Shop Like a Design Blogger: Pink Wallpaper

This week I'm thrilled to have Shannon from Pink Wallpaper guest blogging. Shannon's blog was one of the first design blogs that I started reading. She consistently delivers with some of the most beautiful, most inspiring (and under-the-radar) images in the design blogosphere. In addition to being a designer, Shannon is also currently running a successful e-business reselling some of her incredible collection of fabrics, wallpapers and even accessories over at The Designer's Attic. I love checking out her offerings on a daily basis. Last fall I purchased a gorgeous greek key floor lamp from Shannon that now sits in my living room (see HERE) and I'm still in love with it. And, on an unrelated note, be sure to head over to Sogni e Sorrisi today where I'll be guest blogging about my all-time favorite travel destination (do you think you can guess where that is?).

thanks so much averill for asking me to be a part of your fun series! i have loved reading them! so you want to know how i shop...well, to be frank, it's not all that glamorous ...i actually prefer to shop in places most people wouldn't think twice about. my take on design is that anyone can achieve a beautiful space no matter what your budget constraints maybe. you just have to know how to shop and how to spot "the find". and this is something i have a huge passion for...

1. habitat for humanity: i frequent these kind of donation places...you will be shocked at what turns up here. i bought an Oly DR table for my house for nothing close to what it retails for. i've found a glass front sub zero, viking stoves, hickory chair furniture, chesterfield sofas, thomas o'brien light fixtures...the list goes on and on.

2. craigslist: think of the items that you would like to add to your house and type them in weekly. my dream desk came from craigslist. i have wanted a chrome sawhorse desk for years and out of nowhere one appeared on it...and better yet it was vintage and pennies compared to the price it was going for on 1st dibs.

3. goodwill: this is where you are going to find the deals...but like everything else, you have to frequent it and you have to look past the junk that surrounds it. i found my vintage rattan swing here for $3.00...a dirty, plastic kitchen was lying on top of it!

4. thrift stores/ yard sales: where you will score killer deals on accessories for your home. i love finding odd ball objects and adding them in bookshelves or vignettes around the house. also, artwork...here's a chance to create a fabulous gallery wall w/ unknown oil paintings that go for $5-$10.

5. antique stores: love antique shopping...prefer it over going into a new store any day of the week. my tip is stay away from antique stores in tourist areas...find ones on the outskirts of the city or in a small town you are passing through. you can find great deals on DR chair sets, vintage lights, lucite (hello my love), transferware, old bottles, etc. vintage finds make your house unique.

6. everyone has said it, but i'll second it- tj maxx, homegoods, tues. mornings: high end bedding is busting out of the seams at these places- peacock alley, designer's guild, ralph lauren...all of my sheets come from here. also great place for pairs of lamps, storage baskets for kid's toys, and books (i find tons of decorating books here).

7. local monogramming store: i'm southern and i monogram all of my bed shams. i do it BIG and make sure to use a unique monogram (stay away from generic ones and think outside the box). i like mixing color combos- chocolate brown looks killer w/any accent color....

8. anthropologie: love their hardware (great for bathroom cabinets), the accessories rock, their crewel rugs (i use the small ones in my kitchens and bathrooms), and the sale bins....i can always score something here!

9. urban electric: a to-the-trade company but if i am going to splurge, i want their lighting. local craftsmen from charleston make these killer lights. you will find anything from traditional gas lanterns to super chic lighting designed by your favorite "it" designer. and they will paint your light any BM color you would like!! if you haven't checked them out, you should.

10. to-the-trade fabrics and wallpaper: i cannot get enough of these (maybe that's why i started this). add a pop in small doses w/ pillows, on the backs of DR chairs, make roman shades, recover a X stool...wallpaper a powder room or the back of a bookcase. this gives the illusion of a high end space but doesn't hurt the wallet near as bad. my favorites are quadrille/ china seas, raoul textiles, lulu dk, cole & son, and schumacher.

so there you have it...if you want to read the post that changed the way i design, it was this from style court on ruthie sommers. from that day on, it was no longer about high end design for me, it was about being true to myself and showing how i can truly achieve great design no matter what price tag is placed in front of me.

