Furniture Trends: Currently Loving Rattan

May 14, 2018

Hi friends. I hope Mother’s day was amazing for all you moms. I wasn’t able to spend the day with my mom but made sure she felt loved and pampered from afar.

I’m popping in today to share at little info and inspiration for one of my favorite furniture styles–rattan. And because I want to you have the 411 on rattan, here’s a little background info.

Rattan furniture has been around for thousands of years but gained its popularity during the Victorian era. While many people think of wicker furniture when they think of rattan, they are in fact two different things. Rattan is a material that comes from the rattan plant and wicker is the method of weaving woven materials together.

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One of the reasons I love this furniture style is because of the organic but refined vibe it has. Just like a little black dress, it can be dressed up or dressed down and works beautifully with every design style.

When mixed with traditional decor, rattan adds a sense of refined casualness. And in casual, informal room settings, it can add an eclectic, hand-crafted feel to the space.

Since rattan is a natural plant fiber that is very durable, it is also a great design option for covered outdoor spaces.

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Here’s a round up some of my favorite rattan pieces ranging in price from $69 up to $600.

SHOP THESE RATTAN LOOKS:

1// With or without a cushion, this chair is a great style for a sunroom or causal living space. And its affordable at just $98.

2// I love this more classic styling of this armchair and could envision a pair of these in a living room, library or den. The darker finish gives this chair a more formal fee. $299.99

3// The craftsmanship of this end table along with the leather top is what makes it so unique. It’s a bit pricing but would definitely makes a statement. $609.99

4// I’m on the hunt for a bench for our guest bedroom and I’m considering this beautiful garden bench. $386.65

5// I couldn’t believe the price of this bench from Grandin Road–on sale for just $229.97! A great accent piece at the foot of a bed.

SHOP THESE RATTAN LOOKS:

6// I shared some of my favorite pieces from the OpalHouse collection at Target and this rattan side table was one of the items. Such a great accent piece anywhere in the house and you have to love the $69.99 price. Also available in black.

7// If you’re looking for a casual coffee table for your family room, sunroom or covered porch, take at look at this coffee table. I love the classic style, dark finish and the price! $168.97

8// This rattan stool is a great by at just $129.00. Use it next to a garden tub to hold towels or in a living space with books on top. A pair would also look great at the foot of a bed.

9// Rattan bar carts top my list of favorite accent furniture pieces and I’m in love with this rolling bar cart. For those of you that don’t drink, a bar cart like this could also be used as accent furniture. Available in 4 colors–$246.99

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So what do you think of rattan furniture? Love it or leave it?

An Easy DIY Fix For An Ikea Eyesore

May 8, 2018

Have you ever bought a cabinet or bookcase from Ikea only to be disappointed by the gap between the cabinet doors? Me too! I hate that you can see bits and pieces of what’s inside the cabinet through the gap.

A couple of weeks ago I purchased the Brimnes cabinet to go in our basement landing area. I needed some storage in that area but didn’t want to spend a lot of money so Ikea was a great solution.

Ever since the hubby put the cabinet together I’ve been staring at that darn gap between the doors. I’ve been thinking about how I could make it disappear and finally figured out a super easy and inexpensive fix.

The FIX…

I dug through my craft supplies and found a piece of basswood that I purchased years ago from Hobby Lobby. If you’re not familiar with basswood, it’s a very thin piece of bendable hardwood that can be cut with scissors, painted or stained. Crafters use it to create arched or circular shapes for craft projects.

With my basswood in hand, I put my DIY skills to work. Here’s how I fixed the gap...

Step 1: I cut my basswood to the length of my door. (note: you’ll only be attaching wood to one door). If your door length is longer than 24″, you’ll need to use two pieces of wood and glue them together. The doors on my cabinet are 36″ so I glued two 24″ lengths together and then cut it down to size.

Step 2: Next I painted the wood black to match my cabinet. Because the wood is so thin, it doesn’t take long for the paint to dry.

Step 3: The final step was attaching the wood piece to the open edge of one cabinet door. I used glue dots to attach the wood to my door leaving about 1 1/2″ of wood extended beyond the door edge. The thin basswood sheet will sit between the doors and the interior shelves and fills the dreaded gap.

Gap be gone! Now you can’t see between the doors and the cabinet looks finished.

