Mid-Week Must Have's

Amy Butler for CHANDRA Rugs

There are so many great choices, I can't even begin to choose my favorite.  Here are just a few...

You can purchase these rugs and more from Burke Decor here.

Shades of Gray Danish Modern Desk

I'm so pleased to introduce ABO Designs newest member...

Hand-painted original from ABO Designs.  To learn more about and purchase this piece, go to my Etsy shop here. 

This is what the piece looked like before...

What in the world is a Shyrdak?

A Shyrdak is a colorful felt rug or wall covering handmade in Central Asia, and most commonly, Kyrgyztan.  They were originally used as the floor of Kyrgyz nomadic people's yurts.  Today they are also made and sold to tourists, who appreciate the colorful designs as a centerpiece for modern interior decor.

 Photos courtesy of Felt

Shyrdak's can be bought from various places on the internet from NGO's that promote fair trade and employ local women to Interior Decor Shops specializing in world style to Ebay.  The prices are way below what you would expect to pay for something so intricate.  I'm really excited about the possibilities of using these bright colors in my designs!  A definite inspiration!

Shop of the Week: Furnish Green

Furnish Green

rescue, reuse, redecorate

Not only do I very much love perusing the list of great deals at Furnish Green, but I'm also a big fan of their motto, not only because it's the environmentally friendly thing to do, but because it just makes sense, financially and stylistically.

The Good News:  The unreal steals and right now decor.

The Bad News:  No shipping offered from their website. (But...if you live in the NYC area, they deliver!)

So, next time you're in NYC, stop by and check out the great deals at Furnish Green.  It's definitely on my must do list for my next trip.

Here are some of my favorite steals right now...

Danish Modern Teak Dressing Table w/ Mirror

$878

w-66.5, d-18.5, h-26

item T319dg7

Honestly, I wouldn't have to do any recreating with this piece.  It's so funky and cool.  I can't believe it has the original mirror and for that price!  Anywhere else and this piece would be twice the price.

Squared-front Demi Lune

$33

item T119j-1

So I might add a little bit of paint and pattern to this, but for $33 I could do all kinds of things and still feel good about it!

6o's Modern White Laminate Dinette Set

 $322
table: 42"diam, 28"high
chairs:19w,19d,35h,seat-19

Ooo Ooo  I want this!  I really really want this!   I already know how I'd style the table...the art work I'd hang behind it.   It's already nestled in at my imaginary house.   I'll go ahead and tell you...it looks FABULOUS!  I can't believe this whole set is $322.   Gosh, I love Furnish Green.

DIY Chevron

Today I am all-consumed by DIY Chevron

 Photo courtesy of Interiorfurniturenow.com

If any of you have taken this on, you understand that it takes forever to do it right...but the outcome is oh so worth it.   Stay tuned for the results.  **Hint Hint**  It's the beauty in my next ABO Design.

Today Show: Bringing the Outdoors In

On the Today Show this morning, style contributor, Chassie Post offered a handful of ways of bringing the outside colors and whimsy of spring into your home.  A few of her ideas were actually things I've discussed on the blog (such as the flowery prints on the Liberty of London for Target home accessories).   Watch the today Show segment here.  Mainly, I loved all the bright colors and patterns she displayed.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Casablanca Lanterns form ZGallerie

Votives from Luna Bazaar

Capiz Shell Bowl from ZGallerie

Jonathan Adler Giveaway

Jump on this opportunity!

Ok, so it's a little crazy that I'm adding more competition to this amazing giveaway (yep, I definitely entered and am hoping I win), but if I don't win, I 100% want one of my loyal readers to win!  This Giveaway is being sponsored by one of my favorite bloggers, Coco, at Coco Cozy.  Obviously, I love this lamp and am inspired by pretty much anything and everything Jonathan Adler, but the coolest part about this Giveaway, is that I have a lamp in a very similar color that I've been working on recreating and will posted in my Etsy shop soon.   So.....if you don't win, you can still take home a beautiful spring lamp.  Just give me a week to get it posted on Etsy.

