charlottesville, wanna-be photographer by night, and a hopeful, consummate host-in-training to a great circle of friends, family, and neighbors who have always seemed eager to sample the latest recipe or check out the most recent addition to the master bedroom. I’ve never subscribed to the idea that a bachelor pad has to feature a black leather, sectional sofa, a kegerator, and a fish tank that would make the staff at Benihana blush. Although, let’s face it. In some shape or form, we’ve all been there.

After playing musical furniture and paint samples in my own home, helping numerous friends design their spaces, shooting engagement photos, and even catering the occasional neighborhood Holiday Open House for a colleague, it hit me. “Oh crap, I’m another gay guy who’s passionate about photos, Persian rugs, period details, Pomegranate Mojitos, and puff pastry.” Could I be any more generic? Perhaps. However, I also figured I could just shut up and share my ideas with others. The best part, you ask? I do it on a budget. After all, this is a recession folks. I mean, I think anyone with a credit card can go out and buy a Jonathan Adler lamp, or buy out the Pottery Barn showroom, but where’s the fun and creativity in that? Step 1: Pick out expensive sofa. Step 2: Write check for 3 Grand to cover expensive sofa. Step 3: Don’t let anybody sit on new, expensive sofa. Done! Remember, you can pay for school, but you can't buy class.

Don’t worry, you’re not going to see me serving Ramen to a dinner party of 10 (Sandra Lee is my least favorite Food Network hostess, I’m just saying.) wrapping a chair in tin foil to make it look like stainless steel, or wallpapering my bathroom with paper grocery bags…at least not yet, we’ll see how my investment portfolio looks in a few years. But you will (hopefully) get some new ideas for your space, your next cocktail party, and see how you can live fabulously, on a budget.

While, my idea of the hopeful, perfect family consists of 2 men, some Danish, mid-century, modern furniture, a restored row house, and a baby that doesn’t look like either of us (thanks W&G), I try to share my life with others and make my current home a place that’s not only fun and functional for me after work, but a place that’s both comfortable and memorable for my amazing, inspiring family and friends (the family you actually get to choose). So hopefully you'll find as much fun and amusement in my life as I do. After all, life is way too short to live with ugly wallpaper.

Cheers,
Ed