One other change I made to the cabinet was switching out the ugly wood handles for brass knobs that I bought at Scott Antique Market. Instead of a single pull, I decided on four knobs and just love the look.

Sometimes it the little things that make the biggest difference.

Happy decorating friends.

My (NEW) Favorite Way To Create Flower Arrangements

April 26, 2018

Don’t you just love decorating your home with fresh flowers? Me too, but buying fresh flowers can be expensive especially when you like lush arrangements like I do.

Earlier this week I was feeling a bit guilty for what I was spending on fresh flowers so I decided to jump on the faux flower trend.

If you follow interior designers and design bloggers on social media, you’ve been seeing more and more faux flower arrangements in their room designs. The faux flower trend is no longer taboo they are being used right alongside fresh flowers.

One of the main reasons faux flower decor is making a comeback is because the quality of has gotten so good. In many cases it can be hard to tell a faux stem from the real thing.

On Tuesday I created this arrangement mixing faux and real stems and I am over the moon with how it turned out.

The beautiful chinoiserie foot bath was a lucky find at an estate sale and I love using it on my dining room sideboard. Because the piece is large, keeping it filled with fresh flowers is not budget friendly so the mix of real and faux is a perfect solution.

Can you tell which flowers in my arrangement are real and which are fake? Keep reading to find out!

Today, I’m giving you tips and tricks on how to style real + faux flowers and where to buy faux stems.

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Where To Buy Faux Flower Stems

You can find quality silk flowers at Michael’s and Hobby Lobby but for the most realistic looking faux stems I like to shop online.

Petals.com has a large selection of stems as well as pre-made flower arrangements. Their peony and cherry blossom stems are my favorite.

At Afloral you can shop flowers by color or variety which makes it easy to create a unique floral arrangement. They also have a great selection of bouquets that can be dropped into a vase for a quick and easy centerpiece. The peony & ranunculus bouquet is one of my top picks.

Balsam Hill recently introduced a line of silk flowers designed by blogger Courtney of French Country Cottage and they are just beautiful. They also sell a high quality (and a tad more expensive) collection of flower stems. My favorites are the set of 7 dahlia stems are set of 4 hydrangea.

Pottery Barn is another place where I buy faux flower stems. Even though the selection is small, their prices are good. If you’re looking for a good quality faux eucalyptus stem they have one currently on sale for $19.

What Look For In Faux Flower Stems

Material–the best faux flowers are made silk or polyester that have a soft, velvety life-like feel to them. Avoid stems that look and feel like plastic.
Details–look for stems that are bendable, have realistic stems and texture in the petals and leaves.
Color–when you look at a real flower you’ll see that it is not all one color. Real flowers have color variations throughout the petals. These are the same color details you should look for in faux stems.

Now that you know where to buy faux flowers and what to look for, here are my tips of styling a beautiful flower arrangement.

Ok, now its time to real the real vs faux stems in my arrangement…

Today’s design tip: Don’t Be Afraid To Fake It:)

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.

Weekend Wrap Up: Vol. 4

April 21, 2018

Hi friends. Hooray for the weekend. It’s been a busy week so I’m planning to spend most of my weekend indoors tackling a few projects. I have a few pieces of furniture to paint and I’m hoping to get some flowers planted on my deck. And the last piece of furniture for my office arrived this week so I can finally put the finishing touches on my office.

To kick off the weekend, I’ve rounded up a few things that caught my eye and inspired me (or not) this week. Enjoy the links and your weekend.

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STYLE INSPIRATION

Once I looked through designer Lindsey Lane’s interior design portfolio, I headed to her Instagram feed and was just as smitten. She’s definitely one to follow.

images via Lindsey Lane

Have you guys been watching the reboot of Trading Spaces? If so, I’d love to know what you think. I was so excited for the relaunch but so far I’m a little disappointed in the room designed. With a $2000 design budget and more affordable and stylish decor on the market, I was hoping for an elevated level of design. So far I’m a bit let down by the rooms that have been created. It’s only episode 2 so I’m holding out that we’ll see some amazing room designs in future episodes.

** Want to see how the designers have decorated their own homes? Take a peek inside the homes of the Trading Spaces designers.

Have you noticed that a silk scarf is the hot new accessory to add to a handbag? I love the look and found a great source for silk scarves that are just .99 cents each.

