Design Trends to Love or Hate?

A year and and a half ago, I wrote a blog post titled Design Trends { Skip it ? } after I read an article from MSN Lifestyle about design trends that should go away. You can read the blog post here. I weighed in with my opinion on how I felt about the design trends, which by the way a year and a half later some still are going strong :) So when I came across another article via Apartment Therapy sharing an article they read in Elle Decor about the Worst Design Trends of 2011, and I had to read it and weight in. Here's the article form Elle Decor along with my thoughts. 


Elle Decor:  “I adore books and cannot imagine life, or my home, without them,” says Ronda Carman, of All the Best Blog. But for her, books as props have a short shelf life. “Rose Tarlow put it best: ‘An object added for effect instead of affection will always look like an affectation.’”


CLH: I agree, I love books, I love to read. I only buy books for my home that I love and plan to read. It's a plus with they come with pretty colored spines, because they look so pretty on bookcases. So if you see a pretty book like the classic Pride and Prejudice by Penguin Classics in my home, please know I love Jane Austen and that's why I bought the book. I plan on buying more Classics books for my home { The Secret Garden & Northhanger Abbey to name a few } when you buy the books you love, you value you them so much more. 

The books are all pretty, but I'll only buy the ones I love to read :)

Elle Decor: Antiques dealer Richard Shapiro has modernism malaise, calling out the “monotony of one midcentury room after another, all with predictable, gratuitous, gimmicky accessories.” He lobbies for collecting objects from different periods and styles that all have a bit of soul.


CLH: Oh how I love mid century modern, after all our Rancher was built in the 1950's how could I not embrace little in my home. I do think a little goes a long way. I adore ( and get a ton of compliments ) on the MCM Secretary desk I bought via Craigslist and and refinished recently for our living room. I love the clean lines of Mid Century pieces and I personally LOVE finding old pieces { that are new to me } giving them some love and using them in my home.

Elle Decor:  It’s time to retire brightly lacquered Hollywood Regency furniture, says decorator Mary McDonald: “I think we all have seen enough garage-sale junk sprayed in high-gloss Skittles colors to last through the next century.”


CLH:  I disagree with Mary! I adore and never tire of seeing old cast off furniture given a new life because someone has vision. I think its great re-purpose furniture. So many pieces are given new life thanks to spray paint and a can of paint! As the old saying goes, one mans treasure is another mans junk. So whatever Mary, lol. 

{ via Design Sponge }

Elle Decor:  Designer Mario Buatta singles out “dysfunctional decoration,” his term for interiors that don’t relate to people. “Everything is done for styling, and nothing has to do with living— there’s no place to have a conversation or set down a drink,” he says. “The best time to look at a room is the day after you’ve had a party because you see the way people used the space.”


CLH: I agree, for me the best design is practical design. When my friends and family come over, I want them to feel comfortable and relaxed. so while the living room below is pretty, doesn't make sense for my life. Just a little too sterile and not personal enough for me.

{ via here }

Elle Decor: The DIY craze has run its course, says decorator Sheila Bridges, who has seen her share of “earthy, handmade concoctions. Just because it can be reclaimed doesn’t mean it should be.”


CLH: Seems to me Shelia is lacking some vision or hasn't been on Pinterest. I love love a good DIY project and I love so many pretty and crafty & artsy items on Esty. It's fun to 'think out side the box' in terms of retail stores. I think a mish mash of homemade and store bought goods and adds interest in a home + you put your own personal stamp when you DIY a project and you save money and up your own personal skill level. And lastly there's a certain satisfaction you get when you DIY :) I love all the early 'concoctions' below, bring it on the more the merrier :)

Mug Cozy, yes!

{ via Etsy seller Lilac Gifts }

DIY Kids Cushion, Yes!

{ via Pinterest }

For me interior design and decor isn't about spending lots of money its about getting creative and having fun. My husband and I are all about creating a home we love on a budget, and when your on a budget it forces you to get creative :) For me that's when I'm most creative. 

