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Weekend Wrap-Up | Design, Shopping & More-Vol. 11

September 2, 2018

I don’t know about you but I’m really trying to make the most of the long weekend before the hustle and bustle of fall and holiday activities start. First up on my to-do list is cleaning out the storage closet in my garage. If you don’t hear from me next week, send out a search party. Here’s a round-up of my favorite reads and inspiration from the week. Enjoy!

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Fun Read and Inspiration

I was looking through my Pinterest account the other day and was shocked to see that I’ve pinned almost 30,000 images and have over 950,000 monthly viewers. If you don’t already follow ConfettiStyle, just click here.

How To Organize Your Life According To Your Zodiac Sign. When it comes to me, the insights about Aries are pretty true expect I prefer a pretty notepad to post-it-notes.

Wow, knowing this makes me love Trader Joes even more.

After seeing this beautiful giftwrap, I’m going to keep a stash of brown paper bags and silk flowers on hand.

Love this fall fabric wreath I spotted on Etsy.

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Labor Day Sales

Old Navy: 50% off all Sweatshirts, Tees, Jeans and Dresses. It’s a great time to stock-up on basic and layering pieces for fall. My favorites are this scoop neck top and this plaid swing dress.

Loft: 40% off your entire purchase. I never shopped the Loft until recently and so far I’m loving everything I’ve purchased. I just ordered this striped poncho.

Mark & Graham: Add’l 30% off Sale Items. It’s a great time to pick up stocking stuffers for Christmas. My picks are this leather mouse pad, this denim tote and these nylon travel bags. And the best part, all of these items are monogrammed.

Nordstrom: Their annual Summer Sale is in progress with savings up to 40% off. This Kate Spade handbag is a great price and I love this cashmere wrap.

Pier 1: Buy more, save more including sale and regular priced items. These napkin rings and these plaid plates are great for fall and Thanksgiving entertaining.

Z Gallerie: 20% off Art & Decor. I love these navy lidded jars and this colorful art is stunning.

Anthropologie: Extra 40% off sale items. This tea-for-me would make a great teacher or girlfriend gift. And this statement necklace is a great deal.

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On the blog this week

My latest thrifting finds

End Of Summer Coffee Table Decor

The Art Of High / Low Style Mixing

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Before I sign off, I wanted to remind you that the voting is still open for the Amara Interior Blog Awards. I’m honored to have been nominated for Best Design Inspiration Blog and would love your vote. You can vote here.

Weekend Wrap-Up: Vol. 9 {Lots of Run Reads}

August 11, 2018

Hooray, we made it to the weekend. Between the rain storms and blazing hot temperatures, I ready for a weekend indoors.

INSPIRED DESIGN:

Why is it that small cottages are always so charming? From the claw foot tub to the neutral color palette, this Connecticut cottage definitely delivers lots of charm. One of my favorite details was this vintage cabinet they have in the bathroom. Take a tour of the entire home here.

Photo credit: Lauren Resen

I’ve been a fan of Paloma Contreras for a long time. I’ve watched as her career has blossomed and I’m looking forward to adding her book to my collection. The official release date is Sept. 4th but you can pre-order a copy here. If you want to get a signed copy of the book, Paloma just released here book tour dates.

So many great details to love about designer Jenny Wolf’s kitchen.

20 Ways To Make A Small Space Feel Bigger. Great read and one you’ll want to file this away for future reference.

Photo credit: Aubrie Pick

A simple and stylish way to elevate a side table that’s too short.

SHOPPING FOR:

I’m planning to pick up a copy of the September issue of Vogue magazine this weekend. This stunning cover image of Beyoncé is beyond words.

Loving this serving bowl from the new Hearth & Home collection at Target. It’s only $13.

I just discovered the Etsy shop and love all of their chinoiserie art. This piece is only $20 for an 11 x 14.

