Selecting Drapery Made Easy!

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Drapery can be challenging to select. Pattern or no pattern? Large or small print? Geometric or floral?
Since it is such a hard decision, most people select them last.
When designing a room, I always start with the largest statement pieces, the drapery or the rug.
Drapery can be a great starting point for a room, it sets the tone and decides the direction for the rest of the space.
Tonic Living is one of my favorite places to shop for fabric. Their fabrics are affordable and on trend.
I also love how they share pictures of their fabrics used in clients homes. Let’s be honest, the small thumbnail pictures of fabric can be deceiving. Being the visual person that I am, it is always helpful to see the fabric in action. 
Here are a few of my favorites…
I love this bright geometric print, Groovy Grille Confetti.
I think it looks amazing as drapery and is only $18.95/yard!
Top: Groovy Grille Confetti, Middle left: Outdoor Sisila Poolside, Middle right: Bethe Leaf, Bottom left: Cross Section Honeydew, Bottom right: Graphic Fret Greystone
Once the drapery is selected, it is much easier to put together coordinating fabrics for pillows. I think any of the fabrics on the right would work great!
Jennifer from Rambling Renovators used this adorable floral, Sweet William Teal, in her bedroom.
Since the floral pattern is small, it works well as drapery without being to overbearing.

Using floral drapery can make selecting pillows more difficult, graphic and organic prints work great though!
I am kinda obsessed with this grey and white geometric print, Courtyard Oyster, as drapery.
It looks so high-end but it is only $29.95/yard!
Top: Courtyard Oyster, Middle Left: Modern Meadow Poppy, Middle Right: Geo Maze Coral, Bottom: Cameron Storm
 You can keep the color scheme neutral like the picture, or pair it with something a little more playful like the coral fabrics I selected.
A big thumbs-up to Tonic Living, they are killing it lately!
Anyone else loving their fabrics as much as I am?

Theo’s Mini Room Reveal!

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Last week we moved Theo into Emory’s room.
Even though we will be moving in a few months, I felt like Theo’s little wall needed some love.
I didn’t want to spend any money, so I worked with what I had around the house.
Several years ago I had purchased the frame from a thrift store and painted chalkboard paint right over the picture. It worked well and has held up awesome.
It’s not much, but I think it helps make his “wall” a little more homey.

  

I must admit, I was excited to get my $9.00 DIY deer heads hung back up!
I still love them as much as when I first made them.
I did buy this cute black & white striped blanket from Ikea for his crib, but I forgot it at the check-out!
How lame is that?
We found out last Friday that we will be moving to Boise Idaho in June.
We will be living there for a year before heading to California.
I can’t wait to give Theo a proper room, but this will have to do the trick for now!
Also, the winner of the 3 Lady Gatsby prints is…
Congrats Sarah! Shoot me an email!

Art Inspired Design Board: Just Dawnelle

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I am excited to introduce you to our guest blogger, Dawnelle.
Dawnelle and I went to the same design school, she graduated a few years after me.
I didn’t get a chance to know her very well during our design school, but I have loved learning more about her on her blog, Just Dawnelle.
I recommend you pop on over and check it out yourself, she covers everything from design, to fashion, to everyday life!
She also has a great series on her blog where she designs spaces around pieces of fine art.
Today she is sharing a fabulous art inspired design board with us.
Get excited!
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Oh this room… I think I am going to dream about this marvelous space tonight. The room is inspired by Claude Monet’s The Boat Studio on the Seine, a bright impressionist painting full of color and light. It was the perfect piece to create a classy and sophisticated space with a slight ethnic bohemian touch.
My goal for the space was to create a fresh sophisticated feminine feel reminiscent of the beautiful flowers found in nature. The muted colors and black accents help to subdue the bright and youthful colors in the painting allowing for a sophisticated and classy interior to be created. The fun touches of texture found in the throw pillows and shell chandelier along with the ethnic curtains help to add a layer of free spirited bohemian style perfect for a young girl’s room.
I would love to see this room with the artwork filling an entire wall, HUGE, like as big as it can get… 56″x 42″. Add a few accents of those gorgeous paint colors and some white furniture. Oh the possibilities… What do you think? Where would you like to see this inspiration used? a living room… office… bedroom?

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I don’t know about you, but I would love to see this space in an office.
It’s moody and rich yet graphic and colorful, a great combination to get me inspired!
Thanks so much Dawnelle!
Where do you think this design is best suited?

Designer Frugal Finds!

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This week we began sleep training our little guy. It HAD to be done.
He was waking up every 30-40 minutes and I was struggling to survive.
On Monday I took a couple hours to myself, I needed it bad.
The endless sleepless nights had finally caught up to me and I was SO close to bursting into tears.
I left for a few hours and aimlessly roamed the isles of Hobby Lobby and Walmart.
Seems like an odd selection of therapeutic shopping spots, but nothing gets me more excited than finding a frugal find.
I was excited to see these two Waverly prints at Hobby Lobby.
Both these prints make a killer pillow.

You can find this one here.
And this one here.
I would love to design a pre-teens bedroom around these prints.
How cute would that be?
I was also super excited when I stumbled upon this large starburst mirror.
It sells for $199.00, but the mirrors regularly go on sale for 50% off.
$100.00 for this mirror is a steal.
Some may say starburst mirrors have seen their day, but I still love them.
Especially in silver.
{image via here}
I am always on the lookout for a perfect little white vase.
They are so handy to have, great for a coffee table, nightstand, desk, bathroom, the list is endless really.
I found this little guy at Walmart for $3.97.
No complaining here.
It is the ideal vase for styling a nightstand with flowers, like I discussed here.
{image via here}
Lastly, I saw these new red frames at Ikea last night.
I have a crush on them already.
Remember when Jenny did this Gallery wall with red frames?
I am still in love with it.

How perfect would those Ikea frames be for a project like that?
Also, I am happy to report that since we started sleep training, I am now getting 8 hours of sleep at night!
It’s amazing how life changing a little sleep can be!