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My Latest Thrifting Finds | New Dinnerware

August 31, 2018

Well friends, I think my latest thrifting finds make it official…I’m a dinnerware collector. I can’t help myself but I love buying beautiful china that I can mix and match with other pieces and patterns I own.

A couple of weekends ago, I popped into one of my favorite thrifting spots and found two new collections. The first was this set of eight floral salad plates. The plates have a gold rim and the most beautiful floral pattern around the edge. My original thought was to pair these with black and white plates but once I got home I realized they also look great with other plates I own.

The black and white combo will be fun for late spring and summer, and I can envision the floral plates with orange Fiestaware for a fall tablescape.

My second find was a set of 5 Lou Rota double handle tea cups. I was sad that there were only 5 so now I’m on the hunt for a 6th cup. Let me know if you spot them anywhere.

When I first laid eyes on these cups, I thought they were soup bowls. Once I got home and did a little research I found out that they are actually tea cups. I also learned about the designer, Lou Rota. Lou is a London-based artist with a background in Entomology. Many of her designs feature whimsical birds, bugs and flowers like this flamingo design which is part of her Nature Table collection. I just love the traditional but artistic design and of course the blue, white and red color combo. FYI…the cups are no longer available, but you can still buy the plates at Anthropologie.

tip: if you love the plates, you’ll want to snap them up from Anthro. Site like Replacements.com and Ebay are selling them for double and triple the price.

I’m loving my new finds and now the only question is where and I going to store these beauties. I’m running out of space!

Ok, it’s time to confess. Do you love thrifting and if so, what types of items do you love buying or collecting. Leave me a comment and let me know.

p.s. If you’re just getting into thrifting, read my post, 10 Tips For Shopping Flea Markets Like A Pro.

5 Minute DIY FaceLift | UpStyling Plain Pillows

August 29, 2018

If you’re looking for an instant makeover for your decor, think about changing your pillows. Refreshing your pillow mix is an easy and affordable way to change the look of a room. Store like Ikea and HomeGoods are a great source for basic pillows but sometimes your room might call for pillows with a little more detail. That’s where the 5 minute facelift comes in.

Earlier this week I UpStyled the look of a pair of navy velvet pillows I have on my sofa. The pillow covers are from Ikea and at $9.99 the quality is pretty good. To give these plain covers a whole new look, I added some beautiful woven trim along each edge. In just 5 minutes I elevated the look of the pillows and the decor in my family room.

Here’s what you need to do to UpStyle your own pillows…

Measured the length of the pillow and added 1″ to each end.
Then using a Tailor’s Chalk Pencil, I draw hash marks 3 1/2″ in from each side.
Next I turned each end of the trim under 1″ and stitched it down using a needle and thread.
The final step was gluing the trim in place using Unique Stitch fabric glue. Once dry, the adhesive is water-soluble, non-toxic and creates a permanent bond.

While these aren’t designer pillows, they are a budget-friendly way dress up plain pillow covers and create a fresh new look for your decor.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today. I hope you’re inspired to give your decor a facelift.

You can read all about one of my favorite trim resources here. And learn my tips for building a pillow assortment here.

End Of Summer Coffee Table Decor

August 28, 2018

Happy Tuesday friends. Is anyone else having a hard time wrapping their head around the fact that September is just a few days away? Where has this year gone? While I’m sad to see summer slip away, I must admit that I’m ready for fall.

Fall is one of my favorite decorating seasons and I’m already thinking about how I want to decorate for the season. I can’t wait to cozy up my home!

Today I want to give summer one last hoorah by sharing my end of summer coffee table decor. Just like summer, my table is bright, bold and filled with fun!

“A room should never allow the eye to settle in one place. It should smile at you and create fantasy.” –Juan Montoya

I make seasonal changes to my decor and the coffee table is one that gets a new look often.

My coffee table is square and fairly large so there’s lots of area to display books and collectibles. The centerpiece of the table is an arrangement of silk pink peonies in a brass bowl. I love adding flowers to the mix because they add color and softness. Surrounding the flower arrangement are five groupings of coffee table books (one of my obsessions). I placed decorative accessory on top of each stack to create the eclectic look I like and to add dimension to the table.

I love using some of my vintage decor on the table. This ceramic monkey was a given to me by a client and the brass bowl was a flea market find.

