Decor Thoughts: Unique lighting for the home

When you walk into a room, what do you notice?

One of the things that strike me most about a room is the lighting - it can be the amount of light or type  of lighting in a room.  Our new apartment has several groups of interesting pendant lighting in the living room.  But I would love to have chandeliers (including my most popular pin on Pinterest with a chandelier in a pink and gray bedroom!) some day to give that unexpected chic edge.  Unique lighting in the most unusual places - like a kitchen or bedroom - really make an unexpected statement.  Or lighting in different forms, like in the stainless steel chandelier or adorable bowling hats (how fun for a family room!) would be fun too!

Unique lighting can also be a chic, but cheap way (at least cheaper relative to other large statement pieces) to make a great decor statement.

What are your favorite examples of lighting?

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Decor Thoughts: Too much?

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Can you have too much of a good thing? I loved the explosion of colors and patterns in these pictures, but have to admit that there may be a little bit too many things going on in the pictures!  But they still make for some fun pictures!

I'm also dealing with a few too many balls in the air this week.  But stay tuned for a lovely beauty giveaway tomorrow (open worldwide!)  I may be a bit more brief in my posts over the next few weeks as I traipse across the world, get our house ready, and start my new job.  But I'll still be by to visit and hope to use travel time as writing time!  

Hot under {$100}/Decor Thoughts: Vases for Showcasing Spring

Nothing says spring time like fresh flowers.

I love how a bouquet of flowers can brighten up a room.  I'm looking for a new vase or two so our home is always ready to receive fresh flowers.  True story - my vase broke and I was holding fresh flowers in a beer mug (which actually is a good choice for a rustic feel!)  I've since broken that too.  Keep your glass products away from me.

Anyway, I do love the wide ranges in vases; I can get anything from an everyday IKEA vase to a classic Waterford crystal vase (including one below for $100!)   There is a vase in every price range and even when it isn't holding flowers, it can still act as a beautiful decor piece and hold other knick knacks.

Here are a few favorite vases that are hot under $100:

1. Sasaki by Mikasa Linnea vase, Mikasa $79.99 (from $199.99)

2. Monique Lhuiller for Waterford Crystal Arianne vase, Bloomingdale's, $100

3. Countryside hurricane glass vase, Mikasa, $39.99

4. Villeroy & Boch vases signature collection, Macy's, $49.99 (from $72)
5. ÄLSKLIG, IKEA, $17.99
6. Evelyn Clear Small vase, Crate & Barrel, $18.95

7. Kate Spade Larabee Dot Cylinder Bud Vase, Lord & Taylor, $60

8. Artura Taupe Vase, Crate & Barrel, $89.95

Decor Thoughts: Spring in the home via Marimekko for Crate & Barrel (all under $100!)

Nothing says spring like bright colors and happy prints.

Marimekko prints and designs for Crate & Barrel certainly fit the bill and scream spring with its bold colors and fun prints while maintaining other designs in neutral colors that work year round.  The Finnish originated designs have their own section within Crate & Barrel and have had a long standing relationship with them for over 60 years (who knew Finnish design was so well established abroad!)  These pieces would make such fabulous  gifts though I am thinking of gifting myself with the Etta bag below (ahh the perils of window shopping for the blog!)

Here are a few of my favorite finds...
...for the living room

Helsinki blue and black tray, Crate & Barrel, $35

...for the kitchen

Hetkia Moment mugs without handle, Crate & Barrel, $20

...for the bedroom

Gingko Biloba Sateen Sheet set (Queen), Crate & Barrel, $99.95 (from $139)

...for every day

Lukematon Etta Bag, Crate & Barrel, $39.50 (from $79)

What are your favorites from this collection?

Decor Thoughts: Style at Home High Low Decorating ideas - Creating glamorous home looks for less

The High / Low section of Style at Home is pure, inspired genius for decor and design lovers.  Their creative team styles two, almost identical rooms for a situation or place in your home - a wine and cheese party, lounge, living area etc.  The crucial difference is that one of the rooms costs thousands of dollars less to style!  I find quality decor a bit expensive, but love the inspiration here.

The lower cost items came from an array of familiar mass retailers (Pottery Barn, IKEA, Homesense, Pier 1) as well as specialists that were lower cost (e.g. chairtablelamp.blogspot.com).  I love the ideas and the message that great decor may be available at a much more affordable price elsewhere!

Here are some favorites:
Boudoir High - $10,101

Boudoir Low - $4,194

Vignette- $3,457

Vignette - $1,899

Dressing Room - $9,070

Dressing Room - $3,116

Fall/Winter Decor Thoughts: Easy touches for seasonal decorating

The seasons can as easily be celebrated indoors as well as outdoors.  I love the practical, easy, and savvy methods of using seasonal foliage and food as indoor decor.  Or switch out the color scheme of your living room to include rich reds, golds, and oranges.    This reminds me to go out and get some red vases for the holidays (vasen from IKEA is one great option) or fill clear vases with decorative ribbons and bows.
Can you tell that I'm in the holiday spirit?  What decor touches put you in the holiday mood?

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Fun Finds/Decor Thoughts: Chat Plates by Ikuko Nakazawa

Psst, these plates are awesome.

What a great set of pieces to keep in your living room or serve at a party.  You'll always be guaranteed a conversation piece!

