Friday Find - Pottery Barn Kids Harper Frame

Gallery walls have been hugely popular the past few years. Add some pop to yours with this awesome look for less:

Pottery Barn Harper personalized frame - $69 for the square 8x10

OR

Green Tree Gallery's frames from Hobby Lobby - regularly $19.99 for the 8x10.

On sale they are $10! There is no beating that. And there's the added bonus of laughing at the staged pictures in them. These have to be the cheesiest I've ever seen!

Don't Forget About Waterlogue!

I know it's been months since this app burst on the scene, but don't forget its potential for custom art. We have a tendency in this day and age to move on to the next hottest app and Waterlogue should be a constant in the art and decor world. It's the fastest, cheapest, easiest way to create your own original art. The flowers are in bloom, kids are playing in the grass, on the beach, and on and on it goes! Here are some of my favorite examples:

My sweet baby girl.
Before Picture (nothing special, but look what waterlogue does for it!)

And after. Had printed out as an 8x10 for our picture wall:

A random picture of a flamingo that I took with my iphone from a magazine ad. Pretty in its own right, but not art worthy. Ps: loving flamingos right now and all the shades of pink and coral in them. A post to come on that in the future.

After - custom art for an art wall!

Last example - a photo I took of Alcatraz from too far away to be anything great. 

And now - a nice little abstract landscape. 

I've found that often pictures that don't seem "special" turn out the best and pictures that are gorgeous already don't look good in waterlogue.

Enjoy the spring and go make some art!

High Point Market 2013 - Some of my Favorite Finds

Market is like Disneyland for designers. Or should I say Vegas for designers? We spent 8 hours in the same building that had no clocks, no windows, and bartenders constantly offering free cocktails to entice you to spend more money. And it was AWESOME! It truly was a blast and I loved finding great products for my clients. Below are some of my favorite finds, broken down into categories. As always, my photography skills are lacking and these pics in no way do these items justice.

ART - I'm an art junkie, so most of my time at market was spend in those showrooms. I was in heaven.

First up is a new introduction of framed minerals from a high end art company. I'm giving myself mad props because I made my own version of these almost a whole year ago! What can I say, I'm always ahead of the trends :) And no, humility is not one of my virtues.

Abstract art is one of my favorite styles, so those always capture my attention for a while. I checked this one out specifically for a client:

I'm also loving the nod to angel wings. Trend alert! A lot of wings and feathers happening.

 

Wings of Love by Natural Curiosities

I stopped by the Natural Curiosities showroom because they use a lot of gold leaf and I haven't seen anything quite like what they do. I couldn't walk away from these one of a kind feather silhouettes on natural paper. Had to have one. I purchased the pink and silver version, of course. But here's a close up of a red/orange one also:

Feather Monoprints from Natural Curiosities

And I loved watching an artist create pieces on site. Did not want to leave that place.

LIGHTING

I have a huge love affair with lighting. 

My favorite ceiling fixture I saw was this huge lacquer drum pendant, appropriately named the "Penelope" (that is my sister's name!). I'll take one in every color please.

Loved these looks also:

FURNITURE

What can I say? Love love love it all.

Cocktail table with bone inlay

Awesome console tray table - it's huge!

 

The above chairs are quite possibly my favorite pieces. Not only are they gorgeous (AND in gold, AND black, AND navy blue), but actually so comfortable I didn't want to get up.

 

 

This hot pink cocktail ottoman was my last stop for the evening. As you can see, my wine glass was empty and while talking with the VP of this furniture company, I told him I was "born and braised" in Charlotte. It was time to go!

My Latest Look for Less - Sunburst Mirror

I've been drooling over sunburst mirrors for months and months before pulling the trigger on one. I just couldn't get what I wanted for my budget. Until I found this little beauty. I used it in my own master bedroom and it looks awesome!

I wanted the look of this Horchow mirror, but the one below is $395 plus a $50 delivery fee. Uh, nope. Check it out:

Instead, I found this one from Home Depot for around $40.

I love finding the look for less! Have you found an awesome deal lately?
Let me know your latest score ~

Chevron Floor Poll! Please Give me your vote

Ok friends, I need your opinion. I'm finally refacing my U-G-L-Y original 1960's powder room. I love a fabulous powder room and feel it's a place to go bolder because the space is small and separate from all the rooms in your house. Ideally I'd wallpaper it, wire it for sconces and a chandelier, and put new flooring down. But as usual, I have to do it on a very small budget so all that awesomeness is out.

Here's my plan:
- Keep the vintage sink and cabinet (already put new faucet on) and just give it a fresh coat of high gloss black paint. Everything else will go.

- Replace the cheapola chrome vanity light

- Replace the mirror over sink

- Paint the walls a fun color

- Add some fabulous funky art

- And here's the big change and DIY project: White and gold chevron painted floors!! Currently we have 1960's laminate. I'm going to attempt to paint it with porch paint. So please let me know, love the gold chevron floor or is it too much? Is chevron here to stay? I'd do it in a heart beat except this is not our forever house and I am a little skittish on my funk factor when the time comes to sell this house. Gloss chocolate quatrefoil kitchen backsplash, gold chevron floors? You hear me? So I need your opinion!

