So... should I be tickled by that or embarrassed?
lisa
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Showing posts with label furniture shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label furniture shopping. Show all posts
[ look familiar? ]
OK, I ADMIT, I watch The Real Houswives of New Jersey. I know. Well, imagine my surprise when I saw my ottoman on the set of their reunion episode!
So... should I be tickled by that or embarrassed?
lisa
So... should I be tickled by that or embarrassed?
lisa
[ under my console ]
YESTERDAY I showed you some inspirational pics of what to put under a console table. Thanks for all of your great comments! I loved hearing which ones you were drawn to and what you've done in your own home.
Here's my console. It used to be behind my sofa, but now that it is against the wall, I find the empty space makes it look a little wimpy {I may give it a painted facelift but for now here it is}.
I love the idea of stools but I'm thinking that since it likely won't be in the entry, maybe something other than stools would be nice. And with so many other options of how to fill that empty void, I've decided that my favourite is a stack of baskets {great way to add texture}.
something like this...
Here's my console. It used to be behind my sofa, but now that it is against the wall, I find the empty space makes it look a little wimpy {I may give it a painted facelift but for now here it is}.
I love the idea of stools but I'm thinking that since it likely won't be in the entry, maybe something other than stools would be nice. And with so many other options of how to fill that empty void, I've decided that my favourite is a stack of baskets {great way to add texture}.
something like this...
I love the idea of being able to store things in them, especially in a small apartment - I need all the hiding places I can get!
So I started looking around and was having a hard time finding anything. I finally found these at Pottery Barn...
But at about $70+ each, I just didn't want to spend that much on baskets.
So I kept looking and came across these...
Did you see that price?? $8! At Pottery Barn! I don't know if they were priced incorrectly or what, but I wasn't going to pass up this bargain! They weren't exactly what I was looking for, but I figured I could make them work.
I grabbed 4 and check this out...
They stack nicely and I gave them some little numbered tags - I think they do the trick. Great for magazines or I can even make some liners to store smaller things - all for a grand total of $32! What do you think?
lisa
[ shopping for our dining area ]
WHILE I'M going through this pile of boxes and trying to find somewhere to stash everything (a challenge with no dressers yet and limited storage space), I'll share with you our newest shopping finds!
When packing our shipment from Canada, we knew that our apartment in Dubai would be on the small side and our big dining table and 6 chairs would be a tight squeeze, so we decided to put our things into storage and shop for a more compact solution. I love our existing dining chairs (in this classic shape but done in a subtle striped fabric with optional white slipcovers) and I knew that eventually we would be enjoying them again someday.
So when we set out to find our dining table/chairs in Dubai, rather than buy a set that we would later have to sell, I decided that it might be smart to just find a couple of nice accent chairs that could eventually be used at the ends of our dining table and a small table to use with them. Perfect for the 2 of us and comfy at the same time.
We came across these beauties and decision made! Comfy, not overly huge but substantial enough, at the correct height for a table, and in a neutral linen that will go with anything. I think they'll work perfectly in our space. We found a great round table just large enough to dine at that can work later-on in a breakfast nook or even as a big side table. What do you think?
lisa
When packing our shipment from Canada, we knew that our apartment in Dubai would be on the small side and our big dining table and 6 chairs would be a tight squeeze, so we decided to put our things into storage and shop for a more compact solution. I love our existing dining chairs (in this classic shape but done in a subtle striped fabric with optional white slipcovers) and I knew that eventually we would be enjoying them again someday.
So when we set out to find our dining table/chairs in Dubai, rather than buy a set that we would later have to sell, I decided that it might be smart to just find a couple of nice accent chairs that could eventually be used at the ends of our dining table and a small table to use with them. Perfect for the 2 of us and comfy at the same time.
We came across these beauties and decision made! Comfy, not overly huge but substantial enough, at the correct height for a table, and in a neutral linen that will go with anything. I think they'll work perfectly in our space. We found a great round table just large enough to dine at that can work later-on in a breakfast nook or even as a big side table. What do you think?
lisa
[ nightstand reveal ]
SAY HELLO to my sexy little nightstands! I almost fainted when we found them since I had almost given up and they fulfill everything I was looking for:
not too tall or too low for the bed and lamp
wide enough to hold a few things and in proper proportion to the bed
a light painted finish to contrast with our darker linen headboard
storage
pretty hardware
a lovely shape
I rummaged around for a few pretty bits and bobs to style with for now (since I don't have much here yet)
a mercury glass ball and a couple of books...
a vintage scotch glass with a few blooms...
some ruffled pillow cases and starfish pillow...
I'm really happy with our choice and I can say good-bye to our cardboard boxes!
lisa
not too tall or too low for the bed and lamp
wide enough to hold a few things and in proper proportion to the bed
a light painted finish to contrast with our darker linen headboard
storage
pretty hardware
a lovely shape
I rummaged around for a few pretty bits and bobs to style with for now (since I don't have much here yet)
a mercury glass ball and a couple of books...
a vintage scotch glass with a few blooms...
some ruffled pillow cases and starfish pillow...
