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Friday, September 10, 2010

SALES ALERT!!

If you are in the market for RUGS you need to go to:
https://www.onekingslane.com/login.aspx
One Kings Lane is the website that I got my beautiful sconces for a fantastic price. They sale designer items for your home at a huge discount.

Today they have RUGS on Sale and several are wonderfully priced at 63% savings.

Here is just a sampling of what they have for you:

Green Chains (298x203)
Chains,Green
geo (298x203)
Geo
damask (298x203)
Damask
lloyd green (298x203)
Lloyd Green
trends (298x203)
Trend
regent (298x203)
Regent
cane green (298x203)
Cane,Green also comes in terracotta.

So Hurry! they sale out quickly!!

“Enjoy the Process” Of:
Finding a Bargain!
Kathysue

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Fall Decor in Soft Neutrals

It is no secret that I am not a fan of orange. I know- I know it is huge in the design world right now and it has been for awhile. Although it the perfect color for fall decor you will never, and I do mean never, find it in my home.

I have done several post about the elements I like to pull into my own Fall/Winter decor and it always involves a touch of black because that works for my home.

What about those of you that like a softer pallette and neutrals? What are some of the elements you can use for fall?
Well do not fear!! Kathysue is here!!!  To the rescue. I have made a little list of elements for you, and I also have some inspirational pictures.
  1. linen
  2. brown transfer ware plates
  3. branches in a vase
  4. wood logs in a basket
  5. dried hydrangeas in soft neutrals
  6. pinecones
  7. plain white grapevine wreath
  8. mercury glass candle sticks with cream or linen colored candles
  9. cable knit throws in cream
  10. linen covered picture frames
COLORS (335x449)

Nice neutrals, but it still has a warmth to it for the fall. Notice all the white/cream pottery. Dried hydrangeas are a great color inspiration for the fall. A nice large basket full of wood. Looks like Fall to me!!


basket (800x728)
A light colored wall basket full of dried hydrangeas, beautiful!

framed twigs (300x400)
These are actually plant life from the ocean, but if those are not available how about different configurations and colors of twigs from the yard?

 Place them on a linen backdrop, and use all light colored matching frames, and you have your very own fall wall grouping.

brown (400x400)

Bring in a nice cream shag rug a large basket of wood. 
Add lovely warm cream throws and pops of soft brown and you have created another lovely,soft and neutral Fall room.  (Home Depot has an area rug like this for under $150 for an 8X10 by Mohawk Frisae shag)
plates (277x400)
Brown and white transferware plates and platters in a grouping add a warm touch to a white wall. You can find these at Thrift stores and even Homegoods for very little money.

LINEN FRAMES (300x400)
Cover inexpensive frames with linen.

centerpiece (540x359)
Simple dried hydrangeas in a cream bowl.

pillows (400x400)

A mixture of brown, white and linen pillows. Soft flowing linen drapes to add warmth to the window. Notice the three varied colors, all neutrals, in the baskets on the mantle. Very cool basket on the hearth.

logs (313x400)
How about finding an old weathered piece of wood and paint your last name on it for a wall hanging. 

More stacked wood, but this time it is in an old wooden washtub. 

The striped rug in neutrals is another way of warming up the floor. Dash and Albert make wonderful striped cotton rugs.They have a great chocolate ticking on a cream background.
hydrangea and pumpkins (540x360)
Pumpkins and a hydrangea wreath. In this image they are using the green family but you could use all soft beiges, creams and white in the wreath and the pumpkins.
Speaking of pumpkins, it isn’t fall until we have pumpkins on our porch or in our homes. We are so lucky to be able to get pumpkins in softer colors other than oranges. Gourds are also a nice addition to the mix as pictured below.
pumpkins and twigs (300x400)
texture (400x400)
Fall can have a softer side to it also by using soft neutrals with a lot of texture. I think I will be using some of these ideas in my own home.

What are some of the softer side of fall elements that you will be using in your homes this year?
“Enjoy the Process” Of:
Adding soft colors with texture to your Fall decorating!
Kathysue

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

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.
art: Upholstered Settee Linen/Acorn, artist:  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.
untitled
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.
Harrison Howard
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”