Next Week's Guest Blogger: Marija from Holding Court.

Quick & Easy Mini-Makeovers

While I'm a huge fan of the monumental DIY projects that many of my fellow bloggers tackle on what seems like a weekly basis, I'll admit that sometimes after a long week at the office I'm just not up for that. Instead, what I'm after is the kind of quick and easy project that gives you a big pay-off for minimal time (and monetary) commitment. If you're anything like me, you don't have each and every weekend to devote to big time decorating projects -- and besides, the discretionary income necessary for those larger projects can dry up faster than you can say "last month's Nordstrom bill". And so, in the spirit of tackling some smaller, mini-makerovers this weekend, I set about to perk up a few items in my study with some customized details to really give some ordinary, inexpensive items a bit more personality.

Mini-Makeover #1: Paint the back of your bookshelves. I bought this cabinet from Overstock (which is actually a bath cabinet that's no longer available but other items in the same style can be found HERE) for under $100 just to give me some temporary shelving and storage in my office until my budget can afford a larger piece. While I loved the Greek key detail and the combination of open and closed storage, I wanted to bring just a little bit more color and life to the piece, so I decided to paint out the shelves a lighter shade of purple (Waverly Home by Valspar's Purple Gray), which coordinates with the plum wall color (BM's Purple Lotus) without being too strong a transition with the stark white cabinetry.

Mini-Makeover #2: Tjuz up a blah lampshade. This crystal lamp was an $80 Home Goods find and, while the sleek crystal base was exactly what I was looking for to bring some more sparkle to my desktop, the plain vanilla lampshade was not. Certainly, it's inoffensive, just nothing special -- and since this is the one room in the house that I can go full-out girly glam in, I wanted it to sing. So I added a fabulous 1/2" Chinese braid (adhered with fabric glue) and a lavender tassel (which are very much back in vogue) and -- voila -- a fabulous, customized lampshade for a fraction of what you'd spend to have one custom made.

Mini-Makeover #3: Fake a contrast welt. I adore a contrast welt on upholstery and pillows, but not enough to pay for new covers for my daybed and bolsters. Sure, you can use fabric paint and paint it out (see Little Green Notebook and It's Great to be Home), but if you're like me and a little concerned about the steadiness of your hand, why not just fake it with some ribbon? Here, I used a few yards two very narrow velvet ribbons in lilac and plum and glued them just underneath the welt. The process took all of 15 minutes.

While I can't say for certain if the devil is in the details or if God is, I do know that a great designer is in the details and it's these small, personal touches that can take a room from ordinary to extraordinary. So what about you? Do you have any mini-makeovers you've recently undertaken that you can share with us?

Shop Like a Design Blogger: Material Girls

This week's great shopping tips come from Lauren, who runs the Houston-based arm of the multi-city blog Material Girls. Although Lauren got her design training at OU, Lauren now lives and works in Houston as an interior designer specializing in kitchens and baths at Kitchen & Bath Concepts. In addition to her day job, Lauren is preparing to launch her own interior design business, Lauren Haskett Fine Design. It goes without saying, I think, that I can't wait to be able to afford her services in the (hopefully) not-too-distant future.

* * *

Thank you so much for including me, Averill! I love this concept and I have greatly enjoyed the series so far. As a designer I have access to innumerable trade-only resources, but I thought I'd share my favorite "retail" joints I scope out for clients and myself!

1. Fyndes - Vintage Heaven on the Internet! Ebay not your thing? No problem, this well edited selection of everything from furniture to art is way less stressful with new products added constantly.

Vintage Italian Table - yes, please!

The lucite arms and legs on this chair are stunning. I'd love to redo this in a bright chevron print fabric.

