Easy Fall Updates

Paint. You don't have to paint an entire room but how about one accent wall or the front door. A little color can go a long ways. Think of something rich and deep. Check out Sherwin Williams SW 6321 Red Bay combined with SW 7069 Iron Horse to create a modern country update.

Pillows. Rotate pillows out or buy new pillow covers. Go for new colors, sizes and textures.

Fresh Accessorizing. Fresh flowers bring color and life while easily establishing the feeling of new season. Another option is to fill glass vases & bowls with persimmons, apples, & gourds. See my example of a fall dinner party I did for a friend's birthday.

Coziness. A warm fuzzy quilt or throw instantly calls you to come and snuggle up. Updating with new lamps or lamp shades can create warmth both during the day or when lit. A new lamp with a dark metal or wood base not only helps to anchor a room but provides an element of nature. Consider a lamp shade that is a heavy linen, a dark color or possibly gold on the inside to create a warm glowing light when turned on. (Anson Lamp from Crate & Barrel.)

Art. Change out one piece of art with a new piece that evokes a since of fall. Put away your pictures from the beach and update family pictures with last years pictures in the fall leaves, skiing, or those with hats & scarfs. Or have some fun...rake the leaves, put the kids in hats and scarves and snap some new pictures. My girls in the front yard.

A few simple, inexpensive changes can get you in the mood for any new season.

Home Shopping Network - Who Knew?

Honestly I've never watched HSN the Home Shopping Network but I was flipping through the channels the other day and saw Nate Berkus promoting some very cool stuff! I decided to check it out today and found some great items from Nate and other good finds too. I guess never say never....

Nate Berkus™ Handmade Silver Tray Table - $79.95

Nate Berkus™ Handcrafted Slipper Chair - $329.90

Grandin Road Beveled Glass Mirror - $119ea

Colin Cowie Holiday Appetizer Plates - $19.95

Ikea Slipcovers

Over 90 designs and colours. 8 fabric choices. Fits old and new IKEA sofa models. Chair and cushion covers too. Simple to put on. Easy to take off. Completely Machine Washable. Inspiration has never been more fun. Check out Bemz.

Stylish Home Office Supplies

See Jane Work is a fantastic site for ordering all things stylish, hip, fun, & functional for your home office! Also check out their section for Pulling It Together for lots of tips and ideas for organizing and managing.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Rococo Oval Chalkboard - $36


Eco-Chic Calendar - $23


Large Document Boxes - $18

Global Antiques & Salvage Finds

Located in Sonoma, Artefact Design & Salvage offers carefully selected architectural antiques, large scale garden ornaments and unique finds from around the globe. They have a four thousand square foot showroom and extensive outdoor show space which house these unique pieces of odd gift items, rusty relics, a dash of modern design and some industrial stuff for a shopping experience like no other.

Constantly changing and always fresh, their showroom has earned a reputation in the design community for uncompromising, quirky originality. They are located at 23562 Highway 121, Sonoma CA 95476 - At Cornerstone Gardens. 707-933-0660

Sign up on their website to receive emails with updates, new container info, events, etc.

Upcoming container arrivals:
Due September 10 - From Italy Italian carved stone, fountains, gazebo
Due September 20 - French iron table bases
Due September 30 - Carved stone urns, columns, troughs, contemporary styles.

To the trade:
Special Sales Event for trade professionals and resellers only
Sept 25, 16, 27, 11am-7pm

Alameda Estate Sale Aug 22nd, 23rd & 24th

If you love shopping flea markets, garage sales or estate sales get on www.lynnsofalameda.com mailing list for regular email updates of upcoming estate sales. They also have a shop at 2807 Encinal, Alameda.

Here's info on an upcoming estate sale this weekend:

622 Valle Vista, Oakland
Off Elwood and Grand by the Coffee Mill
August 22th , 23th, 24th
Friday noon-5pm
Sat. & Sun 10am4pm

A Gardeners Dream House! Very Large Collection of Plants, Pots, Soil, Statuary, Outdoor Patio Furniture, Decorative Mirror, Old Cameras, Photography Books, Crafts, Massive Iron 1900's Water Boiler, Professional PFAFF 335 Sewing Machine, Beautiful Bolts of Fabric, Cool Blonde Vintage Modern Eames Era Furniture: Credenza, Coffee Table, Corner Lamp Table & Dining Room Chairs Vintage Christmas, Danish Teak Tile Nesting Tables, Modern Side Table, Pair of Wing Chairs, Frames, Old Luggage, Vintage 60's Clothing, Shoes and Purses, Plant Stands, Collection of Costume Jewelry, Kennel Club Photo's & Ephemera, Kitchen Items, Pots, Pans, Glassware, Painted Antique Furniture, Framed Fabric Room Divider, Desk, Meito China, Sewing Patterns, Newer Vacuum Cleaner, Mask Collection, Cleaning Supplies, Upholstery Tools, Gardening Tools, Hand Tools, Paints & Solvents, Building Supplies.

SUNDAY noon everything is HALF OFF! Don't miss this one if you're an artist or a crafter! You'll kick yourself on Monday... No Early Sales.

Go for the Gold!

West Elem

As mentioned in a previous post, gold is a hot, hot trend. You can't go wrong with gold, so pull out those gold pieces that you haven't been using and add some new sparkle to Fall, Winter and the holidays.

Crate & Barrel, Piazza Nesting Tables, $399. A stunning trio of mirror-topped triangles, poised on elegantly tapered legs and handpainted in shimmering tones of copper, gold and silver. I especially like the combination of metal tones that allow you to easily incorporate into any decor regardless of your primary metal tone.



I know most of us love Target, but I also find Target a great resource for affordable and often designer inspired lamps and shades. In particular I found a ceramic gold lamp which has a nice designer quality in the shape and texture, and even a decent linen lamp shade - only $59.99 and when I checked online shipping was free.

Lamp tips:
1) I'm often shocked at how often homes are missing basic lighting such lamps. Each room needs at least one lamp and 3 depending on the size of the room. They offer the obvious...LIGHT!
2) They balance tables with height and sculptural detail.
3) Update an old lamp with an updated shade for a new look
4) If you find a lamp but hate the shade buy a new one. Lamp shades are inexpensive
5) Think of lamps as a pair of shoes for a room.

How can you go for the gold???

Eclectic Living Room

An eclectic mix living room in a Walnut Creek project. The key here was mixing both the old with new. Sometimes you have to work with things you don't love such as the off-white side chair in the corner, but we made it work by accessorizing around it and creating an attractive niche. A future buy will be two clean-lined contemporary side chairs.

Some things we did: custom curtains, new carpeting, new area rug, accessorizing, new gold sofa, balanced the sofa by touches of gold in the vase and the throw pillow & inexpensive art.

We needed to fill some expansive walls, one of which was done with collection of Ikea frames which we filled with pictures from magazines. I found a whole stack of Asian Art News magazines in a thrift store and they had fantastic pictures of great works of art.

West Elm Bargain

West Elm has a great candle holder the branch tripod floor pillar standing at about 52" high. It was $69 and can now be found on sale on the website for $49 but the Corte Madera store had it on sale for $19.99! If this one is too big there are a couple smaller branch candle holders that are just as nice. I used it in a bathroom.

Coming this fall you'll be able to find the same form in a table and standing lamp. I'd love to see it as a table leg too. If you are handy you might consider making a plant stand or high table with the candle holder. Let me know if you have any other creative ideas.