beauty meets budget

Sex on (lucite) legs

2011-03-23T19:15:00.002-04:00

WARNING: the following post contains explicit images of chairs.

So last weekend I checked out a thrift store I'd never been to and found a truly awesome score. Three Parsons type chairs with brass bases and lucite (!) legs. OMG. These things are A-mazing. Truly white hot. Look upon them and be jealous.

My mom and I have been contemplating the approximate age of these chairs — I thought early 70's but she says probably 60's. Aside from the upholstery, which is dated and not in fantastic shape, these things are pretty pristine! My mind has been racing with possible fabric choices to revamp these ravishing mod beauties. It's gotta be luxe ... perhaps a supple velvet in a teal-y color, orange, charcoal, or maybe even some medium shade of purple. I'm also considering a textural solid. I'm open to suggestions at this point so I'd love to head any ideas you might have! When I redo them I might forgo the gathers on the backs in favor of a little button tufting. Whatever I come up with, I have a feeling they're going to end up looking like something you'd see on 1stDibs.com!

Oh, and the best part? I got 'em for $11 a piece. Giddiness abounds!

The big chair reveal

2011-03-06T11:11:00.002-05:00

Remember the little chair I rescued from a trash pile not too long ago? Well, she's ready for her close-up. Just as a refresher, here's the "before: shot:

After two cans of gloss black spray paint and some stapling, this the "after":

Ooh, ahh!

The gratuitous close-up

The fabric I went with is Annie Selke's Links in Slate. I bought it online from HouseFabric.com here. For this project, I decided the "links" would look better running vertically to mirror the openings on the chair back. Isn't it lovely? I am very pleased with the makeover.

Don't forget to scout the curbs on trash day. You never know what you might find!

She clicks, she scores!

2011-02-21T20:55:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to share this little gem I got on Craigslist today for $30. Sure, in my dreams it was a whole set of campaign furniture, but since up until now I've been a campaign virgin I'll take what I can get. It's marked Drexel and it's in great shape structurally. Can't wait to shine up the hardware and paint this piece a fun color!

Stay tuned for the "after" pics!

P.S. Progress has been made on the wayward chair project! She got sanded and sprayed gloss black over the weekend. I'm now in the process of making my final fabric decision. More to come...

Emily's Home for Wayward Chairs

2011-02-10T19:15:00.000-05:00

Anyone who knows me even reasonably well knows I have a bit of a ... hmm, chair fetish? As such, I certainly can't resist a seat in need, so I was more than happy to pick up this spindly little homeless thing I discovered by the curb while I was running one evening.

She's got potential, no? Am planning on restyling her not-so-flattering wood tone with some paint. Gloss black is always a classic choice. Or perhaps a punchy color? Thoughts?

Fabric-wise, she definitely needs a makeover. That brown vinyl will be replaced with something far more chic. Velvet? Dupioni silk? Maybe a super cool print? So many possibilities.

Right now this diamond in the rough is sitting around my dining table with the two tufted back chairs I got in Mount Dora late last year. But I think I'll fix her up and put her elsewhere, then look for another pair of complementary chairs to complete my dining set.

Stay tuned for progress.

P.S. Have started painting my bedroom, so I'll share more when the job is complete.

Wow. What a day!

2011-01-15T19:11:00.001-05:00

I ventured out this morning with the lovely and talented ReNew ReDo! on a quest for bargains, and we were not disappointed. I'll let her share what she wants about her own scores (I will tell you they were good), but here's what I turned up...

Item #1 – Cabinet/Buffet

We checked out a sale in a commercial building and noted several interesting items, but this is the one that came home with me. This piece is solid wood and works perfectly as a buffet in my dining room. Was contemplating whether to refinish or paint it. Will most likely reach a decision on that when I inspect it a little closer for nicks and scratches. But this baby's definitely getting some new knobs.

The price? $20. I know, right?

Item #2 – Settee

Our last stop of the day was one of my favorite haunts, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, where I got this dainty little darling of a settee all decked out in quilted black fabric — which is in pretty pristine condition, by the way. This thing is smokin' hot. The pattern of the quilting looks almost deco.

It was love at first sight for me, so I snapped it up with only a vague idea of where it might live once I got it home. I think this will actually work really well at the foot of the bed in my boudoir. This room is still a bit of a work in progress but I love how things are coming together, and the black looks so lovely with the smoky amethyst of the duvet cover.

How much, you ask? A mere $42. Done and done.

NOTE: I'd like to express my gratitude to my partner in bargain hunting for allowing me to take possession of this particular find, as I know she was quite enamored with it herself. I offered to arm wrestle her for it, but I'm glad it didn't come to that.

Item #3 – Blue and white vase

We went to a really fun yard sale, full of all sorts of intriguing bric-a-brac. I snagged this cool vase for $3. It's good sized and plays well with my decor.

I sooo love the thrill of the hunt! Happy weekend!

I love lamp (garage sale score No. 2), plus bonus scores

2010-11-28T11:26:00.001-05:00

At long last, the photo of my second garage sale score from a couple weeks ago. [cue fanfare]

Picked up this sweet old hand painted lamp for $12. I could tell the shade was of good quality, but it's in poor condition so I will need to redo or replace. But the moment I saw this lamp I thought it would look pretty cool with a funky Anthro style topper.

Rose Landscape Shade – $98

Midnight Iris Shade – $98

Gualaguetza Shade – $98

Of course I would attempt to craft one myself, as I'm fairly certain I don't have the 98 clams to spare.

So now for the bonus scores. I went over to one of the more interesting thrift stores I've found in the area (it's a Habitat for Humanity ReStore) and found a couple little trinkets for a whopping $5 total sale.

Nice wood frame – $2

Asian cork art – $3 (a cool little scene with two cranes in it)

All in all, a productive trip! I've enjoyed this long holiday weekend. Do I have to go to work tomorrow? I could get so much more done around the house if I just had one more day off!

P.S. Can't help it. Anchorman's still funny, and I still quote some line from the movie at least a couple times a month. There. I've said it. Whew.

My latest reflection

2010-11-25T00:13:00.001-05:00

So I know I promised part deux of my garage sale scores today, but my camera died as I was trying to download my pics and I'm too lazy to hunt down some batteries at the moment. Sad, I know.

But in my couch-sitting-beer-drinking-long-weekend-celebrating-laziness I ran across something rather surprising and thought I'd share. Check it:

This Knot Mirror has a 40" diameter and a black and gold finish. And it's marked-down to $89. Now guess where it came from ... Kirkland's!! I know, right? I had them pegged for purveyors of the generic, mundane and marginally tacky (read: mall decor), but every now and again I like to pop in and see what's happening. Now I'll admit that most of the other items I ran across on their website were not my particular cup of tea. But I think this piece sort of rocks.

I dig this photo from my inspiration file but I'm dying to hang something behind that sofa. I could see our friend the Knot Mirror playing well in this scenario!

So, that's it for now. I've gotta finish making the wild rice salad I'll be taking to the family holiday dinner. Peace, and Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. Pillows...

2010-11-23T22:21:00.000-05:00

I am considering these pillow covers from West Elm for use in my living room.

Like them all. LOVE the gold.

Animal instinct (garage sale score No. 1)

2010-11-23T22:16:00.001-05:00

In all my recent Mt. Dora excitement, I forgot to mention a couple garage sale scores from the weekend before last!

This upholstered leopard ottoman was a steal at $3! Minky the cat concurs! It has a couple small tears in the top, but that's nothing that can't be fixed with an iron-on patch applied underneath while I shop around for other animal print fabric. I love the print as-is, and hope to find something as close as possible to the original!

Photo of score No. 2 to come!

Mount Dora Awesome-Fest 2010!

2010-11-21T23:16:00.001-05:00

So I took a ride over to the semi-famous Renniger's Antique Extravaganza Weekend in Mt. Dora on Saturday with the lovely and fabulously talented decorating maven of ReNew ReDo! I won't offer any spoilers on her scores, but here's what I came away with:

Exhibit #1 - A great pair of carved wood chairs with tufted backs for $30! That's $15 a chair, folks. They've even got casters on the front legs. Nifty!

The upholstery is in fairly decent shape, but it's odd to say the least. Almost seems like the kind of stuff you'd find on patio furniture, and I don't mean the stylish Sunbrella type. I mean the slightly scratchy old-school woven stuff with a bit of a sheen to it. Not sure where these are going just yet, but I'm already dreaming about fabric possibilities.

Riviera in Flight in Citrine from the new IMAN Home Collection at Calico Corners

Dahlia in Dove, Calico Corners

Fabriano in Cocktail, Calico Corners

Silhouette in Kiwi, Calico Corners

Sultana Lattice in Citrine, also from the IMAN Home Collection, Calico Corners
(Yes lattice, I still love you.)

Exhibit #2 - A four-panel hand-painted Chinoiserie screen that's around 5' tall. Two of the panels are no longer attached, and this beauty came home with me to the tune of $35 (!). I know... holy crap, right?? You may commence with the jealousy. It's so pretty, my knees buckled a little when I saw it. It's like having my own mini de Gournay!

And here's the gratuitous close-up...

The fact that the third and fourth panels are detached was not a detractor to me at all. In fact, I might go ahead and separate the first and second as well and hang them on the wall with a half-inch or so of space in between. I'm pretty sure I'm going to put two panels on each side flanking the sideboard in my living room.

So there you have it! A thrifty and highly productive day! And we barely covered 1/3 of the place before we were weighed down with treasures and had to head for the car. We are SO going back soon!

Hope you had a fantastic nearly-Thanksgiving weekend!

A quickie...

2010-11-17T08:07:00.003-05:00

I'd just like to say for the record, I'm majorly lusting for a leopard rug for my bedroom!

Oh, and some monogrammed linens would be pretty sweet too. The rest of this room is far too fluffy for my taste.

Back to the blogosphere...

