A little retail therapy...

How did I not know Jonathan Adler was coming out with a diffusion line over at HSN?! Mayhap I've been focusing far too much on babies and nurseries over here. In any case, get yourselves over to HSN.com pronto and check out all the Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler line, which includes plenty of candles, lamps, vases, pillows, throws and other accessories in Adler's signature motifs and bright colors. I just picked up the greek key throw and greek key diffusers. What a nice little shopping pick me up for this otherwise tired Monday!

Halloween Costume High/Low

I love Halloween costumes. And I'll even admit that I love Martha Stewart's fantastical, creative takes on Halloween costumes. The only issue I ever buy of Martha Stewart Living, just to relish in the fantasy that this year I'll craft away my October weekends and throw together one helluva DIY costume.

But let's get real. Most weekends it's all I can do to check off the "must do" errands and chores. And so, if I'm going to dress up for Halloween, I'm going to have to go store-bought or risk going yet again as a "punk rocker" or Janet Reno (better when I had short hair). But I refuse to do a fall-back again this year. Now that I live in a neighborhood with children aplenty, I vow to do better...even if it's just to scare them a wee bit when I open the door to hand out candy.

For those of us on a budget (or who are dressing up to stay home, as I plan to), I'm totally loving Costume Couture, the new Target capsule collection from Simon Doonan, author and window dresser extraordinaire. Simon's pithy (and punny) wit is all too evident in these costumes, from Candace Corn to the Chow Hound. Even better? It's all under $30. Oh Target, how I love thee...

If you're willing and able to shell out a little more dough (which may be worthwhile if you're attending a full-fledged adult Halloween soiree or have children who practically live in dress-up clothes, as my sister and I did), might I suggest Chasing Fireflies? The children's site has the best selection of costumes -- for children, adults and pets, might I add -- that I've ever seen. I particularly love the array of historical and mythological costumes. In fact, if that Medusa outfit came in an adult version, I'd be all over it.

P.S. - Have you ever noticed how dog costumes are so often modeled by bulldogs? Perhaps it's because a bulldog, let alone a bulldog in a tutu, is inherently funny.

Save or Splurge: Peacock Mirror

Kristen Hutchins and Hillary Thomas

I love a gorgeously detailed mirror, and one of my current favorites is the Indian peacock mirror. Peafowls hold a lot of meaning in Hindu religion and the Hindu god Krishna is often portrayed wearing a peacock feather in his headband. Right now, peacock feathers and motifs have also been enjoying renewed popularity in interior design and fashion. A peacock mirror is a great way to bring in some subcontinental style into your home, and it works beautifully with exotic fabrics and accessories, as Kristen Hutchins and Hillary Thomas did in this Californian living room. A neutral palette doesn't compete with all the pattern and luxe detail and works beautifully with the Spanish-style architecture.

Jonathan Adler

This exotic mirror is also a great counterpoint to more modern interiors. I love how the antiqued and intricate detailing of the mirror brings some patina and richness to all the sleek newness in the rest of the foyer. It's also a great hit of sparkle and light against the white walls and ebony floor. Very glamorous. Note too the placement of the mirror in this room. By placing the mirror at the end of the long wall, Adler creates a great focal point, leading the eye into the house.

Fortunately, there are iterations of this mirror in just about every price point. Do you think you can tell the difference between the ATM version (on sale for under $200) and the platinum one (priced at a jaw-dropping $2400)? Take the poll below to test out your eye (and don't cheat by clicking on the links first!) -- I'll post the answer tomorrow. And, if you were wondering, both versions can be hung either horizontally or vertically.

poll by twiigs.com

Quick & Easy Mini-Makeovers

While I'm a huge fan of the monumental DIY projects that many of my fellow bloggers tackle on what seems like a weekly basis, I'll admit that sometimes after a long week at the office I'm just not up for that. Instead, what I'm after is the kind of quick and easy project that gives you a big pay-off for minimal time (and monetary) commitment. If you're anything like me, you don't have each and every weekend to devote to big time decorating projects -- and besides, the discretionary income necessary for those larger projects can dry up faster than you can say "last month's Nordstrom bill". And so, in the spirit of tackling some smaller, mini-makerovers this weekend, I set about to perk up a few items in my study with some customized details to really give some ordinary, inexpensive items a bit more personality.