Candles are an essential part of my decorating style so there is always a candle in my coffee table arrangement. If you’re shopping for fall candles, this autumn candle and this black ginger candles are two of my favorite fall scents.

It’s no surprise that there’s some blue and white pottery on my coffee table.

With fall approaching, I’m planning to refresh my coffee table decor in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to see how the look changes.

For more tips on styling a coffee table, check out my post– Anatomy Of Styling A Coffee Table Tray.

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Accessories: Monogram Coasters (similar) // Money Dish (vintage) // Silk Peonies // Vintage Blue and White Lidded Bowl (similar)

Accessories: Magnifying Glass // Wood Slice // Silver Matchstick Urn // Gold Wishbone

Coffee Table Books: Passion For Parties // Pizzazzerie // Veranda Entertaining // Designers At Home

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I might make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The Art Of High Low Style Mixing {7 Tips}

August 27, 2018

Anytime someone new comes over to my house I get asked the question, “where did you get that?” I think the question comes up because when you look around my house you’ll notice that my decor has been curated over time and has a personalized look and feel. I’ve decorated our house to reflect the things we love and because of that, it’s has its own flair.

My decor is a mix of styles, a combination of vintage and new, plus a combo of high-end pieces and budget friendly finds.The art of mixing high & low furniture and decor is one of the keys to designing a beautiful room. Here are my tips on how to mix high and low like an Interior Design Pro!

THE FORMULA TO HIGH LOW STYLE MIXING

Tip # 1: Invest money in the furniture pieces that will get used the most.

Don’t skimp on statement furniture that you and your family will be using on a daily basis. Look for high-end furniture like a sofa or dining chairs that have solid construction and long wearing fabrics. Quality pieces will elevate the style of a room and make inexpensive accessories look glam.

Tip # 2: Be an equal opportunity shopper because finding the right item is more important than where you bought it.

An equal opportunity shopper simply means being open to shopping a variety of stores for the items you want. Shop your favorite high-end retailers as well as budget friendly big-box stores that might have identical or similar items for less. And don’t count out consignment or thrift stores which can be a great source for high-end looks at a fraction of the cost.

I originally purchased this large blue and white ginger jar from a high-end furniture store. When I decided a needed a second one to flank my fireplace, I went bargain hunting and found the almost identical jar online for $50 less.

Tip #3: Mix materials and finishes to make a room appear more luxurious than it really is.

Adding texture into your decor is an easy way to elevate the style of a room. Choose accessories that incorporate a variety of elements like wood, fabric and metal for a layered and custom look. When a room has visual interest, it automatically looks and feels more polished and sophisticated.

The pieces on my bookshelves include an antique brass bowl (high-end), blue and white pottery (mid to low-end) and a disco ball that I bought on clearance (cheap). The mix creates a curated look that feels like a grouping of treasures collected over the years.

Tip #4: Don’t be afraid to UpStyle a low-end piece with high-end details.

I’m sure you’ve all seen how an inexpensive pieces from Ikea can be UpStyled to look like a high-end piece with a few simple enhancements. A coat of paint, new hardware or the addition of trim work can give a simple piece high-end style. When you’re out shopping and see an inexpensive piece evaluate its potential and how a little refurbishing could give it a whole new look.

A new set of brass knobs elevated the look of this black Ikea cabinet. And $30 worth of fabric transformed a pair of $11 thrift store ottomans in to accent pieces that look like the cost a lot of money.

An empty room is a story waiting to happen, and you are the author!

Tip #5: Invest in a few original pieces like artwork or handmade ceramics.

An original piece of art or handmade craft can be a worthwhile investment and elevate the style of a room. Original pieces don’t have to cost a fortune these days. You can find original oil paintings at antique stores or have a new piece commissioned from sites like Minted for less than $500. Etsy is a great source for handcrafted pottery and wood decor for as little as $20.

TIP #6: Group high and low-priced decorative items by color.

Color is a unifying element and will create a sense of equality between items that are grouped together. Group pieces of similar color on a tabletop or pillows from the same color family on the sofa. To keep things visually interesting, look for items with different patterns or materials so things don’t look to matchy.

A place setting is a great place to experiment with pulling a color theme together. With this pacesetting, I used blue and white as the theme but combined different patterns to create the interest.

