Search Results for: Bookshelf

My Lastest Thrifting Finds

August 5, 2015

It’s no secret that I love trolling the aisles of thrift stores and flea markets whenever I can. It’s the thrill of finding a beautiful decorative piece or furniture that needs some TLC that makes it such fun. I’m always on the lookout for new stores in the area and recently came across a new-to-me antique store that was filled with lots of great bargains.

As always, a few of the items I find when thrifting are for me and others are for my Etsy shop. Here’s what I found recently…

Blue and white pottery is such a popular trend right now and finding nice vintage pieces is becoming harder and harder. I found this lidded jar and this blue and white vase and both pieces are really substantial and are in great condition.

Rarely do I pass up a tray when I see one and this woven wicker tray was a steal at only $1.00. And the leather side handles were an added bonus.

I spotted this little wooden chest one day but left it in the store. I couldn’t get it out of my mind so I headed back the next day and snagged it. The carving detail on the drawer fronts is really beautiful and I love the overall look of the piece. It would make a really great jewelry cabinet and would also look great on a bookshelf.

I have a major obsession with brass and found some great pieces. A little polishing and these babies will be extra stunning.

I loved the colors in this ceramic vase and the gold details make it even prettier. I have so many ideas on how this piece can be used.

Here’s a up close of the blue and white vase.

And probably my favorite piece is the beautiful brass bowl and I’m trying to decide if I want to keep it or put it in the shop.

The World’s Longest Yard Sale starts tomorrow and this is the first time in 4 years that the hubs and I won’t be making the trek. So I don’t go through complete withdrawls, we’re planning a little weekend getaway and I plan to pop into a few shops along the way. If you want to read about our WLYS trips you can read about them here and here.

Product + Inspiration: Gamleby Plate Shelf

March 9, 2015

Happy Monday!

I’m back with another installment of Product & Inspiration and this time we’re talking decor for your kitchen.

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Affordable Home Decor: Look what $50{ or less} will buy you!

February 3, 2015

Who besides me loves a great deal? When it comes to decorating my house, I love nothing more than finding a great looking item at an incredible price. I am constantly shopping at big box stores like HomeGoods and TJ Maxx for budget friendly decor and just recently started shopping H and M Home.

I’ve always shopped H and M for inexpensive fashion accessories and was thrilled to learn that they offer home products. Just like the jewelry and clothing that H and M sells, the home decor pieces aren’t investment pieces that will last a lifetime. Their items are great for seasonal updates and if you love to change out your decor on a frequent basis like me, the H and M home prices allow you to do that without guilt.

I did a little surfing this weekend on the H and M site and found lots of items that I really love. Here are six items that have great style and would be great for a end-of-winter decor update.

Brass accessories are a hot trend and this beautiful swan would make a wonderful tabletop statement. I’d use it to hold lush green plant or beautiful orchid. Brass Swan $14.95

Another hot trend this spring is floral decor. You can mix this floral duvet with solid colored linens to create a really great look for your bedroom. Floral Duvet Cover $49.95

This gold tray is a great buy and would look stunning on a vanity or bar card. Gold Tray $14.95

I think every household in America owns that black and white pillow covers from Ikea so I’m happy to see a new kid on the block. This classic black and white stripe will never go out of style and at this price you can’t go wrong. Striped Pillow Cushion $5.95

As a bookshelf accessory or flower vase, this textured glass vase packs and lot of style for a small price. Glass Vase $19.95

When it comes to picture frames this marble finish is a stylish accent that will work with any style decor. Marble Look Picture Frame $9.95

You can check out the full line of H and M home decor item here.

Happy Shopping!

Interior Design Ideas {With A Golden Touch}

August 4, 2014

Happy Monday! Can you believe it is already August? This year has just flown by and before you know it, we’ll all be putting out pumpkins and decorating for Christmas. I don’t know about you but I need life to slow down just a bit!

This weekend I tried to slow the pace a bit and spent a little time surfing the web looking for inspiration. One of the things I came across on Pinterest was a collection of beautiful spaces, all with one thing in common, a touch of gold.

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DIY Business Card File

July 3, 2014

I have tried several methods for storing all the business cards I get from clients, bloggers, trade shows and businesses I frequent and some have been more successful than others. My latest storage option has been to file my cards by alphabet in a Rolodex business card binder. The notebook format has worked great and I like that it can be stored on a bookshelf or in a file drawer, plus the cards have stayed neat and organized. That is until I ran out of room.

Once all the slots for a particular letter were filled up, I began placing the extra cards toward the back of the book, in no particular order. You can image that this makes it difficult to find a card in a hurry. I’ve reached the point where my file runneth over. I needed a new solution.