Mini-Makeover #1: Paint the back of your bookshelves. I bought this cabinet from Overstock (which is actually a bath cabinet that's no longer available but other items in the same style can be found HERE) for under $100 just to give me some temporary shelving and storage in my office until my budget can afford a larger piece. While I loved the Greek key detail and the combination of open and closed storage, I wanted to bring just a little bit more color and life to the piece, so I decided to paint out the shelves a lighter shade of purple (Waverly Home by Valspar's Purple Gray), which coordinates with the plum wall color (BM's Purple Lotus) without being too strong a transition with the stark white cabinetry.

Mini-Makeover #2: Tjuz up a blah lampshade. This crystal lamp was an $80 Home Goods find and, while the sleek crystal base was exactly what I was looking for to bring some more sparkle to my desktop, the plain vanilla lampshade was not. Certainly, it's inoffensive, just nothing special -- and since this is the one room in the house that I can go full-out girly glam in, I wanted it to sing. So I added a fabulous 1/2" Chinese braid (adhered with fabric glue) and a lavender tassel (which are very much back in vogue) and -- voila -- a fabulous, customized lampshade for a fraction of what you'd spend to have one custom made.

Mini-Makeover #3: Fake a contrast welt. I adore a contrast welt on upholstery and pillows, but not enough to pay for new covers for my daybed and bolsters. Sure, you can use fabric paint and paint it out (see Little Green Notebook and It's Great to be Home), but if you're like me and a little concerned about the steadiness of your hand, why not just fake it with some ribbon? Here, I used a few yards two very narrow velvet ribbons in lilac and plum and glued them just underneath the welt. The process took all of 15 minutes.

While I can't say for certain if the devil is in the details or if God is, I do know that a great designer is in the details and it's these small, personal touches that can take a room from ordinary to extraordinary. So what about you? Do you have any mini-makeovers you've recently undertaken that you can share with us?

Dachshund Bookends at any Budget

As a bibliophile and a dachshund owner (and lover), I am naturally drawn to just about any pair of dachshund bookends. But even if a wiener dog hasn't stolen your heart and/or taken over your home, these bookends bring a nice dose of levity to your decor: As your book collection grows, so too does Fido. Above is a shot of my own pair of dachshund bookends (a Christmas present from my sister-in-law) framing my small collection of Penguin Classics in my office. [By the way, I'm trying to decide what color to paint out the back of the bookshelf -- any suggestions?] Update: I received a number of inquiries regarding the bookshelf itself. I got it from Overstock a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, this particular style is no longer available, but the companion pieces (smaller shelves, medicine cabinet, linen tower, etc.) can be viewed HERE. It's actually marketed as a bath cabinet, but I think it works equally well elsewhere, don't you?

If you're in the market for your own set of playful bookends, there are dachshund bookends at just about every price point:

Source list: 1. Platinum: Dachshund bookends - brown (acrylic, $265) available at Barney's. 2. Gold: Dachshund bookends (stonewear and wood, $150) available at Jonathan Adler. 3. ATM: Jonathan Adler Dachshund bookends (white resin, $39.95) available at Barnes & Noble.

High versus Low: Pop Quiz Time!

It's been a while, so I thought it was time for another pop quiz. One of these mirrored-top tray tables costs $699. The other, $69.99. Can you tell the difference? Place your votes below and I'll let you know the answer tomorrow!

poll by twiigs.com

Update: The majority is right. Table A is the Mirrored-Top Tray Table from Horchow and retails for $699. Table B is the Country Living tray side table from Kmart and is currently on sale for $69.99. Sometimes it absolutely pays to shop around!

