Have you seen the new Jamie Young lamps lately? Some of the bases are pretty much the same, but they have some beautiful new fabrics.
If you are not familiar with Jamie Young, check it out. It's a really cool line. Well-made and not too terribly expensive. Plus you can swap out the shades to create different looks.
Here are some of our favorites:
We'll be posting these up in our Jamie Young Lamps section by the end of this week.
PS Did you notice the slideshow? Cool heh? We just discovered it on Picasa. It's free and super simple to use.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Contemporary Dinnerware
Do you ever go to fancy restaurants and wish you can buy the dinnerware? The ones that are so cool and make everything look better? Well, we saw some at the Dallas show and we thought we'd share it with you. It's so cool, and not too expensive either. The line is made in Germany--very contemporary and sleek.
Here are some examples:
You can buy them directly at the vendor's web site. They are sold in Euro.
Here are some examples:
Monday, July 5, 2010
Dreaming of A Modern Beach Home
Are you summering somewhere this summer? Not us! We're stuck here at work, trying to make a living.
But indulge in fantasies we must. So let's look at some really, really pretty modern beach houses today...
In case you are wondering, this house is in Alys Beach, Florida. Don't you just love how simple and neutral it is?
But indulge in fantasies we must. So let's look at some really, really pretty modern beach houses today...
In case you are wondering, this house is in Alys Beach, Florida. Don't you just love how simple and neutral it is?
Pretty Linens from Lili Alessandra
We saw the bedding/decorative pillows/drapery line from Lili Alessandra in Dallas last week and we just fell in love. It's really pretty, but in a clean-lined, modern kinda of way.
If you like neutral colors, soft and pretty bedding you'll dig this line. The best thing about it is you can get coordinating pieces for everything. For example, you can order the headboard to coordinate with the bedding, drapery and so on...
Here are some samples:
We'll be posting this online in our decorative pillows and bedding section soon. In the mean time, if you would like pricing info please drop us a line...
If you like neutral colors, soft and pretty bedding you'll dig this line. The best thing about it is you can get coordinating pieces for everything. For example, you can order the headboard to coordinate with the bedding, drapery and so on...
Here are some samples:
Monday, June 21, 2010
Modern Bookcases
We've been struggling with the decision whether to buy an iPad or not. We are late adopter, or maybe even no adopter, type when it comes to technology. There is something about holding a book and flipping the pages that is really satisfying to us.
That is, until you want to carry ten books with you when you travel. And most of them are hardbacks. Times like that make us wonder if printed books are going the way of CDs, you know. Like, who buys CD anymore?
But as we were driving down the Melrose Design district the other day, this gorgeous bookcase from the Poliform showroom almost caused us to crash the car. It is STUNNING! It's huge and it's perfect if you have a loft with very tall ceiling.
We don't have the pricing information for this item, sorry. Poliform is very high-end and upscale, so it is probably really expensive. But, if you have a really good carpenter, it's probably really easy to build! And, wouldn't it be great as a room divider too? Just make sure your carpenter anchor it properly.
You see, there is always a place for books! Ipad or no Ipad.
To see more bookcases from Poliform, click here.
That is, until you want to carry ten books with you when you travel. And most of them are hardbacks. Times like that make us wonder if printed books are going the way of CDs, you know. Like, who buys CD anymore?
But as we were driving down the Melrose Design district the other day, this gorgeous bookcase from the Poliform showroom almost caused us to crash the car. It is STUNNING! It's huge and it's perfect if you have a loft with very tall ceiling.
We don't have the pricing information for this item, sorry. Poliform is very high-end and upscale, so it is probably really expensive. But, if you have a really good carpenter, it's probably really easy to build! And, wouldn't it be great as a room divider too? Just make sure your carpenter anchor it properly.
You see, there is always a place for books! Ipad or no Ipad.
To see more bookcases from Poliform, click here.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Five Ways to Make Your House Younger
Did you see "Hot In Cleveland" last week? We didn't either, mainly because we don't even know how to find TV Land on our TV. If you miss it, you can see the full episode here.
Anyway, the reason we mention it is because reading a LA Times review on the show we saw one funny line-- "To think we spent all that time and effort and money trying to look 10 years younger and 10 pounds lighter," says Malick, a recently unemployed soap star now being offered grandma roles, "and all we had to do was crash-land in Cleveland."
