THE Sidebar from Urban Case

For the past few months, I have stayed away from decorating blogs and interior design stores, determined to pay off credit cards and avoid "unnecessary purchases."  I was extremely reasonable and self-restrained, until I went to a my favourite coffee shop for a cappuccino the other day... 

photo: Jass and Meen

The trouble is, this coffee shop is located next to Mint Interiors, a design store I am particularly fond of. As I walked by, I was doing my very best to avoid "eye contact" with any of the items in the window display (yes, it is a perfectly legitimate use of the word eye contact because I really do feel like beautiful furniture stare at me and even flirt a little sometimes). Unfortunately, out of the corner of my eye, I accidently caught a glimpse of this beautiful piece and a familiar feeling took over me.

(photo: Urban Case)

Hello.

photo: Jass and Meen

The French call it "coup de foudre" and it could be translated to "love at first sight." It isn't the first time that I fall head over heals for a piece of furniture or art and have learned to recognize the signs, even the body language. I must look like a dog spotting a squirrel: head lifts, ears perk up, eyes widen, it's the interior decorator equivalent of picking up a scent. So I went into the store, a sign otherwise known as the point of no return. It's like admitting defeat and succumbing to temptation;  I am weak and it has won because now I want it very badly.

Photo: Jass and Meen

photo: Jass and Meen

It is called the Sidebar. THE Sidebar. As in, there is no need to ever look for another sidebar because this is THE one for you. It was made by the very talented, very brilliant designers at Urban Case, a small company based in Seattle. 

photo: Jass and Meen

I have mentioned before that my man and I don't always see eye to eye when it comes to decorating our house and compromising for furniture can be a challenge. Not this time. I feel like Urban Case had the both of us in mind when they created this piece, as if just for us.  A combination of elegant craftmanship, amazing detail and quality of material, the Sidebar belongs in our house.  It will be ours someday and when that day comes, it will be the most beautiful piece of furniture we own. By far. 

photo: Jass and Meen

photo: Jass and Meen

I have been back to visit The Sidebar three times since I first spotted it in that window display and I am sure that there will be more "conjugal visits" in the near future. While I have had such strong emotional reactions to furniture in the past, I know that when I fall this hard for something, it stays on my wish list and never goes away...until I buy it, that is. There are only a handful of items that I want this badly, some of which I have been obsessing over for years and still want just as badly. I have come to think of this as a positive reaction, a sign that something is meant to come home with me and that I will treasure it for a very long time.

So now I know; going for capuccinos can lead to big trouble. It's best to stay at home... See you soon, friends (that means you too, little Sidebar.)