Since we’re on the topic of shopping, you might want to check out the One Kings Lane warehouse sale. There are so many great deals including this pillow set, this gorgeous headboard and this amazing crystal candelabra that’s on sale for $45.

I’m so excited about the new Good Company magazine by Grace Bonney of Design Sponge. If you loved Grace’s book, In the Company of Women you’ll definitely want to subscribe to this The magazine will hit newsstands on May 1st but you can pre-order a copy here (affiliate link).

Tips on How to Stretch Your Decorating Dollar from two of my favorite designers. Great advice no matter what stage of decorating you are in.

PHOTO: Julie Holder; DESIGN: Nate Berkus

Anatomy Of A Well Style Room–Revisited!

April 20, 2018

The key elements are in place and now it’s time to add the finishing touches to your decor. Where do you start with styling a room and what elements are needed to pull everything together?

Today I’m answering that question and outlining the key components to a well-styled room.

The first step in to putting the finishing touches on the decor of a room is to have a plan. Developing a vision for the space even before furniture has been purchased will go a long way to creating the space your desire. Create an inspiration board with fabric and color swatches, photos of accessories you like and images that reflect the overall feel you want the space to have.

Next, clear the room of all your current accessories so that you are starting with a clean palette. Take time to go through the things you own and decide which pieces you really want back in the room. Use only the items that work with your design vision and that you love, otherwise the room won’t bring your ultimate joy.

Once all the key elements like furniture and window treatments are in place, create a plan for accessorizing. Pull the existing items you’ve kept back into the room and begin placing them where you want. Once that is done, take stock of the room and create a list of the new items you need to buy. New pillows, a throw and even something a simple as a decorative tray can make a space come alive.

As you place accessories around the room keep these tips in mind:

Place accessories so that they enhance the focal point within the room, not compete with it. Hang a dynamic mirror over the mantel instead of placing it on another wall within the room.
Create groupings with your tabletop decor to add impact and interest. And remember that smaller accessory items look best with grouped together versus scattered around a room.
Group items of different sizes to create visual movement. Use books to elevate objects and create balance.
Spread collections around the room unless you have a dedicated display piece for them.
Accessorize so the eye has different levels to look at. This includes accessories on the floor, walls and in even the lighting at the ceiling.
Incorporate a living element like a plant or flowers to add softness and a sense of energy.
A well-styled room is about balance. Don’t fill every square inch of space–leave spaces where the eye can rest.
Use color as a unifying element within the room.
Every accessory mix should incorporate a variety of finishes, textures, materials, styles and a touch of black to help visually anchor the room.
Add a corky element to delight, surprise and bring a sense of playfulness to the room.

Don’t rush the styling of your home. The accessories and finishing touches are often the elements that take the most time but have the greatest impact of how the room looks and feels.

“An empty room is a store waiting to happen, and you are the author.”

Every room in your home is different so look at each area for what it has to offer and make the most of each space so in the end you’ll have a well-styled home.

all images via Domino

New On The Bookshelf–Design & Entertaing Books

April 3, 2018

I’m seriously on my way to opening up my own library of design books. Just when I think I won’t add one more book to my collection, a whole slew of amazing books hits the market. Here are the new additions to the bookshelf (and floor, and under the table and next to the chair 🙂

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NEW DESIGN & ENTERTAINING BOOKS

If you’re a fan of House Beautiful magazine then you’re going to love this book. House Beautiful Tablescapes is a must if you love to entertain. This book is filled with gorgeous table settings and loads of styling tips for every entertaining occasion.

Need more entertaining inspiration? Charlotte Moss is an amazing designer and can also style a gorgeous table too! Charlotte Moss Entertains will inspire you with entertaining ideas and tablescapes for every season.

For all you design lovers, the Veranda Decorating book is one you want to check out. The book is designed as an A to Z guide on decorating with page after page of beautiful images.

Even though country or farmhouse are not my design style, I still find loads of design ideas and inspiration from Country Living magazine. Their newest book, Country Living Mini Makeovers is filled with loads of quick and easy design ideas to help you transform and refresh your decor.

The cover of Barefoot Luxury: Mexican Resort Living is what made me take a second look at this book. Even if you don’t live resort style you’ll find inspiration for decorating your home with a chic coastal vibe.

