Online Basket Sources

The basket is the one functional accessory that can probably be found in most homes across the globe. There are countless iterations of the concept, but the idea is the same...contain and look good while doin' it. As you probably know, baskets are perfect for stashing towels, toilet paper, shoes, toys, magazines, blankets, laundry, and wrapping paper and keeping all of those things from making your house look messy. The key is to find the right style for the setting and that isn't always easy.

Two-Tone Hamper - Zara Home

Baskets are totally one of those things that you see all of the time but can't find the perfect one when you're actually on the hunt. So, in case you're looking for one of these handy vessels, here's a quick list of good online sources:

Crate & Barrel

Zara Home

World Market 

Hable Construction

Pier 1

West Elm

Waterworks

Terrain

Pottery Barn

The Container Store

Serena & Lily

Land of Nod

And here are a few of my favorite styles from some of those sources...

Jillian Totes - World Market | Turq Rope Storage Bushel - Hable Construction
Aster Silver Foil Basket - Pier 1 | Graphic Printed Baskets - West Elm
Palm Rectangular Towel Basket - Waterworks
Tala Basket - Crate & Barrel | Colorblock Wicker Basket - Terrain

Hyacinth Rectangular Basket - Waterworks | Strapped for Storage Bins - Land of Nod
Sweep Baskets - CB2 | Heavy-Guage Wire Basket - Rejuvenation
Tala Basket - Crate & Barrel | Juice Mercado Baskets - Serena & Lily

Am I missing any good basket sources?

Tie Dye Trend

Have you been noticing that tie-dye or dip-dyed textiles are everywhere right now? Although I'm not a huge fan, I think the emergence of these unpredictable, relaxed patterns is a refreshing addition to the bohemian style set. In some cases, it could even be used as an alternative to ikat, which is nice. Here's a sampling of examples I've recently spotted...

1) Shibori Squares Silk Pillow - ABC Home - $245

2) Ombre Dye Rug - West Elm - $110-720

3) Tie Dye Chair - Etsy - $425

4) Kiki 100% linen fabric - Clarence House

5) Kevin O'Brien Merino Shibori Throw - Viva Terra - $495

6) Shibori Pillow - ABC Home - $64

7) Tie Dye Pillow - Etsy - $64

8) Kevin O'Brien Linen Shibori Pillow - Viva Terra - $135

9) Cashmere Tie-Dye Throws - ABC Home - $495

10) Tie Dye Placemats - Jayson Home - $20

What do you think of the trend? I'm intrigued, probably because I like free-form patterns and abstract art. I'm not, however, overflowing with ideas on how and where to use the textiles. They definitely create a specific look and to me, it's important to use them sparingly and to juxtapose a dip- or tie-dyed item against more geometric or polished things. For instance, I love the rather casual tie-dye fabric on the formal, lacquered chair frame shown above. And I think a shibori pillow or throw would be gorgeous accent on white bedding (Shibori is an ancient Japanese dyeing technique that probably deserves more distinction from the term "tie-dye" than I've given it).

I will say that my absolute favorite thing in the round-up is Clarence House's Kiki fabric...even though it's not technically tie-dye, dip-dye, or Shibori. I seriously want to have some curtain panels made for my house in this!! They would be pretty wild, but super fun. I got to see it in person at the showroom a few weeks ago and it's stunning. My iPhone photo does it no justice but I wanted to show the other colorways...

So...tell me, are you planning to buy some tie-dyed pillows or a throw? Can you imagine these textiles anywhere in your home? What about something like this hand-painted Shibori pillow that's got the lively design but a neutral color palette?

Pillow Pusher

We all love pillows, right? Since they are easy to add and subtract from a space, pillows provide an opportunity to be bold and have some fun with your decor. Especially if most or all of your upholstery is solid and neutral, a few colorful, patterned pillows will bring personality and vitality to a space. And of course, they are comfy and (usually) not expensive. What's not to love?

I'm constantly sourcing pillows for all different sorts of styles and color schemes, and I wanted to share a few that have caught my eye recently...