The Bathroom That Blogging Built

This weekend marked the completion of the final decorative touches to our master bathroom and I couldn't be happier with the finished results. What excites me even more though is that this is the first room that I feel like I can really cross off my list and declare "done" in the new house (as much as any room I ever design can be deemed complete as I'm always tweaking things). It's also the first room that I can really say is exactly as I had hoped it would be as the majority of my house is still incomplete. In honor of the occasion, I thought I'd give you a virtual tour of the room, from top to bottom.

When I last updated you on my master bathroom, I was debating which light fixture to switch out the small, completely inadequate, ceiling light with. Well, after months of contemplating my options, I decided to go with: Neither! Ultimately, I felt that if I was actually that torn about which light to pick, I should just hold out until I found one that was exactly what I was looking for. And I'm so glad I waited.

A few weeks ago I spied this fixture over at Aesthetic Oiseau and knew instantly that it would be a perfect fit for my master bath. As a major bonus, it was also well under what I had budgeted for a light fixture (I bought the smallest version, the three-light fixture). And, while my ceilings wouldn't allow me much room for hanging, I do think the hanging pendant brings a coziness to the space that a flushmount simply couldn't have.

With all the hard tile (and all the white and gray!) in the bathroom, I wanted to bring in some softness and pattern in the form of fabric. Obviously, in a bathroom draperies aren't particularly practical, so after reading about Jenny's gorgeous pelmet boxes over at Little Green Notebook a few months ago, I decided to try making my own pelmet box to fit around our large, very bare window over the bathtub.

Because the bathroom will obviously see a lot of moisture over the years, I decided that constructing my pelmet box out of foam core was probably not the best move (I could just image it starting to droop after a few months of showering!). So I decided to tear apart the plywood box that one of our mirrors was shipped in and reuse the plywood as the frame for the pelmet box. It took Dave and I several hours (and several attempts) before we got a product that I was happy with, but overall the project was fairly simple. We hung the pelmet with two L-brackets,which we hung just a few inches from the top on either side so they're now completely invisible.

The fabric is Windsor Smith's Archipelago fabric in Haze. Normally this fabric is to-the-trade-only, but I managed to score it (at a pretty decent discount) from Avid-Home (which I heard about via Paloma over at La Dolce Vita). I love the fabric so much that I'm thinking about using the mist colorway for draperies in the master bedroom.

Beth has touted the virtues of this trellis foot stool (from, of all places, JCPenney's) several times on her blog Chinoiserie Chic. And, once it went on sale, I decided to pick up my own for the vanity in our bathroom, intending to recover the seat in the same Windsor Smith fabric as the pelmet box. When the stool arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by its sturdiness, but wished the base were in a bronze instead of a brushed gold (which is actually quite nice, I just didn't want to introduce another metal into the room). So I decided to pick up some spray-paint at Lowe's and give it a quick coating of bronze paint. I did a light coat to allow for some of the gold to come through, which I think gives the metal a more authentic, bronze look.

And finally, I decided to cover the majority of the open floor with a rug because (1) those tiles are dangerously slippery in the morning, (2) I love the look of a real rug and not just a bathmat in a bathroom, and (3) our pristine white grout is a major b*tch to keep clean. I chose the steel zig zag rug from Madeline Weinrib because I wanted to stick to the same neutral color palette, but go with a bold pattern that would really make a statement. As a bonus, the fact that the rug is a cotton flatweave should help it stand up to the dampness.

So many thanks to all the bloggers mentioned who inspired specific aspects of this design as well as to all the other bloggers who have inspired me daily and helped me to better define my own sense of style. It's a great feeling to finally have an entire room more or less complete (even if it is just a bathroom). Next on my list: finishing up the living room.