You'll have to be at that age to know what we are talking about! You know, the age where we look at younger women more than our husbands do? The age that we keep saying to ourselves, man, if I can only have my old body back with my current brain?
Which leads us to this point, do you know your house can look 10 years younger too? Most people don't realize this, but the way we decorate our house is very much like the way we dress, it literally can add or subtract a few years.
Here are five ways you can instantly update your home:
1) Use fresh and happy colors via use of wallpapers, paints and fabrics.
Wallpapers are so in now. We love, love it. Not as much to wallpaper every room like they did in the sixties, but by wallpapering just one wall or a small bathroom or dining room, you can instantly freshen things up.
2) Get rid of things that are outdated.
You know how mom's jean just add 10 years to your age and 10 lbs to your butt? Outdated things like ivy silk plants, sofa arm covers, oak furniture, shabby chic sofas (so 80s!) are the equivalent of mom's jeans. Worse yet, it screams "grandma"!
3) Update your furniture
Furniture is like fashion. It changes with time. You probably notice that furniture are not as heavy as they use to be. The heavy, ornate look for furniture (think Real Housewives of Orange County/New Jersey/Atlanta) are as out as McMansions. Rather, look for furniture that are modern and clean-lined with fresh designs. If you have upholtery pieces with good bones (say, a very comfortable sofa), consider re-upholstering it with new fabrics. The fabric choices nowadays are amazing.
4) Get small little things that count.
Sometimes things are so tough that shopping is not an option (2008-2009, anyone?). But you know how sometimes a little thing can make us feel much better, say, a tube of pretty lipstick? It's like that for the home too. We spend so much time in our home, it's ok to treat yourself a little bit. Little things like dressing your bed with really good sheets, make your bathroom like a spa etc. goes a long way. You see this with a good hotel--it's the little details that make all the difference.
So consider buying a new rug, a couple of pretty pillows--it doesn't have to be expensive. Homegoods is a good store for bargains like this. Buy lots of books secondhand. They make you look smart (and great accessories too).
Note: A good source for hotel things is American Hotel Registry. They sell actual hotel sheets, pillows and mattresses and from what we can see, the prices are pretty good and that you can buy directly from them. (We are not affiliated with this site in anyway)
5) Go contrarian.
The problem with trend is that after a while everything looks the same. Remember how Juicy Couture was all the rage just a couple of years back? What happened now to those velour tracksuits?
Home trends are like that too. After a while everyone's house look the same. Enough with the granite counter already. Enough with one paint color for each room. And please, do we need 10,000 square feet home?
The best styles are the ones that buck against the trend, stay true to the classic, and retain its integrity.
Go with your personality and your style, unless, of course, you have no style (in that case, consider hiring help).
Just remember that simpler is better, and less is more.
Anyway, the reason we mention it is because reading a LA Times review on the show we saw one funny line-- "To think we spent all that time and effort and money trying to look 10 years younger and 10 pounds lighter," says Malick, a recently unemployed soap star now being offered grandma roles, "and all we had to do was crash-land in Cleveland."
You'll have to be at that age to know what we are talking about! You know, the age where we look at younger women more than our husbands do? The age that we keep saying to ourselves, man, if I can only have my old body back with my current brain?
Which leads us to this point, do you know your house can look 10 years younger too? Most people don't realize this, but the way we decorate our house is very much like the way we dress, it literally can add or subtract a few years.
Here are five ways you can instantly update your home:
1) Use fresh and happy colors via use of wallpapers, paints and fabrics.
Wallpapers are so in now. We love, love it. Not as much to wallpaper every room like they did in the sixties, but by wallpapering just one wall or a small bathroom or dining room, you can instantly freshen things up.
Thibaut.com
2) Get rid of things that are outdated.
You know how mom's jean just add 10 years to your age and 10 lbs to your butt? Outdated things like ivy silk plants, sofa arm covers, oak furniture, shabby chic sofas (so 80s!) are the equivalent of mom's jeans. Worse yet, it screams "grandma"!
