Beyond

Back-To-School Shopping–The Adult Version

August 2, 2016

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This past weekend was a big back-to-school shopping weekend here in Atlanta. It was a tax-free weekend and most school are starting back this week or next so shopping had to get done.

Even though I knew the stores were going to be crowded, I ventured out for a few hours to see if there were any deals to be had. And boy or boy were there.

I never really took note of it before but shopping during the back-to-school season has its benefits. Most of the big box stores like HomeGoods, Target and Macy’s had beefed up their inventory levels and had some great decorative pieces to decorate dorm rooms. Not only were the prices good, but many of items could work just as easily for home decor.

p.s. if you haven’t noticed, dorm decor has really become style statement these days. Far from the posters I hung on the wall.

So I know you’re asking yourself what does this mean for all of us that aren’t going off to school.

It means back-to-school season is a great time to shop for home decor items.

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Here’s a list of home decor products that are worth shopping for NOW during back-t0-school season and some great pieces you might want to snag:

Bed Linens–there are lots of fun patterns including plaids, stripes and geometrics out for back-to-school.
Organizing Items–I spotted lots of amazing baskets and cloth storage bins as well and space-saving door and under-bed storage pieces.
Office Decor–caddies, trays, boxes and bins plus lots of cute bulletin boards and wall units.
Lighting–especially tabletop and desk lamps many of which are priced better than those styles marketed for home decor.
Accent Furniture–if you’re in the market for a small side table, ottoman, pouf or stools, you’ll find lots to choose from.
Bathroom Decor–great under cabinet pieces, towels and vanity accessories.

Shop these looks:

Palm Leaf Quilt //Modern Anywhere Chair // Two Head Task Lamp // Faux Marble Clock // Enchante Wall Storage Bin

Wood and Metal Storage Boxes // Rope Medallion Pillow // Enchante Pillow // 2 Drawer Accent Table // Claudette Wire Hamper

Did anyone else find any great home decor deals while school shopping?

DIY Monogram Straw Hat

June 21, 2016

In a couple of months we’ll be setting sail on our 8th cruise to the Caribbean. This time around out ports of call will be Aruba, Bonaire, the Dominican Republic and Grand Turks. #soexcited

I’ve already started picking up a few new items for the trip, one of which was a new sun hat for me. A plain straw hat would have worked fine but I had to give my hat a little extra something-something.

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DIY MONOGRAM STRAW HAT

Here’s how the project started…

I bought this basic wide brim hat from Wal-Mart for under $5.00 ($3.35 to be exact). You can see that it has a thin brown cord as a decorative touch but the brown wasn’t working for me. Neither was the plain brim.

So I replaced the cord with a black and white striped ribbon and added my monogram to the back of the brim. Instant style!

All it took to replace the cording was a few snips with the scissors and some fabric glue to attach the new ribbon.

To create my monogram, I purchased some white iron-on letters from Hobby Lobby. These are the same brand of letters I used to make my monogram napkins.

What I love about these letters is they allow you to create a true three-letter monogram.

The only downside is the letters only come in white so your design options are limited.

I came up with an easier solution and all it took was a Sharpie. To get the black letters I wanted, I used a Permanent Sharpie Marker and colored over each letter.

All that was left to do was to position my monogram onto the back of the hat and iron it in place.

(before ironing, cover the letters with a piece of fabric so you don’t get ink on your iron or burn your letters)

This was such an easy update and now my hat that looks like it was made for a Mediterrian cruise.

The hat is available in four other colors so take your pick and make your own chic summer sun hat.

Summer Bedroom Refresh–Chinoiserie Inspired

June 17, 2016

I’ve been thinking about giving our bedroom a refresh for a while now and I think I’m going to pull the trigger.

This is the current look of the bedroom–a mix of wood, black & white accents and pops of color.

My love affair with blue and white has me thinking of a look that incorporate navy, black, white and pops of color.

Here’s the Chinoiserie Inspired inspiration board I came up with…

Since the black armoire and chair will be staying, I need to find a duvet cover that can tie the navy and black together. About a month ago I spotted a Ralph Lauren set at HomeGoods but decided to pass on it. Now I can’t get it out of my mind. I’ve been searching for it again but so far I have only found it in a king size and we need a queen. The pattern is called Tamarind and I did find it on Amazon (more expensive) so if I don’t have any luck at HomeGoods I have another option.

When it comes the accessories, I’m planning to change the black drapes to a dark navy and I’m looking at this pink pillow…

and some chinoiserie inspired artwork from Etsy.

And of course I’ll incorporate some blue and white ceramic pieces into the mix.

As always things may change before it’s all said and down but I’m excited to create a fresh new look for our space.

Style Your Nightstand–Tips & Inspiration

June 15, 2016

One of the things I am always look for on Pinterest are beautiful nightstand images. I love getting a glimpse at a person’s lifestyle and seeing how they style and decorate different areas of their home.

As a designer, I recognize that accessorizing a small, compact area like a nightstand can be more challenging than a larger living area for some people. So today I’m sharing the ingredients for styling your bedside table like pro.

