Craigslist to Chic- Terry Chair

Oh, how I wish I had taken a 'before' pic of this chair. I bought it 2 years ago off of craigslist in Atlanta. I was inspired to recover a chair for the bathroom after seeing a pictorial spread in a magazine of a chair reupholstered in terry cloth for this very purpose. I became OBSESSED! My husband found this chair listed for $35 so we headed 45 min outside the city and bought it. It was U-G-L-Y. We stripped it, re-stained it, and I paid to have it recovered in this really soft, plush, luxe terry cloth (that was a blanket I bought at HomeGoods). I love the scalloped detail at the bottom, and the scale of the chair is perfect. Not too big, not too small. K loves to sit in it because it is so soft. She runs her fingers across it and says 'ooooohhhh.' So sweet.

Here is where this sweet chair was in my old house, where I bought it for...the bathroom. I loved it there. I stained it to match the bathroom console. Now, I have no place for it in my new house. Boo! My Nashville master bath is so much bigger, but yet, there is really no spot for my special chair. So, it sits right outside my bathroom....sigh.

THE FYI:

-You can turn an ugly old chair into something you love! You gotta have vision, people!

-Look at the bones of the chair. Do you love the shape? Do you love the size? If so, you can probably make it work.

-Not all chairs are complicated to reupholster. If only the seat is fabric, I just unscrew the seat from the base of the chair, cover it in my new favorite fabric with a staple gun, and screw the seat back to the chair. Simple as pie.

-You can strip and restain or you can simply spray paint too. I've done both.

-Redoing a random chair is a cheap and easy way to add color and/or texture into a space.

-It also funs up a blank small wall. =)

-Goodwill, junk stores and craigslist are great places to find a chair that needs love.

Pouf!

I'm obsessed with Moroccan poufs. Look how they add so much punch of color in this pretty pink palace and an oasis feel to a room of neutral. Here, they are used as side tables and a footboard of sorts, or 'bench' at the end of the bed. They can function as visual interest, a foot stool, or even a coffee table in a pinch. I think they can be a fun addition in any room- but how fun would a bright one be in a nursery or kids room? I love the colors!!

I have one in my office (that is currently under construction...I'll post before and after pics VERY soon!) It gets moved a lot since it is white and goes with EVERYTHING....it has been in my bedroom, living room, K's nursery and now resides in my sitting room/office). They are the perfect size!!

They are so yummy in these colors it makes me think of bubblegum (I know, I'm strange like that, ha)

These one would be great in a kids room, esp the green for gender neutral nursery for those that have patience, ha ha. I certainly didn't, once it was confirmed they knew K's gender, I HAD to know!
I wish I had this turquoise with green stitching for my newly painted office/sitting room. But...the white one will have to do...
This sweet baby pink one is on sale for $199 at www.e-mosaic.com. If my husband wouldn't shoot me, I could def find a place for this in my home! =)

I love the way they used the poufs in this pic. Lots of things look great in threes! I also liked how they mixed the colors, still reading somewhat neutral, but not boring.

THE FYI:

-Tazi Designs has the BEST color selection, most are $225, $30 to fill them, FREE shipping

www.tazidesigns.com/catalog/pouf

-Mosaic Interiors tends to put some colors on sale which is nice, reg price $249-299

www.e-mosaic.com (baby pink on sale for $199)

-Authentic Morocco has the least selection but the BEST price, some are $158.99

www.authenticmorocco.com

-Sometimes I have seen fabric versions of the pouf at TJMaxx and HGoods and I know that Amy Butler has a pattern to make them. She calls them honeybuns! Sew fun! ha ha (I can't sew to save my life, but I wish I could!) You could do them in any fabrics so you can go modern, simple, girly, etc. Any look you want!

http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/patterns_display.php?id=48

Your Sanctuary at Home

This is my bed. My bedroom is my resting place. My get away. My home within my home. I like it calm, neat, peaceful. I love low lighting and the scent of Archipelago's Madagascar filling the air. And yes, I am having a love affair with my sheets (thats a whole different post, ha ha).

So, as you might have guessed, this room was done on inspiration (mentioned above) and a budget-- my husband's favorite word since I quit my job to stay home with K. I'll detail the finds for you in the FYI below.

I'm pretty excited about this find from a few weeks ago. I mention Serena and Lily a lot. That is because I love everything they make. I mean, I'm obsessed. However, my bank account doesn't love S&L. I noticed that TJMaxx and Marshalls have had some of their bedding lately. Look for it when you are there. A set of their king size sheets retail price will set you back about $250. I found this price at TJMaxx ($69.99) much easier on my budget.

When I put the new linens on my bed, I changed out the rug beside it to this one below. Its an old fave from Pottery Barn Outlet that I purchased for $49.99. I like how it brings out the persimmon in the new linens.

THE FYI:

-My headboard is from Ballard Designs (natural linen), $559

http://www.ballarddesigns.com/squire-tufted-headboard/10377

-I REALLY wanted the French Wing Upholstered Bed from Restoration Hardware, but at $2495, it wasn't in my budget

-My side tables, lucite lamps and chartreuse velvet chair (Mitchell Gold for SH) are from Storehouse (which is no longer, sniff sniff)

-The bench that I am using as a footboard is from HomeGoods in Atlanta $149.99, I had a seamstress make the down linen cushion for me and the large roll pillow was $20 from TJMaxx that I had recovered in a linen tablecloth (Dwell) that I got on sale.

