Shop Like a Design Blogger: Emily A. Clark

Today's guest blogger is Emily from the eponymous blog Emily A. Clark. I came across Emily's blog a few months ago and I've been hooked ever since. If you're looking for some great low cost/high style DIY ideas that look anything but DIY, then Emily's blog should be your go-to resource.

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I'm happy to participate in Averill's "Shop Like a Design Blogger" series, and since a big part of my design business consists of creating rooms for online clients, I am always looking for reliable, budget-friendly sources that are accessible to everyone. I am also a firm believer that you can achieve a high-end look on a tight budget if you're willing to be patient, look and use a little creativity. While my sources may seem rather practical, it's all about how you use the pieces in your home.

1. Craigslist. If you read my blog, you'll know that Craigslist is my #1 go-to for great furniture finds. While you do have to be willing to search, some wonderful pieces are out there for a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere. Some of my best scores for my own home include this almost new sofa for $150 (as well as the huge original canvas art for $125!):

I also refinished these bookcases for our family room that I picked up for $20 each:

2. Consignment shops/furniture warehouses/yard sales. Along the same lines of Craigslist, I believe unique pieces are worth getting out there and looking for. While I'm shopping, I am always thinking "what color can this piece be painted?" or "how could I use it in another way?" By thinking outside the box, you may score a wonderful piece that others have passed up. I found this campaign-style dresser (originally painted in a dull gray) for $40 and brightened it up with a kelly green. I now use it in my office for storage.

3. Mary Jo's Fabric. I am lucky enough to live within 10 minutes of this 32,000 square feet mecca that has every fabric you can imagine (and at very reasonable prices). They also offer a selection of fabrics for sale online. I recently picked up this bright floral there for $12/yard:

4. Overstock.com. With its frequently changing inventory and extremely low shipping, Overstock is a regular source for me as I search for pieces for online clients. Some of my current favorites:

Chrome Crystal Chandelier

Monaco Rustic Coffee Table

Medallion Wool Rug

5. Ross Dress For Less. While I like HomeGoods and TJMaxx as much as the next person, I have come across some surprising finds in the home section at Ross, as well--and usually for even less then the other chain home decor stores. This is where I look for the trendier pieces, ceramic pottery, and a few weeks ago, I spotted 5 x 7 seagrass rugs for $35.

6. Etsy. While you can find just about anything on Etsy, I especially love to search for art. If I'm working on a wall gallery, I like to search for notecard sets to frame. I used these from Etsy seller Matou en Peluche for my bedroom:

7. IKEA. While it sometimes gets a bad wrap in the design world, I still say IKEA is one of the best sources for inexpensive, basic pieces like pillows, frames, and curtains. My general rule of thumb when shopping there is to buy only those items that aren't IKEA-specific. Instead, I like to buy the items that can easily blend into your decor and mix with more expensive pieces. I used their $3.99 throw over my chair and their 98" grommet panels as a neutral back drop in my family room:

Averill, many thanks for allowing me to participate in such a fun series!

Next Week's Guest Blogger: Skyla of Sanity Fair.

Save or Splurge: Peacock Mirror

Kristen Hutchins and Hillary Thomas

I love a gorgeously detailed mirror, and one of my current favorites is the Indian peacock mirror. Peafowls hold a lot of meaning in Hindu religion and the Hindu god Krishna is often portrayed wearing a peacock feather in his headband. Right now, peacock feathers and motifs have also been enjoying renewed popularity in interior design and fashion. A peacock mirror is a great way to bring in some subcontinental style into your home, and it works beautifully with exotic fabrics and accessories, as Kristen Hutchins and Hillary Thomas did in this Californian living room. A neutral palette doesn't compete with all the pattern and luxe detail and works beautifully with the Spanish-style architecture.

Jonathan Adler

This exotic mirror is also a great counterpoint to more modern interiors. I love how the antiqued and intricate detailing of the mirror brings some patina and richness to all the sleek newness in the rest of the foyer. It's also a great hit of sparkle and light against the white walls and ebony floor. Very glamorous. Note too the placement of the mirror in this room. By placing the mirror at the end of the long wall, Adler creates a great focal point, leading the eye into the house.

