The Almighty Throw

As I proclaimed last week in my pillow post, textiles play a major role in defining the style and personality of a room. They also impact the overall function of any space and lastly, they heavily influence the comfort level. The textile mix usually includes fabrics and floor coverings and in lounging and sleeping areas, throws or blankets can be part of the mix too.

Throws and blankets are an obsession of mine because they make for a great accent and you can really use and enjoy them. Since they are so easy to add and subtract, throws are ideal for taking risks with bold color, pattern, and texture. If you're looking to liven up your living room, try draping a punchy throw over the back of the sofa. In the bedroom, lay a colorful graphic blanket over the foot of the bed (especially if you have white bedding). You'll be amazed by how big of an impact it can have! Here are some fun styles to get your imagination going...

Ripple Throw - Kelly Wearstler for SFERRA $284

Chelsea Stripe Throw - DwellStudio $175

Latzu Box Throw - Barney's $260

Gucci Luxury Throw Blanket - Brown - Amazon $210

Gunnel Blanket - Brita Sweden

Plaid Solid Throw - COCOCOZY $333

Houndstooth Alpaca Day Blanket - Brahms Mount $416

Cotton Herringbone Throw (available in 18 colors) - Brahms Mount $236

Faux Fur Throw - Calypso Home $350

Broad Stripe Throw - CB2 $59.95

Favorite Throw - West Elm $29

Chevron Throw - Jonathan Adler $595

Cubes Throw - Nest $295

Armand Diradourian Circus Stripe Throw - Barney's $795.00

Eleanor Pritchard Throw - Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. $325

Lima Alpaca Amethyst Throw - Crate & Barrel $169

Are you throw-obsessed like I am? Do you use them in your home? Where do you put them?

Besides the ones above, I also always find lovely, high-quality throw options at:
Ralph Lauren
ABC Home
SFERRA
Barney's

Matouk
Gilt Home

From a designer perspective, Jonathan Adler's Design Your Own throw is AMAZING because you get to customize the whole shebang...you choose the design and colors. I threw this one together to illustrate...

And finally, don't forget that you can personalize any throw with your monogram. I especially like this look on classic solid colored throws. West Elm has a really pretty (and well-priced) herringbone throw that they'll actually monogram for you. If you have bigger bucks to throw around, order über luxe cashmere throws from Julia B. or Leontine Linens.

Pillows for the New Year

The dawn of the new year spurs people to change things in their lives. If you're one of the many who is looking to improve your home's appearance, then consider getting some new pillows...especially if your budget is tight and the goal is to make minor changes and just freshen things up.

Textiles can make a huge impact and in living areas and bedrooms, pillows are usually a major player in the textile lineup. Changing pillows is undoubtedly one of the easiest, least binding ways to update those rooms. So, if you're considering a pillow makeover, take a look at the following relatively fresh ones...

Purple Stardust Silk and Cotton Pillow - be still homewares.
Pasha 18" Pillow - Queen of Cashmere
Leopard Pillow - Jayson Home

Geo Links Pillow - Shop Ten 25
Frizzle 16" Pillow - CB2
Rose Stripe Pure Lightweight Linen Pillow - Hable Construction

Map Pillow - My Bearded Pigeon

Sahara Ikat Hemp Pillow Cover - West Elm

Cotton Collection Birdcage Toile - COCOCOZY

Trellis Fretwork Throw Pillow - Tonic Home

Ikat Pillow - C. Wonder

Lasso 23" x 11" Pillow - CB2

Vintage Scarf Pillow - Etsy
Indigo Kyoto Pillow - Serena & LilySchumacher Nanjing 20" Pillow - Etsy seller House of Pemberley

See any that you liked? Do you ever change up your pillow assortment? I'm ready to switch a few of mine out and I have my eye on the Kyoto Pillow from Serena & Lily!

Affordable Animal Art from Etsy

I recently ran across two fun sources for wall decor on Etsy. Sellers Coco de Paris and Crowbiz offer whimsical illustrations of animals painted or printed on "upcycled" pages of vintage books and antique maps. I used one with giraffes from Coco de Paris in a mood board last week. Coco's are actually originals because the images are painted on the pages with acrylics. The ones from Crowbiz are prints, although the maps and book pages are authentic...just the animal images are printed.

Each piece costs around $10 so they are an ideal price for buying and framing multiples. I'd consider using the prints in rooms for kids or teenagers or spaces like bathrooms and hallways where more significant artwork can be overlooked or damaged. Since the prints themselves are so affordable, stick with a reasonably-priced frame. CB2, Pottery Barn, West Elm, and Z Gallerie have cool frames that aren't expensive.

