Shop Like a Design Blogger: EverythingLEB

It may be hard to believe, but today marks the end of the extended "Shop Like a Design Blogger" guest post series here on Odi et Amo. Every week, I have been continuously amazed at how each and every guest blogger has managed to come up with an incredible (and unique) list of design resources -- and this week proves no exception. Bostonian Lindsay of EverythingLEB proves that while she may be last, she's certainly not least. And I totally share her obsession with office supplies and great organizational tools.

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Hi Everyone- Lindsay here from EverythingLEB. I'm so excited to be participating in this awesome series. A huge thank you to Averill for putting it together and including so many amazing bloggers.

I actually find myself coming back here over and over again to see everyone's choices for inspiration. It was so hard for me to pick just a few, especially since alot of my favorite places have already been mentioned. So these might be repeats for you, but maybe the reasons and some of the products are new to you :)

1. Home Depot- Oh Home Depot where would I be without you? I know they don't carry everything for home projects (like Ben Moore paint, uhhhemm) but they have a wide selection of paints, stains, glues, nails, wood, etc to get projects started. And most times you can find someone helpful to guide you in the right direction. Another reason I love Home Depot is there selection of inexpensive plants and orchids. A must for a decorator is something living in each room and this is the perfect place to pick something green up.

2. The Container Store: This might be the one store that I could spend thousands of dollars in and no dinner guest in my home would ever see what I spent all that money on. From closet organizers, drawer liners, gift wrap and more, they have everything for the complete organizational freak like me :)

My favorite things here are the beautiful fabric covered boxes that come in so many fun colors and the plastic shoe boxes that I use for just about everything in my house.

3. Trader Joe's: One word, flowers! Having fresh flowers in my house is such a luxury and at Trader Joe's you cant go wrong bringing home a $3.99 bunch of carnations or a $15.99 bunch of roses. They have a great seasonal selection and I just love the color and cheer they bring into my house.

4. Ikea- for obvious reasons every design blogger loves Ikea. They have a huge selection and you cant beat the prices. The above items are new and I'm so excited to go check them out in person. #1 reason I want to go right now, that acrylic chair- so pretty!

5. Freddy Farkels: I've got a local pick here. All you Bostonians out there, this ones for you. Freddy Farkels is in Watertown and its one of those hit or miss stores for the bargains. They carry a ton of regular priced fabric in their front section and in the back they have an amazing section of bargain basement priced fabric in the back. I've found some really fabulous fabrics for $2 a yard, you cant beat that!

So there you have it, my list of favorite shopping sources. But in all honestly I think all of the shopping sources the other bloggers listed are my favorite too! This is an amazing source to bookmark, and I'm so happy Averill decided to put this together!!

Thank you, thank you Averill!

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Thank you Lindsay -- and thank you to all the other design bloggers who've contributed such great content and ideas over the past few months! You've all made this series successful beyond my wildest imagination and I can promise you that I'll be referring to your posts regularly whenever I'm on the hunt for great design sources.

Shop like a Design Blogger: Design Darling

Today I'm thrilled to welcome the fabulous and talented Mackenize from Design Darling. I remember when I first found her blog I was absolutely astounded to learn that Mackenzie was still in college -- indeed, her style is far more sophisticated and refined than her college age status would suggest. And I'll admit that I was just a tad jealous over her fabulous internship this past summer with one of my all-time favorite design gurus and personalities, Jonathan Adler. But Mackenzie's sweet and sparkling personality makes both her youth and her enviable C.V. hard to hold against her.

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Hi everyone! I’m so excited to share my shopping secrets with you on Odi et Amo today. I just recently completed my first interior design project — the bedroom of my off-campus house for my senior year at Bucknell — so this subject is certainly fresh in my mind!

