Hey everyone, I’m so excited to announce that I’ve partnered with Joss & Main to curate a collection that will go up for sale next week!  You do all know about Joss & Main, right?  The site that offers daily events where the finest brands and designer goods go on sale at 20-50% off retail, but the deals are only available to members!  I’ve been a member for a year now, and I’ve bought a few things from Joss & Main over these past few months (you’ll get to see my two new club chairs tomorrow!) 

A month ago, I was asked to curate a sales event (I know, pinch me) which meant I got to go virtual shopping and hand select 60+ items that reflect my personal style. It was so fun! I gathered up all sorts of stylish finds for you, from gorgeous home accessories under $50 to bigger ticket items like rugs and furnishings. The big sales event is next week ~ here’s a little sneak peek of what you’ll find in my curated sale.  

If you’re not signed up yet to get the emails announcing all the sales, here is a personal invitation from me* so you won’t be placed on a wait list.  It costs you nothing, you sign up with your email, and then you’ll have access to various designer decor that goes on sale daily.  *Note, I do receive a small referral fee if you sign up, just like anyone else (including you!) who refers new members.

You definitely don’t want to miss my curated sale next week filled with so many gorgeous things all personally selected by me, you’ll love it!  Look for the sales event next Tuesday, December 13th over at Joss & Main. 

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Have you ever wondered how to decorate with those antiques you’ve inherited?  Those precious pieces beloved by a grandmother or aunt that have been in the family for decades and now belong to you? It’s a question I received last month from a reader and one many people have struggled with. 

Today Courtney from Courtney Out Loud is back with his monthly contribution and the topic of the day is decorating with wood antiques, specifically those vintage pieces handed down from previous generations. Please welcome back Courtney and his artful analysis on how to decorate with antique wood furniture:

“Mixing antique and modern furniture styles helps create an individualized and multilayered room that reflects the owner’s unique taste and personality. However, many people adhere to one specific style when decorating their homes. This approach is great if you are truly passionate about a particular era or genre of design, however, for the majority of homeowners they tend to be at a loss when they happen to inherit a family heirloom. How do you incorporate it into your home’s personality and style?  Case in point, Kate received this email from a reader seeking help:  

"My mom has a vintage buffet that I convinced her to hang onto. I want to use it in my home, but how do you incorporate vintage pieces with your regular decor, without making it feel like grandma’s house?"

Great question! Exactly how do you incorporate vintage and antique furniture into your home without having it feel too dated ?  Don’t fret because it’s as easy as following one of these six simple rules.

1) Determine Your Design Focus  A room filled with nothing but antiques can quickly make your home feel dated and more like a museum.  Unless you are purposefully going for a "boho" look, then you need to decide the primary style of your space – modern, traditional, contemporary – whatever it may be. Making the decision on what style will dominate the room will allow you to make conscious choices on what types of antiques will work with your aesthetic.  You can then begin to layer in vintage and antique pieces that suit your particular design focus and also add character.

Scot Mecham Wood 

Judith Balis via HGTV

The two rooms above are perfect examples of how to choose a design focus yet still incorporate antiques and vintage pieces seamless into a room without overpowering the space.  The antiques are combined with more modern pieces to achieve a balanced “collected over time” look. 

      

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Greetings all!  Today I have the best conversation for you to savor. Settle in with your beverage of choice cause it’s just like a group of your favorite gal pals are here with you and we’re all sharing our opinions on trends in design for 2011!  Michelle of Ten June is back for her monthly contribution and she has asked six experienced DIY and design bloggers (including me!) our thoughts on design trends, including what we’ve observed over the past year, and our predictions for the future.

So glad to have you back this month Michelle, take it away!

“Believe it or not, 2011 is coming to a close. Before we get too wrapped up in all things holiday, I thought it would be fun to chat about design trends in 2011- the good, the bad, and the ugly. And I’ve got a little surprise, as I’ve lined up six of our favorite shelter bloggers to discuss the highlights of design in 2011.