TIP #7: Decorating your home is a marathon, not a sprint!

A room looks best when it is curated over time. Incorporating things that you love and that will make your home feel unique and special.

What tricks do you have for creating your personal decor style?

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For more decorating tips check out these posts…

10 Components To A Beautiful Home

Color Rules

10 Ways To Add Color To Your Decor

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?

Home Office Tour: Design Is In The Details

August 1, 2018

Finally is the word that comes to mind when I think about todays post. I FINALLY put the finishing touches on my home office space and I’m excited to share it with you.

When we moved into the house almost a year ago, I started planning how I wanted to decorate my office. I knew I wanted to do something bold and dramatic. I also wanted the color theme to be black & white with a pop of color. Well friends, I think I checked off all the boxes and I’m so happy with how the space turned out.

Before I share more pictures, let me show you what the room looked like when we purchased the house. We have a three-story townhouse and my home office is located on the lower level. The walls were painted a cadet blue color, the doors black and the carpet was in desperate need of replacing. You’ll also notice that the ceiling light was broken. Even though the space is on the lower level, it gets pretty good light because of the large windows on one side.

Just a few weeks after moving in, I came up with a design plan for the space. It included bookcases along one wall, a large desk and blue & white accessories. I also wanted gold light fixture for the ceiling. But the most exciting design detail was the Smith Honig Bryony Storm Noir Wallpaper I wanted to put on the ceiling. In a nutshell, the space was designed to have a classic but modern vibe.

Here’s my newly decorated home office space…

One of the first things we did before we moved into the house was rip up the carpet and replace it with hardwood flooring. The floors are Brazilian Cherry to match the floors on the 2nd level. I love the look and the color contrast the floors provides against the grey walls, white trim and black furniture.

The wallpapered ceiling is the crowing glory of my office and really takes your breath away when you walk through the door. After I created the design plan and shared it with Kellie at Smith Honig, she graciously provided the wallpaper and manpower to install the wallpaper.

For those of you not familiar with Smith Honig, it’s a fabulous company owned by Kellie Smith and Melanie Honig. The Boho Luxe inspired products they sell are bold and dynamic with lush colors and statement making patterns. Inspired by their travels around the world, every product is infused with global influences that make them unique and distinctive. The line includes wallpaper, fabric by the yard, throw pillows, tassels, art and personal accessories. You can check out the entire Smith Honig Collection here.

All of the wallpaper that Smith Honig sells is peel and stick which makes it ideal for any room in the house. It’s a breeze to hang and can be taken down whenever you want a new look. Since I was hanging the wallpaper on my ceiling, the installer used wallpaper adhesive along the edges and seams to get the best application. If you’re considering hanging peel and stick wallpaper on a ceiling, you’ll definitely want to use a little glue to make sure it’s secure and stays in place. I absolutely love how the ceiling turned out am I so glad I wasn’t afford to add such a bold and unexpected design detail.

There are vintage pieces sprinkled around my home office. I bought this vintage typewriter at The Longest Yard Sale a few years ago for $40.

Because my home office space needs to serve multiple purposes (design work, crafting etc), I needed lots of storage. I went on the hunt for a white cabinet and found the Lainey Credenza on Wayfair. The minute I saw the door detail and acrylic handles I was sold. This cabinet holds fabric books, paint decks and other items I use in my design business.

I hung a gold starburst mirror above the credenza and accessorized the top with design books, a ceramic bust and a few vintage pieces. The lamp is one of my favorite thrifted finds of all times and only cost $13.

I placed three Ikea Billy Bookcases along the back wall and have a collection of blue and white jars displayed on top. Most of the jars I bought at antique stores but you can purchase the small lidded jar here. I replaced the wood cabinet door knobs with ceramic pulls from Hobby Lobby.

I own a ton of design books and have just a small portion of my collection in my home office. And I’m always finding new vintage pieces so I’m constantly reworking the accessories on the bookshelves.

When it came to artwork, I wanted to use abstract artwork and these black and white designs by Steve McKenzie were perfect. Each piece is a limited edition Fine Art Giclee print from Steve’s Alchemy collection. You can view all of the Steve McKenzie artwork here. The frames are from Ikea, painted gold.

Instead of using a chair on the other side of my desk, I have a long bench for additional seating. I found this one at HomeGoods and while the blue stripes work in the space I am planning to re-upholster it in a royal blue velvet.

