To Be or Not To Be

I hunted high and low for drapes to hang in my dining room. Finally after purchasing & returning (making multiple trips to Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, JcPenney), I settled on the Felicia curtains from Ikea. They give the appearance of silk dupioni due to it's nubby yet smooth texture. And surprisingly, there have an even hang. Do spruce these up with a non-standard issue Ikea rod & rings. You'll have everyone guessing where you picked up these fabulous silk drapes! Your dirty little secret will be that they were under $100.00!

Spruce Up Bamboo

Have you ever been to Pearl River in NYC? A discount Asian import store where you can get all sorts of things for your home. This bamboo bench (for $51.50!) is something that I've been eye-ing.

I've been so busy at work but my inner DIY gal has been yearning to do something new. Imagine a fresh coat of semi or high gloss paint on this eclectic bench. Maybe a canary yellow or robin's egg blue. Something to pop in the corner of a room.

Eco-chic

It's been heating up, and we've been firing up the grill and enjoying the early days of summer. To try to curb our utility bill, we've opted for an eco-friendly option to cool down - the Minka Aire Artemis.

Ceiling fans are not longer a faux paus but can add a stylish accent. While a ceiling fan does not lower the room's temperature, the circulatory breeze can make you feel 8 degrees cooler. In the winter months, running the fan a clockwise direction can push the hot air down the walls, gently recirculating warm air through the room.

Check-Mate

Here's an easy way to bring a dash of colors into your living space - Ellsworth Kelly's 1951 piece. I wouldn't plan on springing for it on full price. Let's check back in when MOMA slashes their prices towards the end of summer.

High Tea for Me

Here's a great way to spend some time out for you ... with your favorite loose leaves and a dainty little tea cup. Beautifully elegant and more importantly on s-a-l-e at Anthropologie now!

Aegean Dreamy Bathrooms!

I've always thought that "egyptian" anything was the way to go. This type of cotton is typically renowned for its softness, absorbency, and durability. This is definitely my go-to choice when choosing bedding.

In the bathroom, it's a different story. Egyptian cotton are typically so absorbent that they often take f-o-r-e-v-e-r to dry completely often resulting in a mildew-y smell. Enter Turkish Aegean cotton! I've found this cotton to be just as soft and absorbent but dries quicker.

If you want to try them out - click on the link above - Costco once again has a great bargain! I got the Almond ones and love them!

Bring the Outdoors In

Typically one would think that polypropylene rugs are only good for outdoors. However, a great place for these rugs are under the dining table since stains wipe easily off with a little water. Ikea's Drakor rug is a S-T-E-A-L for $79.99. You won't find rugs of this size (~ 7 x 10) & quality for under a $100.

Wonder-ous Room

Create your own wonderland with this fabulous rug from Missoni. I love the possibility of mixing and matching the rainbow of colors. 59 is my fav! Surprisingly, you can just call around to see if most places carry it. Believe it or not, RugsDirect carries them!

For Those That W-F-H

For all of you that WFH (Work-from-Home!), here's a great reminder when you should transition back to your other life. Alas... 5 is the magical number!

No More Vino on the Rocks

The weather is warming up, and whites and roses are coming back into style - hooray! I stayed at the Gaige House in Sonoma County where I learned how to keep my whites perfectly chilled throughout a dinner party. The Bodum Kira Wine Chiller is a must-have! The double-walled carafe keeps your wine at the perfect tempature for up two hours - no more buckets of ice and no more tacky labels peeling off!