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Look for Less: Equestrian is in.

Sep 14, 2009

There's no doubt that country, especially the aristocratic variety, is hot in fashion this fall. Mix fresh air and open spaces with old money and you get the equestrian look. It's back, with its finely tailored jackets, jodhpurs (yes, for real), and knee-high riding boots. In home decoration the trend is a bit more subtle but showed up in a recent issue of Elle Decor, featuring the Kentucky home of fashion designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka (Badgley-Mischka, better known for exquisitely draped  gowns than for pants with room for two in the hips). Nonetheless, they come by the equine-centric look rightfully, since their acreage also houses three show horses. One fun, little detail stood out to me in this photo of the dressing room:

Check out the cast-iron horse on the floor. It's a doorstop, but its real value is in the understated gentleman's-farm feel it brings to the room.

Get the Look for Less

You can certainly find the real deal. Here's a similar antique on Ebay for $110. But I decided to make my own standing steed from a Breyer Horse: the crème-de-la-crème of plastic horses. That may sound like an oxymoron, but it's true—they're heavier and more detailed than other plastic horses, and they're well balanced to stand on their own. They're also collectible, so I'll probably offend all the Breyer Horse afficionados when I suggest that you cover one in a few thin coats of matte black spray paint. Like this:

Took me a while to find a horse with a plain stance (many are rearing up and doing fancy high-steps), but I ran across this one at a yard sale for $3. At left is what he originally looked like. I later dug around and figured out that this is the Breyer Quarter Horse Yearling, produced in the '70s, worth $20-25 (before destructive paint job). Now he lends an air of equestrian snootiness to my bookshelf. Nice thing is, when I'm tired of him I can send my black stallion off to greener pastures without an ounce of guilt.  —Diane

Take a look at the rest of the Badgley-Mischka Kentucky estate in Elle Decor.

Want some help getting the look you love for less? Email me.

TAGS: breyer horse equestrian look badgley mischka budget bargain decorating

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Inspired Idea: Bedside Storage for Small Bedrooms

Sep 12, 2009

In a space-starved bedroom, often the first thing to go is a bedside table. Here's a bold idea for adding unconventional storage in a very small footprint. Lean a ladder against a wall and rethink your idea of storage: hanging instead of stacking creates a casual display in even the tiniest space.

Photo via Living Etc.

A few tips to make it work:

• Look for a small ladder, even one that's intended to be decorative. These have been recently popular for holding towels in the bath, so a search for "towel ladder" produces some viable options. Also consider antiques stores or try this source for bamboo ladders, as pictured.
• Paint the ladder a complementary hue. Aim to make it blend with, but not match, your walls. Too much contrast will create a busy look.
• Clip a reading light onto an upper rung. Try the Grandrich Clip Light for $22.
• Fold reading materials over a lower rung. This works especially well for magazines and newspapers.
• To corral smaller items, hang a small basket by stringing twine through the basketweave and tying it to the ladder rung.
• Another storage option is to hang a toiletry or jewelry organizer from one of the rungs.
• Hang a bunch of dried lavender as shown for sleepy-time aromatherapy.

Need help making an exceptionally small space work for you? I love a good space-planning challenge. Email me!

TAGS: storage small space tiny bedroom ladder bedside table nightstand

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Inspired Solution: Match paint to anything!

Sep 11, 2009

Problem: You want paint to match that little patch of indescribable blue-green in your area rug, but you can't make sense of the hundreds of paint swatches you brought home from the hardware store.

Solution: Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap, a free app for iPhone or iPod Touch.

Here's how it works:

Snap a photo of something you love. Zoom in and select the color. The software matches it to the closest Sherwin-Williams paint chip and suggests a coordinating color palette. It also allows you to save color palettes for future reference and leads you to the nearest store. 

So next time you're wavering between Sawdust and Baguette, just get out your iPhone. Not that techy? Take your sample in to the store and they'll match it using Sher-Color, their in-store color-matching technology. —Diane

Watch a demo video and download ColorSnap for iPhone here.

Still stuck on choosing colors for your walls, flooring, furniture, and accessories? I can help! Email me or order an online color consultation.

TAGS: color matching sherwin williams color snap iphone ipod free app application

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Find: Removable Wall Art

Sep 09, 2009

It's back-to-school week, a good time to serve up some dorm decor ideas. Everyone knows the rules, but the work-arounds have changed. No more bubble gum–mounted posters and toothpaste-filled holes at the end of the year—the big idea now is removable wall decals. Whether you're a dorm-dweller, a renter, or a homeowner who just can't commit, wall decals make a bold statement and then disappear if you choose! Here's a handful of sassy wall (ceiling? floor?) graphics for every taste.

Whimsy for boring walls, available in many color combinations from Dali Decals:

For the luxury lover on a budget, from Dali Decals:

A dock scene for a room that needs a little tranquil perspective, from WallTat:

Quick-change photo frames for a fun gallery, from PhotoJoJo:

Bring a little nature inside, from Dali Decals:

A cool breeze, figuratively. From Dali Decals:

Put your mark on your space. From The Surface Store:

For a woodsy kid's room with a mod graphic edge, from What Is Blik Wee Gallery:

Functional chalkboard decals for a home office or kitchen, from Wallnutz:

There's something for everyone at these sites and more. No excuses for boring walls! —Diane

Need a little help making a design decision you'll love? I can lend a hand— or rather, a design eye. No dilemma is too small, no distance too great. Email me.

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Craving: Dinnerware in my favorite colors from Emile Henry

Sep 08, 2009

I spent Labor Day weekend having a lot of fun. It also happened to be my birthday weekend, and happened to be the most gorgeous weekend of the summer in Northern Michigan. Part of the fun was a little small-town shopping, and I ended up at Crystal Crate & Cargo (pictured left—how cute!) in the tiny burg of Beulah, Michigan. I love that store and hit it a couple times a year. This time I decided to bring my mom so we could collectively drool over the top-quality kitchen utensils, luscious glassware, and nifty gadgets you never realized you needed.

Upon entering the store I was immediately drawn to a display of Emile Henry dinnerware. I'd seen it before, but never in these colors! It was as if Emile Henry himself entered the part of my brain where favorite colors are stored and decided to make a line of dinnerware from them. The line is called Urban Colors, although I think they are much more nature-inspired… to each her own. The line of precisely crafted plates, bowls, mugs, bakeware and serveware is available in the colors Figue, Slate, Sand, Sky, and Nougat. I'd love to have a full set in each of the colors to mix and match for every season and occasion. That probably won't happen anytime soon, as a single place-setting is $79. Emile Henry is known for fine design, high quality, and thermal shock resistance, so the price is justified.

Since I can't splurge on a whole set, I'm thinking about squelching this craving with a single piece I'd see every day on my counter: the Salt Pig in Figue. I'm as taken with its name as I am with that gorgeous color. —Diane

Need help with color in your own home? I do color consultations in person and online. Email me for more info!

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