ON THE BLOG:

In case you missed it, I recently revealed my home office decor. From the ceiling to the floor, I design every inch of my office to inspire me on a daily basis. Head here to check it out. And on August 23rd, I’ll be sharing more tips and inspiration for decorating a business or home office space as part of the Black Southern Belle Collective event at ADAC. You can learn more about the event and register to attend here.

Home Decor Deals {End of Summer Clearance Sales}

August 9, 2018

Hi friends. I hope everyone is having a great week. I’ve been struggling this week trying to stay on top of my to-do and it hasn’t been easy. I was up early today and needed to take a break from the computer so I did some online shopping. Man-oh-man there some great end of season sales going on right now. There are lots of great home and outdoor decor items on sale. If you haven’t had a chance to do a little retail therapy lately, here’s your chance. Today I’m sharing eight really amazing clearance finds I spotted online. If you see something you like, you’ll want to add to cart quick because I don’t think any of these items will be around for long. Happy shopping!

POTTERY BARN TEEN–While most people think the product are Pottery Barn Teen and just for youth, it’s one of my favorite places to shop of unexpected home decor finds. I recently spotted this preppy personalized tapestry on clearance for just $16.99. The minute I saw it, all kinds of creative ways to use it started popping into my head. I ordered one and am planning to use it as a table linen. It measures 42″ x 35″ and will look great layered on top of a white or blue tablecloth, draped across the middle of a dining table. There’s also a black and white dot pattern if that’s more your style.

WEST ELM–I’m slowly moving away from glass vases and buying vases that you can’t see through. I like to have the water and flower stems concealed. One of my go-to sources for vases is West Elm. They always have a great selection and I just picked up this faceted metal vase that is on sale for $24.99. I love the shape and the brass finish. There are other sizes available starting at just $6.99.

WORLD MARKET–If you love the idea of gold picture frames but want something with more of a vintage feel, you’ll want to snap up a few of these brass clad picture frames. You can hang the frames on the wall or use them on a tabletop. Two sizes available, 5″ x 7″ ($19.99) and 8″ x 10″ ($23.99). These brass loop frames are also on clearance and would look great as part of a gallery wall display.

TARGET–Barcarts have become a design staple over the last few years. In addition to using one for a bar, the can also be used to hold towels and toiletries in a bathroom. I also like using them in an office to hold a printer and office supplies. I don’t need another bar cart but this Project 62 modern bar cart is a steal at $59.99.

TARGET–When it comes to pillows, black and white designs are a great investment. Black and white are easy to accessorize with other colors and like I shared in this Design Guide, every room needs a touch of black. This overused black and white lumbar pillow is on sale for just $18.47 and will look great on a sofa or on a bed.

H & M HOME–I own my fair share of cute serving trays but can’t help to add a new one to the mix when I find a great deal. This tropical leaf tray is a winner and the perfect accessory for serving drinks on the patio or using as a decorative piece on the coffee table. At $8.99 this one will sell out fast. **this would also make a great Christmas gift.

WORLD MARKET–Nothing like bold, colorful piece of artwork to make a statement with your home decor. I could see this abstract floral art over a foyer table or hanging above a sofa. The gold frame is the perfect finishing touch. On sale for $79.99.

PIER 1–Now is a great time to buy outdoor furniture, decor and entertaining pieces. While perfect for outdoor use, this blue acrylic stemware can also be used indoors. Just think how amazing it would look paired with Blue Willow china. There are a variety of styles and other colors available ranging in price $5.18 to $5.48 per glass. Free shipping on a $49 order with code FreeShip49.

NORDSTROM–Since moving from Seattle where Nordstrom is headquartered, I don’t shop in the store as much as I use to. And I often forget that they carry home decor items. This J. Alexander gold lamp is large and substantial and is a really stunning piece and is on sale for $100.

MARK & GRAHAM–It’s never to early to start thinking about holiday gifts and Mark & Graham has some fabulous gift items on clearance. This monogrammed glass bud vase ($19.99) would make a great teacher or girlfriend gift.