2010-10-24T11:59:00.006-04:00

Since I was recently added to somebody's blog roll (Thanks, Sammy!), I became horribly embarrassed that I'd just left this ol' blog dangling a year ago like a harvest gold macarame plant holder in the back of a thrift store. This is partly an excuse for my laziness, but I'd say overall I was underwhelmed by the attitude of some of the more prominent deco blogstresses (no names mentioned) out there. I tired of the snarkiness and general holier-than-thou-ness that seems to dominate certain circles and ultimately became disillusioned with the whole deal in favor of keeping my decorating insights to myself — or perhaps sharing them with my dogs. Incidentally, they think I rock. :)

So... I think I'm gonna give it another shot. After all, I've recently turned the corner and started a new life (with a new house to pretty up), sans boyfriend. READ: this is a good thing. I hope to share some of the process of bettering this bachelorette pad of mine.

Stay tuned!

P.S. In the meantime, thought I'd throw a little autumn-esque boudoir action* your way, courtesy of West Elm. Swoon...

* Heh, heh. I said boudoir action.

The weekend wrap-up

2009-10-12T18:07:00.005-04:00

All in all, I suppose I had a pretty productive weekend. First, I put a new coat of white paint on the fireplace. Then, I repainted the wall around it in Refuge by Sherwin-Williams. Yes, you heard it here folks! We finally chose a color.

I scoped out an estate sale on Saturday morning, then returned on Sunday morning and successfully made a low-ball offer on this antique beauty...

...which I hope to turn into something like this.

photo from Eddie Ross — read the whole post here.

Not bad, eh? And I even squeezed in a short nap!

All-a-flutter

2009-10-11T08:25:00.001-04:00

Can I just say I L-O-V-E this Bird & Branch Decoupage Chandelier from Anthropologie? Behold its awesomeness...

Here's a detail shot...

Unfortunately, my love affair came to a screeching halt once I caught a glimpse of the price tag on this 34" x 20" beauty: $2,298.00. What the what???

But before we give up on this dream, consider for a moment:

Birds Nest Tissue Paper from Ribbons and Favors – $0.56 per 20" x 30" sheet

Blue Birds on Green decorative paper from The Paper Studio – $3.50 per 22" x 28" sheet.

Bird & Nest decorative paper from The Paper Studio – $3.75 per 22" x 28" sheet

Or you could resize some of these lovelies from Vintage Printables and send 'em over to Kinkos to be printed as color copies.

Now hold on to your Mod Podge, because I believe any one of these decoupage options would work wonders on a chandelier like this one being sold on my local Craig's List for around $25:

Seriously, think it over. It could totally work.

P.S. Anyone see Man Shops Globe on the Sundance Channel? I don't do cable but I've been hoping they'll offer the episodes online after they air.

Weekend finds

2009-10-05T22:31:00.004-04:00

For some reason my September "10 things that make me happy" post didn't...um, post. While I get to the bottom of these technical difficulties, here are two yard sale finds from last weekend:

A faux bamboo and cane chair ($10), currently upholstered in coral chintz. Not sure what this chair wants to be when it grows up, but for the moment I'm not opposed to it in its current state. I have a weak spot for coral, after all.

A 15-bottle wine refrigerator ($40), never used. Hells yeah.

Ten things that make me happy - September 2009

2009-09-29T09:23:00.005-04:00

A-ha! Better late than never, I suppose. Great success. For the record, I'm keeping the original date stamp on this post to remind Blogger that I did attempt to post it on that date! Take that, Blogger.

White Truffle Oil – Elevates even a humble serving of mashed potatoes to something extraordinary.
IKEA PS Krona Bowl – Like a crown for your table!
Vienna Necklace from de jarnette
Chocolate Cosmos – I love dark plants in the garden.
Hermes Orange – I don't need a scarf. I just want the box.
Cross Twig Table from Overstock – Unfortunately, I think this sold out.
Venetian glass mirrors – Can be had at estate sales and sometimes at Homegoods too. Would love a whole wall of different shapes and sizes.
Wonderland Pearl fabric from housefabric.com – Create your own Pottery Barn chair with this print and a thrift store cast-off.
Saucer Knob from Anthropologie – I've been eyeing these for an old beat up dresser currently in service as a buffet.
Circa Pillow from Z Gallerie – Also available in lovely shades of brown and green.

Floor pics, finally

2009-09-28T16:18:00.006-04:00

Since I recently realized I probably won't be done shuffling furniture around for a while, I decided I'd go ahead and post the "naked" pics of our new-ish bamboo floor. More to come when I'm ready to properly unveil the living/dining room.

A wall of a different color

2009-09-25T08:51:00.007-04:00

Much thought has been put into the dilemma of what color to repaint the fireplace wall in the living (well, currently dining) room. As you may recall, it began back in July (yes, it's really taken me this long to address the issue) with the patching of a softball-size hole created after I removed the largest wall anchor I've ever seen. Once the patching was complete, I realized there was no leftover green paint in the carport closet.

I do like the existing green and I could just match it as closely as possible and keep it the same color. But when the opportunity, nay necessity, to repaint it presented itself it opened up a whole spectrum of new possibilities. We're currently auditioning five samples of blues and greens and I'm sad to report that my gut tells me none of these are the one.

I think I've decided my color inspiration is coming from the pattern on a favorite teacup and saucer, which was a gift from my dear friend Amy of Artichokes & Lemonade.

And so the search continues...

BTW, I realize that in professional design circles the debate rages on as to whether or not the painted "focal wall" is a faux pas. There was even a couple pages devoted to the topic in a recent issue of House Beautiful featuring designers weighing in on both sides of the issue, and they both had some good points.

I'm going to add my voice to the choir and say I'm just fine with a focal wall. Why does it have to be all or nothing? In my house, the living and dining room are one big space, so from the paint purist's perspective if I want some color on my walls I'd either have to commit to it for the entire ginormous room or do without. Poo poo to that, I say.

While I acknowledge that painting all four walls (and sometimes even the ceiling too) in the same color can make a gutsy and powerful style statement, it isn't always a practical choice depending on the shape and size of your room and how you've designated your space. As someone who is just as willing to change paint colors as I was to change hair colors as a teenager, I'm fairly sure that if I put a strong color on every wall in the living/dining room I'd tire of it rather quickly. Besides, most design rules are made to be broken, yo. Or at the very least challenged.

Antique store prowling

2009-09-24T21:39:00.012-04:00

Some items I spied at a favorite local antique store...

Painting of a young lady, circa 1930's – $20 (I think)

Seashell plaque – $18 (I think)

Pair of wood chairs with brass details – $100 for the pair

I've never heard of a "Tong" chair (Should I have heard of this?) and all my Googling turned up zilch on the subject. Still, despite their unfortunate upholstery, I suspect these could be the deal of the century. Why, why did I not buy these on the spot? Ah yes, because I don't plan on building an extra wing onto the house anytime soon.

Ginger jar – $20

Am contemplating this as another orange accent (along with my new World Market pillow on the sofa) in the living room.

Gold and turquoise painted tray – $20

Nifty jar from a bakery in Niagara Falls, NY – $25

I already have a cookie jar (although it holds cat treats, not cookies) but am wondering how I might use this in the kitchen.

How I spent my first day of fall

2009-09-23T18:48:00.008-04:00

Making terrariums!

I've had this idea rattling around in my head for a while now, but never managed to execute on it. One reason is probably that I've had trouble sourcing an interesting variety of small, slow growing, moisture loving, low to medium light thriving plants through my local merchants. In fact, when I'd tell people at the garden store what I was aiming for I was often greeted with mild confusion or a dismissive, "I don't think we really have anything like that." Come on, folks. You can do better.

But yesterday I left the house determined to procure the supplies I needed. It took visits to a number of different stores (including the aquarium section of a pet store for some activated charcoal) but by late afternoon my mission was accomplished.

Now that I'm able to stand back and admire my handiwork, I think they're pretty darn cool. They're certainly classin' up the dining room table at the moment. I love the idea of having a nearly self-sufficient miniature garden inside my house. By nearly self-sufficient, I mean with proper setup and drainage you hardly have to water your plants since they're enclosed in a glass jar and retain moisture nicely.

In case you're interested, here's a list of my supplies:

Inexpensive terrarium, glass jar and vase, from JoAnn, Old Time Pottery and the cabinet under my sink, respectively (Good candidates for containers can probably be found at thrift stores too.)
Small rock chips, spaghnum moss, potting soil and coarse sand, all from the garden store
Jar of activated charcoal from pet shop
Rocks, shells and assorted decorative doo-dads

Here are the plants I got:

Variegated Ivy
Fittonia (Nerve Plant)
Creeping Fig
African Violet
Selaginella (Club Moss)
A purple and green leafed plant I can't remember the name of.
Rabbit's Foot Fern (Didn't end up using it yet.)
Maidenhair Fern (Didn't use this one yet either. Love these all by themselves, so I may just pot this moisture lover and put it in the bathroom.

There are some online retailers selling more exotic options like Jewel Orchids. Depending on how these plantings do I might be willing to experiment a bit more in the future. Also, there are a number of terrarium building how-to's out there on the interweb, but here's a website and a series of videos I found rather helpful:

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/terrarium.html
http://www.monkeysee.com/play/11233-how-to-build-a-terrarium

I may head back over to JoAnn next week, 40% off coupon in hand, and get an apothecary jar like this one:

So...heads up, friends and family! If I manage to keep these two alive (supposedly this is not too difficult if you've done your homework), you could very well receive your very own terrarium this holiday season.

Faux Fall

2009-09-22T08:53:00.022-04:00

Here in Florida, we don't get much in the way of fall. Although it's officially the first day of the new season it's still pretty sweltering outside, so lately while languishing in the air conditioning I've begun dreaming of all things autumnal. In the absence of leaf peeping, I'm getting my fall fix in the form of warm hued decor porn.

I hope you enjoy my faux fall tribute of richer and darker rooms. Break out the apple cider! Make mine iced, please.

photo via i suwannee

photo from Better Homes & Gardens

photo from Graham & Brown

photo from Elle Decor

photo from Elle Decor
A little Jonathan Adler goodness...

photo from housetohome.co.uk

photo from House Beautiful

photo from Kishani Perera

photo via Little Green Notebook

Another bright idea

2009-09-20T17:09:00.009-04:00

Since we've been on the subject of light fixtures, I should mention that I dig this Colander Pendant from Shades of Light for a kitchen:

Shades of Light Colander Pendant – $195

However, that said, the $195 price tag does not thrill me. Unlike the wine glass chandelier, I believe with a little craftiness, you and I can make this one ourselves. First, I give you the all IKEA approach:

IKEA GEMAK Colander – $9.99

+

IKEA 365+ BRASA Cord Set with Diffuser – $20.00

= TOTAL PROJECT COST – $29.99 (not including tax and elbow grease)

I chose the fixture because not only does it have the cord, it also has a cover at the ceiling. I think I like this set from 2Jane even better though!

