decorating ideas

Fun Ways to Decorate with Fabric

October 14, 2010 at 3:08 pm , by Sara Dayton

Out of the corner of your eye, you see it: perfection. Maybe it’s just the right shade of purple to match that new duvet cover. Or a bold pattern with a jumble of colors that magically ties your whole living room together. Whatever the style, there’s nothing quite like the perfect piece of fabric. I can relate—I stumbled across the swatch at right a few months ago and haven’t been able to stop thinking about how great it would look with my sofa.

But now that I’ve made enough throw pillows to last a lifetime, I’m on the hunt for new ways to incorporate fabric into my decor. Here are my three favorite ideas (so far): Read more

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New Home Design Book: Designers Here and There

March 31, 2010 at 3:30 pm , by cdewet

I am helping a friend redecorate his living room in Brooklyn, so I have been scouring magazines, websites, catalogs and blogs for inspiration. It occurred to me the other day that I hadn’t picked up a single design book—how crazy is that? Information is so readily available these days that we often skip over “good old-fashioned” books. I personally forgot how wonderful it was to flip through the pages of a big, heavy design book filled with gorgeous photography. Want to know about my most recent find? Michele Keith’s Designers Here and There: Inside the City and Country Homes of America’s Top Decorators. I like it because it gives you a glimpse into the tastes and likes of  the decorators themselves—their own personal style. It’s also a fabulous resource because it covers a range of different design styles—every time I pick up the book I notice something new, like the giant photograph of a Pee-Wee Herman puppet on page 16, or the amazing chandelier in Pam Duncan’s Santa Fe home. Speaking of Pee-Wee Herman, my word of the day is “BOOKS” (everyone scream!). Set down your Kindles, iPads, cell phones, and computers and motor on in to an actual book store. Don’t let the technology of today rob you of the tangible and wonderful experince of print. You won’t regret it!

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Inspiration is Still Free

October 7, 2009 at 3:58 pm , by cdewet

Sometimes when strolling out and about in fabulous New York City I pass a beautiful home store and think, Why even bother going in, those lovely things are probably waaaay too fancy for me. My mind instantly flashes back to the scene in “Pretty Woman” where the saleswomen shun poor scantily clad Julia Roberts for even attempting to peruse their fine merchandise. I cautiously glance at the beautiful window displays as I pass by, as if some expensive item might jump into my hand if I don’t move quickly. I don’t give it much thought after that, and continue on toward more familiar territory. Well, guess what I did last weekend? I shrugged off my inhibitions and went into an adorable design store, A&G Merch, in Brooklyn—and you know what, it was a fantastic experience. Okay, so there were a few things out of my price range, but what I found most enjoyable were all of the creative displays! My mind couldn’t help but think about how I could incorporate some of their funky design ideas into my own apartment and the inspiration was undeniable. I started to wonder about other shops that I had walked by in the past and what muse-like displays I had unknowingly deprived myself of.

Inspiration is free, and perhaps more important than ever during these trying economic times. Window shopping is great fun when you walk away with a brain full of new ideas. Okay, friends, your assignment is simple—the next time you pass a store that strikes your fancy, even if you think it might be too fancy for your wallet, go in! You never know what you might find. Oh, and a nice shade of lipstick can definitely help… See Erica’s entry on red lips!

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White Open Spaces

September 2, 2009 at 3:50 am , by cdewet

Welcome to the Lounge! My name is Courtney De Wet, but you can call me Courtney. I assist the editor-in-chief (no, she is nothing like Meryl Streep in the Devil Wears Prada) and write for the home section of the magazine. I have a passion for decorating, and am a self diagnosed flea market junkie, especially since moving to New York City. I pride myself on creating inexpensive decor for my apartment, and absolutely love the color orange! I can’t wait to share some of my personal decorating tips, favorite finds, blogs, and anything else I think is great in the world of home design. Ready? Great!

Do you have some empty white space on your walls begging for attention? Why not steer away from framing a mass produced poster, and choose some inexpensive decorative paper that reflects your own personal style? Paper-source.com offers an excellent assortment of decorative paper perfect for framing! These Chartreuse birds would look amazing in a glossy white frame. Why stop at one? For added interest, line three or four small frames together horizontally, and really make a statement. Use a piece of paper cut to the same shape as the frame to check for height and spacing. Frames should hang at eye level, and be spaced about half an inch apart.  This look is brilliant on a smaller wall, such as in a bathroom or an entry way. Mix and match similarly colored paper, or just repeat the same great print! Happy framing!

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