I'm really happy with our choice and I can say good-bye to our cardboard boxes!
lisa
[ nightstand success! ]
HOW WAS your weekend? Mine was a combination of relaxation and a bit of productivity, especially in the nightstand-shopping department! After almost giving up completely and coming to terms with the the fact that I would be close friends with Mr. Cardboard Box, we fell upon the perfect thing!
I know, I'm such a tease! But that's the only glimpse you get until I have them in place and looking pretty!
lisa
I know, I'm such a tease! But that's the only glimpse you get until I have them in place and looking pretty!
lisa
[ happy weekend! ]
WELL I CERTAINLY know what I'll be up to this weekend....
I'm hoping to finally find something to act as nightstands! Everything I've seen so far has been either too tall, too short, too narrow, too wide, too dark, too gawdy, too cheap-looking, too expensive...
I'm determined to wrap up the search this weekend and say bu-bye to our cardboard boxes! {Although I have to say that Pottery Barn does have some good quality boxes!}
What are you up to this weekend?
lisa
I'm hoping to finally find something to act as nightstands! Everything I've seen so far has been either too tall, too short, too narrow, too wide, too dark, too gawdy, too cheap-looking, too expensive...
I'm determined to wrap up the search this weekend and say bu-bye to our cardboard boxes! {Although I have to say that Pottery Barn does have some good quality boxes!}
What are you up to this weekend?
lisa
[ and our choice is... ]
YESTERDAY I showed you some great inspirational rooms using coffee tables and ottomans. All of them lovely, any of them would have been great in our space.
While out shopping, we did come across a couple of great options for coffee tables and thought that was the route we were going to take. Until we stopped to think about how we live in the space.
Since this is the only living space we have, it needs to fulfill all of our needs - that includes being able to kick back and put our feet up. And who were we kidding, thinking that a coffee table was going to do the trick for us? We knew that inevitably our feet would end up resting against the edge of it and so an ottoman won out.
We had a much more difficult time finding an ottoman - for some reason they just aren't as popular around here. And then we happened to wander into Bloomingdales (yes! they have a small store here!) to their furniture department at the back of the store. We don't normally look there because we expect the prices to definitely be out of our budget. And wouldn't you know it, we spotted this baby:
While out shopping, we did come across a couple of great options for coffee tables and thought that was the route we were going to take. Until we stopped to think about how we live in the space.
Since this is the only living space we have, it needs to fulfill all of our needs - that includes being able to kick back and put our feet up. And who were we kidding, thinking that a coffee table was going to do the trick for us? We knew that inevitably our feet would end up resting against the edge of it and so an ottoman won out.
We had a much more difficult time finding an ottoman - for some reason they just aren't as popular around here. And then we happened to wander into Bloomingdales (yes! they have a small store here!) to their furniture department at the back of the store. We don't normally look there because we expect the prices to definitely be out of our budget. And wouldn't you know it, we spotted this baby:
We fell in love with it right away. It was the right size, had a great finish on the legs, had a lovely shape and was done in the same Belgian linen as the bed we bought. It would add a bit of glam to our space without being too girly, wouldn't show dirt and was large enough to fit a good-sized tray on it. It was ticking all the boxes!
It had a Reserved tag on it and my heart sank. I decided to ask the sales person anyway and it was our lucky day - the reservation had expired and it was ours if we wanted it. The price was actually less than we expected and definitely doable so we have now given it a new home.
She has arrived and I think she'll look great on the seagrass rug. While she doesn't quite go with the beanbags right now, she sure is purdy!!
lisa
[ coffee table vs. ottoman ]
I'VE BEEN trying to decide whether to get a coffee table or an ottoman. We've been using an ottoman for many years (a black leather tufted one that I've made slipcovers for) and if I had been thinking straight, I would have had it shipped here. But it's in storage now so we need to decide on something.
As I've been gathering inspirational pics, I've noticed how just the style of coffee table in a neutral space can really alter the feel of the room. In a room of white slipcovers and neutral upholstery, it can quickly go from formal to modern to casual depending on what type of table you choose.
As I've been gathering inspirational pics, I've noticed how just the style of coffee table in a neutral space can really alter the feel of the room. In a room of white slipcovers and neutral upholstery, it can quickly go from formal to modern to casual depending on what type of table you choose.
An ottoman can do the same thing. It can make the room feel cottagey, a bit masculine or glamorous.
So what type of person are you - a coffee table person or an ottoman person?
lisa
[unknown; brabourne farm; caldwell flake; decorpad; house beautiful;
phoebe howard; 7,8 skona hem; 9, 10 houzz; style at home; country living;
houzz; midwest living; elle decor]
[ wires drive me bonkers! ]
DO WIRES drive you as crazy as they do me? My dream is to live in a completely wireless world! In the meantime, we've been shopping for a TV unit to house all of those unsightly components and their wires. I wanted something to fit in this space, low enough to not block the view.