2Jane Co. Hard-wired Ceiling Fixture for Pendant Light – $25.90

I'm sure there are a number of colander color choices out there. Of course, you could also spray paint your own, but I like the silver trim.

If the center hole in your colander isn't big enough to thread the cord through, don't dispair. There are bits for your drill (You do have a drill, right?) that are made for metal. The IKEA colander shown above is steel, so in that case I think a carbide bit might be best. Ask your helpful hardware man to be sure!

Installing a hardwired fixture isn't very difficult at all. If you're new to all things electric, I recommend the Home Depot 1-2-3 book on wiring as a good starting point. If you have an older home like I do, what you have in your ceiling might not look a whole lot like the example in the photos. The first time I installed a ceiling fixture I flipped between that book and online tutorials till I was sure I had it right. Still uncertain? Ask a dad or a handyman for assistance.

A new take on the dining table toast

2009-09-17T08:17:00.000-04:00

Saw this and thought it was pretty neat-o indeed. It's a chandelier and glass rack in one! Designed by some very clever Swedish chaps (Björn Stillefors, Jörgen Pudeck and Gunnar Cedervall, to be precise), this single-bulb fixture capitalizes on the form of your wine glasses and/or champagne flutes.

Glass Cluster Chandelier from Generate Design, $359 (holds 16 glasses) - $419 (holds 40 glasses)

While this fixture would certainly spark some good dinner party conversation, it would also be fantastic hanging over a kitchen island. That is, if you're one of those folks lucky enough to have the space for one...sigh. Picture it: drop-dead modern chic with simple clear stemware, and equally gorgeous decked out in your grandma's cut-glass ruby goblets come holiday time. Or why not mix and match?

All in all they're not terribly expensive. I believe the genius justifies the price here, so in my opinion it's worth saving your pennies for.

Despite the arguably dramatic effect of the larger chandelier, I can't imagine an instance where one would have need of a storage solution for 40 pieces of stemware in this day and age. Unless you're (a) Martha Stewart, (b) a catering company or (c) widely known for hosting the social event of the season in your neighborhood I'd opt for the more diminutive 16-glass version.

A recap of the last 48 hours

2009-09-16T07:58:00.008-04:00

In an effort to introduce some contrasting color to the living room, I've been auditioning a new pillow and have determined that it pleases me.

After careful contemplation I determined, "What use don't I have for a 28" x 32" wooden wall plaque shaped like an urn?"

note new bamboo floor

Upon returning home from procuring the aforementioned urn-shaped wooden wall plaque at Tuesday Morning, I discovered that one of the dogs had managed to score a fleur de sel caramel (maybe more than one) from the dish on the console table and enjoyed it on the sofa. Since I did not witness the incident first-hand, I was forced to discipline both dogs then set about the task of picking shredded wrapper pieces from between the cushions and scrubbing at the sticky caramel remains. Grr.
The dogs like their new bed — also from Tuesday Morning. So much so that apparently they didn't want to mess it up by eating caramels on it. Killing stuffed squirrels is another matter entirely.

Ants! Last night we washed out the hummingbird feeders (We have had hummingbirds again this year!) and put them in the dish drainer to dry. This morning? Ant infestation. I am by no means a hater of insects, but I don't want the little buggers in my kitchen. I read recently that cinnamon is a natural ant deterrent. For the sake of the environment (local and global) I'm generally in favor of trying natural, or at least not-too-chemically solutions first for household issues such as this. I began sprinkling, then realized there was probably no way to sprinkle cinnamon up the wall. That's when I broke out the ant traps. I still feel like they're crawling on me...

This one goes out to Amy

2009-09-15T10:33:00.003-04:00

Saw this pic on Desire to Inspire this morning and couldn't help but think of you!

Great room!

Toys for tots, or not?

2009-09-14T21:45:00.008-04:00

I don't know about you, but there are some toys I'd rather keep for myself than give to children ages three and up. Case in point, these cute little wooden City in a Bag sets from MUJI, a Japanese brand that describes itself as "rational, and free of agenda, doctrine, and 'isms.'"

Your choice of:

New York

London

Paris

or Tokyo

A whole iconic wooden cityscape for just $14! I'd put these on a mantel, or maybe arrange them on the console table where I drop my keys, etc.

Also on a rational note: These sets may present a choking hazard so don't put them in your mouth. I probably didn't have to tell you that.

New Perspective

2009-09-11T17:30:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday all!

I've been contemplating the disheveled sensation in my inner and outer environment lately — I'm pretty sure they're at least somewhat related — since we're still trying to put the house together from the floor install. I keep coming back to the subject of perspective.

Perspective can be a wonderful thing. It can also be rather off-putting occasionally. All depends on how you see it. And that's just it. When we become able to see something differently a whole new set of possibilities can open up to us. Sometimes that's stressful at first, particularly if you're prone to wondering who "moved your cheese" or in this case your nesting tables. But I submit to you that it's important to just go with it. Really.

The stress of moving every item out of our living/dining room and hallway has turned into an opportunity to see these spaces in an entirely new light. Suddenly we're shifting furniture around and I'm thinking of introducing a new contrasting color into my current blue/green/tan color scheme. Suddenly the palette seems less restrictive. That led me to rescue a painting, done by yours truly incidentally, that had been languishing in an unremarkable location and give it a new place of honor in the main living area — something I never would've contemplated before!

Sorry for the ramble. I'm not trying to get all philosophical on you or anything, so here's a practical tidbit: There was a piece of decorator advice I read recently in one of my shelter mags that struck me as clever. She suggested rounding up all your accessories from various rooms in one place, like the dining room table. Take a look at them and try to imagine them in a new location in your home. Then give it a shot. The upside is it's free and it makes you feel like you've got new stuff in almost every room.

Hey, why not? You can always change it back.

Neighborly decor

2009-09-09T22:03:00.004-04:00

Since I seem to be in a bit of a slump for blog-worthy material lately (meh), I thought I'd share a little side project I took on. My neighbor is doing a whole lotta renovations to her house and one day we started talking about art and decor and things to do with her living/dining room. Just for fun, I came up with a sort of fantasy collection of items for her amusement, taking into account some of the furniture she already has. Here it is:

Lighting:
ALÄNG Floor lamp - IKEA, $39.99
Capiz Hanging Pendant - World Market, $69.99

Furniture:
Ikat Slipper Chair in Natural - Urban Outfitters, $325
Chrome Chinese Porcelain Stool - Overstock.com, $89.99
Smooth Suede Shorty Dining Chair Covers - Overstock.com, $19.99/2
Asian Black Wine Cabinet - Pier One, $299.98 on sale

Pillows (left to right):
'Sparks of Light' Pair of Cotton Cushion Covers - Novica.com, $20.66
Ikat Pillow in Green - Pier One, $17.21 on sale
Estrella Embroidered Pillow - Pier On, $34.95
Embroidered Paisley Pillow in Rust - Pier On, $34.95
Patchwork Cotton Ikat Pillow Cover - Fabricadabra.com, $35

Rug:
Hand-woven Dhurry Arrah (5'6 x 8') - Overstock.com, $139.99

Window Coverings:
Suzani Print Panel - World Market, $26.99 ea.
1/2 in. Slate Tortoise Bamboo Blind (72" long) - Pearl River Mart, $52.50

Accessories:
Novica.com - 'Windblown Leaf' Wood Statuette, $42.95
Decorative Glass Vase - Pier One, $35
Pair of Nickel Glass Wall Sconce Candleholders - Overstock.com, $69.99
Set of three Wrapped Mirrors - Overstock.com, $50.99
Decorative Glass Vase (left) - Pier One, $35

Paint:
Living and Dining Room main wall color - Shoji Screen, Sherwin-Williams
Fireplace color - Fenland, Sherwin-Williams
Living Room focal wall color - Lemongrass, Sherwin-Williams
Dining Room focal wall color - Sierra Redwood, Sherwin-Williams

Incidentally my own spectacular living/dining room transformations lag behind. FYI, I know I haven't posted proper floor photos yet (or even house paint photos) but I will. Really.

Yet another creative use for wallpaper

2009-09-06T19:09:00.010-04:00

I'm gonna go ahead and start beating my drum again for the Wallpaper is Great Marching Band. Check out this inspiring idea from Canadian House and Home:

image via Canadian House & Home

Frame it out for a fantastic faux headboard! Of course it doesn't hurt that the rest of the details in this room are pretty spot-on too.

And now I must return to an old favorite of mine, wallpaper on the backs of shelves. Take a look-see:

image via Canadian House & Home

Love it, love it, love it! That turquoise cabinet really pushes all the right buttons for me.

I probably spent a couple hours today mesmerized by the website of this inspiring publication. Get on over there and check it out! And stay tuned, as you'll likely see a lot more photos in my posts.

C'mon get happy

2009-09-05T22:05:00.006-04:00

Here's a little dose of "happy chic" designer Jonathan Adler for the long Labor Day weekend.

Is this a dining room? A library? Both? It's the stuff of dreams, that's what it is. Whatever, I heart pretty much everything about this space, from the rich dark shelving to the citron chippendale chairs (swoon) to the fantabulous chandelier. Incidentally, my mom has a pair of those chairs (not in citron, mind) that I admire — and covet a little — every time I visit.

Hey, who wouldn't feel a twinge of manic joy or at least childlike wonder in a room containing a lifesize statue of a dog on a white grand piano, a metal ship and a bronze palm tree? :)

Thanks Jonathan, for doin' what you do.

Thomas Paul at One Kings Lane

2009-09-03T18:30:00.010-04:00

Hi there! Do you happen to know about One Kings Lane? I got hooked up with this site back in April after reading about it at Ali Mode's blog. As a former editor for Domino, I trust her judgment!

For anyone not in the know, the deal-io is this: private home decor sales featuring top designer brands for up to 70% off retail. You have to become a member to take advantage of these savings, but once you do you'll receive email alerts when new sales are starting. Sound good? Yeah, I thought so.