Fortunately, there are iterations of this mirror in just about every price point. Do you think you can tell the difference between the ATM version (on sale for under $200) and the platinum one (priced at a jaw-dropping $2400)? Take the poll below to test out your eye (and don't cheat by clicking on the links first!) -- I'll post the answer tomorrow. And, if you were wondering, both versions can be hung either horizontally or vertically.

poll by twiigs.com

Sweet Dreams are made of these....

Palmer Weiss

In the spring of 1987, when I was in first grade, my parents moved from inner Houston to its suburbs. Once we settled in, one of the first rooms my mother decorated (with the help of a designer from Ethan Allen, if I recall correctly) was my bedroom. At the tender age of 7, I was allowed to select the basic design elements for my bedroom -- and I remember feeling so very grown-up throughout the process. My color palette? Pink and white, of course! Pink splashed across wallpaper, balloon draperies, bedding and, of course, my very own crown canopy (or coronet), which transformed my antiqued white iron bed into a gloriously feminine, over-the-top confection of pink and white flowers, balloons and stripes (for contrast, natch). While the bedroom didn't exactly see me through childhood, it did last me nearly a decade when, at the age of 16, I finally managed to convince my mom to let me redecorate the room to make it a tad more adult.

Alas, I can't manage to come up with a good photograph of my childhood room, but this collection of perfectly girlie, perfectly pink rooms illustrates the timelessness (and the whimsy) of princess bedrooms for little girls. And, while I can't say that I'd want this look for my own bedroom, there's a part of me that still loves the over-the-top femininity of coronets and lots and lots of pink.

Katie Ridder

I love the shape of the canopy on this one -- and how it hangs so crisply from the ceiling. Adding molding around the canopy is a great, inexpensive way to add structure to the canopy (loose, flowing canopies have a more casual, island feel). Using a single, bold pattern on walls and upholstery is a classic choice for a bedroom. Sure, it's a very "decorated" look, but it's a guaranteed way to make a statement. Note too how Katie used the print as a contrast welt on the side chair. Brilliant.

Melissa Rufty

Coral and sage green, especially when grounded by hits of black, is a decidedly more grown-up color palette. The mix of florals and traditional monograms with the more exotic ikat and suzani prints ups the sophistication further.

Palmer Weiss

It can be difficult to find a daybed that looks and acts more like a true sofa, but this one's cozy cozy arms really makes this guest bedroom look more like a lounge comfy lounge (which is ideal for the vast majority of us who have only infrequent overnight guests). My favorite touch is the brass nailhead trim, which overlays a slate blue ribbon that coordinates with the wallpaper and primary fabric.

Ruthie Sommers

There's a lot here that I love: a classic toile print, an upholstered headboard with a contrast welt, an oversized monogram, blue and white porcelain, and a scalloped pelmet box window treatment. In fact, now that I think about it, it's darn near perfect.

Ruthie Sommers

This is precisely the room I would have asked for at the age of 8 if I'd had the budget (and vocabulary) to employ Ruthie Sommers. China Seas' Lyford print on the chair and pillow is a great choice that won't date and will work equally well in a guest room when your little one flies the nest.

Martha Angus

There's a lot about this room that's incredibly traditional: the toile, the draperies, the antique daybed, the rug. And yet the orange upholstered chairs and loveseat, despite their shapes, are incredibly modern. It's this dichotomy that makes the room interesting.

Jonathan Adler

In many ways, this rooms feels much more traditional than what I'm seeing from Adler. Maybe it's the gingham print or the antique armoire (albeit painted a vivid yellow). Nevertheless, the lime green lining on the interior of the canopy feels exactly like something the purveyor of Happy Chic would come up with. Yellow and lime green, while still joyful and child-like, ensure that the pink is way more hip than sweet.

Angie Hranowsky

This is a great mid century modern twist on a classic canopy. To create a similar, stream-lined look, keep the shape of the canopy rectangular (no fancy scalloping needed) and the print geometric and colorful. Note too how the wall behind the daybed is not swathed in fabric this time and the lining of the fabric coordinates rather than contrasts with the primary print.

