Bathroom Vanity Idea

Bathrooms are notorious for having a cold, sterile quality to them.  Here's a great idea for making a rather uninteresting bathroom feel high end.  

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A simple skirt for the vanity area in a large scale print coupled with an upholstered chair (you would traditionally see in a dining room) in a neutral color, yet fun print.  Notice the double welting on the chair in the contrasting fabric of the skirt.  Love this look. 

Such a simple idea, but it adds tons of impact.  The other great thing about this idea is that you can make it work with almost any style, depending on the fabrics you select. 

Happy Monday! M.

Yellow Accent Pillows

Just got back in town and wanted to share the pillows I made last week for our family room.  

If you recall, I was inspired by the color yellow which I posted about here, and decided to freshen up my sofa with some new pillows.  

Here's the result.

Yes, that cute thing in the left corner did proceed to pile her happy self up on top of those freshly made pillows the minute I finished snapping these pictures.  Lottie likes to perch there to monitor the backyard for squirrel activity and naps, of course.

The great thing about a neutral palette is when I grow tired of the yellow accents (which I am predicting, will be in late fall with the first cool weather we have here in Birmingham), I can change the look with new accent pillows.

Both fabrics are by Duralee in the Thomas Paul collection (Bird and Dandelion)  and really add a fun whimsical feel to the room.  These pillows cost me around $120 total, so for $30 each, I was able to change the look of our family room for the summer.  Here are my tricks for keeping the price down while still getting the custom high end look.    

Trick One

If you can sew, you can save money.  We are talking about four straight seams here, people!  This will save you a lot of money.  Most seamtress (in our area) charge around $55 per pillow (for non-trim pillows).  So that's a saving of $220 on this project.   

 

Trick Two

Buy less fabric - You do not need huge pillows on your sofa.  In fact, my experience has been that most people go too large with the pillow size.  Ultimately, it makes the sofa uncomfortable and you end up putting the pillow on the floor when you sit on the sofa.  

Consider the smallest size pillows you need to get the look.  This will allow you to buy less fabric and save money.  For my sofa, I used a pair of 22" and 20" squares.  So, I only had to buy one yard each of these high end fabrics for the project.  

For the smaller pillows, I had enough yardage to cover the front and back in my feature fabric.  But, for the larger pillows, I only had enough yardage for the fronts, so I used a leftover neutral fabric (from this project) for the backs.  This is a great trick to save money.    

Trick Three

Be smart about your pillow inserts.  I only use the down filled inserts in my projects (unless my client's family has an allergy issue), and these can get pricey if you are purchasing several for a project.  

 I saved some money on my inserts by recycling one pair from pillows I had in a closet (I was tired of the fabric on them - very dated).   The other pair (the 20" squares), I found at Home Goods on the clearance table.  They had the ugliest covers on them, but the inserts were down so I snagged them for $16.99 each.  You should have seen how fast I ripped those covers off!  So, don't always assume you have to order your pillows from a direct source, consider discount home stores and reuse the inserts.   

Trick Four

So, are you feeling discouraged and thinking, I can't sew, or figure out the amount of fabric I need?  Well, I have one last option for you on getting the custom look for less.  GO TO ETSY!  These days there are a number of shops selling handmade custom pillows in high end designer fabric.  You just have to take the time to search and find them.  Then, all you have to do is pick one you like! 

Have a wonderful weekend! M.

Latest Obsession - Shield Shades

Shield shades, sometimes called half or half moon shades, are really an old french style lamp shade, but they are popping up quite a bit these days - this photograph is from the newest issue of Lonny Mag.

 I think these shades are a wonderful element.
Not only are they beautiful, but they allow you to use a larger lamp in a narrow spot where an ordinary lamp shade wouldn't work - like on a mantle.   

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Also, since they are open on the back next to the wall, the light from them washes the wall and anything on the wall (like artwork or interesting architectural features like this rounded ceiling).

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The smaller versions are more commonly seen on wall sconces.  This allows for a very low profile sconce that works in a stairwell (which I talked about here).  

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But I love the really large ones for table lamps.  These would look amazing on a buffet highlighting a great piece of artwork.  

