Inspiration Notebook | September 2017

September 4, 2017

September–A Season Of Change

September is a magical time of year! Summer is winding down and the pace of life seems to slow a bit. Vacation getaways are replaced by lazy Saturday mornings and weekend road trips. The days are still warm but there is a recognizable chill in the morning air because fall is fast approaching.

This is my favorite time of year to go thrifting, visit the farmers market and take walks in the park. I’m hoping to do all of these things in abundance and enjoy each day as it comes. We still have a lot to do to get settled into your new house into our new house but my focus this month will be to get my office together. I’ll be sharing my design plan for this space later this week so stay tuned.

While I’m enjoying the beauty of September and the coming of fall, I also have the holidays on my mind. I’ve starting flushing out my holiday decorating plans and a sneak peek of my color theme is included in the images below.

It’s going to be a busy month but I plan on making the most of the glorious month.

While we’re easing into a new month, here are some fun facts about September that I thought you might enjoy. Cheers to the month ahead and the adventures that await.

Fun Facts About September

♦ The 9th month of the year marks the beginning of autumn in the Northern hemisphere and the start of spring in the Southern hemisphere.

♦ September starts on the same day of the week as December each year, but does not end on the same day of the week as any other month in the year.

♦ This month has three birth flowers: the forget-me-not, the morning-glory and the aster. Forget-me-nots represent love and memories, asters represent love as well, and the morning-glory represents unrequited love. These are all very passionate flowers.

♦ In the northern hemisphere, the Autumn Equinox occurs and fall begins. This takes place on September 22nd or 23rd, depending on the year.

♦ Fun days to celebrate this month: 9/5: National Cheese Pizza Day, 9/9: National Teddy Bear Day, 9/16: National Play-Doh Day, 9/19: International “Talk Like A Pirate Day”.

Four Overhead Lights I’m Loving {plus where I shop for lighting}

August 25, 2017

I’ve been sourcing a lot of lighting lately and one of my go to sources for affordable and stylish lighting is Ballard Designs. Ballard’s mix of lighting ranges from
traditional styles to trendy pieces. I came across 4 awesome overhead lights while shopping their site recently and wanted to share them with you.

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Four Overhead Lights To Love

1 // The Gigi Pendant from Ballard Designs is such a fun take on a traditional quatrefoil design and the brass and cream color combination is just stunning. I would hang this in a dining room, bedroom or office space. And it would look great in a small foyer space too. On sale for $246.75.

2 // Gone are the days of the flush mount ‘boob light”. Now you can find super chic flush mount lights to fit any decor style. I am especially fond of this Starburst Ceiling Mount Light and think it would look fabulous in a powder room, kids room or hallway? On sale for $ 261.75.

3 // If you’re looking for a causal lighting style, the Kiki Pendant with its bohemian vibe would be a great option. A pair of these wold look stunning in a sunroom, over a kitchen island or in a causal breakfast eating space. On sale for $111.74.

tip: you could probably paint this if you wanted a more colorful statement.
4 // The Urchin 12 Light Pendant is one of my favorite takes on this popular Sputnik design trend. I love the slender arms and antique gold finish and would hang it in a foyer, office space or large bedroom. On sale for $ 674.25 which is a savings of over $220.

Lamp Plus is the nation’s largest lighting retailer. They carry a wide range of lighting from all of the top brands in the country. I love shopping them for chandeliers, table lamps and outdoor lighting. In addition to lighting, they also sell home decor and furnishings.

Wayfair carries a large variety of lighting brands with looks to fit every decor style and they have a great selection of outdoor lighting. I love the look and price of this outdoor wall lantern.

Overstock is one of the best sources for affordable and stylish interior lighting. And this is a great place to shop If you like crystal lights. This gorgeous chandelier would look awesome in a walk-in closet or over a garden tub.

HomeGoods has always been a great source for affordable table lamps and the last two years they have really upped their style game. Their assortment is constantly changing so if you see something you love, buy it.

Crate and Barrel is our source for lighting with a modern, contemporary design aesthetic. By hovering over the lighting image on their website, you can also see what the light looks like lit up. This brass desk lamp is one of my all time favorites.

Pottery Barn has a good selection of moderate-priced, transitional lighting that will work with just about any design style This tapered metal flush mount light is a classic design that would look great in a hallway or mud room.

