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!

Deep-Seated Sofas

One of the many factors to consider when you are choosing a sofa is seat depth. Old-school sofas are relatively shallow (seat depths often range between 20-24") because they were designed for use in formal sitting areas. If you're trying to be prim and proper, it's easier and more comfortable to sit up straight when the sofa back is close by.

Nowadays deeper sofas are a popular choice for less formal spaces like den/family/TV rooms. The extra depth is more conducive to lounging, especially if two people want to lay across the sofa at the same time! Also, a nice deep sofa can make a great extra bed. If sleeping is a major consideration, then focus on styles with a single seat cushion and make sure they're long enough.

Here are a few examples of sofas with deep seats...

Sofa Liljevalch - Svenskt Tenn

Belgian Shelter Arm Slipcovered Sofa - Restoration Hardware

Greyson Sofa - BoBo Intriguing Objects

Piazza Velvet Storm Sofa - CB2

Bliss Sofa - West Elm

The Theodore Sofa - Jayson Home and Garden

Silhouettes Sofa with Dressmaker Skirt - Hickory Chair

Tufted Deep Sofa in Sand Velvet - RoomService

If you're considering a sofa with a deep seat for a casual room in your house, just be sure that there are plenty of other more upright seating options in the area. The addition of a pair of armchairs or a more traditional sofa will not only accommodate guests, it can also keep the room from looking sloppy and overly lax. Choosing a structured sofa style (like the tufted ones above) will also keep the space looking orderly and put-together.

What do you think of deep-seated sofas? Do you have one in your home? Do they annoy you? I really like them but they annoy my husband which is one of the reasons why the one in our den isn't super deep!

Rose Colored Glasses - Pink Is Everywhere!

Have you noticed how pink is incredibly ubiquitous these days? Besides seeing it in fashion throughout the spring and summer, I've definitely been noticing it popping up in every facet of home decor over the past year. I'm usually keen on keeping my interiors gender-neutral so I don't suggest using too much pink in any room, however, pink is a fantastic accent color. It brings vitality and playfulness to a space and it complements a wide variety of colors. I probably like it best with blues, as illustrated below by the Nate Berkus rose gold lamp with the navy shade and the Quadrille Tree Peony fabric.

1) Antique Pink Armchair - Jayson Home and Garden

2) Flamingo Greek Key Bolster Pillow - Furbish Studio

3) Pink Florence Chandelier - Layla Grayce

4) Rio, acrylic on canvas, by Michelle Armas

5) SOLBRÄND Champagne flute - IKEA

6) Kikoy Towel - Calypso Home

7) Organic Painted Swirl Duvet cover + Shams - West Elm

8) Nate Berkus™ Handcrafted Orbit Table Lamp in Rose - HSN

9) Tree Peony fabric in Multi Blue Red on Tint - Quadrille

10) Anatolian Rug - ABC Carpet

What are your thoughts about the pink trend? Does anything from the above lineup suit your fancy?

A Wall Full of Pink Art

A wall full of pink art sounds pretty extreme, right? Well, surprisingly I'm kind of loving the idea after playing with it on a board. Lately I've had numerous projects that have required artwork selection so I've been on the hunt for well-priced original work. During my searches, I keep gravitating towards pieces that include the color pink. Maybe it is because I'm looking for a few little girls' rooms or maybe it is because pink is EVERYWHERE lately and I can't get it out of my head.

In any case, I'm determined to incorporate some pink artwork into my own home now. I've been pinning tons of options and have been placing some pieces in mood boards for clients, so I had lots of pink pieces handy in Photoshop and decided to create a whole wall with a pink theme. All of the art below is from Etsy and all are originals except for the vintage Audubon print (which I framed with Larson-Juhl's awesome frame design tool). It's a pretty fun mix, right?

Taboo
The Blue and Green Trees
Flight
Flamingo Audubon Print
Blush
Farm Fresh Bouquet
The Pink Elephant
Likid Lebete

Also on the board is another recent obsession, the 108" long John Derian Field Bench with Back, which is made by a fav manufacturer of mine, Cisco Brothers. For years I've lusted after the normal Field Bench and now that it is available with a back I'm completely infatuated with owning one. In the board I paired it with two Casbah side tables from Jayson Home & Garden and two mini crystal lamps from Empiric.

What do you think of the crazy pink wall? Do you like any of the specific pieces?

