A Peek Inside the Pleasure Palace

On the corner of 800 East and South Temple in Salt Lake City sits the funky 70's era mansion owned by my sister Robin Ballard and her husband, Pete Ashdown. Aptly named the "Pleasure Palace", Robin and Pete purchased the property several years ago to use as a weekend getaway destination.

The sprawling home, with it's ornate detailing, marble accents, elaborate murals and shag carpeting appears to be forever encapsulated in the 1970's.

What have we here? It's the lady of the house just sprucing up the place a bit in preparation for tomorrow's birthday celebration for her 9 year old son. Henry.

And speaking of shag carpeting... Robin makes a few minor adjustments to the setting on the Hoover upright. This job will require the "deep shag" mode.

In this very spot, Robin has primped for numerous special occassions. Imagine the glamour!

Housework is so exhausting! Is it time for my nap, yet?

That velvety bed is calling my name.

Even the telephone is brimming with a romantic allure.

Family photos adorn the magnificent mantle.

You can see why the family refers to this as the "Celestial Room".

Thanks for the tour, sister. Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.

Love, Kelly

Let's Go Shopping... at Now & Again

There's a new consignment shop in town: Now & Again. Located in one of Salt Lake's trendiest shopping districts on 501 East and 300 South, Now & Again is truly an ecclectic experience.

Michael Sanders, the shop's owner recently relocated from NYC where he made his living in the nightclub business. Shortly after arriving in SLC he began scouting for possible shop locations. He opened a few weeks ago and says business has been brisk.

The assortment of home furnishings and decor at Now & Again offers something for every taste. And it's apparent that Michael has a natural flair for visual merchandising. "I like to move things around and keep it fresh."

Michael's goal for his new shop is to stock it with fun items that make people smile. So the next time you're strolling down Third South be sure to come on in to Now & Again so Michael can make you smile.

Now & Again

501 East 300 South

SLC 801.364-0664

Mon-Sat 10-7

closed Sunday

Love, Kelly

Fab Finds

As usual, I've been searching high and low, day and night, far and wide to find the best home furnishings and vintage goodies. It's all for you, folks. Hopefully you will see something you can't live without.

I'm so giving.








Sofa Table: $99

Vintage Artwork: $28

Vintage Tooled Leather Handbag: $35

Chandalier: $40

Doggie Decoupage: $18

Smiling Buddha: $25

Floral Loveseat: $120 Painted Coffee Table: $140

Shabby Chic Lamp: $24

Cupid Compote: $24

Corner Cupboard: $199

Lavender Chair: $34

Baby Basinet: $24

Various Vintage Luggage: $18-$28

Soup Terrine: $25

Child's Hutch: $50

Drop Leaf Table: $99

Vintage Cannister Set: $30

Beautiful Buffet: $199.

Love, Kelly

The Sugar House Merchant's Association presents the 10th Annual 4th of July Sugar House Arts Festival. Boasting Salt Lake City's premier artists and craftsman, live music and food booths, the event is designed to enhance the holiday festivities leading up to the fireworks display held in Sugar House Park.

Second Hand Chic will be open on Saturday, the 4th of July from 10 AM to 7 PM. To celebrate the holiday, we will be all decked out in red, white and blue. Refreshments will be served.

So, while you are in Sugar house for the Arts Festival, be sure to stop by for a treat and have a look around. Hope to see you there!

For more info on this event:http://www.sugarhouselife.com/

Love, Kelly

The New Century Collector

The first day of each month I get a visit from my friend Dennis Barker. He comes in to deliver a stack of the latest edition of the "New Century Collector". Dennis is the editor of this monthly publication that features the latest antiques news and information in Utah and Idaho. New Century Collector is THE source for all of you antique and collectible shoppers out there. Monthly features include a calender of events listing upcoming auctions and shows, maps to locate your favorite shops, through-the-alphabet antiques dictionary (G is for Gout Stool), shop owner profiles and many other entertaining and informative articles and tidbits.





Dennis is a perfectionist and his attention to detail is apparent in each and every page of this fine publication. This month's featured story is an article about Vintage Ladies Compacts. And by the way, for you shop owners out there, his advertising rates are very reasonable. You can also have your shop listed on the map for only $20 a month!



On a personal note, Dennis is an avid collector of vintage sports memorabilia and equipment. His assortment of Utah golf trophies is quite impressive! Dennis has also been very involved in the ongoing legislative battles between our lawmakers and antique dealers. The antiques dealers of Utah are lucky to have Dennis on our side!



So grab a free copy of the New Century Collector the next time you are in Second Hand Chic or at most other purveyors of antiques in the Salt Lake Valley. Of course, you can check it out on the web at:

http://newcenturycollector.com/

Keep up the good work, Dennis

Love, Kelly

Hen Picked or Hand Picked?

Anyone reading Kelly's last post would have to agree how endearing it is. Adding the serenity of a simple "Country Life" to "Urban Chaos" is the all American dream, isn't it? In my mind it certainly is! If you know John and Kelly, then you are aware that lover's lane was named after them. Trust me when I say this in the most, healthy, team oriented, workaholic, OCD way, you would see the true origin of that wacky song by Donny and Marie Osmond, "I'm a little bit country, I'm a little bit Rock in Roll". They are the best of everything rolled into two bundles of self-contained joy.
Every time I see John, or Poopsie as he is so lovingly called, I think to myself: hmmm, I gotta get me one of those. He is one of the greatest guys I know. Anyone that has heard my ranting and raving about the male species KNOWS I don't say that lightly. Of course as all you single, incredible women out there will agree, every man I truly admire happens to have a wife attached to him. That is the way it goes I guess. Which is the only reason I secretly can't wait for Polygamy to come back into fashion...especially since every group of females I know can't seem to go to the bathroom alone anyway.
So I just added this day dream to my mind: one great house with great furniture, a wildbird garden in the back, a secondhand store, metal creations, which is John's line of work, the dogs, the cats, the hens, the beehives, Pygmy goats, the combined group of children from previous marriages, baggage from every prior relationship that it took you to finally hook up with each other in this cosmic rolling ball we call earth hurtling through space at who knows how many millions of miles per hour, a pierced nose, tattoos, painted toenails, great boobs, and the child like hippie spirit that roars free within my mind and body you would have my ideal life....and oh yeah, beer, lots and lots of beer!

Love, Connie