Getting More For Less

Designers are often considered lucky people because they have resources at their finger tips that the consumer, or home owner does not have access too.

This is true BUT it is their keen eye to detail that sets them apart. 

I loved the saying above because it does not  always take a lot of money to design, or decorate a room.

However, it does take a keen eye to see the special detail, or quality in pieces that might be passed by because of the store, or the preconception that it could not possibly be worth buying because of the pricing.

This is where a good designer can really save you money on your project. 

When it comes to quality in furniture that you want to  keep long term, it is wise to invest in good solid pieces, especially in a sofa, but if you find that you like to change things up a bit more often, or maybe your budget won’t allow for the best quality piece at the moment, at least go for something that has good lines, and proportions.

A friend of mine taught me a saying a long time ago that I like to use when I find something at a great price that looks like a much more expensive piece……

LLM can be a challenge at times, but if you keep your eyes, and mind open you will be surprised at what you can find. 

Sometimes it might even be in your home already.

By placing a piece in a different room, or displaying it differently it can become a piece that you admire and enjoy having in your home.

If you are not familiar with the blog Copy Cat Chic you need to start putting it on your daily blog list.

Reichel Broussard has a keen eye for style, and design, and she is decorating her own home with her keen sense of design and style on a tight budget.

On her blog she will show you a piece that cost more and then a piece that looks very much like the more expensive piece for less.

Here is an example that caught my eye this week……

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Urban Outfitters Ava Velvet Tufted Sleeper Sofa
^$749

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Walmart 9 by Novogratz Vintage Tufted Sofa Sleeper
^$349

Neither piece is terribly expensive, but if money is tight you can get the same look for $349 instead of paying $749. 

Do the math!! That is a $400 savings.

 LESSON TO BE LEARNED!

The lesson in this post is to not limit your creativity by where you will shop. Stay open to all possibilities.

I hear people say all the time, “ Oh I can’t afford anything in that store so I never shop there!”

BIG MISTAKE

The only way to educate yourself is to study good design at higher price points so when you see something that possibly cost less you will know it has good proportions, design, and it is worth purchasing.

This will be like an adventure! I call it treasure hunting!!

PRACTICE THIS….

……I want you to find a piece that you absolutely love! You probably already have one in mind. Maybe it is a piece that you can not afford at the moment.

Now I want you to look at the silhouette, the overall design and proportions. 

Next I want you to go perusing on line to find a piece similar at a less costly price. Don’t limit yourself by not looking at all different online shops. Remember the goal is to find something that LLM!

You will not only have fun, but it will be so rewarding if you find something you love that you can actually afford now.

CHANGE THIS WAY OF THINKING

So many people only think from the perspective of, “I will never be able to have anything that nice!” 

That is such a sad way to look at your life, and it actually closes you off to all the possibilities that are out there for you to enjoy now.

One last thing for you to do…….

Look at the room you want to change up a bit, and think of new ways to arrange the pieces. De-clutter, and maybe add something from another room to give it new life. 

OPEN UP YOUR MIND!!

THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS

 

 

 

Two GREENS To Use In Your Fall Home

   

When Fall arrives I want to add some warmth to my home so I add a few elements from a list that works for me. You can read my list of 18 elements here.

This year I decided to add more green to my Fall decor since I don't use the typical autumnal colors, green works for me.

 Today I am going to talk about two of those green elements and show you ways to use them in your home.

ARTICHOKES 

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 Artichokes can add texture and architecture to a Fall arrangement. They look wonderful with grays and purples.

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Add red grapes and white pumpkins for a Fall centerpiece.

 

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A simple display on a white cake stand makes a wonderful Fall statement.

 

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This is something anyone can do in their home. A clear vase full of artichokes and then add other autumn fruit and you have a lovely arrangement.

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Find a fun container and add hydrangeas and artichokes for the perfect Fall arrangement.

The other green element that is easy to use for Fall decor is .......

EUCALYPTUS BRANCHES

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The leaves have a wonderful silvery green/blue cast and they work with so many color schemes that just about anyone can incorporate them in their home.

 

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Find a fun bottle and add the eucalyptus leaves for a very simple fall touch for your home.

 

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I love how this homeowner used a collection of green and brown vases with the eucalyptus. Look around your home and see if you have a group of vases that you could do something similar.

 

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A simple sprig adds just the right touch to this arrangement of pumpkins that appear to be painted with chalk paint.

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You can't get much more simple than this!! Just the right touch.

Look around your home and see where you might add one or both of these elements to add a touch of Fall Green to your home. 

Happy Fall Decorating!!

 

 

Mixing Up My Pillows For A Fall Look!

 

It is that time of year again!! Time to change out the summer look for a winter look in my great room.

I love to change things up a bit for the seasons. It is a way to add a bit of a different look without a major re-do. Pillows are where I make my changes to begin with.

Let me show you a few pillows in my collection....

 In the Spring I add a touch of grass green with my blue and white.

This is what you will find in my room for the summer months. Lots of light, cool blues with just a touch of black.

 In the winter I add heavier textural linens and embroidered fabrics.

Last year for Christmas it was all about black and white and Kelly green.

As you can see I have several pillows that I can coordinate into different combinations.

This year for the Fall/Winter months, instead of the all heavy linen, blue and black combinations I decided I wanted to add Kelly green to the mix.

 So what is a girl to do?

She starts playing with different combinations to see what will work. So I took a bit of Spring, Christmas and winter and made this years Fall/ Winter mix.

After the pillows were in place then I added one of my favorite pieces.......

A vintage Kelly green Chinoiserie pedestal.

This year it is joined with my new floor lamp so I switched it's position up a bit.

 A dear friend of mine brought me this beautiful fern and a cobalt pot and it fits in perfectly.

One day the sun was shining in on the plant and that is what made me want to add the Kelly green for my winter look this year.

 2015's WINTER LOOK

 2016's FALL/WINTER LOOK.....

This years look with the addition of Kelly green.

I also did a few color spots of more blues and greens around the room.......

Simple touch!

  Little details.

Since our home is an open concept home I added a touch of Kelly green in my kitchen with the addition of a vintage bowl.....

Nothing spectacular, just a simple touch here and there. I am sure I will be tweaking along the way. After all that is what is fun about decorating, tweaking until it feels, JUST RIGHT!!

Now all I need are my white and green pumpkins and maybe some white mums and I am set for Fall. 

The mornings are cooler and even in the evenings we can feel a crispness in the air.

You can see from this post it doesn't take a lot of new things to make simple changes, just a touch here and there!!