hunting for a bookcase

I am on the prowl for the perfect bookcase. One with character, the right proportions and of good quality. It seems that this must be a lot to ask for, maybe even too much, especially when working within a budget. At this point, I have searched tirelessly online through craigslist and big box retailers, as well as hit up local consignment and antique shops. While I have found tons and tons of what I don't want, I have also found several pieces that might do the job, but aren't exactly what I want.

The Verona bookcase from World Market. I actually like a lot of things about this bookshelf. It is sophisticated, a little on the rustic side, at 15 inches deep, would provide a few extra precious inches than others of its kind. I like the warm medium wood tone, and I think that a pair of them would flank the buffet very beautifully. My only concern is with the quality. I have put together furniture from World Market before, and had great difficulty. At $199 each, I could afford two, and really make the most of that long wall in the dining room.


Ikea's Markor series comes in at an even better price for $169 each. I like its simple lines, and the dark wood finish would provide a nice foil for the white buffet, and honey toned dining furniture. Its dimensions are a little less deep than what I want, but I think I could still make them work. My hang up with this one: its IKEA and everybody buys Ikea. However, I could make it my own, by covering the back panels with a fun wallpaper or fabric, an idea I credit to my sister. This would also add a splash of color and pattern.


And this beast, is one that we found at Greenwood's Cobblestone Used Furniture. It's solid oak, except for a few of the shelves, which are plywood. It's also enormous. At 65 inches wide, it would just fit in the dining room. The issue with this piece is the lack of versatility. The shelves are a fixed width, very similar to the one bookcase we already have, and although we would be able to get it up the wide stairway in this apartment, who knows if it would fit in a different space. Our lease here only lasts nine more months, and I don't want to spend $400 on a piece that we can't take with us when we go.


As I have talked to friends about locating the perfect bookcase, I have learned that this is not an uncommon dilemma. It's just that I am probably taking it too seriously. I do feel though, that I am at a point where I don't just want to buy for looks, I want to buy for keeps. So I guess its good to be choosy. I will keep looking and keep you posted.

what's on etsy

I heart etsy. I wish that I had the time to create things to sell on etsy. For now, I will just ogle what others have the dedication and talent to craft. This is what I saw today. All of these handmade items come at great prices, and offer fun ways to liven up your interiors.

From Soap Studiooos in Brooklyn, the "Chair Pillow". An instant, cheeky punch for any bench or perhaps a desk chair... for just $35 plus shipping.


Mostly because in my new apartment, I am not allowed to paint the walls, I am drawn to the idea of the increasingly popular wall decal. Styleywalls has really sweet, but simple designs to choose from, and any of them would look great on my ginormous, blank living room wall.
Love Birds on Branch with Leaves $44.00.

I usually don't like candles that are pretending to be anything but candles, but look how cute these "Mad Men" inspired candles by Soy Chic Candles are. They are poured into cocktail glasses, and I have to admit, it would really add some sparkle to the bar during a martini party. Vodka on the rocks anyone? Only $8.


Lucy Snowe Photography had some beautiful color photography. Great compositions and interesting use of filters. I LOVE this Bird at the Beach print. Its small at 8x8, and its $25. I wish it was like 18x24, because I have the perfect frame for it!


I am looking forward to discovering more great accessories on etsy to decorate my new place with. I've got some specific art work and organizational items on am on the prowl for, and will let you know when I find them!

what i found at the b.i. auction

This year's Bainbridge Island Rotary auction (albeit over a month ago), was almost a turn off. I don't think I will ever get there at 8am again. Witnessing the rush to be the first to get the "best" stuff made me a little ill. Greedy, junk obsessed people where swarming the place. I was sort of ashamed to be one of them!

I'm not denying that there aren't enough great finds for everyone, but the mob scene made me rethink every purchase I made while I was there(do I really need this?). And don't let anyone ever tell you that getting there early gets you a better parking spot. I parked a good 1/2mile from the site!

That said, I still walked out of there with some really good stuff for rock bottom prices. Let me share with you what I brought home, and how I fit the items into my decor.

This black and white framed ink drawing of Seattle's Lake Union houseboat community found a place on the wall in the TV room. It was just $7!



I found a pair of Root's dinner pillar candles (.50 cents for both), in the pumpkin color and scent that I so predictably love. The gorgeous table runner featuring Amy butler fabrics that my mom quilted, acts as the perfect color foil.


This little hand-thrown pottery vase looks so at home amongst the other objects already accessorizing my bookcase. Can't beat the $3 price tag.




And... the crowning jewel: the oak drop leaf pedestal table I scored for $20. A piece like this has been on my wish list for a long time. I haven't decided whether or not to paint it or strip it and stain it, or to just leave it as it is. Very pleased with this one, I must admit.