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Also, since the shield shade allows you to push the lamp closer to the wall, you get more table top space.   They are perfect for bedside tables where you need the extra space for accessories or other bedtime neccessities.  Other places to consider them - on a kitchen countertop for decorative lighting or even in a shallow bookshelf.

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While the original shields were very french, these days you can find them in many different styles.

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These have a modern vintage vibe and are handmade by an artist who can customize the look. 

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If you want to try them out on lamps you already own, here are some options.
I love the gimp trim on this one.  It gives it a very formal style.  This one is smaller and could be used on wall sconces or smaller scale buffet lamps.

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These are a bit larger at 8" high and would work on most table lamps. 

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If you are looking for something even larger, I would consider having them custom made so you get exactly what you want for a particular lamp.  Here is a source for custom made shield shades (you have to call them with your order).

Have an amazing day!  

I am going to be traveling for the next couple of days, so I will not be posting until later in the week.  See you back here in a couple of days! M. 

Things I Learned Last Week

We have been sans peeps for the past week.  They have been spending time with my parents at the beach, and the break has been wonderful for all of us.  I've gotten a ton of things accomplished, along with some much needed rest and relaxation.  

Here are a few things I've learned (or forgotten and relearned) during my little break from the kiddos.

It's already too hot to exercise in the afternoon.  With temps over 100 when you venture out, you look like you jumped into a swimmng pool.

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Frank Stitt really knows what he's doing in the kitchen and in his cookbook (I sort of already knew this one, but just made his flounder with succotash for the first time this season and was blown away, again).

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Argentina makes some amazing white wines.  They have a tiny hint of citrus, similar to what you get from a New Zealand white, but more subtle and crisp.  This one goes great with sushi, by the way. 

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This thing is NOT a gimmicky infomercial.  It rocks!

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When you use it with this stuff . . . 

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Your skin feels like this . . .

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A man really can kill an entire day on the golf course. 

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I still love to sew more than ever.

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The Summer Camp "What to Bring" list is one of the most comprehensive things I have ever read.  (I think I'm the only thing not on the list.)

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You can spend so much money on camp list purchases that your credit card company thinks someone has stolen your card!  

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It makes me so incredibly happy when a client is blown away by what I've created in their home using their stuff. 

Newborn babies are so tiny and cute; and I love that a brand new one lives right next door so I can go over and get my baby fix.

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Date nights are the best.

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So is getting to sleep in. 

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That's what I've learned. Have a great week! M.

Find of the Day

Just saw these amazing pillows on sale for $27.00 each!  They have such a fun summery feel.  I also think they have a real vintage vibe too.  Love the look.  

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Enjoy your weekend! M.

Think Outside the Box

I think what makes a room interesting is when the homeowner includes something unexpected.  It's important for the "unexpected" to be in keeping with the style of a space, but with a twist.

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If you are thinking "what could I do that is unexpected?" Think about items in your home that are sentimental, unique or have a special meaning.  Then concentrate on displaying them in a special way. 

Extra Tidbit: The June/July Issue of Adore Magazine is just out.  Click over for some summer inspiration

  Adore Magazine

Have a wonderful day! M.

Headed to the Third Floor

Today, I've invited Kimberly Moore of Third Floor Design Studio to guest blog at the Muse.  I asked Kimberly to share her thoughts on the hottest interior design trend of the season - here's her take.  

Hi there! I'm so excited to be blogging with you today. I want to talk about a trend that we've seen coming back in full swing...GOLD! Whether you love it or are still a little hesitant, there are ways to incorporate it into a design in just the right amount!

There are so many fabulous gold accents on the market today. This is a great way to incorporate the trend into your design without making a huge commitment. Here are a few of my favorites:

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Another great way to incorporate gold is on the table top. It has a very elegant feel and not only compliments the food but the guests sitting around the table! Just the perfect touch of glam.

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My absolute favorite colors to pair with gold are pink...

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and blue...

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Thank you so much to Mandi for letting me hang out here today! Come stop by Third Floor Design Studio anytime! I love to hear your thoughts on the world of design.