Decorating with Avant Garde Podcast and Top Picks from Etsy

In my most recent podcast I talk about Avant Garde, just what it is and how to decorate and do it.  Mixing some color into your life may not be a bad idea.  I've always liked to break the decorating norms and glad to see other people doing it too. I like to discuss Avant Garde in my most recent podcast.  I apologize for the podcasting recording. I hope you learn something new!

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 In the meantime, please try these exciting finds on Etsy to Avant Garde up your life. 

Vintage books can really make a table pop. This stack $25 from RetroChalet

 1. Vintage books, in great colors look exciting stacked around your table!  Make a room pop with color and have a great display item. Not to mention a little color goes a long way.  Books can be reused for scrapbooking when done with them!

This hot pink radio is from RetroRadioFarm on Etsy! 

2.  Electronics, vintage style ones like this radio can really stand out on a table.  Notice how it pops on the white background!  RetroRadioFarm on Etsy has tons of radios in stock and this is a great way to add some color to a drab or discolored home!

Rainbow crocheted blanket will be a great addition to any home, find it at HappyInTheNest

3. Vintage afghans, handmade or retro blankets are another way to avant-garde up the home.  Adding color to a room is key by draping them over your favorite sofa or love seat is a great way to add color! AvantGarde up your bedroom!

Chalkware Pig Yellow Vintage would avant garde up the home at TheModWitch

4. Statues and figures can add color to your home.  Using a bright vintage chalkware statue you can make a statement on a table or bookshelf.  Use of color in the home is key when decorating for avant garde look. 

Kchoos offers this great chair, the pink colors would make any room POP!

5.  Kchoos shop offers this great mod chair with pink bubbles, a real victorian style chair has been repurposed with great retro fabric to add some avant garde into your home!  Using this chair or any furniture would be great for avant garde-ing up your life. 

Have a great day and make sure to subscribe to our podcast 

Retro Chalet : Living A Vintage Life (buzzsprout.com)

Decorating with Old Books

Collection of Old Books, Great Decor find them at RetroChalet

I just love the way old books can add a statement to a room. Here is what I did with a stack of old blue books in my country home.  I have these for sale now, on Etsy, as a five piece lot here.  The books are comprised of old books that I found in my travels. They are imperfect, and I liked their messed up look. Each has it's own character, more so, from loss of original dust jackets.

Buy these old books at RetroChalet

The books don't have to be in great shape to show decor ability. In fact, I think the best thing about old books is how many hands they have been in, and how often they have been read.  How many eyes have they seen?

Pretty Poppies Vintage stack of Old Books here $36.50

Pretty Poppies Vintage on Etsy has a slew of old books that would make for great book displays.  Above, the lot that matches yet has very distinct vintage looking spines would look great on the mantle or in a stack on your table!  Sometimes, just one book will make a great focal point.  I simply love this shop run by Amy from St. Paul, Minnesota!

Pretty Poppies Vintage Cutco Cookbook $9.50

This cute little Cookbook above, is rare indeed.  Most likely a premium or mail away for Cutco Cutlery.  These knives are still in use in my kitchen today, and let me tell you, stay sharp forever!  The above book would look adorable sitting on the counter as a display item or conversation piece, standing up in a napkin holder! Sometimes even single books are a great statement piece.

How to Display Your Books:

This milk crate can be used to hold various books! $42 at PrettyPoppiesVintage

I am all about repuposing and perhaps things that you would not normally consider to hold books would be perfect to display books in your home. Above, an old wire milk crate would show off a few favorite books just fine!   Directly below, an old wire basket wrapped with rope could work in with a cottage or lakefront home, showing your favorite summer reads.   Below that,  a vintage magazine rack can hold taller books and magazines.

Hold books and more in here, $36 at PrettyPoppiesVintage

Magazine Rack $36.50 to hold books & magazines PrettyPoppiesVintage

Crafting with Old Books: 

Folded Book Art Patterns at CindysPaperDesigns on Etsy.

Here's another interesting thing to do with old books, Cindy Fisher on Etsy sells Folded Book Art Patterns for only $5. You can download the pattern and make your decorating books into something great by cutting or folding the pages into a functional work or art!

Read more about this: on iramency blog

The Look for Less at Country Porch

Vintage Fan Lamp at Country Porch

If you love vintage but can't bring yourself to pay prices for antiques you love, Country Porch has a lot of vintage styled reproduction functional objects for the modern decorator. Get the look for less! Here's a few of our favorites.   Above, a vintage fan lamp that will blend in with any decor. The cost of this look? $97.95.  If you were to have a lamp, and a vintage fan, expect to pay over $300.

Country Quilt at Country Porch

The vintage style throw above looks just like those expensive patchwork quilts.  Note this measures a whopping 50"x60" for $89.95 and is machine washable, unlike those fragile quilts of yesterday that you can expect to pay upwards of $250 for this size.

Vintage Candy Buckets, here at Country Porch.

Adorable Vintage candy pails are a hit at Halloween, but also make an eye-catching display for the modern decorator for any time of the year.  These are a great conversation piece.  Feel great having all three pails for $59.95 (about $20 each) versus paying up to $99 per item for fragile paper mache' antiques online.

See more great vintage styled items here: Vintage on Country Porch