To enter this Giveaway, click here and follow the directions.  Good Luck!

Etsy Shop of the Week

Material Recovery

This shop is a collaboration of talent from design team Clare Watters and Martha Henry who "rescue" vintage furniture and recreate it using textiles from Uzbekistan called "suzanis."  Their worldly creations are both unique and beautiful.  I'm so glad I happened upon this shop.  It's inspiring me to travel and dream.  Check it out...the fabrics are unbelievable!

If you're around the Round Top, Texas area, go see Material Recovery in person.  They will have a booth at the Spring 2010 Marburger Farm Antique Show from March 30 through April 3.   For more information, go to www.roundtop-marburger.com.
 
What is your favorite Etsy shop?

IKEA Makeover

I'm guilty.  I have a lot of shoes.  So many shoes that I actually needed a piece of furniture to house all of them.  I know I know....it's very sad.  Lucky for me....IKEA had quite a selection of shoe storage shelves.  The one I decided to choose didn't come in a color I was happy with, but after some new knobs and a little paint....Voila! a beautiful piece of furniture!

Find at Ikea.

For more IKEA makeovers, check out ikeahacker.blogspot.com.

What are some pieces of furniture that you've made over to meet your needs?

Luck of the Irish

Today is a good day to be Irish.  While inspired to wear green and eat soda bread, I also felt the need to highlight one of the coolest Irish design bloggers out there, Zita Spring, of Homebug.  Her blog is filled with interior and fashion design inspirations, but one of my favorite things is her home that she showcases.  Here are a few pictures of her humble abode.  The pictures are so bright and fresh.  They make me excited for spring.

 

I love how much character each shelf and wall exudes.

What are some of your favorite nooks and crannies in your home?  Send me a picture and I'll post them for all to admire!

It's My Birthday!

Today is my birthday!  I'm working today, but I can't complain... I had a great weekend.  I spent the weekend with my best friend, Reed, who came in town.  While here, we did a lot of what I love to do...watch Kentucky basketball (Go CATS) & EAT!  We went to two new-to-me restaurants in Baltimore that not only were delicious, but also had a lot of style.  Here's just a taste...

Yellow Dog Tavern

Beautiful organic feel chandelier with an intricate black and white ceiling.

What I ate: Yummy Mimosa & Traditional Benedict (Two stacks of poached eggs & Canadian bacon atop an English muffin drizzled with hollandaise sauce.  Served with fresh fruit.)

Mama's On The Half Shell

I couldn't get a good picture of it, but Mama's has the most beautifully framed mirror over the fireplace upstairs.  My mission is to find a picture of this mirror.  Mama's also has a collection of oyster serving plates in shadow boxes...ridiculously beautiful and something I never would have thought to do.  As a collection, it looked something like this...

What I ate: 1/2 Dozen Blue Point Oysters, Caesar Salad, & Seafood Chowder (Shrimp, scallops, clams, applewood smoked bacon, & heavy cream) YUM!

What are some of the most beautiful and tasty restaurants in your city?

Retro @ Home

I am loving this online haven for Mid Century modern home furnishings.  It's a store outside of San Francisco and I am itching to make a trip just to go through their treasures.  I love love love VINTAGE.  Retro @ Home designer and owner of Redmond Aldrich Design, Chloe Warner, knows her vintage.  In the March issue of Sunset magazine she gives her tips on picking the perfect vintage pieces.  See the article here.

Some of the lovely pieces from Retro @ Home...

And to top it off...

A vintage Vespa!

How incredibly adorable and chic.  I'm in the market for a vehicle seeing as how I just moved from NYC.  If I could figure out a way to tote furniture around with this, I would definitely sport it in Baltimore.

Mid-Week Must Have's

These Prints!

So I'm rediscovering these gicle graphic prints by Chariklia Zarris.  The patterns are digitally printed on gallery-wrapped canvas with a crackled glaze finish.  Zarris specially designed these last summer for Ballard Designs.  Although you can no longer buy them from Ballard, you can find them in other places such as art.com.