It’s possible that I have watched one too many episodes of Secrets from a Stylist. My husband pulled me aside this weekend to have “the talk.” This usually happens after a really great HGTV marathon when my spirits are high and my decorating fervor is renewed thanks to the encouragement (as if I needed encouragement!) of Genevieve Gorder and Emily Henderson. Alas, these shows do not seem to have the same effect on my husband who asks me nervously just how many accessories I really think the room needs and when exactly will we be finished decorating. (insert maniacal laughter here)
He gets his revenge though. He has diagnosed my decorating type as “hoarder chic.” (That’s fine. I’d rather be “hoarder chic” than “minimalist prison compound.” Unfortunately, if you combine these you could potentially end up with “hoarder prison compound.” Something tells me we might not make it onto Emily’s show.)
Since he does not seem too interested in my latest decorating question, I am appealing to you. If you could convince your minimalist husband that your living room really needed one extra little something — would you go for the moroccan pouf or the garden stool? (The options above are just examples. I’m not tied to a color or particular style yet. I will need to find the bargain of a lifetime since they will be in constant peril of minimalist husband giving them the axe.) Of course, I guess you could also tell me that these things are over, but at our place, I always allow for a design trend “grace period.” It’s only fair since it takes us a bazillion years to make a decision.
Up above you can also see some of the pillow styles we’ve been auditioning. I haven’t abandoned my pillow project yet, but I am having a terrible time finding the right fabric. Our couch is white-white, and a lot of the prints I’m finding are a creamy sort of beige that ends up looking dirty. I may end up purchasing the focal point pillow and then make the stripes and a few textural companions myself.
Hope your week is going well!
Sources:
Willow Sofa, $1,699
Amazon.com: Bongo Ceramic Garden Stool, Misty Blue: Patio, Lawn &…, $350
Goods: Moroccan Poufs, $345
Keys Turquoise Pillow, $129
DwellStudio | Search results for: ‘pillows’, $58
DwellStudio | Decorative Pillows – Modern Throw Pillows – Decorative…, $106
DwellStudio Home Metallic Masala Bronze Pillow, $48
UrbanOutfitters.com > Pintuck Velvet Pillow, $32
PB Classic Stripe Outdoor Pillow | Pottery Barn, $23
DwellStudio | Decorative Pillows – Modern Throw Pillows – Decorative…, $62
Filed under Friends & Family, House & Home, Inspiration.
Tagged with decorating dilemmas, garden stoul, moroccan pouf, pillow project, the last 5.
[Image from Ikea]
I think we are nearing a solution for artwork in the living room. We have debated canvas, framed photos, and a dozen different layout options — everything from one giant piece of artwork to triptychs. This has only taken us 18 months which is quite speedy for us. In fact, I hope we have not rushed things too much here. ;-)
A few nights ago, we went through our photography archives to try to choose which photos would make the cut. I think we realized that a collage of smaller prints will work best. On demand canvas printing seemed really cool, but committing to a few favorite images was just too hard. We’ve taken thousands of photos in the past few years and our favorites are eclectic, so going with smaller photos will allow us to mix and match some flowers, special places, people, and maybe even a few animals (my design concession to my husband). Our one rule is that we have decided to only use photos we’ve taken together.
Now for the hard part: the layout! I really this photo from Ikea (up top) of the ever-popular Ribba frames. The mixture of depths from the shadow boxes and regular frames makes me really happy. So tactile! However, we need an arrangement that is symmetrical or boxed in neatly somehow. We just don’t do organic very well.
Here is one of about 4 different arrangements I’ve been playing with which didn’t make the cut (awkward spacing around some of the frames):
We’ll get there. Eventually.
I owe everyone a pillow update, so I’m working on that post, too. Alas, I still have not made it to the fabric store for pillow fabrics. We’ve been running around like crazy, and I’m just trying to be at peace with our schedule however packed it’s going to be. I hope your week is off to a good start!
Filed under House & Home, Organization, Photography.
Tagged with decorating, frames, living room, photograph, the last 5.
