Lighting Archives | Page 6 of 8

Living Large in a Small Space

March 17, 2014

Happy Monday! I’m wishing everyone a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow on this beautiful St. Patrick’s Day.

The post I shared last week about Nate Berkus and his skill of decorating small spaces couldn’t have been timed any better. I’ve got a real life small space challenge on my mind.

Do you remember when you went off to college and stepped into your dorm room for the first time? All I could think was how small the space was and how in the world was I ever going to fit all my clothes into that closet. My dorm room looked a little like this.

Living in a dorm room was my first experience with small space living. My roommate Kathy and I decorated our dorm room as best we could–hung posters, rearranged furniture and added a rug. It was a pretty space but no where close to how dorm rooms are looking these days.

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7 Ways to Refresh Your Bedroom for Spring for less than $200–Joss and Main Style

March 10, 2014

via

I spend a lot of time looking at product on-line and one of my favorite sites to visit is Joss and Main. If you are not familiar with Joss and Main, they are a premier members-only site that offers limited-time sales on top brands for your home and life. Each sale is curated with the products that represent the latest design trends and fashion looks and their product mix includes housewares, furniture, rugs, lighting, décor, personal accessories, gifts and lighting. The selection of items is awesome and the prices are even better. Each sale typically last 3 days so when you see an item you love you have to jump on it pretty quick.

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My Little Red Desk

September 30, 2013

You know that saying, better late than never, well I finally got my office cleaned up and things pulled together so I could show you my small but powerful workspace, the space where all the creativity happens.

I’ve got a space in my garage where I tackle big projects that involve paint and crafting but my little red desk is where I spend most of my days working on design projects, writing blog post and fueling my creativity. My work area shares space with a guest bedroom but allows me just enough space to do what I need to do. In addition to my work area, I have a large walk-in closet in the room where all my supplies, fabrics, crafting tools and Etsy shop items are stored. I like keeping my desk area clean and organized so the closet is the perfect storage option for the items I use on a daily basis.

A few months ago my desk looked like this.

And then I got a wild hair to paint it red and it was transformed into this.

Red is my favorite color so having a red desk was long overdue. To give the desk even more of a facelift I replaced the metal pulls with beautiful horn pulls and a piece of glass for the top.

Once the desk was painted all the other elements fell into place.

Above the desk hangs a large cork board that I made using a frame that was given to me by a client. Given that my mom taught English for 27 years, I’ve come to love the power of words so my inspiration board is filled with quotes that lift me up everyday.

Most of the accessories I use to hold pencils (I’m a fancy No.2 girl), scissors and such are vintage milk glass pieces I thrifted. The vintage glass lamp was a .25 cent purchase at the Longest Yard Sale two years ago. I covered the shade in a black and white print.

I bought my desk chair at a local thrift store for $7.00. It didn’t have a seat when I got it and the wood was stained an oak color but the frame was in good shape. I painted the chair black, had a piece of wood cut for the seat and upholstered it in a fun print.

The door you see in the background is the closet where all the goods are stored.

The mouse pad was a diy project you can read about here and the basket under the desk holds a few binders that I access frequently.

Between the closet door and bathroom door is a file cabinet I covered in a black and white stripe skirt. The TV sit on top and above that is a handmade piece of hand-painted fabric art my mom purchased in Africa when you took a trip years ago.

Framed prints I downloaded from Sarah M. Dorsey hang on a side wall.

One wall of the room has a gallery wall which I’m in the process of completing. And you’ve seen in previous post that I am a basket fiend so here are a few that hold crafting supplies and add visual interest to the room.

My work space is a definite reflection of my love of color and an eclectic design style.

So there you have it, my little red desk and where I work!

Thanks for stopping by today. Make it a great week!

Bullseye!

September 26, 2013

How many of you knew this was going to be a post about Target? I entitled this post bulls eye because Target continues come out with awesome home decor collections with great prices and when items go on sale the savings are fabulous!

This morning I was out of the house early and dropped by Target around 8:30. It was such a treat to be in the store when it was quiet and little to no customers. As I wandered the aisles I began to notice the sound of clicking ticket guns. This is a sound that only avid shoppers are familiar with and one that is sure to make the heart best faster.

Upon turning the corner towards the pillow aisle I noticed a sales person marking items down and putting them on clearance.

I didn’t burst into a full run but I did push my cart at a more accelerated speed and starting digging through the pile of pillows.

After satisfying my pillow obsession, I wandered more aisles and stumbled across more and more clearance items. I was one happy gal!

Let me take you to my happy place..

This wood lamp base had the perfect aged look and was on clearance for $9.88! The shade I tried out on it was not only sale but was on $12.

These white pitchers are great and could be used for serving as well as flowers. They’d also be a pretty great Christmas gift for someone.

There were lots of mirrors on clearance including this classic square mirror.

The corners had metal brackets on them and the price…

Yeah baby!

Here’s another mirror and this one was only $8.48 and there were two styles available.

Loved these frames. They ranged in price from $6.49 to $10.48. I couldn’t pass up 1, 2 or all three of these.

The jars with chalkboard labels area great and can be used to store just about anything.

Lots of lamps are on clearance including these styles. All were less than $30 but most were between $10 and $20. That smoke grey glass one was so beautiful.

In addition to the clearance items I found there were lots of other items I wanted to bring home with me. Most were not on clearance but many of them are on sale now.

This mid-century modern style stool was great.

Cable knit pillows are definitely a trend for fall and winter and Target has a lot of colors at great prices.

