Retail Therapy

As you can imagine from my previous post, to say that I am stressed is an understatement.  So after leaving my daily visit to the hospital this evening, I stopped off to grab some Chipotle take-out for dinner and headed into the HomeGoods store across the parking lot for a little retail therapy. It was well worth the trip because I scored a fabulous Ralph Lauren tufted ottoman from the Avalon Collection.  I am giddy with excitement. It retails for $879; I paid $299.  I have a perfect place for it in the living room which is the next room I will be working on after I finish the bedroom. I have a plan for it already in place!

I obviously wasn't planning on buying any furniture tonight so I kept my fingers crossed hoping that the darn thing would fit in the front seat of my BMW.  It barely fit.  If it were one inch larger, I probably would have had to tie it to the roof of the car! The pictures look pathetic, I know, but I had to use my camera phone.

On the Ralph Lauren website the Avalon Cocktail Ottoman is shown in two colors: the soft blue/grey (which I purchased) and a beautiful sunflower yellow.

Drapery Walls in the Bedroom

Can you see a trend in my posting these last few days? Bedroom design is on my mind.

Windows in a bedroom can sometimes be tricky. It's typically unorthodox to place a bed in front of a window. But what happens when this is the only wall where it actually makes sense to place the bed? This is the case in our home. I have been considering doing wall-to-wall drapes, a small departure from what was specified by KD Space where shades are also incorporated.  Our room is fairly small and I think the wall-to-wall look will be very theatrical. But not in an over-the-top kind of way. I think it will make the room feel like a cozy cocoon. 





Photos via Desire to Inspire, Adela and Tessie, Patricia Gray, Vanessa De Vargas, and some unknown.

If you have sources information, please let me know.

Using On-line Interior Design Services

I really can't go any further posting about my bedroom design without saying thanks to Katie of Katie Denham Interiors. Katie has a delightful blog called Katiedid and offers KD Space, an on-line interior design service.  If you are in the Sacramento area she also provides traditional design services.

You must know that early last year I solicited KD Space for my bedroom re-do. I gave Katie a few requirements:

(1) Work around a fabric I love (shown on the drawings as no. 13).
(2) Incorporate lots of storage.
(3) Provide options for a non-upholstered bed.

Katie put 2 designs schemes together for my bedroom.  Although I love each of the 2 options she presented me with you'll notice as the room comes together that I am using her designs as inspiration. That's what I love about using an on-line design service. You can put your room together identically as the designer specified or use bits and pieces. You have tons of flexibility. Now a days, there are many designers offering similar services but Katie was a pleasure to work with. She was quick to respond and her fee was very affordable. Most importantly, I love her creativity. If you ever have considered using an on-line design service I would highly recommend it. Working with a designer is a collaborative effort. They can help you put together a cohesive design and prevent you from making some costly mistakes.

 

Option 1:


Option 2:

Floorplans and Elevations:

Inspiration boards and drawings by Katie Denham Interiors.

Bedroom Makeover

Have you heard the phrase "It gets worse before it gets better"? A water leak prompted us to move up our bedroom re-do to the top of the list.  A blessing in disguise? I would say so. 

I hate picking paint colors. You can pull together the most beautiful fabrics and finishes but if the basics, like paint, are not right it can throw off the whole look of a room. Like you missed the mark. Not a good thing. After testing six Benjamin Moore paints, I actually decided to go with "Latte" from Restoration Hardware.  It was actually the first paint sample I put up on the wall.  I always tend to circle back to my first choice. And it drives Mr. B crazy (sorry!). I guess I like to see all my options before making a selection so I have no regrets.  

Carpet selected. Check. Paint selected. Check. Next up are fabrics. I decided to go with a rather monochromatic look and here is a sampling of some of the fabrics I considered.  Not all of these will be used.  And there are a few not included here. You will have to stay tuned to see which were selected and which didn't make the cut.

Affordable finds

Open any design magazine or browse thorough almost any design blog and you will most likely see some version of the starburst mirror.  I have always been a fan of the starburst mirror. And when I found this beauty with  a convex mirror a few months ago at Homegoods for only $30 I couldn't pass it up. So, I followed the advice of many: "If you love it you will find a place for it".

The mirror is patiently sitting in my  home office on the floor underneath my desk. The installation will be a bit tricky because it will not sit flush with the wall.  The mirror will actually be layered over the corners of four pictures already hanging on the wall.

I went to Homegoods today and here are a few other things that caught my eye.  Unfortunately, none of them made their way home with me. But it was fun shopping. The hunt is always exciting!

What are your favorite affordable finds from Homegoods? Do any of these catch your eye?



A great desk at a great price (only $199).  I'm loving the hardware.



Silver and horn frame and tray.



I really was tempted to buy the genuine white onyx canister.   I love the shape of the black and silver covered dish but the crooked finial was a deal breaker for me.



I would love to see this side table painted a high gloss black.  There's that onyx canister again!



A trio of gorgeous lamps.



Another great pair of lamps.

From My Desk to Yours...

If you read yesterday's post carefully you already knew that this post was coming. 

Here is my office space at home...it is a work in progress.  It is one of my favorite spaces! I share an office with Mr. B. and his desk is on the opposite side of the room.  His side of the office has a completely different vibe than mine. Think mid century modern...and it's way cool. Fortunately, the two styles mesh very well. The room is almost complete.  We just need to finish the cabinetry and a few minor details.

I hope you enjoy a glimpse inside our home.


I love having fresh flowers on my desk.

The painting was a "get well gift" from Mr. B a few years back. I have never framed it because it has moved around the house a few times. However, I think it has found a permanent home now.  One of my pen/pencil holders is actually a YSL make-up brush display from a now defunct I.Magnin store. The clock is from Pottery Barn. The little red book is one of my favorite desktop accessories. It is actually a Berlitz English/Italian dictionary from the 1950's. 

I found this brooch at a flea market and knew I had to have it. I definitely couldn't pass it up since it only cost a buck or two. I love the detail of the embossed leather and stylish gold monogram. I will never actually wear the brooch so it sits on my monogrammed notepad...it found a new life as a paper weight.

I had a lumbar pillow made for my desk chair with an oversized chenille houndstooth pattern. I love the fun, graphic look of the design. It keeps things from looking too serious.





Original photos by Mrs. B.