I want more Shade

I thought I'd leave you this weekend with some images of the very, very cool Harlem home of designer Roderick N. Shade. Shade's home is the kind of place that makes me want to know the owner/designer -- after all, any man who can embrace fuchsia like Shade did (or who even has a name like Shade!) must be fabulous.

Shade's tiny 550 square-foot apartment was featured in this month's Architectural Digest and I think it might be the first spread in AD that I've actually been inspired by. [Every month when my AD arrives, I'm typically just reminded how inadequate it is as a replacement for domino and do little more than half-heartedly flip through it before putting it in the recycling bin.] By sticking to a (hopelessly hip) color palette of khaki, white and fuchsia throughout the tiny apartment, Shade creates a sense of cohesion and increases the visual space as each room flows seamlessly into the next. I also love how he was able to take a tiny, cramped, poorly lit hallway and make a real showstopper out of it. In many ways, it's my favorite part of the apartment.

Many of the furnishings were repurposed flea market (and even dumpster!) finds. It just goes to show you what a little paint and fabric can do. Suddenly a seen-better-days chair is the highlight of the entire room. I also think one of the keys to the success of this space is that all the furniture is appropriately sized for a small room -- there's no big, monstrous sectional taking up all the visual (and literal) space. I also like that by keeping all the furniture low to the ground, the room appears taller, and thus larger.

With the metallic sheen on the fabrics, plush pink carpeting and matching floor-to-ceiling drapes, this room evokes a hip downtown lounge vibe that makes me want to kick of my heels, grab a cocktail (or two) and kick back

Like Beth over at Chinoiserie Chic, I love the idea of using a screen as a headboard and this pink one is a real show stopper. With a little paint and ingenuity, Shade created a wonderful fuchsia trompe l'oeil ceiling medallion around a simple and inexpensive Japanese paper lantern and I think it really makes the room. I also love the white bedding with the pink and chocolate brown stripes -- I wonder if Shade made these himself or bought them as-is?

All told, Shade spent just under $23,000 to completely gut, renovate and furnish his home. Shade's website (currently under construction) promises potential clients that they will "experience world-class design that's astonishingly affordable and joyously collaborative". If his own home is any indication, I have little doubt that Shade will deliver on this promise.

Deal of the Week: Greek Key Tray

18" brass greek key tray from Nate Berkus

My obsession with classical Greek art and architecture -- and particularly greek key -- is well documented at this point (see HERE and HERE). I've got bold greek key lamps in my living room and a smattering of the classical motif elsewhere throughout the house. So of course when I spied this brass and mirror greek key tray from Nate Berkus (on sale for $49.99!) over at HSN.com (which has rapidly become my new online shopping obsession -- HSN is so much more than costume jewelry and weird beauty gimmicks these days!), I couldn't resist.

The tray in its new home...my den

This was my first purchase from Nate's line and I was admittedly nervous about the quality as Nate's previous line at Bed, Bath & Beyond was very hit and miss. But, when the tray arrived just a few days later, I was pleasantly surprised by its quality. The tray is large, weighty and looks significantly more expensive in person than its $50 price tag would suggest.

All in all, I'd say it's just about the perfect gift this holiday season for the design aficionado on your list. But caveat emptor: you may want to keep this one for yourself.

Guest Bedroom Update

Back in September I blogged about my love for DwellStudio for Target's Hadley Headboard. The modern bold stripes paired with the more traditional curve of the headboard is truly high-end design at a budget price. Well, when after a few weeks I still couldn't get it out of my head, I decided to go ahead and purchase the brown and white striped version for one of my guest rooms.

"Before"

After a few weeks of waiting, the headboard finally arrived (in a very large box!) on my doorstep last Thursday. The headboard was easy to assemble -- all we had to do was screw the legs (which you can adjust based on the thickness of your mattress/box spring) and then attach the legs to our existing bed frame.