Rejuvenation has an online store as well as several retail stores across the country. Their speciality is reproduction antique, Victorian and period-authentic lighting. The story of how the company was started is pretty interesting–you can read it here.

School House Electric is much more than a lighting company. Their portfolio of products include furniture, decorative accessories, kitchen & bath products and hardware. The Satellite Sconce is one of my favorites from their lighting collection.

Target really does have it all when it comes to lighting, from table lamps and floor lamps to outdoor lighting and desk lamps. In addition to selling their private label Threshold collection, Target also sells popular brands like Uttermost and Safavieh. tip: always check their pricing on-line because I’ve noticed several styles that are cheaper on-line than in-store.

Shades of Light is another online source with a vast array of lighting options. Their contemporary collection is my favorites and I’ve got my eye on this light fixture.

Ballard Designs has a nice collection of lights and their price points are very affordable. They have a great selection of glass and ceramic table lamps and I also like their lantern styles. Ballard’s is also my source lighting accessories like cord covers and chandelier chain sleeves.

As you think about the lighting in your home, look at it like you do jewelry to an outfit. Stylish lighting can be the finishing touch to your decor.

all images via Ballard Designs

Vinyl Tiles I’d Actually Use In My Own Home

August 21, 2017

One of the areas I’m looking to UpStyle in our new house is the flooring in the basement bathroom. Eventually I want to replace the vinyl floor tiles with ceramic but until that happens I’m considering a quick and easy way to refresh the look.

I recently stumbled across an Etsy shop called Bleucoin that sells premium vinyl tiles that can be used on floors, walls, ceilings and furniture. What’s so brilliant about these tiles is the easy peel and stick application and the easy removal process when you want to change the look. Plus the tiles are water and heat-resistant and can be trimmed to fit your specific size needs.

The biggest challenge with Bleucoin tiles is picking one of the over 137 beautiful Mexican and Moroccan designs they have available.

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Affordable Decorative Vinyl Tiles

Encaustic Moroccan Tile

Earth Friendly Stair Tiles

Moroccan Dark Grey and Cabana Green

Brazilian Talavera Tile

Bratislava Tile

Turkish/Iznik Tile

Indian Blue Pottery Diamond Tile

Carmine Mexican Talavera Tile

Scandinavian Tile

Bleucoin tiles are a perfect solution for renters or areas where you need an inexpensive and temporary face-lift. To learn more about these amazing tiles and shop the entire collection, head here.

Favorites Of The Week {a little of this & a little of that}

August 19, 2017

This is going to be an exciting (and stressful) weekend. My brother is going to be setting up all of our electronic and computer stuff today (which always results in a few new gadgets) and we’ve got a little more packing to do. And tomorrow the movers come to move all our furniture. As of Monday we’ll officially be in our new house and the unpacking will begin.

Even though I didn’t manage to do a lot of blogging this week, I did find some down time to round-up my favorites of the week.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Liz Strong Style

Enjoy a few of my favorite links from the week…

Maybe the most gorgeous laundry room I’ve ever seen.

A great tutorial on How to Style Flat Lay Photographs. And don’t forget to pre-order KariAnn’s new book, So Close To Amazing. It’s fabulous!

Here’s a great design portfolio that will have you swooning. So many ideas!

It’s never to early to start Christmas shopping so check out all the goodies in this sale. I just ordered these and this.

A gorgeous dutch door.

Great tips for hanging wallpaper in a bathroom.

Are you ready for fall? This beautiful fall tablescape and fall decor might get you in the mood.

I just discovered this new online store which has everything from home decor to fashion.

The Starting Point Of Design–Revisited

August 14, 2017

Happy Monday! We made it through another weekend which included a hodge podge of tasks and projects. Most of our weekend was spent at the new house cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms and floors. We also moved all of my Christmas decor into the garage storage unit. Yesterday we spent some time shopping for sofas and also swung by At Home to pick up a few things. If you haven’t been to an At Home store, I highly recommend you do. The store is massive and there are lots of basic decorative items and stylish decor and super affordable prices.