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Design Detail: Nailhead Trim

October 23, 2013

I’ve often said that it’s the details that make design. Naihead trims have been used in the design and finishing of furniture for many years and its a simple and cost-effective way to add style to furniture and décor.

A trimmed edge on a chair gives the piece a sense of elegance and refinement…

and as the trim on an upholstered headboard, nailheads add the perfect little detail.

Nailheads come in many different shapes, sizes and styles and can be applied to just about anything.

I love the idea of using nailheads to trim a simple bookshelf. This is a great way to add visual interest without investing a lot of time and money in molding and trim.

When applied artistically, nailheads can add amazing detail to a table or cabinet.

Another unique use for nailheads is as the edging around a built-in cabinet. Nailheads would look really great framing a butler’s pantry or built-in bar.

If you’re looking for a simple way to up-style a bathroom mirror frame just add nailheads.

Nailheads are a simple way to personalize a plain ottoman.

and if you really want to make a statement, how about using nailheads to frame doorways throughout your home.

I’m not that adventurous but I am working on a little nailhead project that involves this

I’ll share the finished project with you on Friday.

Are you a fan of nailheads…yea or nay?

Great Reads: New Books for the Library

August 6, 2013

I was down at the gift and furniture mart here in Atlanta last week and took a moment to stop by a few showrooms to check out some of the new design books coming out this fall. During the fall months, there are always a slew of new books being published which in turn means the UPS man will be stopping by once or twice.

I’m somewhat of a book snob and really don’t like to buy books unless I can take a sneak peek it be before hand. That’s one of the good things about have the mart here in Atlanta. While many of the books are in mock-up form I at least get to check out the cover and look at a few of the pages. The cover says a lot about a book and if it is mostly text heavy, and has little visual inspiration, it’s usually not at the top of my purchase list.

Anyhow, here are some of the books I was able to spy and I’ve noted the ones that will definitely be making their way to my home. All of these books are available for pre-order on Amazon so you too can start you book buying planning too! Enjoy and let me know which title(s) you’ll be adding to your bookshelf.

I am so excited that Mary Carol Garrity is coming out with a new book Nell Hill’s Rooms We Love. Like all of her books, this one is filled with beautiful images of comfortable, stylish rooms each with a distinct personality. Mary Carol, the owner of the specialty retail stores Nell Hill, shares her design tips, design approach and design tricks in this book. And you’ll get to look inside Mary Carol’s home which is a design dream. This one’s a definite!

p.s. All of the other Nell Hill titles are worth investing in too!

I hadn’t really followed the career and life of Aerin Lauder until I started seeing images of her home appear on Pinterest and saw this article on ElleDecor. Ever since them I’ve been in love with her style and her fashion sense. Her new book, Beauty at Home looks like it is going to be stunning and the cover alone should make you want to buy it. This one is getting added to my Christmas list!

Anything Veranda is worthy of a place on the bookshelf and I am definitely looking forward to reading this new title, The Art of Outdoor Living. This book looks like it will provide a photo tour of some of the most beautiful gardens and homes ever designs. Yes please, get here as soon as you can!

While Rachel Ashwell’s style is not totally in sync with mine, I am looking forward to reading Couture Prairie because it includes a tour of Round Top, Texas and the world-famous flea market that takes place there every year. I am also excited to get a look at Rachel’s home and see how you creates her signature style using flea market finds, salvage items and architectural treasures. I’m for sure getting this book and planning a trip to Round Top.

I love all things illustrations and know I will love this book filled with just for that reason. Fashion House is all about showcasing the interiors of design and fashion icons through hand-drawn images. When I can tap into my love of fashion and design I know I’ve found my happy place. On the Order List!

If you love beautiful illustrations too, you’ll also want to check out A Life of Style by Rebecca Moses. This book has been out for a few years but it one of my favorite design books of all times.

Suzanne Kasler is one of my favorite designers and just like her first book, Timeless Style is going to showcase her work from homes across the country. I’m looking forward to adding this classic design book to my library. On order!

I’ve never owned a Candice Olson design book before since I watch her shows and admire her style and design approach I’m looking forward to checking Everyday Elegance out. What I like most about Candice’s style is how elegant she can make a room look using simple and practical design ideas. I know the before and after photos of this book will offer up lots of design lessons. Another one added to the Christmas list.

And finally, while not a design book, I adore Ree Drummond so The Pioneer Woman Cooks a Year of Holidays is a must have book.

