Sourcing Vintage Rugs

Vintage rugs are all the rage these days and a hot ticket item on everyone’s wish list. They’re the perfect accessory to bring in a bold pop of color and that lived-in, I’m cool but not too cool, feeling we’re all striving for in our own homes. But searching for the perfect vintage rug is equal parts frustrating and exhilarating all at the same time.

I’ve been on the hunt for a few vintage rugs for several areas of my home, one being the unfinished entry, for what feels like forever, and have stumbled upon a few favorite go-to places and gathered some helpful hints that hopefully can assist you in your rug searching endeavors too!

I ran across this post on Studio McGee’s blog about their favorite antique rug sources and it couldn’t have come at a better time! It was great jumping off point for me in my search and I found a few new places I didn’t know about beforehand. In addition to Studio McGee’s super comprehensive list, below are 3 of my favorite go-to sources:

EBTH (Everything but the House)

Think garage sale on steroids – an uncommercialized version of Ebay chock full of anything and everything you’d find at an Estate sale….including rugs! Luckily, even if there isn’t a sale taking place in your area, rugs are often relatively inexpensive to ship. Just be sure to estimate shipping costs with their handy little calculator and take that cost into consideration.

Quick Tip: wait until the last day / hours to place your bids and you’ll have a better chance of scoring those one-of-a-kind finds. But be prepared to battle it out – it’s a dog eat dog world out there & you don’t want to be left without a bone.

OldVinShop – Etsy

An Etsy shop with a lot to offer – 400+ of those perfectly worn & faded rugs that we all know and love. And hey…that pricing is on point too.

Quick Tip: not 100% sure how a rug will look or fit? Most vintage rug dealers on Etsy offer a 14 day, full refund policy. Nothing better than a no-strings-attached trial run, right?

EclecticAbode – Instagram

A Los Angeles based rug hunter with some of the most beautiful rugs I’ve ever seen. Stalking her Instagram on the daily is always a good idea.  

Quick Tip: looking for a specific color and/or size? Message rug hunters and many will do all the leg work for you and find exactly what you’re after for a nominal fee.

Before I sign off, here are a few additional tips to keep in mind:

• Keywords: 
• Keywords can really help narrow down your search or zero in on exactly what you're looking for.  Keywords to try: vintage, antique, kilim, persian, turkish, overdyed, oushak, anatolian, oriental.
• Filters:
• A lot of vintage rug deals have hundreds of rugs to choose from. Narrow down the selection through the use of filters. Filter the results by size, color, or style. It'll make your search a lot ore manageable.

Enjoy the rug hunt my friends! And if you find any good sources (or rugs) don't leave a girl hangin'!

36 Flush Mount + Semi-flush Mount Fixtures You'll Love

Last week I showed you the plans for our entry way and over the weekend I was able to knock a few things off the entry to-do list. To re-cap, here’s what we had on our entry wish list:

1. Create storage for coats, jackets, bags - hooks? Slim wall mounted shoe storage - like this?
2. Add board & batten? Picture frame trim/molding?
3. Paint interior of front door & add decorative trim
4. Add art
5. Install flush mount fixture
6. Find a vintage runner

It feels good to start putting things back together even if it is only a small section of the house. Having a functional entry will go a long way to make our beginning and end of day routines run just a little bit smoother even while the rest of the house is still “under construction”.

One of the biggest changes to the entry will undoubtedly be the addition of a new light fixture. After paint, lighting is an easy (and affordable) way to transform any space. It’s like wearing yoga pants with your hair in a messy bun and then you throw on a pair of earrings, put on a little mascara, and suddenly it looks like you’ve got your life together.

And I want to feel like I have my life together. Don’t you?

Since our ceiling drops down a bit in the entry, I knew that we had to stick to a flush mount or semi-flush mount fixture that wasn’t too wide. The door swings inward so I couldn’t have anything that hung too low or the door would destroy it. Once I knew what we needed, the browsing began!

