An Afternoon in Silverlake

Silverlake, CA (just east of Hollywood) is inhabited by a wide variety of ethnic and socioeconomic groups, but is best known as an eclectic gathering of hipsters and creative types.  It is also an excellent place to shop for some great vintage and new Mid-Century modern pieces surrounded by some cool clothing shops and places to eat.  My first stop was to grab a coffee at this cute coffee and lunch spot Food Lab.

Once coffee in hand, I meandered over to Casa Victoria; a notable store for vintage and inexpensive furniture.  Here are some of the pieces I found..

These case pieces have such great style and would look great in a lacquered white, graphite grey or even a chartreuse green..

These stands give me the idea of side paneling at a bar with antique mirroring or even a wall feature in a powder room..

These brass candlesticks in a variety of sizes are a cool, eclectic accessory for any room..

These lamps are big and funky in a cream and gold finish for a monochromatic room..

Close by on Silverlake Avenue is Lawson Fenning.  Not to be confused with there sister store on Beverly Blvd.  This shop is more reasonably priced and has some amazing finds of both vintage and new..

I love the art and dresser here..

This is a beautiful mid century dresser.. 

and check out these chairs; they would be great in a cotton/velvet, a mohair or even a hide..

and just steps away is this great place I found for lunch and coffee.. LAMILLCOFFEE Coffee Boutique and Restaurant 

The Boutique 

couldn't cut the glare out but I love the screen with the chandelier.. 

and the restaurant is very well done as well

I love everything here, the glass with the gold, the screen prints on the wall, the finished concrete floors, the red, black and sea-foam green, tufted leather chairs..

A great place for lunch and I recommend trying these (sorry no pics before it was gone)...

Tasmanian Sea Trout:  House-Cured, crispy brown rice crackers, wasabi peas, chives, wasabi crème fraîche, daikon radish, toasted house-made brioche

WGFJ Ramen:  Japanese noodle, tofu, spinach, scallions, buna shemeji, Tokyo negi in a miso broth

and to finish, one of there amazing coffee beverages:


Orange Infused Cappuccino with Cacao:
Orange infused textured milk with espresso and dusted with cacao  


Last stop was this hip shop called Amsterdam Modern on Sunset.  They have everything from Mid-Century furniture and lighting to clothing and jewelry. 


I love this vintage, brass chandelier.. 

and these funky mod green pendants..

Gjelina's

Gjelina's on Abbott Kinney in Venice Beach one of my favorite restaurants and is a must if you are ever in the Los Angeles area.  This go to is a Venice favorite for breakfast, lunch and dinner and they have most recently opened a take-out counter next door.  This is a farm to table restaurant where they use organic produce and support local small farms.  The food is amazing.  The pizzas have a thin, crispy crust and are among the best in the city.  Everything is great on the menu but my musts are the Miatake Mushroom Toast with Creme Fraiche & Truffle Oil, any of the pizzas and the Butterscotch Pot de Crème with Salted Caramel and Crème Fraiche for dessert; the best cup of butterscotch pudding you will ever have.  Ok, food aside, the design is great as well.  The decor is vintage industrial chic with its reclaimed wood ceilings and metal stools.  The concrete walls are acid washed to a beautiful mottled brown that have impressive engravings running along the top edge.  The random filament bulbs also add to the chill ambiance for this cool, hip setting.

  

Below is the take-out counter located next door and yes, the food is just as good.  I love the calacatta marble walls that run up to the ceiling.  The French brasserie-style shelving are striking and beautifully integrated with the sheet-metal counter fronts and the butcher block countertops.  

and I had to add the mushroom toast and the butterscotch pot de creme!!...Amazing!!