Now I'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic. Which design trends to do love or hate and why? do you agree with the designers in the Elle Decor Magazine? Also which trends have you skipped and why?

Fabric Sources Dos

Are you ready for round two Dos of great Fabric Sources! Missed my Fabric Sources Uno post, read it here I must warn you again this might end up being a long post. But first, I received an email from a lovely reader asking: 

 'Where do I shop locally for fabric besides Calico Corners?'

I also shop at Hancock Fabrics, but I rarely find fabric style I love, since I mostly love more modern fabric prints it can be hard. When I shopping there I mainly check out their huge clearance section and usually find a fun fabric or two. I also shop at Joann's, they have great coupons that I use for sewing notions. I also check out the Home Decor fabric that you have to order to see if they have fabric I found online to see a sample in person (rather than ordering a sample) sneaky I know! 


Fabric Sources part Dos all consist for great fabric resources where you can find yards and yards for fabrics under $ 10 bucks. Denver Cloth Shop is a great place to shop for affordable fabrics.

Fabric Sources

Fabric Information

Frabric Sample # 1 Suzani Arizona 9.95 is a great print that will liven up in room, drapes would be so pretty
Frabic Sample # 2 Best Friends $ 9.95 dog beds made with this fabric would be darling, with contrasting piping,
Blue Ticking Stripe $ 7.95 I love this ticking fabric, it has a great beachy vibe to it, cafe curtains would darling with this fabric

Mary Jo's Cloth Shop has got to be one of the best places around for lots of home decor fabric in a wide variety of price points. The website is set up, so you can search by fabric manufactoerer or style which saves a lot of time.

Fabric Samples

Fabric Information


Fabric Sample # 1 Cheri $ 8.98 is a pretty fun fabric, I'm thinking kids bedroom?
Fabric # 2 Misosa $ 8.98 wouldn't this fabic make pretty outdoor curtains on a porch
Fabric # 3 Lita $ 10.98 such a pretty design, I love the background color
Fabric # 4 Azure $ 8.98 a large ottoman would look amazing covered in this fabric


I'm glad you all liked the fabric tips in my first post about great fabric souces. Here are a few more fabric tips.

Fabric Tips


Swatches, Sawthces! If the fabric store your shopping at online or in store offers fabric swatches, buy them. Most in store retailers that I've come across will cut you a fabric sample for free. Getting a small sample for less then a few dollars, will end up saving you money and worries. I ordered the following fabric sawtaches to help detrimine if the colors would work well in my home and make sure I liked the quialty and texture of the fabric.

There's nothing worse than buying fabric online and when it arrives it looks awful. I've had this experience with fabric in the past when I've skipped ordering a sample. Remember samples are your friend :)
What the look of custom drapes? Add grommets to the top of your curtains. Many local fabric stores sell grommet kits, this is a simple diy project. Also great for making your own shower curtains. The grommet kit below requires no tools and will you a custom look.

Another way to create custom drapes, is to add a piece of fabric fun fabric to the bottom of stock curtains. I customized simple Ikea curtains by adding 1 1/2 of fabric to the bottom of the drapes, which added a bit whimsy to my dining room and complemented our color scheme. 

What fabric tips do you apply when shopping for fabric? Find any great deals on fabric latyl?

Extra Large Mirror for Our Dining Room?

I've been thinking about moving our large mirror that resides in our living and putting in our dining room. Since we have a small dinning room, I think the mirror would make the space look larger and bounce more light around. Here's how our dining room currently looks.  I would place the mirror where our chalk board is and move the chalk board above the buffet.

The mirror thats currently over our buffet would be placed elsewhere in our house. 

The mirror I want to move into our dining room currently resides in our living room. It's a large mirror and super heavy.

Below is an old picture of the mirror, leaning against our living wall before it was hung { right after we first moved into our house}. This gives you a better idea how large the mirror is. I bought a few years ago at Ross for $ 49.99. It was so large, it didn't fit into the trunk of my car. 

Mr. CHL isn't convinced a the extra large mirror will look good in the dinning room. I think it will be perfect for the space, just hoping our light switch and alarm box isn't in the way. I love the two dining rooms below both have extra large mirrors.

