You know I love a good makeover and this etagere scooped up from Goodwill by Eddie Ross is positively gorgeous!  It cost a mere $75 and just look what you can do with a bit of styling!  I especially adore the faux bamboo detail, charming little finials and lovely aged brass finish.  The icing on the cake?  The handsome white horse bookends are from my vintage shop, Katie Armour Home.  Looking good Eddie ; )

How do you style your bookshelves?  With books, objects or both?

My Etsy widget is down at the moment, but I just wanted to let you know I’ve added several fun items to Katie Armour Home this week.  Nearly everything is less than $30 and a great deal are less than $20.  I’m seriously crushing on the chic little match holders (think Rita Konig ladies…) and butterflies.  Enjoy ; )

]]> http://theneotraditionalist.com/2010/08/26/new-additions/feed/ 12 http://theneotraditionalist.com/2010/08/03/my-coffee-table/ http://theneotraditionalist.com/2010/08/03/my-coffee-table/#comments Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:15:10 +0000 Katie Armour http://theneotraditionalist.com/?p=15039 Continue Reading]]>

My name is Katie and I’m a design book addict.  A couple of months ago I found this massive lucite, glass and chrome coffee table on Craigslist for $60 (I know, find of a lifetime!) and love that it accommodates six stacks of books on top and six below.  I still have multiple stacks elsewhere (it’s a disease!), but this keeps my collection somewhat tidy.  Anyway, thought I’d share a few iPhone snaps of my trinkets and such.  We’re still hunting for a sofa (and desk, and bookshelves), but I’m in no rush.  Rooms that are decorated over time have more soul, don’t you think?  I’d love to hear your thoughts!

P.S. Some of my most treasured: Flair Annual 1953, Allure by Diana Vreeland, photography books by Richard Avedon, Karl Lagerfeld and David Bailey, Tony Duquette, Happy Times by Lee Radziwill, Michael Smith’s Houses, Goodbye Picasso, Billy Baldwin Decorates, David Hicks: Designer, Vogue Living, museum/gallery publications collected on my travels…

Thought I’d leave you for the weekend with some of my recent Katie Armour Home additions.  Pink lucite ice buckets and vintage vera table linens…it’s almost spring!

We have a fantastic Plucky Pioneer lined up for Monday.  I won’t reveal her name, but I will tell you she just had triplets and named them Poppy Jane, Bennett Stewart, and Elsie Clementine!  If that doesn’t lure you back on Monday I give up.  Cutest darn baby names ever!  Happy Friday my loves…  XO Katie

]]> http://theneotraditionalist.com/2010/03/19/latest-additions-5/feed/ 19 http://theneotraditionalist.com/2010/03/10/latest-additions-4/ http://theneotraditionalist.com/2010/03/10/latest-additions-4/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:54:43 +0000 Katie Armour http://theneotraditionalist.com/?p=9525

Just added some things to Katie Armour Home, you know, in case you are in dire need of an elephant…or two. XO

When Analiese contacted me today asking if she could share my Neo-Trad Manifesto I realized I’d never formally shared it here (though it can always be found the column to your right)!  So, on the chance you missed it, voilà…  What do you think?  Can you relate?  What would you add???

UPDATE: Anyone else who wants to share this with their readers may of course do so! I’d be flattered—spread the love! XO

We believe in being glass-half-full sorts of girls.

We believe that often times, granny is chic.

We believe in pedaling vintage Schwinns with flower baskets.

We believe in poetry, picnics, and piñatas.

We believe one is never too old to keep a diary, the secrets only grow more scandalous.

We believe in arranging fresh flowers unruly like an English garden.

We believe in adventure and traveling the globe, be it to Marrakech or Malibu.

We believe in mixing lucite with oriental rugs. Thrift store finds with heirlooms.

We believe in handwritten thank you notes, better late than never.

We believe in needlepoint, letterpress, decoupage and forgiving Martha Stewart.

We believe in piggy banks and cookie jars.

We believe in book clubs full of Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Austen and Woolf.

