Cheap and Chic of the Week: Almsta

Screen Shot 2013-09-11 at 7.16.53 AMIkea. Who doesn’t love Ikea? In Tom Scheerer Decorates, which I reviewed HERE on Friday, Scheerer talks about being a big fan of Ikea from its earliest inception, and that he still uses Ikea products in his schemes even today.  Ikea is a favorite stop of mine as well, whether its buying a raw wood table and lacquering it to use as a desk, or buying rattan chairs and spray coating them so that they will survive outdoors, I’m pretty sure there are at least 6 ikea chairs in operation at my house. But this chair is new.

Screen Shot 2013-09-11 at 7.16.44 AMThe Almsta chair costs $99(!) and would work well almost anywhere in your home. You could keep it its natural raw color, or paint it a scheme to match one in your house – it is extremely malleable. The different surfaces allow for obvious application of varying colors, so there is also an opportunity to paint it like a more traditional bistro chair that you could purchase finished for much more money. I see a DIY project in my future, don’t you?

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Let’s Go Camping

TCCamp1This weekend I finished reading a really great book, The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it. Anyway, this book got me reminiscing about being a kid at camp in the summer. I mean, how great was camp? I spent two summers at Camp Mohawk in Connecticut, and my brother did a few summers at Camp Dudley in New York – and we both had the best time. I cannot wait until I have kids so that I can live vicariously through them with their camping experiences.

Wandawega 2It turns out, however, I may not have to wait to live vicariously through my unborn children. Thanks to a little article in Country Living Magazine, I have just discovered Wandawega in Wisconsin, click HERE.

Wandawega5As Country Living put it, Wandawega is like adult summer camp. Looking at the website, this couldn’t be more true. They have tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, volleyball, archery, canoes … the list goes on. There are options of different places to stay on the grounds as well. There is the old hotel building, a cedar cabin, a log cabin, a teepee, and boy scout tents on wooden platforms. The place looks like paradise for our inner child. There is even a tree house that’s a library!

Wandawega 8And the decor at Wandawega is a wonderful mix of all the eras that the camp/hotel has been in existence. Some have a very 1920s prohibition era vibe, whereas others toast the midcentury. It looks like the entire place has been decorated through some very chic Etsy Shops. Kitsch abounds at Wandawega.

Wandawega 7 Wandawega 4 Wandawega 6 Wandawega 3

Wandawega1I am going to start planning a trip for WWB and me to Wandawega right away! Are you coming with us?

SignaturePhotos courtesy of Town & Country, Country Living, and Wandawega.com

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Jack, Wills you come to Charleston?

IMG_2098Jack Wills. A store I discovered in Chatham last weekend, that I am now obsessed with. Of course they have locations up north in resort-ish destinations: Chatham, Edgartown on the Vineyard, Nantucket, Newport, and Southampton … but their only southern location is Charlottesville. Come to Charleston! Below are some of my fave pics from the shop, and I’m seeing a striped theme …

Alburgh Breton Tee
Alburgh Breton Tee
Milhome Bikini Top
Milhome Bikini Top
Whitley Bikini Top
Whitley Bikini Top
Oakvale Dress
Oakvale Dress
Milfield Dress
Milfield Dress
Kentwell Tee
Kentwell Tee
Meerbrooke Dress
Meerbrooke Dress
Southbrook Shirt
Southbrook Shirt
Hastelow Legging
Hastelow Legging

These are just a few of my favorites! I definitely purchased that red and white striped bathing suit while I was there. How cute is that? I think that since Mr. Lauren has closed Rugby, this UK brand will definitely be filling the void left behind. Check them out at JackWills.com, or click on any of the photos above to be linked directly to the items. With a tag line of “Fabulously British,” this brand is sure to do fabulously well. Please, come to Charleston!

Photos courtesy of Jack Wills

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