Great Wall of Plates!

My trusty Lucky Magazine led me to this awesome website called Velocity.  They have some of my favorite home decor designers including Thomas Paul.  Thomas Paul has great prints and colors.  I was particularly drawn to these plates and fabric.  The blues and Asian feel is appropriately modern and cute at the same time.  I plan to use these in non-traditional ways.  I will use them both as pieces of artwork as they are too cute to be eaten on or used on one of my bad DIY sewing projects.  The plates will be perfect in shadow boxes and placed in the master bedroom.  The fabric will be either stretched over a canvas frame or put in an art frame.  Love it!!!

Thomas Paul Hong Kong Garden Dessert Plates (Set of 4)

Thomas Paul Duralee Folly Fabric in Slate

South Beach Getaway

I just spent a well deserved extended weekend in Miami.  We stayed at The W South Beach, a new Starwood property that opened up in July 2009.  This place was a huge design inspiration and applied what we call "Bromstadian Principles".  If you don't know what that is then check out Color Splash Miami.

Below is a compilation of pictures from the hotel.  I love they way The W used pops of color and combines modern, quirky, and traditional elements (pay attention to the red wingback chairs with the jade green cheetah rug - perfection!).  Oddly enough, I used iMovie, an application on my 2006 Macbook that I just realized that was a) there on the computer and b) really easy to use.  Enjoy!

How Cute Is This?

Would you have the heart to wipe your feet on this little cutie?

Twinkle Living Rugs Milan

Skinny Cargo Pant

I heard these J Brand pants were all the rage but I have a fundamental problem with pants without back pockets or little flaps for pockets.  It's just not flattering.

http://www.shopluna.com/products/details.aspx?id=199

Another alternative to the skinny cargo was a pair by Hudson's.  Now these make your backside look super human.  Well worth the investment!

http://www.shopluna.com/products/details.aspx?id=328

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?


=====================================================================

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

Below: CB2 Oxide Frame 5x7 ($29.95)

=====================================================================

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

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