Budget Decorating: Basket Decor

June 9, 2016

If there’s one thing you are guaranteed to find in any thrift store you shop at, it’s baskets. There is always a wide array of shapes, sizes and designs to choose from and for just a few dollars you can buy a great decorative accessory for your home. When it comes to decorating with baskets, they are one of the more budget friendly design elements you can incorporate into your home.

BASKET DECOR

Large baskets can be customized with a light kit and turned into stylish lighting. African baskets are ideal for this project because of the beautiful colors and designs they boost. Here’s a great DIY basket light tutorial.

With a collection of flat baskets you can create a really stunning and impactful wall statement. Combine different textures and weave designs to create lots of visual impact.

{it’s easy to paint baskets to create a colorful mix}

UpStyle plain storage baskets using paint and use them to hold item all around your house.

Let these beautiful painted pieces inspire you…

{painted basket DIY here}

During spring and summer, baskets can be used to hold floral stems or branches to add an organic touch to your decor.

Lidded baskets can be stacked to create a unique side table and give your added storage.

Place houseplants in baskets so they blend effortlessly into your decor.

I use baskets all over my house for both storage and as a design statement and consider them one of my essential decorative accessories.

The next time you go thrifting you might want to take another spin down the basket aisle.

image source: 1) Lonny 2) unknown 3) hgtv 4) Natalie Fuglestveit Interior Designs 5) Completely Coastal 6) Tracery Interiors 7) Far & Wide 8) The Inspired Room 9) Completely Coastal 10) BHG 11) Top This Top That

Creative Space Inspiration {plus a few creative links}

August 29, 2015

Cheers to the weekend!

When it comes to creative work spaces, the space below is one of my all time favorites. I love how open the room is and the sense of organization and order. And despite all the structure in the room, the space exudes warmth and creativity.

Even if you don’t have a creative space as big as this, you can be inspired by some of the details in this room:

♦ Use baskets to add texture, warmth and organization

♦ Use decorative tags to label baskets, bins and storage boxes

♦ Create a sense of order by using one style of storage box or binder

♦ Opt for nontraditional seating if it works for how you use the space

♦ Add a narrow counter height table to serve as your computer desk and then use a large table as a work surface

♦ Hang decorative lighting to add style and highlight the work area within the room

via Atlanta Homes Magazine

For even more inspiration, enjoy these weekend links:

Advice for creative entrepreneurs.

These tassels are yet another genius craft project from one of my favorite craft bloggers.

You can never have too many containers, especially when they can look like this and are easy to DIY.

I recently discovered this blog (where has it been all my life) and if you love blue and white pottery, you’ll definitely want to follow the Chinoiserie Chic blog.

Defining My Accessory Formula (plus design tips)

March 10, 2015

Have you ever looked around your home and discovered that you have an accessory formula? I know I have a definite design style, Eclectic Glam but I didn’t fully recognize that I have a ‘formula’ when it comes to the accessories that I decorate with. My formula is a combination of classic styling, pops of color, graphic patterns, lots of black, touches of gold, texture and more design books then you can imagine. Here’s a visual of what my accessory formula looks like and a little bit about why I gravitate towards some of these elements.

Bold lighting is one of my favorite ways to create visual impact in a room and I love the drama that a black lampshade gives a space. Tip: the diameter of the bottom of the shade should not be greater than the height of the lamp body (to the bottom of the socket).

When it comes to mirror styles, starburst mirrors are at the top of my list. You can hang larger starburst mirrors by themselves or hang smaller mirrors in the center of a large rectangular or square mirror to create dimensional decor. Starburst mirrors are also great to incorporate into a gallery wall display.

Colorful artwork is my artwork of choice. I have lots of original black art that my mom brought back from a trip to Africa and definitely adds a personal touch to my decor. I prefer watercolors or more traditional art but abstract is slowly growing on me. Tip: in general, when hanging art over a piece of furniture it should not be longer than the width of the furniture. You want the art and the furniture piece to feel balanced.

I am a confessed pillow addict and have more than my fair share. I love mixing graphic patterned pillows with solid textures or florals, and that pillows are an inexpensive way to change the look of my decor each season. Tip: always buy pillow inserts one or two sizes larger than the pillow cover so that your pillow is plush and full.