You guys! There are SO. MANY. OPTIONS. So many! Affordable ones too!! I literally couldn’t stop looking at fixtures. I was/am obsessed. It made choosing a fixture for our entry so, so hard! And guess what?! I’m still not sure what fixture will be there come reveal day. #spoileralert: it’s not the one you saw on the design board.

But!! I know you didn’t come here to listen to me ramble on about fixtures (or did you?). Lucky for you, I did all the hard work and am sharing ALL my favorite flush mount and semi-flush mount fixtures with you today! There’s 36 gorgeous fixtures all under $300 for your viewing pleasure! Without further adieu...

Oil Rubbed Bronze / Black:

1. Lacy - $149.99 / 2. Fonderie - $99.99 / 3. Archello - $182.00 / 4. Lytham - $297.00 / 5. Sargeant - $262.99 /  6. Hounslow - $ 109.80 / 7. Dakota - $154.80 / 8. Liberty Park - $99.00 / 9. Wesley - $178.95 / 10. Briston - $294.29/ 11. Rita - $101.95 / 12. Firefly - $194.00

Antique Brass / Gold / Copper:

1. Harbour Point 2 - $131.90 / 2. Harbour Point 13 - $139.90 / 3. Vega - $249.00 / 4. Evelyn - $215.95 / 5. Maxim Fairmont - $198.00 / 6. Bell - $59.95 / 7. Dalton - $280.00 / 8. Orb - $152.90 / 9. Blanche - $199.00 / 10. Great Veil - $139.18 / 11. Harbour Point 3 - $259.90 / 12. Tori - $197.10

Nickel / Chrome:

1. Parsons Studio - $109.90 / 2. Phoenix - $108.99 / 3. Downtown Edison - $299.90 / 4. Simpson - $178.00 / 5. Cassandra - $238.00 / 6. Belmont - $290.00 / 7. Charleston – $129.95 / 8. Lily - $111.95 / 9. Downtown Edison 2 - $241.90 / 10. Schoolhouse - $49.99 / 11. Mitchell - $133.95 / 12. Benavidez - $194.95

How's that for options? Which one would you choose? And which one did I?!

I'm a Fan!

With our house still in disarray (read: we’re a blow-up mattress away from glorified camping) and while we’re stuck in this waiting phase of the renovation – we’re turning our attention to what can get accomplished during the downtime. So while all the chaos happens below our feet, things are looking up! 

Today we’re talking ceiling fans!

One of the more offensive fixtures in our home was this ugly and outdated ceiling fan:

Not to mention yellowed and discolored...

Sure, it was operational but it definitely wasn’t our aesthetic and during our initial walk-through of the house, it was at the very top of the list of things that had to go because…well…I hate ceiling fans. #truthbetold

But! In the 2 months that we’ve lived here, we’ve used it nearly every day. In a house that has no air conditioning (yes, you read that right) we quickly found that the ceiling fan was definitely a necessity. It cooled the main living areas down rather quickly and we were quick to flip it on during some rather stuffy early evenings. The verdict: it had to stay. 

As much as I wanted to come in here and buy new everything, when it comes to buying the finishing touches – light fixtures, rugs, window treatments – we’ve allowed ourselves to live in our house as-is (despite how ugly or outdated) before making any of these strictly-for-aesthetic purchases just to see how we use the space and how it functions for us. Hello howdy-doody roman shade in the kitchen or the ugly vertical blinds in the dining area. #baneofmyexistence.

Had we not allowed our house this little trial run, we would’ve swapped out the ceiling fan for a hip new chandelier (because hello! #ihateceilingfans) and come summer we would’ve been dripping in sweat and cursing the day we took the fan down.

I did a little digging on Pinterest for some ceiling fan inspo – it’s always my go-to source whenever I’m stumped (or indifferent) about a design decision – and ended up pinning these images below:

via

via

After my binge-sesh on Pinterest, I quickly realized that not only are there SO MANY ceiling fan options out there (why?) but your fan needs to be properly sized to your room for optimal efficiency. I found this guide about how to properly size your ceiling fan to be super helpful.

