Ringing in the New Year with Color!

Many designers have predicted that there will be a trend towards bolder, brighter colors in home decor in 2012. Judging by what I've seen in home furnishing stores in the past few weeks, it's looking like this prediction may hold true.  Over the holidays my sister took me to a Maryland store called "Urban Country" that she was pretty sure I would love - let's just say she knows me pretty well because I was in heaven!  They had amazing upholstered pieces that were almost all made with neutral fabrics but they added some bold, bright colors with pillows and throws.

Urban Country

Urban Country

I've also seen some beautiful colorful pillows and throws at Anthropologie such as this Orimono Flower Pillow with petals made of various jewel-tone prints

Anthropologie's Orimono Flower Pillow

 and this beautifully embroidered Finishing Flourish Pillow.

Anthropologie's Finishing Flourish Pillow

Anthropologie also has a gorgeous brightly colored Sari Throw that is made with strands of recycled saris!

Anthropologie's Sari Throw

All of these pillows and throws are pretty pricey ($90 and up) so I was excited to walk into Home Goods and see that they have gotten in a load of brightly colored pillows at a fraction of that price.

All of these beauties are just $24.99:

And these gals were just a few bucks more at $29.99:

Of course, each Home Goods has their own unique items so your store may not have these exact pillows but I'll bet you'll find some bright pillow colors when you stroll down their pillow aisles!  What do you think about this trend - do you love it or prefer to stick with more neutral colors?


Does anyone have a great New Year's resolution? One of mine is to have a more organized home in 2012. Assuming that I stick with this resolution (I don't have the greatest track record in being resolute with my resolutions....), you'll see some 2012 blog posts with organizational tips that I've found to be helpful!  Happy New Year to all of you!

  

Great Neutral Area Rugs on Sale at Target

A colorful area rug, such as this one by Dash & Albert, can make your room feel complete when it ties together the colors of your window treatments, fabrics, wall décor, and accessories.

Dash & Albert's Jamaica Ticking Woven Cotton Rug

While I used to always choose colorful rugs for that reason, now I lean towards using rugs with neutral colors. Why?  Because I like to change things up every now and then and having a neutral rug allows you to create a whole new look in the room by bringing in a few new pillows and accessories without being stuck to using the colors in your rug.  Another important factor? Cost. If you want to change up your room’s look, buying a few new pillows and accessories is obviously a whole lot cheaper than replacing an area rug.  For our most recent home reno project – a revamp of our dining/living room – we had to use a custom sized rug since it is a long, narrow room.  I chose to use a neutral taupe carpet and had the edges serged to match the carpet rather than adding a coordinating border.

Looking close-up, you can see that it has a nice texture to it:

This rug will stay put for as long as we’re living in this house, but if the room gets tired-looking after several years, it gives me the freedom to change up the fabrics and accessories to give it some new life.  It can be difficult to find neutral area rugs that are reasonably priced and have a neat texture to them (because if you’re going to go neutral, a textured rug keeps it from being too boring!), but if your room allows you to use a standard size, there are a few great rugs at Target that fit the bill.  Not only are these rugs reasonably priced to start with, but they are on sale through the end of this week.  My first two picks are Target Home’s Popcorn Rugs (they have a great nubby texture!), which come in two colors, including a dark brown:

Target Home Wool Popcorn Rug - Dark Brown

and a gray:

Target Home Wool Popcorn Rug - Gray

Both the dark brown and gray colors are sold in Target stores and online in two sizes: 24” x 36 “ (on sale for $28.49) and 5’ x 7’ (on sale for $150).  The rugs are also available in a larger size (7' x 10') online only for a sale price of $284.99.

Two of the other neutral rugs I like at Target are a weave of braided jute with wool neutrals. The first color option is “Cream”, which is a combination of cream wool & braided jute:

Target Home Wool/Jute Rug - Cream

and the second color option is “Gray”, which is black and gray wool woven with braided jute:

Target Home Wool/Jute Rug - Gray

Both wool/jute color options are available in Target stores and online in a 5' x 7' size for a sale price of $150.  The gray wool/jute rug is also available in the store and online in a 20" x 30" size for a sale price of $23.74.  Both colors are also available in a larger size (7' x 10') online only for a sale price of $318.25.

