Glitz and Glam: Holiday Dresses

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Christmas commercials started running before Halloween, and everyone wants to get into the holiday spirit already, but I’m still actually in Thanksgiving mode.  It’s feeling like fall and I’m absolutely loving it, BUT like it or not… this is the time when you need to start thinking about holiday dresses.

It’s like Murphy’s law – when you go shopping the day before an event for a party dress, you’ll have a hard time finding anything… so by being prepared, and keeping an eye out for pretty dresses when you’re out and about in November means that you’ll find THE perfect dress, with plenty of time to spare.

What I really want this year is sparkle.  I said it last year and ended up in a black dress… this year, I’m on the hunt for glitz and glam.  Here are a few that I’ve rounded up online…

New Years Eve Sparkle

Sparkle comes in so many different forms, I had to break these finds into a few separate categories – geometric beading, all over sequins, and Gatsby inspired sparkle.

The geometric beaded dresses were so “cool girl” – they skimmed the body with shift style silhouettes, and in my mind seem a little more transitional… even though they have head to toe sparkle, they seem like something that you could wear even in warmer months…

The all over sequin dresses are so classic for the holiday… the black or deep blue would be amazing for a corporate Christmas party, and the one shoulder and gold sequin dress would be amazing on NYE.

And perhaps my favorite… the Gatsby inspired dresses – so fun!  I LOVE the beaded tassles on the short black strapless number (how fun would that be to dance in??), and the copper beading that has the look of flames is sexy and fun while still being ladylike.

What do you think??  Any favorite dresses in the bunch??

Splurge or Save: Starburst Mirror

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Hansel Starburst mirrors… so hot right now.  And sometimes so expensive…
Can you guess which one of these is the “splurge”??
Starburst mirrors have been making a total resurgence in the last few years, although I’m not sure that these bad boys have ever NOT been hot – Louis XIV used them everywhere (fun fact: he was apparently called the “Sun King” because of this… don’t you just love random facts??).  Anyway, with a history like that, I’m going to say they are more timeless than trendy.
I mean they are EVERYWHERE, and for good reason.  
A good dose of gold is so glam, and they seem to be the universal answer to the question “what do I put on this random wall?”  They are great in a hallway, great over a mantle, awesome over a bed… they pretty much work in any space where you want something pretty, that seems more functional than it actually is.
Let’s be honest, you’re not going to apply your makeup using one of these mirrors, but they manage to be decorative without being “decorative”… you know what I mean??  There’s still a hint of function.  Am I crazy?
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Gorgeous right??
It can end up being difficult to find a nice sized starburst mirror for a good price… but not impossible!!
Given the name of this post, you’ve probably guessed that I found one that is a total steal.  Could you guess from the original photos above which was the “splurge” and which was the “save”?
If you guessed that the splurge was on the left then you’re right!!
While the price tags are dramatically different from one another, the mirrors themselves are quite similar.  The Elementarie mirror has more tines, and while I like how they are staggered at different lengths, I actually really LOVE that the tines on the Martha Stewart mirror are tapered and have more dimension.
I also love the price tag on that Martha Stewart gem.
To put the value in perspective, you could buy 12 of the Martha Stewart Sunburst mirrors for the price of one of the Elementarie mirrors.
Holy cow.
I’m a sucker for a good deal, so I’m team Martha all the way!!
What do you think?  Worth the splurge?
Should I do more of the Splurge vs. Save posts – I’d love to hear from you!

DIY Art: Inverted Arrows

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Hey guys!  Hope you’re having an awesome week, and for those in the Bay Area, are you all loving this cold weather that came in as much as I am??  Cozy sweaters at last!
Last week, I’d posted about a DIY art project, and I wanted to continue talking about this topic today.  As I’d mentioned, buying art can be expensive, but making your own art can be really cost effective, fun, and dare I say it… easy.   
No more blank boring walls people – here’s another simple DIY art project to try out…
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I saw this vignette, and almost died.  That chair (from West Elm)… love it.  The mid-century dresser… so pretty.  And that painting??  The inverted arrows???  A blown up, modern take on my favorite chevron print?????  I’m all over it!

This DIY painting hardly needs explanation, because all you need is some painters tape and the ability to measure the halfway points on the canvas… if you don’t have a single “artistic” bone in your body, then this is the DIY paint project for you.

As for the “how to” the progress photos pretty much say it all…

Still wanting instructions? Ok, here we go:

For this art project, you’ll need:
  – A canvas
  – Painters tape (I like frog tape because it comes off easier)
  – Two paint colors (here, it’s white and gold)
  – A foam brush

Directions:
  – Tape off the design you want with painters tape…
  – Paint desired areas…
  – Remove tape…
  – Hang on wall.

Ta-da!!  Idiot proof, right??