Chat plates by Ikuko Nakazawa, MOMA Store, $48 for set of 3

Fun Finds/Decor Thoughts: Transforming Ordinary bottles into lace vases via Milk Design

Can you do anything with old bottles or jars?  If you have the silicone lace sleeve from Milk Design Studios, you can transform them into modern and elegant vases.  I love that they come in both black and white and at $14.50 are reasonably priced and chic!  I see a few coming into my life pretty soon for hostess gifts, housewarming gifts, or holiday gifts.  It would be fun decor for a picnic or wedding as well.
I think it's always good to have extra gifts at home (am I the only one like this?)

Decor Thoughts/Luxing it on the Cheap: Jonathan Adler for HSN

Sometimes a name just says it all...Happy Chic!

Happy Chic is Jonathan Adler's houseware collection for HSN and provides many pieces for Luxing it on the Cheap (LOTC).  It is of course affordable and has a few cute classic pieces for the house.  I don't love all of the finishes on the vases (hmm metallic paint on stoneware?), but the Greek key items like the throw and pillows are classic and contemporary at the same time (the throw also has decent reviews so I am definitely tempted!)  I love that interior designers are branching into mass market collaborations as well.

Do you see any pieces that you like?

Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler Greek Key Woven Throw, HSN, $39.95

Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler Ceramic Accent Lamp, HSN, $59.97

Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler 32-piece Dinnerware Set, HSN, $29.97

Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler 4 Wine Glasses, HSN, $39.99

Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler Greek Key Pillows, HSN, $49.95

Save!
- New Customers save 15% with code C70121
- Go through Mr. Rebates first for additional cash back!

Fun Finds/Decor Thoughts: Wire art by Gavin Worth

I love finding examples of art that aren't limited to a canvas/frame and use untraditional materials (these Rob Ryan cut paper art creations are another example of unique art).  Gavin Worth has created wire sculptures that depict simple silhouettes.  The couples, hands, and solitary woman are all so serene.  I also love the 3-d quality of the pieces - wouldn't they be great in a living room or serve as lovely housewarming or even wedding gifts?

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Decor Thoughts: Unique touches in your home

It's all in the details.  Maybe you have a million bucks to spend on your home (err which is a 1-2 bedroom in mid-town NYC) and maybe you don't.  But when you select or build your home, it's all in the details.  It could be a statement piece of furniture, a stunning new way of viewing an object, or a pop of color.  These items may not have to break the bank (especially if they came with the place) but will produce a grand effect on your home.

Light up a room with a bold color

Personalize a room in a subtle way with photographs on your wallpaper

Do something functional and space saving, like this bookcase and remote control, hidden bed (and save time on dusting!)

Look for a unique spin on something common, like this column spiral staircase

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Decor Thoughts: Glass ceilings that are good for you

Women have heard about the corporate glass ceiling for years.  But it takes on a totally different feel when used as a part of your decor.  This design element would really add height, dimension, and light to a building or room.
Reach higher with a glass ceiling (definitely a very cool design thought!)

Blue glass ceiling with tailored zince beams from Bunny Williams via Elle Decor

Stained glass accents via Home Interior Design

Paneled glass ceiling (great for kitchen or family room) via Cimots

Fun Finds/Decor Thoughts: Wasara minimalist and beautiful disposable dinnerware

Minimalist.  Fluid lines.   Beautiful.

These aren't normally words you'd use to describe dinnerware, especially disposable dinnerware.  But Wasara combines form and functionality in a gorgeous line of paper dinnerware (actually combined with bamboo, sugarcane pulp, and reed) with materials designed to minimize its environmental impact.

What a fun and chic way to entertain at your next event (an eco chic wedding comes to mind!)

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Fun Finds/Decor Thoughts: Modern (and luminescent!) garden gnomes

Say good-bye to garden gnomes of yesteryear and say hello to these "Baddy" resin sculptures.  They are not only a modern take on the uber-cheesy garden dwarves, they are made of a luminescent resin that absorbs light and glows for several hours in the dark!

Baddy by Joe Velluto (JVLT), Plustcollection

Who said your outdoor accessories have to be boring right?

Decor Thoughts: Unexpected Bookshelves

We've learned that reading is FUNdamental from our primary school days.  But how do we display all our accumulated books?  Admittedly, we don't have many books here (I probably have 10 times as many books at my parent's place) because we're both e-book readers now, but I'd still like to display them proudly.

I think I'd like my shelves to be minimalist, but part of the decor (I love how this is a functional sculpture)...

Branch bookshelf, Olivier Dollé, winner of the National Young Artists Workshop

...make use of the existing layout - love the great use of space with these shelves...

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...or simply have them carefully placed in stacks around my living room (like small side tables).

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What do you think?  How do you place your books?

LOTC/Decor Thoughts: Calypso St. Barth for Target Housewares

The vibrant colors and the fun shapes of the Calypso St. Barth collection for Target are the decor equivalent of summer.  The collection launches in stores May 1st and seem to be perfect for patio parties or a fun, tropical vibe in your kitchen/living room all year round.

Here are a few favorite picks from the collection.  Will you stop by to check it out?
Hmm I have absolutely no reason to get the elephant tea pots but they are so adorable!  I'm wondering if I could use it in alternate ways - perhaps as a penholder in the office?

What do you think of this collection?

Elephant teapot in coral, Target, $12.99

Elephant teapot in turquoise, Target, $12.99

Two-tier tray in coral, Target, $19.99

Two-tier tray in turquoise, Target, $19.99

Pouf in gold, Target, $59.99

Pillows, Target, $24.99

Pouf in silver, Target, $59.99

Metal candle holder, Target, $24.99