WEEKEND DECORATING: LET'S GO TO I.O. METRO!

Have you heard of  I.O. Metro? They've only been in Georgia for one year, but have locations nationwide and a brand new e-commerce site! It's a shopper's paradise chock full of the most affordable, colorful, and trendsetting home furnishings and accessories all in one store. I've sent many of my e-design and redesign clients there for items to mix in with their existing furnishings. The result is a fresher, updated look with dollars to spare.

Here are a few of my favorite picks and with their extensive selection it was definitely hard to choose!

See items here: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10

On my very first visit, I spotted the Champagne Alita Chandelier which instantly reminded me of this one from an home office designed by Sarah Richardson. A shelter magazine-worthy light fixture for $249 is a total steal!

 

IO Metro's owners, Jay and Christine Howard, furnish their home with their store's merchandise as well. A tour of their beautiful home is featured in At Home Arkansas Magazine.

Have you visited your local IO Metro? Click here to find a location near you.

Do you 'Metro?

*Note: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions expressed here are my own.

WEEKEND DECORATING: OPEN STORAGE

This weekend I plan to tackle a few organization projects around the house. I've completed the process of sorting, donating and tossing, yet I still find the number of items in my "keep" pile quite intimidating.

Where am I going to put all of this stuff??

The goal this weekend is to give each item a designated spot and make every family member responsible for putting items away. Pretty ambitious, huh? This process may be easier if some things, like the children's antique car collection, remain in plain sight.

via Susanna Salk, Room for Children

In my latest ideabook for houzz.com I feature other rooms that also benefit from open storage and provide smart ideas to maintain order and arrangement.

How to Store Your Stuff in Plain Sight  

Please share in the comment section tips on how you maintain open storage in your home. Have a great weekend!

WEEKEND DECORATING: VINTAGE LAMPS

Looking for new ways to add unique items to your home's decor? Peek into your local thrift or antique malls in search of vintage lamps. There's a certain charm that comes with an old piece, isn't it? You're really lucky if you find a pair!

Domicile Interior Design

Keep in mind that vintage lamps should be rewired by a professional or if you prefer to DIY-it, stop into your home improvement store for a lamp kit and replace the wiring yourself.

RETAIL OPTION:
I stumbled upon these lamps from a swell little boutique in New Orleans, Lum Vintage Lighting + Accessories.

These pieces are on the high-end side of the cost spectrum and are great for inspiration. I've marked my favorites with hearts. I know, it's so "8th grade," but I couldn't help myself.

And since I've got you hopping around the web, stop over to read my latest ideabook at houzz.com entitled Vintage Lighting Shines for more ways to express your personal style using vintage lighting.

Which of these beauties is your favorite? Have you used vintage lighting in your home?

WEEKEND DECORATING: BRING THE OUTDOORS IN

Getting a new look can be easier than you think.

Bring your outdoor furniture indoors. During cooler months, this option allows you to get your money's worth out of often times expensive outdoor furniture.  Celebrate the current season and furniture that provides a warm outdoor-sy feeling to your interior spaces.

Would you do this in your home? These two photos are enough to convince me...

Ellen DeGeneres' home via Architectural Digest

via Frederick + Frederick Architects

WEEKEND DECORATING: IDEAS FOR YOUR ENTRY

In the next few months most of us will have more guests in our home than we've had all year. The entryway is likely the first room they will see, so why not make a great first impression? This weekend, take inventory of your space and see if there is room for improvement. In addition to the inspiration board below designed to get your creative juices flowing, check my other articles 8 Ideas for a Small Entry and  8 Ideas for Lighting Your Entry for additional guidance. As always the comments section is open for questions, your thoughts, and your ideas. I'd love to hear from you. How do you plan to spruce up your entryway?

 shop the look: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

DESIGN IDEAS FOR FOOTBALL WIVES

Tonight marks the first football game of the season for Georgia State University. My husband, the defensive line coach, guarantees a game opener of the season. I, of course, will be there to witness the gridiron action with the rest of the rowdy bunch.

Here's my winning coach with a winning smile at last season's opener. Isn't he handsome? I love my coach...

ok, back to design...

With a new season comes new sports paraphernalia. As a coach's wife, I'm convinced that I receive more than my fair share. From jerseys to trophies and plaques there is hardly any room to display it all without someone mistaking our home for a sports hall of fame.

Resisting the temptation to store everything in a cardboard box, I've had to find creative ways to show my support. I wrote an article for houzz featuring solutions to this decorating dilemma and provided some great ways to support the home team.

Here are a few examples:

source

Tiny tokens of appreciation are the easiest to blend into your decor. This silver helmet is a lovely accent among a pair of floating shelves. Need a change? Use this statuette as a paperweight or a bookend.

source

No matter the sport, little helmets add big style. Integrate your child's sporting equipment into his room's decor and maybe less of it will end up on the floor. You know the saying, "If you can't beat them, join them."

Like these tips? There's more! Head over to houzz to read my article "Design Ideas for Football Season."

How do you display your sports memorabilia?

TRY THIS AT HOME: DECORATING WITH RIBBON

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.

Betsy Burnham

Cristi Holcombe


Isabella and Max Rooms

Join me over at houzz.com for more on "Adding an Accent of Ribbon" and tips on completing your project this afternoon!
Happy Decorating!