Everybody give up a big welcome to Sherry from Young House Love, Mrs. Limestone from A Brooklyn Limestone, Cristin from Simplified Bee, Janell from Isabella and Max Rooms, Jennifer from Rambling Renovators, and our very own Kate from Centsational Girl.

I know, right? This is a superstar team of DIY and design bloggers! So without further introduction, let’s get started and dive into the world of design in 2011!

What was your favorite interior design trend in 2011?

Sherry: Hmm, it’s a tie between Ikat and chevron I think. I love everything from tone-on-tone chevron curtains to brightly painted furniture with those playful zig-zig patterns worked in there. And anything Ikat = love for me. I like to say that I’m happy to hang out behind the trends. Ha ha. I’m rarely ahead of that sort of stuff and I usually love it far longer than most trend forecasters do. But it works out because if I work something "trendy" into my house I’m not over it a season or two later – I tend to enjoy things for a nice long time. Like my Ikat curtains in the dining room. Here’s hoping I still love those babies in ten years. So far, so good.

Mrs. Limestone: I tend to think the best trends last way longer than 12 months, so while this isn’t particular to 2011, my favorite just might be using maps in decor.  Everything from turning a globe into a light to map patterns showing up in all kinds of small accessories to repurposing old pull down school maps as art – the world is hot!

Better Homes & Gardens

Cristin: Wallpaper and wall coverings have been trending. I found that more and more of my clients were willing to take the plunge to commit to wallpaper in 2011. All different types of wall coverings are popular, but I am finding that coverings made of natural fibers such as sea grass, hemp, or arrowroot are leading the pack.

Natalie Clay Design

Janell: Even though the term is becoming overused, I love the trend of embracing eclectic design. I think it helps dispel the idea there is a right and wrong way to decorate and gives people the freedom to explore and embrace their own unique mix of favorite items, both new and old.

Jennifer: The use of paneling/molding/trim. It’s a great way to add architectural detail and is a classic look that will never go out of style.

Kate: My most favorite trend is the growing use of reclaimed wood, especially when the designer makes efforts to truly showcase the beauty of the wood itself.  Whether polished, whitewashed, stained, or rustic, exposed wood is back and it’s looking fabulous!

House and Home

 

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Hey all!  Guess how I spent my weekend?  Filling up those bookcases we built a week ago, yippee!  I love books, and I love decorative objects.  This new wall of bookcases allows me to combine the best of both. I’ve heard such great things about the convenience of Kindle and iPad reading, but for me, there’s nothing like a book to touch and smell, and for savoring the words on a printed page.

How best to begin this project?  I had to start at the back. Grasscloth wallpaper would have been major cool, but expensive and time consuming.  Been there, done that.  Wrapping paper or scrapbook paper might have been fun I couldn’t find the right one. Stencils seemed too busy.  One thing I knew, I was going to pack it with a book + collectible combo and I worried with all the stuff, the background would compete.

I finally decided to paint the back of these bookcases a rich teal color, because 1. it’s a color I never get tired of, 2. it showcases all the white accessories, 3. it coordinates with the colors in the window panels in the room and 4. it was just so dang easy. 

I started this adventure Saturday morning, coffee cup in my left hand, paintbrush in the right. Painting the backs was the easy part.  (Tip: use a good angled brush!) The hard part was later in the day when it was dry.  After I put all the shelves back in, I was staring at piles and piles of my favorite books, and deciding where they should all go.  Very daunting.  Worse, I was distracted with the piles of books because I can’t help but crack the spines or peek at the pages I’ve tabbed in the past or flip through to see what I’ve underlined.  Do you do that?  Underline and tab and bookmark your favorite pages?  I wasn’t allowed to when I was little, but I do it all the time now, I can’t stop.

I finally decided just to organize them by category, like at a bookstore or library (wow, original concept!)  It just makes sense to group them that way.  Fiction, nonfiction, reference, design, faith, travel, etc.  I was only able to fit about 75% of my books because it was starting to feel too crowded, but so be it. I’ll either donate the rest or put them back in a closet where most of them lived before.

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