Armed with my Pinterest inspiration and now fully educated on ceiling fan sizing, the search was #onlikedonkeykong. Determining my new-found ‘ceiling fan esthetic’ (thank you Pinterest) and what size fan the room required for optimal efficiency (thanks to this guide), I was able to narrow down the field of possibilities quite a bit.

Here was the criteria I was working with:

•          A fan that leaned a bit modern
•         No boob lights / 4 cluster lights – single light kits only!
•         3 or 4 blades
•        Little to no down-rod (even though I love the look of a suspended fan, our ceiling height can’t       accommodate)

After an exhaustive search – both in store and online – we finally chose a winner and I placed the order today! I never thought I’d say this, but I’m ‘jumping up and down’ level excited about it and I cannot wait for it to arrive! #ohhappymail day it will be!

While I’m eagerly waiting for my fan to arrive there are no after photos to share just yet. But in the meantime, enjoy this round-up of the perfect modern fans for $500 or less…because someone of them are just too good not to share – and I did way too much online shopping for it to go to waste!

From one ceiling fan hater to another – enjoy!

With Light Kit:

Home Depot - Reagan II

Wayfair - Minka Aire Aluma

Home Depot - Fortston

Fanimation - Spitfire

Lowe's - Monte Carlo

Lumens - Minka Aire Force

Without Light Kit:

Rejuvenation - Peregrine

Lowes - Fanimation Prop

All Modern - Craftmade Mondo

All Modern - Emerson Loft

 Wayfair - Fanimation Ascension

Lumens - Modern Fan Co. Torsion

Have you ditched the hater train and joined the fan wagon? Because you totally should. Fans have come such a long way aesthetically and these ain’t yo Mama’s fan! #wordtoyourmother

Psst – my fan is lurking amongst the picks somewhere. Can you guess which one we chose?

Outdoor Entertaining Essentials

Hey all! So much going on in my neck of the woods but just wanted to let you all know that for the moment the patio reveal is on hold. Its nearly done but I decided to add some last minute projects to really turn the space into something I really love and am proud of. Although I've only been blogging and sharing my world with you for a short time, I really only want to post and share projects that I love and am proud of. Otherwise I don't feel that this blog would be genuine or true to who I am. As of right now...I'm just not there with the patio...I've sorta hit a brick wall with the patio and need to take a step back and re-evaluate what I envisioned for the space originally. But I will finish it soon and when that day comes, you'll be the first to see! Deal?

 

If I could ever finish the patio I might be able to enjoy some of the items I'm featuring on the blog today because we're talking all things outdoor dining and entertaining. Summer is almost here! I keep saying "almost" because California has been experiencing an unseasonably gloomy May so as soon as California can make up its mind and temperatures start rising, I'm sure we'll be dining alfresco in no time! And good thing because...there's just so much good stuff out there folks! The outdoors have never looked so good.

 

Speaking of good totally amazing...have you seen this patio refresh? I'm still picking my jaw up off the floor. It was gorgeous before...and now?! This is what patio dreams are made of people!

 

Today I'm rounding up a whole slew of items perfectly designed for outdoor dining and entertaining. Maybe some of you (with finished patios and backyards) can find some use or inspiration from the items featured below. The stores are just killing it these days with so much awesome outdoor décor!

 

Beverage Dispenser / Melamine Dinnerware / Drink Bucket / Black Outdoor Pillow / Blue Outdoor Pillow / Outdoor Lights / Fire Pit / Acrylic Pitcher & Glasses / Bose Speaker / Serving Tray

 

Well? What do you think? Are you ready to invite friends and family over for a big ole BBQ? Some margaritas maybe? I know I am! Now...if only I can figure out the patio situation...hmmm!

Aloha!