2. Fabricadabra - Ikat pillows in so many great colors and patterns!

3. Mockingbird Manor - my go-to Oklahoma City staple. Run by owner, Liz Brown, this darling house converted into store on Western Avenue has it all. I could spend hours in here (and have)! I really miss it now that I live in Houston and always make a trip by there when I'm in OKC.

4. Excess, Blue Hills, Arbor, and Marburger Farms bi-annual Antique Shows in Warrenton & Round Top, Texas. I can not tell you how much I love being less than two hours away from this! It is amazing, something you can't explain...you must experience it firsthand. You name it, you can find it.

These petrified wood stumps were absolutely stunning in person!

5. HomeGoods - it's pretty embarrassing how many HomeGoods finds have ended up in this designer's home. Lamps, bedding, decorative boxes, agate bookends, and more lamps! You must go in the store with a discriminating eye, buy more than you need, get it home, and edit!

6. Furniture Outlets - Horchow Finale, Pottery Barn, Wisteria, and Restoration Home Outlets are TREASURE TROVES. I love my Missoni teapot I scored at Horchow Finale in Dallas for under $30!

The best part about the Pottery Barn outlet? The Williams Sonoma Home furniture and accessories! The PB outlet in San Marcos, Texas runs various specials weekly so call before you go. You may hit an, "extra 50% off furniture" sale!

Last but not least, read design blogs! Blogs like Averill's are such an excellent source for new websites, shops, designers, and inspiration.

Next Week's Guest Blogger: Shannon from Pink Wallpaper!

Best laundry room ever....

After a weekend hassling around with our old washer and dryer (which now manage to get unbalanced anytime I try to wash or dry more than a few items at a time), I'm dying for one of the new high-tech versions from Electrolux, which wash and dry a load in as little as 36 minutes (allegedly). While I'm at it, I'd perk up my now very beige and white space with the turquoise models and cover the walls in Osborne & Little's Best in Show, a black and white dog print that I love for laundry rooms, mud rooms and hallways. Now if I only had the five grand to allocate to this little redo....

Coastal Cottage Done Right

While I'm a huge fan of the ocean and the beach, I'm not generally in love with most coastal decor. It's just way too...literal. Sure, sea fans and coral are pretty -- and a few bits scattered about can bring a lovely, beachy touch of nature to your home. I have bits of both at home myself. But more often than not, your average seaside cottage is chock-a-block full of shells and sand. Yes, your home should reflect its environment (when watching HGTV, I've always find it odd when folks in, say, Seattle wants to give their house a Tuscan makeover), but -- and this is a big "but" -- that doesn't mean it should be a slave to it, especially if the result is that it veers from "referential" to all-out theme.

So if you're looking to decorate a beach cottage (lucky you) or are simply interested in bringing a few coastal touches to your land-locked abode, my advice is to take Amanda Nisbet's lead (never a bad idea, mind you) and keep your beach references more oblique by focusing on texture (rattan, grasscloth, seagrass, etc.).

I actually like that the dominant color in the living room is brown. The pops of coral and turquoise are really allowed to stand out against the natural rattan furniture, sea grass carpet and mocha sofa (made far more interesting with the contrast white piping). For me though the star of this room is the lighting: that coral bamboo chandelier is divine! Note too how Amanda made two different table lamps feel like a pair by having the white table lamp's shade trimmed out in a turquoise to match the other's base. The lucite console table is a great modern contrast to the more traditional, Pottery Barn-esque upholstery.

I'm not normally a fan of panelling, but I do love the casual, rustic touch white-washed panelling brings. It's a classic, "cottage" touch. I also like how Amanda used bamboo as a curtain rod. This is an inexpensive trick that would bring an organic touch to any space. If you're looking to up the glamour factor, I'd spray-paint the bamboo in a high-gloss color (white, black, red or coral would all be classic choices).

I love the watery blue backsplash in this kitchen -- it really breaks up all the natural wood. Touches of coral are carried from the living room into the kitchen with those large hurricane lanterns (also used to a similarly great effect on the front porch). The rattan element is similarly repeated here in the bar stools. Rustic, handmade-looking pendant lights are suspending with simple rope over the breakfast bar are another great, textural touch. When dealing with an open floor plan, it is essential to decorate cohesively. While you're dividing up the large space into different functions, you still need to decorate as though it were a single room.

