Before I got wind of the amazing pieces that could be found a my local thrift stores, I bought this $40 wingchair from a Craigslist seller. It looks pretty good from afar, but up close tells another story. The previous owner had a cat that apparently used the arm of the chair as a scratching post and the fabric was no bueno.
I'd plan to put the wing chair in the master bedroom, but I decided to move it into the children's playroom for additional holiday seating. It still needs to be reupholstered, but the task is not on the top of my to-do list. Instead I chose the more budget friendly option of ordering a slipcover from Surefit. Slipcovers are not only great for a furniture quick change, but they
also allow you the option to live with secondhand furniture until you
get around to having it reupholstered.
Available in an array of colors and styles, the slipcovers are also machine washable and super easy to put on.
Velcro ties encircle each leg to insure a snug fit.
I chose the the Form Fit, Stretch Suede in Oatmeal. It's very soft, comfortable, and has a great overall look.
Slipcovers has come a long way, haven't they? Do you currently have upholstered furniture that could use a quick fix? Have you tried Surefit?
FTC Disclaimer: Surefit.com provided the slipcover in exchange for a product review. The thoughts and opinion are my own.
I apologize in advance for ruining your last days of summer with a mention of stacked firewood, but I just can't help myself. At this very moment, the look on your face is probably the same look the Home Depot associate gave me when I asked for 12 bundles of firewood in the midst of 90 degree heat. Luckily they had a pallet stored in a shed and sold them to me for $1.00 per bundle! Nice!
I used the wood to fill my clients' unused fireplace as a part of an ongoing design project. Hopefully, I'll soon have more photos to share with you. Here's a progress shot below. She has two little ones that couldn't wait to cover themselves in the soot left by the previous homeowners [see inset] so I had to act fast. I absolutely love the results.
Unfortunately, I have a gas fireplace that doesn't require real wood so I won't be able to do something like this in my own home. The stacked wood has such a sculptural quality and the price can't be beat.
This weekend I pulled some of my favorite images for my Weekend Decorating feature on Houzz. The topic...decorating with grosgrain ribbon. Adding ribbon trim can be one of the easiest ways to update existing accessories in your home. You can take a piece from drab to dramatic in 30 minutes or less!Want to see other ideas for taking ribbon to the next level in design? Here are a few more images to whet your whistle.
If you are like me, you are always trying to find new ways to add color to your home. In my most recent article for Houzz, I challenged readers to go bold with accent lamps! I provided a tasty selection of lighting and tips on adding character to your home.
Want to add a few juicy hues to your space? Head over to check my article and be inspired. Wondering how to achieving this look, leave me a question in the comments section!
Thank you to everyone who commented on Monday's video on finding creativity from inspiration images. There's nothing better than a lively discussion that provides valuable feedback to fellow readers as well as give me ideas on how to make things better on BluLabel Bungalow. My continued efforts on the blog will be geared towards helping others be less intimidated and more adventurous when tackling their home's decor.
Here's an amazing comment from Pam who has an equally amazing story!!
She fell in love with the drapes and valance this bedroom while planning her baby's nursery:
She purchase a pair of king-sized sheets from the Carlton Varney's collection on HSN...
and made this beautiful no-sew/sewing optional window treatmeant!! Remarkable,isn't it?
She then crafted this changing table cover from a king size pillowcase. Clearly, she allows nothing to go to waste!
And there you have it. Pam gives full direction on creating the drapes and valance here. Is this something you would try at home?
It was such a treat to finally catch up with New York-based designer, Elaine Griffin. To simply say that she is busy, would be a complete understatement. From taping design segments on the Today's Show to her new campaign with HomeGoods, and of course juggling her successful design business, it seems that everyone is in hot pursuit of her time and talents. An alum of both Yale and the New York School of Interior Design, and a Georgia native (might I add), what attracted me to Elaine was her ability to perform in the realm of high end design, yet still have a passion for helping design enthusiasts with modest budgets.
She is a contributing editor of Better Homes & Gardens, a former contributing and special projects editor at Elle Decor and is ranked as one of House Beautiful's Top 100 American Designers. Elaine's work has been featured in publications including Elle Decor, House Beautiful, the New York Times, Daily News and Post, Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Accents, New York magazine, and Oprah's O at Home.
Welcome Elaine, it's a pleasure to have you with us today...
How has your Southern upbringing influenced you as a designer?
Being Southern is more than a place of birth – it’s a lifestyle! No matter where you live as an adult, if you grew up in the South (I’m from Brunswick), then that’s “home” and you are forever Southern. I adore Manhattan and I love living in NYC, but the South Georgia’s Golden Isles will always be home. Southerners invented gracious living and hospitality (honey, there’s no such thing as Northern Hospitality!!!), and I like to leave my clients with a bit of that, too. There will always be enough chairs to pull up and sit a spell, like we do down home, and my work isn’t done until clients are ready for a dinner party for at least 8, even in a hermit’s studio apartment.
