A Cute Clutch Find From An Unexpected Place

January 27, 2017

Around Christmas I shared the Junk Gypsy Bohemian Geo Cuff Sheet Set that I received from Pottery Barn Teen. But what I didn’t tell you was this wasn’t the only thing I received from PB. They also sent me this adorable suede clutch.

The Wanderer Fringe Pouch is also part of the Junky Gypsy collection designed by sisters Amie and Jolie Sikes, affectionately known as the Junk Gypsies. In true Junk Gypsy style, this pouch has a fun, whimsical and bohemian vibe.

There are so many things I love about this pouch, starting with the super soft 100% suede leather fabric. It feels like butter to the touch and is a high quality grade of leather. I know a lot about leather products from my years of buying and sourcing for Eddie Bauer.

The other thing I love about this bag is the fringe detail and tassel zipper pull. How did PB know my love for tassels runs deep?

When it comes to handbags, I always look for special details that give a bag pizzazz and the fringe + tassel do that to this simple clutch.

There are not pockets on the inside of the pouch but that’s ok because it forces me to keep the contents light.

I’ve so enjoyed pairing this bag with jeans and sweaters this winter and it’s going to be the perfect accessory for a cowboy themed birthday party we’re going to in a few weeks.

If you love backpacks, there’s also a Wandered Fringe Backpack which is the perfect hands free bag for a weekend of shopping. And both the pouch and backpack are currently on sale!

There are so many great items in the Junk Gypsy for Pottery Barn Teen collection. You can check out all of the items here.

disclaimer: Pottery Barn Teen sent me this product in exchange for a review. Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Teen are two of my go-to sources for stylish and affordable decor and gift items. I am happy to partner with them in sharing some of the products I love. All text, images and opinions are my own.

Design Chat: Arranging Artwork For Impact & Style

January 26, 2017

One of the things I enjoy most about writing this blog is sharing design tips and helping you solve your design dilemmas. Last year I started a series called Design Chat series where I answer your design questions and provide decorating tips and inspiration. I’m excited to continue the series in 2017 and today I addressing a design challenge that Jennette has.

Here’s the comment and question Jennette sent to me…

“Shelly, I found your blog in spring 2016 while searching how to style a sectional sofa on Pinterest. I love your design tips! Right now my design dilemma is how to hang art on a long, odd wall when there is already one picture over a chair.”

Artwork can be one of the most challenging aspects of decorating your home. Once you’ve identified the type of artwork you want, you then need to come up with a plan for a dynamic wall statement.

As you can see in Jennette’s family room, she originally hung the artwork over the chair to anchor that seating area. While this isn’t bad, the rest of the wall is left blank and feels somewhat disconnected.

Here are my suggestions to pull the room together…

My suggestion for Jennette would be to create a gallery wall arrangement on that wall using the piece of artwork she owns as the centerpiece. A collection of framed pieces will create a focal point on that wall and anchor the space in total.

I also recommend a few other changes…

1) add a tall plant in the corner to add height and color. The small stool would move to the opposite side of the tv cabinet.

2) replace the double arm floor lamp with a fun table lamp.

3) add a cushion to the top of the bench and maybe even lean a couple of pillows on top.

4) a larger cabinet under the TV to give that wall more impact and to feel more proportionate with the TV.

On the opposite side of the room where the sofa sits, here’s what I recommend…

Hang candle sconces on each side of the mirror to give the wall over the sofa more impact. And remove the wall mounted light and position the double arm floor lamp next to the side table.

And my product picks for Jeanette’s room…

candle sconce // table lamp // fabric for cushion // black cabinet // plant basket

Overall, Jennette’s family room has a great foundation. With a few tweaks and additions, I think she’ll have the space she desires.

Looking for tips on creating a gallery wall arrangement, read my blog post here.

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If you’ve got a design challenge, email me and we’ll chat!

Favorite Items from The Atlanta Gift & Furniture Market

January 23, 2017

Happy Monday! If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been, let’s just say in the land of busy. In addition to spending 9 days at the Atlanta Gift & Furniture Market, I’ve also been knee-deep in working on a design project and gearing up for another year as board president of a local non-profit. Even though it’s only the 3rd week of January, I feel like Christmas was ages ago and the days are flying by at lightening speed.

To mark the return to a normal posting schedule, I wanted to share a few of the items I spotted at AmericasMart. If you’re unfamiliar with the Atlanta Gift & Furniture Market, you can read all about it here.

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First up is one of my favorite lighting companies, Currey & Company. The company is best known for their stylish lighting but they also sell beautiful accent furniture and accessories.

The inlaid wood pattern on the Benedict Credenza grabbed my attention first and then I noticed the sleek brass hardware. I envision this piece being placed under a wall-mount TV or as a buffet/bar cabinet in a dining room.

