I went to college, graduated and received two things, a Bachelor's of Science in Communications and a lot of debt.
What I didn't get was one of these retro mini refrigerators. Want one? CLICK HERE!
TOP 5 TIPS for finding the perfect lamp at a thrift store
I have a lot of lamps in my home. I have a few expensive lamps as well as thrift store lamps. The expensive lamps are in storage and the thrift store lamps are on full display. Sad really.
Anyway. I thought I would round up my TOP 5 TIPS for scoring the perfect lamp at a thrift store.
1. SHAPE: Always remember color can be changed. The shape cannot.
2. CONDITION: Make sure the lamps is in decent condition. I don't mind cracks too much as spray paint will obviously cover it. I dont even mind rust and tarnish, because if its a good lamp those things can be cleaned and you should clean every piece that comes into your space. If there are large chunks or noticeable chips, make a pass. Always remember for everyone 1 lamp you skip over there are 4 more waiting somewhere.
3. HEIGHT: If you used the word cute and lamp in the same sentence, then that lamp is probably too small. One of the biggest mistakes people make in decorating, is buying something that is too small. I suggest a lamp that is a least 25 inches high from the socket to the base. When you add the lamp shade you are going to gain about 10 inches or so and that is a great size.
4. MAKE SURE IT WORKS: I know I shouldn't have to say this, but make sure the lamp works before you leave the store.
5. PRICE: My rule is not to spend more than $10 for a standard lamp. I say $10 because you have to factor in the amount of money for a new lampshade and paint. If you are adding in all those costs and you pay more than $10, you might as well take a trip to HomeGoods and score something brand new.
Make sure you share this post with your friends on Facebook!
Anyway. I thought I would round up my TOP 5 TIPS for scoring the perfect lamp at a thrift store.
2. CONDITION: Make sure the lamps is in decent condition. I don't mind cracks too much as spray paint will obviously cover it. I dont even mind rust and tarnish, because if its a good lamp those things can be cleaned and you should clean every piece that comes into your space. If there are large chunks or noticeable chips, make a pass. Always remember for everyone 1 lamp you skip over there are 4 more waiting somewhere.
3. HEIGHT: If you used the word cute and lamp in the same sentence, then that lamp is probably too small. One of the biggest mistakes people make in decorating, is buying something that is too small. I suggest a lamp that is a least 25 inches high from the socket to the base. When you add the lamp shade you are going to gain about 10 inches or so and that is a great size.
4. MAKE SURE IT WORKS: I know I shouldn't have to say this, but make sure the lamp works before you leave the store.
5. PRICE: My rule is not to spend more than $10 for a standard lamp. I say $10 because you have to factor in the amount of money for a new lampshade and paint. If you are adding in all those costs and you pay more than $10, you might as well take a trip to HomeGoods and score something brand new.
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Throwback Thursday: Nate Berkus Show
Probably a majority of you have come to know me from my appears almost 4 years ago on the Nate Berkus Show. That was a good time, bad and rough time for me.
The good was that I was well known in the design and creative circles. The bad was that I got caught into a DIY thrifting persona, that was simply part of my life and could not shake it years late. The rough was that I recently lost my job and was completely broke.
No one knew it at that time. I am ever so grateful for the few of you that support by reading the blog when I post, commuting and even sharing. Its great.
I dont blog as much as I used to because, I really dont have the time to devote. Not that I dont have anything to blog about, but working for yourself is hard and when it comes to making money and blogging, the making money part is important because I have bills to pay.
Life has a way of just switching everything up on you.
DIY Gift Boxes from Dollar Tree
I used these boxes for THIS BRUNCH a few weeks ago and they added a great pop of sophistication to the table. Guess what?
Everything came from Dollar Tree!
Yes, the ribbon the gold boxes and even the metallic cream mints inside the boxes.
How great is that. Make sure you are sharing these posts so I will know what to do more of and what to do less of.
Summer Socialites
The summer is the time when most people take vacations or attend a lot of social events. So I am excited to announce #SummerSocialites, a three part intimate in studio event series highlighting individuals in ART, MUSIC and FASHION.
Each month I will host an up and coming artist in my design studio, in downtown Rock Hill, SC. Each of these artists will have an opportunity to express themselves in their most authentic way.
The FASHION PRESENTATION will host "Michael Alexander", creator of MAJR (pronounced major), which is a custom menswear shirting company.
Tickets are available for $20 during EARLY BIRD. Early bird ticket will be available the first 3 days of tickets go on sale, which is tomorrow! After the first 3 days tickets will be $25 each. If you are attending more than one event, and you should, you can pay $50 for a 3 event ticket pass. That is really good as you are saving $25. So that is like paying for two shows and getting into one show for free!!