A Fun, Feathered Chandelier

Last week I got Jayson Home & Garden's catalog and my jaw dropped when I saw their new Emma Feather Pendant. I've never seen anything quite like it and I couldn't decide if I thought it was the most fabulous thing ever or a little too kooky. To sort out my thoughts I started dreaming up a design scheme that would complement the feathery fixture. To me, it seems perfect for a bedroom...especially a dreamy girly one, so here is what I put together to create that scenario:

Emma Feather Pendant - Jayson Home & Garden
Aleppo Inlay Table - Serena & Lily
Gabrielle Lamp - Z Gallerie
Diana Delgado original oil - Ugallery
Octavia Headboard - Serena & Lily
Eileen Fisher Bedding - Garnet Hill
Mid-Century Chair - Ceylon et Cie
Roger Single Bench - Made Goods
Safari Rug - West Elm

What are your thoughts? Would you ever use a feathered chandelier? I'm still on the fence but I'm dying to see it in person!

Jayson H&G Petite Flea

Have you all seen Jayson Home & Garden's Petite Flea? They have some really great finds...and a wide variety. These are my favorites...

How cool is this daybed?!?

This little vanity reminds me of the one in my master bedroom. It has a great shape and the detail is beautiful.

Isn't this color pretty? This is a vintage game table.

I love the printed fabric on this midcentury chair.

 Fretwork side chair in classic red lacquer.

This Chinoiserie trunk coffee table is pretty awesome isn't it? If you ever find a trunk at a flea market or antique shop, this is a great way to put it to use.

Nice, stylish little bar cart

A little random, but I love the colors and pattern of this vintage tea tin.

Jayson always has fantastic stuff and their selections for the petite flea are no exception. Did anything in particular catch your eye?

Framing Options: Part 3

Here is the last and final frame option that I chose from Larson-Juhl, it's a sleek white style called Gallery One (324941).  I paired it with a few quasi-traditional furniture items and some bold rugs. The frame is shown hanging against two super different wall colors, the first is a soft gray by Sherwin-Williams called Front Porch (7651) and the second is a vibrant magenta also by Shewin-Williams called Valentine (6587).

Windsor Smith Regency Occasional Settee

Jayson Home & Garden Oliver Ottoman

Jasyon Home & Garden Eldridge Lamp

High Fashion Home Shi Shi Table

Williams-Sonoma Home Chelsea Wing Chair

Baker Regency Chair

ABC Carpet Color Reform Rug

ABC Carpet Color Reform Rug

The white frame looks really fresh with the painting don't you think? Do you like one of these rugs better than the other? What about the wall colors?

In case you missed yesterday's posts about the artwork and the artist, the piece is a huge original mixed media by Diana Delgado via Ugallery. With the help of Larson-Juhl's nifty frame viewer, I played with a few different frames and room scenarios to illustrate how framing can make a huge impact on how artwork is integrated into a space.

Framing Options - Part 2

As I mentioned earlier, the below painting, Glam and Glammer, by Diana Delgado captured my affection on Ugallery. Years ago I developed an appreciation for great framing after working in the art business, so I love taking a piece of art and playing with different framing looks in Larson-Juhl's Interactive Frame Design tool. Since this piece is abstract, it is perfect for illustrating how frame choice can really affect how artwork is integrated into a room.

Here I've gone with a traditional gold finish, but the style of the frame is simple and straightforward so it complements the contemporary piece. Also, I couldn't help but use two different rugs!

Jayson Home & Garden Theodore Sofa

Room & Board Saarinen End Table

Jonathan Adler Regent Arm Chair

Jayson Home & Garden Sophie Lounge Chair

Jan Showers Collection Miles Lamp

Jayson Home & Garden Yves Cocktail Table

Calypso Home Hampton Lattice Rug

Jonathan Adler Futura Bowl

ABC Carpet Color Reform Rug

Which frame do you like best? Any preference on the rugs, furniture, wall colors, etc?

Framing Options

I often look to Ugallery as a resource for original artwork. Yesterday as I was scrolling through the available paintings looking for affordable options for a client and I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw a piece by Diana Delgado. I immediately fell in love with the vibrant colors and the overall chaotic energy that it effused. Called Glam and Glammer, it was wonderful to discover that it is a large scale work, coming in at 60" x 72". I am quite obsessed with huge, bold pieces of artwork.

I immediately grabbed the image and scurried over to Larson-Juhl's interactive frame design tool to see the piece all framed up nice and pretty. There are a variety of ways to frame a painting like this and I wanted to show my favorite ideas and provide some context in terms of what kind of room the pairing would complement. First off, this is Larson-Juhl's Silhouette (353806) frame. I love a good black frame with gold detail and this is a modern classic:

Jonathan Adler Butterfield Sofa

Jonathan Adler Hourglass Table

Jayson Home & Garden Penelope Chair

Mitchell Gold Bob Williams Major Chair

Williams-Sonoma Home Ming Coffee Table

Madeline Weinrib Westley Hot Pink and Orange Rug

Jonathan Adler Capuchine Gourd

I like the mix of traditional and modern elements. What do you think? 