From now until 9/6, they're featuring a selection of pillows, totes and dinnerware by Thomas Paul. I've had a quick look and here are my faves:

Chrystanthemum Green Pillow – $22 (retail price $55)

Chinoiserie Corn Pillow – $49 (retail price $125)

Flock Black Pillow – $49 (retail price $100)

Goldfinch Small Tote – $29 (retail price $70)

Hong Kong Garden Melamine Dinner Plates, Set of Four – $25 (retail price $50)

What are you waiting for? Sign up now!

P.S. Please feel free to mention me as a referral: beautymeetsbudget@gmail.com :)

Ten things that make me happy – August 2009

2009-09-01T22:16:00.005-04:00

Okay I'm a day late, but...

Organic Cotton Union Jack Pillow from Fabricadabra
Heirloom and Hybrid Tomatoes – I'm obsessed with growing some. These are called Oaxacan Jewel.
Bird Shopper – I love cool grocery totes.
Parrot Garland from Pearl River Mart – Great for an end of summer celebration!
Diamond Bamboo Chair from Kanibal Home – They've got a blog too.
Routtura 3-light blue glass and chrome chandelier – Only $99 from homedepot.com! Also comes in amber glass, which I also find beguiling.
Dresses from Mod Cloth
Tiffany Blue – This approximation is Aquaduct from Sherwin-Williams. Perhaps my hall wants to be decked out as a little blue box.
Pushing Daisies – It's twee, it's clever, it's surreal and it's canceled. Should have known this one was too off-the-wall for network.
Big funky earrings – And this particular pair is on sale.

It's a corker!

2009-08-31T16:30:00.004-04:00

I've been away again, and for that dear reader(s?) I apologize. Our floor replacement efforts are now in full-swing, and by full-swing I mean the dogs and I are currently holed up in the bedroom while the nice men install the bamboo in the living/dining room and hall. Hooray!

As you may know, home improvement projects like these tend to...um, balloon, and this one is no exception. We've now got our sights set on knocking out the horrible kitchen tile since we found a ridiculously good deal on some cork. This cork, as a matter of fact:

(You'll also notice said horrible kitchen tile to the left of the lovely cork plank.)

AND, it looks like we're also going to be replacing the unimpressive red hearth tiles with some type of natural stone.

So again, my apologies for the leave of absence. Finished floor pics to come!

Homegoods Scouting

2009-08-27T21:21:00.030-04:00

I went over to my local Homegoods to see what I could see. Here are some photos from my decor reconnaissance mission:

Black lacquer table with shapely legs – $199

If you want to personalize a bit, it would most likely look pretty-as-you please with this knob:

Anthropologie Gothic knob – $14
(Yeah, it's mother-of-pearl and although I'm not 100% sold on it I don't deny its appeal.)

Racy red lacquer chest – also $199

Methinks this one could use some different knobs too. Any of these would do nicely...

Anthropologie Pietre Garden and Flower knobs – $12

Anthropologie Toscana and Nacre Daisy knobs – $16 and $12

Anthropologie Royal Menagerie Crow, Ram, Stork and Squirrel knobs – $12
(Why not try one of each?)

Okay, moving on.

Nifty black lamps with shades that have pattern on the inside – $39.99 each

Lovely green lamps that would look pretty great in my living room – $39.99 each

This lamp on clearance sports a nifty textural pattern and a vivid turquoise shade – $32

These lanterns are HUGE and marked down – $30 each

Another shapely metal lantern on clearance – $15

Flame stitch patterned wing chair – $349
(This looked much nicer in person than in the iPhone photo.)

I like this patterned rug for a kitchen – $14.99

Not sure why it was sitting horizontally, but this gold chain link mirror is awesome – $24.99

I could easily be persuaded to buy this sunburst-y mirror and spray paint it the color of my choice – $24.99

I've had a soft spot for Poe ever since I did a term paper on him in high school. I dig this black bird figurine not only for its poetic significance but also for its slight resemblance to a certain Pigeon light I've been coveting – $12.99

Moorish pattern quilt – $39.99

Trellis pattern pillow on clearance – $7

Why, why did I not buy that pillow?

Oh and by the way. If you've ever wanted a moose sculpture that's roughly 3/4 actual moose size — and who doesn't really — you're in luck!

And for the bargain price of $249. Fantabulous.

If I happened to be going back to school...

2009-08-24T22:43:00.007-04:00

...I think these items would come in handy.

Oilcloth Lunch Bag from All-Pop.com, $10.00
Cavellini Sticky Note Set from Touch of Europe – $12.99

French Marble Paper (for book covers!) from Paper Mojo – $7.25/sheet

How I spent my weekend

2009-08-23T17:54:00.005-04:00

Tearing out the last of the icky old laminate in the living/dining room that was damaged by the air handler leak in back in May, and busting out the horrible white tile by the front door. All of this was done in anticipation of our new bamboo floor being installed, which will look like this:

Yay!

Score!

2009-08-20T08:56:00.011-04:00

Check out what I picked up on CraigsList this morning for $40!

Yep, it's a working vintage tole chandelier in fantastic condition! Thank you, thank you lighting gods.

I've had a crush on these things for a long time now. So much so that I bought one on eBay a few years ago in hopes of restoring it to its original splendor. Tragically, it had been spray painted metallic gold and needed to be rewired. The best I could do was repaint it white and call it a day, so I'm pretty stoked that now I've got the real deal.

Here are a couple of nice photos featuring these beauties:

by Celerie Kemble, via Matters of Style
This one has lemons on it!

via Decor Pad

Bone nuit

2009-08-19T23:56:00.012-04:00

No, that's not a typo — just a really, really cheesy title. Forgive me, I'm very tired and no doubt I have no business coming up with any titles at all at this hour.

But you know something, I've been thinking. I've accumulated enough shelter photos from the Interwebs to realize I seem to like the look of inlaid bone and mother of pearl furniture and accessories. This mirror from Wisteria might be my personal favorite of the bunch:

Wisteria Inlaid Mother-of-Pearl Bird Mirror – $449

Here are a few more examples, three out of four appear via a great post on the subject by Jenny at Little Green Notebook:

via Little Green Notebook

via Little Green Notebook

via Little Green Notebook

Wisteria Inlaid Bone Floral Mirror – $429

What I don't like so much is the fact that these pieces are made from...well, bone. And mollusk shells, respectively. Which led me to ponder how I might somehow mimic the look without (a) the by-products and (b) the hefty pricetag that normally accompanies such pieces.

I'm generally not opposed to the idea of hard work in the name of craftiness, so I'm thinking of trying an experiment. I believe perhaps a similar, although not as intricate bone-like effect could be achieved through decoupage using cutouts of iridescent paper, such as the quartz color sold at Blue Dot Paper Shop — $12.99 for 50 sheets. Similar things are no doubt available by the single sheet, but at this point I'm not sure how many paper cutouts it would take to cover say, a side table. It would require patience but to put it in perspective, if you've ever done mosaic this wouldn't be nearly as messy.

I admit that hand-cutting a bazillion of those things would probably get pretty tedious, so I propose the solution of paper punches available in leaf and flowery type shapes from your local craft store. I bet you'd only need about three shapes to create a motif.

There's also pearlescent paint out there. This company sells stuff that was made for painting cars. It's a powder you can mix with paint and it's $9.99 a bag. Could be tricky to work with initially, but I'm trying to think creatively here.

So what do you think? Is this just extreme fatigue playing tricks on my brain, or is it possible that with enough effort I could make this $15 coffee table for sale on my local CraigsList...

...into something not entirely dissimilar to this?

On the subject of books

2009-08-18T21:46:00.004-04:00

Color coded?

Carefully curated?

Or not?

Discuss.

Lovin' you is easy 'cause you're beautiful...

2009-08-17T21:18:00.012-04:00

I have a thing for grey velvet. Especially grey velvet sofas.

Anthropologie Ditte Sofa (Sadly no longer available, but I'm sure it was pricey.)

Urban Outfitters Basketweave Velvet Pillow

Pottery Barn Velvet Drape

Giovanni Grey Velvet Chair

Overstock.com Cary Gray Velvet Sofa

photo from Kishana Perera's blog

Urban Outfitters Velvet Tufted Headboard

I generally like my grey velvet a bit more on the charcoal side, but here's my pick for an affordable grey velvet sofa — and with a great shape to boot:

Macy's Chloe Custom Color Sofa in Granite – $899

Some Sunday serenity

2009-08-16T21:53:00.007-04:00

Brought to you by the color blue...

photo from Kishani Perera

photo via House Beautiful

photo via Elle Decor

photo via Domino

Best in Show

2009-08-14T17:35:00.022-04:00

For some reason this morning my boyfriend and I started talking about our favorite varieties of cats. Later on, curiosity led me to the Cat Fancier's Association website where I enjoyed some of the photos so much I wanted to share them. But since doing a post solely about cats seemed a bit too off-topic, I thought I'd imagine what chair would be most suited to each one for their lounging pleasure. Cats do love to lounge, after all. So if you'll kindly indulge this eccentric little voyage, here's what I came up with...

Abyssinian
+

Kartell Mademoiselle D&G Chair

Japanese Bobtail
+
Pottery Barn Brooks Slipcovered Chair in Bettina

Singapura
+
IKEA Stockholm Easy Chair in Blad Brown

I have this chair and the curtains that match in my chocolate brown den. I don't have the cat.

Oriental
+
Anthropologie Astrid Chair in Naive Tropical

Sphynx
+
Room & Board Loring Chair in Slate Velvet

No cat hair on the velvet! Genius.

Cornish Rex
+
Urban Outfitters Lulu Chair in Red Pepper

Siamese
+
Anthropologie Cleo Chair in Polly

Reminds me of the Siamese cats in Lady and the Tramp stalking the pet bird and fish.

Devon Rex
+
Jacobsen Egg Chair

Bet you thought I'd put the Sphynx on the Egg Chair for the whole Dr. Evil theme. Nope, too cliché. I think this cat belongs on it. One of his eyes matches!

This experiment has confirmed what I already suspected to be true: I like my pets more angular and pointy than round and cuddly. I'll round this up with of my pets on a chair:

Happy Friday!

