Horizontal Stripe Drapery

We've all seen them, we all love them (well maybe not everyone) but they are beautiful!  Horizontal striped drapery make a statement to any room. My Pinterest board is loaded with inspirational photos of these beauties.  

Source: hgtv.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Source: conspicuousstyle.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Source: knightmovesblog.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

But when it came time to search for a pair of these I always came up empty handed.  Yes I could get them custom made-but for a price.  I was quoted prices ranging from $170 a panel (which was not too bad considering) all the way up to $400 a panel! So whats a girl to do when she's on a budget?  Enter West Elm.........
I received their Spring catalog and low and behold what did my little eyes spy:


A horizontal stripe shower curtain!

Now I needed drapery panels not a shower curtain- but the lightbulb went off in my head (while I was sitting in the car line waiting to pick up my daughter) and I said why not cut one up and add to it!!!!  So I quickly grabbed my pen-did a few calculations and decided I would only need 3 shower curtains- one for each panel and one to cut up and add length.  AND they were on sale!!  BONUS!!!


They arrived last week:

I only needed two stripes extra for each panel- so I decided to cut from both the top and the bottom of the extra curtain- that way I didnt have to hem anything-cuz Im lazy like that--and I cant hem a straight line to save my soul.

I put right sides together and sewed em up! Now I am not a crazy seamstress- I do know a little about sewing, but this project is really a no brainer- If I can do it-you can too!

And here they are!

Not too shabby for $90!  I even have left over fabric to make a pillow if I wanted.  The only down side of this is there are only two colors of this curtain- the grey & white and a citron & white.

Linking to:

What to do with that red sofa...

Im helping a client with her home remodel and we are soon moving onto the living room once all the flooring is installed.  While her dream is to have all new furnishings (isnt that true for all of us)- its just not an option right now.  So we are trying to incorporate her red sofa into the room while trying to make a serene, light and airy space.  Several years ago when red and gold and heavy dark furnishings were all the rage (I like to call it the Tuscan Tango)- you saw many red sofas.  Now mind you- I am not against red at all-its just a very bossy color and can really demand lots of attention in your room.  Knowing how to use it sparingly is key.  

You could get This:  (my apologies to the owner of this room- I mean no harm)

Or This:

Via: Decor Pad

I created this mood board to show her how we could incorporate the red sofa along with some lighter colors and furnishings.

We are still tweaking this board a bit- she is wanting to add some blue in the mix- similar to the inspiration photo above and maybe tone down the rug.  But we are definitely headed in the right direction.  So what about you? do you have a bossy red sofa your trying to decorate around? or worse-- hubbys big green barcalounger?

Rugs USA Review

I was recently given the opportunity to try out a rug from Rugs USA.  I had several to choose from and finally decided upon the Radiante Hearts rug

When it arrived it was even better than I expected.  Its always hard to order something on-line not knowing what your going to get, but this rug far exceeded my expectations.  I have since recommended Rugs USA to my e-clients.

I decided to put it in my entry, but I love it so much Im thinking of moving it into my master bedroom.

Close-up of the rug.  The colors are cream, aqua blue and gold.

Here are some other amazing rugs from Rugs USA and many of them are on sale!

Modern Trellis

Trans Ocean Chains

Safavieh Dhurri

Surya Jill Rosenwald

So be sure to check out Rugs USA next time your in the market for a rug.  They not only carry rugs but great mirrors and lamps as well.

Emily A .Clark

Today I am over at Emily A. Clark participating in her new series "Send me a picture"- come visit me HERE.

And I can't wait to show you what West Elm (well the UPS man) delivered yesterday- I did a little tweaking to it and put it up in my office- and I LUV it!

Designer Challenge

Hello Friends!! Today I am over at Satori Design for living participating in her Designers Challenge.  I was given the choice of these three rugs:

Come see what I chose and the room I built around it.

E-Client Boy & Girl Room

I recently was contacted by the sweetest gal. Her and her husband have adopted two precious girls from China, have a sweet little boy of their own and are now expecting a new baby!  WOW!
She was wanting to put the two 3yr olds together in a room-a girl and a boy-so she asked me to help design a gender neutral room with a little punch of color.




Here is the room (this was a photo taken from the previous owners of the home):

She had already purchased these beautiful beds from Restoration Hardware and just needed help pulling the room together with color and fabric.

And here's what I came up with:  I decided to add a little pop of coral to her daughters side and the spring green to her sons side- both of these colors work well with the navy.

I received an email from her recently and she loved it so much she had already purchased all the items on the board!  Its emails like that which make this job so much fun!!!


p.s.-out of respect  of my paying clients I will not share sources.Thank you for your understanding.

Dallas Market

This past weekend was a whirlwind of crazy.  I took a little road trip up to Dallas for the Dallas Market Home & Gift Show.  Oh boy did I see some fun stuff.  Unfortunately all I had was my phone for photos- so you will have to excuse the quality of these pictures.

Lots of fun new lighting from this showroom:

Love this gold & linen drum shade chandelier.  

Lots of weathered wood lamps:

A perfect mix- weathered wood & gold!!

You can't tell from this photo- but this lamp was huge and had an amazing chocolate silk shade.

A little chandy for a bathroom or nursery.

This next showroom had the most amazing bed linens from Lili Alessandra.  I actually got to meet the founder of this company back in the Fall- she has impeccable taste and her silks and linens are all washable!  The applique of her linens are all hand-applied!  And her newest line includes some fun new colors- like charcoal, navy and coral.  Email me if you are interested in any of her items-they are not cheap but boy they are totally worth the splurge!

This photo looks pink- but its actually a very beautiful coral.

The navy was so classy.

The Global Views showroom was one of my faves!

One day I will own this orange rug!! I have no clue where I will put it!

This gold console table was amazing!

Their upholstered pieces are in this butter soft leather-that seems to feel very kid friendly.  Who says you have to sacrifice chic-ness when you have kiddos with cheeto-crusted hands.

That same rug- but in gray (and yes I want this one too!!)

Leather dining chair with nail head trim:

Loving this peacock rug!

Beautiful wall sconces

You can't tell from this photo but this chandelier was massive!!

Hope you enjoyed a little tour of Dallas Market.  I also took TONS of photos of all the Christmas Shops!  You can't start dreaming too early!