Without further ado, number one on my list: Craigslist. In a perfect world, I’d have gads of time to scour flea markets for hidden gems — thankfully that’s where Craigslist comes in! This is undoubtedly my go-to for quality pieces at a reasonable price point. Remember Emily’s gorgeous green campaign dresser project? I don’t want to ruin any surprises but I recently scored a similar dresser off of Craigslist and gave it a new lease on life... Anglophile style ;)

My second stop is the apartment section of Urban Outfitters. If you’re looking for bohemian bedding, chic occasional chairs, or inexpensive rugs, this is a must-click!

For throw pillows — hands down the easiest and least expensive way to update a space! — I turn to two of my wonderful sponsors, Elegant Touch and Fabricadabra. Olga at Elegant Touch carries beautiful suzani pillow covers and Fabricadabra has the best online selection of ikat fabric in a variety of colors.

I love to support my blogging friends’ small businesses so I spend more time than I care to admit on Etsy — and at Jamie’s new online boutique Furbish! I’ve long admired her quirky sense of style and her talent in turning plain wood pieces into painted works of art so it’s a treat to be able to shop her wares online. For those not in the market for découpaged dressers or seashell print ottomans, she also carries fabulous pillows and prints and plenty of goodies for under $100!

There are plenty of amazing Etsy shops but one of my favorites is Katie Armour Home. She has a great eye (and an adorable blog, of course!) and her vintage finds are not to be missed. She also happens to share my love of elephants so I know I’ll find a few brassy miniatures each time I click over :)

I’m a little biased having interned for him this summer but I know Averill is a fan so here goes: Jonathan Adler is stop number three! If you’ve never been to one of his stores, you must! Color and styling inspiration abound. Thankfully for those of us in the suburbs (or rural Pennsylvania, as the case may currently be) his site features all the same gorgeousness — tongue-in-cheek pottery, graphic needlepoint pillows, design-your-own rugs... Clearly I’m a little obsessed! Thank you so much to Averill for having me here today — it’s been a pleasure! Next week's guest blogger: Lindsay of EverythingLEB.

Shop Like a Design Blogger: Good Life of Design

This week's guest post comes courtesy of the darling and stylish Kathysue of Good Life of Design. Kathysue is one of those bloggers who just gives you the warm fuzzies. Not only is she full of great ideas for your home, but her plethora of positive energy and kindness always manages to brighten my day.

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I think shopping like a designer has more to do with How you shop than where you shop. For instance I think it is important to train your eye by shopping at High end stores, by going to museums and art galleries and study what you see. The reason for doing this is so when you see something at a great price, no matter where you are shopping you will be confident in making a purchase. I have a friend that has a saying that I have borrowed, “LLM” Looks-Like-More!!

I think our lovely host Averill showed us her ability to do this in her bathroom post where she purchased a stool from JC Penney's and did a slight makeover and Voila!! Gorgeous! Definitely “LLM.”

With this in mind I know you want some shopping resources so here are few that I think will make the “LLM” criteria! I will also give some other resources that might be in a higher priced category but worth a visit.

I think by changing out your accessories you can totally change the look of a room so I am going to give some resources for:

• Art
  
• Lighting
  
• Pillows/slipcovers
  
• The Unique

ART

Artaissance: You will find all different styles of art at all different price points. They are prints and you can pick your size and framed or unframed. They even have a sample program for $6.00 you will get a small piece sent to you so you can make sure the subject matter and colors will work for you. I am in love with their Biltmore Collection.

Panteek.com: You will find a wonderful resource on this website for antique botanicals at very affordable price points. You will find some at higher price points too. I believe if you love botanicals or any type of historical print, this is the site for you.

Harrison Howard: This art is on my “Someday List” I love a touch of Chinoiserie and a touch of whimsy and Harrison Howard does all of that and more. The colors are amazing and the subject matter is captivating. The beauty of this site is it offers different price points in the form of prints in Giclee to the original where you must contact the artist. I love my visits on this site and I think you will too.

Shall we move onto Pillows?

PILLOWS/Slip-Covers

We all know about Etsy.com. This is a wonderful site of vintage and handcrafted items. I have found a few sites that I think have decent fabrics and prices.