There were lots of beautiful lighting fixtures introduced at market but the two below really stood out. The Frogmore Lantern is designed with an intricate leaf design and gold-leaf finish. #goldisheretostay Can’t you just see this beauty hanging over a garden tub or kitchen island?

Retro designs are not my personal style but I loved everything about the Gino Chandelier. The tapered cone design and matte black finish give it just the right amount of sexiness. This fixture would look stunning hanging over a glass or marble top dining table.

I’m sure many of you have come across products from Palecek before but probably don’t know much about the company. The company is over 40 years old and has a foundation in manufacturing products using natural fibers, renewable materials and environmentally friendly hardwoods. Their style is distinctive with products designed around simple details and organic shapes.

Anything in brass and leather is sure to grab my attention and this Alexander Chair did just that. I loved the fresh, modern take on a classic directors chair and would use a pair of these chairs in a reading room or study.

Ottomans are one of my go-to accent furniture pieces and it was refreshing to come across this one covered in something other than fabric. The Fritz Rope Ottoman is wrapped in natural and black seagrass rope creating the look of an upholstered piece. A pair of these would be great in a sunroom or outdoor covered patio.

Gabby Home is a product line that is known for stylish pieces and vintage designs. Their style offering ranges from contemporary and modern to traditional and classic.

I loved the lines of their Julian Coffee Table with gold trim detail. And because I believe every room needs a touch of black, this coffee table would be ideal to add dram and depth to a living room.

I spotted lots of acrylic pieces at market so expect that trend to be around for a while. The antique gold frame in their Johnson Dining Chair updated the classic acrylic chair design and elevated the style.

When I had my store, Uttermost was one of my top vendors. Uttermost has one of the best selections of oversized mirrors on the market and are also known for their accent furniture and lighting. This market I came across several new accessory and accent lighting pieces in their line that I loved.

The acrylic and brass Balkan Tray was stunning and I’ve already got it tagged for a design client to use on a hallway console table.

I’ve been on the hunt a brass or gold tone pendant light and loved the rod design and gold-leaf finish on their Glam Mini Pendant. They are the perfect design and size to hang over a kitchen peninsula.

And how about this chic gold and glass Natasia Accent Table? Wouldn’t this look great in between two comfy arm chairs? I could also see it being used nestled into a corner in a powder room to hold accessories and functional items.

If you want to make a statement with your bookshelf decor, then check out E. Lawrence. In addition to their wholesale business they also have an e-commerce site that anyone can purchase from. Unlike many manufacturers, E. Lawrence sells just one thing…beautiful decorative books. Their product offering ranges from traditional leather-bound books to books with stylish covers. Their newest collections included a quotation series (which I love) and lots of metallic finishes.

And finally there’s Go Home. This is another company I purchased from when I had my store. I love their eclectic mix of products which include furniture, decorative accessories, lighting and bar accessories.

The Collete Coffee Table is a great piece for a smaller space and I love the gold frame and design detail that supports the top and bottom shelves.

Among their decorative accessories, Go Home carries lots of great basket styles. I loved this collection of Shumer Baskets which have a classic blue and white design and fun leather carry handles.

One of the industrial designs I fell in love with was the Rockwell Coffee Table which has a gorgeous finish and brass label pulls.

I hope you enjoyed this mini tour around the Atlanta Gift & Furniture Market. This is just a glimpse at the thousands upon thousands of new products introduced during the show. You can expect to see these pieces and all of the new design trends hitting stores soon and online shops soon. I’ll be back next week to share more insights on the hot trends for 2017.

Along with checking the new furniture and decor introductions at market, I also shop for new design books. #bookjunkie

Tomorrow I’ll share some of the new book titles that you’ll definitely want to add to your Amazon shopping cart.

Design Guide: Shopping For The Perfect Sofa

January 10, 2017

We started looking for a new sofa last year and I couldn’t find I liked. We decided to put our sofa shopping on hold so it gives me the perfect opportunity to share sofa styling tips to help you (and me) find the ideal sofa.

The first and most critical step in picking a sofa is to determine the style of sofa that fits your needs and function as well as your design aesthetic.

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Read the Post

Refresh Your Decor for the New Year

January 9, 2017

Every year when the Christmas decor comes down I feel like my decor has lost its luster. My living room feel bare, my decor feels stale and everything that I loved before Christmas feels like it needs fresh, new energy. I know I’m not alone in this feeling and that many of you are looking at your decor right now and wondering how you can inject some life and energy into it.

Over the years I’ve learned and employed some simple and inexpensive decorating tricks the refresh my decor for the new year.

