Fireworks….

Lately I’ve been a bit obsessed with black and white and this pattern:

 

The obsession started with this LONNY picture:

 

It made another appearance in a black/pink color combo in the latest House Beautiful designed by Krista Ewart:

Using the print in bathroom seems to be very popular. Betsy Burnham recently used the print in fabric for her son’s bathroom.

 

Here it appears in an old image from O magazine:

Lastly it recently appeared in LONNY again:

 

I don’t think I could ever tire of the black and white polka dot look. Such a classic, but the firework pattern gives it a unique spin.

 

The wallpaper and fabric is available via Hinson & Co.

 

I searched and searched for a look for less option, but came up empty handed on the wallpaper front. Seems like an easy enough do it yourself if you want to get busy with some paint.

 

* I can swear one of you lovely readers did this to your bathroom on a larger scale, but I can’t remember who. Been searching for 2 hrs now and can’t find it.

 

While there isn’t a perfect look a like in fabrics this comes pretty close with a similar vibe:

Plus it’s only $7.99 a yard.

 

What do you think about fireworks?

Ottomans in the round

The use of ottomans in living rooms has become quite common. I love nothing more than seeing a tufted beauty being used as a coffee table.

 

While I normally see them in rectangular or square form the use of round ottomans is now coming into play and can seen a lot more.

 

A round ottoman works  wonders in small rooms.  Due to it’s shape  you can fit in more furniture and the curves to the piece add a little femininity to a room.

 

Here are some of my favorite examples of round done right.

 

One of my favorite ways to see it is when it is in the middle of seating area. Doesn’t this space look so inviting and cozy?

 

You could also use it as a supporting guest in your room and have it off to the side to provide extra seating or a resting spot for your handbag.

 

With a simple tray it can now be used as a coffee table.

 

See how a round ottoman helps pull together many pieces in a small space?

 

If your room is full of neutral an ottoman is a great place to add a pop of pattern to a room.

 

A cool hang-out in a teens room. I know I would be moving it closer to that settee so that I could prop my feet on it.

 

For the tiny tot in your life it works as a great little table set-up.

If you like some wood exposed in your ottoman my favorite budget friendly piece is this:

 

At only $129 it can easily be recovered using these instructions.

 

You could also easily add a skirt to it and cover up those legs.

 

Images via 1.+ 2. + 7Decorpad, 3.+4.BHG, 5. Cottage Living, 6.Kelly Deck

Trays! Trays! Trays!

If we’ve learned one thing from LONNY it’s that trays are in!

 

You can use them as a catch all on your vanity:

 

You can use them to tend bar.

 

You can use them for flowers and to show off some accessories:

This bar display was large enough to add glasses into the mix as well. Great when hosting a party.

 

Once you display your trinkets on a tray then end up looking like treasures!

 

Here are some of my favorites out in the market:

 

Lucite + nice size +$34.99 : happiness!

Apparently IKEA has a long and skinny lucite version for only $6.99. I love for it every single time I’m there and never find it!

 

West Elm always carries a great variety of trays ranging from $29-$55.

 

Lacquer: check, hot pink: check, caning: check! $14.99 you are coming home with me! Available here.

 

One of my favorite stores in the city has a great variety for $45!

Pier 1 Imports always has a wide variety of finishes, sizes and price ranges.

 

My favorite at the moment is this $5 find:

 

Another $5 find was my latest DIY project.

 

While at Christmas Tree Shoppe a couple of weeks ago I found some trays for $4.99 .

 

I needed something in blue so after searching my craft closet I found the perfect supplies to customize it.

 

Supplies:

-Tray

-Leftover grass-cloth wallpaper

-Scissors

-Tape Measure

-Spray-Paint

-Wallpaper glue and applicator

 

After a couple of coats of paint we had the perfect color and coverage:

Then with your tape measure get the measurements of the tray and cut your grass-cloth to size.

Now just apply some wallpaper paste to the back of your paper:

Apply to tray and let it dry. Then to fix any fraying add some decorative ribbon to the seams with a glue gun:

 

Then enjoy!