Simple, floating shelves are a great way to maximize display and storage space in an awkward spot underneath the stairs. I know I said to back off on the coastal chotchkies, but a few of your favorite pieces, when displayed together as a collection rather than scattered randomly about, is fine -- especially when the rest of the house isn't drowning in starfish, coral and boats. I also rather love the mermaid perched on the lowest shelf.

This dining room is probably my favorite area in the great room. Not only are those dining chairs totally covetable, but the coral motif in their backs is such a great way to reference Amanda's coastal inspiration without being too obvious. The nailhead details on the seats are another sophisticated touch that dresses up the overall feel of the space. I also absolutely love the built-in bar area, with the turquoise countertops and glass-fronted cabinets. I only wish Amanda had painted out the cabinet backs in turquoise as well (though maybe that would've been overdoing things...).

What I think makes Amanda Nisbet such a talented designer is her attention to detail. Everything in this shot works together beautifully -- yet it's deceptively simple. The grasscloth's yummy chartreuse color (much more unexpected in a beach cottage setting than blue and yet still very breezy and coastal, I think when done with neutrals) is picked up in the contrast welt on the chaise (the oval shape of which I love), the striped lamp shade, and the trim on the curtains. The framed bathing costume as art is a great touch and easily replicated on the cheap.

Even though all the bedroom furniture is white, its disparate styles really give the room some subtle interest. I love the latticed side tables in particular, which allow for plenty of room for the stacks of magazines and books that I take with me on vacation. The palm frown pillows bring the walls' color down to the bed (and keep the white bedding from feeling too stark) and the abstraction of the print is a great modern elements here. Another great modern touch are the clear glass table lamps, which are an interesting shape and height, though their transparency means they don't compete with the grasscloth wallpaper (the real star here). The modern art is a great final touch here as it keeps the bedroom from feeling to country cottage -- and while a little beach-inspired art is good, there's absolutely no reason a coastal style has to limit itself to that. The key to successfully pulling off a coastal cottage look and having it feel current is (as always) to mix it up!

Shop Like a Design Blogger: High-Heeled Foot in the Door

It's Thursday, which means it's time for another great installment of my "Shop Like a Design Blogger" series. This week, we'll be getting the low-down from Camila of High-Heeled Foot in the Door. Not only does Camila share my love for color and pattern, but she is (unlike me, I'll admit) a master of stretching her dollars farther than you'd ever think possible. Need evidence? Just take a look at what she did for her sister's apartment (see HERE) or her own guest bedroom (see HERE). Both are completely inspiring...and I've still got a stack of Roberta Roller Rabbit napkins ready to be turned into quick throw pillows for my banquet to prove it.

* * *

I was so excited when Averill emailed me with the news of this series. Then I started to freak out a bit. Decorating is my profession, but I don’t go to as many glamorous shops as one would think. I’m all about keeping it real so here are my favorite stops to shop for clients and myself.

1. Walmart. Ah yes a day in my life is so glamorous with sometimes daily trips to Walmart. Normally it’s for spray paint!

I love KRYLON -- they have a million colors to choose from and are only $2.97 a bottle. I’ve tried other brands and this one is always my favorite! Plus it’s always fun to get asked for ID. Ah I live for the days when I still pass for younger than 18! Can you tell I’m slowly (ok, quickly) approaching my 29th birthday!

They also have a fun selection of furniture pieces. This piece has been calling my name for a while now:

Zebra plus nailhead trim plus $89 price tag makes Camila a happy girl.

2. JCPENNEY. I know JC PENNEY’s doesn’t always have the chicest reputation, but it’s my go to source for good quality budget pieces.

They have great prices on window treatments. My favorite are these. They have a great look, come in a variety of colors and are only $18.99 per 84” panel.

