three ways: using an ottoman as a coffee table.

We have an ottoman instead of a coffee table. It's nice because - given the way our furniture is positioned - we can use to rest our feet on, Ruby can take a nap on it and we can even eat quick dinners on there. 

So while we love having an ottoman instead of a coffee table, it would be nice to have the leather version to avoid staining. And I wish it was large enough to be able to rest our feet on while holding a tray for decor and resting drinks on.

tip: Limit tray to 2-3 objects, making sure one is relatively heavy to weigh down the ottoman padding.

ottoman / gray vase / white vase / yellow tray / watercolor vase

ottoman / owl vase / planter / blanket / mercury glass jar / raffia tray

ottoman / ceramic bird / tealight holder / mirrored tray / it / unbored

fashion inspiration: relaxed boho living room.

Inspiration can come from anywhere. And for me, a lot of times that somewhere is fashion. Taking an outfit and using it to build your color palette or fabric profile could mean the difference of having a cohesive vision and a scattered idea. 

First, look at each piece of clothing separately and list what they could bring to the space. Then, take the entire outfit and identify the proportions of each element to figure out how to bring balance to the room. Finally, add a couple of your favorite accessories to finish the space.

tip: Try not to be too literal about your inspiration. Take what you like about a look and transform it into something that could work for the space.

outfit / sofa / chandy / chair / navy pillow / side table / coffee table / ikat pillow / cream pillow / rug

breakfast nook idea: using a muted color palette.

Deep breaths everyone. I've strayed a little from my comfort zone and gone soft. To me, a breakfast nook is a space you drift over to half asleep and mostly hungry. Any sudden move or pop of color could create a hostile environment causing you to squint, snap or snarl. And no one wants that.

tip: Vary finishes and find a pattern with muted hues to bring visual interest without being overly bold.

plate / napkin / table / chair / lighting / bowl

room idea: yellow and gray bedroom.

This board took me an exceptionally long time to create because I was trying to use my own bedroom as inspiration. Currently, there are only two things in my bedroom I adore - the lamps and the gallery wall. I'm only 1/4 of the way done with refinishing the furniture in there and all of the linens can get thrown out the window for all I care. Bottom line: it is in major need of a makeover.

tip: No need to be serious in the bedroom. Find something that makes you laugh to keep the energy fun, fresh and care free.

pillow 1 / pillow 2 / pillow 3 / lamp (thrifted) / gallery wall (collected) / curtains / duvet / night stand

trend alert: navy blue sofas.

I've always wanted a navy blue velvet chesterfield sofa. There's something so chic the deep blue hue and when paired with a tufted back it makes me want to invite all my girlfriends over and drink copious amounts of wine.

tip: Balance the ornate upholstery with simply structured accent tables and pendant lighting to keep the space feeling modern. Mix patterns like ikat and floral with embroidery to create the perfect casually layered look.

sofa / table 1 / pendant light / table 2 / pillow 1 / pillow 2 / pillow 3 / pillow 4 / rug

trend alert: using a dresser as a nightstand.

Dressers as nightstands feel very trendy to me lately - especially as spaces get smaller and storage gets more and more important. A great place for storing bedding, lingerie, pajamas or even socks, using a dresser as a nightstand feels like it might just be my next move.

bed frame / pillow 1 / pillow 2 / pillow 3 / dresser / accent table / trinket tray / rattan vase / lamp

And some extra photos for inspiration. I'm really liking the painted dressers for an added pop of color paired with a mirror to make the dresser super functional.

georgiana design

liz marie blog

planete deco

rue on pinterest

three ways: same couch different pillows.

Tirelessly trying to revamp the same old sofa, I thought it would be fun to pull three different looks using one sofa as inspiration. Experiment with different shapes, patterns and colors to find a work that best works with your personal style. Similar to finding the perfect dress, find pillows that you may not like on the shelf but could work great with the rest of the look.

tip: Start with one pillow as the primary focal point and then dress around it. Pull from the different colors versus pattern to add visual interest without feeling mismatched.

sofa / marble pillow / faux fur throw / tiger pillow / gold pillow

sofa / tangerine pillow / purple pillow / tribal pillow / purple throw

sofa / fox pillow / embroidered pillow / geometric pillow / olive throw

new use for a china cabinet

I am 100% IN LOVE with this vintage China cabinet. As in, if it were human, Jim might have some competition. What?! Who am I kidding? Jim competes for my love against this China cabinet on a daily basis. 