This tray is heading out to a client home tomorrow where it will enjoy some time on this ottoman:

 

So how do you feel about trays used throughout a home?

 

I love them. They help my mess look nice and neat. I know some think they are a bit overused in magazine layouts and over-styled.

 

Where do you stand with them?

The many faces of jute webbing…

Jute webbing is normally used in upholstery projects. It can be purchased at your local fabric shop and is normally .40 a yard.

 

 

It’s normally hidden in upholstery projects, but there are ways you can use it in decor.

 

Here is a DIY tutorial on a table runner:

Or you can use it to give a chair a face lift:

 

Or how about some custom napkin rings:

 

I know it’s crazy to be thinking about the  holidays already, but I’m loving this jute wreath:

 

Or you add a bit to a ready made roman shade to give it a little something-something!

What else would you use it for?

Chic Neutral Basics for a dining room

While searching for tufted chairs last week for a client I stumbled upon some great finds that I had to share.

 

I know Lands End has been all over the blog world with their new Canvas line, but what some may not know is that they have a furniture line!

 

Check out these great basics that can work in a variety of ways.

 

Dining Table for $469

 

Stylish tufted dining side chair: $99

The heads of the table can have Wing Chairs for $230 each.

Instead of all side chairs I would put a bench ($170) on one side to break it up! 

They even have a sideboard ($650) to go along with it.

I think these pieces are great for people that are afraid of bringing random pieces together. While all the pieces are part of a set it doesn’t look like it due to the variety in the seats and the fabric/wood combo.

 

You can easily just add a couple of pieces to an existing set up or snatch up the whole thing and accessorize the room to mix it up.

 

Natural wood furniture will always be in style. It’s a classic. Mixing up the pieces from above and you can get a similar look to this dining room from LONNY.

Or you could take the pieces above and go a bit more traditional like the dining room below from My home ideas.

 

Or take the pieces from above and give your dining room a Cottage chic look inspired by Kate from Centsational Girl.

The possibilities are endless.

Sea foam green = new neutral!

Word around the design world is that sea foam green is the newest trend in neutrals!

 

I love it, because it reminds me of Jadeite milk glass.

I love it so much that I’ve had my kitchen painted a shade of sea foam green for 2 years now and the color continues to be sprinkled throughout my first floor.

 

Here are some of my favorite inspiration shots in shades of seafoam green/jade:

 

For this Domino room the choose a pretty pale shade of sea foam green and I will have to agree with the design world that it’s a pretty great neutral.

 

Here it is in a bit of darker shade and I’m in love with all of this! The paint color, the mouldings and those amazing oil paintings!

 

Source unknown. Can anyone help with that?

 

This has always been a favorite room on mine from Cottage Living. Love the pops of green in the headboard and touches of it in the fabric around the room.

 

My first favorite item in this Country Living room has to be those white painted floors, but right after that comes the wall color. It’s so soothing.

 

Found this image on Design Sponge. I love how the use of sea foam green makes the room and doesn’t distract at all.

 

Oh favorite hallway from Domino.

 

Do you think you would get tired of too much sea foam/jade in this kitchen from House to Home?

 

The use of sea foam doesn’t have to be a huge impact it can used in small doses if you aren’t quite sure about it yet.

I would love a bathroom like this in my dream beach cottage.

 

This room from Veranda is just jaw dropping! Plus love the mixture of the sea foam with gold and wood and yellow accents.

 

Not only do I love the chic magazine storage in this Martha Stewart living spread, but again we have a dose of sea foam on the walls.

 

This shade of green is exactly like my favorite jadeite milk glass pieces. I love the old school look to it all! { via Sunset}

 

One of my latest favorite uses of the color sea foam is this room designed by Joni of Cote de Texas. I love all of it. The space was an open floor plan so the seafoam green fills all of the walls and is a perfect example of how it can be used as a neutral and overwhelm.

 

I also love that Joni  repeated my favorite Windsor Smith fabric all throughout the house.

So what do you think? Are you open to sea foam green? I know in most cases people might see it used more in beach house environment, but I think from the images above you can see that it is great in all styles.