Fab Finds at Your Fingertips

BUDGET ALERT!! What you are about to read could be dangerous to your decorating budget! Don't say I didn't warn you!

I'm a gal that has to decorate (and redecorate) on a budget.  And while I love my Old Time Pottery and my HomeGoods, I also love to find great deals on higher end merchandise and unusual pieces.  The internet is alive these days with several incredible sites that do just that for us decor-lovers.



I've blogged before about One Kings Lane when I first discovered them last summer.  Of course, I love that they're female-owned, but they continue to impress me with the variety and quality of the pieces they offer.  Here's how it works: each day you'll find one or two (or three) new sales from different vendors.  It may be an art gallery, a furniture maker, an antiques dealer, a publisher (you get the idea) and each will offer several pieces at incredible sale prices.  The catch?  Limited quanities and limited duration.  When you join for free, you'll be signed up for regular emails that provide a sneak peek at the vendors and merchandise.  If you're interested in shopping, simply click on the link, log in, and shop away! I'd like to personally invite each of you to join me there!  Click HERE to join the fun...you won't believe the finds!

The next site I discovered is The Foundary by Hayneedle.  This site operates similarly to OKL.  Different sales offered daily by a handful of vendors, with limited quantities and for a limited time. When you join (for free, of course) you'll be emailed about new sales and again, just click over to start shopping.  So easy! I've found these products to be a little more on the contemporary side, but they do have a nice variety as well.  I just bought a rug for my family room last week-- you'll see it here soon!  If you want to join this party, just click HERE so you won't miss out!



Wuslu is my latest find, thanks to The Handmade Home!  I love this site because it offers ONE new steal a day... as in ONE product.  When the inventory runs out, sale's over.  When 10am EST the next day rolls around, sale's over...whichever happens first {although there's a way to purchase sale items left over after time elapses}.  These products can be anything from lamps to furniture to candlesticks and other accessories.  Check out their history to see their previous offerings and you'll be sold!  What else I like about this site: an 'ideas for using this product' feature and the global nature of their selections-- interesting pieces from all over the world.  Click HERE to check it out and sign up for their Daily Email.

There you go.  You're welcome. :)

Happy Shopping!

Sofa Re-Do: Lightening Up

This update has made such a difference in brightening up my family room!  And it was simple and inexpensive to do.

Here was my sofa this fall and over the holidays:

You can see-- it's a lovely chocolate suede but... it's A LOT of BROWN.

So I went on a mission for lighter and brighter pillows and throws-- on a budget of course!  And here is the after:

Here's what I did-- swapped out the largest dark brown throw pillows that came with the sofa for these two large (24" x 24") celery green pillows I found at Old Time Pottery.  They are extremely pale-- almost more cream-- and only $9 each!  The pillows from One Kings Lane were $49 for the two of them.  And the lumbar pillow is our Embroidered Scrollwork Pillow from Willow House.  You can purchase this on my website for only $39.96.  {I got it for less as a Design Consultant-- you could, too!}.  The pale green throw is from Target and was only $9.99.

Now, the two smaller dark brown pillows, I ended up swapping out with the khaki ones you see in the Before photo to brighten it up even more.  I bought them at Target a few years back and they've held up well considering the use my sofa gets (think teenagers/young adults).   I'm thrilled with this lighter and brighter look!

What do you think?  What part of your decor would you like to lighten and brighten?

Flea Market Finds... and Other Fun Stuff :)

Last Friday I stepped into the Classy Flea here in Marietta for the first time in a couple of years.  I have never walked out of there empty-handed in the past and Friday was no exception.  Lots of pieces with potential and personality to be found... unfortunately, I walked in without my camera or iPhone (can you believe it?), so I'll just show you what I ended up bringing home.  Hey... it's better than nothing!  I was on a mission for a small piece or two to complete my family room bookcase do-over and I hit the jackpot at the Classy Flea!

The first piece I found is this blue ceramic liquor decanter!  I loved the size of it, the shape, and the bright pop of color.  $4.99, ladies.

Then I found this precious silver plate planter.  Perfect size for my English Ivy plant.  You'll see her again in my post about decorating with your silver pieces later this week. :)  Originally $9.99, marked down to $7.99.
I was feeling like a real bargain-hunter and having fun doing it!

In other exciting news, my pillows arrived from One Kings Lane over the weekend!  They are perfect on my chocolate brown sofa... more details about the other pillows coming soon.  But these Liora Manne pillows are my new loves. :)

Aren't they yummy??

And finally, I wanted to share a really fabulous giveaway over at Tatertots and Jello.  Jen has hooked up with Barn Owl Primitives (check out their Etsy shop!) and two lucky readers will win $50 gift certificates to their Etsy shop!  Fun, fun, fun... visit Jen's blog for details to enter (and while you're there, poke around for some really clever ideas!).  I'm totally in for this one. :)

Check out the entire sofa re-do tomorrow!

Happy Decorating!

Mad for Metallics

My quest to lighten and brighten my family room has taken on new lustre.  Metallics have been around for awhile, but lately they are catching my eye more than ever. 

Here's my family room challenge: it's not a very large room with only your average 9 foot ceilings.  It gets nice morning light, but can be quite dim in the afternoon hours.  I have a large chocolate brown suede sofa that is terribly comfortable and cozy, but makes the space seem even darker during our short winter afternoons.  I have several wood pieces as well: coffee table, antique writing desk, media stand.

My solution?  More reflective accessories-- i.e. metallics!

I'm off to a great start with my new Ballards mirror.  It's large for the space, but it catches lots of light and with because it's virtually frameless it seems even more expansive.  I added some silver balls and my sweet little metallic deer.  Love my new mantlescape.