-My white bee bedding is from Restoration Hardware Outlet in an outlet mall outside of Atlanta.

-The round mirror above my bed is from Overstock.com for $99

-The ikat throw pillows on my bed are from etsy.com ($34 each, Debos shop)

-The pillow on my chartreuse green velvet chair is from a tiny shop from our travels to Chile.

-The water scene print above the chair is from HomeGoods, $49.99

-The drapery panels are from Potterybarn, Peyton Grommet Drape, 108", $109 per panel--I have these in every room of my house on the main floor.

The dining chair- Weekend Finds!

Just a quick post to show you what I found this weekend. I LOVE an upholstered dining chair. What a great way to give a space some personality and as always, a pop of color in the space. You can buy the cheapest kitchen or dining table, and if you have cute chairs, the table gets swallowed up in the moment of chic!

My parents recently relocated to Nashville, TN (YAY!!) and I am going to help my mom and dad decorate their new digs. I found these dining chairs (2) at TJMaxx yesterday and I think they are going to look so great in their dining room mixed with a few other chairs. What do you think? Isn't the bright yellow so much fun? I love the shape of the chair and the nailhead trim, not to mention the fabulous print!

I saw these fun green ikat dining chairs today at HomeGoods. They would be great to spruce up a space as well! $129.99!

For pricing contrast, here is a fun dining chair from Serena and Lily. I love love love S&L but not so much their prices. (I bought Kendall's nursery bedding from there, but I got it on MAJOR sale, I'll post on that later). This fun dining chair is $895. Yikes.

THE FYI:

-Don't forget you can mix up your chairs! It is fun and unexpected! Don't fall into the trap of matchy matchy.

-The fun yellow dining chairs were from TJMaxx for $129.99 each

-The brand is Couture and Company

-The green ikat dining chairs are from HomeGoods for $129.99 each

-The navy dining chair is from Serena and Lily- www.serenaandlily.com for $895 each

Anthropologie Adoration

I'm in love with all things Anthropologie. It makes me want to be more carefree with my style. On my body, and in my home. It's effortless, chic, casual and cool. It has feminine flair. All the things that I would love someone to say about me behind my back. Ha! (dream on, I know...)

The catalogue came today and I saved it for when I put K down for a nap. I fixed a cup of hot tea, and settled in my favorite chair prepared to swoon....and it did not disappoint.

What do I love even more than this? When I already have something they feature.....and I got it for a 1/3 of the price.....at TJMaxx.... last summer. Good stuff.

Tumbling Teardrop Planter, Short $78.......www.anthropologie.com

My TJMaxx Find: persimmon teardrop large bowl $19.99

THE FYI:

-I love a good ceramic. Something fun. Something bright. A pop of color in a neutral room. Something to spice up a bookshelf....or your dining room table!

-Mix up a traditional space with a modern ceramic. Vice Versa.

-As you might have gathered, you don't need to spend a lot to do so. You can find great ceramics at random places such as World Market, Home Depot, a roadside antique or junk store.

-Be creative. Go out on a limb. If you think it 'might' look cool, it probably will.

I love a banquette!

While in Mexico last week, I became INCREDIBLY inspired by this month's issue of House Beautiful. First of all, the title of the issue itself makes me giddy- The Power of Pink!! I ran across a page (pg 38) entitled 'I'm looking for a banquette.' It showed all of these really cool banquettes (of course they were a little pricey) and I thought about how I love to sit on them and that it was a really cool way to bring some color and texture to a kitchen or dining table. Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams (mgbwhome.com) have a REALLY cool banquette for ROUND tables that I love love love, but alas, it is $1710 (depending on the fabric grade)-- not in my budget! Another option is to build a banquette, depending on the layout of your breakfast nook of course. Serena from Serena and Lily (serenaandlily.com) reinvented the breakfast area in her kitchen with a built in banquette and then brought in color and texture with fun pillows!

I decided my kitchen table would look good with a banquette and thus began my search. I certainly didn't have to go far. Little did I remember, I had one right in my own house- I just wasn't using it at the table. I decided to mix my wooden and upholstered chairs to make it more interesting. Don't be afraid to mismatch your dining chairs! Here is a picture of the banquette in my kitchen- fun, huh?

THE FYI:

Banquette purchased at HomeGoods $99

Kitchen table from PotteryBarn Outlet $299

Filagree Dining chairs from PotteryBarn Outlet $99 each

Parsons chairs from HomeGoods $79 each

Drum Shade fixture from HomeGoods $39.99

2010: Ten Favorites- #1

I am a finder by nature. I know good stuff. Many things inspire me, fashion, design, travel.... and i wanna share! I thought I would start off with some fav finds from 2010- a blur of a year for me, but the best year of my life, as my baby girl Kendall arrived!

One day while living in Atlanta, I stumbled upon this random shade at a local boutique near my home in Virginia Highlands- Armour & Co. In the clearance bin I found what is now my dining room fixture- for $20! I hired an electrician here in Nashville and presto! Never underestimate a clearanced item you can repurpose!

Other finds in the pic:

-crossback chairs ($16 each) and farm table ($995) from Southeastern Salvage

-parsons chairs ($50 each) from P.D's here in Nashville (been a fav spot for 10 years now!)

-Ethiopian Cross is from my travels to Kenya