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house

2009-08-13T21:23:00.008-04:00

As of this morning, I'm officially captivated by this website featuring historic properties for sale. It's pretty fascinating to see what my money could buy in other parts of the country. It's also a bitter reminder of how ridiculously inflated the real estate in Florida has been.

Not sure if I'd want to live in all of these places (Where's the nearest Whole Foods?) but here are a few that make my heart go pitter-pat:

3 bedrooms, 2,866 sq. ft.
Aurora, Illinois (about 40 miles west of Chicago's Loop)
$142,000

This home features an elegant turn-of-the-century Victorian style. You'll find all the charm of the time plus modern conveniences. The kitchen is new with stainless steel appliances. Also new is the plumbing, electric, and bath. The interior rehab is complete. The exterior porches must be demolished and rebuilt and the siding must be scraped and painted. Situated in a great location, this home will be walkable to the train when the city's River Edge Park is complete.

4 bedrooms, 1,400 sq. ft.
Thomaston, Maine
$249,000

Charming antique cape with original details and beautiful floors. House is set on the tidal St. George River. Nature abounds with seals swimming by, kayaking, bird watching and fishing. In the town's heyday ships and schooners pulled up to the property's former dock. Fabulous lawns for gardening or entertaining, cobblestone walkway, and large attached barn with many possibilities.

4 bedrooms, 2,480 sq. ft.
White Creek, New York
$150,000

Step back in time 200+ years! Large, lovingly maintained colonial in the historic settlement of White Creek. Authentic and original detail throughout. The owners have graciously provided a lifelong history of the home and the surrounding area. A perfect country getaway. Relax on the screened porch and admire 30 year old perennial gardens. An easy commute to the Capital District and located minutes from the Vermont border.

4 bedrooms, 2,900 sq. ft.
La Grange, Georgia
$209,000

This Charleston-style Victorian built in 1900 reflects the charm and exquisite detail of an era gone by. Located steps away from La Grange College, churches, museums, theatre, shopping and dining in historic downtown La Grange, it offers the best of in-town living.

All work and no play...

2009-08-09T08:03:00.022-04:00

...makes Emily a dull blogger. All work and no play makes Emily a dull blogger. All work and...

Oh, hello! You've just caught me having a Jack Nicholson moment. I am finally starting to see the light at the end of a reeeeeeaaaaalllly long tunnel of freelance design frenzy, but the process has taken its toll on my well-being as well as my blogging efforts. On the plus side at least I'm gettin' paid for it, which brings me to my retail-related topic for today: IKEA.

Say what you will about their thrifty ubiquitous assemble-it-yourself merchandise. For me, IKEA is like a reassuring Swedish friend who makes me feel like anything's possible when I hang out with her — I guess I envision IKEA more as a gal pal. She encourages me to finish decorating my living room now rather than waiting for those spendy West Elm shelves go on sale or the day I can finally afford that elusive Saarinen table, and I am grateful for it.

So I was pretty darn excited when the 2010 (Sidebar: Is it just me or does next year's date still look really, really weird?) catalog came last Friday, although at present the aforementioned freelance work has prevented me from enjoying it to the fullest, i.e. curled up on the couch with a cup of tea in hand.

I'm planning a post of my top new product picks, but until then I'd like to call attention to the fact that IKEA has actually lowered last year's prices on a number of items. Pretty great of them in these uncertain economic times, don't ya think? For your consideration:

RIBBA frame – $9.99 (was $12.99)

This is my much-lauded cheap frame from previous posts — and that was before the price cut!

Left to right:
KASSETT cd box with lid – $3.99/2-pack (was $6.99)
KASSETT magazine file – $2.99/2-pack (was $5.99)
KASSETT magazine box with lid – $11.99/2-pack (was $14.99)
KASSETT media box with lid – $5.99 (was $9.99)

I've got some of the magazine files in white in my office, but I'm definitely going to go grab some more!

KARLSTAD sofa with long cover – $399 (was $499, according to the printed catalog)

Sofa gender roles be damned, I think KARLSTAD looks great in a skirt! And BTW, that's big savings folks.

And last but not least:

MALM 6-drawer chest – $129 for black-brown veneer finish (was $149)

I'm a fan of MALM's clean styling but if it's boring to you as-is, consider the nearly endless possibilities of pattern by adding wallpaper to the drawer fronts. Dig if you will:

How about using the warm floral above in an office setting along with the orange Kassett boxes!

A chair-rail height wall mural might be interesting too. The dimensions were just right on this one.

Or perhaps Malm black-brown's white counterpart, which is $10 cheaper. I thought a couple of the options below would be really cute in a little girl's room.

Do you faux bois?

So there you go! Until next time, hej då!

Inspiring Workspaces

2009-08-06T21:58:00.014-04:00

I've been getting busy with some freelance design work lately, so the subject of workspaces seems an appropriate topic for the day. Here are some of my favorite photos of desks, offices and little nooks of productivity!

photo from housetohome

photo from Kishani Perera

photos from Kishani Perera
If I wish really, really hard, can this be my office??

photo from Kimberly Ayres
This one looks so tidy and spare I can't imagine actually working here, which may contribute to the sense of serenity I get from the room.

This definitely looks like the desk of a graphic designer. It takes one to know one!

photo from Blueprint
Have decided I shall split my time between the purple office above and this one here. It's only fair.

I'm still incredulous that this is a guy's dorm room. Where does he keep the Maxim posters and the beer can pyramid??

photo from lovelydesign
I know I featured this photo in an older post, but it really fits this topic nicely too! I love what Sharilyn did with her workspace.

photo from Southern Accents
And to think I've been using my hall closet to store my toolbox, Scrabble, old records and an antiquated computer!

I've forgotten where this came from, but it's lovely.

And now, back to work.

More fabrics to love!

2009-08-05T22:52:00.007-04:00

Jan was kind enough to comment on my last post with a link to a fantastic fabric group at Calico Corners. Thanks, Jan! It's called All About Orange. See them all here.

They look so pretty all hung together there and they're all great — especially the coral-ish ones! It appears I'm sort of crushing on coral recently. I think it would be a wonderful foil to the light robin's egg walls in my office/art room. Aside from the Thomas Paul I mentioned before, this one might be my other fave of the bunch:

Blossom in Cinnabar – $23.99/yard

And just for kicks, here's another lovely specimen I forgot to include yesterday:

Silhouette in Ebony – $24.99/yard
I'm intrigued not only by its beauty but by its slightly Rorschach-ian quality. :)

Fabrics to love at Calico Corners

2009-08-04T21:56:00.009-04:00

The birthday is over, the Anthropologie gift card has been spent (15% discount applied, thank you) and now it's back to business — and by business I mean wandering around the web coveting pretty decor-related things.

In addition to the slipcover book I got recently, I've been semi-obsessed with the idea of learning upholstery for a while now. Unfortunately that obsession didn't spur me on to do anything about it until recently. I guess all things in good time, right? Anyhow, I started with a Google search for any classes available locally which turned up zilch. Then I sent away for info on a sort of correspondence course in upholstery. I am as yet undecided on the school option, I thought it wouldn't hurt to order a book or two from Amazon.

In the meantime, I think I'll draw inspiration from some of the fantastic fabrics available from Calico Corners. If you're any kind of a fiber-holic or a pattern addict (I am both) check 'em out. Here are a few patterns of note:

La Mare in Summer – $17.99/yard

Fabriano in Cocktail – $27.99/yard
I think this one has a Josef Frank vibe to it. I approve.

Mandarin in Summertime – $17.99/yard

Dahlia in Aegean – $20.99/yard (in stores only)

Stockholm in Sungold – $23.99/yard

Aviary in Tangerine – $23.99 (in stores only)
I'm pretty sure I dig most things by Thomas Paul.

Is it just me, or do these make you want to pick up a staple gun too?

Aww...

2009-08-03T21:23:00.004-04:00

Look what Anthropologie sent me for my birthday!

A 15% off card in an adorable fabric envelope with buttons on it! Me and Anthropologie are BFF.

Ten things that make me happy – July 2009

2009-07-31T08:40:00.006-04:00

Since today marks the end of the month of July I put together a list of ten things that make me happy at the moment. This post goes out to my old pal Domino, something else that never failed to make me happy.

Bee & Flower Soap – Comes in Sandalwood, Rose, Ginseng, Jasmine and some new scents I didn't even know about.
Orla Kiely Stem Print Classic Bag – Currently on sale!
Living Wreaths
Diamond Dogs Fabric by Schumacher – To the trade only...great sadness.
Amy’s Organic Cakes – Available on the frozen food aisle. They're also vegan and totally delicious!
Statement Jewelry – Just put this one piece on and you're done!
Seconds Dinner Plates by Jason Miller
Thorsten van Elten Pigeon Light
Paul Ranson "Apple Tree with Red Fruit" Framed Print
St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur – This libation will always remind me of my friend Amy.

And now I shall take my leave and journey to the beach. With any luck I'll be away from the computer for the weekend, but rest assured, my half-baked decorating opinions and sparkling wit will return next week.

Slacker

2009-07-30T21:32:00.012-04:00

Okay, I admit it. I'm a slacker. I've been caught up in preparations for what will no doubt be an action-packed birthday weekend, starting tomorrow with a gal's getaway at a beach resort. Now that the bustling about has stopped and items like a swimsuit cover-up and SPF 1000 sunblock have been obtained, I realize I've been remiss in my blogging.

My sincerest apologies! In honor of my slacker-tude of late, here's a glimpse at a recent home decor trend of the plaid variety.

via Apartment Therapy

Not sure I'm completely sold on the above items just yet. I'm sure all you fellow Gen X'ers out there remember the plaid shirt phenomenon of the early nineties well enough. So here's my (very) loose tribute to the checked flannels of the Seattle grunge scene.

Monogrammed melamine plates, $22 each at laplates.com (found via Country Living)

Cute, no? Okay, okay...so they're gingham. That's a type of plaid, isn't it? Well maybe not, but you don't really want plates adorned with patterns á la Curt Cobain, do you? Unless you're furnishing your kitchy cabin in the North Carolina mountains.

If this pattern doesn't tickle your fancy, there are plenty more to choose from on the La Plates website. I have to admit, I'm a sucker for monograms. Could have something to do with my love of typography, or the recessive preppy gene that I think must have come from my dad.

