Beyond

FOUR “It” Accessories You Are Seeing Everywhere

August 13, 2013

Have you stopped and taken notice that a few really popular decorative accessories that are popping up in every home décor magazine, on store shelves and in on-line stores.? While I’ve had my eye on these trends for a while and even own a few of these items it wasn’t until my recent magazine de-cluttering marathon that I really noticed how prevalent a selected group of items are in the interior design world. What makes these items so popular and just what are the “it” accessories I’m talking about?

Foo Dogs in every color are a super hot decor trend of late. While they may not be the prettiest accessory, the ceramic dogs are making a splash in every type of room décor, from traditional to modern. I think the attraction is that they are different, have an ethnic flare and make a bold statement. I love these gold dogs at Z Gallerie but if you like a little more color, the next time you’re near a Ross Dress for Less, pop because they are known to have colorful Foo Dogs for cheap!

The Scoppio Sphere is a hot item from Z Gallerie. You can use this piece on tabletops or as a wall décor accent. There is a sense of whimsy that I think draws people to this piece and makes it so popular.

Buddha heads, Buddha statues, Buddha wall décor. Buddha’s are admired not only for their spiritual association but also for their artistic style. The popularity of Buddha is so great that even Walmart has gotten in on the trend.

Not only are Starburst Mirrors becoming a design staple but it is probably one of the most popular DIY projects among DIY bloggers and designers. Starburst mirrors are a wonderful alternative to a round mirror and provide shape and visual interest to a space. I happen to own two starburst mirrors and am glad to say I bought these before the trend was so hot.

Because there are so many different versions of starburst mirrors, I think this is one item that will definitely become a classic. If you’re in the market, Ballard Designs has some of the most popular starburst mirrors on the market.

So, what do you think of these ‘it” accessories? And which is your favorite?

images via pinterest

Scott Antique Market: An Old Freind and New Treasures

August 12, 2013

Happy Monday my friends!!!! I’m so sorry to see the weekend end because mine was filled with lots of fun.

First up the hubs and I made the trek out to Scott Antique Market. Attending a gigantic antique market in 95+ degree weather is not something my husband likes to do often but he’s a trooper and when Scott’s falls on his Friday off he usually joins me on my shopping adventure. I’m so glad he went this time because we ran into a good friend that just opened a booth in the North building. Our friend Steve owned and operated one of the top showrooms at the mart for many years and I used to buy from his product lines when I had my store open. In addition to the mart showroom, Steve has operated several antique spaces here in Atlanta on Bennett Street and on Miami Circle, which happen to be the diamond district for antiques in the ATL. Steve recently closed his showroom at the mart and has opened a booth at Scott’s. …

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Creating a Stylish Clutch from the Craft Store

August 9, 2013

Ok, so we all know I love handbags and clutches have a special place in my heart. A couple of week ago I was wandering around Hobby Lobby and came across their “blanks” section. This is the area of the store where they have plain t-shirts, canvas bags, baseball caps and other items that you can embellish, paint or do whatever crafting magic you want on them.

I came across this grey felt clutch and was inspired to create a clutch based on one of my favorite designer handbag lines.

This was the inspiration ($173.00)…..

And this is my finished clutch!

How to:

I purchased a band of black textured fabric from JoAnn’s and measured it to a 3 1/2 inch width. I folded the edges under and used black stitch witchery to secure them down.

Once that was done I wrapped the black fabric around the clutch starting at the under side of the front flap, around the back and on the inside front of the clutch. I used dabs of hot glue along the edge of the black fabric to secure it in place.

Next I took a length of green grosgrain ribbon and centered it on top of the black fabric. Again I used hot glue to hold the edges down.

Next I added silver corner pieces to my clutch, attached with E6000 glue.

To add the finishing touch to my clutch I found a vintage black tassel earring in my jewelry supply chest and took it apart. I placed the round piece of the earring on the front flap of the clutch and stitched the tassel part to the top corner.

All in all my designer inspired clutch cost me less than $ 9.00!

Here’s the breakdown:

Grey Felt Pouch $ 4.99 less 40%=$2.99

Black Fabric $2.50 from JoAnn’s

Green Grosgrain Ribbon–from my stash. You can find grosgrain ribbon at Hobby Lobby for $2.99 less 40% if you have a coupon.

