What the... What? (#3) Revealed!

If you were wondering about the item we posted for our What the... What? #3, the time has come.  The item pictured is actually one link of a rain chain.  

The original photo we posted.

And here is the item in action.  Rain chains are used as alternatives to downspouts.  They're decorative and functional, usually helping direct water in to a drain or storage container.  Although the ones we had were antiques from the US, they're quite common elsewhere, including Japan, where they're often found around temples.  Rain chains are making quite a resurgence across the US as we try to 'go green' and do what we can to conserve water for our gardens.

Do you "Like" us?  We certainly like you!  Please click here to follow us on Facebook!

The Making of the August 2011 Design House

Using our August Design House as an example, I thought it would be fun to go behind the scenes and show you all how our Design House comes together, how we're inspired, and what it takes to redo an entire house in a few short weeks.  Here are a few pages from our Design Notebook to give you an idea of how things come together, the colors we've selected, and how we incorporate our finds into a new look.  Although we have ten more days to put the finishing touches on the rooms, here is some of the inspiration behind a few of the rooms in the house this month.  We're looking forward to seeing you at the Design House August 5, 6 & 7th!

What inspires you?  Have you ever built an entire room around one great find like we've done at The Design House?

Do you "Like" us?  We certainly like you!  Please click here to follow us on Facebook!

What the... What? (#3)

Happy Monday!  I hope everyone tried to stay cool over the weekend.  In Virginia we had record highs all last week...we are hoping for some relief this week!

We have a special phrase around the store when we find things in our travels that are particularly unusual, odd, confusing, or sometimes hideous.  When we come across one of these items, we like to use one of our favorite Lucketts-isms, "What the... What?"  Here is one of those items.  We found a bunch of these at an estate sale many months ago and had them for sale in the shop.  They went quickly.  Do you know what this is?  Leave us a comment if you think you know!  We'll reveal the item's true identity and purpose later this week.  

Can you guess what this item was used for?

What the... What?

Leave a comment if you know!

Just What is The Design House?

We're often asked what the Design House is, when it's open, and how it's different from The Old Lucketts Store.  Look no further, here are your answers!

Here's the difference:  The Old Lucketts Store is a widely celebrated multi-dealer antiques and vintage store at 42350 Lucketts Road in Leesburg, VA, in operation for 15+ years.  Think of the Design House is an interior design showcase, or "special event house."  At the Design House, we bring together the greatest design talents from The Old Lucketts Store who completely remake an entire farmhouse for each event, from lighting to furniture, to paint, and accessories.  

Each room in the Design House is fully decorated as it was intended; a bedroom is a bedroom, the living room is decorated as a living room.  Our fully decorated rooms give you great suggestions for how to incorporate new and vintage items in a home setting, and we give you new ideas for using antiques in your space that may surprise you.  And here's the best part...everything is for sale and you can take it home with you that day!

The Design House is open only on the dates listed in our special events calendar.  You can find these events and our special sales on the Events Calendar on our website.  The Design House is located on the same property as The Old Lucketts Store, at the other end of the parking lot past the barn breezeway.  We post sneak peek photos of the house regularly on our website.

It's always fresh and new at each monthly event so save-the-dates on your calendar and, as we like to say, "Grab your girlfriends, bring the trailer, and make a day of it!" 

Here are a few pictures of our past designs that incorporate furniture, lighting, mirrors, art, and accessories (for both you and your home).

 

 

Do you "Like" us?  We certainly like you!  Please click here to follow us on Facebook!

What the... What? #2 revealed!

If you were wondering about the item we posted for our What the... What? #2, wait no longer, it's actually an antique garden tool.  We looked through tons of pictures online to help answer our own question. 

Here was the original closeup of our mystery item.

And here it is full scale.  At about 8 inches long, this antique garden fork was used to help cultivate weeds.  Now on to the controversy...  I couldn't find another example exactly like this.  Most hand cultivators have a fork-like head shape instead of lying flat like this one.  But there are flat ones out there.  All of the flat ones I did find had 4 or 5 tines, not 6, but the best we can tell, that's what it is.  When this was purchased, it was stored with a bunch of other antique hand gardening tools, so that is what we're going with.  Our friend Jeanie suggested it was a frog or eel catcher.  That gave us something to really think about.  All the frog and eel catchers I've seen look similar but had longer tines with barbs on them so they animal doesn't slide off.  Based on where it was stored when it was found we *think* it's a gardening tool.  If anyone has any pictures of an eel catcher without barbs and short tines, please let us know and we'll gladly change our vote!  What do YOU think?