This week is going to be extra busy with client meetings, more packing and shopping for a new dishwasher. When we were cleaning the kitchen we noticed that the dishwasher had some mold build-up which made me cringe. So, a new dishwasher just made it to the top of the ‘must-buy’ list.

Since I’m in the beginning stages of creating a design plan for our new house, I thought I’d share a post I wrote back in 2011. The post, entitled The Starting Point Of Design outlines things to consider when beginning to develop a design plan for a room or a whole house. I hope you’ll find these tips valuable no matter what stage of decorating you are in.

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Read the Post

Checking In, Home Decor Inspiration & I’ve Been Nominated

August 11, 2017

Hi friends. It’s been quite on the blog this week so I wanted to check in and let you know what I’ve been up to.

I started getting a sore throat the other day which means a summer cold is coming. I’m drinking lots of tea and desperately trying to fight it off. I want to call my doctor for a prescription but she doesn’t play that. She wants to see you before handing out drugs. She’s an awesome doctor and is doing the right thing but #aintnobobygottimeforthat! So I made a run to the drug store yesterday and loaded up on cold meds.

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I’ve been doing lots of fabric sourcing lately and found these beauties at ADAC. I haven’t landed on the right combo yet so the search continues today.

Things are moving along with the new house. The painters finish today and I’m excited to have the painting done. I love the colors I choose and how fresh and clean the house now looks. I’ll share photos on Instagram later today when I stop by the house so stay tuned.

The hubs and are spending the weekend doing major cleaning and moving some things into the garage storage area. We are finalizing the carpet and flooring this week and plans are for it to be installed next week. Then we’ll officially move in on the 19th and have two weeks to get settled before we go our a much-needed cruise.

wall and ceiling color–BM Whisper // trim–BM Simply White in semi-gloss

When I haven’t been packing, I’ve been spending my evenings trying to nail down the decor plan for the house. Of course I’ve been turning to Pinterest for inspiration and these are the spaces that are inspiring me at the moment.

What appeals to me about this living room decor by Citrine Living is the soothing color palette, black accents and pops of brass. We’re planning on getting a new sofa and right now I’m leaning toward a mid-tone grey. I want to make sure I have lots of flexibility when it comes to accessorizing and a grey and white palette will allow for that.

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I spotted this image from Decoholic and love the texture of the side table, floor pillow, rug and round platter. Since we have a dark wood coffee table using natural fibers, woven pieces and pops of black will work well.

p.s. I’ve been wanting these Ikea woven floor pillows (seen in the photo below) for ages so I’m planning on picking up a couple.

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For the master bedroom, this bedroom decor has me inspired. Our walls are a softer grey than this but I love the feel of this bedroom. I’m considering getting a linen upholstered headboard and using black accent furniture to add depth. I’m going for a sophisticate spa feel.

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And the last thing I’ll share regarding the house is the direction I think we’re going for the stair runners. I’m trying to decide between a patterned carpet and a sisal and I think a sisal might win out. Here are the top two contenders.

Before I sign off, I wanted to share some exciting news with you. ConfettiStyle has been nominated for an Amara Interior Blog Award!

For those of you not familiar with the Amara Interior Blog Awards here’s a little background…

The Amara Interior Blog Awards celebrates and engages with the most authoritative and respected bloggers in the vast interior blogging industry. Believing that bloggers are an integral part of the interior design community, the Amara Team has worked closely with many of these talented individuals over the years and strive to give back to this vibrant community through the awards. A concept first introduced in 2013, the Amara Interior Blog Awards include a series of phases throughout a three-month period from nominations & voting, to shortlisting, and the project culminates in an annual awards ceremony attended by the shortlisted bloggers, sponsors and judges. The expert judging panel have the final say on the winning blogs and each year the panel consists of members of leading organizations and established figures within many interior related fields.

It’s such an honor to be nominated for this award and be amongst a group of very talented interior bloggers. The voting runs through Sept. 15th and I would be thrilled if you would click the image below or head over to the ConfettiStyle nomination page and cast a vote for me.

You can follow the IBA blog for updates on voting as well as for interior design inspiration. #IBA17

I hope you’re having a great week and thanks as always for the stopping by and supporting my blog.

