It's Party Time!

I'm in Outer Banks, NC to celebrate the wedding of one of my best friends!! Woooo! So excited for Toni and Josh. <3 Here are a few things that are reminding me of them on this very special day. :) 

Rockett St George via Erin Ever After

 Alan Kitching via DebutArt

Salt and Pepper shakers by Jonathan Adler via Casa Sugar

I almost convinced Boyf we needed a set of these... almost....

Smittens via Decorpad

 Mr. and Mrs. glassware via AshleyLoves.Wordpress

Congratulations, you two! So thrilled for you both. <3

Feelin' Artsy...

Recently all I've wanted to do is create art, which is really rather silly as I'm almost out of wall space in the house. Sometimes I see incredible pieces online, and think (rather cockily), "I can do that!" Here are some I've found that are on the top of my list to try, if not already started....

I had created that blue branch painting a while ago and it has always felt incomplete to me. I considered adding pink blooms, like cherry blossoms but never got around to it. When I found this piece (below) I thought, "Bam! That would be perfect!"

 via Pinterest

This seems doable and sweet and I think it looks much less "crafty". I'm all for inexpensive artwork, but I really don't want it to look like I made it. haha! Know what I mean? I also love this because the possibilities are endless! Song lyrics, inside jokes, names, addresses, dates, nicknames, etc etc!

 via Pinterest

Now this is also so sweet and homegrown looking. AND it would be a perfect use for my bajillion business cards from the old job. Yes!

 via Pinterest

Similarly, I could use my biz cards for this one too! I have already started cutting out hearts for this one. I picture a piece like this in one of my design projects. All painted reds and pinks. Love it! (Let's see if I can hand it over once it's complete... "My baby!!")

 via Pinterest

I've started this one too, because it's going to be a time-consuming monster. But how Bad A does that look?? I think, very.

Lee Gainer via Pinterest

I'd happily create one of the above for you on commission! Email me if you're interested!

Rainy Day

So it's rainy here in Nashville so rather than fight the facts, let's embrace it. Take a look at some of the good looking umbrellas, umbrella stands, and genius ideas to contain rainy day mess. 

River rocks or pebbles in a tray (or shallow baking sheet!) to catch rain boot mess while they dry by the door.

 Genius idea from Martha Stewart

It occurred to me that I don't have an umbrella stand and I think it would be sophisticated and chic to have one. Here are a few beauts. By the way, in this case, utility trumps beauty for me: an umbrella stand that breathes = no moldy umbrellas.

From Horchow 

No ventilation, but it sure is cute!

 Via Martha Stewart

 From Pottery Barn

 From Svenskttenn.se

Here's a creatve idea: hang them in the mud room with pegs. I think it looks cute!

From Martha Stewart

Hope you find yourself singing in the rain today!

Bargains on Nashville's Craigslist

I'm proud to admit it. I'm frugal. I love a good deal and I love the hunt. To be clear, though, style is still of utmost importance! This is why I love to troll Craigslist and see what I can find....

If I had the space for it in my house or a client's house, I'd totally be buying this soft moss green velvet couch. It's $100 and it looks like it was really taken care of. The neutral green, the modern lines, and the durable fabric choice make it a win in my book.

Thrilled to say I found a smokin' deal on this modern couch in great condition! We'll be scooping this one up today or tomorrow!

I might have found that birdcage I've been keeping my eyes peeled for... $25. I would offer less and see what I could get.

If I had a little girl's room to decorate right now, I would definitely snag this bluish gray dhurrie rug. I love the detailing of the flowers! 8.5' x 11' for $80. Whaaa! If you have room, you should go get it!

A great sleek bar cart, perfect for holding your bottles and bar accessories. $20.

Stay tuned for more of the best of Nashville's Craigslist... and get excited because I'm putting together some of the worst. Ha!

Shopping Chronicles: Shoulda, Coulda, Wouldas... and some Dids!

If you're anything like me, you love to shop. I don't love buying things, necessarily. But I sure love the hunt. And let me tell you about Tennessee's secondhand goodness! Every once in a while I really feel some sorrow about letting some gems go. You might think I'm crazy, looking at a few of these pieces. But it's all about the merchandising once you get the thing home. Making sure it has a proper home where it can be showcased, but where its surroundings make the new "weird" item make sense!

Here are a few beauties I had to let go because 1) I don't have anywhere to put it (hello, Hoarders!), 2) it's not in the budget, or 3) I just missed the flash of genius at the time.

Some wire baskets. Would make such cool hampers or blanket storage.

Baller natural woven coffee table. Great scale (huge!) and love that it's a neutral and transitional at the same time.

My top two favorite things to thrift are books (more about that later) and art, as seen in a previous post. I just ADORE this pencil sketch, framed simply, of a little kid with some massive retro frames. So cute. WHY didn't I get this!? I should have! He's so quirky and weird. He would have made me smile whenever I saw him.
It's no surprise that I'm loving Aztec-ish prints these days. So these ottomans are right up my alley.

This massive, amazing copper tub would have been mine if I had an extra $4,888 lying around. It stayed at the store, natch.

Cool industrial metal console table.

Again with the tribal prints on a big upholstered item. Love it. Looks like it was probably originally a flat weave rug. That, my friends, would be creative repurposing.

This beast is totally awesome but it also had a beastly pricetag so it didn't come with me. (Who left their orange peel on the floor? Bad manners.)

Here's a piece I would die to own one day. So rustic but functional. I would have to have a wine party to fill the sucker though...

Now... here are some things that DID come home with me....

Butterfly throw pillow... printed on tea stained linen. Lovely!
Sick equestrian-style decanter set.

Hand-painted canvas of TN mountains.

Okay, and now to the other of my top two favorite items to search for secondhand. BOOKS! I got these books for next to nothing, and I mean, check out some of these titles! The Book of Inside Information. How to Work a Room. How to Attract Good Luck (which I WILL study!). Oh and at least a few of these I got for FREE. Whaaa? Yeah, it is as they say, "one person's trash..."


Love it. Normally I'm looking for hardcover books exclusively, but with a title and subject matter like this, how can I leave it there? (Leaving it would probably have brought bad luck...)

Where are your favorite places to shop for accessories for your home? What are your favorite things to hunt for in secondhand stores? Tell me about your best score!

XO

Elizabeth