"After"

While it seems like the "lacquer"-like finish on the frame scratches easily, I was impressed with the upholstery job and solid construction of the frame. All in all a very good product for the money. For a design standpoint in this particular room, I like how the bold stripes play up the striped sheets (also from Tar-jay). By repeating a pattern already existing in the space, I think the headboard lends a sense of cohesion to a space assembled predominately from hand-me-downs and leftovers. I also like the boldness of pairing such a large-scale stripe with a similarly scaled nature motif on the duvet. At some point (because I can't help myself) I'd like to paint the room (in a TBD color, but maybe a soft blue-green?) and upgrade the side tables and lamps to something a bit bolder/more interesting...but for now I'm going to deem this room ready and fit for company -- and just in time for Thanksgiving, too.

Spotting the Fake

[OetA Update: Contrary to the poll results, the authentic, licensed chair is actually Chair #1! I suspect most folks were confused by the exposed screws on the rockers of Chair #1.]

Time for a little quiz. What's the difference between these two chairs?

One, is an authentic reproduction of the Eames molded plastic rocking chair and retails for $479 at DesignWithinReach. The other is an inexpensive knockoff from Target, the purveyor of cheap chic, and retails for $180.99.

So which is which? Can you tell the difference? If not, would you consider purchasing the Target version or do you feel strongly about avoiding knockoffs?

poll by twiigs.com

Deal of the Week: Hadley Headboard

While scouring the Internet for fun bedding ensembles for guest room makeover I'm working on for Christy over at A 'Lil Welsh Rarebit (stay tuned next week for more details!), I came across DwellStudio's new line of bedroom furniture for Target. The entire line is cute, modern and functional -- everything you'd expect from DwellStudio -- but the Hadley headboard is downright stunning.

The Hadley headboard comes in a bold charcoal/white stripe (with white trim) or brown/white stripe (with brown trim). Either way, at $299 it's a deal you can't beat. Even better, with Target's current online promotional that gives you a 15% discount when you spend more than $125, it's a downright steal at $254.15. My only complaint is that currently the headboard is only available in Queen size, but fingers-crossed they'll roll out other sizes later on. After all, wouldn't a pair of these in a twin size be just the cutest?

What to Give When Your Friend's Expecting

At 28 I am in the process of transitioning from the "wedding stage" of my life (i.e., where most of your free time and disposal income goes into celebrating your friends' nuptials) to the "baby stage" (i.e., where said friends start having children and, again, much of your free time and disposal income goes into celebrating the blessed events). In short, my weekends in Vegas or Austin have been replaced with baby showers and "sip and sees". [By the way, the montage above is from the now-defunct Blueprint, which featured a spread on a baby shower thrown for two of its editors. This is definitely how an office baby shower should be thrown in my book.]

Sure, I could go the easy route and shop off the registry, but to be frank Babies 'R Us makes me nervous and I don't really enjoy the experience of gifting diapers and bottles. So I say let the new parents by the boring stuff and I'll play grandparent for a day by bringing the fun, unique gift. Over the course of the past year or so I've culled together a relatively fail-proof selection of "go-to" gifts for babies that with make just about any stylish mom-to-be happy and I thought I'd share them with you should any of the rest of you be in the baby stage of your life as well.

Without further ado, here are my favorites (in no particular order):

1. Pop Menagerie Piggy Bank from Jonathan Adler ($48). A piggy bank is a classic baby gift and this iteration (oh the polka dots!) from Adler just makes me smile. Perfect for the modern nursery.

2. Mary Jane Brights from Trumpette ($24.50). Sure babies can't walk, but that's no reason not to help kick start an early shoe fetish. Since baby shoes are impractical -- and not especially comfortable for little tootsies -- a set of these cute socks is sure to keep baby looking cool while keeping feet warm. For boys, try the Cowboy socks. The entire line of baby socks from Trumpette is available HERE. [Random aside: What is it about teenie, tiny baby shoes that make grown women coo and squeal in delight? Just try and surf that site without so much as a "so cute!" peep...just try it.]