My final neutral rug pick at Target is a Wool Felted Shag Rug in Cream/Tan.  As you may have guessed by the "shag", it is more bulky than the others so it would definitely not be a good pick for under a dining or kitchen table.  It is a fun, cozy rug though and would be a warm addition to a bedroom with hardwood floors.

Target Home's Wool Felted Shag Rug - Cream/Tan

This rug is available in Target stores and online in a 20" x 30" size (sale price of $23.74) and a 5' x 7' size (sale price of $159).  It is also available online only in a 7' x 10' size for a sale price of $299.25.

Target's sale prices are good through 12/31/11.  Also, if you order online, these rugs qualify for their current promotion of an additional 15% off purchases of $125 or more and free shipping with purchases of $50 or more.  I love double dipping on discounts, don't you?!

Holiday Home Decor Deals

Now that the craziness leading up to the holidays (last minute shopping, present wrapping, entertaining, etc.) has come to a close, I hope that you are enjoying a quiet day with family and friends.  If you aren't so fed up with fighting the shopping crowds that you have sworn off shopping until 2012, there are some great holiday home decor deals to be had.  Many of them are available online so even you pajama shoppers (such as myself!) can get in on the action.  Here are some of the great deals I found:


As a lover of anything with mercury glass, it's no surprise that one of my picks is World Market's Silver Mercury Candleholders.  There are five to choose from including taper, pillar, and hurricane candleholders and they range in price from $4.99 to $8.49, which is half off their original cost.

World Market Silver Mercury Candleholders

Target has a ton of Christmas holiday decor on clearance.  One the 24th, I picked up two of their green Classic Tidings 24" square plaid pillows, which were 50% off at a price of $14.98 each.  They also carry these pillows in a red plaid, which were also on clearance.  They are no longer available online so you'll have to make a run to Target if you like these beauties.

Target's Classic Tidings Plaid Pillow

Crate and Barrel is one of the best places to go for beautiful Christmas ornaments and they are now all 50% off.  I love this set of two hanging glass vase ornaments that you can fill with buds and hang from the tree or (for those of us who wouldn't dream of doing so with kids running around the house) you can scatter several of the filled vases along the center of the table to create a beautiful tablescape.  They are on sale for $1.95 for each pair.

Crate and Barrel's Set of 2 Hanging Glass Vase Ornaments

I also love Crate and Barrel's sliver glitter Curl Trees that can be used as ornaments or placecards.  These whimsical trees are on sale for $5.98 for a set of four. 

Crate and Barrel's Set of 4 Curl Tree Ornaments/Placecards

Pottery Barn always has great holiday decor - ever since seeing this gorgeous picture in their catalog,

I've had my eye on Pottery Barn's Lit Twig Trees, which are made with a handwoven rattan.  The medium size tree (24"H) is $34.99, which is over 70% off the original price of $129.99.  The large tree (36" H) is $76.99, which is over 55% off the original price of $179.00. 

Pottery Barn's Lit Twig Tree

Restoration Hardware has several rustic garlands that are on final sale, including this jingle bell garland as well as handbell and star garlands.  They are all available in the rustic weathered silver finish shown below or in a brass finish and are on final sale for $27.49 (original price was $55). 

Restoration Hardware's Rustic Jingle Bell Garland

Z Gallerie has a ton of home decor items on sale right now, including this Acathus Votive Holder, which would be great for holiday decorating as well as everyday decorating.  Each votive holder is $4.89, which is half off the original price, and they are available in either silver or gold.  A mix of the two colors would be beautiful!   

Z Gallerie Acanthus Votive Holders

Kids would love these adorable Elf Candleholders from CB2.  They are made from cast iron and finished in silver, green, and blue for $3.50 each, which is 50% off their original price. 

CB2 Elf Candleholders

I sincerely appreciate each and every one of you who has visited my new blog this year and wish you and your families the happiest of holidays and a joyful 2012.


Kris

Z Gallerie Zuri Bedding at Amazing Clearance Prices!