 

This is definitely a project that I’m DYING to try. What about you?

I actually think several of these would look really cool hung in a row.

The original project was done with varying colors of gold, but it would also be really cool to mix in a bit of rusty copper for even more variation in the depth.  Or what if you applied a bit of gold leaf to a few specific areas after you were finished for a bit of dimension.  I think the added depth and color variation from gold leaf and mixed metallics would be super important if you were to do a series of a few in a row, but less so if you’re just going to have one.

What do you think??

Are you putting on your beret and getting out an easel as we speak??

Living Room Design Board – a House Tweaking Knock-off

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That’s “House TWEAKING”… not twerking… no matter if that’s how it reads in my weird twisted mind…  and it’s a blog I’ve recently become completely obsessed with.  
I forget how I discovered House Tweaking to begin with but it doesn’t really matter… it’s a new instant favorite for me.  Trust me when I say that her taste is SO GOOD. The kind of good where when you look at the clock you realize that you’ve spent 2 hours blog-stalking her. I feel that if we met in real life, we’d be the best of friends.  We both share a love of finding a good deal, Sherdog, and restrained color palettes. Oh and interior design.  That too.
This is her living room.

Hello lovely.

Plush rug…  Check.

Pretty light greys…  Check.

Chevron…  Check check!

Tripod lamp.  It’s love.

You know who else would approve?  Emily Henderson.

They are like style kindred spirits.  That explains so much about why I’m obsessed with this room.  She has the “effortless” look nailed.

I felt inspired… and so to the drawing board I went to recreate a similar room on a budget.

Obviously, it’s a little different, but I think that this inspiration board comes pretty close to achieving the same look and feel.

I’ve also included links to purchase if you are so inclined to recreate this on your own.

WHERE TO BUY:
Rug, Bamboo Roman Shade, Grey Curtain Panels, Tripod Lamp, Slatted Bench / Coffee Table, Sofa, Grey Arm Chair, Yellow Chevron Throw Pillow (pair), Woven Native American Pillow, Cream Colored “Lacey” Pillow, Cream Colored Knit Pillow

Happy Monday!!

DIY Art: Ombre Effect

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I’ve found that art can get really expensive.  I’m a huge fan of framing prints (you can order large prints or posters pretty cheap from sites like Art.com or Posters.com) but I love a good piece of abstract art on a canvas.
We have a few hanging in our home that I’m obsessed with – we have one very large piece from Ballard that I’m still obsessed with two years later… it hangs in our living room.  And another piece of black and white abstract from West Elm that is in our dining room.
I believe everyone has a creative streak in themselves, so I wanted to start posting ideas about creating art for your own home. First up… an ombre art project…
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For this project you’ll need:
  – A large stretched canvas (or small… if you want to test it out before going big)
  – A 2″ foam brush (they are cheap, and you can toss it when you’re finished)
  – A super saturated paint (any kind of paint would do… wall paint, craft paint, oil…)
  – White paint
  – Plastic tray or plate for mixing (something you can throw away – Tupperware works too)

Once you have all your materials, it’s time to make some art!

Start with the darkest color first – squeeze out a bunch onto your plastic tray / plate / tupperware, and load up your foam brush.  Make a single long streak starting at the far left.  You’ll probably need to load up your brush several times if you’re working on a larger canvas.  I like that the edges here are more streaky, and the middle is solid – I’d start in the middle and work out to the top and bottom to be sure it’s nice and textured on each end.

Add a bit of white paint to the mix, stir it around, and paint your next stripe.

As you go, continue adding white to lighten the color, up until you’re finished. The final stripe should really be a wash of the color – nearly colorless.

I am loving the green they used above, but you could do blues, blacks and greys… really any color combo that suits you!

Fun, right??  I really want to try this out!

Banquette Seating

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I’ve always loved the look of banquette seating, or bench seating in a kitchen or dining room.  As long as the table isnt TOO long, and you’re not having to scoot down 4 feet on a long bench, it’s charming, and it makes a formal space more livable, and less stuffy.

Also a good option for kids (in my opinion)… they can scoot in on their own, and bench seating can sometimes be lower to the ground than chairs.

Not sure if you’re sold??  Take a look at a few of these for inspiration – I guarantee you’ll change your mind…

To me, a banquette seems like one of those things that you want to be really sturdy (and beautiful) but not something you want to spend a fortune on.  Can you imagine the horror of having food spilled on something really pricey or irreplaceable?

For most of us, bench seating might not be something we want to commit to indefinitely, (and for those of us who still rent, it’s not even an option), so while a lot of these inspiration photos feature built in bench seating, I’ve pulled together some of my favorite non-built int banquette options.