Product + Inspiration: Sinnerlig Pendant Light

July 28, 2017

It’s been quite a while since my last Product + Inspiration post so I’m back today with an item that I’m sure you’re going to love. Like so many of my previous P+I posts, I’m featuring an item from Ikea. I know that Ikea is not for everyone but when styled right, their inexpensive pieces can look like a million bucks.

The Product…

The Sinnerlig Pendant Light is one of my favorite lighting pieces from Ikea. I’m seeing it pop up more and more on Instagram so I know it’s a fave of others too. While the pendant has a bohemian vibe to it, the design is versatile enough to work with a variety of decor style. And the oversized scale makes it perfect for hanging as a single light fixture or in multiples.

The Sinnerlig comes in a natural color but if that doesn’t work for you, you can spray paint the shade like some folks have done. And you can’t beat the $59.99 price tag which makes this a very affordable design find. Let’s take a look at some inspiring spaces showcasing this light fixture shall we…

The Inspiration…

SG Style

Glitter Guide

Domino Magazine

My Scandinavian Home

source unknown

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If you’re looking for a budget-friendly lighting option that makes a statement, the Sinnerlig might be the light fixture for you.

Happy decorating!

My Take On The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale {and what I bought}

July 25, 2017

Have you been reading the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale recaps that have been popping up on blogs lately? For some, the Nordstrom sale is a big deal…a really big deal.

Nordstrom is based in Seattle and I lived and worked near their flagship store for 16 years. I’d anxiously await the first day of the sale and would take the day off from work to go shopping. Back then the idea of buying pre-season items at discounted prices thrilled me. Today…not so much.

Moving to Atlanta where summer temperatures can last well into September, I’m in no hurry to buy fall and winter items early. So now I shop the Anniversary Sale in a different way. I buy fashion accessories that I can wear year-round, I stock up on basics like tees and I take advantage of the deals on cosmetics. And to keep my gift closet fully stocked, I buy a few gift items too.

I did spent some time on the Nordstrom website and spotted a few things I liked. Then I made a visit to the store to see the items in person and make my purchases. Wanna see what I bought? Check it out below…

WHAT I BOUGHT AT THE NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE

I love a Long Open Front Cardigan and this one is a classic, light weight style that can be worn year round. During summer I’ll wear the cardigan with a tank and in the winter with a long sleeve tee. The cardigan is available in 7 colors and is a deal at just $49.90.

Every woman needs a basic cross body bag like this Pebbled Leather Crossbody Bag ($78.90). It’s a great size of daily use or travel and I love the roomy interior and outside zip pocket. Available in black and chino brown.

What’s not to love about this black and white striped Monogram Stripe Tote? Anything monogrammed is a winner in my book and the size of this tote makes is perfect for work or weekend. It’s available in red, green, blue and black with white stripes. $31.90

All of a sudden I’m into these modern necklace styles so I bought this Golden Crossing Necklace which is on sale for $35.90. I think it will be perfect to wear with tees and sweaters and will also look great under a blazer.

I’m loving the ruffle sleeve trend that is happening right now so this Bell Sleeve Cozy Fleece Pullover was a must have. The simple styling makes it easy to dress the top up or down and I loved the $39.90 price tag. And there are 11 colors to choose from. I’d recommend picking up a basic color like black or grey along with a fashion color like olive or burgundy.

I always keep candles in my gift closet so I bought the Voluspa Maison Blanc Two-Wick Candle Set. I’ve been a fan of Voluspa for year and for just $29.50 this is a great gift item. p.s. break the set up and you’ll have three gifts instead of one

These Floral Drop Earrings are so pretty in person and I just couldn’t resist them. Their from Bauble Bar and the colors and 3-d detail are what makes them so special. $48.00. Also available in a solid pink.

If I had to choose just one candle to live with for the rest of time it would be the Votivo Soziety Soy Wax Candle in Red Currant. The scent of this candle is amazing and it is one of the cleanest burning candles on the market. The Nordstrom sale is a great time to stock up and save. $21.90

I usually wear MAC eyeliner and buy my lip gloss at one of the big box stores but I wanted to try the Stila Stay All Day Liner & Lipstick after spotting them online. The eyeliner is fantastic and I love the tip which it easy for the eyeliner to glide on. The lipstick has nice coverage and nude pink color is very wearable by lots of skin tones. $20.00

You can shop the entire anniversary sale here.