House Things

First I want to say thanks to all who entered the Cascades eco-friendly table decor giveaway. We have two winners: Maria and Suzy, who should have the happy news in their inboxes now. For the rest of you, stay tuned for the  next giveaway. We’ve got something super special coming up after the holidays when your wallets are empty and you can start thinking about yourselves again.

In the meantime, this cool wall divider from 2Modern caught my eye. The MIO Butterfly Nomad is made from recycled, double-wall cardboard and comes in 24 pieces that you can put together however/wherever you want. Need a fun accent piece between two open rooms? Check. A temporary partition of some sort? Check. All you need is a little imagination. Price is $60 for 24 pieces, which each measure 21 X 17″.

Mixing it up with patterns and prints is something I love to do. I’ve even reupholstered chairs in multiple patterns. It’s not surprising, then, that I found Pattern and Print alluring. They sell everything from scarves (beautiful!) and paper accessories to items for the home. Since this is a home decor blog, I’ll focus on those, but if you’re a scarfie (and I am for sure!), check them out — with your credit card far away so you’re not tempted.

Here are a few of the home goods that caught my eye. Which ones do you like?

Lambswool mini-blanket with vintage stripe, $125

Hand screen-printed pillow, $88

Large bowl by Jill Rosenwald, $175

Canvas hamper, $88

Do you lose your keys? Well, you’re less likely to if you put this vintage industrial key box by your door. The aged black finish, inspired by flea market finds, holds up to 9 sets of keys and includes 3 hooks. Size is 16″ H X 9″ W X 3.5″ D. Price is $49.95 and it’s available at Farmhouse Wares, your one-stop online shopping for all things farmhouse/country.

I’m not into contemporary furniture for the most part but I am always impressed by what I see on Etsy that falls into this category. This clever stool from Quarter Twenty‘s shop is just one example. Called the Giddyup Stool (because it resembles a saddle a little bit?), it’s made from steel and wood but can be customized. You can pick between reclaimed fir or cherry and can pick either a gunmetal or natural mild steel finish. The stool is 24″ long, 12″ wide and 18″ tall. Price is $495.

Up next on Top Three Thursdays is one of those items that you see and think I could do that — and then you don’t. So rather than deny yourself, why don’t you just go ahead and admit you’re not going to do it and buy it? This whimsical paper garland from Ink Whimsy‘s shop is a perfect example. They would look so lovely over a window in a child’s room or perhaps as an accent over a headboard or … the list goes on. They come in a multitude of colors and can be made in custom lengths. The standard garland is 6 feet long and comprised of circles 1, 1.5 and 2″ in diameter that have been sewn together. Price is $9

And, finally, a delightful, rustic and reclaimed shelf from True Connections, which was also featured in the March Country Living magazine. What a great way to tidy up your mud room or just create structure from the chaos from the space of your choice. Each shelf is made from reclaimed cedar wood and is one-of-a-kind. Length is 36 inches and height is 30 inches. Width will depend on the wood that’s found. Price is $200.

I am in the middle of moving, both my apartment AND my office because they’re installing a new carpet and that means I have to clear off everything on my desk, etc AND pack up my apartment. It’s a perfect storm reminder of why being organized from the beginning is the way to live. If you saw my desk, for instance, you would know why I stopped in my tracks seeing this vintage farmer’s market basket on Etsy and decided to kick off Top Three Thursdays with it. It’s not exactly the right size or shape for storing papers — probably too deep — but I could probably find something to put in it pretty easily. It’s available in Buffalo Winter’s shop, which is devoted to all things vintage so worth a stop for anyone interested in vintage, and costs $56.

This next shop offers a clever way to store your earrings…of which I have just a few, most of which are clumped together in a box on my dresser. I’m a fan of antique printer drawers anyway; they’re an extension of sorts to my font fetish to make me happy. This use both looks good and solves the hunting for the other earring way in which I spend most mornings. It’s available in Blue Bird Heaven‘s shop and costs $118. It is also available in a variety of colors.

And finally this happy little number  from Sew Gracious. This handy reversible organizer bin had me at the Amy Butler fabric. But I also love that it’s reversible and that it would look lovely on a table or on the floor by a side table. It can apparently hold up to 16 CDs, 10 DVDs, diapers, remote controls, toilet tissue, toys, accessories — you name it. Who wouldn’t want to put things away if this were where the stuff went? The shop has a ton of different colors and sizes if this one doesn’t catch your fancy. Price is $18.

I am in the middle of moving, both my apartment AND my office because they’re installing a new carpet and that means I have to clear off everything on my desk, etc AND pack up my apartment. It’s a perfect storm reminder of why being organized from the beginning is the way to live. If you saw my desk, for instance, you would know why I stopped in my tracks seeing this vintage farmer’s market basket on Etsy and decided to kick off Top Three Thursdays with it. It’s not exactly the right size or shape for storing papers — probably too deep — but I could probably find something to put in it pretty easily. It’s available in Buffalo Winter’s shop, which is devoted to all things vintage so worth a stop for anyone interested in vintage, and costs $56.

This next shop offers a clever way to store your earrings…of which I have just a few, most of which are clumped together in a box on my dresser. I’m a fan of antique printer drawers anyway; they’re an extension of sorts to my font fetish to make me happy. This use both looks good and solves the hunting for the other earring way in which I spend most mornings. It’s available in Blue Bird Heaven‘s shop and costs $118. It is also available in a variety of colors.

And finally this happy little number  from Sew Gracious. This handy reversible organizer bin had me at the Amy Butler fabric. But I also love that it’s reversible and that it would look lovely on a table or on the floor by a side table. It can apparently hold up to 16 CDs, 10 DVDs, diapers, remote controls, toilet tissue, toys, accessories — you name it. Who wouldn’t want to put things away if this were where the stuff went? The shop has a ton of different colors and sizes if this one doesn’t catch your fancy. Price is $18.

Why store your fruit in those ugly gray cardboard fruit containers when you could store them in these lovely porcelain knock-offs instead? Available at Seltzer Studios, they are made from bone china and come in three sizes. Prices range from $16-$27.

Spring is here and I am serious throw-it-out mode. I am getting ready to hire a dumpster for our house to make it easy for us all to toss the stuff we just don’t need anymore and that isn’t worth anything (i.e. there will be plenty of stops at Goodwill and the town swap station as well).

So I was thrilled to get a surprise in the mail last week: this office organizing system from DiVOGA. As anyone who works with me knows, my office is in need of some serious organizing. While I know where everything is — okay, where most things are — the reality is that it is a mess and with all the juggling I do, it’s time for a change. So as I clean up the homefront, I’m going to focus on the office.

This limited edition workspace collection will make it easy and give my office space a more contemporary look. It’s feminine but not girly, so anyone who comes into your office will know you have style and substance. DiVOGA is part of OfficeMax’s brands and available at their stores nationwide, as well as online here.