Tobi Fairley

Not all little girl's rooms have to be pink. In fact, I'd bet just as many girls list purple as their favorite color as those who call pink their signature. I love how Tobi added the black trim and zebra fabric to ground the space and ensure that it will be just as possible when the Little Princess turns 16 as when she turns 6.

Gwyneth Paltrow's Hamptons' home via Habitually Chic

This room confirms my suspicions that being the daughter of an A-list movie star and a mega-rock star comes with some serious perks. Apple Martin is one seriously lucky little girl to have such a chic bed at the tender age of 6. I particularly appreciate that the pink is very saturated and the contrasting white and yellow zig zags. The monogrammed pillows, in hot pink and a more streamlined font, remind me of something you'd like up at Jonathan Adler. While I think the white walls and white floors is a wee bit sterile, I do like the high contrast between the bed and the rest of the space. If this were a room in my house though, I'd warm the floors up with a flokati or sea grass rug (maybe change it out for the seasons?) to add some warmth and texture.

So what about you? Did you have a canopy or coronet in your childhood room? Do you have one now -- or do you think this look is for kids only?

Shop Like a Design Blogger: Maddie G Designs

Today's guest post comes courtesy of Susie from Maddie G Designs. Susie offers do-it-yourself designers access to trade-only fabrics, wallpapers, furniture and accessories at below retail prices as well as traditional interior decorating services for DC-area (and virtual) clients. A few months ago, I contacted Susie about helping me purchase several rolls of Osborne & Little's Summer Palace for my powder room and she quickly helped me locate a few rolls at an excellent price. In addition to her trade-only buying service, Susie also authors an excellent blog by the same name.

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I was very flattered when Averill invited me to participate in this series. Since finding Odi et Amo, it has quickly became one of my favorite blogs. I am not an attorney like Averill, but worked in a similar field, doing investor relations and transactional work for a large private equity firm in DC before starting my family and switching gears. So, perhaps I identify with the whole corporate vs. creative pull that Averill often alludes to. Regardless, I know I love her style and quickly pop over when my blog roll indicates a new post is up on her site.

I should start my list by saying that I hate paying retail and will avoid it at all costs. But, I also do not have the time to be a dedicated bargain shopper….so my selections are a combination of practical, available and every now and then, the special piece you just have to have.

1. Nottingham Antiques

I first stumbled upon this source when my sister lived in Atlanta almost 10 years ago. They specialize in custom handmade reproductions. If you can imagine it, they can probably build it. And, I’ve found their prices to be very reasonable. I’ve got an armoire that I bought off their floor many years ago, and have since had a custom buffet made for the recessed space in my previous townhouse dining room. It is now in a hallway off my family room.

To give an example of what they can do, I’ve fallen in love with the Cherington Bookcase by William Yeoward, seen in Amanda Nisbet’s home below. But, the piece is pricey and overseas shipping is expensive and time consuming. Nottingham is able to help me with a reproduction, where I’ll be able to customize the color for the unit, in additional to the interior of the cabinet, if I so choose.

Photo credit Werner Straube for Traditional Home.

2. Norwalk Furniture

I first found this company after I fell in love with a Candice Olson sofa from one of her Divine Design episodes. The sources on her site led me to Norwalk Furniture, where she has designed a line of upholstered furniture that they manufacture. I now have two Norwalk pieces in my home, the Candice Olson sofa in my living room (pictured below) and a sectional that I had upholstered in a COM (customer’s own material).

I purchased my pieces through a trade only showroom. However, I know that there are Norwalk franchised furniture stores throughout the US. Click here for store locations.

I should add that the company has an incredible selection of fabric options which helps keep the prices down (vs. supplying your own). If you click here, you can design your own Norwalk upholstered pieces right down to contrasting welt and accent pillows. I love this feature!

3. Greenfront Furniture

There are two Greenfront furniture locations in Virginia. The most impressive is in Farmville, Va. The town literally centers around this furniture store. It is divided into warehouse after warehouse of furniture (over 700,000 square feet of showroom space) from top brands such as Henredon, Hickory Chair, Lane Venture, Century, etc.

