Giveaway from Elegant Touch

 

 

Elegant Touch is one of my go-to pillow sources for online design clients.  She has some beautiful, designer fabric options and they are really well made.  Here are just a few of my favorites from her current selection:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, ready to shop? 

Elegant Touch is giving away a $50 store credit to one lucky winner.  To enter, simply visit Elegant Touch on Etsy and leave a comment on this post letting me know which is your favorite.  The winner will be announced this Wednesday on my Facebook page.  Good luck!

 

Halloween Thoughts

 

We have a busy Halloween weekend ahead.  Is it just me or was Halloween just a one-night event when we were kids?  It’s a full three-day affair now, and I have to come up with regular costumes plus book character costumes for my school-aged kids.  (Do I sound like I’m complaining?!) 

 

At least we’ve settled on costumes.  (Thank goodness Party City offers free shipping!)  We’ll have a one light-up vampire, a storybook witch and Olivia (the pig).  Makes perfect sense together, right?

 

 

 

I remember being Cyndi Lauper on repeat Halloweens. I loved that it meant I could get my hair spray painted orange. I wish I had that picture. . .  

 

 

What was your best costume as a kid?

 

Back to design talk next week.  In fact, check back tomorrow and I’ll have a great giveaway from my sponsor and Etsy pillow shop, Elegant Touch.

Using an Accent Color Around the Fireplace

 

 

 

Love this idea that I recently spotted on Houzz.  I see so many new construction homes with a similar set up--fireplace (meant to house a TV above) with built-in bookcases on each side. 

 

 

 

Houzz

 

I often suggest painting the back of the bookcases for color, but painting just the mantel and fireplace surround is a great way to use a bold color without going overboard. (A dark color is also another way to make the TV less noticeable.)

 

Creating Vignettes

 

I’ve had a few readers ask me for advice on how to accessorize end tables, console tables, dressers, etc. It’s definitely one of those things that’s easier to do than explain how and usually just takes some “playing” until it feels right.   There are, of course, those “design rules” that are typically a good rule of thumb. . . Vary the height of your grouping, use an uneven number of items, etc.

And, there are some items that are usually a sure bet—a nice tray, a glass vase or container, a decorative box, books, etc.  Those quirky, unexpected items are also great to mix in.  It’s hard to go out and buy a group of accessories to make the perfect vignette.  Instead, collect over time and pick up those little pieces that catch your eye.  In other words, if you’re at Homegoods and spot a purple ceramic bird that makes you smile but you have nowhere to put it, buy it anyway.  It  might work perfectly on a stack of books.  It ultimately comes down to how you mix it, and including pieces that have special meaning to you makes it even better. 

Okay, enough words. Here are some good inspiration pictures for arranging vignettes on accent tables in your home. Think layers.

 

 

 

Knight Moves

 

 

Lonny

 

 

image source

 

 

Eddie Ross

 

 

Cynthia Smiley

 

 

Image Source

 

 

image source

 

 

Southern Living

 

Lonny

 

 

A Few Things

 

Yes, it’s one of my (in)famous random Friday posts. 

 

 

 

 

Are you familiar with the  blog, Favorite Paint Colors?  It’s a great resource if you are curious to see what a certain paint color will look like in a real-life room.  My old master bedroom (painted in Benjamin Moore Silver Chain) was featured yesterday.  The site divides paint colors in categories by color and by room for easy reference.

 

 

 

One of my blogging friends, Caitlin Wilson, just launched her own line of textiles and I am loving these fabrics.  I predict they’ll be a huge hit!

 

 

And, last but not least, this idea in the latest issue of Country Living caught my eye.  They created a big piece of artwork by attaching a series of old postcards to a canvas.  I think I would try painting the whole canvas a bright color first for a fun “frame” around each of the postcards.  (Etsy and Ebay are great resources for these.)

 

Have a great weekend.  I’ll be sitting out in the cold cheering on my favorite 7-year-old soccer team :)

Save Your Pennies With This Sunburst Mirror

 

 

I don’t often do “look for less” posts but you know I still love a pretty sunburst mirror, so I had to share. 

 

I found this mirror (34.5 inches) at Home Decorators for $319 (plus shipping):

 

 

 

Then, I found this lookalike at Kirkland's for just $59!  You lose a few inches—it’s only 27.5 inches—but for the price, it’s a great trade off.

 

 

Plus, a mirror smaller in diameter works perfectly between two windows like this:

 

(A great way to add a little something visually, if you decide to forego window treatments.)

 

Only 67 More Days. . .

 

Yes, Christmas is quickly approaching.  That also means that“Black Friday”—the official start of the holiday shopping season—is going to be here before you know it.

 

 

 

If you would like to advertise on my blog and be included in my “Black Friday Sponsor Post”, we would love to have you!  Please email info {at} emilyaclark.com for rates and more information.  New sponsor openings available Nov. 1st!

My First Kilim Rug

 

I haven’t even begun to decorate our kids’ rooms since we moved in, but I did order this colorful rug last week as the jumping off point for my son’s room:

 

I’ve been trying to figure out where to fit a kilim rug into our house for a while, and this one seemed playful enough for a little boy’s room (and the price was right). 

 

I especially love the mix of colors they bring into an overall neutral space:

 

Country Living

 

 

image source

 

 

 

 

 

Elle Decor

 

 

And, although out of my price range, I love the vintage ones that Pottery Barn now offers:

 

Pottery Barn

 

 

What’s your take on kilim rugs?  Do you own one, or have a good source to share with us?

 

Giveaway from Elisabeth Michael

 

 

Elisabeth Michael, one of my sponsors, is a fun Etsy shop offering affordable pillow covers and drapery. She also recently added shower curtains—in great fabrics and in various lengths—to her shop.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Giveaway Details. . .

Elisabeth is giving one lucky winner their choice of one pillow cover OR $30 off the purchase of one of her shower curtains.  To enter, simply stop by Elisabeth Michael on Etsy and leave a comment on this post letting me know your favorite item from the shop.

I’ll choose the winner at random and announce it on my Facebook page this Wednesday, Oct. 19th. 

 

Good luck,

A Client’s Sunroom: Before & After

 

I finished up a sunroom at a client’s house this week, and wouldn’t you know that not only was it an overcast day when I had hoped to take pictures, but I also forgot the memory card in my camera!   Perfect.  Anyway, I was excited to share it with you so I took some pictures with my assistant Abby’s iPhone, just so you’ll get an idea.  (I’m going back in a few weeks and will take some brighter, clearer photos then.)

 

Here’s the room when we started.  Visible from the kitchen and family room, but mostly unused.

 

 

 

And, here’s the room now:

 

 

My client is a lot of fun and not afraid of color.  We softened the space by hanging curtain panels around the room.  It also helped to break up the large window on the back wall.  And, we took advantage of her arched ceiling by installing a cool light fixture as the centerpiece.

 

 

We also used the pillow fabric to cover a new drum shade for her existing floor lamp.

 

 

 

 

Better pictures to come. . .

 

I’m taking the day off tomorrow since my kiddos are out for a short fall break.  Check back on Saturday for a great giveaway from my sponsor, Elisabeth Michael.