Well, that's it. And I only spent $30.50! Pretty darn amazing. As for the event itself, I have not entirely ruled out attending the sale next year. I'll just plan on lingering over breakfast with my husband, taking my time watering the plants, and then making my way to Bainbridge after 10am, when the really good deals happen, and the grabby hands are too tired to fend me off!

RAGS again!

Hooray! Spring and summer flea markets, garage sales and auctions are just around the bend. Next weekend's Kitsap Rotary Annual Garage Sale will help to jump start the season. One day only, Saturday, April 18th, you'll be able to prowl the Kitsap County Fairgrounds for trash and treasure. The sale starts at 8am and ends at 2:30 pm, so be sure and get there early to snatch up the good stuff. There won't be time for second thoughts! A silent auction will also take place on the grounds.


I know I wrote about this last year, but here are a couple of refresher tips to be properly prepared for treasure hunting:
1. Bring a list or notebook of measurements regarding project ideas. (Like wall dimensions for art work or a head board)
2. Bring your tape measure.
3. Paint chips and fabric swatches, just in case.
4. Your digital camera with photos of rooms needing certain pieces.
5. CASH!
6. Water and snacks to keep in the car if you plan on spending the better part of your day "sale-ing"!

Remember my finds from last year?

The $5 upholstered headboard. I covered it with a $20 twin quilt from TJ Maxx and a roll of nailhead trim.





The $10 office chair that I painted light blue.



An art book I purchased for $2, from which I pulled prints out and framed for the gallery wall.



Another side of the RAGS event to consider: donating things to be sold. You can drop off salable items on site at the pavilion on Monday April 13th starting at 1pm. This is a great way to get rid of clutter and be green! Check out their site for more details on donating.

There's no telling what might be found at these sales, so keep an open mind. I wish I could go next weekend, but I will be out of town! If anyone out there ends up going good luck, and send us pictures of your finds!

looking for a pendant

I am looking for a pendant light for my home office. About a year ago, we took down the non-operative and disgustingly ugly ceiling fan. For that same amount of time, there have been bare wires just dangling down. The abscence of a fixture has become one of those things I tend to forget about until I am prepping the house for company, and suddenly realize how ghetto it must look to outsiders.

A couple of things to consider when buying a light fixture:
Why am I lighting the space? How much light to I need?
A work space: you need the room to be well-lit in general.
A dining room: opt for mood lighting vs. task lighting.
A living room: your ceiling fixture(s) just adds to the general ambiance, while lamps and picutre lights illuminate certain zones in the room.
The kitchen: definitely go for concentrated task lighting.
Your bedroom: a pair of wall sconces might lend a flattering glow but enough provide light to read by.
The bath: overall lighting for the ceiling fixture, and concentrated light near the vanity.

Here are a couple of my faves for the office from my top online sources for style. Of course, I want to keep it as cheap as possible, but I am seeking a modern fixture to add punctuation to the space. Tell me what you think.

At $129, the highest price, is West Elm's faceted glass pendant. It lends a sort of rustic and refined element, but remains contemporary with the clear bare bulb. It only accomodates a 60 watt bulb and is about 14" in diameter.



Ikea's Leran pendant boasts nautural elements and a very modern shape. At 24" wide, it certainly would provide a great sense of scale to the office. It is $90 and can take up to 150 watts.



My most fave, and the least expensive option, is cb2's Eden Pendant. It is clean and simple, totally mod, and only $50. At about 20" in diameter, with a 100 watt capabilty, I think it would be the perfect size and provide ample illumination.


Any thougts on what look I should save up for? Here are a couple photos of my office so you can make a sound decision.

revival home and garden

Seattle's Georgetown certainly has lots to offer, but in this budding, non-yuppie industrial neighborhood, Revival Home and Garden is a must-see. This shop offers traditional and trendy statement furniture pieces and accessories for almost any budget.

With so many wonderful ideas and delights for the design eye, and such a light happy feel about the store, Revival is sure to provide substantial retail therapy. A stop here needs to be at the top of your to do list this month. Heck, take an entire Saturday afternoon to enjoy what Georgetown has to offer. Start with a late breakfast at the edgy, but scrumptious Smartypants. Take a browse through the LP's and comics at Georgetown Records. Enjoy a, early afternoon beer at Jules Maes. Make sure to spend some time in Great Stuff where you will find an amazing array of quirky antiques and found objects, before you land at Revival, right next door.

Revival and Great Stuff were both written up in last November's Domino by their girl about town, Rita Konig. Konig was spot on with her Seattle neighborhood picks including such local establishments as Watson Kennedy, Red Ticking, and Maison Luxe (no longer on 1st Ave downtown, but online or in their Pioneer Square showroom). Even though Domino mag is closing, their website will still be up for a couple of weeks, giving its loyal readers a chance to pull down their deco files and absorb as much of its greatness as we can, before saying goodbye.

