PAPER MOJO DIY

The rewards of cleaning out the closet! I found several sheets of a bamboo trellis paper from Elum, ordered ages ago from Paper Mojo for a DIY project that never got off the ground. I've been eyeing my sad Billy Bookcase from IKEA for a while, and this paper seemed like a great way to dress it up.

The green and white pattern makes a crisp match to the white case.

Boring Billy! This plainly (pun intended) needs some work. Most of the time this project starts with pulling the back off the bookcase, but I'm a lazy DIYer. A VERY lazy DIYer. I also settled for double stick tape instead of mod podge or glue.

For bookcases like mine that aren't brand new, the shelves will already have some sag in them, so just measuring won't do. I held the paper up and fit it in place, creasing in the correct corners for an indication of where to cut later. Then I rimmed it with double-stick tape, with an X across the middle for good measure.

Affixing the first piece. Start at the top, with the shelves out, and work your way down. Pattern matching on a paper like this is not as tricky as you'd think; the repeat on this trellis is a tough match, but the busyness and bright color conceal an inexact match.

Afix and smooth the remaining sheets, and you're all done!

Styling is still TBD, but I'm already enjoying the bright punch of color this brings to the hall! 

LAMP MECCA

A little while ago I posted about a great lamp I found at Home Goods. I wish I had more space for lamps, because they have so many more great options! I'm especially in love with this pair of amazing gold pineapples (at around $50 a piece, they're a steal).

AFFORDABLE ADLER

A few months ago, I ordered this throw from Jonathan Adler. Actually, I should say I ordered it from HSN - and it's BY Jonathan Adler. Generally, I get the idea that many HSN buys are made at the 11th hour, fueled by exhaustion or too much caffeine/wine/sugar, and consummated with regret. But I love this purchase, and the quality was better than I expected.

It's reversible (white/black, black/white), and I frequently roll it up as a stylish "bolster" when not in use. At around $50, it was well worth it (don't be fooled by the compact look - it unfurls to a very large size).

I've been tempted by a number of other Adler offerings at HSN, although there's some design disconnect. Wouldn't it be great if these pillows came in black/white, instead of navy/white, in order to coordinate with the blanket above? Love the tassels though!

The prices might seem a little steep for HSN, like this lamp for $145, but compared with Adler's other offerings they're darn cheap.

This similar version on Adler's website is $725!

Here's a THIRTY TWO PIECE setting on sale for $29.99. No, it's not missing a "1" in there!

A similar style also by Adler is $50 for a 4-piece setting.

And don't miss Adler's books - on sale for only $4 a piece!!!

/Images/HSN.com /bolster, my own/

PRETTY PAPER WHITES

Paper whites are most loved as a Christmas flower, but I enjoy them anytime in a cold winter - or a mild fall. They're the most forgiving of flowers. Even brown thumbs can grow a grasp of paper whites with the help of a little water and ample windowsill sun. And after the blooms have dropped, the long leaves will continue to bring a little green to your rooms.

I potted my own paper whites last week, and while I'm waiting for them to grow, I'm living vicariously through these pretty bouquets.

via Cote de Texas

via Visual Vamp

/Images/ The Enchanted Home/ Cote de Texas/ Ruth Burts/ Visual Vamp/ Mary McDonald/ Mary McDonald/ Southern Accents/

Need a how-to? Martha Stewart hasn't let you down - click HERE.

CIRCA WHO???

Ever since I saw a spread in Matchbook Magazine featuring this fabulous faux bamboo console, I've been webstalking CIRCA WHO, a treasure chest of chinoise located in West Palm Beach.

After a fruitless search for a hexagonal, faux bamboo side table, preferably white, of dimensions of less than 26", and a bottom to stack books in (I'm not picky!) I emailed CIRCA WHO owner Tracy. In short order, she'd turned up the perfect table. I was thrilled! 

Having found the perfect perch for my book piles and mugs of hot coco, I went in search of a nice lamp. Because my color scheme for the living room is green and white, I initially wanted a green lamp, and had my eyes on these options from World Cost Plus Market or Ballard Designs.

But after trying a few options that just didn't work well, I stumbled on this beauty at Home Goods. I love the delicate cloud pattern rendered in gold and white. At $60, it was really quite a find.

I think the lamp is a lovely compliment to the table.

A few more favorites from CIRCA WHO. Good thing it's 995 miles from Washington, DC (yes, I Google mapped it). Otherwise, I'd be in some serious shopping trouble.

/Images/ Lonny/ My Own/ World Cost Plus Market and Ballard Designs/ My Own/ Circa Who/

THOROUGHLY THRIFTY

The main joy of a three-day weekend is that "bonus" feeling. It's like finding an extra $20 in your pocket you didn't know you had:  pure squander (for those in professions not recognizing Columbus Day, it's just a work day with no mail delivery). Anyway, I decided that I was going to start wasting time first thing today, so like any good profligate, I loaded up on coffee and sugar and then set off for a tour of home decor and thrift stores I've had on my "to-visit" list for a while. Most stops didn't yield anything (which was immaterial - looking itself is fun). But my final stop was jackpot.

I'm a crazy chinoiserie addict, and when I stumbled on this dresser set, I felt weak and dizzy (or maybe it was all the caffeine).

The 3-piece set (dresser, mirror, and side table) was - wait for it - $129. On eBay right now the dresser alone in that size runs $300 or more. I couldn't believe it. 

There was some hardware damage, but other than a little TLC needed, it was an easy fix. Since I have achieved max furniture capacity in my thimble-sized apartment, I had to leave the dresser and side table for some other lucky person. But I was determined to have the mirror. 

At first, they refused to sell it separately, but I begged and pleaded and finally, asked them to name any price they wanted. The salesman pondered thoughtful for a moment and then said...

$29.99. SOLD! I practically danced out to my car with it (I say practically because despite being the stuff of my chinoiserie dreams, this thing is darn heavy).

The next challenge was figuring out how to hang it. Since it was actually a dresser mirror, it had no brackets on the back for wall hanging. But I'm not handicraft helpless for nothing. I called Frager's on Capitol Hill (renovator's mecca) and asked if they would install brackets for me. Total cost? $4.95. And they carried it to my car for me. Heart you Frager's!

Now I'm trying to decided where to hang my fabulous find - and if I want to paint it another color. As you can see, it goes nicely with my lamps, but I'm not really keen on decorating with yellow in this space (the walls are a rich cream and it's clashy). Green or a laquer white might do the trick.

Horchow

Lonny Magazine

via DecorPad

via DecorPad

/Images/my own or as attributed/

CAUGHT MY EYE

Isn't this a lovely piece? I stumbled across it in Home Goods recently, buried under a fake plant, some baskets, and a floor mirror. It's a rather average shabby chic style commode, dressed up with wonderful chinoise illustrations. I believe the price was around $500. Hope it went to a good home!

P.S. This made me start thinking about how easy it would be to decorate your own piece of furniture (OK, maybe not EASY, but easier than forking over $500 or more). Painting free style might be difficult, but stencils would do the trick.

P.P.S. This reminded me of a cheap 'n chic version of my all time FAVORITE piece:  this Oscar De La Renta parrot green drawer chest. I had the opportunity to see it in person at the Century showroom at the Washington Design Center, and I'm still weak in the knees.

/Images/my own/Oscar De La Renta/