Thrift Store Booty

2009-07-28T15:49:00.005-04:00

As promised, here's my haul from my Southwest Florida thrift store visit over the weekend...

Been looking for a blue & white vase like this!

I also scored a large vintage print of a Fork-tailed Flycatcher in a green frame.

Lastly, a book on making slipcovers and window treatments and the like. It has a lot of good information PLUS some amusing photos circa 1984. Look out world! Now I've got just enough knowledge to be dangerous.

Had there been any reasonably uncomplicated way to transport it back home, I totally would've gone for a low-slung cream colored Hollywood Regency style sofa on sale there for...$50. Darn it, I'm still kicking myself for passing that up.

More great deals on rugs

2009-07-27T07:14:00.007-04:00

I'm back from Southwest Florida, the Ghost Orchid was observed (very cool, btw) and I'm working on a post to show you a few finds I picked up from one of my favorite thrift stores. In the meantime, a public service announcement for anyone in need of a bargain price floor covering.

My living room post from the other day featured a rug from Urban Outfitters for $9.99. Well, they've got even more on sale on their website right now. We're talking some really good deals here, and not just on the small sizes. Some examples:

The deepest discount is probably on this one, the 4' x 6' Tufted Geo Swede Rug for $39.99. (Was $168)

Not so much my cup of tea design-wise, but the colors are pleasing and I could see this playing well with some blonde wood mid-century modern pieces.

The 5' x 7' Chevron Ikat Printed Rug is selling for a mere $19.99! (Was $68.00)

I know, I know. The Ikat print is a total sell-out at this point — incidentally I still like it and I'm not afraid to say so. But in my defense to all the snarky, highly-opinionated decorator types out there, I believe the chevron pattern makes this an interesting specimen. It looks sort of like flame stitch á la Missoni.

On a related note, Fabricadabra did a thorough post on the flame stitch phenomenon so check it out.

Also worth mentioning, the 5' x 7' Tropical Stamp Print Rug is down to $29.99. (Was $68.00)

This is a bold statement coming from a native Floridian, but just because there's a palm leaf print, it doesn't mean you have to go all rattan and tasseled tapestry pillows with monkeys or cultivate that tropical "Tommy Bahama vomited all over my living room" look. I think this one could be great in a CB2 kind of way in a room with a black, white and vibrant yellow color scheme.

And last but not least, the 5' x 5' Madeline Woven Rug is now just $39.99. (Was $120)

Come on, get out the Visa card!

Road trippin'

2009-07-25T09:50:00.006-04:00

Today I'm on my way down to Naples to see the elusive Ghost Orchid in bloom at Corkscrew Swamp. I'll be back tomorrow evening, but until then in honor of this famed flower, I leave you with two of my favorite things:

Starck's Louis Ghost Chair
Two related facts: First, Overstock.com is selling a pair of lucite armchairs for $329.
And second, I have a birthday coming up. I'm just sayin'.

Vintage Botanical Print of Orchids
Available for download here from Vintage Printable.

Living room do-over

2009-07-23T10:27:00.001-04:00

Ever feel like just trashing (er...giving to charity) everything in your living room and starting over from scratch? I do, and it's nice to know it can be accomplished for under $2,000.

1. Barometer Floor Lamp, IKEA – $49.99
2. Faux Blue Coral, Z Gallerie – $19.95 and $44.95
3. Felicia Cushion Cover, IKEA – $7.99, Blue Floral Printed Pillow, Pier One – $17.18 sale
4. Velvet Curtain Panel in Indigo, Urban Outfitters – $29.99 (x2) sale
5. 30" Round Painted Stamp Printed Rug, Urban Outfitters – $9.99 sale
6. Custom Megan Slipper Chair in Natural Twill, JC Penney – $349 sale
7. Ginger Ceramic Jar, Pier One – $18.68 (x2) sale
8. Wicker Trunk (use as coffee table), Overstock.com – $83.99 sale
9. Metal Accordian Side Table, Urban Outfitters – $60
10. Ikat Slipper Chair in Indigo, Urban Outfitters – $325
11. Trollsta Cabinet, IKEA – $199
12. Jada Slipcovered Sofa in Pearl, JC Penney – $599
13. Silver Hammer Lamp, Pier One – $48.68 sale
14. Randy Hibberd "Beauty in Blue I" Framed Art, World Market – $149
Grand total: $1,973.06

Paint: Arucauna Blue, Valspar Martha Stewart Colors

A quickie

2009-07-22T09:09:00.001-04:00

No, not that kind. In case you're wondering, the title refers to the length of this post and the quick and easy nature of the project below.

I may have mentioned this before, but...binder clips! As evidenced in the above photo, this little office necessity has transformed a group of vintage prints into a charming (and cheap!) art display. Looks great, no? Everything about this vignette is just right as far as I'm concerned.

By the way, you can find some ideas for obtaining vintage prints in my previous post here. I suspect the binder clip method would also work great for a postcard collection or a group of black & white photos. What do you think?

That said, feel free to put your mind back in the gutter. Who am I to judge?

Cheap thrills for summer

2009-07-21T07:29:00.000-04:00

PointClickHome has a great slideshow featuring designer finds for $15 or less. You can check it out here, but first, a couple of my faves:

Birdcage melamine plate, from Fred Flare

Wine-tasting coaster pad, $10 from Bob's Your Uncle

I need a vacation

2009-07-20T22:22:00.000-04:00

I'm thinking maybe here:

Photo from Elle Decor

Interior designer Tom Scheerer's bedroom in Harbour Island, Bahamas.

A quick pick-me-up

2009-07-19T18:35:00.000-04:00

Have some tired old shelves? Paint the back of 'em for contrast. The result? Fantastic. See below.

Hmm...what DON'T I love about this room?

Wallpaper looks great on the back of bookshelves too, but it can be a pricier proposition when you have to buy it by the double roll. Ebay can be a good source for bargain wallcoverings and tends to have some nice vintage options, but often you have to wade through a sea of Little Mermaid and Nascar patterns to find them.

Photo via Room Envy

Photo from Lovely Design

Photo from Country Living

Decorative paper is a another solution for a pop of pattern. I recently lined the back of a metal institutional cabinet in our dining area that serves as a bar and china storage with some paper from Paper Mojo. Will have to remember to post a pic, but in the meantime, here are a couple of my current Paper Mojo faves:

Asian Lattice

Snow & Graham Designer Prints, Collection 2

Have a fun paint or wallpaper project? I'd love to see it.

A little moment of zen

2009-07-18T08:24:00.000-04:00

Here's hoping my next backyard looks a bit more like this...

Hope you're having a happy weekend so far!

I Heart(h) Fireplaces

2009-07-17T08:16:00.004-04:00

Ha ha. Yes, I know I'm a total cheese-ball. But it's true. This Florida native has always loved the charm a fireplace brings to a room. Case in point: when we bought our house two years ago, I prioritized having a fireplace over a pool.

But here in the Sunshine State, where the "summer" (I consider this May – September) feels not entirely unlike vacationing in the devil's butt crack, the old hearth can start to feel a little neglected. So while I pine away for the respite of fall, I'm thinking about doing a little fireplace makeover.

Photo from Sunset Magazine

As far as I'm concerned, this looks great. Not only does it keep your fireplace in service any time of the year (wasted space bugs me), it's just the thing for anyone who has a non-working fireplace in their house. And you don't have to mess around with balls of newspaper and pokers.

In my opinion, this look works best when your candles are all the same color and of varied heights. That can be accomplished cost effectively though. A trip to a dollar store or discount place like Tuesday Morning, et voilà — you're in business. If you're only able to score one size of candle, you can still get the multi-level effect by placing the back row on top of a couple bricks.

Is anyone out there already rocking this look? If so, how do you like it? Send me a pic.

The Art of Arranging

2009-07-16T12:12:00.027-04:00

The more examples I see of well-executed tablescapes, the more I believe they are an artform. The ability to create thoughtfully curated arrangements has certainly eluded me more often than not. I thought I'd dedicate this post to the art of the tablescape and contemplate what makes up a good one.

First, a little background. The term tablescape is generally attributed to the late great British designer David Hicks. A basic definition is the artful grouping of items from works of art, everyday objects, flower arrangements etc. Hicks was a true master at it. As he put it,"What is important is not how valuable or inexpensive your objects are, but the care and feeling with which you arrange them.”

An example of a David Hicks tablescape from the early 1970's.

The great news is creating a tablescape doesn't have to cost a thing, but it can have a huge impact in a room. I urge you to look around your home for accessories or collections you may have to work with. Sometimes pulling a piece from one room and placing it in a new setting works wonders. You can turn your coffee table, nightstand, mantle or shelf into the setting of a fantastic tablescape.

My apologies for not having sources for every photo, but here are some of great examples of artfully arranged items:

by interior designer Kishani Perera

Love this one.

An aside: the book above is about architect Paul Rudolph, who lived and designed houses in my hometown of Sarasota, FL.

Natural materials make a lovely display.

When properly curated, "clutter" can be pleasing to the eye.

Superbly arranged shelves.

A fantastic display of red and green items.

Photo via Apartment Therapy

Photo via Design Sponge

Photo from FLOR

Photo from Kelly Wearstler

Some tips I've gathered through studying articles and photographs:

The first step is to clear the area that you want to work on and gather any items that may work together in the space.
Select items based on the size and scale of the surface you're working with.
Place the largest object first.
Odd numbers add interest. In a painting class my instructor advised me that odd-numbered groupings are more pleasing to the eye than even. The same applies here. Try arrangements of three's, five's or seven's.
Too few items and your tablescape looks naked. Too many and it just looks like clutter. A thoughtful arrangement requires a trained eye. If you're in doubt as to whether your arrangement is too busy, I suggest following Coco Chanel's advice about accessorizing: always take off the last thing you put on. Or at least take one thing off!
Layer items the way an artist would paint a landscape, using background, middle ground, and foreground.
Creating highs and lows add dimension and depth. Use a couple books or a decorative box as a pedestal to elevate objects.
In addition to the tabletop itself, you can also use the spaces above and below it as part of an arrangement. For instance, if you have a piece of artwork hanging over your tabletop it can be counted as part of the grouping if hung low enough to mingle with the other items.
Similar or repetitive items help pull everything together.
A theme can lend meaning to a tablescape. A couple examples of a theme are a group of objects with one or two like colors, or a collection of vintage vases.
Try varying some of the textural elements in the tablescape, i.e. light and dark, shiny and matte, etc.
There are no absolute rules here. A tablescape is your own personal expression, so have fun with it.