Your bio says that you spend some time in Paris as a publicist. I adore Paris! Please tell us a bit about that time in your career.
Interior design is my second career. I was a publicist in New York and then in Paris for nine years after I graduated from Yale. Paris is the most beautiful city in the world (next to St. Simons and Sea Island!), and if reincarnation exists, then I’m coming back to work in New York by day and commute to Paris every night. New Yorkers are all workaholics (I am, too) but Parisians live the best lives – they really enjoy every day and have fabulous social lives.
Please describe an average day in your life.
I’m a morning person (to the chagrin of my husband, who is not), so I’m up between 5 and 6. During the day, we handle client projects and whatever else that’s cooking for us – it could be working on a morning TV segment, handling media inquiries, doing research or shopping for a BH&G makeover or another BH&G project, or any of the 42 other pies we have our fingers in at the moment; we’re always zooming around. I check in with my husband Michael, who is a psychoanalyst, a gazillion times a day via e-mail to stay in touch. We always have dinner together when we are both at home; if I’m on set or on location, he waits up for me to say goodnight, in person or on the phone. And I call my mom in Brunswick to say hi almost daily (like all good Southern girls do).
Congratulations on completing your first book, Design Rules. How long was this book in the making? Will there be more books in the future?
Design Rules: The Insider’s Guide to Becoming Your Own Decorator, launched in November 2009 (Gotham Books), and it took about two years to do, soup to nuts. It’s meant to be The Joy of Cooking for home decorating – it arms you with all the rules, proportions, tricks of the trade that professionals call on every day to create beautiful homes, but that most “civilians” don’t know.
We’re in the planning stages now of Book Number Two! More on that to come.
Define your signature style.
The one design rule I never break is that rooms should look like the people who live in them. So while I don’t have a signature style that’s as immediately recognizable as some of my other colleagues (because if a client wants modern, we do modern, and so forth), what you’ll always see in my work is warmth, coziness (even in an igloo), color and texture, and an interesting (I hope!) combination of patterns, texture, finishes and styles.
What are some of your favorite finishing touches when designing a room?
Every room should have a collection of objects that look like they were accumulated on travels around the world. Note I said “look like” – because I believe in hitting stores with fab accessories like HomeGoods to get those objects, if a client has been too busy to get to “take world tour” on their “to-do” list! Without the personalizing little things that say “so-and-so lives here,” rooms look like elegant, sterile hotel suites where no one permanently resides.
Also, coffee table styling can be hard to do, so here’s my no-fail formula: a pretty tray, a stack of 2 or 3 coffee table books, a sculptural object like a seashell (5 – 8” tall max), a decorative box, and a small bouquet of flowers or little house plant somewhere like on top of the tray. With at least three of these or more, depending on your coffee table’s size, you’re golden!
Now that Fall is here, what changes have you made to your home’s decor?
I removed my window unit air conditioners!!! LOL (Pre-war buildings in NYC still use them.) Otherwise, my changes for the seasons are subtle: I changed my mantle display in the living room so it’s a little less summery; I changed my fragrant candles from beachy to a little woodsier; put out darker, heavier throws on the sofas and changed my bedding.
What is your ideal work environment?
Creative, quirky, encouraging and cute! I believe in the power of the creative collaboration – I want to hear what everyone is thinking so we can run with the best idea. We’re selling style, so I want oodles of that around me, as well. And finally, I laugh constantly, so my team does, too.
When not designing, I am…
Exhaling. Creative people should always take time to rejuvenate, even when we live and breathe our work.
Heroes...
SO many! Great design legends like Frances Elkins, Renzo Mongiardino, David Hicks, Peter Marino (for whom I used to work); the great women of style like Coco Chanel and Babe Paley; great black leaders like Harriet Tubman (whom I’d sit next to me at my fantasy historical figures dinner) ; my mother, who taught me to accessorize . . .
Highest Compliment…
My mom walked into the Southern Accents showhouse we did at Hampton Island, near Savannah – it was the first time she’d ever gotten to actually SEE one of my projects first-hand – and said, “Nice job!” Although she then made me move two foyer chairs to better locations.
Lucky Break…
After attending the New York School of Interior Design, I sent out ten letters to the 10 industry figures I most wanted to work with. I got one response back, from Peter Marino’s senior architect, who was looking for an assistant. And the rest is history.
Eureka Moment…
Realizing that God’s “not right now’s” don’t necessarily mean “no,” and that His “no’s” are always in my best interest (which still makes them a kind of “yes,” no?), even if I can’t figure out why.
Looking forward to…
Getting started on my next design book! We’re lining everything up now and that’s the exciting part! The actual writing of a book can be a chore – like a term paper that seemingly will not end.