This crewel work pillow was so pretty.

This grey and white ikat was definite winner.

And this grey and white pillows was a euro size.

If you like a little glam this pillow is stunning. The gold and black color combo is so chic.

And there are several really great chair and ottoman styles to choose from.

Target is really hitting the bull’s eye” with each of their new product introductions and even though I couldn’t buy everything, several of these items did follow me home.

If you’re looking for some new pieces for your home and want to save lots of money I suggest you make your way to Target as soon as possible!

Happy Shopping!

Best of Etsy: SassyShades

August 2, 2013

I was recently looking for new lampshades for a project and thought about checking out Etsy. Boy was I amazed at how many great handmade lampshades there were on the site. One of the shops that stood out to me was SassyShades run by Kristi in my home state of Washington. Kristi has crafted some really stylish shades using some of the most popular designer fabrics, stylish patterns and on-trend colors. I really love the tall drum shades she sells and the small chandelier drum shades which are really unique.

Here are just a few of my favorite shades from SassyShades.

Red Greek Key / Lime Ikat / Coffee Bean Ikat

Grey Trellis / White Chenille / Mix & Match Chandelier Drums

Grain Sack / Modern Taupe / Coral Trellis

Juicy Orange / Grey Dotkat Drum / Rosy Red Vintage

and

Williamsburg Blue Drum Shade

SassyShades also offers COM (customers own material) if you have a fabric in hand and want a lampshade made. If you’re in the market for a unique lampshade SassyShades is a great source for drum shades and more traditional bell shades. Finding stylish lampshades has just gotten easier with SassyShades.

To see the entire collection of SassyShades head here.

images via SassyShades on Etsy

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?

Five Ways to UP-STYLE your Dining Room

April 29, 2013

Hello and Happy Monday!

I hope you weekend was great and that there was sun in your neck of the woods. Here in Atlanta we had rain which made for a good weekend to stay indoors and “try” to catch up on work. One of the projects I’m working on is a dining room revamp for a client and the entire project got me thinking about different ways to give a dining room added style. Furniture is always the first element that defines a dining room but beyond that, there are some other ways to enhance the style and make your dining space a bit more personal and unique.

images via SassyShades on Etsy

Hello and Happy Monday!

1. MIX and MATCH CHAIRS

The neutral colors along with the grey tones are used in different applications giving each chair a unique look while keeping the entire statement coordinated.

In a more traditional space, variations of the same color keep the color palette tight and classic.

2. REPLACE CHAIRS WITH A BENCH

A bench is a fun way to break up a dining room set while still providing the same amount of seating that chairs would. Using a bench also allows you to incorporate a strong pattern statement with the upholstered seat and helps to lighten the visual impact of a heavy wood dining set.

With the bench finish the same as the chairs, it feels like it is part of the set.

Fully skirted benches add softness and provide a contrast against the legs of the table and chairs.

3. USE A NON-TRADITIONAL CHANDELIER OPTION

Switching out your traditional chandelier for something that is unique in style, material or shape is one of the easiest ways to up-style your dining room. I also like the idea of hanging double chandeliers instead of one for a more personalized look.

These uniquely shaped hanging glass pendants grab your attention and help define the style of this dining room.

A popular trend of late is turning vintage wire and wicker baskets into chandeliers. This look works great for more casual dining rooms.

I love this cluster of round lights, shaped to form a unique chandelier. Keeping the chandelier white allows the shape to command attention and not a color.

4. BUILD YOUR DINING ROOM AROUND ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS

I’m seeing bookcase walls being used in dining spaces more and more. This look adds a personal feel and in a pinch the lower shelves can be cleared and used as a serving station.

Opt for open shelving in a dining room versus a china hutch or closed cabinets.

Glass front cabinets will keep your dining space open and airy while still adding an elegant touch.

With open shelving, your serving pieces become decorative objects that help style the room.

5. DO SOMETHING TO THE WALLS BESIDES PAINT

Yes paint is the easiest and cheapest way to dress up a space but in a dining room think about doing something different to your walls like adding a fun wallpaper, stencils or mirrors.

A unique wallpaper will immediately define the style of your dining room. Be bold and use it throughout instead of just on one wall.

If you have lots of windows in your dining room, use your drapes as the decorative statement. Double up the panels to make the curtains plush and full and drape them back to add visual movement and shape.

A wall of antique mirrors is a great way to add style without your dining room looking like a dressing room. And check out those unique light fixtures above the table.

If your room doesn’t come with built-in architectural detailing, you can always add it. Cut a niche into the wall and using a wide molding, create a dramatic frame.

Beyond these 5 Ways to Up-Style your Dining Room, make sure your centerpiece is also something that stands out and defines your space.

Happy Decorating!

Do you have a design challenge you’d like help tackling? Contact me about my design services!

I’ve been busy working on a design project that involves several rooms of a home. The homeowners want a front porch space that is welcoming, cozy and filled with personality. Here’s a peek at some of the design elements for the space.

The client already has white rockers which work beautifully with their craftsman style home. We are looking to keep the space fairly neutral and bring in depth through strong patterns, warm colors and lots of natural finishes.

As you move into the living room of the home, the colors will become richer and more saturated, again using textures and patterns for visual warmth and interest. I’m loving the mix of rich red and grey paired with antique gold and warm wood tones.

It’s always fun to create a design plan that will truly transform a house into a home.

If you’d like help creating a home you absolutely love, CONTACT ME about my design services.