The Northern Virginia location is impressive, but much smaller. But, they have all of the furniture books and fabric samples, so you still have access to many of the same options as at the Farmville location. Of course, buying off the floor has its benefits in terms of lack of lead time and often lower price.

I’ll be honest, I can sometimes get better pricing on some items than I can at my trade only showrooms (and I price out at more than one).

Over the years, I’ve purchased a Henredon dining table, buffet and sunroom couch, as well as a Hickory Chair table and chairs that currently reside in my eat-in kitchen. If you are out of the area, this place is worth a call or email as you compare pricing.

4. Deboise Textiles

I initially found this gem through Meg of Pigtown Design blog. Debois operates a large warehouse/storefront in Baltimore that specializes in textile remnants, piece goods and second hand clothing. The store is set up into three sections-- fabric, vintage clothing and thrift items.

If you are looking for designer fabric at deep discount prices and are in the Baltimore area, this is the place to be. No fabric is priced at over $10/yard. And, most are well below that. They have a large selection of Ralph Lauren, Duralee and Thibaut. And, upon digging, I found Lee Jofa (including Kelly Wearstler Groundworks Collection), Kravet (including Barbara Barry and Barclay Butera), Schumacher, Quadrille and China Seas.

If you are into fabric, you do not want to miss this place! You really have to visit in person, the owner indicated she doesn’t have time to take calls and handle shipping for one-off requests. But, if you are near Baltimore, it is well worth the visit.

5. Chartreuse & Co.

This company operates a monthly tag sale out of three old barns in Buckeystown, MD. It is about an hour north of the DC metro area. They offer comfortably chic architectural salvage, fine home fragrance and linens, garden, vintage and new home furnishings and accessories. They also offer a huge selection of vintage & antique furniture.

The monthly sale is set up with various stalls for vendors and the prices, in my opinion, are generally very reasonable. This is a great spot to find spiffed up flea market finds and one-of-a kind home accessories. If you are a do-it-yourself-er, they offer a barn full of estate/garage sale furniture that is waiting for some TLC.

6. Maddie G Designs

I would be remiss if I did not mention my own venture, a buying service offering trade only products for a fraction of retail cost. This business started out of my desire to furnish my own home. I came across many “trade only” items I’d see in magazines and blogs and did not have a way to purchase them without hiring a designer. I called a few local ones and none had the time, or interest, to help me with these one-off purchases.

After deciding to leave the corporate world to stay at home and raise my daughter, I decided to put my business skills (I’m a CPA who worked in private equity fund management for many years) to work and create a business out of what I saw as an opportunity. The response has been great, and my customers seem to like the personalized service and the low prices.

I also purchase from non-trade only vendors (think Worlds Away, Bungalow 5, Aiden Gray and some of the companies who supply the large design catalogs). Because my pricing is low, I am prohibited from listing prices on my site….but if you ever want a quote or just have a question about whether or not I can source from a particular vendor, please do not hesitate to email me (info@maddiegdesigns.com).

So, there you have it….some of my favorite sources. I also shop eBay and Etsy a fair bit and enjoy finding a bargain. After two years in the house of my dreams here in Northern Virginia—where I’ve just starting to scratch the surface of my decorating, I’ve just learned that we will be moving to Dallas later this year for my husband’s work. So, I am sure to have a lot more of my decorating ideas and finds on my blog as I settle into a new home and start the process of decorating once again. It is both exciting and overwhelming at the same time! Thanks again to Averill for including me in this series. I’ve learned a ton from these posts and am happy to have been able to participate.

Next Week's Guest Blogger: Emily from Emily A. Clark.

