Shop Like a Design Blogger!!

Here is the guest post I did for Averill's blog, Odi et Amo!! In case you did not get a chance to go to her blog I thought I would post it here for you to read. There are some great shopping resources in this post. Enjoy!!!

I think Shopping like a designer has more to do with How you shop than where you shop. For instance I think it is important to train your eye by shopping at High end stores, by going to museums and art galleries and studying what you see.

 The reason for doing this is so when you see something at a great price, no matter where you are shopping you will be confident in making a purchase. I have a friend that has a saying that I have borrowed, “LLM” Looks-Like-More!!

I think my lovely host Averill showed us her ability to do this in her bathroom post where she purchased a stool from JC Penney's and did a slight makeover and Voila!! Gorgeous! Definitely “LLM.”

With this in mind I know you want some shopping resources so here are few that I think will make the “LLM” criteria! I will also give some other resources that might be in a higher priced category but worth a visit.

I think by changing out your accessories you can totally change the look of a room so I am going to give some resources for:

• Art
• Lighting
• Pillows/slipcovers
• The Unique

ART

Artaissance- Artthatfits.com

You will find all different styles of art at all different price points. They are prints and you can pick your size and framed or unframed. They even have a sample program. You can get a small sample of the piece of art you are considering for $6.00. That will allow you to make sure the subject matter and colors will work for you. I am in love with their Biltmore Collection.

Panteek.com
You will find a wonderful resource on this website for antique botanicals at very affordable price points. You will find some at higher price points too. I believe if you love botanicals or any type of historical print, this is the site for you.

Harrison Howard – Harrisonhoward.com

This art is on my “Someday List” I love a touch of Chinoiserie and a touch of whimsy and  Harrison Howard does all of that and more. The colors are amazing and the subject matter is captivating. The beauty of this site is it offers different price points in the form of prints in Giclee to the original where you must contact the artist. I love my visits on this site and I think you will too.

Shall we move onto Pillows?

PILLOWS/Slip-Covers

We all know about Etsy.com. This is a wonderful site of vintage and handcrafted items. I have found a few sites that I think have decent fabrics and prices.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MARIESCOSYCUSHIONS- you will find pillows made in more of a modern/contemporary style for a very affordable price point starting at $20.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/elegantouch- At Elegant Touch you will find a higher price point with fabrics that I call more current and today. Definitely worth a visit!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/nenavon- Nena Von makes pillows out of designer fabrics that are also very current, but at a lower price point starting at $25.

http://www.bemz.com/index.php-
 If you own any Ikea furniture this site is for you!! They have all kinds of fabric choices including Marimeko to make a slipcover out of for your Ikea pieces. Very affordable and Fun!!

THE UNIQUE

I have a couple of sites that just fall into the unique category. They seem to have items that are unusual and eclectic and would a wonderful touch to any interior.

http://piecesinc.com/pieces/all – You name it they have it and at all price points, High-Low!! Fun site to peruse for something different.

http://store03.prostores.com/servlet/furbishstudioonline/StoreFront- At Furbish you will always find the unique!!

http://www.inmod.com/design-your-own-pillow.html- This site can actually fit in the UNIQUE PILLOW category. On this site you can design you own pillow in a modern Icon chair,pop-culture print to a classic damask. You get to choose the fabric content, size and the thread color that the design will be embroidered in. Love this site!!

Last but not least is lighting……

LIGHTING

I am only going to give you a couple of sites that I found to be very affordable, but it will take a bit of looking to weed out some of the, shall we say less desirable lighting. These two sites will fall under the criteria of : “LLM.”

http://www.spectrumhome3.com/ChandeliersUnder300.aspx- You can find chandeliers for under $300. They have a lot of variety so it is worth the looking.

Look at how cute this is for a little girls room for only $99!

A little glamour in black for $196

http://www.tvstands.com/Living-Well-8120RB-LG1494.html?cv- I know ! Don’t let the name scare you off, it almost did  me, but then remember? “LLM” This will fit under that criteria with some major web-shopping.

So there you have it!! This was so fun for me to line my shopping sites up for you all.

Averill, thank you soooo much for inviting me to do this. It was an absolute honor to be asked in the first place by a fellow blogger as yourself. I have admired you and your design aesthetic and your writing skills for a very long time. I consider you a blogging friend and this was truly and honor and a lot of fun!!

Kathysue signing off,

 Remember: “Enjoy The Process”