Where to Buy:
  – 1. OYSTER HARPER BANQUETTE
  – 2. LUGANO BENCH
  – 3. SOURAV BENCH
  – 4. CONCRETE HAYDEN DINING BANQUETTE

Where to Buy:

  – 5. Valletta Velvet Tufted Bench
  – 6. Threshold™ Settee Bench
  – 7. Hudson Upholstered Settee Loveseat Bench
  – 8. Zig Zag Armless Settee

So what’s your verdict – love it or hate it?

Would you ever go for built in seating, or would you stick with the furniture options?

Ikea 2014 Favorites

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Did everyone else get their Ikea 2014 catalog a few weeks ago??
I read some pretty negative reviews online around how disappointed people were with the new products – not enough exiting updates… nothing too mind blowing…
Ummm… were we looking through the same catalog??  I thought that they had some AMAZING new things this year!

I love this idea of pushing two butcher block tables together to create a large workspace / floating island in the kitchen… (also, the bin pulls on the drawers are great, and the tall glass bookshelf is another favorite)…

And while this rug isn’t new, it’s been a favorite of mine for the last year, the clock is cool, and that black and white curtains are so on trend!

Pretty much everything in the Stockholm collection caught my eye – that coffee table… the lines on that sofa??  Are you kidding me??  It looks like it walked right out of West Elm!

I mean, right??? 
It comes in white, tan, grey… I LOVE it.
The Stockholm chandelier is also one of my favorites, and I’ve seen those billy bookshelves everywhere – here used for shoe storage, and in other places as library shelving.  And at $79 for each bookshelf, they are A STEAL.

Loving the mint shelf tucked in the corner, the floating glass shelves, and the wood flat tabletop they laid on the floating legs.  

Ahh, my favorite black and white striped throw over the back of this bed, the modern lighting flanking each side, and more of those Billy bookshelves…

I mean, it’s REALLY good, right??

I rounded up a short list of all my favorites that just came into stores – note there is SO MUCH other good stuff at Ikea, but I’m only making note of what’s NEW…

1. Shelving Unit – ok, this looks plain and boring at first glance, but imagine this sprayed a really shiny navy blue, or a bright yellow.  How fun would a few of these be in a grey kitchen to hold your cookbooks, pretty plates, glassware, and all your shiniest pots.
2. Modern Chair – a pair of these in a window with a small table between?  Stop it.  This DOES NOT LOOK LIKE IKEA.  It’s too freaking good.  Hello Mad Men.
3. Vintage-y Cabinet – another mid-century esque piece – I might consider drilling holes for small round brass pulls, but it’s awesome just as it is… and let’s be honest, sometimes we need concealed storage.
4. Round Mirror – a large round mirror is hard to find, and this one is GOOD. Perfect for an entryway, over a bathroom sink, or pretty much anywhere…
5. Mod Chandelier – A little Ikea, but really cool.  Totally reminds me of Jonathan Adler’s Sputnik Chandelier… right???
6. Woven Basket – super good price for a large basket like this.  Good for large potted plants, or for corralling all your magazines.  Perfect for holding throw blankets, kid’s toys, dirty laundry… you name it.
7. Desk Lamp – imagine this sprayed gold.  Yes. Please.
8. Wall Decor / Cabinet Front – while this is supposed to be for a cabinet, it would be kind of cool in a shabby chic space to hang these as window frames on the wall… sort of like this or this or this.
9. Mid-century Chest of Drawers – awesome in an office, or flanking a bed (all that storage) or even in a living room.  Functional, and hip.

What do you think of the new Ikea 2014 catalog?  Awesome or what?