Did you meet Pete?  If you haven't yet, read our post about his newest finds now displayed in the lobby of the Old Lucketts Store. 

Design Dilemma - Man Cave

We'll be trying to answer some Design Dilemma questions we receive all the time.  Here's a common one: "Dear Lucketts Store:  We are building a man cave for my husband.  I love antiques and vintage items.  He can't see past the big screen t.v. and a Lazy Boy.  Help!  How can I incorporate some antiques into the space so there is a little more character and style in the room?    Sincerely,  Caved-In"

Answer:  Dear Caved-In,  Tell him that antiques aren't just polished wood and doilies.  There are lots of pieces to choose from that are attractive and functional (e.g., trunks,  industrial bins) that I think he'd be happy with.  When shopping, be on the lookout for old sporting goods items, or better yet, see if your husband has his old baseball glove and work that into your room.  Here are a few options from our Design Notebook. The pictures were taken at The Old Lucketts Store or our Design House and reflect items we try to find and buy up on our travels.  Good Luck!  Your Friends at The Old Lucketts Store.  

     

More importantly, what vintage accessories would YOU, our readers, put in a man cave?

If you have a question for us or a Design Dilemma that you'd like help solving, please write a comment to this post and we'll try to feature it in a future blog post.

The rooms they are a changin' - part 2

Earlier this week, I posted a little on Pete, who moved on down from the third floor to his new home, the lobby of the Old Lucketts Store.  To learn more about his industrial finds, click here.

When Pete moved, we had a vacant room upstairs, so Marian of Mustard Seed Interiors moved her items from her pavilion upstairs in the main building.  Marian specializes in refurbished and refinished furniture.  Her popular painting techniques give her pieces a worn Frenchy look.  Look for Marian (dealer code MSI) on the third floor of the shop.

Marian's pieces are a mix of her repainted furniture and reasonably priced antique finds, like antique gold mirrors shown here.

Marian's sweet smelling lavender fills this old pail.  A vintage wheel is perched nearby.

One of Marian's gorgeous custom painted furniture pieces.  You can follow Marian and learn painting and finishing techniques on her blog.

Marian discovers her vintage finds, like this antique scale and weights, at garage sales and markets throughout Pennsylvania.

So, with Marian's move, there was another vacancy, and our very own Kim took over Marian's pavilion outside.  Along with Suzanne, Amy, Lisa & Gina, Kim is responsible for the wonderful displays at our Design House.  Our next event is August 5, 6 & 7th, so mark your calendars!!!  For a complete list of shop events, click here. 

Kim's finds include vintage furniture, dishes, artwork, and ironstone containers.

Some old canning jars in a milky white and wooden slotted display cases from Kim (dealer code GH).

A great pair of vintage wooden French doors in Kim's pavilion and a green leather teacher's chair.

So, we are a little exhausted with all of the room-swapping earlier this month, but we have some really great people and items ready for you to discover.  Please visit the shop and look for the dealers featured in these posts - Pete (PJM), Marian (MSI), and Kim (GH), and don't forget about our August Design House on the 5, 6 & 7th.

The rooms they are a changin'

July marked some changes around the shop.  We did some dealer reshuffling to fill in where our friend Ted used to have space on the first floor.

We'd like to extend a warm welcome to Pete who ventured down from the third floor (yes we have three floors in the shop!) to the first floor lobby.  When I think of Pete, a few words come to mind - industrial, utilitarian, and texture-texture-texture.  Pete's treasures have a decidedly masculine sensibility (think metal, burlap, woods, and canvas).  Around the shop, we like to say that Pete's finds are the most Anthropologie-like, but without the huge price tags. 

An antique brass bird cage, a large vintage crate & a gorgeous handmade light fixture made from wire and burlap.

Utilitarian made beautiful.  Many of Pete's items had past lives in industrial spaces, like these numbered wire baskets.

Looking for texture?  How about an antique French wine jug with a knotted rope covering, a terracotta architectural remnant with chippy paint, a stenciled wool pillow, or vines made into an abstract object?