3. Sleep Thief Playsuit from Chasing Fireflies ($48). From what I hear, newborns can never have too many onesies (after all, they're making costume changes multiple times a day) so these are always a safe bet. Extra points if the onesie manages to be (a) adorable, (b) not pastel, and (c) rub it in just a little that you, as the childless friend, are still sleeping in on Saturdays. For more inexpensive clothing options, I absolutely adore the baby clothes from DwellStudio for Target; this gift set for a baby boy for under $20 is insanely cute. And speaking of DwellStudio....

4. Stroller Blankets ($40) and Hooded Towels ($44) from DwellStudio. For a range of adorable yet modern patterns and unbelievable softness, you simply cannot beat DwellStudio's line of stroller blankets and hooded towels. I've gifted these in the past with great success and have every intention of doing so again (after all, if it ain't broken...).

5. Take Me Home Gift Set from Serena and Lily ($68). I love this gift set (and, truth be told, just about everything else on offer) from Serena and Lily, the purveyors of all things baby chic. It's lovely, simple and organic.

6. Elsa Peretti Open Heart and Fork Set from Tiffany's ($265). A gift of silver baby utensils from Tiffany's is the gold standard in shower giving. Obviously not something you'd gift to a friend of a friend, but for a sister, daughter or best friend, it's definitely worth giving them something they will treasure -- a future family heirloom. Of those currently on offer, the classic open heart motif is my favorite.

7. Children's books (various). If you want to instill a love of books in children, you have to start them young. Favorites from your own childhood are a lovely, personal gift for new parents. My personal choice would be a selection of books by Tomie dePaola whose beautifully illustrated stories I remember fondly from my own bedtime rituals.

8. Baby's First Book by Rag and Bone ($68). And finally, one of my all-time favorite shower gifts is this handmade baby book from Rag and Bone, an old-fashioned bookbinding company run by a couple out of Rhode Island. The book comes with plenty of space for the parents-to-be to fill in lovingly with all sorts of pertinent (and not so pertinent) information for the child to cherish many, many years later when she realizes just how great her parents are. All of Rag and Bone's books comes in a wide array of cover choices. If you're looking for a less expensive option, the brag book ($34) would also be much appreciated (though perhaps not by all the coworkers and strangers forced to ooh and ahh over the pictures therein).

So what about you? What sorts of gifts do you like to give new or expectant parents? If you're a parent yourself, what sorts of gifts did you most appreciate or cherish?

Find of the Week: Polly George Ceramics

I've been pining for a vase or a teapot from British ceramist Polly George for months now. I love how graphic and modern her all-white pieces feel and the three dimensional motifs lend the pieces a sculptural quality. Unfortunately, there are very few distributors of her products here in the U.S. and her prices are, while probably justifiable given the amount of work that goes into each piece, certainly not wallet-friendly. Sometimes though, patience and some strategic Internet shopping can pay off big time.

Online emporium 2Jane is a great online source for "of the moment" housewares from independent designers around the globe and is one of the few shops online that sells a selection of Polly George's goods. Last week, while killing time between meetings, I checked in and saw that several pieces were substantially discounted. Acting quickly, I ordered the Small Butterfly Vase, for a mere $30 -- and the piece normally sells for $115! Yesterday, the vase arrived in the mail and I was completely floored by the quality. First of all, this is bone china, not just stoneware. Secondly, it's really not that small (it's 12" high) and, finally, the craftsmanship is really evident in person.

Here are two other great deals to be found at 2Jane:

Mr. Jones Teapot, originally $120, now $30

Ribbon jar, originally $20, now $5

And, while not currently on sale, I love the Mr. & Mrs. Jones Juicers ($94/pair). They're just the right amount of twisted and would make a great wedding gift for a close friend.

So what do you think of Polly George's work? Is it your cup of tea (horrible pun intended)?