Loved it so much, I thought about incorporating even more metallics in the room.  I don't think I could go this far with a silver table.




Kirsten Grove via hgtv.com

 But I do like this look from One Kings Lane...

Truth be told, I'm not really in the market for a new table in the family room, but I was fascinated by all the options in metallics and how you can mix different metallics within the same room or even the same vignette.  It's the accessories that I need, right?

Like these mercury glass candlesticks from Pottery Barn. *Confession-- I have two on back order*  I got them on sale right after Christmas and will have fun finding a dark little corner for these to brighten.



photo by Erika Powell via hgtv.com



How about this simple idea?  Spray paint an ordinary wreath to have an extraordinary accessory.  This would be just as lovely in front of a powder room mirror as it is over this cooktop or on a front door.  Budget-friendly... I like it!

Even more budget-friendly?  Shop around your home.  When I did, I was amazed at what I found.  I have a sideboard full of silver-- in need of polishing admittedly -- but there for the taking.  Why wasn't I using all these pieces anyway?  I had, for some reason, relegated my silver to the dining room. I probably stored them away, tired of polishing on a semi-annual basis, only to have them sit in our little-used dining room unappreciated. 

My newly inspired self said, "Nonsense!"  and I got busy polishing. My grandmother not only displayed her silver pieces, but she used her silver every day.  I could hear her in my ear: "If you use it everyday, it will never need polishing."  And wouldn't these little-used pieces be the perfect accents for my dim little family room?  I didn't think so before, but I've been... enlightened.

I'll post some pictures in the next few days where my silver pieces have landed.  In the meantime, I drew further inspiration from Joan over at For the Love of a House.  I'm not sure how I found her blog, but her entry way and now her kitchen have drawn me in.  She also has some wonderful posts on her collection of hotel silver.  Click over there and see if you find yourself inspired to pull out your silver. :)

Happy Decorating!



Refreshing the Family Room Update

You've already peeked at my mantle makeover, so here's a sneak peek at what else is in the works!  I scored both the rug and these pillows at One Kings Lane this week.  I can't tell you how many wonderful deals they feature and they change frequently so there's always fresh finds available.  The rug in a 5'x8' size (I layer it over a larger flat jute rug) was only $49 and pulls in more of the green I've been looking for.  I love the modern design! The pillows were $59 for the pair of 20"x20".  I've already snagged some with more color (coming soon), so I think these will be the perfect complements on my dark brown sofa.

More to come!

Got $20K to Spare??

These beauties can adorn your front lawn for only $19,999.00!  Click over to One Kings Lane now to get yours!  Hurry, the sale ends November 15. :)

Trowbridge at One Kings Lane

One Kings Lane, one of my favorite online sources for affordable and interesting decor, is offering a selection of fabulous prints from Trowbridge Gallery, again.  All are quality framed pieces for under $500.  If you have wall space to fill, this is your next stop!  Be sure to click over to view all of their selections, but here is a sampling of prints for sale.

Here's Your Hook-Up!

The beginning of school is upon us and my thoughts always turn to ORGANIZATION.  I don't claim to be an expert or even proficient at organization, but I do a pretty fair job of keeping the household rolling in a somewhat orderly fashion.  The big question:  what to do with all the STUFF?  My favorite solution?  Hooks.  Plain and simple.  Perfect for sweaters or light jackets, backpacks, umbrellas, dog leashes, lunch boxes, even shoes (cleats in my house) with the laces tied together.  They don't have to be the plain jane garden variety either... consider this your hook-up!

Love these... from my friends over at One Kings Lane this week.

Have a nautical theme?  On sale at One Kings Lane-- perfect for bathroom towels.

How about these from Ballard Designs?

Disguised as sculpture... from Pottery Barn

Again from Pottery Barn... and marked down right now :)... cute for a mud room!

Beautiful and functional from Pierre Deux.  The shelf adds another organizational tool.

Hurston Collection Hooks from Willow House (contact me to order)

Beautiful Hamptons Tablescape

These gorgeous images came to me via One Kings Lane's Facebook page, but I had to share!  A beautiful tablescape sets the tone for your party and makes your guests feel special.  These tables were for a luncheon hosted by One Kings Lane at the 2010 Hamptons Designer Showhouse.  Created by Geoffrey Ross (of Dransfield and Ross) and Hillary Thomas (Hillary Thomas Designs) these gems are the perfect illustration of attention to detail and inspired accessories.  Don't you just want to pull up a chair? 

Love the layered place settings with the fans! "Classic Hamptons Meets Malibu Chic" is the theme.

A centerpiece with coral accents? Who'd have thought!! Genius by Jennifer Houser.

The blue stemware is an inspired contrast.

The big picture...8 seats at square tables are perfect for more intimate and inclusive conversations.

My favorite touch: One Kings Lane striped totes as party favors!

If you haven't already visited One Kings Lane for designer decor at bargain prices, click here to be enlightened!

C'est Magnifique!!

There is something about vintage French posters that just speaks to me.  Maybe because they're one of the earliest forms of advertisement, but one in which the artists could showcase their individual talents.  These artworks are usually highly sought-after at art auctions, but you can get your hands on a budget-friendly reproduction at One Kings Lane.  I'm picturing one in a child's room or in your creative work-space...or on the walls in my friend's Upper East Side apartment. :)

Trowbridge Gallery at One Kings Lane

Don't miss this spectacular collection of fine art and antique prints from the acclaimed Trowbridge Gallery over at One Kings Lane.  Here's a sampling of their stunning offerings.