Silver corner protectors $1.69 for pkg. 8 available from Articuss Studio

Vintage Tassel Earring–$ 0.50 found thrifting

Style on a budget. My favorite kind of fashion!

Design Trend: Malachite

August 7, 2013

Ever since Pantone named Emerald Green as the 2013 color of the year we’ve seen this gorgeous shade of green everywhere. One of the classic renditions of emerald that has gained popularity in the home décor market over the past couple of years is Malachite. With a base of emerald green, malachite is a swirly mix of emerald, dark blue and black creating a random pattern that has lots of movement and depth. A malachite finish to me is best when paired with white, gold and black, and when combined with bold and vibrant colors.

In looking for some design ideas using malachite, I came across some great images and a really awesome diy project creating this finish. If you’re not already in love with emerald green or malachite, these photos just might change your mind.

This malachite console table is a stunning piece and really adds drama to this all white space.

Love these drapes!!!

And love the pop of magenta with the green.

Even a little touch of malachite in the form of a tray can make a statement, especially when it’s an easy diy project.

Malachite is a fairly traditional look but it pairs really well with more modern elements.

How about malachite fabric shades? Pretty chic!

The green malachite lamp is pretty hot and would be an easy DIY project.

photo source

A malachite pillow…what a great way to add a little drama to a classic chair. Here’s a good source for malachite fabric at only $18 a yard!

There are so many ways you could add malachite to your décor but this Faux Malachite DIY Desk by Jenny from Little Green Notebook has to by my favorite.

Isn’t this just amazing! I can’t believe she achieved this finish with a little paint and paint brushes.

If you want to try your hand at DIYing here’s an easy how-to for a Malachite box.

I’m loving Malachite so much that I created an inspiration board using a Malachite pillow as the jumping off point.

Artwork / Pillow / Chaise / Rug / Tables / Vase / Lamp

While I don’t think malachite is for everyone, I do think that emerald green will be a color that has a lasting impact on fashion and décor.

Do you like malachite or is a simple pop of emerald more your style???

If you’d like help creating the home of your dreams, contact me about my design services.

Fashion Focus: Pearls and Gingham

August 1, 2013

We all know the list of fashion essentials every girl needs in her closet…

Little Black Dress
Classic White Shirt
Basic Cardigan
Tailored Blazer
Trench Coat
Pencil Skirt
Clutch Handbag
Black Pump

Great Fitting Dark Wash Jeans

Black Slacks
Classic Flats

Denim Jacket

There are two other items that I think should be added to the list and that are well worth a chunk of your fashion budget.

My favorite Gingham Shirts:

Banana Republic Soft Wash Gingham Shirt

Gap Boyfriend Gingham Shirt

Nordstrom Gingham Shirt

Fashion Note: The men’s department often has gingham shirts in a variety of colors so don’t forget to cross shop that area

My favorite vintage Faux Pearl Necklaces:

3-strand Pearl Necklace

Set of 3 Pearl Necklace Strands

4-strand Pearl Necklace

6-strand Pearl Necklace

Fashion Note: Mix and match different sizes of pearl stands for a less formal look

Can you check these items off the list or do you need to do a little shopping???

Design Details: Gold Edging

July 30, 2013

I’m all about gold accent these days and love how a touch of gold can turn an ordinary item into something chic and über stylish.

I’m sure you’ve all seen this DIY project floating around blog land where a simple picture frame is updated with gold corner accents. Who would have thought that such an easy project would yield such stylish results.

Here’s what the gold accent looks like on black frames.

How about this simple update, gold corner details added to a piece of furniture?

You can find my source for metal corner pieces in this post.

I’m also loving this idea of painting the page edge of thrift store books and turning them into a glamorous decorative accent.

How about detailing out the inner rim of a paneled door with gold paint? Pretty fab!

I also love the look of a gold edge on a piece of furniture. Emily over at Emily A. Clark transformed this table first by painting it black and then my adding a gold edge. Stunning!

This metal bamboo table looks so much more expensive and high-end with a gold finish!

And how about the idea of up-styling your stationery or even your business cards? I’m so going to do this with my business cards.

So what do you think? Do you love a touch of gold as much as I do?

