Archive for June, 2008
Stationary Stationery
By now you guys know that we’re big fans of putting unexpected items in frames and calling ‘em art. From keys to magazine text, there’s no shortage of creative ways to fill your walls with original pieces. That’s why one of our favorite sources for affordable art is stationery. Sure, greeting cards are technically meant to be signed, sealed and delivered but where else are you going to find professionally designed pieces for just a few dollars?
We love the simple and cheeky cards found at Pink Loves Brown. You can grab a single card for $3.50 or snag six for $12. That means you can frame one and mail the other five as invitations to come over and check out your new art. For a few bucks you can even blow up your new artwork at Kinkos, or add a thick white mat and a hefty-ish frame to give an average sized card some major oomph.
If you’re looking for something more ornate, Turtle Papers has you covered. With an assortment of floral, nature and love themed cards you can create an amazing mix & match patchwork-esque wall collage in a flash.
And we still drool over the alphabet cards from Smack of Jellyfish, where we snagged our 2008 calendar earlier this year. How cool would it be to hang all 26 of these on the wall of a nursery or playroom? Stylish and educational, no?
These are just a few ideas to get you started, but obviously there’s a whole crop of cards waiting for you on Etsy and at your local Hallmark or Target. Just remember that you’re looking for cards with stylish designs, not over the hill jokes. But feel free to keep sending those to your friends and family.
House Crashing: The Big Reveal
There are about a million and one suggestions to make a small space feel larger, but when it comes to cozying up a large room with soaring ceilings and square footage to spare, there’s nary a tip or trick in sight. So without further ado we’d like to take you on a fun house tour through our good friend Justine’s amazing abode. Her house serves as the perfect example of what to keep in mind to evoke that cozy and über inviting feeling that doesn’t always go hand in hand with a super-sized space.
Rule #1: Create different zones by using a variety of furniture arrangements and other decorating elements to define each space. For example, Justine and her husband John’s kitchen has separate areas for cooking, eating in, and living that are defined using light fixtures, rugs, and furniture placement to create three smaller rooms within one large one that screams “come on in and stay a while.”
Rule #2: Incorporate deep wall colors that you couldn’t otherwise get away with in a small, light-starved space. The bold use of navy in their man cave (both on the pool table and on the back wall of their screening room) keeps things from seeming too open and undefined, and adds a stunning punch of color that a smaller room couldn’t handle.
Rule #3: Choose rich tones of wood over white or pine furniture (or any pieces with reflective mirrors and glass tops) which can expand the look of a room instead of cozying things up. These solid furnishings ground the coffered ceiling and keep the expansive space from looking too vacant while the paneled wainscoting seems to envelop you as you walk into the room.
Rule #4: Bring in eathtones and natural stone when you can, like they did in this vast bathroom (which features an amazing multi-jet spa shower as well). Sure, you usually can’t go wrong with gleaming white subway tile, but in this space it could look stark. The use of a rich granite countertop and a complementary natural stone tile around the jacuzzi tub (and that amazing aforementioned shower) keeps the room feeling spa-like and serene without seeming sterile.
Rule #5: Be sure to inject a little personality in a large house like Justine and John’s to keep it from feeling like a nondescript “builder” home. They painted the coffered ceiling in their master bedroom a pale blue color which really adds some signature style to the room while bringing the ceiling down a bit to keep things cozy. Justine also introduced a super fun green floral chair in the living room (see above), which is just the personal touch that a gorgeous home like this needs to feel, well, like home.
Now it’s your turn. Do you guys have any more big room tips to share? We’re sure we missed a bunch so feel free to chime in with some sage advice for all of our readers lucky enough to have room to spare. And a special thanks to Justine and John for the Young House Love Open House!
Burning Question: Breakfast At Tiffany’s In Bed?
Ok, another burning question for you guys: what are your thoughts about having a tv in the bedroom? This is a surprisingly polarizing topic for many people, and we’d love to know whatcha think.
This breathtaking master suite by Candace Olson has a big flat screen above the fireplace. Thoughts on this seemingly popular decorating trend? Do tell…
Image courtesy of HGTV
A Case of Elephantitis
The June issue of R Home (Richmond Magazine’s home-related offspring) had a great little story about a woman who stumbled upon a Knoll Bertoia Side Chair last year for a mere 25 bucks, far below its usual $500 retail price. This too-good-to-be-true mecca where designer pieces sell for average-joe prices? The ASID White Elephant Auction & Sale. So when this annual event stampeded back into town this past weekend, we were up bright and early on Saturday to be among the first ones there.
The ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) White Elephant Sale is basically a collection of leftovers – furniture, accessories, paint, fabric – from professional interior design projects. Think of it as a neighborhood yard sale, except that all of your neighbors have pretty good taste.
Not to kill the suspense, but we didn’t buy anything. Despite being there right at 8am, it seemed most of the pieces that we typically drool over were sold the previous night at the silent auction – like this sleek wooden credenza (which we overheard sold for $45!) that was waiting to be picked up… taunting us.
The sale benefited the Richmond chapter of Habitat for Humanity, so we got to learn more about the Habitat ReStore, which reader Ashley first mentioned to us last week. We didn’t make it to the ReStore this weekend, but are expecting great things after seeing the spread at their booth. And their creative use of an old window officially won us over:
Next year we’ll try to get the word out BEFORE the White Elephant Sale so our local readers can check it out too. Just as long as ya promise not to top any of our bids at the silent auction. Do we have a deal?
Kelly’s Design Dilemma
As soon as we received this basement man-cave makeover challenge, we couldn’t wait to dive in. Often times the basement can become a confused mish-mash of muddled man decor, so we’ll see if we can bring some order and efficiency (along with a whole lotta swoonworthy style) to Kelly’s soon to be extinct man-cave. Here’s her letter:
Please help me transform the ‘man-cave’ which has taken root in my basement into a less masculine place that we can all relax and enjoy. We have lived in our house for 4+ years, but this room has been the ‘last frontier’. My objective is to make it more cohesive while maintaining its functionality as a TV room, computer room, music room & soon to be toddler play area. The flat screen TV might be going on the wall (not sure if Husband has the courage to try to hang it) and the furniture can definitely be moved around. The futon can go into storage but the couch, computer desk, CD case, and stereo must stay in the room. Style wise we’re casual, and we like the Pottery Barn / Crate & Barrel look. I’m definitely open to a new wall color (as long as it works with the blue-gray tile on the floor) so hopefully you can come up with something. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts! -Kelly
Ok, it’s certainly a challenge, but there’s nothing about this room that a little Young House Love mood board can’t solve. We’re excited to introduce something wife-friendly and kid-friendly with a whole lotta functionality folded in for Kelly’s TV lovin’ hubby.
Here’s the mood board breakdown.
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