Marie's Cosy Cushions: You will find pillows made in more of a modern/contemporary style for a very affordable price point starting at $20.

Elegant Touch: At Elegant Touch you will find a higher price point with fabrics that I call more current and today. Definitely worth a visit!

Nena Von: Nena Von makes pillows out of designer fabrics that are also very current, but at a lower price point starting at $25.

Bemz: If you own any Ikea furniture this site is for you!! They have all kinds of fabric choices including Marimeko to make a slipcover out of for your Ikea pieces. Very affordable and Fun!!

THE UNIQUE

I have a couple of sites that just fall into the unique category. They seem to have items that are unusual and eclectic and would a wonderful touch to any interior.

Pieces: You name it they have it and at all price points, High-Low!! Fun site to peruse for something different.

Furbish: At Furbish you will always find the unique!!

InMod: This site can actually fit in the UNIQUE PILLOW category. On this site you can design you own pillow in a modern Icon chair,pop-culture print to a classic damask. You get to choose the fabric content, size and the thread color that the design will be embroidered in. Love this site!!

Last but not least is lighting……

LIGHTING

I am only going to give you a couple of sites that I found to be very affordable, but it will take a bit of looking to weed out some of the, shall we say less desirable lighting. These two sites will fall under the criteria of : “LLM.”

Great Chandeliers: You can find chandeliers for under $300. They have a lot of variety so it is worth the looking.

Look at how cute this is for a little girls room for only $99!

A little glamour in black for $196

TVStands.com: I know ! Don’t let the name scare you off, it almost did me, but then remember? “LLM” This will fit under that criteria with some major web-shopping.

So there you have it!! This was so fun for me to line my shopping sites up for you all.

Averill, thank you soooo much for inviting me to do this. It was an absolute honor to be asked in the first place by a fellow blogger as yourself. I have admired you and your design aesthetic and your writing skills for a very long time. I consider you a blogging friend and this was truly and honor and a lot of fun!!

Kathysue signing off,

Remember: “Enjoy The Process”

Next Week's Guest Blogger: Mackenzie at Design Darling.

Shop Like a Design Blogger: Meditations on Life + Style

Today I'm thrilled to welcome Dayka from Mediations on Life + Style. Dayka is an interior design student in Atlanta and her blog is a wonderful and thoughtful collection of ideas gleaned from the classroom and from her own (seemingly bottomless) creativity. I am particularly fond of Dayka's posts on thirfting and repurposing old, inexpensive items to look like something new, fabulous and much, much more expensive.

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Averill's Friday feature is one of my favorites, so I was thrilled when she asked me to be a part of this series! For those of you who don't know me through my blog, Meditations on Life + Style, I'm all about Rescuing, Refinishing, and Reusing, so I decided to use my time here to share sources that will help you do just that!

1. Shop your local thrift store/yard sale/auction--the more obscure, the better! Thrift stores are a treasure trove of valuable goods, and you wouldn't believe some of the things people throw out as trash, just waiting for you to come along and give it new life! Secondhand shopping won't be a goldmine every time, but you'll never believe some of the fabulous finds and deals to be had behind those doors. An easy update for any room? New lamps refinished in a custom hue, and most thrift store have a great selection for less than the cost of a night at the movies! Some of my favorite online resources include Shop Goodwill (Goodwill's online auction) and Housing Works, which is based out of NYC and provides services and housing for people living with AIDS. Giving back and great loot? Where do I sign up???

2. Hardware. Changing hardware on a piece of furniture is a the quickest way to give it a fresh look before you even think about refinishing! There are tons of really great novelty hardware fixtures out there for sale, and stepping away from traditional selections will really give your dresser (desk, nightstand, etc.) a one of a kind look. Two of my favorite online spots for hardware are Van Dykes and Atlas Homewares. With reasonable prices and a huge inventory, these merchants won't leave your updated pieces naked. Right now I have my eye on these . . .