In a little over 3 weeks, I'll be 30k feet in the sky and on my way to Hawaii. Aloooo-ha! I cannot wait! The sand and sun will sure beat this weird rainy weather we've been experiencing the last few days. Rain in California? Is there even such a thing?!

 

This time around we chose to rent a house vs. staying in a hotel and from what I can gather from all the reviews and recommendations from friends and family...it's absolutely the way to go. The pictures online of the house are stunning. It's a waterfront property and exactly what tropical dreams are made of. If you follow me on Instagram (you totally should) I'm sure I'll be sharing plenty of beautiful sites and scenery along the way, so don't miss out!

 

Because I have Hawaii on the brain, I've rounded up some items with a tropical flair and thought I might share my finds with you! Even if you can't go on a little tropical vacay, doesn't mean the tropics can't come to you!

 

 Banana Leaf Palm Pillow / Straw Pillow / Bamboo Flatware / Pineapple Bowl / Flamingo Sheets / Pineapple Canisters / Mirror / Banana Leaf Palm Prints / Cocktail Glasses 

 

I'm pretty sure there aren't any flamingos in Hawaii, but hey...I couldn't resist. Also...I'm dying to get my hands on those canisters. Who doesn't love pineapples or white ceramics?! Umm...no one! As for that pineapple bowl...I recently scored a similar one at a thrift store for a couple bucks, but this one is gorgeous. And that flatware. Don't get me started. Just make sure you leave enough for me to buy too!

 

We'll be vacationing in Oahu and while this will be our second time visiting this beautiful island, I'm always eager to find new places to explore, see, or things to do! That's where you come in. Suggestions are very much welcomed before I head on out! Any must-see, must-do, must-eat spots that you absolutely love? Help a girl out here, I'd love to hear!

Pillow Talk

Hi again! Did you miss me? Sorry for the brief hiatus but I had to step away from the blog for a few days while I recovered from having my wisdom teeth removed and didn't think it best to write any posts while recovering from that not-so-fun experience. But...I'm back and all is well again! I was in the best of care and certainly can't complain about all the ice cream I got to eat without all the usual guilt!

 

Today I'm back and talking about my most favorite home accessory - throw pillows! Yep, you read that right...plain ol' boring pillows. No. Not true my friends. Throw pillows aren't plain or boring! They're utterly amazing. They're fluffy little squares of magic. I truly believe that pillows (and paint too) can do wonders to transform a room that only requires a very small investment of your time and/or money. Pillow are relatively inexpensive and for just a small investment, by changing out your throw pillows, you can change the entire look and feel of a room in a matter of seconds. Who doesn't love that?!

 

Whenever I'm in a decorating slump or look around me find that I'm starting to feel 'blah' about a space, the first thing I do is switch out the pillows. Doing this instantly brings life and a fresh vibe to a once stagnate room. I recently ordered some new pillows for the living room after finding that I was craving a change and a wanted to bring in some new colors so while I wait for them to arrive (and before I can show you), I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite pillows from the www that I'm crushing on at the moment & some I already own, because you know...I'm a pillow hoarder like that!

 

Take a look:

This bold black & white graphic Stockholm pillow comes from Ikea...insert and all for only $14.99 (currently on sale for $11.99 if you're an Ikea Family Member). You may recognize this pillow from my living room and I love-love-love it. Even with the new pillows coming in, I doubt these will be going anywhere any time soon! 

This Aztec inspired Lappijung Ruta lumbar pillow also from Ikea is a steal for just $10. $10 people! During my recent Ikea trip I picked up 2 of these for a space I'm currently re-working and I had to seriously stop myself from not buying more. The quality is fabulous for only $10. You won't regret buying these. 

This adorable pom pom pillow from H&M is just begging to come home with me & at only $17.95, what's not to love? 

H&M is killing it again in the pillow department! Case in point? This 2-toned metallic pillow. I'm also really digging this copper metallic pillow too. H&M...I love you.