Sigh. My heart be still.

We found it an an antique shop here in Sacramento (Midway Antiques) and I knew the second I saw it, we had to have it. For what? I didn't know. We don't have any China. Or linens. Or anything else to fit in this adorably small cabinet. But still, I NEEDED IT. Scouring my brain for ideas on how to justify the purchase, we finally ended up on using it as record player storage. PERFECT.

So here he sits in the corner of our dining room. I'm still on the fence about refinishing but for now, I'm liking what the wear and tear brings to the space. 

To keep the piece from looking drab, I added a modern vase and planter to the top of it. Then, to balance new with old, I added a few thrift store gems to mix until I got the combination I was looking for. So, so, SO happy with the end result.

OTHER OPTIONS: Using furniture in a new way adds an interesting twist on room decor. Cabinets, credenzas, dressers and bookcases can be used for all different types of storage, keeping your space feeling eclectic and less cookie cutter. Here are some other ideas for record player storage. 

(Or anything else you might need to contain.)

room and board

world market

room and board

cb2

world market

Keeping the old with the new.

As mentioned numerous times before, I am a firm believer of mixing and matching different styles to create your own. Modern with traditional, hollywood regency with retro, the more layers you add the more complete a room looks. Another thing to keep in mind is old vs. new. This is a great way to make a home that looks more lived-in instead of like a page straight out of a magazine. For those that don't care for thrift stores or antiques, there are plenty of designers and stores out there to help create that casual, cozy, lived-in-all-my-life feel that makes a room feel rich, full of history and inspired.

Here is some design inspiration from one of those old looking but new furniture stores, World Market.

Sushi and shinto screens.

For those of you who don't know, a group of us girls get together each Wednesday (in this case Thursday) to lunch somewhere new. Which kind of pertains to this blog because it's a way to force ourselves to get a change of scenery. Today's lunch was at The Painted Fish in Northside and OMG YUM. The miso soup was fresh, the rolls were fried and adorably garnished and the ambience was quaint and cozy. If I were better at this, I would have taken a picture of the delicious (although pricey) feast. I highly encourage people to check it out - make sure to get the crunchy shrimp roll.

After the delicious lunch, I got to thinking about asian influence on design. The clean lines, bold reds and blacks, bamboo accents and large screens create an atmosphere that can be very calming while at the same time heighten the drama. Like everything else, moderation is key - too many additions will start to make your space look less like a home and more like a chinese takeout restaurant. Stick with the rule of three pieces per room and make sure to spread across the entire space to keep a good balance. Here are a few things that I've got my eye on.

DIY: Low on cash? Sand down an old side table with clean lines and paint it a rich, antique red. Find a textile pattern you like and replicate it on a canvas. Or even make an origami mobile to fill an empty corner.

 

top to bottom: world market, pier1imports, WillaSkyeHome on etsy (both pillows)

The shopping diet for decorators.

While flipping through my new InStyle, I came across a summary of a book and was completely inspired. The Shopping Diet by Phillip Bloch identifies easy ways to give old clothes new life. The examples listed consisted of changing blouse buttons to re-lining a blazer to adding/reducing the amount of ruffles on a skirt. While I am totally purchasing and trying these tips out to some of my old duds, I got to thinking about potential ideas for the home. Not only is reusing materials pocketbook friendly, it's also a way to customize your home design to fit your personal style. 

Here are some ideas to consider and any other ideas are welcome and greatly appreciated. Thanks for the idea Phillip and happy hunting!

Using cloth napkins to make a couch pillow cover.

Scrap cotton fabric (or an old dress) as a way to revamp an old lamp shade.

Creating a duvet cover out of some old sheets and buttons.

Weaving old denim to make an upholstered bench cushion 

(bonus if you have some colored denim lying around). 

photos from top to bottom: world market, posies for lulu from flickr, bed bath & beyond, gap