Your bedroom is the most private space in your home and the items you put on your nightstand should be a mix of personal and decorative decor.

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When it comes to pulling your items together, keep these style tips in mind:

♦ Layers! Unless you take a minimalist approach to decorating, you want to position items to create a layered look. Layers will add the visual interest and help create a dynamic statement with you collection of items. Vary the placement of items on the table surface, front to back and side to side and keep the scale of your lamp in mind when positioning items.

♦ The Mix! This is where style and function meet. Accessorize with items you use on a daily basis (alarm clock, journal/book) along with items that are decorative. Decorative items like small trinket trays, lidded boxes and containers can work as storage AND as a design statement. And personal items like books and picture frames will add a personal feel to the decor on your nightstand.

♦ The Background! Even if you have a wall decor piece hanging over your bed, don’t forget about the wall space directly behind the nightstand. Hanging a mirror or piece of artwork over your bedside table is a great to build up the impact for the overall vignette. You can even lean pieces of art or other flat decor against the wall like I did at Christmas one year to enhance the layered look of your decor.

♦ Softness! A soft element like flowers or greenery can add an air of energy and life to the vignette.

♦ Keep it Fun! And finally, as you go about decorating your nightstand, throw in an unexpected object to add personality and flair.

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Nightstand Styling Inspiration

In addition to the tips above, I also wanted to serve up some visual inspiration for you. I went virtual shopping at Z Gallerie and put together two inspiration boards that pull all the elements together.

It’s no secret that I one of my favorite color combinations is black, white and gold and Z Gallerie as some beautiful decorative pieces that will work great in a bedroom. This look is bold, dramatic and super chic!

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Shop the Black & Gold Nightstand Vignette:

Devon Table Lamp // Rey Mirror // Allium Sphere

Camille Tray // Acropolis Frame // Sawyer Nightstand // Emila Canisters // Chanel Book

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My current bedroom decor is a black and white theme and I’m working on a summer refresh to incorporate more blue and white. This look is classic, elegant and has a calming feel.

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Shop the Blue & White Nightstand Vignette:

Let Me Go Artwork // Addison Table Lamp // York 3-Drawer Nightstand //Acropolis Bookends // Charles Table Clock

Gold Elephant Jewelry Dish //Glow Candle // Potted Phalaenopsis

Surround yourself with things you love!

Fashion Trend: Seed Bead Jewelry

June 13, 2016

I’ve been making jewelry ever since I was a kid. After I got the hang of it, I tried my hand at making a necklace using seed beads. #majorfail In fact if you were to look through my jewelry supply box today, you’d see an entire case of seed beads that I’ve collected over the years.

via anthropologie

If you’re not familiar with seed beads, they are the tiny beads you see on those popular tassel earrings everyone is wearing, those beads on decorative pillows and the ones on those trendy summer tunic tops that are in all the stores.

via boston proper

Even though they are tiny, seed beads are great because of the intricate designs and beautiful color combinations they create.

During Spring New York Fashion week, I noticed seed bead jewelry as part of several designer runway shows and I’m glad to know that this jewelry style has become a hot trend. One day I may pull out my stash of seed beads and try making a necklace again but until then I think I’ll shop for some seed bead jewelry.

SHOP MY FAVORITE SEED BEAD JEWELRY STYLES:

1) Piñata Tassel Drop Earrings–$36.00 2) Seedbead Necklace–$18.00

3) Seedbead Bracelet–$16.50 4) Majorca Lariat Seed Bead Necklace–$48.00

5) Kyla Earrings ––$25.00 6) Orange Beaded Earrings–$16.00

7) Danita Cuff–$49.00 8) Zoey Clip On Earrings–$35.00

Etsy is another great source for handmade seed bead jewelry and Biulu Artisan Boutique has one of the best selections of intricate designs I’ve ever seen. The shop sells necklaces, bracelets, earrings along with complete jewelry sets. Each piece is handmade in western Mexico and the designs are inspired by many Native American groups including Iroquois, Cherokee, Aztec, Maya and Inca.

I also loved reading the story of how this shop started, how the business has grown and now supports many of the people in their community. You can read the Biulu story here.

So who else out there loves the look of seed bead jewelry?

Summer Must-Haves–My Shopping List

June 2, 2016

Summertime and the living is easy!

I loving this beautiful weather we’re having. I trying to soak up every minute of these low humidity days because I know that in no time flat it will be hot, humid and sticky outside. A couple of weeks ago I purged my closet and organized it for the warmer months. I’ve also been doing the same with my decor. After all the organizing was done I made a shopping list for a few new things I ~~needed~~ wanted to help me usher in summer.

If you know me, you know I love colorful earrings, especially during the summer. I’ve got my eyes on these Baha Drop Earrings which happen to have two of my favorite summer colors in them–turquoise and orange.

I’ve had this book, It’s Not How Good You Are on my reading list for a while now and just picked it up to take on the cruise we have planned later this summer. I always enjoy inspirational reads when we travel because my mind is more relaxed and I can really absorb the content.