They are also a great source for lighting. This has quickly become a favorite. The whole Cindy Crawford collection is full of goodies.

3. LOWES. A lot of my projects for clients and myself are of the DIY variety which means multiple trips to a home improvement. So while Jon goes around gathering supplies I tend to wander. My wandering lead me to Lowes mirror section and I’m in love.

This beauty is only $56.78! There is a look alike from CSN that even has the same name for $217 so yay for LOWES!

4. Paper Mojo. Artwork can be expensive so I love framing pieces of pretty paper. This shop has loads to choose from and you can even search by color.

Isn’t this one pretty?

5. Trim Fabric. While I do have some fun places around me to dig for vintage trim when I want something fast and affordable I head to Trim Fabric.

Here is a recent favorite:

6. Quilt Fabric Closeouts. I’m a big believer in the power o toss pillow. Switching your pillows out can give you a whole different look in a matter of seconds. No need for expensive fabrics. For budget, budget jobs I head here.

Greek Key fabric for $4.60 a yard!:

7. Big Lots. People are always shocked when I mention Big Lots, but treasures can be found there. During Christmas time I was lucky enough to snag a ceramic garden stool for $20!

I was just there again during the weekend and they are back in stock in the outdoor section! Run. If you don’t like the color choices grab one in white and spray paint it!

8. Thrift Shops. I adore thrift shops! I love knowing that a chair I bought had a past. It makes me happy! I know thrift stores vary depending on where you live, but I seem to have a lot of luck with St. Vincent de Paul. They seem to have them in different states you I would check to see if your area has one.

Still regretting not picking up this one:

It was $44 and actually had a matching pair!

9. D Lawless Hardware. Sometimes your furniture just needs a little bling to spruce up a room. This is my go to source for inexpensive knobs. They have so many great picks. This glass knob is only $2.67 and they have many colors to choose from.

10. F. Schumacher. Now I know was suppose to pick vendors that everyone could use, but to-the-trade vendor F. Schumacher is a favorite of mine.

Have you seen the new colorway of Chiang Mai Dragon? It’s heaven.

Now, in order to pick some up you do have to go through a to the trade vendor. If you are currently working with an interior designer/decorator then you can have your pick of designer fabric. If you aren’t working with a designer and don’t need design help, but want a to-the-trade product I offer a service where it’s a flat rate of $25 per vendor to process your order and you can order as much as you like without a mark-up! It’s the perfect solution for all of your to-the-trade wants. You can email me at cpavone0107@gmail.com if you need any help.

Okay, I think I’ve given away most of my designer secrets so this post is going to have to come to a close. A big thank you to Averill! It was a lot of fun to put this list together. I love finding great deals and sharing the sources is even better.

Next Week's Guest Blogger: Lauren from Material Girls!

Dachshund Bookends at any Budget

As a bibliophile and a dachshund owner (and lover), I am naturally drawn to just about any pair of dachshund bookends. But even if a wiener dog hasn't stolen your heart and/or taken over your home, these bookends bring a nice dose of levity to your decor: As your book collection grows, so too does Fido. Above is a shot of my own pair of dachshund bookends (a Christmas present from my sister-in-law) framing my small collection of Penguin Classics in my office. [By the way, I'm trying to decide what color to paint out the back of the bookshelf -- any suggestions?] Update: I received a number of inquiries regarding the bookshelf itself. I got it from Overstock a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, this particular style is no longer available, but the companion pieces (smaller shelves, medicine cabinet, linen tower, etc.) can be viewed HERE. It's actually marketed as a bath cabinet, but I think it works equally well elsewhere, don't you?

If you're in the market for your own set of playful bookends, there are dachshund bookends at just about every price point:

Source list: 1. Platinum: Dachshund bookends - brown (acrylic, $265) available at Barney's. 2. Gold: Dachshund bookends (stonewear and wood, $150) available at Jonathan Adler. 3. ATM: Jonathan Adler Dachshund bookends (white resin, $39.95) available at Barnes & Noble.