Hotel Bedding DIY

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Our bed got a mini update last week – nothing earth shattering, but a definite improvement…
It’s probably not very noticeable to most people, but we FINALLY got some euro shams for our bed, and I did a little hotel bedding DIY on them.
I’ve been wanting actual hotel bedding pretty much since we moved in here a few years ago, but its SO expensive.  Even just 3 euro shams from Restoration Hardware run several hundred dollars, and I was not about to pay that for just a few decorative pillow cases.  Thanks, but no thanks.
I’d been digging on Overstock, eBay, and Amazon for other options… I looked at a few at Macys, Bloomingdales (yep, they sell bedding online!), and Lands End, but either the options were still really pricey, poor quality, or the wrong colors.  I wanted either navy, or a dark grey (black seemed more limiting since we have a lot of navy going on in here)…
So I decided to experiment with a little project.
I’d seen projects online where people had used grosgrain ribbon to trim out curtains, so I figured the same could be done with pillow cases.
I started by ordering some fairly inexpensive plain white euro sham pillow cases off of Overstock.  I ordered these ones in case you’re interested. They look nice, but aren’t the best quality to be honest. I don’t really care since we’re not sleeping on them, but I wouldn’t recommend them for anything other than a decorative euro sham.
Once I got the shams in the mail, I went to the fabric store and bought 10 yards of their 1″ cotton grosgrain ribbon.  Our euro pillows are 26″, so I needed a minimum of 8 2/3 yards, and in case I messed up a bit, I wanted extra yardage.
A word of warning – do not go with a synthetic grosgrain ribbon.  When you iron it, it crinkles up, so be sure you pay the extra few dollars for the 100% cotton (learned that the hard way folks).
Anyway, the project was really simple – once I had the ribbon and the pillow shams, I got out my stitch witchery (iron on adhesive tape) and went to work ironing the pieces of ribbon on.
If I were to go back in time and do this again, I’d also invest in a REALLY sharp straight edge, and something to measure a perfect 45 degree angle for the angled cuts for each corner, but live and learn. I found that my sewing scissors weren’t quite as sharp as I would have liked, so it was more difficult to get a perfectly clean cut on a 45 degree angle. A few of the corners aren’t perfect, but its not that noticeable.
Live and learn.
Anyway, I still need to go back with a paintbrush and a dab of glue to all the cut edges to seal them and ensure they don’t fray, but the project only took me about 45 minutes to iron everything down, and get it on the bed.  It also cost me maybe $80 total for all three pillows and the ribbon – SO much less than any other option, where the pillows ran close to $50 each.
I’m really happy with how it all turned out (clearly), and our bedroom just feels so much more finished. Like I said – a small change, but it’s one more thing to check off the list!

Happy Monday!

Happy Weekend, and Happy November

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Well hello November, it’s nice to see you again…  

October was a great month – warm weather along with the first few real tastes of fall weather, and my little blog hit an all time high for site traffic.  When I started this blog, I had no idea people would actually read it, so to see how it’s grown is just crazy to me.  Thank you to all who read, and comment, and message me privately – it really means a lot 🙂

I was looking back at some of my old posts from last November, and it’s hard to believe that was just a year ago… it’s funny to read and remember some of the projects I’d worked on (and posted about) that totally flopped.  Some of them I totally forgot about, but this blog is like a living timeline of my life, so even though there are some I’d like to forget… it’s all there in writing.  
Remember this Gold Leaf Barware DIY??  Those glasses went to Goodwill shortly thereafter.  I’d almost forgotten that failed project.  Also… our hallway had STRIPES… NARROW stripes.  Another “what was I thinking” moment.  Such a terrible idea for such a small space.  But you know what? That’s all part of it.  Some of the DIY’s turn out to be AMAZING… like this Wine Rack Makeover… or our Ikea Dresser / TV Stand Makeover… but there are plenty that are realllllyyyy bad… and I’m sure there will be more in the future that don’t quite work out, but that’s part of the fun.  Trying new things, trying to stretch our budget, and trying to make our apartment feel like a home.
This week was a quiet one for me on the blog, but I have a little project I worked on the other night that I’m excited to share with you all.  
Need a hint?
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Any guesses??
Well, you’ll find out for sure next week.  Have a lovely weekend!
xoxo

Bedroom Design Board – an Emily Henderson Knock-off

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Emily Henderson is a design goddess.  
She just posted this bedroom yesterday morning, and of the people I follow on Pinterest, I saw this room pinned, and re-pinned by about 10 different friends (and when I say friends, I mean for the most part random Pinterest “friends”).
Anyway, this room is SO SIMPLE, but so lovely, so I just had to come up with an affordable version for the rest of us to mercilessly copy.
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I love that everything in the room is light and bright, letting the headboard take center stage.  SO GOOD.

The chandelier MAKES this room, and so I kept the original chandelier in my inspiration.  It’s actually quite affordable from Shades of Light – if you’re ever in the market for a chandelier you’ll see that they can run up the cost quickly.

With the bedding, the headboard, the lamps, the nightstands, and decorative pillow, we’re talking about an entire room makeover for well under $1000.

Here’s my own version…

Where to Buy:
   1. Navy Tufted Headboard
   2. Washed Linen Bedding
   3. Rast Nightstand (for Campaign Makeover)
   4. Geometric Lamp
   5. Jonathan Adler Chandelier (minus the shades)
   6. Yellow Woven Throw Pillow

Pretty close to the original, rigghhhtttt???

You can actually get the headboard she used from Target, which is also REALLY affordable, but this option from Wayfair, was ~$300.  Even less costly than the Target version!

You’ll notice that the nightstands will require a little DIY, but it’s really minimal.

To make these into a pair of cute, and SUPER affordable nightstands, go pick up two Rast 3-drawer chests from Ikea ($30 each).  Pick up some brass hardware – 6 pulls per dresser, and a few brass brackets from the hardware store – and paint these dressers in a nice medium grey.  I like Benjamin Moore’s Stonington Grey.

I’m so in love with this space – makes me want to recreate it in real life!