Here's what it looks like now. Yuck!

Here's a little room board of my plan to give you an idea:

Please let me know what you think about the chevron floor!!

Thanks,

Margaret

My Homegoods Score of the Week

I'm addicted to Homegoods. It's my happy place. And this week, I needed a pick-me-up. It is always hard to walk away empty handed from that place, but I try not to buy anything unless it is truly awesome or truly a good deal.

Previous scores have included a set of turquoise foo dogs, a pair of huge Chinese ginger jars, a black bow front dresser (the one in my master bedroom), and pickled wood sconces. Those are some of my best ever scores. 

This week it's pair of gorgeous orange and cream pillows. I could NOT walk away from them. I love the color and love the modern abstract print. The print is reminiscent of a flame stitch, which was hot in the '80's and is making a comeback today. The best part? Each pillow was $24.99 and included a down insert!

Check them out:

I found the same pillow online for $219! What!?

I also found these other fabulous items featuring flame stitch print:

Arm chair from Fab.com

Pink, orange, and black fabric (one of my fav color combinations)

Custom artwork from Jennifer Morman on Etsy (this one has been floating around on Pinterest a lot). Love it!

Tell me what you think! Flame stitch: love it or hate it?
~Margaret

How to Display Toddler Art

I love my daughter's precious artwork from preschool. I can't wait until she's a little older and brings home some pieces I can permanently put in some chunky gold frames. I tell a lot of clients to rock that look - it mixes in well with photographs and other "real" art. But for now, her art is a lot of popsicle sticks, plates, and other three dimensional pieces. So, how do you display it creatively? 

I found the solution while designing a toddler playroom for a client. I created a gallery wall of empty frames! Keep a roll of painter's tape hidden nearby and tape up the art inside each frame (roll the tape under each corner so you don’t see it). When new art comes in, just pull the old down and tape up the new. Without the glass you can display so many more things. And I don't know about you, but I'm a slacker about changing out pictures once something is framed and put up on the wall. Taking away the glass and backing of the frame eliminates the hassle of replacing pictures.

As usual, my pictures do NOT do this justice.  Here’s a close up of the gallery wall.

My client’s daughter loves art also, so I focused on this art wall the most. Circle chalkboard decals are at her height to doodle. We also stored art supplies in cute plastic containers up on the bookshelf. A drawing table and chairs completes that side of the playroom. I love doing children’s rooms! 

Here's the before:

 Here are some afters:

    

Hollywood Regency is HOT!

Home decor is always in flux, but I think some elements are here to stay: luxe fabrics, mirrored furniture, and lacquered accent pieces. These are some hallmark staples pulled from the Hollywood Regency style. Hollywood Regency originates from the 1930’s and is making a huge comeback these days. I’m currently working with a client who loves this style and I created this Regency inspired home office for her.

The desk and slipper chair are both curved, which I think is a great way to bring the Regency feel into your house in a subtle way. The lacquered sideboard serves as great storage behind the desk and is flanked by silver bamboo floor lamps. A touch of Asian influence is also part of the Regency look – think Gingko leaves, bamboo, and fretwork. And of course, you have to have bling! This 9-light chandelier with round crystals fits the bill! Add some velvet drapery and this room is done.

I heart this room.

What do you think of Hollywood Regency – love it or hate it??

Master Bedroom Makeover 3 - Partial Reveal!

I'm almost finished with our master bedroom makeover and I'm thrilled with the results. It matches the image of a luxe cocoon I had in my head that I've always wanted. But you know the drill, the bedroom is the last place in your house that guests see, so you drag your feet on it. In fact, I'm STILL working on the accessories and replacing the lamps with swing arm sconces. I wouldn't hold your breath on seeing a picture of that anytime soon! I've been so busy with client work (yay!), I've neglected the details I want for this room. Having a photographer come take a good picture is another of those details on the back burner....SO to keep you in the loop, here's the latest picture from my phone. What you can't tell from it is the gorgeous deep gray of the walls, the geometric print on the cream sections of the drapery, the slight snakeskin print on the floor lamp shade, and much more. Again, hope to have better pictures and more changes up to show soon!
M

Master Bedroom Makeover 2 - The Chair

Here's another little peek into my master bedroom makeover. I was so inspired by this fabric it became the color story of my room - gray, coral, cream, navy, and white. Can't wait to see how all those colors come together, right? Me too. I'm slowly getting there!

I love to have at least 1 chair in a bedroom and I desperately needed a new one for mine. In the spirit of the Pinterest/DIY craze, I decided to find a vintage one and repaint and upholster myself. Here's the before and after! I'm sooooo in love. Let me know what you think!