Best Advice…
From Oprah, who told a group of teens we’d done a Good Works Makeover for at their group home: “Go after what you want in life, because what you want is never going to go after you.”
...and speaking of advice. Check out this video from a series where Elaine gives great decorating advice in 30 secs or less! You can also find the others here.
I found Elaine's interview to be motivational and so inspiring. One of my favorite answers she gave was regarding her "Eureka Moment." What was your favorite part of the interview?
Yesterday, model Iman launched the IMAN Home Spring 2011 collection during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge at The Tent at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Iman pictured with Elle Decor Editor-at-Large, Carlos Mota
This collection is an exotic, worldly series of fabrics available through Calico Corners which will later include a complete line of home furnishings. She spoke with Marshall Hayman with the Wall Street Journal back in July about the upcoming line stating that "Home is where I seduce my husband, nurture my children, entertain my friends and nourish my soul." assuming she was asked about her inspiration for the line. "I was looking for things that give you that 'Aaah' moment. It's not just available to decorators, but also to the public."
Iman draped in one of her new fabrics, Punjab Peacock.
Affordably priced between $25-$55/yd, I can't wait to see these new designs appear on the pages of my favorite mags. Here are a few of my favorites:
To view the full line of IMAN Home fabrics click here.
There apparently seems to be a love-hate relationship in the design community regarding Ikea products. We hear various stories about quality issues, difficulty in understanding the instructions, and the list goes on...Ironically, now more than ever, people are giving Ikea a second try. Is it because of its affordability or is it because of improvements made in product development. Who knows? What I do know is that there many examples of Ikea done right. Here are a few of my favorites...
LaKeitha of Home to Three Duncan Boys recently completed a awesome nautical-themed design for her son's room. Among the wonderfully creative DIY projects she completed, such as the wood palette headboard in the above image, she also gave the IKEA Melodi pendant light an extreme makeover!
Brian Patrick Flynn of Decor Demon is ruthless when it comes to hacking Ikea products. He customized IKEA Billy Bookcases by painting the units the same color as the wall to give them a built in look. He then adding back the fun by painting the backing a punchy green.
In the above image, Brian demonstrated to his client how "budget" and splurge items can coexist in the same space. A pair of orange IKEA Karlstad swivel chairs (budget) are accented with pillows in the pricey David Hicks La Fiorentina fabric (splurge). You would never guess that the curtains are IKEA Ritva panels that have been lined, pleated, and trimmed in chocolate brown fabric all done by his seamstress!
Janell of Isabella and Max Rooms did a remarkable job of giving her son a big boy's room to be proud of. The bedding, rug, desk, curtain panels, and overhead lighting were all sourced from Ikea. She offers a plethora of DIY projects including a redesign of the Melodi pendant as well as using Ikea fabric to cover a lampshade.
Sarah Richardson of Sarah Richardson Design is hands down one of the best televised Interior Designers out there. One of the many lessons she teaches to her viewers is that Ikea does have a place in great design. She was able to design and entire house, with dollars to spare, by sourcing Ikea products in the above office as well as in the kitchen below.
Sarah integrated both high and low products in this custom kitchen. The cabinets, countertops, shelves, and dishes are all Ikea products. She had the cabinets professionally sprayed and varied the colors of the top and bottom cabinets for a custom look that can't be beat!
Erika Ward of BluLabel Bungalow **please excuse the shameless plug** I completed a bedroom design for my two sons using furniture, window treatments, lighting, and a rug all designed by Ikea. I saved even more money by purchasing the beds on Craigslist!
Hopefully this post has done a little to help revive Ikea's lukewarm reputation in the design world...and I should probably add that this post is not sponsored by Ikea.
Where else have you seen Ikea done right? Do you have any Ikea products in your home?
Sunday I spent the afternoon at Atlanta's Scott Antique Market receiving a crash course in antiques from Eddie Ross! An intimate group of us were lead by the wonderful design wizard and his partner Jaithan Kochar through the South Building full of furniture, rugs, and home and garden accessories.
Eddie admonished us to prepare for shopping trips by knowing the measurements of the space we are designing to ensure we pick appropriate items that fit the space. Another great tip is to bring along fabric samples, especially if you are buying rugs.
There are literally hundred of vendors that carry an assortment of vintage goods such as the collegiate pennants below to old Sotheby's and Christie's auction catalogs.
It didn't take long for me to admit that I'm a little too citified for the expansive collection of taxidermy...eek, but the little salt spoons tickled my fancy!
After the fabulous two hour tour, we said our good byes to Eddie and Jaithan, and blogger friends Tami, Jennifer, Ashley, and Jade. Tami brought along her adorable daughter which made me also look forward to sharing these little adventures with my Ava.
Thanks to Eddie and Jaithan for being such knowledgeable and gracious hosts! Be sure to visit their site so you won't miss the tour when it hits your town!