A Chinese Chippendale style chair was part of my original design plan and I was thrilled when I lucked upon a black one at an estate sale for under $50. I bought the pink pillow from Steve McKenzie’s and it ties into the touches of pink in the wallpaper. And the rug was a great find at HomeGoods. The texture and subtle black and white yarn mix add a lot of visual interest to the space. You can buy the rug here.

During a normal work day, my desk is covered with papers, fabric swatches and other design supplies so a large desk surface was a must. Instead of an office desk, I’m using a large dining table as my desk. This is the Brookwood Dining Table from Wayfair.

There were several lantern style light fixtures I considered for my office but I ended up getting the Park Lane Lantern from Ballard Designs. This was another lucky find which I scored at the Ballard outlet for $25. The lantern was originally forest green but I gave it a coat of gold spray paint and totally transformed it.

As I mentioned above, I am thrilled with how my home office space turned out. From the ceiling to the furniture selections, it’s exactly as I envisioned it. I hope you enjoyed the tour. If you have question about anything, just leave me a comment below. In a future post I’ll share how I keep my office space organized and how I store supplies like ribbon and items for my Etsy shop.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be finishing up a few more rooms in the house and will share those with you.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.

Wall Color—Whisper by Benjamin Moore

Trim Color—Simply White by Benjamin Moore

Door Color—Black Satin by Benjamin Moore

Wallpaper (peel and stick adhered with glue)—Smith Honig Bryony Storm

Lantern Light—Park Lane by Ballard Designs painted gold (discontinued)

White Cradenza—Wayfair

Starburst Mirror—Amazon

Acrylic Lamp—vintage

Typewriter—vintage (great options available on Etsy)

Ceramic Bust—HomeGoods (similar here)

Pink Abstract Art—Etsy

Black Bookcases—Ikea

Cabinet Door Knobs—Hobby Lobby (in store only)

Black and White Abstract Art—Steve McKenzie’s

Frames—Ikea (painted gold)

Blue and White Ginger Jars—antique stores/thrifted (similar styles here and here)

Black Desk—Wayfair

Black Desk Chair—Estate Sale (similar here)

Rug—Rugs Direct

Gold Desk Lamp—Target

Rattan Desk Caddy—thrifted (similar here)

White Ceramic Desk Tray—Target (on longer available online)

A few of my favorite design books:

HomeFront by Windsor Smith
Things We Love by Kate Spade
William Yeoward At Home
Elements Of Style by Erin Gates
Flair by Joe Nye
Modern Mix by Eddie Ross
Beauty At Home by Aerin Lauder
Soiree- Entertaining With Style by Danielle Rollins
French Accents by Erin Swift

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?

The New Ballard Designs Store | Atlanta

July 23, 2018

Last Friday I popped into the new Ballard Designs store here in Atlanta. The store recently moved to a new location and more than doubled their space.

For years, Ballard Designs has been a great design resource for accent furniture, decorative accessories, tabletop items and linens. Over the years I’d pop into their store to find accessories for a project or the perfect pillow to finish off a bedding assemble. The array of products makes it easy to find that perfect finishing touch.

Walking into their new store was absolutely breathtaking and was like seeing the page of the catalog come to life. The expanded store space has a bright and open feel that really shows off the products. There were beautiful at every turn and even the smallest design element like a coffee table book was styled as part of a beautiful lifestyle vignette. As I walked though the store I snapped lots of pictures of things that inspired me.

Ballard Designs | Atlanta

**Modern Mix is one of my all-time favorite design books. If you don’t have a Ballard Designs near you, you can pick up a copy here.

Twine in a bow!! Such a simple but chic decorative accent.

One of my favorite parts of the store was the outdoor living area which showcased Ballard’s outdoor furniture and decor. It’s so nice to be able to see these pieces in person and get a real feel for the scale, details and quality.

In addition to furniture and decor, the store also has wallpaper, fabric and drapery hardware for sale. And there is an on-site monogram station where you can have a Jute Tote bag personalized.

I know I’ll be making the trek to the Ballard Designs store more often and can’t wait to see the store all decked our during the holidays.

For those of you in the Atlanta area, here’s the new store location:

The Works at Chattahoochee
1235 Chattahoochee Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30318