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Every now and then you need to change things up in your decor to give it a new feeling. The start of a new year is the perfect time to try a new furniture arrangement, move pieces from one room to another or re-arrange your accessories. Move lamps around a room or even consider layer a smaller rug over the top of a larger one. Sometimes all it takes is a tiny shift of perspective to see something familiar in a totally new light.

Many time when I’m feeling a sense of uneasiness with my decor it has to do with clutter and disorganization. Dedicate the month of January to cleaning, organizing and purging every room in your home. Donate the things that you no longer use, organized the spaces (drawers, closets and tabletop surfaces) that use most offend and give your entire home a deep cleaning. Clutter in you physical surroundings will clutter your mind and spirit.

Color is an immediate mood booster so try adding in a new accent color into your decor to refresh the palette. Switching out pillows is easy and cost-effective and will add big pops of color within your decor. Color accents can also be added with small accent furniture, blankets & throws, artwork and decorative accessories. In decorating, it’s often the little things that make the biggest impact.

tip: when shopping for pillows, look for covers with hidden zippers so you can reuse the inserts when you change your pillow decor

During the holiday season we are surrounded with and abundance of patterns and colors. Once the Christmas decor is down your surroundings may feel flat and lifeless. The quick fix for that is pattern mixing. Combine different pattern styles and colors to re-energize your decor.

tip: a winning pattern mix combines small patterns against large ones and includes one big solid ( on sofa, floor, or wall) in the room.

You might think that once artwork is hung on the wall it’s there to stay. That doesn’t have to be the case. During the winter months you can bring a room to life by simply switching out a piece of artwork with a mirror. Mirrors enhance the light within a room(both natural and decorative) and will instantly make a room feel lighter, brighter and more open.

tip: oversized floor mirrors will make small spaces feel bigger in addition to making the decor feel more important

Look around the rooms in your home and see where you can create a cozy seating area or reading nook. Cozy areas will make your home feel more intimate and personal which is the feeling your home had when all your Christmas decor was up.

Plants and flowers will make your decor feel special anytime of the year but during the winter months the emotional energy these elements add is enhanced. Place small plants or a vase on flowers on tabletop surfaces in the main living areas of your home as well as the bedroom and bathroom.

tip: if you don’t have a green thumb, decorating with artificial plants and flowers–they provide the same emotional lift that real greenery does.

Candles are my go-to accessory during the cold winter months. Not only can candles provide a sense of warmth but the glow increases the sense of relaxation and coziness that a room has. Arrange a group of candles on the coffee table or along the mantel.

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It doesn’t take a lot to give your home a fresh, new feeling for the new year so use one or all of these design tips to refresh your decor.

all images via Ballard Design

You Can’t Pour From An Empty Cup (ushering in the new year)

January 5, 2017

Hi there friends. You may have noticed that it’s been quite here on the blog since Christmas. I took a break during the holidays to relax and enjoy the season which I did in a major way. After Christmas I found myself motivated to clean, purge, organize and refocus. Boy does it feel good. So good in fact that that’s what’s been keeping me away from the blog.

Part of my end-of-year clean-up has included outlining my goals for the year, both personal and professional. I want to reach new heights this year with my design business, my Etsy shops and also here on the blog. All of that starts with clarity and a refueled spirit about what I want to achieve and how I want to go about achieving it.

When it comes to the blog, I am going to be making some changes, all in an effort to bring you fresh, informative and inspirational content. I’m still outlining exactly what they will look like so that’s why there has been radio silence. As a creative person, there are times when my creativity is soaring and other times when I’m feeling empty. Slowly but surely the my cup is filling up and I’ll be back Monday ready to tackle the new year with a vengeance.

Until then, enjoy this round-up of some of the most read posts in 2016. I love that some of these are oldies but goodies.

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HOT TOPICS FROM 2016

You all seem to love my Design Guide posts so I’m planning to deliver more in 2017. If there are specific design challenges you’d like me to address, just leave a comment.

Design Guide: How To Style A Sectional Sofa

Design Guide: Styling A Super Sized Sectional Sofa

Design Guide: Curtains 101

It seems lots of people are looking for tips and ideas to decorate their bathrooms so if you fall into that category, you’ll want to check out the next two bathroom posts.

Anatomy of Accessorizing A Bathroom

How to Make Your Bathroom Look More Expensive On A Budget

Even in the design world Michelle’s quote of “when they go low, we go high” has meaning. Check out my tips of decorating the tops of bookcases and armoires.

5 Decorating Tips for Tops of Bookcases & Armoires

Upholstered Headboards: The Pros and Cons

The Great Frame Debate

I love pulling together these part shopping , part design Product + Inspiration posts so you’ll continue to see more of these in the new year.

