Fun 'n Fancy Toilet Seats

This wonderful vintage Sears' catalogue page popped up on the vintage_ads community on LiveJournal so I just had to share! How great would it be to be greeted by, say, an owl or a dinosaur whenever nature calls? You just don't find things like this at Pottery Barn or Crate & Barrel these days...

1964/65 New York World's Fair

While researching the 1964 New York’s World Fair for a project I’m working on, I came across some spectacular imagery that never fails to inspire me! I’m not sure if it’s the unbridled sense of optimism infused in everything pertaining to that particular World’s Fair that I love or the fact that my all-time favorite Disney attraction, the Carousel of Progress, debuted there or perhaps it’s the fact that nothing so grand and universal exists today but I just love everything and anything New York’s World’s Fair-related.

Grass Gardens

Erma Bombeck once said, “The grass is always greener over the septic tank” so to hide any skeletons you may have in your closet, I recommend these lovely indoor grass gardens from A+R! It is around this time in February that winter really starts to get to me and I can see how these little moveable havens could block out the gloom.

Bent Wood Chairs

I just saw these gorgeous Italian bent wood chairs by Real Dorica on 1st Dibs! The wood grain and the green leather is absolutely perfect.

Rose and Radish

These tea cups from Rose and Radish come with their own built in porcelain tea cookies! Imagine serving your home brew in them and then handing out those adorable wooden face stickers as favors... it would be kind of weird but I'm sure your guests will appreciate it.

Rock Paper Scissors

Handing out Valentines as a kid was not my favorite of holiday activities but had these fabulous cards from Rock Paper Scissors existed in the early 90s, I would've been a much happier cupid.

Are you serious? Fred Flare now has towels shaped like cakes!? I love it! Sadly, they lose their shape rather quickly upon use but think what a great impression you'd make if you gave these as a housewarming present!

Decorative Things

Wood grain is the blue jeans of patterns for me-- it goes with everything! That's why these adorably chic serving pieces from Decorative Things have stolen my heart. They're made from laminated fabric pressed on to plastic and are even dishwasher safe!

Bueller Designs

I love the rich aqua hues in these wonderful photos by Bueller Designs! I just recently redecorated my place and replaced all the hot pinks with aqua so that my humble abode feels like a little tropical beach haven (in Manhattan) and these photos evoke just the right energy that I was looking for.

New Year!

A new year, a new post! I just recently got back to New York from a two-week stay in my hometown of Miami and I’m feeling refreshed, excited and slightly annoyed at the weather change. I'm also feeling quite inspired and the bright, sunny colors of South Florida are still fresh in my mind so here a few photos from my adventure.

Brocade Home Gifts

I love these patterned household tools from Brocade Home's new gift line! They would surely make fixing a toilet and pulling weeds a posh activity.

Amy Sedaris' House

I saw these posted on Design*Sponge and I just had to share because Amy Sedaris is one of my all-time favorite comediennes! These are pictures of her Manhattan apartment and it’s just as quirky and lovely as she is! Take note of the way she proudly displays her brilliant collections including the pink bark side table, the Boston Terrier painting and the wonderful faux cakes!

C. Bell Furnishings

Around this time of the year everyone needs a good dose of pink and green... and Palm Beach-based Christine Bell is just the person to supply it! Her shop features contemporary custom and 20th Century pieces in oh-so-Palm-Beach shades that'll make you wish you hadn't packed away your oversized white sunglasses for fall.

Oh, and she also has a great selection of out of print books!

Welcome Back, Me!

I’m back! Sorry, “real life” caught up with me so I had to take a short break from this blog to devote myself to work. If only I got paid per comment—I’d be a whole $10 richer!

So what better way to ring in a new season for Hey That’s Swell than by showcasing some fresh yellow pieces from 1stDibs.com? Fall is often defined by browns and burgundies and plums but, you know what? I hate those colors so yellow it is!

Tommy Parzinger Cabinet

Club Chairs

I know, I know "These aren't yellow!" But don't they go wonderfully with all these pieces?

They do.

Pieces Inc.

What a difference a fresh coat of paint makes! These colorful pieces from PiecesInc.com have been given a new life in a new outfit. A few years ago I would’ve said (and hoped) that the ever-so Three’s Company Thonet chair would never make a comeback but I guess I was wrong! It looks completely swanky paired with these other vintage pieces.