Hammer and Spear.  Design & DIY ultra-expert Kristan Cunningham  (you may know her from my old HGTV obsession, Design on A Dime)  and her husband Scott opened an interior design boutique and design firm, Hammer and Spear. Last night’s opening was a flurry of excitement like nothing I’ve seen before at a design shoppe.  This is vintage furniture done right, mixed in with apothecary and pantry goods, handmade pottery and Merchant & Mills sewing notions…and so much more!  You will love this store. It was also a big lesson in how to do vintage in a home  absolutely right!

First, lets talk color.  The store is an earthy paradise, which keeps the overwhelm at bay.  This is no fun house, which is a scary pitfall of “vintage design” shoppes: an overabundance of merchandise and color overwhelms you. Here, small swatches of bright color leap from the walls, but you feel totally at home in the space.

Next lets talk glamour.  Want to make a statement? Add some gold.  It seems to always do the trick. I have never seen a better dining table in my life.

Presently there are two- yes two- unique, mint condition vintage record players.  My the time I write this, there are, I am sure, zero.  In fact, people were hauling out armloads of stuff all night, so I can not imagine that any of what I am posting here will still be there in a few days.  In fact, one guest bought and carried out a giant vintage lamp through throngs of people.  Dedication, commitment… notable designers (i.e. Adrien Pearsall, Mastercraft, Karl Springer, Percival Lafer, etc.) at competitive prices. Special dog collars and leashes.  Tiny handmade notebooks.  Hand woven throw rugs.  Dazzling lacquered tables.

Small, unique touches like these Japanese toys and walls lined with wooden game tables adorned with completely unique gaming pieces will fascinate you.

There are vintage lights strewn throughout the store at somewhat intervals to highlight accents like this statue.  Whether intentional or not, the lighting really works!

And the fact that they carted things from as far as Michigan- like this faux-fireplace set-up- blows my mind.

Need I say more?! Hammer and Spear, 255 S. Santa Fe, #101, LA, CA, (213) 928-0997. xoxo Dana