Have you outgrown your dining room furniture—or do you just want to update the rooom? Here are four tips to help you find the table that fits your home.
Looking for more decorating ideas, check out more of my Decor crush posts.
Image by Chris Olson. Oslo Table featured via Crate and Barrel.
To download the free printable gift box I designed for my blog readers, click on link.
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Any of these colorful one-of-a-kind pieces with bold floral prints would make a glam addition to my house. Love all the amazing handcrafted furniture from Bokja Design in collaboration with nuLOOM. A chair named Zsa Zsa has to be divine! (Handmade in Beirut, Lebanon.)
1) Zsa Zsa Chair One Multi
2) Zsa Zsa Chair Two Multi
3) Disque Chair Two Multi
4) Nour Chair One Multi
5) Bench Multi
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While in Minneapolis I spotted this amazing sofa featuring a lively mix of retro and paisley patterns. Not only did I have a decor crush from afar, when I sat down I knew it was true love. You can find the sofa in Minneapolis at the store Patina—a mesh of Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters.
And when you are there, don't forget to stop by Sebastian Joe's for some homemade ice cream. I'll share more of my finds in Minneapolis all week.
Image above by me, Chris Olson.
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The clever people at Boon Inc. have created an adorable book shelf that doubles as a piece of art. Kids and adults will love displaying their favorite books in the Turf, Front-facing Bookshelf. Great for all sizes of books. Books face forward for easy selection. Easy wall-mounting, hardware included. Dimensions: 4.75" x 15.75" x 10.25". BpA-free. Phthalate-free. PVC-Free.
Image above by me, Chris Olson. Photos: Boon, Inc.
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Time to get outside and play in the garden. Thanks to the inspiration from my dear friend and garden guru, Kathy, here are a few of my fresh picks to get my garden in shape.
1) Protect your hands and your manicure with the leather Monogrammable Gardening Gloves from Red Envelope.
2) The versatile heather plant is a multi-tasker—perfect as foundation plants, ground cover, in borders, or in rock gardens.
3) The ergonomic Felco Pruners work hard in the garden without hurting your hands. I love the fact Felco has pruners for lefties too!
4. Perfect upgrade to your garden trowel, the Japanese Hori Hori knife at Terrain.
5. Gotta love the price on these cute LANTSTÄLLE plant pots by IKEA.
6. And don't forget to take a break and admire your work on the Arched Back Bench from Terrain.
Image above by me, Chris Olson.
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A dear neighbor had a birthday tea party for me yesterday. Of course the tea and treats were delicious. Her pretty chickadee plates from Crate and Barrel are perfect for spring.
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I admit I have a crush on George Clooney, now I have a decor crush on his lovely home too. Check out his Los Angeles house tour here via CBS.com. His kitchen looks fabulous even though he says he doesn't do much cooking—instead he says the kitchen is the place he "orders food delivered." In the CBS interview he talks about the difference between a house and a home. He also chats about adopting his shelter dog Einstein, the importance of friendships, his family, his famous aunt Rosemary Clooney, politics, and the Academy Awards to be held this weekend. If you missed his dreamy I-can't-watch-it-enough TV commercial where he gets hitched, check it out here.
So many of Clooney's films are my favorites: Ides of March, The Descendants, and Up in the Air. On a personal note, as a shelter dog adoption counselor, I love the fact George adopted a shelter dog.
Here's the interview tour of Clooney's house via CBS.com.
Photos: images from the CBS.com home tour.
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Turn your weekend into a creative weekend with a copy of Weekend Handmade featuring more than 40 projects and ideas for inspired living. Written by Kelly Wilkinson of the popular Make grow gather blog, the book includes an eclectic mix of projects in three sections: "Make offers projects to wear or decorate with; Grow presents projects inspired by gardens, fields, and farmers markets; and Gather spotlights projects that enrich casual get-togethers." You can find out how to make Kelly's Pressed Floral Luminaria project below.
What I like about this book:
Here are a few of my favorite page spreads from the book:
Winter Blossom Cowl
Adas Story Box
Botanical Note Cards
Bohemian Necklace
Continue reading "Feed your creative soul with the craft book Weekend Handmade" »
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Julia's popular lifestyle blog Hooked on Houses turns 4 years old this week. If you like real estate blogs, this one is for you. Even better, if you like to also glimpse into the homes of celebrities and homes on movie and TV sets, then reading Julia's blog will quickly become one of your favorites.
In her blog she admits she is obsessed with pop culture, but at heart I can also tell she loves homes of any style. Julia says in her blog:
"I’m more likely to swoon over a cozy, well-designed cottage than a sprawling, show-offy mansion. For me, looking at houses is a form of entertainment. I think they have personalities, and it’s fun to get to know them, regardless of their size, shape, or style."
