Time to take a break from “working out” and talk about the things that make our homes special. Whether you’re mid-century or traditional, all of us love to fill our homes with beautiful FURNITURE!
Some of it we collect from estate sales, buy on a whim, get handed down from grandma or pick up off the side of the road. Putting a home together should be fun and for me it has and does take years. I love the look of a home that has morphed over many years of collecting over a home that gets decorated in a weekend from a big-box store. The thing I have tried to do with our home is never bring anything into the house that I didn’t REALLY want or REALLY love. Sometimes that’s hard to do… but it’s always worth it to wait for that special piece.
One of our favorite designers is Poul Kjaerholm and his pieces are spectacular. He was a danish designer born in 1929 and passed away in 1980. His award-winning designs have put him on the who’s who list of modern designers. His pieces are clean, simple, and the epitome of modern. They stand the test of time and they will NEVER go out of style. The are also, however, expensive as all hell! The funny thing is…. most really beautiful, well-made things can be … BUT sometimes are totally worth it.
Kjaerholm is one of those designers you dream about owning but know in your heart it will probably never happen. Or will it?
Designer Paul Kjaerholm / PK Flat File Cabinet / PK31 Sofa / PK55 Dining Table
The PK22 chairs below are $3,800 each. You can get his PK80 daybed for $17,000 or just swipe that debit card and get you that lovely PK31 sofa for $38,000. What are you waiting for?
I won’t go into the whole entire history of his life and work… the internet is full of info if you’re interested but I can say that although I love just about everything he’s done there are two things that Richie and I have had on our list for the past 10 years that seemed “in reach”. (especially when we win the lottery!) I’m sure everyone has a list and ours included the PK22 chairs above and the PK55 dining table. I keep hearing Aerosmith singing “DREAM ON”… “DREAM ON”… “DREAM ON”.
After watching online auctions, ebay, and scouring the internet for any kind of “deal” we happened upon an auction at the Wright Auction House in Chicago. They were auctioning a PK55 dining table. We logged on and watched the bidding. SOLD! Then months later saw another one come up and watched again. This time the item did not sell. Hummm…. this could be very good. Months and months went by and we noticed that the item eventually went into their “WRIGHT NOW” part of the auction site… which means you can buy it NOW instead of taking part in the actual auction. It was still way out of our price range but we continued to watch it.
About 6 months after moving into this house we checked again and it was still there. We decided to just take a leap and offer them what we could afford (realistically) and if they really wanted to get rid of it I figured they’d deal. You have to arrange for shipping yourself so I got on the horn and got bids for shipping from Chicago to Texas. Cheapest shipper was $525. WTF! So it was back to the drawing board. We came up with a new number that included the shipping but still totaled the amount we could spend and they SAID YES! Yes, I almost peed in my pants. (even as I write this). THEY SAID YES!!!!
I got online and initiated a bank transfer of funds from ours to theirs (before they backed out and came to their senses) and it was paid for in a matter of minutes. As I logged into the website to see my table a big
S-O-L-D banner came across the image and I could hardly believe that it was on it’s way.
So here it sits in our dining room. After 8 years of staring at this item on our list… I took a red marker and crossed it off. It is the most beautiful, well-made piece of furniture I have ever bought.
I’m so proud to own it and it was worth every day, month, and year we had to wait. Every hard-earned penny too. Additional proof that decorating your home no matter what style you love takes time, effort and patience. It’s part of the fun.
We had 6 Eames Dining Chairs that we knew would be perfect around it. It easily fits six but you could squeeze in two more.
Those bubble lamps are from the 60’s so they have that vintage golden patina. Or maybe it’s just cigarette smoke. HA! Remember the days when everyone use to smoke inside, in airplanes, in offices. CRAZY to think about. Whichever it was I think we’ll call it vintage cool because that sounds so much better than smoke-stained!
I love how the brushed stainless steel legs so gracefully cross each other at the corners. It reminds me of a woman crossing her legs. (her very thin legs!! DAMN HER!)
Many of you may have already seen plenty of pictures of this room (sorry for the repeat) but I’ve yet to talk about most of the pieces. It’s fun to share the dreams you had for your home that have now come true.
The simple top seems to float above the legs. It is by far the one piece in my house that makes me feel like a grown up. HA HA! The PK22 chairs will remain on my list along with the hope of “one day”… it could happen!
If you’re looking for a certain mid-century modern piece I suggest you check out Wright Auctions.
They have some really gorgeous stuff. It’s fun just to window shop, too. You can also check out more of Poul Kjaerholm’s designs on google.
Do you have a special piece in your home that makes you proud? Maybe something that you saved and saved to get?
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY THIS POST – DESIGNER: JENS RISOM
GET OUT!!!! first, those chairs are mine. second, i don’t know how you scored such a great poul deal. i think you guys have lady luck on your side…AT ALL TIMES! simply smashing. maybe if i put one on my wishlist your luck will rub off on me! plus, seeing the dining room is like visiting old friends: “hiiiiii, great painting man!!! hiiiii, great cabinet!!!”. and meeting new: “helllloooooooooo awesome lampshades!!!!” those really are wunderbar and now i have more things to add to my wishlist, dammit. ;) you have impeccable taste, stacey.
Thanks Tamara! I think it was just good timing actually. That table sat there a pretty long time so I’m sure they were seriously happy to gain some real estate and get it OUT! Yes, Please!
The chairs, however, are serious for me. I mean I do believe I’d sell my Eames chairs and replace them with those. I think they are elegant. Obviously I will never find them in a ditch or on the side of the road so I try not to think about it much. But one day…. Who knows? Glad you put up with me. Thanks, friend!