Crewel Prism Pillow - Urban Outfitters ||| Black and White Spotted Pillow - Furbish

Orange Fancy Greek Key Pillow - Live.Like.You ||| Abundance Toss Pillow - World Market

Moroccan Pillow Lapis Blue - Wisteria ||| Diamond Lights Pillow - Live.Like.You

Mumbai Pillow - Furbish ||| DwellStudio Zebra Kelly Green Pillow - Zinc Door
Circle Chevron Linen Pillow - COCOCOZY ||| Deco Dot Pillow - Shades of Light
Duralee Parasols Pillow - Etsy ||| Burnt Orange Block Print Lumbar Pillow - World Market

Coco's Flower - COCOCOZY ||| Colorful Embroidered Floral Pillow - Shades of Light
Colorful Squares Embroidered Pillow - Zinc Door ||| Palmyra in Castle Grey - Katherine Rally
Duralee Blue Diamond Trellis Pillow - Etsy ||| Paintbrush Silk Pillow Cover - West Elm

Blue Stamens Cushion Cover - Supermarket  |||  Retro Star Linen Pillow Case Black - Supermarket

Twisting Throw Pillow - Supermarket  |||  Lattice Pillow by Hammocks & High Tea - Burke Decor

So, who is shopping for pillows now? Any good sources to share? For ready-made options, I always check out Furbish and Etsy, because both offer a wide selection of styles and the prices are good. If you're cruising Etsy, be sure to check out Woody Liana.  She is one of my favorite sellers because her quality is outstanding and so are her prices. Plus the orders are wrapped up all pretty like this:

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!

Pink Lamps for the Cure from Mottega

As most of you know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Mottega is one of the many companies that has joined the fight against this terrible disease and is helping to find a cure by donating a portion of the proceeds from sales of special edition pink products. They have released the Hope Collection which includes two pretty pink lamps that sell for $99 per piece.  Mottega will contribute 10% of Hope Collection and Petal Pink collection sales to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, with a minimum donation of $25,000 in 2011. Thanks Mottega!

In case you're having a hard time imagining pink lamps in your home, here's a board to show you how they might look in a bedroom. For me, the key to using pink is balancing it with some masculine elements and darker colors to counteract the girly effect that it can have. In this space, the Camille gourd lamps are used with lots of grays and blues.

Lines Ballet – Crepuscule with Nellie - by Caroline Wright 

Clarissa Glass Drop Chandelier - Pottery Barn

Camille Lamp - Mottega - $99 *10% will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Antique Tiled Floor Mirrors - West Elm - $359

Azure Headboard - Horchow - $3,200 *Save 25% today with code PUMPKIN

Jennifer Lopez Ocean Drive Euro Sham - Kohl's - $35

Aix Custom Monogram Boudoir Pillow - Julia B.
Martha Stewart Collection Bedding, Solid Diamond Quilt - Macy's

Bungalow 5 Jacqui Three Drawer Side Table - Layla Grayce - $819 *Save 20% until Sunday with code lg7years

Frette Eliza Throw - Saks Fifth Avenue - $395

Nikolette Pillowtop Bench, Pinstripe - One Kings Lane - $289

Asher Rug, Gray/Turquoise - One Kings Lane - $699

What do you think of the board? And what are your thoughts on Mottega's Hope Collection? Would you use either of the pink lamps in your house?

And by the way, did you notice that those euro shams are from the Jennifer Lopez collection for Kohl's?!? I'm curious enough about the quality to go see them in person...luckily there's a Kohl's near the Target that I go to. Have any of you seen J Lo's bedding?

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!

New Merch + Paint from West Elm

Have you seen the latest from West Elm? They've released a slew of cool new items and have tweaked their website a bit. On the site, now you can go directly to a "New" tab on the nav, which I love because it's so much easier to keep up with their ever-changing inventory.

Like many other retailers, WE's holiday collection is here but I just can't bring myself to write about that yet! So aside from that, here are my picks from the new bunch:

Wood Tiled Three Drawer Dresser

Benjamin Moore Ben Paint, Marine Blue 2059-10

Benjamin Moore Ben Paint, Mt St. Anne 1565

Snow Lynx Pillow Cover

Shagreen Frame

Marco Embroidered Duvet + Shams

Favorite Throw

Marquis Rug

Industrial Pendant - Mercury

Colored Glass Tealight Holders

Even though I'd already scanned the WE website, I was excited to look through their most recent catalog this weekend because I like seeing the Ben by Benjamin Moore Paint colors in action. There are so many amazing grays and blues right now! Here are the ones I like best...