3) Update your furniture
Furniture is like fashion. It changes with time. You probably notice that furniture are not as heavy as they use to be. The heavy, ornate look for furniture (think Real Housewives of Orange County/New Jersey/Atlanta) are as out as McMansions. Rather, look for furniture that are modern and clean-lined with fresh designs. If you have upholtery pieces with good bones (say, a very comfortable sofa), consider re-upholstering it with new fabrics. The fabric choices nowadays are amazing.
4) Get small little things that count.
Sometimes things are so tough that shopping is not an option (2008-2009, anyone?). But you know how sometimes a little thing can make us feel much better, say, a tube of pretty lipstick? It's like that for the home too. We spend so much time in our home, it's ok to treat yourself a little bit. Little things like dressing your bed with really good sheets, make your bathroom like a spa etc. goes a long way. You see this with a good hotel--it's the little details that make all the difference.
So consider buying a new rug, a couple of pretty pillows--it doesn't have to be expensive. Homegoods is a good store for bargains like this. Buy lots of books secondhand. They make you look smart (and great accessories too).
Note: A good source for hotel things is American Hotel Registry. They sell actual hotel sheets, pillows and mattresses and from what we can see, the prices are pretty good and that you can buy directly from them. (We are not affiliated with this site in anyway)
5) Go contrarian.
The problem with trend is that after a while everything looks the same. Remember how Juicy Couture was all the rage just a couple of years back? What happened now to those velour tracksuits?
Home trends are like that too. After a while everyone's house look the same. Enough with the granite counter already. Enough with one paint color for each room. And please, do we need 10,000 square feet home?
The best styles are the ones that buck against the trend, stay true to the classic, and retain its integrity.
Go with your personality and your style, unless, of course, you have no style (in that case, consider hiring help).
Just remember that simpler is better, and less is more.
Masculine Furnishings for Men
Men usually don't have that much say in the decorating of your home, do they? We think because if we leave it up to them all they will buy is big screen TVs and Lazy Boy chairs. Say what you will about stereotype. It exists because it's usually true.
So consider this a "Straight Women for Straight Guys" intervention. Furnishings can be very masculine and stylish at the same time. Here are some of our favorite furniture lines that have that combination:
Thomas O'Brien for Hickory Chair:
This line is what we would describe as modern American classic. Very clean-lined. Solid, neutral colors. A little bit pricey, but it's the kind of furniture that won't go out of style for a long time.
Michael Weiss for Vanguard Furniture
This is another one of our favorite collection. Manly, but not overly so. There are some soft touches in the details that we like. Less expensive than Thomas O'Brien, and the quality is just as nice.
Brownstone Furniture:
If you are looking for an affordable line with coordinating and matching items, Brownstone is a good choice. Very inexpensive. They just added a new upholstery collection, which is really nice. We like the upholstery collection a lot more than the casegoods (industry term for wood pieces).
Bolier Furniture
If your man likes really, really simple, clean-lined things he'll like this line. Pricey (more on the wood pieces than upholstery-the upholstery products are a bit more reasonable). It could be a little severe (because it's all straight lines and geometric and muted colors).
As always, warm up these rooms with accessories--such as rugs, artwork, fresh flowers, books etc. We can't emphasize enough what a huge difference this would make.
So consider this a "Straight Women for Straight Guys" intervention. Furnishings can be very masculine and stylish at the same time. Here are some of our favorite furniture lines that have that combination:
Thomas O'Brien for Hickory Chair:
This line is what we would describe as modern American classic. Very clean-lined. Solid, neutral colors. A little bit pricey, but it's the kind of furniture that won't go out of style for a long time.
Michael Weiss for Vanguard Furniture
This is another one of our favorite collection. Manly, but not overly so. There are some soft touches in the details that we like. Less expensive than Thomas O'Brien, and the quality is just as nice.
Brownstone Furniture:
If you are looking for an affordable line with coordinating and matching items, Brownstone is a good choice. Very inexpensive. They just added a new upholstery collection, which is really nice. We like the upholstery collection a lot more than the casegoods (industry term for wood pieces).
Bolier Furniture
If your man likes really, really simple, clean-lined things he'll like this line. Pricey (more on the wood pieces than upholstery-the upholstery products are a bit more reasonable). It could be a little severe (because it's all straight lines and geometric and muted colors).
As always, warm up these rooms with accessories--such as rugs, artwork, fresh flowers, books etc. We can't emphasize enough what a huge difference this would make.
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