Here some of the prints housed in  CB2's Float Frames, which cost between $20-35. These don't have mats which makes them super flexible and easy to setup:

Moose - Clever Chihuahua - Turtle

Here is the Gelato frame from Z Gallerie, you could use the 5x7" or the 8x10" which cost between $15-20:

Giraffe on antique map

From Pottery Barn, here are the Lee Gallery Frame and the Wood Gallery Oversized Mat Frame, for large sizes like the ones shown here, prices range between $56-130:

Two Elephants with Red Birds - Giraffe Eating Grass 

Here are more of my favorite prints from Crowbiz and Coco de Paris...

Aren't these fun? I think they have lots of personality and are great for people who are on a tight budget and have too much empty wall space. Do you have a favorite animal? I love all of the Coco de Paris animals...you can't help but smile when you look at those! I also prefer the Coco ones because they are original.

Low Cost, Low Risk Colorful Accents

I'm a big fan of neutral upholstery mixed with jolts of color. Especially when you're buying upholstered furniture that needs to stick around for a while, this is the best strategy. By keeping investment pieces classic and neutral, you can be daring with less expensive and easily changeable items like pillows and lamps. Bold, colorful accessories, accent furniture, and artwork can really bring a room to life so don't fret if your staple pieces seem a bit ho-hum.

I have a war chest full of resources for these sorts of accents and one that I routinely check is Urban Outfitters. They have inexpensive "apartment" goods and some are rather stylish while others are not what I'd put in my house. Anyhow, there are diamonds in the rough and on my last visit I spotted this fun yellow floor lamp. With a great vintage aesthetic and wild color, I knew that it would come in handy for a future project. I can totally see this by a glider in a nursery or I also like it in a fresh, modern (kinda girly) living area like this...

Vintage Floor Lamp - Urban Outfitters

Journey - Acrylic on canvas by Jen Ramos - Cocoa and Hearts

Bargello Worth Avenue Pillow - Jonathan Adler

Black and White Spotted Pillow - Furbish Studio

Hutton Chaise - Room & Board

Nixon Throw - Jonathan Adler

Smart Round Marble Top Coffee Table - CB2

Here's the same room with a different pillow and throw...which option do you like better?

Quatrefoil Pillow - COCOCOZY
Persian Charm Green Throw - Sabira Home

I also ran across these two inexpensive side tables on the UO site. I think they're pretty cute...I really love the green one!

Coil Side Table - Urban Outfitters
Silver Leaf Side Table - Urban Outfitters

Do you ever shop Urban Outfitters for decor? As you might know, they are owned by the same company as Anthropologie so UO is kind of like Anthro's funky, thriftier sister ;)

Copycat Entry

After professing my devotion to the entry designed by Colleen McGill on Friday, I received some comments and emails asking for sourcing information for various pieces in the scheme. So, I happily went on the hunt for items that could be used to recreate a similar look and here is what I came up with.

Pottery Barn Clarissa Glass Drop Chandelier

Plexi-Craft Console Table

High Fashion Home Black Mirror

Ballard Designs Louis XVI Stool

Jamali Garden Nickel Bowl

Calypso Home Hampton Lattice Rug

Plantation Caspian Chandelier

AVF Brilliant Acrylic Console Table

Williams-Sonoma Home Fulton Ebony Floor Mirror

Tiffany Revere Bowl

Wisteria Graphic Suzani-Inspired Dhurrie

Plantation Classic Diamond Tufted Ottoman

Z Gallerie Jupiter Chandelier

Jamali Garden Silver Pedestal Bowls

CB2 Peekaboo Clear Console

IKEA Mongstad Mirror

Wisteria X-Base Stool

Layla Grace Orchard House Rings Flax Wool Rug

I tried to cover a wide range of price points. I began with a moderately priced scheme, followed with a more expensive set, and ended with some bargain items. I have favorite elements in all of them...what about you? 


With any of the lineups, this tray would make a perfect accessory, wouldn't it?

Williams-Sonoma Home Tiled Tray

New York Loot

As I mentioned last Friday, I went on a little jaunt to the Big Apple and saw the city in its autumn splendor. It was a great trip...I got to see some good friends (we met up at the Ace Hotel which I blogged about recently), eat great food, see Wicked, go to the MoMA, and do a little shopping.

