Inspiration + Find

Sources/Links: 1) Inspiration photo from Habitually Chic; 2) Caucasian Moldovan Floral Rug (top right) from oz_melek seller on ebay; 3) Caucasian Moldovan Floral Rug (bottom right) from oz-melek seller on ebay.

Sources/Links: 1) Photo at top left: via The Bubb Report (originally published in Domino); 2) Photo at top right: via The Designer's Attic; 3) Ezeula 300 fabric from Designer Fabrics Online; 4) Gujarat 300 fabric from Designer Fabrics Online.

Inspiration + Find

Today is the first of a new type of post I'll be doing - called "Inspiration + Find": An inspirational room plus a currently-on-the-market (and usually affordable) patterned find to help you recreate the look.

Sources/Links: 1) Photo of Chloe Sevigny's bedroom via Stylecourt; 2) Villandry Damask Print fabric in Pomegranate from F. Schumacher; 3)  Premier Prints' Isle fabric in Lipstick from Warehouse Fabrics Inc.; 4) photo of kids bedroom via Material Girls (originally published in Domino).

Sources/Links: 1) Photo at left via Decorpad; 2) Photo at right via Decorpad (originally published in House Beautiful); 3 & 4) Blue zebra rug and pillow from Crewel Fabric World (you'll have to call them to order the pillow in blue - and they can do other custom colors, too).

Sari Roundup

For the next two weeks over the holidays I'll be doing more posts, but they'll be of a different type.

Today, a roundup from a source for affordable accent fabrics: sari shops.

A few tips when searching: 1) Make sure you’re not in the polyester section - stick with cottons or silks; 2) In general, avoid ones with too much metallic embroidery so the overall effect is subtler (unless you're looking for that one metallic accent in a room); 3) Use sparingly - again so the effect is subtle; 4) Make sure the sari isn’t too sheer for your purposes (or, be prepared to back it with another fabric); 5) Remember you can always modify it significantly (e.g., if it’s only the border you like, cut that out and have it sewn side-by-side for “stripes” on small items like throw pillows and chair cushions).

Some inspiration:

Orange saris were added to the foot of the bed; image via The Adventures of Tartanscot (originally published in House Beautiful)

Room by Amelia Handegan, via Stylecourt

A bedroom in John Derian's Provincetown house, with a kantha quilt - a running stitch quilt made from recycled saris; image via Apartment Therapy (originally published in Martha Stewart Living)

Some affordable finds:

Each of the above saris is $62 or less, and the fair trade kantha throw (bottom left) is only $80.

Sources/Links (clockwise from top right):
1) Mango Mood Yellow Cotton Sari from Utsav Sarees
2) Clear Sky Grey Cotton Sari from Utsav Sarees
3) Mundu Tangerine Ochre from sarishop.com
4) Dabu Block Print Sari from sarishop.com
5) Pochampalli Magenta Grey Maroon Sari from sarishop.com
6) Kanchi Cotton Yellow Navy Sari from sarishop.com
7) Sari Blanket from Sari Bari
8) Albicant Cream Sari from Utsav Sarees
9) Brook View Deep Grey Sari from Utsav Sarees
10) Silent Grey Sari from Utsav Sarees
11) Fairy Grey Sari from Utsav Sarees

Two quick rooms: An entryway and a guest bath

This week I’m showing just a few pieces - enough to get each room started.


Sources/Links:
1) 4x5.5 Kazak rug from Heritage Unlimited
2) Tortoiseshell Finish Parsons Table by Henredon from Era Vintage Modern on 1stdibs
3) Grasscloth wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries
4) Carmen Table Lamp in Midnight Blue from Circa Lighting
5) Small Stacked Pot Form Lamp from Circa Lighting
6) Vintage English Umbrella Stand from Mecox Gardens
7) Umbrella Stand from Mecox Gardens


Sources/Links:
1) Nye Homestead Wallpaper from Waterhouse Wallhangings
2) Photo of Tom Scheerer-designed bathroom with trellis wallpaper from Elle Decor
3) Photo of David Cafiero-designed bathroom from June/July 2010 issue of Lonny
4) Photo of wallpapered bathroom from Domino, via The Inspired Room
5) Black writing desk from 1stdibs (I no longer have this link, so I think this particular item has sold)
6) Instructions for how to turn a piece of furniture into a sink base can be found here and here
7) Cloud Motif Garden Stool from Pagoda Red on 1stdibs
8) Reflections Rug in Natural from Rugs USA
9) Reflections Rug in Terracotta from Colonial Mills
10) Brown braided rug from Rugs USA. Just as I was posting this I realized that this rug now seems available only as a stair tread. Similar rugs, though, can be found, here and here; or, having a custom, cotton rag or braided rug made is another affordable option that gives you the exact pattern and colors you want (for example, here or here).