I love the look of the industrial-style pieces at Restoration Hardware and have been hoping that I might come across something similar somewhere in Dubai. We discovered a furniture store here called Marina that carries a few pieces that share that same sort of look as RH and look what we found!
It's a larger version of this side table at RH:
They also had a side table similar (with only one shelf instead of two) so we picked it up as well. And at about 1/3 of the price of RH! Finally our TV will be up off the window ledge and our side table will no longer be a cardboard box!
lisa
I love the look of the industrial-style pieces at Restoration Hardware and have been hoping that I might come across something similar somewhere in Dubai. We discovered a furniture store here called Marina that carries a few pieces that share that same sort of look as RH and look what we found!
It's a larger version of this side table at RH:
They also had a side table similar (with only one shelf instead of two) so we picked it up as well. And at about 1/3 of the price of RH! Finally our TV will be up off the window ledge and our side table will no longer be a cardboard box!
lisa
[ living room story board part 1 ]
PLANNING A space when all you have is an empty room, furniture in transit and ideas in your head isn't the easiest thing. Without key pieces in place to help plan, measure and contemplate, your brain is just swimming with ideas and sometimes you feel like you're going to drown. So I decided to put together a bit of a story board so I can keep my thoughts straight.
Here are the pieces on their way on the slow boat and the new sofa currently on order:
While my guy wants to keep the leather club chairs as is, my plan is to make slipcovers for them just to lighten things up a bit. The little wooden "stump" table will sit between the chairs to provide a spot to set down a drink. Our union jack cushion is on its way from our Ireland apartment and will be great just for lounging on the floor. I'm not sure where the console table will go yet, since my plan is to put the sofa against the wall, but it could work in the dining area or even in the entry. The sofa is a pretty linen and I plan to eventually sew up a slipcover for it too, to help protect it from runaway pizza.
What we still need:
TV unit
side tables
lamps
coffee table
artwork
Ahhh... that's better. My mind feels clearer already! Now I just have to put one together as we find new pieces and hopefully everything will work together.
lisa
Here are the pieces on their way on the slow boat and the new sofa currently on order:
While my guy wants to keep the leather club chairs as is, my plan is to make slipcovers for them just to lighten things up a bit. The little wooden "stump" table will sit between the chairs to provide a spot to set down a drink. Our union jack cushion is on its way from our Ireland apartment and will be great just for lounging on the floor. I'm not sure where the console table will go yet, since my plan is to put the sofa against the wall, but it could work in the dining area or even in the entry. The sofa is a pretty linen and I plan to eventually sew up a slipcover for it too, to help protect it from runaway pizza.
What we still need:
TV unit
side tables
lamps
coffee table
artwork
Ahhh... that's better. My mind feels clearer already! Now I just have to put one together as we find new pieces and hopefully everything will work together.
lisa
[ rug shopping ]
I HOPE EVERYONE had a lovely weekend! As predicted, we scoured the malls for more furniture, etc for our place. We found a few things and just need to wait for them to be delivered later this week. Stay tuned!
One thing on our shopping list is a rug for the living room area. There's a lot happening in the world of rugs right now and I've been seeing some beautiful patterns - geometrics, florals, stripes and the traditional Persians. I have admired so many gorgeous rugs in blogland - the options are endless!
I'm looking at creating a space that says "summer chic" and so committing to a bright patterned rug just doesn't seem practical for me. I love to switch things up so keeping the big pieces more neutral allows me the freedom to change cushions and art/accessories as often as I'd like without worrying about colours and patterns clashing. And when I see rooms like these, it's pretty easy for me to make my choice.
One thing on our shopping list is a rug for the living room area. There's a lot happening in the world of rugs right now and I've been seeing some beautiful patterns - geometrics, florals, stripes and the traditional Persians. I have admired so many gorgeous rugs in blogland - the options are endless!
I'm looking at creating a space that says "summer chic" and so committing to a bright patterned rug just doesn't seem practical for me. I love to switch things up so keeping the big pieces more neutral allows me the freedom to change cushions and art/accessories as often as I'd like without worrying about colours and patterns clashing. And when I see rooms like these, it's pretty easy for me to make my choice.
[stettvoll; tracery interiors; unknown; veranda; houseandhome; skona hem; elle decor;
via chic coles; housetohome; country homes and interiors; house beautiful;
gerrie bremermann; house beautiful]
Aren't those rooms gorgeous? I love the versatility of sisal and seagrass - it works in the most casual spaces or formal rooms to make them feel less stuffy. And they add such wonderful texture to neutral rooms.
With our decision made, we started our search. Since most of the rug stores here carry wool rugs in any pattern you can imagine (beautiful, but just not what I was looking for), we were thanking our lucky stars that there is actually a Pottery Barn in Dubai! We settled on their seagrass with a natural twill border - timeless and the smoothness of the weave will keep it looking good for a long time to come.
I couldn't believe a 9'x12' rug would fit in our rental car but we managed to wedge it in and here it is in our space. I love the contrast of it with the wood floors and I think it defines the space perfectly. Now all we need is furniture! Our temporary Fatboy beanbags just don't do it justice!
lisa