I happily went to ABC Carpet and Home and the Conran Shop (in ABC Home). I swear, I could spend hours in there...especially after discovering the stash of close-out priced Madeline Weinrib rugs and pillows in the basement. Also, I wish I hadn't eaten lunch right before I went because their restaurant, ABC Kitchen, looked awesome. Despite loving lots of things I saw in the store, I responsibly came out without any purchases.

Then I scooted over to Fish's Eddy and bought a set of aqua dish towels and gray and blue striped straws. Random, I know, but both were irresistibly cute and I was definitely itching to buy something.

I also got to pop into CB2, which was fun because I've never been into one of their stores before. While there, I bought an acrylic tray that I've been lusting over for a while. To me it's a needless necessity, but my husband could not wrap his head around why I purchased yet another tray for our house. I explained that I was really being thrifty by getting this tray instead of the more expensive Dabney Lee beauty that I really want! In any case, I like my new tray. Here it is keeping some magazines and books from getting out of hand...

I wish I'd had more time in the city, because I have looong list of stores to hit up. I need to get up there again soon and dedicate more time to shopping!

Do you have any favorite stores in New York?

Friday Finds

Here are a few odds and ends that you should know about...because I think they are cool. Good reason, right?

Bond Lamp - Jonathan Adler

Fouta Towels - Horchow

*Sorry about the "click image to zoom" button in the middle of the product images. The silly Horchow web designers need to refrain from putting it there. Such a bad idea!

Greek Key Ribbon - M&J Trimming

I want to get this Luggage Rack and put the ribbon above on the straps.

How cute would this pillow combo be? Red Bird - CB2 and Zig Zag - Etsy

Guest Towel - The Picket Fence
Towels for our powder bath have been on my watch list for the longest time...I think these are what I've been looking for!

Russian Nesting Dolls - CB2

Hope you've enjoyed this retail scouting report. Any favorites?

Have a good weekend!

Mood Board Monday - Rainy Day Bedroom

Pewter & Sage is hosting another Mood Board Monday...this time, the theme is "beautiful bedding." Specifically, we were given a few different bedding options to choose from, then we were to create a bedroom around our choice.

I LOVE bed linens so I was pumped about this one! I even did two moodboards...the first was for Nate Berkus day :) They are so different from each other...one is super colorful and this one is much more neutral. Do you have a favorite between the two?

Wall color, P32 Canon De Fusil - Flammant
Inspiration Bedding - Barbara Barry from Macy's
Chandelier - Horchow
Headboard - Pottery Barn (I don't think the one currently available has the cute black cording)
Lamp - Restoration Hardware
Genie Bottles - Jill Rosenwald
Bookshelf/Nightstand - Ballard Designs
Full-Length Mirror - IKEA
Bench - Layla Grayce
Rug - Burke Decor
Painting - Ugallery
Chest of Drawers - Ballard Designs
Silver Floor Lamp - Layla Grayce
Monogram Pillow - Jonathan Adler
Bud Vase - CB2
Penguin Classic Books* - Anthropologie
Cane Chair - Layla Grayce

* I would also fill the nightstand bookshelf with these gorgeous books :)

Outdoor Curtains

Finally, the plan to hang curtains around our covered patio has been executed! I've always loved striped awnings, but the roof line on this house won't allow for those so this is the next best thing.

The drapes have grommet-tops and are made from Sunbrella fabric, so hopefully they will hold up well. I ordered them from Pottery Barn and unfortunately they don't show them on their site anymore, so I can't provide a link.

I used the Modern Balance Rods from West Elm.

The curtains coordinate with the black and white cushions on the dining chairs.

This is the Resort Outdoor Sectional from CB2. Our dogs love to lounge here, so I'm probably going to make some black Sunbrella cushion covers with white cording so they'll show dirt less easily. The orange and blue trellis pillows were purchased last summer from Williams-Sonoma Home.

I'm still playing around with accessories. A little outdoor rug might be a nice accent here. I like the Greek Key one in our study and a smaller version would work. A tall plant for the corner is going on the shopping list too.

Of course, there's a whole laundry list of other improvements I'd like to make to the space. For one, the ugly fan will be changed to a fun light fixture...just haven't found the right one yet. I also would like to put beadboard on the ceiling and paint it turquoise/robin's egg blue (kind of like the one from the porch at the Hotel Saint Cecilia). The door leading into the garage could be a lot more snazzy too. I hope to get a paneled one at the architectural salvage warehouse...which would be painted a glossy black. Further, the blank wall above the sofa looks bland so I'd love to find something to hang there. Maybe an old blackboard...any other ideas?