The best of Ikea’s Fall lineup
August 27th, 2009 § Leave a Comment
The whole trick to decorating your house with Ikea pieces is to make it look like they didn’t come from Ikea. Remember all those fashion magazines that tell you to splurge on certain pieces and pair them with cheapy knockoffs for a killer outfit? The same goes for furniture. Ikea recently released its catalogue for 2010 and here are the top choices for a chic (and cheap!) addition to your pad.
My favorite room divider now comes in “Walnut effect!” Expedit giant bookcase- $159 and not-so-giant bookcase- $89.99
This is a crazy coincidence because did I not just say I needed a cabana striped tablecloth for my friend’s Vintage Hawaiian Dinner Party? Ikea you read my mind! This fabric would not only make a really cute occasion tablecloth but can also make a great duvet, pair of curtains, or throw pillow to add texture to your home. Sofia fabric – $7.99/yard
Somehow Ikea managed to undersell Crate and Barrel’s cheaper, hipper younger subsidiary- CB2 with their cheaper version of CB2′s Hancock Bookcase which sells for $199. Ikea’s Lerberg bookcase/shelf in grey or white- only $19!!!
…and this cute little wastebasket which I think would make a better planter for large foliage or a vase for decorative sticks (you may need to fill with rocks to hold the sticks in place.) Rundel wastebasket- $19.99
Alright all this talk about Ikea is making me itchy to see this stuff up close- off I go!
Daily Inspiration to Realization: Wall of Sconces
July 22nd, 2009 § 1 Comment
The mural of light pictured above is from a boutique hotel I stayed in while visiting San Antonio, Hotel Valencia. I was blown away by this wall of candles they had in the lobby. To re-create this look, Ikea’s MANDAL headboard can be stained or painted to fit your style with shelves that fit into the slats and hold either candles or eco-friendly sconces like CB2′s Smart Candles.
The Daily Inspiration to Realization: The Bed Canopy’s Stylish Younger Sibling, the Ceiling-Track Curtain
July 22nd, 2009 § Leave a Comment
I was looking at HGTV and came across the super-cute asian-inspired bedroom on the top picture. Using ceiling-mounted sheer curtains is a great modern twist to the bed canopy. Use sheer curtains for a more romantic look, or use solid curtains to block out light, and pull to the corners during the day. To make your own sheer canopy, Ikea has a great suspended cable curtain system, DIGNITET for around $15. You can either string your curtains directly on the wire or use clips.
Make Your Own Vintage Distressed Mirror
July 20th, 2009 § Leave a Comment
I was reading one of my favorite blogs Design*Sponge and there was a posting that showcased a gorgeous inspiration for home decorating. {read the post} In it was this beautiful vintage mirror (pictured) that grabbed my attention. Here are instructions on how to make a new mirror look vingated and stressed like the one above.
Materials
- mirror
- newspaper
- paint thinner
- paint brushes
- household bleach
- black acrylic paint
- cotton balls
Instructions
- Protect your work area with newspapers. Place the new mirror on your work surface, with the back side up. Using a paintbrush or cotton balls, apply paint thinner to the back of the mirror, where you would like aging and distressing to occur.
- Allow the paint thinner to set a few minutes, to loosen the painted and silvered surface. Rub the areas where paint thinner has been applied with an old rag. Remove the paint thinner. Repeat, if you would like more paint or silver removed or distressed.
- Drip, paint or use a toothbrush to apply household bleach to your mirror back. The bleach will react to the silver and create a blackened tarnish. Watch closely. When you have reached the degree of tarnish desired, wash the bleach off with water to stop the process. Repeat the bleach where needed.
- Dip a cotton swab or cotton ball into black acrylic paint and dab or smudge around areas where the paint and silver on the back has been removed completely.
Source: eHow.com
Steep vs. Cheap: Your Guide to Living Luxe on a Budget
May 21st, 2009 § Leave a Comment
Because living in high style does not mean high price tag (or high credit card payments!)
Archer Bed (Queen): $1,399 at Crate and Barrel vs. Floro Bed: $399 at Ikea
Nelson Platform Bench: $699 at Design Within Reach vs. Katanoi Wood Bench: $99 at Urban Outfitters
Palmetto Sectional: $679-$829 per piece at Pottery Barn vs. Resort Outdoor Sectional: $349-$399 per piece at CB2
Kina Pendant: $1,750 at Design Within Reach vs. White Wash Bamboo Pendant: $129 at CB2
Veneto Chair: $979 at BoConcept vs. Skruvsta swivel chair: $149 at Ikea
Your Digital Partners in Crime for Interior Design: Polyvore and Arrange-a-Room
May 14th, 2009 § 1 Comment
If you are moving to a new place, redecorating, or just buying a new couch- these are great free online tools to plan out the layout and look of your space.
Polyvore is an online application where you can add items from any image online and it stores them in a bank to drag and drop onto a canvas. Even better- it stores the web address and price of the items you save. I love to shop from different stores so this is a great way to visualize your pieces in one place to make sure it all goes together. And it’s fun to play with!
Better Homes and Garden’s Arrange-a-Room is a tool where you can customize the size of your room, furniture, and add architechtural pieces such as doorways and windows. I used this obsessively before I moved into my 600-sq ft condo to test out layouts and the size of furniture I wanted to buy.
Chic Ideas for Room Dividers
May 11th, 2009 § Leave a Comment
If you are like me and live in a studio- just like ex boyfriends you have got to set boundaries. Defining space is a crucial part of separating out the different functional areas in your home and will create the illusion of having more square footage. Here are some easy (and cute!) ways to separate your space.
- Picture Perfect: Inspired by Apartment Therapy, drill holes through the top and bottom of picture frames (empty or filled with your favorite art or photos) and connect using fishing line or rope and hang. For a more polished look, purchase new frames (the dollar store or target are great places to go) and glue two back-to-back before hanging and paint any color you want.
- Love Compartments: This space-creator does double-duty as both a defining and storing piece. These free-standing bookcases from Ikea come in different shapes and sizes you can stack or use alone.
- The Naturalist: Line up four to five (depending how much ground you want to cover)large 2-3ft vases and fill with tall branches or grass to create a modern look. Branches- Ikea, Planters- CB2
- Blind Ambition: My personal favorite- install wooden or metal blinds to your ceiling and you get a versatile removable wall. Keep them open to create the illusion of space, close them for privacy, or draw them all the way up!