Speaking of Domino, I am not the only one sad to see it go. Through Revival's design blog , authored by owner Leah Steen, I found out about a blog created just for its mourners, appropriately titled, We Love Domino. I can only hope that perhaps this effort will successfully contribute to the world's refusal to let Domino go down! On that note, happy shopping and decorating to you this weekend. I'll see you again soon to reveal photos from my redesign at home!

goodbye domino

I am so upset. Domino magazine is folding, in a week! It was just reported today, and I have to admit, its a little hard to digest. Having already lost my favorite magazine, Cottage Living, earlier this year, domino had taken its place at the top of the list. And now, it too, is suffering at the hands of a depressed economy.

What really gets me feeling defeated, is the fact that there is no talk of continuing their website. Why not? The costs to run a site are much less than that of producing a magazine. All I have to say is fooey... and, I am really disappointed.

So, I guess, in some strange way, that makes my mission to blog all the more pertinent. I still want to bring sound decorating advice to my readers, and I can do it for free, dang it! I am hopeful that some of domino's contributors will start their own projects too. I'll have to keep an ear to the ground for you.

In the mean time, here is a link to the NY Times article detailing the closure of one of the BEST decorating magazines of our time. So long domino, you will surely be missed by each and every one of your 800,000 loyal readers.

inspiring natural elements...

Beautiful fall branches are a nice, natural way to add fall flair indoors.
Better Homes and Gardens.

It really feels like fall out here in the pacific northwest. We had our first official fall storm today: blowing rain, high winds, downed branches and even power outages. Its days like these that I am inspired to stay inside, drink tea, read magazines and listen to classical music. Today, however, I was busily running errands- to my own annoyance.

I finally sat down at five and started diving into my fall decorating magazines. Just a quick browse through them, and I am telling you, I am so inspired. I want to nest more than any woman has wanted to nest before me. I want to freshen my decor for the season; bringing natural elements indoors, layering patterned fabrics and adding texture, texture, texture! Suddenly, I am second guessing every coat of paint I have applied to my mismatched furniture over the years. Why did I do it? Why didn't I just leave them in their naturally beautiful, woody state? Ahh, I must forever be a busy decorator, that is why. I can't leave well enough alone; it goes against my very nature.

Speaking of nature, my focus for seasonal decorating this fall is going to be on pumpkins, gourds, branches, and the like. I must begin foraging for these elements, and stock up before all of the best ones get picked! I'll let you know when I've squirrelled away my stash, and share some of my fall decor tricks.

For now, here are some of the best images I found in my favorite magazines and on their websites.

Interesting embellishment for pumpkins: upholstery nail heads.
Cottage Living.


A simple assembly of tiny pumpkins and flowers on a pretty platter.
Better Homes and Gardens.


I love the twinkling and understated beauty of this carving technique.
Sunset Magazine.


A dressy buffet accessorized with natural branches and loaded with festive food exemplifies the best that fall has to offer. Domino Magazine.


I hope that you are as inspired as I am to turn indoors and get really, really cozy!

coming soon: domino's decorating book

As domino is one of my fave decorating resources, I am so excited to grab a copy of their new offering: Domino The Book of Decorating. It isn't available until the fall, but you can still order it online through amazon.com. I can't wait to see what's inside!

Another little tidbit: My Deco File is a new feature on domino's website. In it, you can not only save images of decorating ideas, but share them and view other's files! You can create "deco books" for each room in your house, uploading photos from your own computer and also add in images from dominomag.com, or other websites. I just started my profile, so I have yet to explore all of the options, but so far it seems like a really neat, and potentially very useful tool.


Photo from West Elm
If you go to domino's site today, be sure to enter in the West Elm $5,000 shopping spree sweepstakes. Wouldn't it be incredible to spend all that on great West Elm stuff online, and see it delivered right to your door! So cool. Now go do it!

my rotary sale finds

This is the hefty bamboo mirror that I snagged for $17 at Bainbridge Island's Rotary sale, a few weeks ago. I am guessing it hadn't been the focal point of any room since sometime in the mid-eighties. Unfortunately, I do not have eighties themed decor in my home. So, this gold metallic and brown sponge-painted bad boy, got several coats of paint, in a color I created myself which I like to call Black Coffee.




It now has a new home on top of my white buffet in the dining room. I like the striking contrast between the two pieces. The brownish black color of the mirror brings in a softer element, as compared to other, more dramatic jet black accents in the room.

I also picked up this pretty, but very solid end table for just $5. The fiendish painter in me envisioned it in bright persimmon. Once I got it in the house however, I decided it was just fine as is (for now anyways).