USE CODE: GWH5, to take $5 off for Early BIRD!
You can purchase your tickets HERE, or click the side bar.
This is a sophisticated event series and I hope you will join me.
Each month I will host an up and coming artist in my design studio, in downtown Rock Hill, SC. Each of these artists will have an opportunity to express themselves in their most authentic way.
The ART SHOWCASE will feature "Tommie Pressley" a recent Graphic Design graduate front he Art Institute of Charlotte. He will be presenting original printed designs.
The MUSIC UNPLUGGED session will feature "Kearra Gillespie" a local rising indie contemporary christian artist, which music cuts boundaries and inspires across lines.
Tickets are available for $20 during EARLY BIRD. Early bird ticket will be available the first 3 days of tickets go on sale, which is tomorrow! After the first 3 days tickets will be $25 each. If you are attending more than one event, and you should, you can pay $50 for a 3 event ticket pass. That is really good as you are saving $25. So that is like paying for two shows and getting into one show for free!!
USE CODE: GWH5, to take $5 off for Early BIRD!
You can purchase your tickets HERE, or click the side bar.
This is a sophisticated event series and I hope you will join me.
Mason Jar Kits
Mason Jars are everywhere, from Dollars Stores to thrift stores. They are no longer have only a few uses, they are used in a wide variety of applications. Here are a few.
Enjoy!
Don't forget you can follow me on PINTEREST!
Casual Sophistication
Well, its official. I have too many photos on my computer. Yesterday I was trying to finish up some work and my computer said, "MEMORY FULL". So I started trying to figure out what files to dump and what files to save. While doing so I came across a lot of design photos.
I am going to be pinning most of them into a folder so that I can keep them, but I thought I would add do a few GET THE LOOK for you all as well. Just in case any on of you perhaps enjoy the spaces and wanted to recreate the look.
room via
UPDATE from HomeGoods
Remember in THIS POST I told you about my exploding lamp?
Well, I am coming back to report that HomeGoods went OVER and beyond their call of duty to remedy the situation and its proper that I make sure I let you all know.
In hindsight I am sure they didn't want any bad press or worst if someone had gotten hurt, it would not have been pretty. Thank GOD none of that was the case.
Let me say that the HomeGoods rep sent me a reimbursement for both of the lamps and then sent over a complimentary $25 gift card to HomeGoods. He told me it would take anywhere from 2 - 3 weeks and in fact everything arrived in a matter of days.
Now I know there are several bloggers HomeGoods has partnered with in the past, even though I am not one of them I am so appreciative they took my concern serious.
Just like a children with 50 cents in his pocket, the $25 gift card was burning a hole in my pocket. So I dashed out to spend it. Ok. Ok. The real reason I spent it is because I am notorious for losing my wallet so on any given day I could have potentially lost the gift card.
So here is what I bought with the extras dollars they sent me.
These boxwood fern balls are my latest purchase from HomeGoods. I have been wanting a few of these for the longest, but could never get my hands on them. I am sure they are readily available at other stores, I just didn't know which one to visit.
They add so much life to the studio. I am holding on to the receipt just in case I decide to pass the studio along to someone else and I no longer need them. Although I have yet to see how they work in my apartment.
Hmmmm.
Anyway. Happy Sunday Everyone and Thank You again HomeGoods!
Well, I am coming back to report that HomeGoods went OVER and beyond their call of duty to remedy the situation and its proper that I make sure I let you all know.
In hindsight I am sure they didn't want any bad press or worst if someone had gotten hurt, it would not have been pretty. Thank GOD none of that was the case.
Let me say that the HomeGoods rep sent me a reimbursement for both of the lamps and then sent over a complimentary $25 gift card to HomeGoods. He told me it would take anywhere from 2 - 3 weeks and in fact everything arrived in a matter of days.
Now I know there are several bloggers HomeGoods has partnered with in the past, even though I am not one of them I am so appreciative they took my concern serious.
Just like a children with 50 cents in his pocket, the $25 gift card was burning a hole in my pocket. So I dashed out to spend it. Ok. Ok. The real reason I spent it is because I am notorious for losing my wallet so on any given day I could have potentially lost the gift card.
So here is what I bought with the extras dollars they sent me.
Hmmmm.
Anyway. Happy Sunday Everyone and Thank You again HomeGoods!
Dining Chairs Makeover: Before and After (from 8 years ago!)
I was searching for an SD card to take some photos for my ONLINE SHOP. All of my new cards were eft home on my desk, but I just so happened to spot this blue card that fell out of one of my boxes in the storage room. So I plopped it in my camera started taking photos. I didn't event bother to check what was on it. However, when I uploaded the photos, I saw a makeover I did nearly 8 years ago!