I really want to up my floral arranging game and Color Me Floral is the book to help me do just that. I love that this book shows you step-by-step how to create beautiful arrangements with single color flowers.

Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links which I have used to make shopping easy for you. I may earn a small commission through these links at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting ConfettiStyle to keep great content coming!

Spring Entertaining: Tablescape Styling {plus tips}

March 20, 2018

One of my favorite color combinations is black and white with pops of bold color. It’s a classic statement with an edgy vibe and I love the energy that these colors create when used together. And it’s the perfect color statement for spring entertaining.

To celebrate the first day of spring, I pulled together a bold and bright spring entertaining tablescape to share with you. And I added a couple of Easter elements in too since Easter is just a few weeks away.

SPRING ENTERTAINING: BOLD & BRIGHT

Spring is the season when trees are blooming and flowers are budding so I created a beautiful flower arrangement as the centerpiece for my table. I used this gorgeous yellow chinoiserie planter that I scored at an estate sale and filled it with a mix flowers from Trader Joe’s.

Flower Arranging Tip: Use florist’s foam to keep flowers in place and constantly hydrated so they last longer. Soak the foam for 15 minutes before cutting it to fit the container. Water the foam every couple of days.

Tablescape Styling Tip: Creating contrast is a great way to give your tablescape dimension and depth. Combine colors that are opposite on the color wheel; mix matte and shiny finishes; use a variety of patterns for visual interest.

I know I’ve said it over and over, but one of the key elements of a beautiful table is the layering. I layered different plate styles to give the table a ‘collected’ but elegant look. And the black and white striped placemats add a modern and dramatic edge. Instead of using colorful glassware that would have competed with the flowers, I used clear crystal to add a touch of sparkle.

** I’ll let you in on a little secret. Those beautiful scalloped white dinner plates with the silver rim are actually plastic! Don’t they look amazing? Until you pick them up you have no idea they aren’t real china. If you want to pick up a set, I found them at Tuesday Morning.

I layered each pacesetting with my thrifted red salad plates and black and white accent pieces. The small rectangular black and white plates came from C. Wonder (I miss that store) and I got the black and white bowls through a trade resource. My red diy monogram dinner napkins add yet another pop of color.

Tablescape Styling Tip: don’t be afraid to mix different materials in creating your pacesetting. There are tons of beautiful melamine plates at HomeGoods and they can make a great layering element when combined with china.

Whenever I create a tablescape, I like to use candles as part of the centerpiece statement. The tall crystal candlesticks are from Tiffany’s and were a gift when I left Eddie Bauer to move to Atlanta. They add height and along with the stemware give that table some shine and shimmer.

I shared my newly upholstered round ottomans on IG and love the way they coordinate with the centerpiece on the table. The floral fabric is one of my all-time favorite budget fabric finds. You can purchase it here and you won’t believe the price.

To give the table a nod to Easter, I nestled two ceramic bunnies on each side of the centerpiece and tied a pink bow around their next. The bunnies were a Target dollar spot find from last year.

There you have it–lots of spring tablescape inspiration, and a few styling tips to help you pull your table together.

Cheers to spring and happy entertaining!

Spring Pillows { plus tips on building a pillow assortment}

March 9, 2018

Can you believe the weather that’s going on around the country? One day is balmy and the next it freezing or snow is falling. We are experiencing some frigid temps here in Atlanta and it only has me craving spring even more. Although I’m still working on decorating our house I’m working on infusing a touch of spring decor where I can.

One of the decor changes I like to make when the seasons change is to switch out my pillows. It’s quick, inexpensive and new pillows just have a way of making an entire room feel fresh and new.

I’ve spotted lots a beautiful pillows in HomeGoods lately and have also found some great pieces online. Here’s my roundup of favorite Spring Pillows–all under $50!

Shop these faves:

Fringe (available in 3 colors) // Crewel Spliced // Palm Leaf // Floral Velvet (available in 3 colors)

Shobori Velvet (hot trend!!// Jacquard Weave (available in 3 colors) // Cotton Throw (under $35) // Blue Marble Velvet

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Aren’t all of these pillows just gorgeous? The spring pillow trends are all about intricate details, lush textures, beautiful patterns and luscious colors. All of these design details make decorating so much fun.

If you’re looking to change-up your pillow game for spring, here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning an arrangement for your sofa…