Baskets are my friend. I used them not only as decor but for organization in every room.

My rule of thumb when it comes to decorative accessories is buy what you love and you’ll always find a place for it. I love decorative boxes, vintage pieces and always try to incorporate a whimsical accent into my decor. Tip: when decorating tabletops, group accessories in odd numbers. The basic idea of the rule is that details and objects that are arranged or grouped in odd numbers are more appealing, memorable, and effective than even-numbered pairings.

Over the year I’ve tried decorating in neutrals and more muted colors and every time I’ve felt uneasy. I love color and use it to add a signature feel to my decor. Tip: decorate with the colors you wear and your decor will feel a stronger connection to your decor. If you want to learn more about the impact of color in your life, here’s a great article.

When it’s all said and done, my accessory formula is definitely a reflection of my personality!

When you look around your house, can to tell if you have an accessory formula that guides you when decorating?

Shopping Source List: Possini Euro Design Lamp / Virginia Picture Frames / Sole Starburst Mirror / Surya Tobias Throw Blanket / Dreams in Floral Art / Kisanii Pillow Cover / Bubble Knit Pillow / Cowhide Rug / Gold Wishbone / Black Box with Agate / Braided Storage Basket / Pizzazz Area Rug

Boxes, Buckets, Baskets and Trays–Fall Arrangements

September 29, 2014

I love an easy fall centerpiece!

The formula…

Take a box, bucket, basket or tray

add

pumpkins, gourds, leaves and berries

toss in

pinecones and flower stems if you want

finish with

candles for ambience.

via

Design Trend: Basket Lights

February 20, 2014

Baskets are one of my favorite decorative elements and I have them all over my house. They are good for holding things, hiding things, storing things and can even be used to make a bigger and bolder statement in your home.

How about a basket light?

Open weave baskets will allow plenty of light to show through.

Over a table, a tight weave basket hung low will allow the light to flood the table surface.

Even small baskets can be turned into cute pendant lights.

Large baskets are a great way to add a decorative element to a larger room when they are not the only light source.

You know those flopping baskets you see in stores, they make the cutest light pendants.

I love the look of hanging basket lights over an island. The perfect charming rustic detail.

In a covered outdoor space, baskets are a great way to bring the textures of the outdoors into a living space.

So cute. Painted baskets are just adorable in a baby’s room.

So who besides me has added a basket light to their project list? They’re easy to make and here’s a tutorial giving the all the diy details.

And when you go looking for the perfect basket to use for your light, check out these styles all available from Cost Plus World Market!

Kamila Mixed Rope Basket

Amelie Round Twist Basket

Round Vinnia Basket

Calley Rattan and Metal Basket

Janna Basket with Lid

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?

6 New Reasons Why I Love Pottery Barn

January 31, 2013

Did you get the new Pottery Barn catalog in the mail? I got mine last night and immediately sat down and flipped through the pages. Wow, there are so many awesome new items that I am loving!

So over the top in love with this Cuisine Paper Towel Holder. And knowing me, I’d also try to find a way to use to as a gift wrap holder. Anyone know a company that makes small rolls of wrap??

Jacquelyne Lidded Barrel Basket

The shape and hardware on the Jacquelyne Lidded Barrel Basket make it special.

Arden Lockers

The Arden Lockers would be such a cool piece for a kids room or basement.

Accordion Dual Kitchen Pendant

Love the function and style of this adjustable Accordian Dual Kitchen Pendant.

This Ikat Drum lampshade is over the top gorgeous!

and this Wheel Barrel Bowl would be so fun to plan a summer party around.

I could go on and on with the items I love but I don’t want to spoil your adventure of flipping though the catalog.

Pottery Barn always seems to deliver a great selection of unique, stylish and adorable items to fit any décor style. As a designer, they are one of my go to sources for accessories and tabletop items.

P.S. You’ll love all the new bedding they just introduced and if Easter décor is your thing you’ll love all the rabbit themed pieces they have.

Enjoy the catalog and leave me a comment letting me know what items are your favorite.