 

 

 Etsy is another great go-to source for unique pillows in gorgeous designer fabrics and this shop has the most beautiful pillows ever. This watercolor abstract pillow is perfect for Spring!

 

 

 Another stunning pillow that I'm drooling over!

 

So? What do you think? Do you love these as much as I do? What pillows are you crushing on right now? Share with me your favorites so I can drool over them with you too! I cant wait to show you what pillows I chose to breathe some new life into our living room. Warning: they're stunning!

 

Look for Less - Spring Living Room Edition

 

Spring is just around the corner and I'm loving all the pops of color and floral prints plastered all over the blogs and Pinterest. I'm eager to incorporate a little bit of Spring into my living room but until I do, this living room caught my eye:

 

I love the teals, pinks, and crisp whites all while feeling cozy, eclectically gathered, and collected. This living room totally screams "spring" to me in all the best ways possible.

 

I searched the Internet for the original source of this living room but was left empty handed so if you know who I should credit, please let me know and I'll be happy to do so! Since I wasn't able to find the original source for this living room, I really have no idea where any of these furnishings came from but often times I see gorgeous rooms and they just look lavishly expensive. And while I'd give my right arm, and probably my left, to live in one of those pin-worthy homes, this girl on a budget just doesn't have the cha-ching to be as fortunate.

 

So what do I do? I do what I do best! One of my favorite things to do is to take an inspirational image like the one above and recreate it for the girl on a budget (aka me!). It's so fun to see something you love, but probably can't afford, and find something similar for much, much cheaper. Great design doesn't have to be expensive! That's the absolute best part!

Wanna see my rendition? Take a look and see:

Source List: 

Chevron Drapes - H&M Home - $24.95 for the pair

Round Mirror - Ikea - $14.99

Teal Tufted Sofa - World Market - Reg $699.00 (this was just on sale for $499!!)

White & Blue Polka Dot Pillows - Etsy - $60.00 for the pair

Floral Pillows - Wayfair - $106.00 for the pair

Coffee Table - Target - $135.99

Blue Vases - World Market - $14.94

8x5 Rug - Rugs USA - $86.00 (currently on sale for 75% off)

Art - Etsy / Minted / Artfully Walls - Approx $25.00 ea

White Sofa Table - Ikea - $199.00

Lamp - Target - $39.00

 

Total Cost: $1454.87

Here's the side by side:

Not exact, but pretty darn close, no? I love that the re-created look has the same vibe, and colorful spirit as the inspirational image all while standing on it's own.

 

It was so much fun trying to re-create this spring living room look with items I found on the cheap. And the best part? A lot of these retailers offer sales all-the-time so any of these items can be purchased even cheaper! But a living room for less than $1500.00? I'd say that's  job well done, don't you?

 

 

 



I Love, Love!

Hello again my friends!

 

How is it already almost Valentine's Day? Where has the time gone?!

 

Today's post will be short a sweet...with Valentine's Day just around the corner have you thought about what you might surprise your loved ones with this Valentine's Day?

 

I've been lucky enough to have been shot by Cupid's arrow (yes, I know how corny I sound) and although I try to show my love and affection, 365 days a year, I always love Valentine's Day. Don't you?

 

If you're anything like me, Valentine's Day has snuck right up on you and you're frantically worrying about doing something sweet for your sweetie! Well you're in luck! I put together a few gift guides for all the guys and gals in your life that you might be showing some love to come February 14th.

 

Take a peek:

Pillow / Clutch / Heart Dinnerware

Sweater / Perfume / Shoes / Candle

 

These gifts are sure to please your lady-love...I know I would be!

 

And we can't forget about the men in our lives. Here's what I rounded up as a gift guide for our men with a little help and input from my own!

 

 

Speaker / Charging Station / Cuff Links

Plaid Shirt / Decanter / Watch box

 

Well? What do you think? Have you already decided what to get the honey in your life? Do tell!