Grandma Kay At West Elm

Here we are at the Chicago West Elm Makers’ Market event on Saturday.

We set up inside the store.  I had a couch + a chair to display my pillows:

L: Stacey of Kismet Junk R: Me of RedBird
Disclaimer: I dislike my hair + shall get it cut, stat!

I sold lots of pillows of the CHICAGO persuasion,

just as I hoped I would.

Meanwhile, here’s Stacey’s (Kismet Junk) beautiful space:

http://kismetjunk.blogspot.com

G.O. + my grandlad arrived on the scene around 4:30-ish,

at which time, fun ensued!

Disclaimer: my camera setting was off, so my photos are sadly dark.

BUT back to the good news.

As my grandlad + I were dashing through West Elm (at his request),

what did he spy + love but the red SMEG refrigerator of my dreams!

$2,000-ish

I know!!??!!  GROUP HUG, everybody!!

Also on his ‘I love it list’ — terrariums!

West Elm had a front + center display of said-same,

along with dozens of very swell succulents.

I told my grandlad to choose 4 succulents

+ promised we’d build him his own terrarium.

(Yes, I’m that Grandma!)

REALITY BAKING SHOW ON CBS!

SO, yesterday evening G.O. + I watched 60 MINUTES, + it was great!

WHO KNEW?

The good  news is that crabby Andy Rooney’s gone (J/K!),

+ the even better news is that last night’s episode featured

the great MAGGIE SMITH

(with an appearance by the also great Dustin Hoffman**!)

** Dusty recently  made his directorial debut with the movie, “Quartet”, co-starring Maggie . . .

. . . + he sez she (curses like) “a sailor”

+ drops the F bomb constantly,

+ he loves her for it!

Hey, Dusty — if you’ve got a “thing” for the foul-mouthed older gal —

may I introduce you to ME?

But I digress.

If you’re interested in Maggie’s musings about “Downton Abbey” (and who ISN’T?),

go here:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8334-504803_162-57569775-10391709/maggies-best-downton-moments/

* * * * * *

Any-hoo, as one often is, we were too lazy to change the channel

+ thoroughly enjoyed the program which followed 60 Minutes:

THE AMERICAN BAKING COMPETITION!

HA!  Who knew?

It, TOO, was pretty great!

How could it NOT be, with this awesome cast of players,

including “amateur baker” + my personal favorite, Francine! . . .

Never change, Francine!

. . . + my 2nd favorite “amateur baker”, Brian . . .

. . . who, coincidentally, came in a close 2nd in the pie contest, to Francine.

The heartbreak on his face really endeared him to me,

as did the film footage of him at home, compulsively/happily vacuuming!

Never change, Brian!

* * * * * * *

Anyway, back to the cast:

. . . here’s the extremely likable Jeff Foxworthy as host:

Never change, Jeff!
Oh, wait.
He never does!

. . . +, be still, my heart, THIS crazy-handsome-silver-fox judge

with the crazy-sexy piercing-blue eyes

+ the impossibly-awesome name:

PAUL

 (I’m-so-not-making-this-up!)

HOLLYWOOD!

Paul Hollywood,
never change your name!

And speaking of Silver Foxi,

how about a gratuitous photo of (St. Louis’ own) Michael McDonald

+ look!  It’s Ray Charles, too!

* * * * *

Oops.  More digressing.

Let’s get back to my new, favorite show.

Check out their awesome, slightly country bumpkin set!

I think the gay  guy who stages all those Cracker Barrel restaurants

took a short sabbatical

+ spent a few weeks over at CBS!

Red neon!?  Yes, please!

Fiesta Ware!  Old metal signage!  Barnwood!

Multi-colored islands — one for each “amateur baker”!

A flying pig!?  Oh, dear, Mr. Cracker Barrel, you may have stumbled briefly (J/K!) . . .

. . . but blue Tolix chairs!?  Excellent!

And . . . saving the best for last . . .

Red Kitchen Aid stand mixers!?  Of course!

And look!  There, in the background!

Yes!  Red SMEG refrigerators!

I just blogged about my love for both, here:

https://redbirdv.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/my-latest-kitchen-re-do/

+ here:

https://redbirdv.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/i-want-a-retro-tile-floor/

I Want A Retro Tile Floor!

One of my favorite blogs — Hooked on Houses — recently posted about Drew Barrymore’s house.

Go there now:

http://hookedonhouses.net/2013/05/23/celebrity-real-estate-drew-barrymores-house-in-montecito/

I fell head-over-heels in love

with the retro-style refrigerator + freezer in her kitchen.

Who’s hip to the totally awesome + retro SMEG brand?

My retail bestie — West Elm — sells them!  $2 grand!

Of course, they come in all sorts of colors, but I ‘need’ red!

See for yourself

how the West Elm hipsters styled these beauties in room settings:

While I did intend for this post to be about Smeg refrigerators

+ my love for them . . .

. . . my short attention span was diverted once again . . .

. . . this time, by Drew’s yummy yellow + white checkerboard floor:

People.

The product is Marmoleum Click:

http://www.forbo-flooring.us/Residential-Flooring/Products/Marmoleum-Click/

a substainable + natural floating floor

that’s easy to install + glueless!

Say no more!

I quickly proceeded to research Marmoleum images online,

+ look what I found:

Are you swooning?

If you’re like me, you are.

I mean, it’s all about the mildly-odd-yet-tasteful factor in my little décor world.

Plus, how period-appropriate would this be in our 30’s-era Dutch colonial?

VERY!

The good news is that I’ve chosen my favorite pattern o’ tiles, + here ’tis:

I think it has kind of a gingham check vibe, don’t you?

The off-white, pink + gray is on-trend + darling,

but my kitchen is calling for something like this:

Okay, I’m about to swoon,

+ meanwhile, I have a prediction:

G.O. is going to nix this idea, the minute I ask make him look at this post.

Duh.

Why doesn’t he trust me yet?  😉