One thing I’ve learned in my years in design is that it is the little details that really make design come to life!

images can be found on my Golden Touch Pinterest board

Guest Room Essentials

July 29, 2013

Happy Monday! I hope you weekend was stellar!

We’re planning a little road trip in August and it got me thinking about guest bedrooms. Whenever we go visit my mom in Oklahoma she always has everything we could possibly need set out and ready to go in the guest bedroom. She makes it easy for us to settle in, feel comfortable and enjoy our stay. She also has a little gift for me and the hubs sitting on the bed to welcome us! There’s no place like home!

I’ve taken cues from my mom and when we have overnight guest, I try to make them feel as welcome as possible, as if they were at home. I stock my guest bedroom with fresh towels, magazines, extra pillows and a few other essential items I know my guest will appreciate, enjoy and use.

Here’s my list of Guest Room Essentials….

I love to have a tray sitting on the end of the end or the night stand so that my guest can use it while lounging in bed or with their morning cup of coffee or tea. A tray is also great as a writing surface if my guest want to write a postcard or letter.

I’m always cold and in case my guest are too, I always have a beautiful throw blanket available for them to use. A decorative throw allows me to dress up the bed along with giving my guest something to snuggle up with.

Candles are a great way to give my guest a little ambience in their room. I opt for a clean scent that’s soothing and not overpowering. A candle in a pretty container adds to the décor of the room too.

Call it a personal pet peeve but I do not use bars of soap in my guest room. I don’t want anyone to use soap that someone else did not do I want to throw away a half used bar after my guest leave. So for me its all about a great bath and shower gel. {when I travel I take my own bottle}

Since I give my guest a luxurious shower gel to use during their stay I also give them a wonderful body lotion to use as well.

{If my guest are only staying for a short time, I sometimes will put out small hotel toiletries for them to use}

Another personal care item I have for my guest is a room spray which allows them to keep the bedroom and bathroom fresh.

Another pet peeve of mine is drinking water from the tap. We drink bottled water and I mostly drink from my own personal insulated water bottle. One of the things I have added to my guest room amenities is a personal water bottle. It prevents a mix-up of bottles and my guest can take it along if they are out sightseeing around town.

Just in case my guest want to write a letter or send a note to someone during their stay I always have a few notecards and pen available for their use.

And finally, I love to give my guest their own coffee or tea cup. Often times I will give them a monogrammed one that they can use during their stay and them take it when them as a little token from us.

When it comes to making my guest feel at home, I keep this in mind…

What little things do you do to make your guest feel at home???

Let Me Be Your Personal Shopper

July 26, 2013

Happy Friday!

(better late than never)

I’ve been really good so far and have stayed away from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. In my prior life (when I lived in Seattle) I was so addicted to Nordstrom that I would actually take a vacation day on the first day of the sale just so I could go and shop it. While Nordstrom is still a great store and I do frequent it (best shoe department around), I’m not obsessed with it anymore. But, just because I haven’t visited the store in person doesn’t mean I haven’t checked out the Anniversary Sale online. And just because I may not be purchasing anything for myself doesn’t mean I can’t play the role of your personal shopper.

Come along as we do a little browsing and see what I’ve put on your shopping list…

Faux Leather Infinity Scarf Sale $39.90 reg. $60.00 (too darn cute)!!!

Vince Michela Boot Sale Sale $299.90 reg. $495.00

Vince Camuto Call of the Wild Bangle Sale $44.90 reg. $68.00 (adorable)!!!

Deux Lux Faux Fur Clutch Sale $44.90 reg. $68.00 (ok, so I might have added this to my shopping list too. Can’t beat that price)!!!

Halogen Print Pencil Skirt Sale $45.90 reg. $69.00

Mural Elongated Leather Bomber Jacket Sale $118.90 reg. $178.00

Olivia Moon Knit Blazer Sale $52.90 reg. $79.50 (yes, please)!!!

Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Body Lotion $98. (Yes this is a splurge but it is so worth it! Just so happens to be my signature scent)

Voluspa Two Wick Candle Trio $29.50 $48 value (think holiday gifts)

Wasn’t that fun. Us shopping together and me spending your money??? The sale ends August 5th so let me know if there is anything else you want to add to your shopping list.

Cheers!

p.s. It’s a great time to stock up on Spanx too!