We believe station wagons are hopelessly chic.

We believe in recycling our Grandmothers’ names. Eloise, Jackie, Faye…

We believe in collecting: stamps, shells, books, big glittering diamonds…

We believe in marrying the boy that writes us the best love letters.

We believe in highly competitive board games—Chess, Scrabble, Chutes & Ladders.

We believe in spontaneous road trips and charming, chintzy bed & breakfasts.

We believe there’s something to fortune cookies, wishbones and 4 leaf clovers.

We believe in classics, shaken and stirred.

]]> http://theneotraditionalist.com/2010/03/04/the-manifesto/feed/ 27 http://theneotraditionalist.com/2010/03/03/latest-additions-3/ http://theneotraditionalist.com/2010/03/03/latest-additions-3/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:03:04 +0000 Katie Armour http://theneotraditionalist.com/?p=9268 Continue Reading]]>

Just a few (okay, a bunch…) of things added to Katie Armour Home this week.  Brass figures, a porcelain letter holder, beaded champagne coupes…oh my!  I stumbled upon a gold mine of brass figures and am working on getting them all up!  Hope you enjoy!  XO Katie

P.S. How much of a cutie patootie is that elephant???  I want to pinch his darling little tush!

Just added these items and more to Katie Armour Home!  I like to give my Neo-Trad readers first dibs : )

XOXO

Big news—I’ve decided to take the leap (after 75 sales in two weeks—I love you guys!!!) and pursue my Katie Armour Home venture full time.  I’ll finally be able to upload all my inventory!  I have so much planned I can hardly sit still.  One of my first orders of business, however, will be to prepare a proper home office.  I desperately need a new chair, the current dining chair I use (tisk, tisk) is beginning to take a serious toll on my back.  Does anyone have a suggestion for a chic, comfortable chair that won’t break the bank?  I’m currently loving this one from Crate & Barrel (until I can afford the Eames that surely inspired it).  Some other items I’m lusting after for my dream office:

This classic white lacquered Parsons desk by West Elm.

Mixed with a more traditional blue and white tea jar lamp by Wisteria.

For a little fragrance, fresh blooms in this vase by Kate Spade.

For motivation, this cute poster by The Love Shop.

For jotting down million dollar ideas, this chevron notepad by Linda & Harriet.

For packing shipments, these vintage inspired scissors from Kate’s Paperie.

For holding down the orders, this decoupage rose paperweight by John Derian.

For a true vintage touch, this brass faux bamboo ashtray and ceramic bust just added to my shop.

For my Domino archives, I love these simple lucite magazine holders from The Container Store.  They’re currently on sale!

For covering my wall with inspiration images, this elephant tape dispenser by Iomoi.

For recycling, this pretty floral wastebasket by The Well Appointed House.

For keeping order, this industrial, vintage inspired stapler by The Container Store.

So I don’t forget what day it is all alone in my apartment, this Kate Spade wall calender illustrated by the incredibly talented Bella Foster (a Plucky Pioneer!).

Now it’s your turn—what are your office must haves??? I love suggestions! xoxo

]]> http://theneotraditionalist.com/2010/02/24/flying-solo/feed/ 47 http://theneotraditionalist.com/2010/02/15/behind-the-blog/ http://theneotraditionalist.com/2010/02/15/behind-the-blog/#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:50:34 +0000 Katie Armour http://theneotraditionalist.com/?p=8725 Continue Reading]]>

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekend!  I’ve been insanely busy with the launch of my shop (thank you for all your support), but am happy to be throwing myself back into blogging this week!  We’re taking a break from the Plucky Pioneer series today, but not to fret—we already have someone fantastic lined up for next Monday.  In the meantime, Fallon over at A Lovely Being will be posting an interview later this afternoon with yours truly for her new “Behind the Curtain” series.  Thank you Fallon for asking me to be your first guest—what an honor!

Above, me trying not to laugh holding our big, goofy sack of potatoes.

P.S. I found some amazing pieces this weekend and will be adding to the shop every day this week!  Stay tuned! XO