If you're looking for something industrial with lots of texture, please visit Pete's spaces (dealer code PJM) on the first floor in the lobby and in his pavilion outside.  I will post pictures of the other two spaces that have been shuffled --- Marian, of Mustard Seed Interiors, back filled Pete's space on the third floor, and Kim, who used to share a space with Lisa, back filled Marian's space.  If you can keep all that straight, you're a better person than I am; it will be so much easier to explain in pictures later this week : )   ...okay, okay, back to more Pete...

These are items Pete has had in the last few months.  They are gone, but represent his aesthetic. (l-r) Wooden wine rack, antique mill stone, over-sized mirrors trimmed in tin remnants, delicate wire tree branches, canvas laundry bin, and metal industrial shelf with bins.

What the... What? (#2)

We have a special phrase around the store when we find things in our travels that are particularly unusual, odd, confusing, or sometimes hideous.  When we come across one of these items, we like to use one of our favorite Lucketts-isms, "What the... What?"  Here is one of those items.  I've cropped the photo a little so it will be a little tougher to identify.  See if you can guess what it is and leave us a comment if you think you know!  We'll reveal the item's true identity and purpose later this week.  

Can you identify this item from The Old Lucketts Store and what it was once used for?

What the... What?

Leave a comment if you know!

Fresh Off the Wagon for July 8th 2011

Thank you to those who guessed our first mystery item for our first installment of What the... What?  For those still guessing, it was an antique cat carrier! Actually, there probably aren't too many people guessing, because everyone who responded got it right.  So I've learned two things, 1) our readers are brilliant (obviously) and 2) I need to make these posts tougher and with fewer clues.  I'll post another one next week, so check back.

We have several great large pieces this week, including a one-of-a-kind handmade chair bench, a few large farm tables (one of my favorites is pictured below), an apothecary cabinet, and a to-die-for upholstered room screen.  Anne cleaned out an old barn last week and told us about all of these vintage tools she just didn't know what to do with, asking us "Does anyone really like vintage tools anyway?"  To which everyone gave her the 'are you crazy face' and shouted in unison, "YES! Bring them in!"  Well they've made it here and you can mainly find them outside in her pavilion. 

This fantastic farm table is new this week.

In other exciting news...Suzanne purchased a new shop camera that supposedly has great auto lighting features.  If you've suffered through my photography and lack of lighting skills for the Fresh Off the Wagon features weekly, then you should be just as excited as I am!

What the.... What? (#1)

We have a special phrase around the store when we find things in our travels that are particularly unusual, odd, confusing, or sometimes hideous.  When we come across one of these items, we like to use one of our favorite Lucketts-isms, "What the... What?"  Here is one of those items.  See if you can guess what it is and leave us a comment if you think you know!  We'll reveal the item's true identity and purpose later this week.

1.  I'm 16 inches long, 14 inches high, and ten inches across.
2.  I'm about as big as a medium-sized mailbox but I don't have a flag.

3.  I have a mesh screen on one side with a pull down flap that closes and two quarter-sized holes on the other end.

What the... What?

Leave a comment if you know!

Summertime Baked Beans

In preparation for July 4th, here is another recipe from our friend Ted Busch.  He used this recipe at celebrations for Father's Day and graduations - always a summertime cookout favorite!

With lots of people, and not a lot of time to cook, I usually decide to do hamburgers, hot dogs, and brats on the grill. In addition to the grilled meat,
I also got some chips, and made some easy, make ahead baked beans. Everyone loved them and wanted the recipe. It's very simple and can be made the day before and just reheated.

This recipe will feed 8-12 people (the leftovers are great!)

1 large can Bush's baked beans (original)
1 pound hamburger
1/2 pound bacon chopped
1 14oz can diced tomatoes
1 14oz canned chili beans (mild)
1 small sweet onion
1 clove crushed garlic
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup spicy brown mustard
1 heaping table spoon brown sugar
2 table spoons salsa verde
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon course ground pepper

In a large frying pan brown the bacon, be sure not to overcook. Drain off excess fat and then add crushed garlic, hamburger, and onions. Continue to cook over med-high heat until the hamberger is cooked and the onions are soft. Note you do not want to brown the meat.

Add diced tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, salsa, sugar, and salt & pepper. Keep stirring until it all comes to a boil. Turn off.

In a large oven baking dish add your canned baked beans and chili beans, then cover with the meat and tomato mixture. Stir it all together well and put in 350 degree oven to bake.

Cook covered for about and hour then take the cover off and cook another half hour.