DC Temporium

Fellow DC-ers, check out DC Temporium on H St. NE July 23rd - Aug 15th.  Local artists and designers are showcasing their works (different designers each week).  I bought a really comfy scarf by DeNada and a cool T-shirt from Jon Wye.

Happy Shopping!

Spruced Up

In my continuous effort to furnish my new house, I found this great website and blog called Spruce.  Spruce is based in Austin and they re-upholster furniture using great fabrics.  These ladies have a great eye for design and patterns.  I would love to splurge to have one of their pieces in my home.  And yes Virginia, they do ship outside of Texas.  Here's what I'm drooling over right now, check them out...

http://www.spruceaustin.com/

Steal vs Splurge

It's been a while since the last post, it's mainly due to work and the purchase of a new home!  With a purchase comes more shopping but different shopping, home decor shopping.  Who would have known that accessories and furniture could be so expensive. I find myself looking for more opportunities to get great deals and find those affordable furniture and home decor stores.  From a national chain perspective, the big ones I thought were great to shop at were Room & Board, CB2, and West Elm. 

Room and Board just opened a new fabulous store on the corner of 14th St NW and T St NW in Washington, DC.  I call this place an Ikea for grown-ups.  It's a large four story building with eye candy for the home decorating fiend.  It even has a roof-top to showcase all their wonderful outdoor furniture.  The place is great for inspiration but I have to say is way too expensive.  They had a throw pillow for $119.  Seriously?!  $119 for one 18 x 18 pillow.

I love CB2's catchy tag line - "Affordable Modern" - and that is exactly what it is.  If you are ever looking for something in orange, this store will have it.  They are expanding stores throughout the US so hopefully they will make it to DC soon.

West Elm is the bomb.  I bought a sectional couch that retails for $2500+ for $520.  The store location in downtown DC was closing and I got a fabulous deal on the floor display.  When I see things in other stores and get over the sticker shocked, I am pleasantly surprised to find something similar there for much less.  I love their bedding and throw pillows, they always have such colorful prints and great textured fabrics.

So it goes without saying that when I found some beautiful pieces, however; they were a little pricey.  But I never let a price tag get me down...below are a couple of examples of the inspiration (and much pricier) item and then execution at a lower price so I can save the ka-ching for jewelry!  Can you tell the difference?


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Above: Room and Board Natual Steel Box Frame 5x7 ($89)

Below: CB2 Oxide Frame 5x7 ($29.95)

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Above: Room and Board Louis Ghost Chair - Phillip Starck ($410)

Below: Ezmodfurniture.com Ghost Chair replica ($165)