I'll be posting more framing options + rooms later, so check back soon!

Searching, Finding, and Loving...

I've been fervently trying to catch up on design projects since getting back from New York. Luckily, I love shopping so sourcing is a fun part of the job and I have lots of it on my plate at the moment. With the spring season on the horizon, sourcing is especially exciting because there are tons of new goods out there, like these fab finds:

Design Public - Vitra Nelson Night Desk Clock

Jayson Home & Garden - Penelope Chair

Vivre  - Waylande Gregory Studios Grid Bowl

Layla Grayce - Capel Marrakesh Wool Rug

Jayson Home & Garden - Theodore Sofa

Serena & Lily - Aleppo Inlay Table

Layla Grayce - Curry & Co. Astral Pendant

Pottery Barn - Label Hardware

Serena & Lily - Herringbone Throws

Jayson Home & Garden - Sebastian Bench

Wisteria - Kantha Cloth Mirror

Jayson Home & Garden - Coco Sofa

Layla Grayce - Signatures Continuum Accent Chest

Serena & Lily - Chakki Ottoman

Layla Grayce - Company C Indoor/Outdoor Patio Rug

Shop Ten 25 - Nantucket Pillow

Jonathan Adler - Bargello Chevron Pillow

Lovely grab bag, isn't it? Anything in particular that you're obsessing over?

Chair Hall of Fame - Final Installment

Happy Friday everyone! Here's a final set of delightful chairs to send you off for the weekend. I tried hard to find some affordable options to include, but alas, not many were worthy of being inducted into my Hall of Fame. Chairs are like shoes to me...the cheap ones are rarely satisfactory in terms of form and function and the premium (aka expensive) ones often look better and will last for decades. I'm happy with bargain buys in many instances, but with chairs (and shoes) high-quality materials and meticulous craftsmanship make it worth the extra expense. Unfortunately this preference is yet another instance of my champagne taste on a beer budget!

21) Plantation Crown Chair

22) Layla Grayce Library Chair

23) Jayson Home & Garden Byron Chair

24) Layla Grayce Oly Studio Tobias Chair

25) Layla Grayce Kenton Relax Chair

26) Jayson Home & Garden Bellington Wing Chair

27) Williams-Sonoma Home Geoffrey Chair

28) Layla Grayce Oly Studio Elliot Caned Chair

29) Windsor Smith Harlow Tufted Slipper Chair

30) Z Gallerie Soho Chair

Are you tired of all of this chair talk yet? I apologize if you are. Sadly, I could rattle on about the topic forever...but I promise that I won't!

Chair Hall of Fame Continued

And now for the second installment of the great Chair Hall of Fame (as deemed by yours truly). With this continuation from yesterday's post, you'll probably notice my not-so-subtle affection for tufting!

11) Jonathan Adler Regent Arm Chair

12) High Fashion Home Salon Corner Chair

13) Plantation Design Barrel Chair

14) Layla Grayce Whittier Chair

15) Canvas Mercer Club Chair

16) Plantation Classic Wing Chair Tall, with Diamond Tufting

17) Baker Round Tufted Club Chair

18) Jayson Home & Garden Greenwich Chair

19) Baker Regency Chair

20) Layla Grayce Oly Morgan Chair

Although I have a special place in my heart for all of the following, #12 and #16 are the ones that rise to top of my list.

If I had the pleasure of ordering a pair of the Salon Corner Chairs (#12) for my home, you can bet that I wouldn't get it in red leather. I'd choose a solid fabric in a color light enough to showcase all of that gorgeous tufting. A few years ago I saw a pair of chairs very similar to this at Mecox and they were upholstered in a peacock blue velvet, which was incredible. I know that Cisco Brothers made those, but I'm not sure who manufactures the ones from High Fashion Home.

I adore EVERYTHING about Plantation's Wing Chair, #16, from the tall, dramatic tufted back to the nailhead trim that so perfectly articulates the chair's curves. The ottoman (used in one of my entry boards) is the icing on the cake. I would kill to have a pair of these flanking the fireplace in my living room!

Do you have favorite picks out of this group?

Sofa Sources and Selection Strategy

Last week, I received the following question from Alison of the fabulous fashion blog, Luella and June: I'm looking to find a great, comfortable, investment-purchase couch. What stores in Dallas or online would you recommend for quality and comfort for the long haul?