{ via Decorpad }

{ via Decorpad }

What do you think of my idea to move our large mirror into the dining room? Will it bounce more light around our house and make the space look larger, or will it look to big and out of place?

Throw in the Mix

A couple weeks back I won $ 40.00 bucks from AllModern.com thanks to a giveaway hosted by Amanda from Little House on the Corner { thanks again } While browsing the website, I decided to spend my loot on Unison Reed Organic Blanket in Khaki. I love how the throw looks in our living room. I really like the the design on the throw and the softness & its generous size.

It looks cool hanging from the side our our sofa

Or tucked behind the our sofa cushion

Or just chilling on our armless chair

The throw was $ 40.00, I all had to do was pay the shipping total cost $ 6.99 can't beat that!

Secretary Style

Two weekends ago I saw Sex in the City with some friends and like a lot of ladies all across the country I fell head over heels in Love with Carrie and Big's apartment. But what caught my eye the most in the entire apartment was Carrie's secretary desk in their bedroom { desk below }.

This desk is made by Hickory Chair and is called the Hallings Secretary. I love its simplicity clean lines creamy white color with the deep walnut stain inside.

I liked the secretary desk was a combination of desk and dresser combined into one. For awhile now, my husband and I have been talking about using our third bedroom as an office or a TV room etc. So we really don't want to spend a lot of money on a desk { if or needs change in the third bedroom } only to sell it on Craigslist or try to make it work another room.

It dawned on my while I was watching the movie and soaking up the yummy decor, a secretary desk might be the perfect solution for our small home.

After doing some browsing online, I decided the best secretary desk style for our house in a desk / dresser combination because its so versatile. I like that will be able to use a our laptop when the desk is open and hopefully store it in there when the desk is closed. I also love that secretary desk come with compartments, great for storing bills and other office supplies. I would use the bottom drawers to store my craft supplies, pictures, sewing supplies and fabric.
 I have two ideas for the 'look' of our secretary desk.

Idea # 1

Paint the outside a white and stain the inside a dark walnut, like the desk above

Idea #

Paint the outside a creamy gray white and the inside a bright fun color that ties in with the color scheme of the room.

Here are a few secretary desks that I really like. The one below is a great mid century danish secretary desk, if I find one this fab, I'd likely stain it a dark walnut shade instead of painting it. I also like that this secretary desk can be tucked away in a living room.

{ via Apartment Therapy }

I love the idea of doing a fun paint or wall paper style to the outside of the desk.

{ via here }

{ via here }

Most likely the secretary desk we buy we'll be a vintage piece. I'll be shopping Craigslist and local thrift stores in search of a secretary desk that's a good fit. Here are a few a came across on Craigslist.

I like this one alot, it has pretty feet for $ 150.00 and great pulls.

This one below is a great price for $ 75.00, but the bottom of the desk looks 'heavy' but you can tell its made so well, so this might be a maybe.

I'm in no hurry to buy one since I'm hoping to snag one for around $ 80 bucks or less. Plus we have so many projects to tackle around here, the desk will most likely sit in our garage for A while.

What do you think of secretary desks? Would you consider one for a small space / versatile spot in your home over a traditional desk?

Design Trends { Skip It? }

Recently I came across an article from MSN Lifestyle section say ' 9 Decor Trends to Skip ' I read the article and have my own opinion and my home according to MSN - has some items I should have skipped or put away! Here's the article along with my thoughts.

Trend #1: Antlers

Why Skip It: When the antlers craze hit, it hit hard. Mounted horns earned countless shelter mag centerfolds. Eventually, the trend spread to include objects fashioned out of antlers, from chandeliers to toilet paper holders. These days, they feel almost cliche. In short: Anything this hot was destined to become so not.

CLH: I think the right faux antlers can look so whimsical in the right space! I'd love some faux antlers in our new bookcase. Plus, I think if MSN Lifestyle saw how Janell of Isabella & Max Rooms has antlers in her  home, they would re-think their stance.

