Objects of Lust: Jayson Home & Garden Fantasy Shopping Spree

Sorry I am so, so late with this post today -- I have an awful flu complete with ear infection and ruptured eardrum, the pain of which made childbirth pale in comparison. Nick, bless his heart, got the kids off to school this morning so I could sleep until the absolutely unheard of hour of noon. (He is the best nurse, and his kindness and patience with me makes my crankiness and impatience during his own recent bout with this virus all the more unforgivable.)

Anyway, to distract myself from my clogged head, aching body, and hacking cough, I indulged in a little fantasy shopping spree at Chicago's sublime Jayson Home & Garden, putting together a virtual ladies' salon that's equal parts refined and romantic.

The elements, clockwise from top left: Caravan Chandelier, $1,295; Lotus Flower Dishes, $24 to $48 each; Antique Carved Mirror, $11,995; Barnard Lamp, $575; Vintage French Chair, $1,150; Cerise Pillow, $315; Frank Table, $3,695; Faux Zebra Hide Rug, $1,095; Amalfi Sofa, $2,316; Vintage Wooden Shoes, $295; Petrified Wood Table, $1,495; Moroccan Wedding Blanket, $795; and Factory Light Sculptures, $85 to $225 each

The grand total for my fantasy space? A mere $25,703. Le sigh ...

Cool Stuff: Lealand Eve

I just got an email from Nathan King, who along with his partner, artist and Pratt grad Lealand Eve, recently opened a small boutique and online shop in Sayville, New York. The Lealand Eve Boutique features wares (such as the Turf Tealight Holder, above, $35) from small manufacturers and artisans, and cultivates a look that's "organic and clean, taking cues from the natural environment and adding a whimsical, fairy tale touch."

Take a look:

Lily Hand Vase, $35

Blue Buffet Lamp, $400

Diamond Scallop Mirror, $219

Burl Dippers, $35 each

Tord Boontje Table Stories Glass, $14.50

Sapling Silverware Set, $79

Gold Plate Set, $58

Lace Votive Set, $35

Peruse all of Lealand Eve's lovely goods right here.

eBay Find of the Day: Ornate Vintage Mirror

Yes, please.

This elegantly aged mirror, ornately carved and painted a bold aqua, is three feet wide and nearly as tall. It's feminine and glam -- and just a little bit rock 'n' roll.

Current bid: $10. (The auction ends Friday evening, August 15.)

eBay Find of the Day: Vintage Gilt Mirror

Because sometimes, we all just need a little fabulousness in our lives.

Current bid: $50. (Hurry -- the auction ends Saturday evening.)

Cool Stuff: BluLuxe Home

Ever fantasize about chucking your day job to pursue a dream? Oh, never mind -- of course you do.

But Megan Bluthenthal, Arlene Corsetti, and Loryn Barbeau actually did it. (And get this: Their day jobs were as a designer, Fortune 500 executive, and professional opera singer -- fantasy jobs in and of themselves for many.)

The dream this daughter-mother-niece trio quit to pursue? BluLuxe Home, an online boutique specializing in "storied antiques as well as gorgeous new furniture, decorative pillows, barware, tabletop accessories, scented candles, and so much more."

The ladies behind BluLuxe pride themselves in offering merchandise you don't see everywhere else: Vintage items that have been restored, reupholstered, and reworked, plus their own designs and new items normally available only to designers -- all of it with an old-school glam, Paris Apartment vibe. Many are the sort of thing you have to eat ramen noodles for three months to save up for, but these are "forever" pieces.

Take a look:
Juliette Mirror, $275

Palm Beach Tray Table, $800

James Mont Chair, $1,650

Green Chippendale Chair, $500

Slipper Chair, $950

Blanc de Chine Lamp, $550

Venetian Tole Shade Lamp, $395

Chinoiserie Planter, $198

Blanc de Chine Cachepots, $60 and $80

Jade Striped Bowl, $275

Paisley Needlepoint Pillows, $72 each

Robin's Egg Blue Lacquered Boxes, $58 to $105

Ruby Glass Etched Cocktail Shakers, $42 each

Boudoir Vanity Jar Set, $95

See the entire BluLuxe Home collection right here.

(Thanks for the tip, Amanda!)

Low to High: Sunburst Mirrors

Sunburst mirrors are showing up all over the place lately. (Are they part of Becky's "Trendy Objects Drinking Game" over on Hatch? If not, they should be.) And for good reason -- they add instant drama, a touch of sophisticated swank, and undeniable fabulousness to your space.

But like many pieces of popular decor, there are literally dozens of variations available at a startling array of price points: everything from relatively small and spare versions that you can find at your local mall store to substantial, pristine antiques that will set you back several thousand dollars.