I think I redid these chairs to resell on craigslist. I certainly remember redoing them. One thing is for sure, I have been a design addict well before I started blogging.
WOW. That looks good. If I do say so myself. Honestly, these are chairs I would use now. It's interesting has my style has slightly evolved over the years. I am still a fan of black and white and silver.
That SD card had some other photos on it as well. I will share those later.
Enjoy and always remember it doesn't have to cost a lot to be beautiful!
Yes is the answer.
I have been receiving a few emails from my male readers over the last few months asking about my online shop. The answer is, YES I still have an online shop, but I just dont sell as much as I used to.
Right now I am focusing more on accessories. I have two online shops. One of them is LapelFlowers.com where I sell handcrafted lapel flowers. I have been creating signature lapel flowers for many years.
The other site is TheCarrawayConcept.com and this is where I sell primarily vintage men's clothing although there isn't any listed at this time.
Take a moment to visit each of those and once again, YES I still have an online shop.
Right now I am focusing more on accessories. I have two online shops. One of them is LapelFlowers.com where I sell handcrafted lapel flowers. I have been creating signature lapel flowers for many years.
Take a moment to visit each of those and once again, YES I still have an online shop.
10 THRIFT TIPS to use to help make your home NOT look THRIFTY
I have been shopping at thrift stores since middle school. I shopped out of necessity, because I could not afford the many luxurious items I so coveted. Honestly? I still can't afford them, but my reasoning for shopping at thrift stores changed once I really stopped and recognized the gold mine that was before me.
I was talking to a dear friend from New York, I met during my days of working with the Nate Berkus Show. She mentioned to me the reason she and so many of her friends don't shop at thrift stores is because of what they actually see on blogs and Pinterest. Her honest opinion was that young people, without kids living in urban America don't care for mish-mashed, shabby chic or thrifty looking homes. They want something more contemporary and refined. While I do believe we all have particular style, I get her point. So I am going to share some honest tips on how to shop thrift stores for your home and not make your home look "thrifty".
These tips are really for the urbanite community. The young and single. Although everyone can benefit, some of these tips won't be child friendly (beware new mommies), because a lot of urbanites don't have kids. Thats not a fact, but it is certainly close to a realistic statement.
If you are ready, I am ready.
Tip #1: Find Inspiration Out of Your Price Range:
If you could afford an interior designer you would hire one, probably. Interior Design is a luxury and Interior Designers come with a hefty price tag, but that doesn't mean you can't look at their spaces for inspiration. The best way to choose a designer for inspiration is to choose someone that actually has high end clients. While I love bloggers (because I am one), avoid using them as your inspiration. Why? Most of them follow trends. Which is fine, but if you want a very high end, sophisticated look you need to go past them and go straight to the ones that design as their career. The ones that drive Mercedes Benz Jeeps and Range Rovers and fly out to Paris on a whim. These designers will give you a great depth of take aways for your own space.
Here are a couple of high end designers I look to when I am decorating my space.
This living room by Atmosphere Design is chocked full of take aways for a contemporary space.
The lamps featured in this room may or may not cost a lot of money. Regardless of the price they exude luxury. They aren't yellow, teal or red. They dont feature stripes, chevron or a burlap lamp shade. They are very simple and chic. These large lamps can often be found in thrift stores. They look horrible though, but if you can reimagine them in a solid color, such as black, white or gray you can get that quality look. As a matter of fact, I took this same thought process for the lamps in my bedroom. They are in two phases so when the room is finished I will share both of them with you.
This vignette has so much to offer in terms of grabbing ideas. Let's start with the huge horse in the middle. Ive seen these pieces at HomeGoods and they run about $20 or $30. I had one. Broke it. HERE is a space that features this same horse head. Whether it be a horse or something else use the same process with the lamps and find an oversized statue and paint it a solid color. These statues used to be easy to spot in thrift stores. I haven't seen many lately while thrifting, but if you do, you should buy it. Don't worry if it is too big. Chances are. It's not.
Here is the same designer using the same chairs with a different fabric. If the formula works, work the formula.
The chairs above are really common in thrift stores. What makes these chairs high end looking is the professional high gloss paint and the high end fabric. While getting pieces of furniture lacquered may be expensive, there are a number of painting techniques that can achieve this same look. Of course you won't get the EXACT look, but you can come very very close. At my last workshop I taught them how to upholster chairs like this.
This is a great statement on a coffee table. I am sure these lil bowls will set you back a few dollars. More than likely these bowls were borrowed from a high end boutique to be placed in the showhouse so that the space can photograph well and oh we thank them for that. I have seen similar bowls on clearance from large home design stores. Go there. Stalk the shelves. Wait for the sales and get what you can get.