($1.99, Van Dykes)

($8, Atlas Homewares)

3. Habitat ReStore. Sometimes walking in here feels like I've died and gone to heaven, but like Forrest Gump said, you never know what you'll get. This Habitat For Humanity owned resale outlet sells reusable and surplus construction materials to the public and uses the resale profits to fund home construction programs in local communities, so shopping here also feels good. You can find french doors for as little as $40, windows, tile, light fixtures, furniture, house numbers, paint, tools, door hardware, appliances, along with a million other things, but the selection can vary. If you're doing some renovating on a budget, make this a place to stop. Click here to find a local Habitat ReStore in your hood.

4. Jo-ann Fabrics or Hancock Fabrics. If you're not lucky enough to live in a major city with a design center (or district), don't fret! You can still find some beautiful special order textiles at your local fabric store, and combing your purchase with weekly coupons can often make your finds a steal! Hancock also has a pretty good remnant table where you can find up to 10 yards of fabric for as low as $3/yard--perfect for updating a chair, making new pillows, upgrading a bulletin board, or switching up a lampshade. It might not be Donghia, but don't thumb your nose up at it either!

Annie Selke Links--Slate ($54.99 + 50% off coupon)

Robert Allen Floored--Sandstone (currently on sale for $20.99)

5. Ikea. If this hasn't been mentioned before, it's probably because it's so obvious, but just when you think you've seen it all at Ikea, they blow your mind with something new. Even if there's not one in your area, there is an online selection that's thorough enough to let you get in on the action without breaking the bank in shipping costs. Trying to achieve a House Beautiful look on a beer budget? You HAVE to visit Ikea! Here are two of my latest obsessions . . .

Maskros Pendant, $89

Vava Pendant, $69

Hope this is enough to help you get started creating a home you'll love without sacrificing your wallet! Thanks for inviting me over, Averill--I'm truly flattered! Enjoy! :)

Next week's guest blogger: Kathysue from Good Life of Design.

Shop Like a Design Blogger: i m a g i n e

This week I'm thrilled to have the amazingly talented Jami Goldsmith from i m a g i n e guest posting today. Jami is a talented designer in Southern California who offers both local and online design services and you can view some of Jami's amazing projects HERE.

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Okay, so here you go - I'm giving you my biggest secrets in shopping for design "stuff". Over at i m a g i n e, I hand out tidbits of product info weekly, but here, I'm basically giving you the cow! This is a tad bit difficult for me, because I pride myself in scouring and finding the best deals and bargains around and now you all are going to know where I get all my loot! I'm always the friend that friends are asking, "Where did you get that?", or "Will you go shopping with me?". All joking aside, I'm really excited that Averill invited me over to share with you the best places to find the best stuff! Most of my resources are online stores, so I hope you enjoy online shopping!

Furniture - HD Buttercup, The Sofa Company, Costco, JC Penney Outlet, Macy's Home, inmod

Lighting - Bellacor, Circa Lighting, La Murrina

Art - Etsy, Artaissance, Alison Fennell, Costco

Rugs - Costco, Home Depot, Dash & Albert

Accessories - Shop Terrain, Shop Design Spark, Areaware, Apartment 48, Grasshopper 510

Wall Treatments - Stark, Farrow & Ball, Mod Green Pod, Osborne & Little, Schumacher

Window Coverings & Hardware - Ebay, JC Penney, Backyard Bargains

Everything/Catch All - Flea Market, Velocity, Unica, Home Goods, TJ MAXX, Marshalls, Tai Pan Trading Company, Target, Z Gallerie, OverstockI always check Copy Cat Chic to see if she's found something similar to what I've picked out for a better price!

Okay, that's it! That's all I'm giving you! Thanks, Averill! I hope I've bestowed upon you all a few new resources that will help you decorate your home!

Next Week's Guest Post: Dayka at Meditations on Life and Style

Shop Like a Design Blogger: Decorica

After last week's brief hiatus, I'm back this week with yet another installment of the "Shop Like a Design Blogger" guest post series. This week, I'd like to welcome Erica from Decorica. Erica, who launched Decorica nearly a year ago, is the talented interior decorator behind Erica LeBlanc Designs. Erica has a wonderful knack for bringing great style and color to just about any decorating budget and I look to her blog regularly for stylish, budget-friendly inspiration.