Just a quick post to let you know about an amazing deal on Zuri bedding at Z Gallerie.  The duvet and Euro shams have a great ikat pattern on one side and reverse to a coordinating zigzag pattern on the other.  The standard shams and window panels are in the ikat pattern.  It comes in three colorways including Stone:

Z Gallerie Zuri Bedding in Stone

Earth:

Z Gallerie Zuri Bedding in Earth

and Sea:

Z Gallerie Zuri Bedding in Sea

The prices are unbelievable:
King duvet - originally $169.95 - on clearance for $39.99
Queen duvet - originally $149.95 - on clearance for $29.99
King sham or Euro pillow - originally $49.95 - on clearance for $9.99
Standard sham - originally $39.95 - on clearance for $5.99
Window panels in 84" length - originally $49.95 - on clearance for $9.99
Window panels in 96" length - originally $59.95 - on clearance for $9.99


So, you can get a whole queen bedding ensemble (queen duvet, three Euro shams, two standard shams) plus panels for two windows - all for under $112!  This is almost $500 off the original price!  At the time of this post, most of the bedding items were still available online, but they will go fast.  If you don't find the Zuri items you are looking for online, check out the clearance section in the store - there were still many Zuri items left at the Z Gallerie I was at today.  They are all final sale items with no returns.


Good luck with your last day of shopping before Christmas for those of you who still have a few empty checkboxes on your list!  

Pillows of a Girl's Best Friend!

Every few weeks I get a new Serena & Lily catalog in the mail that I instantly devour - I love the colors and patterns of their fabrics, the lines of their furniture, and their unique accessories.  The only problem is that Serena & Lily goods are out of my budget - unless something I'm eyeing goes on a great sale, I can only window shop!  In their most recent catalog, I eyed this cool "Buddy Pillow", which has the bold white silhouette of a dog highlighted against a deep navy background - simple yet so stylish!

Serena & Lily Navy Buddy Pillow

It also comes in three other colorways, including aqua, chambray, and curry.  As expected, the Buddy Pillow isn't cheap ($88).  Being the dog lover that I am, I love the idea of having a few pillows like this for my family room but would like to find them at a more reasonable price point. I did some searching and was surprised to find that there are a lot of great dog pillows to choose from!  


Working our way down from the most expensive to least expensive of my dog pillow finds, Restoration Hardware Baby & Child has adorable applique dog pillow covers - perfect for a child's room or for a more casual space in your home like a kitchen bench seat.  There are four different pillow covers to choose from (Labrador, Golden Retriever, Dachshund, and Dalmatian) at a price of $59 each, which does not include the pillow insert.

Restoration Hardware Baby & Child Applique Dog Pillow Covers

Pottery Barn has Painted Dog Pillow Covers with a more sophisticated flair.  These adorable dogs are screen printed on a cotton/linen background. Two of the pillows (Labrador and Basset Hound) are lumbar sized and sell for $39 and three of them (Boston Terrier, Golden Terrier, and Norwich Terrier) are 18" square and sell for $35.  They can even be personalized with your dog's name.  I absolutely love these pillows, partly because one of them is a Boston Terrier (my favorite!) and also because the linen fabric and watercolor look lends a sophistication to the pillows that would make them at home in even the fanciest room in your house.

Pottery Barn Painted Dog Pillow Covers 

Garnet Hill has a Holiday Dogs Hooked Wool Pillow Cover that would fit right in to a home with "L.L. Bean" type decor.  This pillow is at a great price right now - $38, which is half off the original price of $78.

Garnet Hill's Holiday Dogs Hooked Wool Pillow Cover

Chloe & Olive sells adorable Hot Diggity Dog Pillow Covers in either blue or pink for $33.50.  How cute are these?!  I love the pink colorway for a girl's room - the pink, aqua, and light green are all my favorite girly colors!  The pillows reverse to the strip pattern, which is adorable as well - having a few pillows with the Dachshunds facing front and a few with the coordinating stripes would be a great start to putting together a girl's bedding ensemble.