This is an excellent question and to be honest, my answer is highly contingent upon budget since the range of price points is wide and retailers tend to have a sweet spot within that range. For example, if the budget is around $1,500...I wouldn't recommend Williams-Sonoma Home. They have impeccable sofas, but none under $2,000 - especially once shipping and tax are accounted for.

With that said, no matter what your budget is, quality construction is key. Sofas usually serve as both a focal point and a workhorse in a living area....so, the best sofas are balanced in form and function. Finding the perfect mix is tough and will probably make you feel like Goldilocks during the search process. The huge range of options can be overwhelming so the key is to come up with a list of parameters to help narrow it down. If you are patient and adhere to your list, the right sofa will be found and you won't need another for a long time.

When formulating the list, you must address:

1. Size - for both your room and the doorways/hallways/staircases it must go through when delivered! If you're unsure about how large the footprint of the sofa should be, get out some masking tape and tape off the ideal area. Be sure to take every measurement in consideration...for instance, when I was choosing our sectional, I wanted the back to be a certain height so that my console table could be used with it. Electronics might be a factor too...i.e. you wouldn't want a super low sofa if your tv is mounted above the fireplace. 
2. Style - assess the available colors, fabrics, and wood finishes...are they what you want and need? Is the overall look one that you'll still love in five years? In this category, go for a timeless, classic style. You can always use funky pillows and throws to bring in color and personality.
3. Function - what is the main way that you'll use the sofa...and be honest with yourself here. If you like to sprawl out and watch TV, make sure it's deep enough to do that without falling off. Do your sofa and coffee table serve as a dining area? Make sure the seat height is on par with the coffee table and choose an easy-to-clean fabric. 

Since most retailers carry pieces from various manufacturers, it's tough to make blanket statements on quality. I think it's important to see, touch, and sit on prospective purchases, however, that exercise is not possible in some cases. Don't forget that returning a sofa isn't exactly like sending something back to Zappos! So, if you're ordering a sofa from an online-only retailer, be sure to get lots of photos (pay attention to details like the seams) and be aware of their return policy and any quality guarantees.

For your viewing pleasure, I've included my favorite styles from the following recommended online retailers. I hope you have some snacks nearby because this might take you a while to go through...I love me some sofas and just couldn't stop. So, sorry about the super exhaustive list! I started with high-end, expensive ones and tried to go down in price from there. I know I'm leaving some great sources out, so please be sure to name your favorites in the comment area. Also, please share any experience you've had (good or bad) with ordering a sofa. Any retailers or manufacturers that we should avoid?

Without further ado, here is my sofa source list!

Hickory Chair makes gorgeous, high quality furniture. Most pieces can be customized...a factor that helps makes the higher cost more palatable. In Dallas, you can order Hickory Chair pieces from Rose Tree on Knox.

Leigh

You can get this armless sectional series made to measure...I am completely infatuated with the Greek key trim!

Silhouettes

Gentry

From Restoration Hardware, I love the Easton and Kensington collections.

The Easton sectional is amazing...though I'm not sure if it warrants the $10k price tag.

Quatrine makes custom slipcovered furniture. It's really expensive but it's probably worth it in the long run!
Contemporary

New Contemporary

Williams-Sonoma Home has beautiful upholstered pieces and their quality is outstanding.

Starting at $3,900 - Hyde Sectional 

Starting at $2,550 - Wilshire Sofa

Although I've never seen any furniture from Layla Grayce, I know they carry premium lines and their customer service was so impressive when I ordered my cloisonne lamp, so I'll happily endorse them!

$2,721 - Lombardy Slipcovered

Jayson Home and Garden has so many fabulous sofas and they are wonderful to work with. I have such a crush on this store.

$2,295 - Rockefeller

$2,195 - Belle

$3,695 - Jordan Sectional

Room and Board has nice-looking stuff, most has a more modern vibe.
$2,199 - Hutton

Reasonably priced selections from Horchow.

$1,629 - Dusk

$1,599 - Snow

$1,829 - Abraso

Stylish and under $2k from High Fashion Home

$1,799 - Dustin

$1,529 - Jacqueline

$1,579 - Chatham

Z Gallerie has luxe looking styles at bargain prices. I've ordered lots of furniture from them and have been thrilled with the quality thus far.
$999 - Pauline

$1,199 - Oscar

Love this casual yet modern number from CB2
$1,199 - Movie Cement Slipcovered

This one from Macy's is so sophisticated and the price is amazing!
$799 - Jacqueline