Favorite New Color Combo: Coral & Blue

Jeneration Interiors

For the last few summers, coral has come back into favor as an "it" color, both in fashion and in home decor. If you're looking for a new spin on the color of summer, why not try use it as a fresh accent color against cool blue-grays and aquas? Throw in some organic textures (i.e., grasscloth, rattan or sisal) to enhance the coastal vibe or use golds, brass and rich browns to up the sophistication, as Jeneration Interiors did in the dining room pictured above. Follow Jennifer's lead and keep the coral accents to just a few, stand-out items. Taken individually, both the color and shape of this hood chair are big statements, but together the "wow" factor is undeniable. To keep the chair from looking out of place in the room, Jennifer repeated the coral color (albeit subtly) on the coral pillows on the dining chairs.

John Willey Designs

This Nantucket living room is exactly the kind of colorful, laid back cool that I love in vacation homes (note to designers: please stop it with all the white on white-washed!). The mismatched blues, coral, rattan and modern furniture all combine for a lovely, put-your-feet-up kind of feeling that feels like a home rather than a hotel (another note to designers: please stop trying to make a room feel like a "boutique hotel"!).

Courtney Coleman

This Florida home's living room/dining room by Courtney Coleman is a master's class on how to decorate adjoining rooms. In the living room, the predominate color is that cool slate blue, accented with coral pillows and small accessories. The dining room, on the other hand, is awash in coral, with panels of grass mats (actually yoga mats from Pearl River!) adding texture and architectural interest to the walls while sea glass sconces and thin moldings add just the palest hint of blue to the room. Other things I love about this room: (a) that Courtney used a big print on the sofa; the muted blues and browns make it feel like less of a risk, but they bring some much-need pattern in the room and (b) the Gothic four-light hanging lantern from Circa Lighting, which speaks for itself.

Angie Hranowsky

I absolutely adore the rug in this living room. The colors in it are so unusual, and it pairs so perfectly with the rich paisley print on the side chairs (which are also a wonderful shape). The ming coffee table is a great counterpoint to the contemporary sofa and lamps. I only wish Angie had painted the baseboards and crown molding a crisp white, which would have worked so well with the white painted chairs and given a crisper edge to the blue walls than that medium oak stain.

Ashley Whittaker

This room has been a favorite of mine for a long time. The subtle greek key pattern on the sea grass rug and the small, intricate floral pattern on the aqua wallpaper are nicely balanced with the solid aqua curtains and coral upholstered chairs. I also love a dark wood pedestal table surrounded by light colored chairs (unless you're working with a very light upholstery, dark wood chairs + dark table can be a very, very heavy look). The coral chandelier and pagoda wall lanterns don't match, but painted white they work beautifully as a "set".

Designers and decorators often recommend designing a room around a great print as an easy way to unify a room's color scheme. Any one of these eight fabrics would be a wonderful starting point for a total redesign -- or just a little face lift. Use a little or a lot; either way, these prints are sure to infuse your room with some serious style.

Source list (from top left): 1. Chiang Mai in Aquamarine from F. Schumacher (100% linen; trade only). 2. Jakarta in coral and turquoise from Thibaut (59% linen/41% cotton; see here for retailers). 3. Double cross in new shrimp with new blue from China Seas (100% linen; trade only). 4. Coco in aqua from Thibaut (51% linen/49% cotton). 5. Kiki Pinata from Robert Allen (100% cotton; $12.98/yard). 6. Sea Scallop Coral Reef from Waverly (100% polyester; $21.98/yard). 7. Ting Yuan in aqua from Thibaut (51% linen/49% cotton). 8. Kool Koi Coral Reef from Waverly (100% polyester; $21.98).

My Lighting Obsession Continues...

Kim Coleman

I've got a small confession to make: I can't stop obsessing over lighting. You would not believe the time I've spent in the past few months e-browsing online lighting meccas like Circa Lighting,Shades of Light and Urban Electric and large home decor retailers with extensive lighting departments like Horchow and Clayton Gray Home. I simply can't get enough. And the biggest problem? With the exception of replacing the ho-hum bedside lamps in the master bedroom (which I have no business buying until I've got a clear vision for the room), I really don't need any more lamps.