And, although I hate to repeat pictures, here is a photo of the light blue runner that created a cool foil to my bedroom's earthy red and butter yellow color story, for only $5.

All great additions to my home, and for under $30 total. Honestly, make sure you plan on attending the BI rotary rummage sale next summer. There is always something for someone!

fall already?

Yep. The season of early fall decor has started sprouting up everywhere: magazines, catalogs, online. Good thing that fall is my favorite season, otherwise I might be a little miffed. After all, isn't summer still in full swing? Of course it is. In my mind, however, its never too early to start contemplating those small changes or projects that you'll want to do to make your home more cozy for fall. To get inspired, but not overwhelmed, here are some highlights that I found noteworthy.

Ikea's new lamp Jusas Ysby.


Pottery Barn has a fabulous new offering of fall fabrics for furniture and pillows alike.


World Market's Karbala ottoman adds instant pattern and warmth.


No need to make cookies, just light one of Pier One's Freshly Baked pillars.


West Elm's new color block dhurrie rugs have a cozy modern feel.


An upside to the introduction of the new fall designs, is the price slashing and liquidation of summer themed items. Almost every home decor store is in this mode right now, so catch those great last-of-summer deals while they can be had!

a flea market wish list

There is so much about the flea market and antique store cruising experience that is serendipitous. Treasures are found that you never imagined would make their way home with you. Vignettes and displays inspire you to recreate and redesign the things you already own. Impulse buys prevail. However, it never hurts to have a list of things on your mind when you are out hunting. That is why I have created my "Antique Store Wish List", and have written it in a tiny notebook that I keep in my purse.

Want to know what is on it? I knew you did. Here goes:
~ A globe with a grand patina
~ An old grade school-esque map of someplace else (Ex: the Caribbean, Italy, Greece)
~ A pair of plug-in wall sconces (period/style not important, just not Victorian)
~ An eye catching vintage tablecloth to turn into a slip cover for my ottoman
~ Old, weathered chalkboard
~ Classic looking alcohol decanters
~ Circa 1920's oil-rubbed bronze door knobs, like 4 or 5 of them
~ A door knocker with lots of character and preferably very old looking
~ 4 matching claw feet for a cast iron tub that sits covered in brambles at my husband's grandpa's pasture
~ A wicker armchair

That is about it. It always seems to be growing though. That little notebook, which I call my "design journal", also contains lots of other decorating details from my house.


I have written measurements for different things, like windows, pieces of furniture, wall spaces that could use artwork. I also jot down design ideas in it, or specifics on a piece I find while out shopping (this is why I keep a small tape measure with me at all times).


I taped-in paint chips for each room in my house.


I have also included some fabric swatches for several of the rooms.


I even taped one of my business cards inside the front cover in case I lose it!


This little book has been a really valuable tool for me in my decorating adventures. It is very easy to create, and I highly recommend that you do it. Just find a small notebook that fits in your purse, and get started!

This design journal may come in handy this Saturday, as I head to downtown Bremerton for the second round of Simply Renewed's 4th Street Market. Starts at 9am, goes till 4pm. I was out of town last month, so I am excited to see what's featured. Hope to see you there!

dana lee's furniture

Pretty painted furniture with coastal cottage style, for amazing prices. That's DanaLee's Furniture in downtown Port Orchard. An abundance of side tables, captain's chairs, bed frames, dressers, sideboards, benches and dining sets all in creamy white, classic black, pale sage and seaside blue. Prices range from $19 for a light blue captain's chair to $302 for a painted dining table and six chairs. This store is a real treasure.


Owner DanaLee Homa has been in her Bay Street store for a year and a half and features mostly furniture painted by her sister Amber, but also has a small assortment of beachy accessories. She recently acquired the fantastic and affordable rug line, Dash and Albert. This line features durable, washable cotton rugs (as well as wool and polypropylene). With ticking stripe motifs in beautiful, subdued sorbet and classic colors, there's one for every room in your house. Buy them at DanaLee's and you won't incur the shipping costs of ordering them online. You won't find them offered at any other stores in the area!


I asked DanaLee what she would suggest to any readers that might want to paint furniture on their own. Her only words of advice: use an oil-based paint. The finish is far superior to that of latex and the cleanabilty and durability is unmatched. Although oil-based paint is harder and sloppier to work with, the lasting finish is worth the mess. (Wish I had talked to her earlier!)


Don't live in Kitsap County? No problem, DanaLee's pieces are also for sale on craigslist.org. She attributes the development of clients outside of the Port Orchard area, to her listings online. Check out her website, danaleesfurniture.com, for an updated inventory list. Better yet, stop in her Port Orchard store for a true picture of why she is the budget decorator's alternative to Maine Cottage furniture!