My favorite candle scent of all times is gardenia and this Gardenia Scented Candle is what I’m burning right now in my office. I wish you could scratch your screen and enjoy this amazing scenes with me.

I’ve never met a handbag I didn’t like and this Boho Clutch is not only colorful and cute, it’s only $9.99! The perfect piece for a weekend or to throw in a larger summer tote like the one below.

Target has some really, really fabulous tote bags right now and this classic Straw Tote with Tassel is perfect of all my summer activities. Available in 4 colors.

I spotted this Acrylic Monogram Bracelet when I was shopping for earrings and think it’s perfect for my summer wardrobe.

I started wearing readers a few years ago and have been on the hunt for reader sunglasses. My favorite reading eyewear company, Peepers has a great selection of sunglasses and great prices and these tortoise Reader Sunglasses are my fave.

I already own 3 pair of Converse sneakers and just ordered these adorable Converse Crochet Sneakers. They’re also available in navy.

I think I found the perfect dessert spoons for summer, Floral Dessert Spoons from One Kings Lane.

I rarely shop at Old Navy but popped in over the Memorial Day weekend because they were having a great sale. I bought these Stripped Linen Pants ($20) which just scream summer to me. Also available in a cropped length which would be really cute with your crocheted sneakers.

The 60-30-10 Color Rule

May 27, 2016

How confident are you when it comes to decoration with color? Like many people, this might be one area of decorating that you find challenging but don’t worry because there’s a simple design formula that can decorating with color easier.

The 60-30-10 decorating rule is a tried and true method to help pull together the color theme for a room. The rule relates to how colors should be proportioned within room to achieve a balanced and harmonious feel within the space.

The 60-30-10 color rule is really simple for anyone to apply, even the novice decorator. Here’s how it works…

60%

The main color you selected for a space should represent 60% of the color within the room. In a family room the 60% would be represented by the wall color, large decorative pieces like a rug and in some cases the larger furniture pieces like a sofa. The 60% color should serve as the dominant impact in the room and anchor the space.

30%

The 30% should be represented by the secondary color within the room and have half the impact and presence as the main color. In a family room secondary color can come from the drapes, accent furniture or even artwork. In a bedroom, the secondary colors can represented through the bed linens or smaller accent rugs. The goal is to have the secondary color (30%) be an accent and enhance the main color (60%) within the room while adding to the overall personality of the space.

10%

10% of your color within a room should be represented by accent colors. In a family room setting your accessories will provide your accent–decorative pillows, tabletop decor and smaller pieces of artwork and lighting. In a bedroom the accent colors will come from the pillows, lamps and nightstand accessories. The accent colors that represent 10% of the overall color palette should be pulled from your drapes, area rug and larger upholstered pieces so that the overall color theme ties together.

Here are a couple of examples showing the 60-30-10 color rule in use…

Using the 60-30-10 color rule can make choosing color simple, and help you achieve balance in decorating.

Finding the right color balance within a room can be challenging but if you follow the general principles of the 60-30-10 color rule you’ll be able to create a color theme for any room in your home with confidence. And if an abundance of color is what you love, follow your gut and decorate fearlessly like actress Mindy Kaling did in her home office below.

design by Nathan Turner

image source: Country Living, DIY Network

Product + Inspiration: Cloth Napkin Pillow Covers

May 26, 2016

When we purchased our first home in Seattle years ago we didn’t have a lot of money to spend on decorating it. One day when walking through a department store I picked up a pack of cloth dinner napkins that were on clearance. The pattern was what caught my attention at first but as I opened the napkins up, I remember thinking that they would make great pillow covers. Fast forward to today and cloth napkin pillow covers are still one of my ‘design on a dime’ decorating tips.

If you’ve never thought about using cloth napkins to make pillow covers, let me tell you why it’s a good idea:

♦ Most cloth napkins are sized perfectly for pillows–18″ x 18″ or 20″ x 20″ which means standard pillow inserts will fit.

♦ Cloth napkins are already hemmed so there is no cutting on your part.

♦ Cloth napkins are inexpensive so you can make seasonal pillow changes without breaking the bank.

♦ Many big box stores (Pottery Barn, World Market, Target) sell napkins in the same prints that they sell in their pillow collection so you can have the same look for a fraction of the price.

♦ Napkin pillow covers are simple to sew or you can use fabric glue to make the pillow covers if you don’t have a sewing machine or don’t know how to sew.

♦ You can add decorative trim to your napkin pillow covers to UpStyle the look even more.

Now let’s get to the inspiration part of the post and check out some pillow covers made using cloth napkin…

CLOTH NAPKIN PILLOW COVERS

top--WORLD MARKET: Anita Napkin // Succulent Napkin // Pink Pip Floral Napkin // Foil Geometric Sheila Napkins

middle--Anthropologies: Caicos Napkin // Fellina Napkin–orange // Fellina Napkin–blue

bottom--TARGET: Dot Napkin // Geometric Decorative Napkin // Indigo Print Napkins

The long weekend ahead is the perfect time to whip up a few napkin pillow covers. Happy crafting!