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In addition to helping people improve the look and function of their home, shopping is one of the best benefits about being an interior decorator. And I do shop! I prefer to visit small stores and websites that offer big style. I'm a fan of fixing things up myself and bringing sexy back to drab and outdated pieces. Being an East Coast gal, I've found that the coastal states of the Atlantic offer a plethora of shops and products needing a new home. At the same time, I love perusing websites that offer cool and unique new pieces. As a child, I was a Brownie, and we used to sing a song that went something like this..."Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold." That's my design motto: keep your old pieces and incorporate some new. You'll get a well-balanced look that will reflect your personality!

Make New Friends:

Perusing websites is a convenient way to find great new products and inspiration. House Eclectic is one of those websites with shapely and colorful furniture. Buy it new or use their look for inspiration when updating your flea market finds. They are a family owned business with their main office outside of Washington, D.C.

If you're looking for a beautiful natural fiber area rug, look no further. Merida, headquartered in Boston, MA with a mill in Fall River, MA, offers a wonderful and eco-friendly assortment of flooring options. Their rugs are made from wool, abaca, sisal, paper, jute, and sea & hemp grass.

Merida's website allows you to view the different materials and textures that they offer, get an custom rug price, as well as order swatches for free!

Modern Dose, based out of Queens, NY, is home to some amazing accessories and mid-century reproductions. They have a great assortment of lighting fixtures which includes unique table lamps and glamorous chandeliers. Their mirrors are fantastic - all sorts of shapes and motifs. Modern Dose is the perfect site to find that one thing that your room needs to complete the look.

Started in a garage by a New Hampshire couple, Company C is the source for whimsical and colorful rugs in amazing patterns. These rugs will be the focal point of the room. Company C offers handmade area rugs floral, stripe, geometric and border styles to suite any home decor.

In addition to gorgeous rugs, they also offer furniture, fabric by the yard, coordinating bedding ensembles and toss pillows. Visit their showrooms in Hingham, MA, Portland, ME, and Concord, NH, or order from their website.

Keep the Old:

Newburyport, MA, has a handful of small antique shops and boutiques that offer great prices on items needing a little TLC. There is no better way to show your personality than by fixing up an old piece to fit your home decor. Every town has a little shop filled with treasures - take the plunge and purchase those pieces that catch your eye.

Flukes & Finds & Friends has an amazing selection of small tables, chests, foot stools, and hutches that are already painted a coat of white or some fun color that could easily fit into any decor as-is or fixed up. Vintage Faire Antiques is home to a ton of old accessories and furniture just waiting for a makeover. They place adorable items on the street - which is where I saw my new-to-me Louis chair that will soon get a new look. Both shops are so small and quaint, they don't even have websites.

A little farther north on the infamous "antique mile," aka Rt. 1 in Cape Neddick, Maine, you'll find Columbary House Antiques. They have a multi-dealer store loaded with oddities, old paintings and photos, and decor you can use to fill up your shelves.

They also have an outdoor area that is packed with architectural salvages and great garden pieces that you won't find anywhere else.

If you're a DIY gal looking for the perfect fabric to cover your new antique find with, visit your local Calico Corners. I'm a huge fan of their fabric selection, which I feel is always kept current with the "in" colors and patterns of the season. They carry bolts of in stock fabric as well as designer fabric which you can order.

For inspiration, their showrooms are full of furniture upholstered in beautiful patterns and colors and window treatments that are breathtaking. If you've never visited a Calico Corner showroom, you must - they are my favorite resource for fabrics as well as ideas and inspiration since many furniture showrooms just show neutral fabrics.

A special thanks to Averill for the pleasure and honor of participating in this fun series!

Next Week's Guest Blogger: Jami at imagine.