Let's take a look at the options and weigh their relative merits:

West Elm Convex Star Mirror, $49: This is definitely affordable and has a clean, modern sensibility -- but it seems a bit small (it's not quite two feet across), spindly, and sad compared to the others here.

Solare Mirror from Ballard Designs, $119: A nice size (three feet in diameter) at a great price.

Z Gallerie Prague Mirror, $139: A simplified contemporary take on the sunburst shape, this is well-priced and has presence -- but also strikes me as a bit generic.

Starburst Mirror from Crate & Barrel, $199: This 30-inch model alludes to the metal wall sculptures that were popular in the Sixties and Seventies, and I like the combo of brass and steel.

Cyrus Mirror from Horchow, $220: Another contemporary variation on the classic sunburst shape; it's a bit too childlike for my taste, though -- something about it makes me want to draw a happy face in the middle, like a child's sketch of the sun.

Linen Source Sunburst Mirror, $229: Great size (it's more than three feet in diameter) with a glam style that nods to the vintage versions; the mottled faux finish worries me a bit, though.

Vega Mirror from Ballard Designs, $229: In my opinion, this is the modern sunburst that comes closest to emulating the gilded antique models; plus, at nearly four feet in diameter, it's a good deal for the size.

Gold Sunburst Mirror from eBay Store Highgatehome, $234: Compare this to the strikingly similar (but much more expensive) mirror from Biggs Powell, below; personally, though, I'm not quite ready for the return of gold decor.

Kenneth Wingard Sunburst Mirror from CSN Lighting, $349: Aside from West Elm's, this sparkling model is probably the best fit for a really modern room; I like how it mimics the form of midcentury teak sunburst clocks, too.

Howard Elliot Rio de Janeiro Mirror, $420: The shape of this mirror is a close match for the vintage originals, but that bright bronze finish kind of scares me (there is, after all, a very fine line between fabulous and tacky).

French 1950s Brass Convex Sunburst Mirror from Biggs Powell, $1,300: Wonderful form and sterling provenance, but the cheapskate in me would probably opt instead for the Highgatehome knock-off, above, for about a fifth the price.

Circa-1930 French Gilded Mirror from Lebreton-Laurence, $2,700: Super-swanky, to be sure -- but ouch, that price; at 26 inches, it's a little on the small side, too.

French 1940s Gilded Sunburst Mirror from Barley Twist, $2,800: You can't get more glam than Forties French decor, and I love how the sun's rays alternate between long and short; still, that price is more than I bring home in a month.

Circa-1970 Mexican Sunburst Mirror from Douglas Rosin, $8,000: Yowza -- if I ever win the lottery, this five-foot-plus baby is all mine.

Which is your favorite?

(Photo at top from British Homes & Gardens magazine.)

Cool Stuff: Pier 1 Ups the Hip Quotient

Have you visited a Pier 1 lately? I can't quite believe I'm saying this, but the fusty former "imports" retailer is looking pretty stylin' these days.

Jumping on the bandwagon with mass-market merchants like Target who are making a concerted effort to modernize and freshen up their home offerings, Pier 1 has dusted itself off for a bit of an overhaul. No longer a musty repository of all things global and faintly hippie, the store is showcasing new offerings with clean, modern shapes and fresh colors -- but that are still (for the most part) pleasingly affordable.

A sampling of some of my favorite new pieces:

Above: Top left: White Resin Buddha, $150; top right: Triple Glass Vases $15 and $20; bottom left: Square Lacquer Tray, $15; bottom right: Argenta Circles Bowl, $50

Top left: Smoke Blue Lamp, $125; top right: White Ceramic Lamp, $125; bottom: Etched Swirl Lamp, $125

Top left: Oval Aluminum Lamp, $125; top right: Kalista Lamp, $150; bottom left: Rectangle Lamp, $75; bottom right: Mesh Lamp, $90

Top left: Beveled Round Mirror, $113; top right: Stair Step Mirror, $175; bottom left: Metal Weaving Mirror, $125; bottom right: Silver Shine Mirror, $100

Left: Melamine Dinnerware, $3 to 5; right: Cerchi Dinnerware, $9 to $10

Left: Downtown Wall Panel, $150; center: Black Square Wall Panel, $60; right: Geometric Print Wall Panel, $100

Left: Wood & Metal Chest, $40; right: Recycled Paper Hamper, $80

Left: Orbit Chair, $69; center: Nance Armchair, $299; right: Easy Rattan Armless Chair, $200

Top left: Calmont Armchair, $599; top right: Rocco Rocking Armchair, $650; bottom: Rosedale Chaise Lounge, $950

Top left: Hylo Rug, $399; top right: Gingko Wool Rug, $250; bottom: Floral Dhurrie Rug, $299

Top left: Gray Slab Coffee Table, $250; top right: Gray Slab Console Table, $275; bottom left: Wharton End Table, $129; bottom right: Ryan Bow Coffee Table, $349