{ via here }

Trend #2: Taxidermy
Why Skip It: A few seasons ago, hipsters inexplicably embraced mummified mammals and petrified peacocks as part of the Gilded Age revival. This was not a look that worked for most people -- even (cough) the hipsters. Other components of this shudder-inducing trend: decorative monkey skeletons and those somber ancestral portraits where the eyes seem to follow you around the room. Rule of thumb: Anything that looks like the set of the last Tim Burton movie is a no.

CLH: Personally taxidermy is a no-no for me and creeps me out, BUT Jamie of Furbish makes it look so cool

{ via Furbish }

Trend #3: Inspirational Sayings
Why Skip It: "Keep Calm and Carry On" is an admirable sentiment, but it's become the '00s equivalent of those "Hang In There, Baby" cat posters from the '70s. In other words, it's time to let it go. Also included in the "do not want" category? Lettered wall decals with homespun homilies about friendship, clouds, or dreams. Put it this way: Not everyone wants to learn a lesson every time they drop by.

CLH: I love my bright yellow "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster in our living room, its a timeless saying that's been around since World War II. I know its been popping up everywhere, however I love it and it makes my smile and I get many compliments on the poster all the time.

Trend #4: Decorative Buddha Sculptures
Why Skip It: Sure, they're jolly, and their little bellies are hard to resist. But Buddha decor, part of the "Zen Retreat" trend that made family rooms all over America resemble the inside of Gwyneth Paltrow's yoga studio, is now pretty passe. In short: Buddha statues are religious symbols, not kitschy garden gnomes.

CLH: I don't have in Buddha's in my home, if I came across a cool one and had a spot for it, I'm sure it would be in my house. If they make you happy, why not?

{ via Apartment Therapy }

Trend #5: Ghost Chairs
Why Skip It: We know. We love them too. But they've lost their novelty, their ability to surprise. Plus they scratch easily. Out of all the trends on this list, we're most hoping these make a quick comeback. Until then, let them vanish into the night -- or at least the attic.

CLH:  For my household there not practical and always look so tiny, but they are cool in the right space. I like them paired in lofts with desk.

{ via decorpad }

Trend #6: Poufs
Why Skip It: Poufs came on the scene as niftier, hipper replacements for cubed leather ottomans, but they too have seen their day, thanks in part to an influx of homemade versions. We're usually in favor of DIY decorating, but we'd be happy if we never saw another lumpy, newspaper-stuffed pouf. Besides -- most adults prefer to sit higher than a foot off the floor.

CHL:  You all know I want to knit a pouf for my living room! I see poufs as a great spot for shelters magazines to land.

{ via Apartment Therapy }

Trend #7: Accent Walls
Why Skip It: When all-white rooms were in fashion, one brightly painted or wallpapered wall was a great way to break up the monotony. But now, with bolder paint colors the norm, accent walls have less purpose and can break up the flow of a room. Plus, what was once an unpredictable pop of color is now, well...predictable.

CHL: We have an accent wall in our living room, I like the pop of color on the wall, its not for everyone - but its works for us.

Trend #8: Boutique Hotel Chic
Why Skip It: The stiff minimalism, the dull neutrals, the oppressive uniformity. Where's the personality? Do we all really want to look like we live in a W hotel suite circa 2002? Conclusion: Modern luxury is all about ultra-unique pieces, so ditch the cookie cutter.

CHL: I agree cookie cutter can look boring. Hotel chic for me makes me think about a nice escape/retreat in your bedroom { which is what your bedroom should be an escape } as long as its personalized to you that's what matters.

{ via here }

Trend #9: Black Chalkboard Paint
Why Skip It: In theory, rooms painted to resemble blackboards have an old-timey, one-room schoolhouse- style awesomeness. In reality, they're dusty repositories of half-erased stick figures and long-forgotten shopping lists. Plus, everyone you know already jumped on this trend, so stick a fork in it. Exception: We think chalkboard paint in unexpected colors still has legs.