BALLARD DESIGNS–I’ve always loved the idea of using a wood riser like this one the kitchen to hold decorative items. I first spotted this idea over on Dear Lillie where Jenni uses a similar riser as a decorative display piece. Unfortunately the large riser is sold out but the small riser is on clearance for $59.99. If a round shape will work better for you, this carved pedestal is also on sale.

GRANDIN ROAD–Even at full price, this rattan bench was a great buy but now it’s on sale for just $199. This would be such a fun accent piece in a living room or at the foot of a bed.

Don’t forget when you out shopping to check the end-caps (end of the aisle) at your favorite stores. This is where many stores merchandise their clearance items.

Thrift Score Thursday–Fab Finds For Just $1.00

August 2, 2018

Most of the time when I go into an antique store or thrift store, I’m not looking for anything specific. I enjoy looking through clutter shelves, under tables and inside overflowing boxes. The thrill of the hunt is one of the main reasons I love to thrift.

Every now and then I’ll pop into one of my favorite stores and come home with a great deal. That’s what happened when I stopped by one of my favorite consignment stores last week. Not only did I find a couple of great items but the best part was everything I found was $1.00. Yes, fold you read that right…four quarters or 10 dimes or 20 nickels.

Everything was just a buck!

The first piece I found was this beautiful ceramic platter. It was the blue and white that initially attracted me but then I noticed the flowers. The tray is a great size for serving appetizers and would also look pretty hung on a wall. And it also has a beautiful flourish design stamped on the back, on each side of the tray.

design tip: decorative ceramic trays make great wall decor, hung in a group or as part of a gallery wall. These are the plate hangers I use when hanging a ceramic piece on the wall.

The next piece I found was this beautiful green floral cachepot. It’s small but large enough to hold a handful of rose stems, a small plant or I may even use it as a serving piece.

Here’s the stamp that is on the bottom of the green pot. I did a little research online and found a cachepot with the same design except it didn’t have the side handles. It’s selling on Ebay for $50! #score

gift giving tip: when paired with a bottle of wine, a small porcelain vase or urn makes a great hostess or housewarming gift.

I love blue and white pottery and will buy a piece even if it’s missing the lid. This small square container will make a great vessel to straws when entertaining or a chic vanity accessory.

design tip: use small ceramic containers without the lid as stylish desk accessory to hold pens/pencils, scissors or eye glasses.

My final $1.00 find was the set of 5 blue and white ceramic napkins rings. These will work with all of my blue and white dinnerware patterns so I’ll be getting lots of use out of them.

I love my new finds and love the fact that all of this only set me by a $4.00.

Do you love thrifting as much as I do and have you come across any great deals lately?

SIX Ways to Personalize Your Desk (Under $50)

July 30, 2018

Happy Monday friends. If you’ve been reading the blog for a while you know that we moved into a new house last August. I’ve slowly been working on each room and have FINALLY put the finishing touches on my office space. The space is being photographed tomorrow so I’ll be sharing the space with you on Wednesday. I love how it turned out and can’t wait for you to see it.

Before the big reveal, I wanted to pop in today and talk about accessorizing an office space. Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a home office space feel stylish and personalized? Besides artwork and a nice desk, it’s the decorative elements that can transform a workshop into a wow space.

Whenever I’m decorating a room, I like to think outside the box and replace common functional items with more stylish options. And in a home office, a few strategic changes can UpStyle the space in a flash. Here are SIX Easy Ways To Personalize Your Desk–all under $50.

No. 1–The paper trays you find in office supply stores have come a long way in the design department. However, one my favorite ways to add functional style to a desk is by using a decorative tray as an inbox. Since I love blue and white, I was immediately drawn to this chic Blue Zebra Tray from Emily McCarthy. The square shapes makes it ideal for holding paper and the $26 price point makes it an affordable option.

No. 2–One thing you’ll never find on my desk is a plastic pen/pencil cup. There’s nothing wrong with them, I just think there are more stylish options you can use to hold writing instruments. My go-to vessel is a fun vase. I love the whimsy of this Stoneware Hand Vase from H and M and think it would be a fun addition to a desk top. Plus it’s just $7.99!