Here are just a few recent posts:
Photos: Jennifer Aniston's home, Hooked On Houses banner, Christina Aguilera's home featured on Julia's blog.
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Chronicle Books has been a fave of mine for years. You can count on their books to include stunning photography and stylish illustrations. Recently I picked up a copy of Decorate: 1,000 Design Ideas for Every Room in Your Home and like the old saying goes, I couldn't put it down.
As the title suggests, the book is filled with top drawer advice from the world's best designers and leading decor experts including style gurus Kelly Wearstler, Amy Butler, and Jonathan Adler. The book authors are two of my favorite lifestyle writers: Holly Becker (founder of the popular design blog Decor8) and Joanna Copestick (savvy lifestyle writer of 10 stylish decor books).
What I liked about the book:
Perhaps the popular lifestyle blog Apartment Therapy sums it up best:
"It's like your first pack of Starbursts - exploding with color, homes and sunshine in equal measure. "
You can read more of their book review here.
Here are a few of my favorite page spreads:
Looking for more inspiration? Continue reading for more stunning page spreads. Some of my favorite images include gorgeous flower arrangement and table setting ideas.
Continue reading "A photo feast of design ideas served in a stylish book" »
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One of the many home tours in the book, this one features Dave Alhadeff.
If you are a fan of the lovely blog Design*Sponge by Brooklyn-based writer Grace Bonney, then you'll adore her decor book Design*Sponge at Home. My favorite things about this book: decor ideas fit for a "real" home, home tours give a glimpse inside the cozy chic homes of celebs and designers, plus step-by-step instructions for decor projects I have to try. Here are a few pages to inspire you.
Lynda Gardener's home.
Fine artist Alyn Carlson and photographer Paula Clancy's home.
Continue reading "Inspiration Is Everywhere: Design*Sponge at Home" »
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I'm thinking about the holidays and oranges in the Christmas stockings... Here is what’s on my desk today—a collection of items I am using in my illustration and design work. Check back next Friday for another collection.
Photo by me, Chris Olson.
If you like this, PIN it: 
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Did you know jelly beans and other candy can help you select the perfect paint colors for your home? And if you love sharing your house with dogs, then you probably find the fun in functional. These are just a few of the refreshing decorating philosophies in Annie Selke's decor book Fresh American Spaces.
In addition to inspiring decor photos, she includes step-by-step directions for DIY projects that fit your style including: painting stripes on a wall, perfecting a mound of roses in a bouquet, organizing a wall of pictures, and adding stripes to towels.
If you love color but wonder just what colors work for your home, Selke includes several color-matching ideas using fabrics, paints, and more. (Plus she leaves out the guessing work by including the paint names for colors from popular brands.)
Filled with sparkling photos to inspire your home decorating, her book includes a wide variety of styles in five sections:
Here are few of my favorite pages...
Photos: Fresh American Spaces
If you like this, PIN it:
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I will always be a fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder's The Little House on the Prairie series. And maybe that is why I have a fondness for the romantic prairie style decor today. Pair author Fifi O'neill's new book Romantic Prairie Style with a cup of herbal tea and it's a perfect way to warm up on a chilly day. As the publisher says,
"Romantic Prairie Style embraces simple pleasures, comfort, and the long-cherished ideals of natural beauty, simplicity, and harmony with the earth. It's a style that says 'home' wherever you may be because, more than anything else, it's a mindset: gentle but strong, welcoming and lasting, durable yet sophisticated, and, above all, real."
Here are a few of my favorite page spreads that give a glimpse of the lovely book.
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I love the random and fun art on Chris Martin's colorful piano. Even if he calls his band a group of middle-aged rockers, I think Coldplay's music will always be setting the latest trend in music and style.
The band's new album Mylo Xyloto will be released October 24th.
You can follow my musings on everything decor on Decor Crush on Tumblr. Photos: Coldplay concert at the Plaza, Rock Center.
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I love this mini pumpkin plant arrangement given to me by a dear friend and neighbor. Best of all, you can dry the pumpkins on the stems by removing the leaves and then preserve them for fall decor.
Evidently this plant is edible too (chop and toss into stir fry). Check in later for details.
(Photos by me, Chris Olson.)
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Lopez's new digs in the Hampton's exclusive Water Mill area look amazing: 14,000 square-foot shingle style house, 7 bedrooms and 9.5 baths, outdoor spa/pool with a fireplace, master suite and jr suite. My favorite room is the spacious crisp white kitchen. Imagine the meals you could prepare here! The Lopez place reminds me of Erica Barry's (Diane Keaton) Hamptons beach house in the movie Something's Gotta Give. For more details on the Lopez home check out the lovely blog Hooked on Houses by Julia and the Corcoran property listing.