CHL: We have a dark grey chalkboard frame in our dining room and its so much fun to write notes on from grocery lists, to tonight's menu. I love them. Again, if you haven't seen how Janell used chalkboard paint in her Max's Big Boy Room, you will disagree with MSN Lifestyle.

{ via Isabella & Max }

Bottom line: I think homes should be a reflection of the individuals who live there, what works best them, how they use the space. Plus I think home also looks a little more fun, when a but whimsy is thrown into the design mix. Design is supposed to be fun!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the 9 Design Trends to Skip. Are you guilty of having a design No-No in your house according to MSN Lifestyle { like I am }, if yes which ones? Why do you love it?

Also which design trends above have you skipped?

Nate Berkus: Bedroom Rules

A few days ago my husband and I took our son to the library to check out some books. Our plan is for our son to write a few book reports over the summer (I know were mean parents). While our son was in the kids section of the library, I somehow maneged to find myself looking at Interior Design books. One book, I came across and have been wanting to buy for quite some time is Home Rules, by Nate Berkus. I flipped though the book and decided to check it out before I buy it, its all mine until June 1, 2010.

I flipped to the bedroom section, since we are currently working on our bedroom. Remember two weeks ago  I shared with you a ghastly { in my best English Accent } before photo. I know our bedroom looked awful, I'm just keeping it real.

I like this bedroom Nate designed, it feels serene and fresh. I like the crisp white bedding and the neutral headboard and how not one thing overpowers another. Everything is just layered in so nice.

{ source }

Here are 5 of Nate Burkas Bedroom Rules, I'm applying in our bedroom

1. Make the bedroom luxurious and inviting. 

CLH: I bought all new sheets, duvet, shams, coverlet and am making velvet shams for our Euro pillows. I    think the bedding always helps add that luxe feel.

2. Serenity is the key, keep the wall color soothing and the trip crisp

CLH: We beefed up our baseboards, like we did in our kitchen and painted them a crisp white. For the wall color we choose a grey, that looks amazing in sunlight and at night.

3. Have all lights on dimmers and shades and drapes that are easy to open and lower.

CHL: Our chandelier arrived yesterday and Mr. CLH will be putting that light on a dimmer. I'm swapping out our high voltage bedside lights for a lower watts. To help create more ambiance at night. Our curtains will be stationary and were keeping our wood blinds.

4. Create a reading Nook, keep a stack of books on hand

CLH: This will be the most changeling - but I think I can pull it off. I've always wanted a reading space in our bedroom, so I'll be looking for a chair I can reupholster form a thrift store or on Craiglist.

5. A mix of bedroom furniture.

CLH: We have matching night stands and a mix of dark wood furniture and painted furniture. It's a good mix of my style and my husbands.

Next week, I should have lots of photos of our bedroom as we get closer to our after. Its going to be a busy weekend, but that makes it so much more fun!

Do you own a copy of Home Rules? Have you applied Nate's suggestions to your spaces, if so which ones?

{ Don't forget to enter my giveaway! Measure It  & At Nova Lighting Store, you can save up to 20% off your lighting using the CHICSALE code at checkout. For more information, click here }

 

For the Love of Drum Shades

I really dig drum shades, to me they are timeless and ooh so chic. They let off soft lighting and make any room that much cooler. A drum shade pendant added extra oomph to our dining room makeover. They also play a huge part in our master bedroom re-do were currently working on. From petite to tall, I like them all (I know eye roll for the play on words)

I really like the Big Arc Dipper floor lamp from CB2, I would love this for our living room. I just don't see that happening though its $199.00. So I've been stalking the Internet hoping to find its cheaper just as cute cousin. I found its pricier older sister at Crate and Barrel but Meryl's $299.00 she also has a gray marble base.

The Big Dipper

Room View

The Big Sis Meryl

The Room View

I also saw some versions of the Big Dipper at Lamps Plus, but there all just as spendy. So I'm adding the Big Dipper to my wish list in hopes Ikea are Target will make the cute cheaper cousin. If Target and Ikea don't come though for me, I'll have to start a lamp fund....