No. 3–I usually have stationery on my desk or on a bookshelf nearby and love finding decorative letter holders to hold my paper products. Anything in gold or brass is a winner in my book which is why I love this Gold Letter Holder from CB2–$12.95. design tip: Letter holders can also be used to hold file folders or in the kitchen to hold paper napkins.

No. 4.–I’m always looking for unique ways to store small office supplies like push pins, paper clips and binder clips and this Wood Apothecary Box is ideal. The entire unit is compact (12″w x 7.5″ h x 4″ d) and the metal label holders on each drawer make it easy to identify the contents. $44.99. design tip: This box would also be great in the kitchen to hold tea bags.

No. 5–Clutter on your desk top can impact the productivity to you have while working. These decorative Keepsake Boxes from Wayfair are perfect for holding items like the stapler and tape dispenser. The boxes come in two sizes and range in price from $37.99 to $51.99. You could also use these to hold business cards or scrap paper for jotting notes.

No. 6–UpStyling your desk lamp is one of the easily ways to enhance the decor of your office. Opt for a stylish tabletop lamp like this Walnut Lamp ( $49.95) instead of a traditional desk lamp to accent the corner of your desk. When shopping for a lamp, pay attention to the size to ensure it will work with your desk size. You’ll also want to make sure it puts off enough light to provide adequate task lighting.

For more office decor inspiration, check out a some of my favorite office spaces.

When it comes to decorating your office space, what do you do to make it feel special?

Summer Vibe–Weekend Wrap Up–Vol. 7

June 23, 2018

source

Happy weekend friends. It’s going to be hot aS blazes this weekend so I’m planning to enjoy a summer sip or two while I’m in Oklahoma. If you need a little cooling off, here’s a great line-up of Fresca Cocktails that will keep your refreshed. Cheers!

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SUMMER VIBE

** I’m loving the new Draper James + Crate and Barrel collaboration. This sun hat and these napkins are two of my favorite items.

** I recently started shopping at The Loft and absolutely love this swimsuit coverup. FYI–Loft has a great sale going on right now with lots of items 50% off.

What Every Bedroom Needs!

** I still can’t believe the death of Kate Spade. I own all of her books and will forever be inspired by her style. Her books Style and Things We Love are treasures.

** I found a new Etsy shop for stylish pillows. I love this Antelope pillow in grey.

** Instagram has become a real driving force for bloggers and influencers. I’m still a novice at Instagram and am always looking for ways to grow my instagram following. I came across these tips on building and growing your Instagram feed. It’s a good read with lots of valuable information.

** Zara Home is having an amazing sale. If you’re in the market for new bedding check out the sale items here. This tablecloth would be amazing as part of a 4th of July tablescape. And this tablecloth has me swooning.

** In case you missed it, here’s a little summer entertaining inspiration for you.

Life Lately: A Little Of This and A Little Of That

June 7, 2018

Hi friends. We returned from our vacation a couple of days ago and life has been a whirlwind ever since. I had every intention to hit publish on two new blog posts earlier this week but that didn’t happen. Catching up on work, dealing with a broken garage disposal and mounds of laundry has gotten the best of me. Why is it that when you come back from vacation you feel like you need another one just to unwind.

Things are slowly getting back to normal and I have good things on the blog horizon that I’ll be sharing in the coming weeks.

Today I wanted to pop in a share a bits and pieces of what’s been happening in my world to get you caught up.

VACATION IN PARADISE

The hubs and I went on a Carnival Cruise when we got married 26 years ago and fell in love with cruising. We’ve been on about 12 cruises, all of them on Carnival until our most recent which was on the Norwegian Getaway. The ship sailed out of Miami and our 7 day cruise included a couple days at sea plus stops in Belize, Honduras and Mexico.

We traveled with three other couples that we met 2 years ago on a cruise. We all became instant friends and enjoy cruising together.