[Image from Z Gallerie - Fray Pillow 18"]
I have been a little nervous to talk more about sewing pillows because I have a feeling this will be one of those slow, but steady projects. I’ll be trying to squeeze in a few pillows here and there when I can. However, I think this will be fun, and hopefully, we can share some tips and resources with each other.
[Image from Z Gallerie - Bukhara Pillow 24"]
First up: the pillow plan.
I plan to tackle both the bedroom and the living room, but for sanity’s sake, let’s just talk about the living room for now. We have one mammoth-sized white sectional so I think we’ll need at least 5 pillows in a mixture of textures/patterns. We’ve already agreed that two of the pillows will be a bold geometric (stripe or chevron?). We’re monochromatic people, so we’re hoping to find the right shade of blue and maybe a little bit of gold or bronze. The other pillows will be a mixture of soft and shiny, so I’m thinking about playing with pleats and ruching. Some days I feel really crazy and want sequins. And then I come to my senses and realize I don’t really want to sew sequins.
So now I need your input!
- Anyone have recommendations on their favorite pillow forms? JoAnn’s is an option, but since I’ll need a bunch I am open to special ordering them from somewhere.
- Would you make your pillows fancy with a lapped zipper and removable cover — or go the quick/easy route?
- Any pillow trends out there you love and think I should consider?
Next up: I think a fabric shopping trip is in order…
Filed under Fabric & Sewing, House & Home, Inspiration.
Tagged with DIY, pillow project, sewing pillows, the last 5.
Happy Wednesday! It’s hard to believe this week is half-way done. I missed being here yesterday, but I was called in for jury duty. Thankfully, I escaped after a long day of praying not to have my name called. I am so happy to be free and and am now playing catch up.
This weekend, while I was daydreaming about this bedding, we found some lamps.
I totally get that this does not sound like a big deal. However, in our home, this is huge news. WE. HAVE. LAMPS. We have been looking for lamps for the bedroom for almost two years. Yes, that’s how long it can take us to find something we both like. I am so happy that I no longer have to check the lighting section every time I walk into a store. I can now look at the picture frames or the pillows or something else I can obsess over and not buy until 2013. It’s so great to move on!
So the lamps were a big deal, but what pushed this shopping trip completely over the edge was that we also bought a q-tip holder. Yes! I can retire the glass from the kitchen that was standing in as the q-tip container. I nearly fell over in the store when my husband said I really like this one. Um, me too. Me too! We even got the matching toothbrush holder. (It’s ok. I know that you are either thrilled for me or worried about how sad my life has become.)
I’m ok with that.
Filed under House & Home, Organization.
Tagged with decorating, the last 5.
[All photos from Macys.com]
A few months ago, I shared with you the state of our too-small bedspread. You all cracked me up with your comments and support and sometimes bluntly honest opinions. Since then, I’ve been avoiding any mention of the bedroom, because there just hasn’t been time or money to fix it. However, it doesn’t stop me from dreaming about what I’d like to do.
So now I have a new bedding crush - the pieced pintuck bedding at Macy’s. In person, it’s a paler shade of gray and a little more silvery and shimmery, but what really gets me is the mixture of textures on the pillows. I would want to punch it up with an accent color so it’s not too masculine, but otherwise, it’s pretty near perfect in my book.
For about half an hour, I entertained the idea of making an entire duvet set myself. However, the people around me keep reminding me that I just don’t have the bandwidth to take on any another projects right now. (Thanks Mom + Dad.) Instead, I’m toying with the idea of making some pillows inspired by this mix of origami and basket-weave. That way I’ll be ready when/if this duvet ever goes on sale. Would you all be interested in a series of pillow projects and tutorials? I have a couch that is begging for some pillows, too.
In the meantime, we had some very happy decorating moments this weekend so I plan to share some of my new treasures this week. I hope your week is off to a great start!
Filed under House & Home, Inspiration.
Tagged with decorating dilemmas, duvet cover, pintuck bedding, the last 5.