Benjamin Moore Ben Paint, Wales Gray 1585

Benjamin Moore Ben Paint, Mt St. Anne 1565

Benjamin Moore Ben Paint, Marine Blue 2059-10

Benjamin Moore Ben Paint, Blue Danube 2062-30

My absolute favorite new thing from West Elm is the Wood Tiled Three Drawer Dresser, which is shown at the top of the first image. I haven't gone to the store to see it in person yet, but from the images it looks gorgeous. It's a versatile size and I especially like how the style is very gender neutral. It's a really great transitional piece and at $699, the price is good too. Here it is in a room...

What about you...do you like any of West Elm's new stock? Are you a fan of the retailer in general? I think West Elm is a fantastic resource for affordable furniture and fun, trendy accents. Every year I think they improve their offering and do a great job of staying on trend by partnering with artisans and designers like Allegra Hicks and Stray Dog Designs.

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.

Grab Bag - Random Items I Love for the Home

There are oodles of lovely things out in the interwebs to buy for your home. During my scouting missions, I run across plenty of noteworthy items. I try to flag my favorites on Svpply but sometimes I forget. So, I wanted to give you a quick list of some the best things I've run across recently....

Wall Lamp 2572 Brass - Svenska

Jenny Mini Ball Lamp, Tuquoise S/2 - Furbish Studio (they're tiny! 16"h x 7"d)

Phillip Translucent 9 Drawer Glass Desk - Clayton Gray

Glass Pedestal Vase, Greek Fret - Wisteria

Hall Retrograde Low Side Table - ABC Home

Kingston Tufted Chair - Bungalow Classic

Weber Hanging Pendant Light - Clayton Gray

22" Square Pillow - Callisto Home

Indoor Outdoor Bar Cart - Tonic Home (also comes in turquoise, green, pink and white)

Portico Mirror - West Elm

Smithsonian Navy Hand Tufted Rug - Layla Grayce

Hand Blocked Star Trellis Pillow - West Elm

Turned Leg Dhurrie Ottoman - West Elm

Like anything above? Have you found anything particularly fabulous lately? If so, do tell!

A Bedroom Built Around a Benedict

I've recently been fixated on the paintings of accomplished contemporary artist, Sally King Benedict. Her work is perfect for a few of my clients and my friend Bradley (of the fab fashion blog Luella & June) is also hankering for one of Sally's pieces, so I've been keeping my eye on her online inventory over the past few weeks. By merely viewing her art online, it's easy to tell that Sally is an outstanding colorist. While digitally soaking in the beauty of her creations is a fabulous experience, I'm sure that it's a million times better in person! Hopefully I'll be able to get up close and personal with a piece in the near future and can report back :)

It would be nearly impossible for me to pick a "favorite," however, one piece that I just can't get out of my head is called Cool Water. I love the movement and the fresh color palette...

Cool Water - 2011 - 36" x 48" (framed) - oil, acrylic, and guache on canvas by Sally King Benedict

As an homage to the piece (and a way of visually representing my daydream of owning the piece), I've created a bedroom mood board around the painting...

Serena & Lily Perfect White on walls and Pool on ceiling

Arteriors Duke Iron Glass Chandelier

Horchow Ocean Glass Side Table

Pottery Barn Antonia Canopy Bed

Clayton Gray Sconce de Mer Light

Crystal Base Dome Task Light 

West Elm Mirror-Framed Mirror

Anthropologie Windsor Love Seat

Quadrille Terrace Watermelon on Tint

Williams-Sonoma Home White Hotel Bedding

Wisteria Navy Greek Key Dhurrie

Layla Grayce Regina Andrew Aqua Glass Ripple Lamp

Crate & Barrel Cubix 8-Drawer Dresser

What do you think of the painting? What about the board?

I also wanted to share a few snapshots from one of Sally's recent shows...it's nice to be able to see the pieces on actual walls. There's also a glimpse of a few of her works on paper, which are also gorgeous.

There's Cool Water on the right!