Curiosities

2009-07-14T16:00:00.002-04:00

Thought I'd share a few items that caught my eye on a recent trip to a favorite antique store in my neck of the woods:

I have a bit of a thing for vintage paint-by-numbers and other amateur art that one finds in thrift stores, etc. The botanical print on the right is very nice too.

This one is crying out for a nicer (less 1980's) frame but I love the simplified graphical quality of the paint-by-number and the colors are great.

Love old birdcages like this too.

Items like these are fun, serve as good conversation pieces and best of all, they're readily affordable!

A paint dilemma

2009-07-13T09:46:00.010-04:00

I need some help with a paint dilemma that's been vexing me. It involves the fireplace wall in our living room, which is painted a sort of chartreuse-y green color. It's the only wall in the house we didn't repaint after we moved in two years ago because I loved how the white brick fireplace pops off that color. Here's a photo:

Please try to ignore the fact that the lucite table is askew. How embarrassing.

But about the thing I need help with... There was a ginormous unsightly anchor embedded in the wall, which you can sort of see in the photo right above the painting. I think at one point the previous owners may have been displaying the huge stone ball from Raiders of the Lost Ark. That would explain the size of the anchor.

But I digress. After two years in the house I finally decided I could live with the aforementioned unsightly wall anchor no more, so I pulled it out and patched the wall, fully confident that there was a can of that paint color sitting out in the carport. Well, there wasn't. So now I have do something about the unsightly white patch mark where the anchor used to be.

My boyfriend has recently revealed that he's somewhat lukewarm about the green. I still like it, but I'm not opposed to change. So my question is this: Do I just try to match the current color or do I experiment with something completely different? My curtains are blue (like the blue in the painting on the mantel) and my accessories are blue and that green. The sofa is beige, and other furniture is either white, black or wood. The rug is jute and the floor is currently maple-ish colored laminate, but that has to be replaced very soon and I was leaning toward something significantly darker.

Interestingly enough, someone over at Benjamin Moore seems to share my aesthetic.

Definitely wishing I had that Noguchi coffee table in my living room! Love the black wall but I'm not confident I could pull it off. If anyone out there has any ideas I'd love to hear them!

How to create a "put together" art grouping pronto

2009-07-12T10:13:00.000-04:00

This may have already occurred to you, but I want to mention the simplest way I know of to get a cohesive display of art on your wall in a matter of hours. It's cheap, easy and undeniably good looking — a little like me. Kidding about the first two!

Two words: clearance calendars. For several years now my boyfriend has made a trip into Barnes & Noble after January 1 in search of wall calendars. He brings back some of the nicest ones I've seen, with themes like Paris, butterflies, vintage travel posters etc. They're oversized and printed on a classic laid finish paper rather than the garish high-gloss numbers you see everywhere. Best of all, they're beautiful enough to frame the following year — or seize the moment if you don't feel like waiting.

I'm framing up a group of six of these for the den:

Kindly excuse the poor quality of my photos, snapped with my iPhone. A photo stylist I ain't.

Another source, not to be overlooked, is old books. Thrift stores often have worn out books with tattered spines for under $5 that have beautiful color plates. Some good bets are scientific volumes (that's where the group in our bathroom came from — pictured below in Ikea frames), atlases, encyclopedias and field guides. You get the idea.

One more great source that's online is Vintage Printable, where you can download a huge variety of antique public-domain illustrations and photos for free. Print them yourself at home or have it done at Kinko's for a nominal fee. Either way, they'll look great! Some of my faves:

I've seen scientific charts like this going on Ebay for around $100.

Anthropologie had something very similar for sale a while back, priced a la Anthropologie of course.

A note should be made here that the file size of some of images are larger than others once downloaded. If you're not resolution, image size and/or Photoshop savvy, the nice folks at Kinko's are there to advise you on how large a print you can produce at good quality. Put the images you want to print on a cd or thumb drive and show them what you've got.

Serenity now

2009-07-10T08:10:00.000-04:00

Whenever I'm feeling unsettled by the giant mound of clutter piling up on my desk or the utter disarray of my kitchen drawers, I head over to see Martha. There I can find a calm oasis in a sea of chaos, and after a little while I don't feel so bad. Even though I might not have the willpower to pull off or maintain even a fraction of her inspiring organizational ideas, it soothes me just to know she's out there coming up with them. Look how nice:

Re-purposing ceramic planters for serving food. Oh Martha, aren't you clever!

This is made of awesome

2009-07-09T13:23:00.006-04:00

NOTE: This post contains very important information that must be shared immediately.

Just recently I was lamenting about the poor selection of "decorator" spray paint colors available. Krylon has maybe three good ones, Valspar has a few more. But when you're looking for a very specific color (like maybe coral) it's easy to strike out.

Behold! I opened my new issue of House Beautiful and right there on page 38 was my solution: Montana Gold spray paint. It's available in 182 COLORS (yes, really) and according to what I read online, it has "the highest covering capabilities & opacity of any known spray paint. It's also durable, long lasting, weather resistant and suitable for all purposes and surfaces."

Even though I'm a graphic designer and a fine artist I'd never heard of these before. They're available at Dick Blick online for $8.29 a piece! And if you get really serious and decide to spray paint every surface in the house (tempting, actually) there's a swatch book available here for $24.95. I wish I'd known about this stuff earlier in the week before spraying my $20 faux bamboo chandelier from eBay with a can of Valspar Terracotta which I later discovered had a texture to it. Grr. Now I'm thinking I'll sand it down and try again with Montana's Dirty Apricot or maybe Red Orange.

Rethinking plates as wall decoration

2009-07-09T10:49:00.000-04:00

I give you some examples that prove you don't have to have plastic covered furniture and doilies on everything to have a plate collection. Vintage patterns look fresh when placed against an unexpected backdrop and multiple eras united by a color palette add visual interest. And best of all, plates can be an inexpensive option for tricking out a bare wall. Take a look here:

photo via Design Sponge

photo from Domino Magazine

photo via Design Sponge

photo from Marie Claire Maison

photo from Anthropologie — check out that GORGEOUS wall color too!

And let us not forget this fantastic example from my painted cabinet post.

So how do we get started with our own collection? It's easy, and even better is that it certainly doesn't need to cost a lot! First and foremost, a good thrift store crawl generally produces a lot of hang-worthy specimens. I've also found that places like HomeGoods and/or TJ Maxx can be great resources for unique one-off plate purchases.

If you're the shop at home type, Ebay is your most obvious resource, as my search for "vintage china plate" will attest. And let's not forget Etsy! Personally, I love Trixie Delicious who hails from New Zealand. She sells what she describes as "vandalized art", vintage dinnerware that she hand paints with words — some featuring mature language. Each one is unique. Great stuff. I've been contemplating her Seven Deadly Sins plates for my kitchen for some time now:

You go, HGTV!

2009-07-08T20:21:00.000-04:00

Although I am somehow paralyzed in front of the screen whenever HGTV is on at my mom's house, I often think that the makeovers on the shows are pretty hit-or-miss. But as I wandered around their website the other day I found this:

I'm really digging the Tiffany blue walls, the black and the shots of color.

Everything about this kitchen is working pretty well for me too.

Well played, HGTV.

Some thoughts on eclectic style

2009-07-07T07:24:00.013-04:00

Sometimes it can be difficult to reconcile different tastes when it comes to furnishing and decorating your home. My guess is that most people probably have a slightly eclectic style at the very least. It makes sense considering all the experiences that influence us over our lifetime that certain unrelated things would stick. A few of mine: The pattern of one of my grandmother's dresses, the colorful trinkets in a Chinese restaurant we went to when I was growing up, the Pantone color swatch book, a seashell mirror my mother made in the 70's, antique Audubon prints... You get the idea.

Granted there is probably a certain percentage of the population that truly doesn't care too much about how everything looks together, but I think what prevents the rest of us from letting our eclectic decorating personality shine through is an uncertainty about how to pull it all together. We've all made some missteps over the years attempting to express our personality through our home, but it's time to take charge! This post is dedicated to all the other reluctant eclecticists (I think I made that word up) out there — with the hope that together we can overcome fear and avoid RTG syndrome* at all costs.

*RTG syndrome – noun Pathology.
a common ailment characterized by the matchy-matchy "buy the whole room look" found at Rooms-To-Go.

My apologies for repeating the above photo from a previous post.

Ruthie Sommers' living room from the first issue of Domino still makes my heart sing.

photos from Domino Magazine

To borrow a phrase from the Beastie Boys, in my opinion Domino was the most mackinest at illustrating examples of combining different styles, eras, finishes etc. Why, why did it go away, leaving this sad hole in my heart?

My boyfriend has teased me on more than one occasion for the obsessive way I fuss about keeping all my Domino back-issues safe and intact — I have every issue, you see, and the book too. But to me, that publication was an awakening to the idea that it was possible to have a home that's a true expression of self that doesn't look too shiny new or over-decorated, but just right.

I'd like to devote some space in future posts to explore inexpensive ways to achieve an eclectic style. Stay tuned.

Oh, and BTW...

2009-07-06T19:49:00.003-04:00

We're done painting the house!!! Before and after photos to come soon, I promise.

I heart free furniture

2009-07-06T19:27:00.005-04:00

Those who know me well know that I have several weaknesses. Carrot cake, British comedy, and furniture left at the curb. Well, there are probably a few others too. Best to save those for another day, another post.

But back to the curbside castaways. Over the years I've become somewhat infamous for acquiring all sorts of misfit furniture in varying degrees of salvageable-ness. I've had a few great hauls, and some not so great ones. But the beauty of not having to shell out any money is you're free to experiment freely.

My neighbor from across the street recently moved out of state, leaving a large portion of her household goods to be sold at a garage sale. When it was all said and done, the unsold merchandise was left in the driveway with a sign indicating that everything there was free. So I carted these two items back to my carport, where they're awaiting their makeovers.

Hardware's actually sort of neat. Structurally in good shape but the finish is best described as some sort of badly damaged green tortoiseshell shellac type thing.