If you can't find any bowls that way, simply grab a few bowls from a second hand store, paint the outside matte black and the inside metallic gold. Same look, different prices.
See? I told you, we are going to get your space looking sophisticated.
The books the bowls are resting on, are an easy find from thrift stores. Just take your time and look for covers that match your home or the current decor of your space. These books can run anywhere from 10 cents to $5.
All of the spaces above have one thing in common. They all are decorated with the iconic yellow National Geographic magazines. Look at how simple, yet effective it is. If things haven't changed any, the last time I checked NGM were only like 10 cents each. I mean with a nice crispy white wall or perhaps a spectacular blue wall you can start the process of a chic space, that doesn't look thrifty at all.
I want to bring in another designer, Tobi Fairley who has been on the cover of countless design magazines and she really typifies traditional with color.
Tobi Fairley is a high end designer and you can take cues from her spaces when thrifting or decorating your room on a budget. In both spaces she used a four poster bed. These are easily $150 on craigslist or in a thrift store. I have seen them as cheap as $50. I had a four poster bed almost 10 years ago in my very first apartment. Painting them also adds another dimension or layer to your space.
Adding a bench to the end of the bed, will also amp up your custom budget look. I have noticed some people adding sofas to the end of their bed and it is so off scale. Honestly, there really is not functionality for a sofa at the end of a bed. If you want to lay down, the bed is right there. The bench is practical because you can sit to put on your shoes, place a bag or briefcase there when getting ready for your day. If you are an animal lover like me, your pet will love this spot.
Alright. I think Tip # 1has taken long enough, but let me recap for you.
If you want to shop thrift, but dont want your space to look thrifty, take cues from PROFESSIONAL DESIGNER that fit your style. Understand you can't afford their services, so be inspired by them. I want to add that you should pick three fully designed spaces as inspiration for your own space. That tip will be coming up and I will delve more into that, by sharing my own personal picks.
Facebook is a really good place to start when searching for high end designers. First start by liking home design magazine pages. They share a lot of designers and link their websites with the photos they feature.
Okay. Im out for today.
Tomorrow or perhaps "The Day After Tomorrow" we will talk about art work.
Follow me on the GRAM for more behind the scenes into my own home!
Sunday Favorites: Black, White and Gold
Happy Sunday Everyone!
It is no surpass that one of my favorite combinations is black white and gold. Dayka Robinson of Dayka Robinson Designs and a friend I met through blogging, put together the space below for the Wine and Food Festival in Atlanta a little while ago. Heaven on Earth!
If I could get the whole table and place it in my condo, I would, but I can't. However, I love the fact that she used a number of affordable pieces and I think you can recreate this space. Here are a few leads.
For the flatware, I would probably buy THESE or THESE. If I really wanted to get fancy, I would drop a few dollars for this set.
That floral arrangement is the business. Unfortunately I am not the best when it comes to creating arrangements so I would probably choose a faux arrangement like THIS ONE or THIS ONE. I also like FLORAL PIECE and THESE would also do pretty well.
When you see the full space its like WOW. The chairs, I am told are pretty expensive, but you could totally get some similar chairs if you buy these from HOME DEPOT , this one from TARGET or try this brand at BED BATH AND BEYOND.
I honestly have no clue about the chandelier in the space. lol. However, I have linked up about 10 different chandelier below that would bring an powerful WOW factor if you need it.
I love a good tablescape. I do realize most people don't really care about them, but I am all for it. When I was looking for similar flatware I came across this set from. If you are looking for the gold striped plate leave your email in the comments and I can get them for you.
If you aren't ready to commit to a complete black white and gold space (not sure why you wouldn't want to), here is a list of few black, white and gold accessories you can add to your home.
"Hunting" for the Perfect Sofa
Let's start with the facts. The fact is, I dont have a sofa in my living room and there hasn't been one in there for quite some time. I got rid of my last sofa and never replaced it. Seeing that it's just me and Mr. Benjamin (my dog), the need for extra expensive piece furniture wasn't logical or financially appealing, but I am moving towards entertaining a bit more and I need one.
There are a lot of questions that go into purchasing a sofa. For me, I am concerned with softness, because mom does come over and sleep on the sofa (her choice, not mine). I also need this sofa to be amazing on the eyes. Right now I have carpet, but when I purchase a place (if I decide to), hardwood floors will be non negotiable. So I need for this sofa to look good atop hardwood floors
Since I live in a rental I don't want to spend a king's ransom on a sofa, but I do want a nice sofa. So above are my top ten choices, if I were going to buy one online.
Yes. I know all of these sofas are quite masculine upon first looking at them. Which one is your favorite for the price point?
Here they are individually.
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