December 9, 2011

Get the Look

This design has been near and dear to my heart since the moment I set eyes on it.  It's simple but wonderful.  Well styled with the single flower, framed photo, and books.  The pillow offsets the transparent ghost chair just perfectly.  Recreating this look for my own house will have to wait, but here's just a few ideas on how I/we can get a similar look. 


Pinterest 



  1. Modern Glass Desk - BluePrint - $499.  Not the exact floating glass look but certainly a similar feel.  If you're after something more exact, it would be fairly simple to recreate by purchasing a 24" deep glass top table from a local retailer.  Pairing the glass top with a desktop hardware solution such as this Silver Arc from Mockett could work as well.  Just insure that your weight and depth fall within your hardware limits.  
  2. B&W Poster - All Posters - $29.99.  Artwork is very personal, so you should always chose art that either means something to you or speaks to you.  To get the look for even less, recreate your own art using B&W photography.  The poster found here was $29.99 unframed but upwards of $300 if you purchase it framed.  Finding a simple black from for a local hobby shop can save you that additional $300.  
  3. Brushed Steel Globe Lamp - Lamps Plus - $39.95.  While it doesn't have a black shade, it is certainly the right style and you can't argue with that price!  Finding a black shade is as simple as a few thrifting trips, finding one online, or recovering this one.   
  4. Ghost Chair - Amazon.com - $125.00.  If you're after the exact smokey grey look, take a look at this one from Lumens.com for $330.00.  




December 8, 2011

Chairs = Personality

For me, chairs are the personality of any space and can make or break a room.  Look at any living room and the chairs will tell you how that person lives.  A vintage chair could mean they treasure the past.  An overstuffed arm chair chair tells me they enjoy their leisure time, reading a book or lounging with their kids.  A pair of traditional wing backs could tell me they encourage thoughtful conversation.  A family heirloom shows their sentimental side.  A sleek contemporary portrays a stylish and modern couple.

My love of chairs began in college while browsing one of my favorite assigned classrooms books, 1000 Chairs.  One of the few college books that has still made it to my adult home.  I treasure that book and the stories behind every chair.  Class after class we would pour over the designs, memorizing the period, the designer, and the style.  I wish I could say I could recite every chair verbatim, but I took much more out of that class than I did many others.  While I can't say I fully appreciated the class at the time (memorization was not and still isn't my strong suit), it gave me an appreciation for the designers before me.  I smile at every sighting of their beautiful creations still being produced, replicated, or sold today.

Every day while browsing Pinterest I see hundreds of chairs in every room setting telling a story.  If you start to pay attention you will begin to see what I mean:




So there you have it, 9 photos all telling a different story.  If you take that second look, you'll begin to see that it's the chairs that are narrirating.  

All of these chairs and many more can be found on my Pinterest boards 
with links to their original locations. 

December 6, 2011

Mirrored Coffee Table


I know, here I am with the mirrored accents again.  Sorry, I'm not sorry.  =)  Mirrored coffee tables aren't exactly the smartest every day solution, but for a small sitting area, office, or formal living room they are a real knock out.  These two are both beautiful but the biggest difference visually is not only price but size. The larger/more expensive comes from Clayton Gray Home (for the record, I'm a fan of almost everything on their site).  Larger coffee tables are more my style, but for a smaller space or budget you can't go too wrong with the less expensive Target version.  

Target:  $135.99 (regular price $159.99)
Add a decorative touch to your living room with this stylish coffee table. The tapered legs and mirrored surface are compatible with most décor. Simply wipe the table clean with a damp cloth as needed.  (20"H x 36"W x 21"D)

Clayton Gray Home: $1,555.00
Beveled glass coffee table- Mirror (18"H x 48"W x 24"D)

Mirrored Cubes


I love mirrored accents almost as much as I love lucite accents.  You don't need a lot, but it just adds a small pop of glam and kicks any room up a notch.  I'm really digging these mirrored cubes these days.  Either as a small accent table between a pair of chairs or paired up under a console, they're sure to be a hit in about any room.  Check out these two look a likes I found, one for nearly 75% of the other.  Doesn't get much better than that my friends! 

Aged black cube with red undertones, faceted with antiqued mirrors.  (16"W x 18"L)

Horchow: $899
Handcrafted 20" sq. cube features beveled mirrors on a wooden frame.