So I continue to browse. And obsess. Last week I shared with you some of my favorite turquoise lamps (and interiors featuring said lamps). Today, I thought I'd relieve some of my pent-up lamp tension by sharing my favorite blue and white lamps. A more classic alternative to turquoise, blue and white lamps are right on trend with the resurgence in Chinoiserie. They can bring a bit of sophistication and a dose of traditionalism to a cottage interior, as they do in the bedroom designed by Kim Coleman shown above. Think of these as functional blue and white porcelain. These can go absolutely anywhere.

Plum Interiors

I'll readily admit that this lamp is not traditional blue and white porcelain, but it is blue and white and I love it and it's my roundup.... Anyway, I do think this monogrammed lamp would be a fairly easy DIY. You could mod-podge (or simply glue) a swatch of monogrammed fabric to a basic column lamp or just stencil a monogram directly to a lamp. Another great detail in this shot is the amazing light blue ribbon trim with the nail head detailing. Such a wonderful way to incorporate the lighter blue into the bed itself.

Meg Braff

If you were naming a handful of designers who were instrumental in bringing back wallpaper, Meg Braff would no doubt be top of the list. I love how she's used Bob Collins & Sons' Chinese Lattice wallpaper in this den. She kept patterns on fabric to a minimum here, relying on the large scale pattern of the paper to carry the room. Smaller scale pattern is introduced only in the accessories, like in that gorgeous lamp on the desk. Despite her willingness to go with such a big pattern on the walls, I'd argue that the bravest thing Meg did in this room is hanging the art in front of the windows. That definitely takes a lot of guts -- and I think the risk paid off here as I think it gives context to the desk (floating desks in front of windows often looks a bit awkward to me). What do you think?

Ned Marshall

If an all-blue and white room isn't your thing, never fear. A blue and white porcelain lamp is an absolute "wow" against chocolate brown walls. The cool tones are the perfect antidote to the warmth of dark woods and rich browns.

Ruthie Sommers

The lone spot of blue in a sea of pinks, this blue and white lamp adds a big, mature dose of style to this sweet little girl's room decorated by Ruthie Sommers. I never knew blue could look so good with pink!

And since I love to share, here are some of my favorite blue and white lamps currently available:

Source list (from top left): 1. Isha Table Lamp (Clayton Gray Home; $425). My current obsession. I love the pattern, the height, the lucite base...love it all! 2. Arteriors Alessa Lamp (Candelabra; $399). A navy lampshade is a softer, but equally chic, alternative to a classic black shade. 3. Small Blue Striped Lamp (Emilia Ceramics; $128). If you're house is more hacienda than traditional, but these hand painted stripes would be a great, contemporary (but with that lovely handmade quality) touch to any house. 4. Mandarin Floral Table Lamp (Horchow; $375). Another classic choice; I'd switch the shade out with something a bit more modern to shake it up a bit. 5. Carnaby Hazard Lamp (Jonathan Adler; $225). So I cheated and included this in the turquoise lamp round-up, too...but I love it!! 6. Blue & White Chippendale Table Lamp (Shades of Light; $235). A more Hollywood Glam turn on classic blue and white. Reminds me of China Seas' Java Java fabric. 7. Arteriors Batik Table Lamp (Avid-Home; $262). Not sure how I feel about the pleated blue shade, but the lamp base's shape and pattern are both fantastic. 8. Blue & White Happiness Mini Oriental Table Lamp (Shades of Light; $74.50). A little bit of double happiness at a great price. 9. Dragon Lamp (Modern Dose; $398). The lucite base and neck, together with the navy lining on the lampshade, give this traditional dragon lamp a very modern dose of glam.

What about you? Do you own any blue and white lamps? If so, I'd love to see how you've incorporated them into your decor.

Olivia, reclining

Today I wanted to share with you all a recent watercolor my mother did of my dachshund Olivia. I think she did a wonderful job of capturing Olivia's personality (and, let's face it, her voluptuous figure). To give you a point of reference, the watercolor is based on this photograph that I took of Olivia a few weeks back in my office:

Of course, since both the artist and the subject are near and dear to my heart, this piece will have pride of place in my home once it's framed.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and, to all you mothers out there, happy (belated) Mother's Day. And to my own artistic mother: Happy Mother's Day, Moomie!