I’ll be sharing more about the cruise and the story of how we met our friends next week so stay tuned. I’ve also got a blog post planned where I’ll be sharing my tips for cruising like a pro. I’ve had several readers mention that they will be taking their first cruise this summer so I wanted to share my insider secrets.

So I don’t leave you hanging high and dry regarding the cruise, here are a few photos I snapped during our vacation.

Beautiful Miami…

Somewhere in paradise…

Design inspiration abroad the Norwegian Getaway…

I spent a lot of time in this spot soaking up the sun and living my best life!

DESIGN LIFE

Before I left on the cruise I did an install in a clients’ master bedroom. We’re in the process of transforming the room from rich, earthy colors to soft, sophisticated hues. There are still a few things to do before the room is done but here are a few grainy iPhone pictures of the space so far.

OUT & ABOUT IN ATLANTA

I’ve been spending a lot of time accessory shopping for clients lately. One of my favorite stores in mid-town Atlanta, Bungalow Classics is stocked full of amazing pieces right now. If you live in Atlanta and are looking for unique accessories, furniture or lighting you’ll definitely want to check the store out.

FAMILY LIFE

In really exciting news, my mom will be moving to Atlanta in about a month. She currently lives in Oklahoma so this move is going to be a big change for her. I know she’ll make friends fast and have me taking her to Lenox Mall in no time flat. Her new digs are in a high-rise senior living complex in the heart of Buckhead with amazing views. I’m going to be decorating her unit and will share the plans once I have the all mapped out.

It’s going to be great that now my mom, brother and I will all be living in the same city. That hasn’t happened since I was in high school.

AROUND THE HOUSE

Believe it or not but I’m still decorating and getting settled. We’ve only been in the house for 10 months and I keep reminding myself there’s no need to rush things. I’m a few projects aways from finishing my office and I’m still on the hunt for a living room rug. There’s so much I’m planning to share with you but I’m just not ready with it all yet.

Here’s a sneak peek of the new credenza I bought for my office. It’s a beautiful furniture piece and the price is pretty amazing too!

Lainey Credenza

And a look at the new knobs I purchased from CB2 for our kitchen cabinets. These beauties are under $5.

brushed brass hexagon knob

I’ve also managed to get our dining chairs re-upholstered. The old fabrics was a light green leaf pattern that was on the chairs when we bought the set. I had a hard time picking a new fabric so I played it safe and went with a neutral animal pattern. I love it!

The next two moths are going to be super busy getting my mom settled, attending the Atlanta Gift & Home Furnishings Show and working on a new design project. I’m already thinking about our next vacation and it might have to happen sooner rather and later 🙂

Weekend Wrap Up: Vol. 4

May 26, 2018

Greetings friends!! I hope you enjoy the long weekend and dodge the rainy weather that’s plaguing most of the country this weekend.

As you read this, the hubs and I are in Florida getting ready to set sail on our cruise. I’m so excited for a little down time with friends. While I’m soaking up the sun, I hope you have an amazing weekend and find a little time to enjoy the roundup of links I have for you.

Bon Voyage!

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OMG! This Highlands, North Carolina home designed by Carole Weaks is breathtaking. As you scroll, pay attention to all the little details that make the rooms special.

I’ve been struggling with an over flowing to-do list so I’m going to give The Big Three a try.

Such a brilliant (and inexpensive) Ikea DIY hack.

This is the next book I’m going to purchase. If the cover is any indication, it’s going to be fun.

So many cute things in the new Hearth & Hand Collection at Target. This tumbler, this umbrella stand and these adorable serving trays are my top picks.

Have you ever thought about launching an online business? If so, you’ll want to read this. Great tips!

10 Things the French Always Do When Decorating

H anyone tried Amazon’s Prime Wardrobe? It allows you to get a selection of clothing and try it on at home before you buy it. Whatever you don’t like can be returned for free. Sounds pretty enticing, right?

I’m planning to take the week off from blogging but will be over on my Instagram feed sharing bits and pieces of our trip. I hope you’ll join me.