Chloe & Olive Hot Diggity Dog in Pink

Any time I'm looking for pillows, I always take a look on etsy.com - they are one of the best sources for handmade pillows at reasonable prices.  I love Escarlate Boutique's Pug Pillow cover with its crowed cutie ($27) or the Boston Terrier version ($25).  

Escarlate Boutique on etsy.com Pug pillow cover

Escarlate Boutique on etsy.com - Boston Terrier pillow cover

Since I love natural fabrics and anything with a vintage feel, Restoration Hardware Baby & Child's Dog Prints Pillow Covers rate high on my list of favorites.  The pillow covers are a natural jute burlap  with vintage-style illustrations painted in black with a distressed finish.  They are currently on special for $22 for the "Parade" pillow and $19 for the "Jumping Dog" pillow.  

Restoration Hardware Baby & Child Dog Prints Pillow Covers

Ready for another great pillow deal? West Elm has their  Porcelain Dog Pillow Cover on final sale for $19.99.  These twin spaniels are sitting pretty on a red silk pillow cover - classic! 

West Elm Porcelain Dog Pillow Cover

Home Goods is always going to be one of your best bets for pillows at low prices - like this $16.99 pillow with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel disguised as Santa.  Look for their pet pillows in the pet section (they are usually there rather than being in with the other pillows!).

Home Goods Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Santa Pillow

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the parade of pooch pillows!  If you find any cute ones in your shopping travels, let us in on your find!

Chicken Coop Chic

As a lover of shabby chic, I'm digging all of the different home accessories I've been seeing that make use of chicken wire.  When searching for a new lighting fixture for over our kitchen table, I came across this lantern - never thought I'd like a chicken wire lantern, but isn't it cool?  

Shades of Light Chicken Wire Smokebell Lantern

For a bit more of an industrial vibe, I'm loving Pottery Barn's Harlowe Wire Pendant, which has a chicken wire frame over hand blown molten glass 

Pottery Barn's Harlowe Wire Pendant

Home Goods recently got in a load of metal home accessories, including many with chicken wire.  Check out these chicken wire magazine racks (much cooler in person - they aren't very photogenic...), which were $29.99 each. 

Home Goods Chicken Wire Magazine Rack

What do you think about this big guy that I found at Home Goods?  Fill him with plants (some hanging, some on stands..) and he would make an amazing accent piece!  And he's on clearance - all the better!

Do you want the chicken wire vibe but with a softer touch? - check out Leslie Janson's store on etsy.com.  She's has 20" pillows with chicken wire cotton fabric that she's selling for $50 each.  

Chicken Wire Pillows (Leslie Janson on etsy.com)

Looking for something a bit less expensive?  I found several chicken wire accessories for under $25 like this wire plate holder, which is $14.  It would be a great design element for holding plates kept on open shelving in the kitchen.

Home Decorators Collection Wire Plate Holder

Or how about this chicken wire rack with glass bottles sold by Home Decorators Collection for $24.  Perfect for holding flowers or your most frequently used oils and vinaigrettes!

Home Decorators Collection Glass Bottles and Wire Tray Set

Here's a great deal for ya - how cute is this picture frame from Kmart?  Get it on clearance for just $4! 

Kmart's Chicken Wire Picture Frame (5 x 7) 

I've also loved seeing several furniture revamps in the blogosphere in which glass doors were replaced with chicken wire.  Sausha from blogs Sweet Pickins and Show & Tell refinished this hutch in white, added distressing, and replaced the glass with painted black chicken wire - love, love, love!    

Sweet Pickins Chicken Wire Hutch

It's beautiful, right?! but maybe a little bit bigger of a DIY project than you'd like to take on.  Try this one instead - it's budget friendly and looks quite simple to do - make a chicken wire framed bulletin board by following Project Girl's tutorial.  She shows every step of how to make it and even includes a free download for the calendar and labels (mail, school, bills, etc.).  What a great way to stay organized and be chicken coop chic! 

The Project Girl's Chicken Wire Framed Bulletin Board

Once the craziness of the holiday season is over, I'm going to take on this little DIY project myself.  I'll be sure to show you how it turns out!  
Kris