I’m a faithful viewer of the Pioneer Woman cooking show every Saturday morning and just love how easy and effortless Ree makes cooking look like. She is so down to earth and makes cooking look fun, which has even prompted a non-cooker like me to try a few of her dishes. And being from Oklahoma myself, I can’t help but love an Oklahoma gal!

So there you have it…what I’ll be reading this fall and winter?

Happy Reading!

A Crazy Week Ahead + Timeless Design

July 8, 2013

Happy Monday! Did everyone have a fabulous 4th of July and a good weekend? I hope so. Our 4th was rained out and with all the rain we had over the last 4 days, the hubby and I felt like we were back in Seattle. I’m glad the sun in shining today and that I got a good nights sleep last night.

I’ve got a super busy week ahead working on pulling together the details for a non-profit fund-raiser I’m heading up, going to the Atlanta Gift and Furniture Market on Wednesday, attending an event with designer Bunny Williams on Thursday, making the trek to Scott’s Antique Market and the United Methodist Children’s Home Flea Market on Friday and celebrating my 22nd wedding anniversary and the hubs birthday on Saturday and Sunday! Oh, and there’s work to be done in between all of that. You can rest assured I’m going to be eating my Wheaties this week.

One of the design projects I’ve worked on recently had me going back to design basics. I found myself working with a client that likes traditional décor and wants a classic and timeless interior. With so many of the design trends today leaning toward creative paint treatments, bold colors, artistic elements and eclectic looks, it can be challenging to develop a look that is really timeless.

To give us all a little refresher in classic design, I’ve pulled together a little summary of 12 Timeless Design elements I always rely on!

#1 Curtains Hung High—Every room can benefit from hanging curtains as close to the molding/ceiling as possible. No only does this make a room feel taller but it also enhances the scale of the furniture in the room.

#2 Built-in Bookcases–Whether bookcase are used for books or decorative elements (a combination of both is my formula) , built-in bookcases add architectural detail, storage and visual impact in any room of the house. {to get the look on a dime, check out all the Ikea Billy Bookcase DIY projects on my Ikea Inspiration Pinterest Board}!

#3 Woven Shades–If anything can replace wood blinds in a home it’s the woven shade. This window treatment offers just the right amount of texture, color and privacy while adding to the style of a room. Alone or paired with curtain panels, woven shades are here to stay.

#4 Window Seats–Who doesn’t dream about having a window seat in their home? Window seats are the perfect design element for that often neglected space in front of a window, not taking away from the view but making a room feel cozier and more intimate.

#5 Seagrass, Sisal and Jute Rugs–I know there are those of you that don’t like these natural textured rugs because of the feel or a fear of keeping it clean but for me a sisal and seagrass rug is the best way to add visual texture under foot while keeping a room feeling open and airy. My go to source for seagrass rugs here in Atlanta is Myers Carpet.

Emily A. Clark

#6 Ceramic Lamps–Lamp styles evolve but a classic round ceramic lamp will never go out of style. Ceramic lamps provide a visual contrast in rooms with lots of wood furniture and are a great balance against metal and iron. And the color options are endless (especially with a can of spray paint)!

#7 Sofa Tables (or console tables in general) are one of my go to pieces of furniture. This is one piece of furniture that will work in just about every room of a home and a piece that is just as functional as it is stylish. I love placing a console table next to bed and using it as a unique nightstand/writing-table option.

#8 Baskets–Baskets can hide a multitude of design sins (paperback books on a bookshelf, DVD’s) and are a great way to fill the space under tables, in corners or above cabinets or armoires. One can never have too many baskets in my book. My go to source of chunky woven baskets is HomeGoods, World MarketandIkea!

#9 Medium Tone Wood Floors–While I personally like the trend of darker espresso wood floors, mid-tone wood flooring will never go out of style. The color is versatile and works with just about every color of textile or paint you surround it with.

#10 Oversized Mirrors–Just like a sofa table, an oversized mirror is one of your best design investments. Opt for a black, gold or silver frame to keep the look classic and be creative about where you place it in your home. Oversized mirrors work great in a dining room, foyer, over a sofa, above a fireplace, at the top of a stair landing and in a bedroom.

#11 A Neutral Sofa–A neutral sofa will not only stand the test of time but it gives you the perfect backdrop to make seasonal color and accessory changes. Timeless design gives you options and the look never goes out of style.

#12 An Upholstered Coffee Table–Since wood furniture is the foundation of so many rooms, an upholstered coffee table/ottoman is a great way to add softness without giving up a functional surface area in the room. Plus, additional seating is ready when you need it.

So there you have it, my take on Timeless Design! When you look around your home is your design style timeless or are you on the trendy side of design?