Leontine Linens bedroom

In advance of the usual post this week, some pale pink-walled goodness...

via House Beautiful and Martha Stewart

via Shelter

via Wealden Times

via The Wall Street Journal

via House Beautiful

via House Beautiful and Flickr

Sources/Links:
1) Photo of Melissa Rufty-designed bedroom from housebeautiful.com
2) Detail shot of gray Grace bedding from Leontine Linens
3) Photo of Todd Richesin-designed bedroom from Splendid Sass
4) Photo of Deborah Buck-designed bedroom from elledecor.com
5) 19th century French Headboard from Dearing Antiques on 1stdibs
6) 9x12 red Tabriz rug from Heritage Unlimited
7) Framed Nude Female Drawings from Mecox Gardens
8) Pinky-red and gold pillow from Karina Gentinetta on 1stdibs
9) Brass Tyrol Horn Cup from Jayson Home & Garden
10) Tom Dixon Base Floor Lamp from ABC Carpet & Home
11) Ultra Premium wool Greek Flokati rug from Rugs USA
12) Rajmata fabric from Peter Dunham Textiles

Furniture on the Cheap(er): Stuff Made from Metal

Instead of the usual post this week (given the holiday), here's an inspirational round-up of metal furniture. As I mentioned in this August post, local welders can make cool pieces for much, much cheaper than you'd pay for in a store - and to your exact specs. For example, I had a coffee table frame like the one in the photo of the ticking stripe sofa (below) made for just $75; I just had to add a $30 stain-ready top from Lowe's, cut to size. A few tips:

• Call around, and I don't mean just two places, because prices can vary widely. I've been quoted anywhere from $75-250 for the exact same project, and was completely happy with the work done at the least expensive price.
• The cheapest metal option is iron, which works well if you're going to paint it (remember, metal can be powder coated so it can be sprayed virtually any color if you want a change in the future). For a finish like antique brass, some welders will use actual brass (much more expensive) while some can create the look of antique brass on iron. Whichever finish you select, make sure you see samples first.
• Be specific: Even if you're showing the welder a photo, s/he might not realize that it's important to you for the legs to be, say, ultra-thin. So give them exact dimensions when you can so there's no room for error.
• Keep it simple: Contemporary pieces without curves will be more affordable for the welder to make, and there's less room for error. (Some of the items below, like the chairs, would require  more work on your part in terms of making sure your specs are exactly right, but they'd be so worth it.)
• Table tops: Wood is your easiest/cheapest option (unless you want the welder to make the top surface out of metal, too). You can buy stain-grade pieces of wood for coffee or end tables at hardware stores for about $30 or less (Ikea sells these, too). If you want a professional, high-gloss finish on the wood, call an auto body shop: they can spray a piece, usually for less than you'd pay a furniture refinisher for the same job.  Another option is to call your local natural stone supplier to get a piece of, say, marble cut to size. Finally, glass: In my experience it will cost about $100 for a thick enough piece of glass for a desk or coffee table top (even at that price, the entire table/desk would end up costing only about $200-250).

Sources/Links:
All of the above photos are from 1stdibs, except for:
1) 2-tier Curvy Side Table from Worlds Away
2) Photo of gold leaf étagère from Sketch 42
3) Photo of dining table with two red chairs from Abbey Goes Design Scouting
4) Photo of coffee table in front of ticking stripe sofa from Domino magazine

Dark mustard velvet

Sources/Links:
1) Three dark mustard velvet fabrics (left to right): Performance Velvet in Wheat from Williams-Sonoma Home; Mustard Velvet from Greenhouse Design; Soft Textures Velvet in Cashew from Robert Allen Design
2) Tournai wool/sisal rug in Camel from Merida
3) Linear Wood Base Office Cabinet in Solid White Oak from Room and Board
4) Small Italian Burl Wood Parsons Table from Sputnik Modern on 1stdibs.com
5) Large Rail Vellum Side Table from Mecox Gardens
6) Bench with Leopard Print fabric from Ellen Ward Scarborough Antiques on 1stdibs.com
7) Parsons Desk in Solid White Oak from Room and Board
8) Harrison Three-drawer Writing Table from Hickory Chair
9) Louis XVI Gilt Bois Theatre Chair from Jerry Pair Antiques on 1stdibs.com
10) 1970s Tear Drop Table Lamp in Chrome from V&M
11) Thomas O’Brien Terri Crystal Accent Lamp from Circa Lighting
12) Kashmiri Temple Hanging from Sarajo on 1stdibs.com; (this one is WAY too big, but you could look for something similar in a much smaller size)
13) Blueprint Drawing of Ship Boiler Room, Circa 1920 from V&M
14) “Adventure on the Horizon” 16x16 painting from amolczak seller on Etsy
15) Picture of yellow books from booksbythefoot.com