Stacey, this piece is outstanding! I’m so excited that you guys scored such an amazing deal on something that had long been on your wish list. Items like this I think are so much cooler when they are owned by people who truly appreciate them. The PK22 chairs are so fun too. I hope they find their way into your life sooner than later. They would be perfect in your home.
It really was a score that I rarely even think about. I had an instagram follower ask me to please post some pictures of the table. He’s a Kjaerholm fan and an architect in Buenos Aires. When I took some pictures for him it got me to thinking how amazing that whole experience was and how well it turned out. Which of course led to the post and sharing it here. We have been very patient through the years and it’s paid off. Thanks for letting me share the things I love. As for the chairs – Yes, I do believe I’d have a spaz attack if I ever end up with one. DREAM ON…DREAM ON. It’s still playing in my head.
Ok you’re killing me here. That desk, the way it just floats and the style is just magnificent. This is the type of stuff I want in my home but I have to wait about 15 years.
I strongly agree with how it takes many years to make a home. There are so many unfinished spaces in our house b/c of this, b/c I want to take our time to find the right side tables, the right bed frames, dressers etc. And it doesn’t happen overnight.
What a great score!
I love your home, Alex!
It doesn’t happen overnight and really it shouldn’t. It means way more to have to save, plan, and work for it. And the journey makes for great blogging material ( laughing!)
I love your thrift store adventures. Thanks, Alex.
That dining room table is spectacular. Good for you for watching and waiting. Also good for you for pushing yourself and getting something like this. I have done a few of these purchases and ran into the crazy shipping costs so now I know. But honestly it is worth it. And your lamps. I grew up in a smoking household and we had the lamps. They definitely are yellow because of the smoke in my humble opinion. My mom probably gave them to Goodwill.
Hey Rebecca! Holy crap that shipping was crazy. The table actually disassembles and you can detach the legs from the top but they WOULDN’T DO IT! Which I found to be so stupid. It was delivered exactly as it sits. What a waste of truck space (and my money) in my opinion. OH well, at that point you’re at their mercy if you really want it. Lessons learned, for sure.
HA HA HA! I hear people talk about that golden patina and how collectors LOVE it. I’m with you. I think it’s from smoke and UV light. Not a pretty combination. I’m not about to give them up but I’m not a huge fan of “golden” light. I love really bright white lighting. My husband smokes and I have a fit it I see him light up in the house. He’s pretty good about staying outside. SO FUNNY! (at least they don’t smell)
Did you have to go to the hospital? That particular feeling of—OH MY GOD. When something so good is happening, and you worry you might die of excitement before it actually takes place? And then the flip side of worrying you’re hallucinating…
It fits your space, and your chairs perfectly—I guess the universe wanted you to have it! (Thank god for the internet! Although—we’d all be a lot richer without the ability to buy stuff we *need*)
p.s.- the vintage golden patina of cigarette smoke… cracked me up!
I was pretty shocked that they took my offer. It was a jump up and down moment, for sure. I will never hesitate to throw out a number again.
The Internet has changed my life for the Reno of this home. I never could have pulled off half of what we did without access to so much. It’s awesome. You have scored some great deals yourself!
I hope to one day replace those lamps and let an ex-smoker buy these. HA! Thanks for looking!
So super sleek n sexy! Your table is great (yes, dig those legs) and I checked out his other stuff too – pretty dreamy…
I must know – when the real business of chowing down happens there, do you tablecloth it? Placemats? Looks like it could be sensitive…especially if any red wine is getting poured.
Here is the latest thing that we saved up for and LOVE: our bedroom door! Ha! Talk about sexy…:)
Fun question, Jocelyn! My husband is actually the freak when it comes to protecting the tables so we pretty much use a placemat at any table we eat at. He gets twitchy when I take them off the table. I’m not so worried about stuff like that. I think table are meant to be used!
Oh you are talking to a lady that gets that! New doors and door knobs can cause serious hot flashes. That is very sexy! I knew I was getting old when doorknobs and pretty toilets started turning me on. Richie has been in love with those Neoporte doors for years.
That is an exciting story with a happy ending…my favorite kind! And proof that it never hurts to ask.
Thanks Jessica! Happy endings rock! I still can’t believe it sometimes. And you’re right about asking. I’ll never hesitate again.
Oh my, that table is dead sexy!!! You have the most amazing taste and design skills. I hang my head in shame! I would have to say the house was our most amazing ‘piece’ that we lowballed on . But the Kip Stewart coffee table was my first big buy and I was so excited when they accepted my offer. It’s very addicting, isn’t it?
Hey girl! You’re so sweet but totally an inspiration to people like me. Your home is beautiful and I’m always inspired by what you guys do. Inside and out.
Isn’t it great to lowball and then win?! YES!!!! Getting a great deal on a home is the best…. More money to fix it exactly as you want it.
It is addicting but I’m running out of room to put stuff. I can promise you I’d sell something to fit in those Pk22 chairs. We’re always watching out for them. Thanks for the comment. Love when you visit!
Let me just start out by saying how much I love your home, Stacey, it’s a stunner!! You’ve done a great job with it, staying true to it’s soul. What an incredibly lucky deal with the Kjærholm table, I’m a huge fan too. I guess it’s his elegant and timeless simplicity that does it for me, and the very light expression. What a great observation about the legs of your table, comparing them to a lady’s crossed legs- you’re spot on!!
You are so kind! Thank you for leaving a comment. I’m so happy to know that you visit me from time to time. It’s going to be a great pleasure following you, as you have exquisite taste and the mid-century modern girl in me just loves your style! We have such a funky little home full of all the things we love and have collected for years. I’m really proud to have it and the history behind our home means just as much … so I certainly appreciate you being so gracious. I always hope we are doing it justice, but with our own bit of “flair”. Three cheers for Kjaerholm! His designs are so beautiful and one day I WILL have that PK22. Count on it! Ha Ha!