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I want to live in Claire and Phil Dunphy's house on Modern Family or be their neighbor. And it's not about how grand the house is–that would be the home of the series patriarch. I love the way the set looks like a real home, where Pottery Barn charm and everyday family chaos collide. The set decor mixes vintage Craftsman with hip West Coast style. I adore the colors–Benjamin Moore "Labrador Blue" on the entry walls. Colorful artwork all over the walls. Bold striped pillows look inviting on my major decor crush: the comfy beige sofa from Sofa U Love.
Photo credits: ABC
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Friday’s Decor Crush
Who knows how I ever noticed the white chair in this scene with Ryan Gosling showing off his six-pack. Anyways… I adore them both in the delightful movie Crazy, Stupid, Love.
If you have any ideas where to buy the lovely white modern chair, add your thoughts to the comments for this post.
~via my blog Decor Crush on Tumblr
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"Diane Keaton is a wonderful actor. And I love her sense of style. But I never knew until now she also has an incredible sense for design too. Check out my new Decor Crush–Keaton’s new classic line of housewares K by Keaton at Bed Bath and Beyond. Perfect colors for fall and winter. Love the fact the pottery is practical and kid-friendly too!"
via Decor Crush on Tumblr.
Illustration by me, Chris Olson
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I believe in love at first sight. Especially while watching TV or a movie.
Let me explain...
Almost everything looks better on TV–especially home decor or cars or clothes. So it is only natural to see something even for just a second on your TV and instantly feel that connection. But where can you find it? Magazines and blogs do a great job of doing the sleuthing for the best in celebrity and pop culture clothing.
Amazing couches, lovely lamps, and impressive bookshelves rarely get ID'd in the media. That's why every Friday I am going to post one TV (or movie) home decor crush on my blog and my new Tumblr blog Decor Crush. Feel free to send me your ideas for identifying an item featured on Decor Crush. And send me suggestions for Decor Crush items. Together we will solve the puzzles.
Friday's Crush:
The lamp in the apartment of the charming criminal mastermind Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) on the show White Collar. I love this rice paper lantern because it is not the typical round shape.
So where can I find it?
Follow Decor Crush on Tumblr.
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Looking for decorating ideas for a nursery or a child's bedroom? Susanna Salk's visually exciting book Room for Children: Stylish Spaces for Sleep and Play is a stunning treasure trove of decorating ideas and a fun read. Kelly Wearstler, renowned interior designer and author of several books, writes the foreword.
Is it possible to design a room that pleases both the parents and their children? Salk has found a way. Page after page of lovely photography by some of the industry's top photographers–Pieter Estersohn, Paul Costello, William Abranowicz, Melanie Aveced, and others–makes me want redecorate a few rooms at my house. No matter your style–modern, formal to whimsical–you will find a room that fits your mood. The book showcases a variety of decorating styles for bedrooms, play spaces, and study areas created by a talented group of designers including Kelly Wearstler, Charlotte Moss, Alessandra Branca, Amanda Nisbet, and Thomas Jayne, among many others.
Salk is a leading design maven with many publishing success stories. Here are just a few: author of Weekend Retreats, a contributing editor for Bon Appetit Magazine, 1STDIBS.COM, and iVillage.com, as well as a former special projects editor at House & Garden. In the book she features an assortment of rooms that will appeal to a variety of ages. Her book has a sophisticated take on decor for children according to the LAtimes.com:
The book suggests that just because a room is designed for a kid, that's no reason the design can't be all grown up. There is nothing DIY about "Room for Children," and no sense of trying to do more with less. Two-dozen-plus rooms in the book differ in style, but few could be described as "cute."
Anne at her blog The City Sage says:
In the world of interiors books, the subject of decorating for children has been sorely neglected. Until now! Renowned author and editor Susanna Salk has released Room for Children: Stylish Spaces for Sleep and Play, and I'm rolling on a serious sugar high from all the sweet, sweet eye candy!
Julie at her blog Remodelista calls the book required reading:
Salk rounds up spaces by designers such as Kelly Wearstler (who wrote the book’s foreward), Amanda Nisbet, Amy Lau, Sixx Design, as well as J. Crew Creative Director Jenna Lyons’ edgy charcoal-walled nursery.
Note to my readers: I did not receive compensation from the author or publisher for writing this book review
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If you like to sew--no matter your ability level--this book is for you. Filled with 101 quick sewing projects that only need one yard of material.
The book written by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins includes easy directions with patterns and full color photos to help you complete your project in an afternoon. Projects include apparel, plush toys, bags, pet beds, baby items, home decor items, and more.
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