These narrow drawers are going to require a some wood filler, a little glue and a lot of love. I've pried most of the chipped loose veneer off the drawer fronts. Am thinking of adhering some decorative paper or something over those spots and painting the rest a fun color. Not sure yet!

So, any ideas on how to transform these pieces? I'd love some suggestions!

I think this is just super cute

2009-07-05T21:46:00.000-04:00

Moda Wonderland Mad Hatter Twill Sugar from Fabric.com
$9.98 per yard

Here's the scoop: Designed by Momo for Moda Fabrics, this twill fabric features a patchwork design. The color palette includes yellow, chocolate, orange, green, pink, sky, ivory and blue. Use for apparel, slipcovers, pillows and more!

It might also be pretty fabulous as curtains or a slipcover for a petite chair. Perfect for a craft room. Speaking of craftiness, if I could sew worth a darn, I could also see this fabric as a skirt.

A little red, white and blue for you

2009-07-03T18:58:00.010-04:00

In honor of Independence Day, here are some wallpaper patterns in patriotic hues from Steve's Blinds & Wallpaper.

Cute for one wall of a kitchen or dining room?

I like this pattern. Slightly reminiscent of lace doilies but much less grandma-ish.

I'm thinking of lining the back of some bookshelves with this lattice print.

Some fabrics I'm sort of crushing on...

2009-07-03T08:18:00.006-04:00

They can be found at: Fabric.com

Braemore Emilio Grasshopper – $11.18 per yard (on sale until 8/31)
Braemore Lamara Sugar – $15.98 per yard (on sale until 8/31)

Waverly Lovely Lattice Caviar – $14.98 per yard
Waverly Maldives Caviar – $21.98 per yard
Waverly Veranda Vine Caviar – $14.98 per yard

Bargain of the day: Overstock.com

2009-07-02T08:15:00.003-04:00

Indo Rod Pocket Sheer Burnout Curtain Panel

At a mere $17.99 each, that's like $36 a pair, plus shipping's only $2.95 on the whole order. I like either color, but I don't dig shirred curtains, so I'd definitely hang these babies on clip rings, like these over at Target.com for $7.99 a set.

Oh, what the heck. Why don't we put together a whole ensemble? I may be reaching, but here's a reading nook furnished entirely by Overstock.com, minus paint and upholstery fabric.

Zeleny Glass Vase – $29.99
The Audubon Reader – $19.88
Raintree Wood 'Buddha Offers Peace' Statuette – $29.99
Sherwin Williams Lei Flower #6613 – about $35.00 per gallon
Indo Rod Pocket Sheer Burnout Curtain Panel in white – $17.99
St. Barts Indoor/ Outdoor Polypropylene Rug (2'7 x 5') – $29.99
Haley Champagne Chair – $88.99 and Premier Prints Little Tiger Olive/Natural fabric from Fabric.com – $9.98 per yard
White Pawn Stool – $88.99
Set of 3 Handcrafted 'Midday and Midnight' Mirrors – $62.99

I estimate $450.76 for everything, not including shipping charges and curtain hardware. Not half bad, really.

Color me beautiful

2009-07-01T08:28:00.000-04:00

I think we can all agree that paint is a sure-fire way to breathe new life into a tired room. A different hue can change your whole outlook on a space. That's the magic of paint! And even better, it's a cost-effective tool in your budget decorating arsenal.

House Beautiful has some fantastic online resources relating to color. Check 'em out here.

On Sale at Anthropologie

2009-06-29T20:59:00.001-04:00

I'd been envisioning a post on statement making wallpaper when lo and behold, my browser pointed over to Anthropologie where they've got a couple great patterns on sale now. Check it:

Currently marked down from $168 to $49.95. In Anthro terms, that definitely qualifies as a bargain. In the right hallway or even a chic powder room this would be smashing.

Painted wood is good, Part Deux

2009-06-29T14:36:00.001-04:00

Since I've still got wood on my mind (hee hee) I think I'll take this opportunity to express my undying affection for painted cabinets.

I've discovered that when a girl of a certain age takes stock of her various musings on the subject of home decor some patterns begin to form. Allow me to explain... In an effort to allay a growing fear that my decorating tastes ran in more different directions than spin art* at the county fair, I began collecting a "style file" of web photos some months back to try to make sense of my seemingly disparate likes. My first and most obvious observation was the fact that every photo I'd collected of a kitchen featured painted cabinets.

My cabinets are plain old maple (meh), so the following photos are certainly an inspiration for me to get busy with the brush. My apologies for any un-sourced photos here.

photo from Domino

photo via katy elliott (Is that a pecky cypress ceiling? Like that. Reminds me of old Florida homes.)

photo from Domino (one of my absolute favorite favorites)

Nate Berkus' kitchen, featured in Elle Décor

photo from Cottage Living

photo from House Beautiful

fantastic kitchen re-do from Life In Grace

photo from Country Living

*In case you've suddenly found yourself waxing nostalgic, here is a tutorial on making your very own spin art. Hey, that definitely falls under the category of cheap decor! Why not recruit some youngsters and make a whole wall full? Don't forget the IKEA frames!

Painted wood is good, Part I

2009-06-25T13:08:00.000-04:00

I like painted floors. Not only can they go from cottage chic to sophisticated, crisp white to graphic patterns, they also hide less-than-perfect floors. This is particularly appealing to me since I've got some less-than-perfect parquet in my office/art room. Have been mulling over the following photos for inspiration. Feast your eyes on these:

photo from Southern Living

via The Estate of Things (Checkerboard seems to be a popular choice.)

photo via decorology

photo from Traditional Home

photo from the no longer published Cottage Living

photo from the no longer published Cottage Living

photo from the no longer published Cottage Living

photo from the no longer published Cottage Living (bonus points for the dog on the bed)

photo from House Beautiful via Shop Talk

from craftartjonee's flickr photostream

from didurkes' flickr photostream

And to aid in any DIY efforts you may be considering, there's a great article about painting floors at by Tim Carter at his Ask The Builder site.

Arranging artwork can be high impact, low cost

2009-06-24T09:28:00.000-04:00

Apologies for the brief hiatus. I'm still getting into the swing of things with this here blog, and did I mention my boyfriend and I are also painting our house? More on that at a later date.

Today for your viewing pleasure, I bring you some inspiring art arrangements. I have full confidence that you can produce something similar without making a huge dent in the old pocketbook. If you have an old book of botanical prints or similar, pick a few of your favorites and frame them up. Grouping mirrors or plates together is another great look.

Maybe you have a lot of things that are different colors or sizes. I think a lot of times the key to a cohesive look when grouping a bunch of disparate art together is adhering mainly to one frame and/or mat color. Luckily, places like IKEA, Target and even sometimes Michaels (especially with a 50% off coupon) make it affordable to achieve a polished appearance.

A symmetrical arrangement with birds. Fantastic! I want to move into this room now.

Great example of combining different colors/types of art — sorry I'm forgetting a source here!

Same color mat = pulled together. (photo via dwellings & décor)

I think this one originally appeared in Domino (RIP).

Seemingly all different, but there are definitely some color consistencies here.

In the bathroom? As they say in the infomercials (and hilarious infomercial dubs), "Why not?"

Mirrors work great too.

Just lovely, no?

Proof that groupings in inexpensive make a big impact. (Photo from Jorey Hurley's home via Design*Sponge.)

You could even skip the frames and tack inspiring images right on the wall for a collage effect.

Incidentally, right now IKEA has an online guide on how to hang pictures. Or for a more technical how-to, turn to Martha. With the right tools and a little imagination, it's possible to create an interesting focal point in any room of the house.

Have a great arrangement of art in your home? Send me a picture! I'd love to display it here.

Cheers!

2009-06-21T16:14:00.000-04:00

This may be my official summer cocktail, courtesy of Martha. Yum!

The Gemini
Makes 2

Ingredients:

4 ounces fresh grapefruit juice, strained
3 ounces St-Germain liqueur
2 ounces vodka
Ice cubes
Prosecco
2 grapefruit-rind twists

How-To:

Mix grapefruit juice, St-Germain, vodka, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into 2 chilled glasses. Top with Prosecco.
Serve each with a grapefruit twist.

Ooh...

2009-06-20T08:36:00.000-04:00

Pantone mugs! Oh my. My inner graphic designer is all aflutter. Love, love, love these. They're $117 for a set of 10. Perhaps a pool could be started for my upcoming b-day? It's August 2, and I would be most appreciative.

Pantone® references for the mugs are as follows: Red 186C, Spearmint 3395C, Royal Blue 286C, Lime Green 388C, Pale Blue 549C, Lilac 2583C, Olive Green 5757C, Black 4C, Orange 021C, Process YellowC.

The espresso cups are also quite cute.

Available from Whitbread Wilkinson.

Hooray IKEA!

2009-06-18T20:29:00.000-04:00

For a country with such a long winter (they have an ICE Hotel for goodness' sake), those Swedish designers over at IKEA HQ sure know a thing or three about good looking outdoor furniture. Witness:

ROXÖ Easy Chair – $139

OR
VÄNÖ easy chair – $49.99

(with a cute cushion made from this fabric, or this one, or this one perhaps?)

OR, the one that everyone's been talking about...

The ARHOLMA series – $120 and $90, respectively

ARHOLMA is a more than reasonable facsimile of this little ditty from Pottery Barn, I'd say. And you can get cushions for $40 a piece too, so you'll still have enough dough left over to set your yard on fire (note: I am in no way advocating that) or just get your drink on this 4th of July:

The 6 Best Vodka Cocktails for Your 4th of July Bash
Vodka is the perfect spirit to liven any 4th of July celebration. Today the drink is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the United States.

http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/282207/the_6_best_vodka_cocktails_for_your.html

Bienvenidos a summer!

2009-06-18T13:54:00.000-04:00

In honor of summer, I'd like to start off with the reminder that even the simplest thing — like some fresh cut flowers in a vase — can change your whole outlook about a corner or a room. The blooms below I found at a roadside market in Maine last summer. Incidentally, Maine is a pretty great place to visit this time of year, particularly when you live in Florida where it's 9-bazillion degrees right now.

What are your favorite flowers? Treat yourself to some! I'm going to.