Product + Inspiration: Hemnes Shoe Cabinet

Of all the posts I’m sharing today, this one really surprised me. The ideas of living small is gaining in popularity and the TV show continues to be a top rated show. Not only do I love seeing how they pack tons of style into such a small space but the show if filled with design ideas and inspiration for everyone.

The Tiny House Movement

Happy New Year!

THREE Creative Ways To Decorate With Wrapping Paper

December 15, 2016

It’s no secret that I love wrapping paper. And you may have even noticed that from time to time here on the blog I use wrapping paper for more than just wrapping gifts.

When I received this beautiful gift wrap from Paper Mart in November I knew immediately I wanted to use in my holiday decor. So I got creative and here are a few ways I decorated for the holidays with gift wrap.

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No. 1: GIFT WRAP TABLE RUNNER

A gift wrap table runner is a no-brainer and such an easy and inexpensive way to dress your table. The poinsettia wrapping paper is perfect as a runner because of the all-over pattern and bold colors. You may have noticed that my table scape is different from what you saw in the Merry & Bright Holiday Home Tour. I made a few simple changes to give my table a new look.

Pinecones and Poinsettia Gift Wrap // Preserved Boxwood Wreath

Red Satin Reversible Ribbon

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No. 2: GIFT WRAP TRAY LINER

Another creative way I used the wrapping paper is as a liner to a serving tray. This is such an easy way to UpStyle any tray to match your seasonal decor or a party theme.

Black and White Plaid Ribbon

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NO. 3: GIFT WRAP PICTURE FRAME MATT

Another one of my favorite decor ideas using gift wrap is to use the paper as a decorative matt in a frame.

Holly Jolly Print

Similar Plaid Gift Wrap

And here’s a few other ideas for decorating with wrapping paper…

♦ Make seasonal pennant flags to hang from the mantel

♦ Wrap plain pillar candles to make them more festive

♦ Line drawers or cabinets

♦ Wrap books for a decorative book cover

♦ Use wrapping paper as a wall paper alternative in a small room or closet

♦ Frame it and hang as artwork

With only 10 days until Christmas, I know some of you still have decorating and wrapping to do so I hope you’re inspired by this gift wrap inspiration.

Merry & Bright Holiday Home Tour–And All Through The House…

December 14, 2016

It’s the final post in the Merry and Bright Holiday Home Tour. If you popping over from Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, welcome. And if you missed part 1 and 2 of the blog tour you can find my post here and here.

This is the second year for the blog tour and it has been pure joy to partner with my fellow bloggers and friends to bring you loads of holiday inspiration. Be sure to check out all the other bloggers on the tour (links at the end of the post).

So let’s jump on in to the finale’ of the Merry & Bright Holiday Home Tour.

Even though I started decorating late this year, I’m really enjoying our decor and I’m excited to take you on a tour today.

A pop of red and green in my blue and white bedroom.

I love adding holiday themed vignette in every room, mixing Christmas decor with everyday items.

It’s always fun to add a holiday skirt to my dress form.

I switched out everyday art for these fun Christmas themed prints I found on Etsy.

Ginger Jar // Wreath // Ornaments // Potted Tree

Pretty ribbons and paper are always a part of my holiday decor.

A bowl full of ornaments on the coffee table.

The Poinsettia gift wrap from Paper Mart inspired my holiday decor.

My decor this year incorporated lots of bright, bold colors. And I used accent of black to add contrast and drama.

Wrapped presents are accented with handmade fabric gift tags.

Big ribbon bows hang on the Christmas tree.

Black and White Fun Plaid Ribbon

Handmade holly leaf swizzle sticks were a fun addition to my cocktail bar.

The dining table is dressed out in a mix of patterns and pops of red and black.

Bohemian Geo Cuff Sheets

One for my favorite holiday decorations is this beautiful preserved Boxwood Wreath from Silk Plants Direct.

Pinecones & Poinsettia Gift Wrap // Red & Gold Satin Ribbon

DIY Gift Wrap Crate

Multi Holly Leaves Ribbon

Gold Metallic Arabesque Ribbon

Mason Jar Matches

Here’s wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

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The next stop on the Merry & Bright Holiday Home Tour is Life and Style at 60. Head on over to Sheila’s blog for more holiday cheer.

And be sure to stop by all the participating bloggers to see how they’ve decked out their homes for the holidays…

Positively Southern
Wife In Progress
Design Asylum
Chic On A Shoestring Decorating
ConfettiStyle
Life and Style at 60
M. Jones Style
My Life Well Loved
The Home I Create
Refresh ReStyle
Green With Decor
Love Your Abode

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A big thank you to the generous Merry & Bright sponsors, Paper Mart & Silk Plants Direct who provided products featured in this post. All images and opinions are mine.