Thursday's Things to Love:

fresh cut flowers

(house beautiful)

(domino)

You don't need a special occasion to buy a bouquet - flowers add to the decor in every room of the home (even the powder room). I cut my own flowers in the warm months and buy them in the winter, so the type of flower in my home changes with the seasons. It's fun to coordinate them with other colors in the room, or to add an extra punch of color.

*Do you have a favorite flower that you use in your home?

Getting the look.

In honor of her recent win on HGTV's reality series "Design Star", today's inspiration room was designed by Emily Henderson.
You could start with a bold vintage school map from etsy...
...and the Torsby Sideboard from IKEA.
Then bring in this mid-century style chair from EquisiteHomePlus.

Finally, add the finishing touches like a sheepskin rug on the chair, a globe, or a real shot of color in the form of a vintage metal letter like this one from etsy.

Thursday's Things to Love:

vintage lamps
These babies can be scored at garage sales, thrift stores, grandparents' homes, and online classifieds (like Craigslist and KSL). My favorites tend to be wood or ceramic. Usually all they need is a new shade and you've got a totally different lamp. Often times the best part is the price tag - all of ours were under $10.

Getting the look.

Have you seen this hotel room designed by Kelly Wearstler? It's at the Tides Hotel in South Beach, Miami.
This 5'x7' faux zebra rug is available at Overstock for only $91.

(Overstock)

Sunburst mirrors are everywhere. Here is an inexpensive option online, but you can also find them at your local Target store right now.

(Amazon)

This amazing orange leather upholstered headboard is from Williams Sonoma Home. Check Urban Outfitters for more affordable options.

(Williams-Sonoma Home)

Thursday's Things to Love:

scented candles

(anthropologie)

(bath and body works)

These are two of my current favorites. I like mine in pretty glass jars that coordinate with the decor of the room they're in. I love lighting a candle when we have friends over, or when I curl up to read at night, or any time our home needs to feel more cozy.

Getting the look.

You may remember this living room from the most recent issue of Lonny Mag.
Well, over at Urban Outfitters you can purchase this chair in the same fabric as the drapes in that room. (The fabric is also available for $24/yard from Calico Corners.)
Also, for those of you in Utah, this pendant light is finally available at our IKEA store.
Finally, that rug is still available from World Market (as sourced in the article), but IKEA has their own cowhide rug for one whole dollar less.

Thursday's Things to Love:

down pillow forms

(restoration hardware)

The inserts that come in many store-bought pillows are filled with polyester stuffing. I've found that they are difficult to prop up on a couch or chair, and they go flat quickly. I've replaced my pillow covers with down forms, and any time I have a pillow made I purchase a down insert for it. You can buy them online for anywhere from $10-$20 for a standard sized pillow. If you live in Utah check out DownEast Home for Pottery Barn brand down inserts at half price.

Resources for artwork.

A question the hubby and I are frequently asked is where we go to find artwork. We've used a multitude of resources, so I've gathered a few of my favorites to share with you.

#1 AllPosters.com

(new york times)

A search for vintage travel ads alone pulls up over 5,000 posters. Other great finds on this site include the classics (e.g. the Mona Lisa), and book cover illustrations. Prices average around $20 for 2'x3' posters.

#2 photos on canvas
Find a local photographer and ask him or her to blow up a favorite photograph in a "thick gallery wrap" style. You'll be amazed at how reasonable their prices can be, and your canvas will make a serious statement piece. You can find retailers that do this online, but you're likely to get a better deal locally.

#3 New York Public Library digital gallery
I first discovered this online gallery at Apartment Therapy. You can purchase prints from the site or you can copy the images you like and send them out to a printer yourself. If you're anything like me a search for botanicals, butterflies, or birds will you keep you busy for days.

#4 etsy art prints

(persimmonandpink)

I'm a big fan of digital art prints, but there are also wonderful watercolors and vintage pieces to be found here. You can search by color or topic if you're looking for something to match your decor.

#5 Amazon
A quick search on this site for coffee table books or a favorite artist will offer some wonderful options. We purchased the book above to make a series of bird prints for our old bedroom. The bonus is adding a new art book to your collection!

#6 UGallery
This site started as a place for college students and recent graduates to sell their art to people looking for reasonably priced, original pieces. They have since expanded to include all emerging artists. The site is easy to navigate and includes curated collections for various styles. Prices can vary from under $100 to $500 based on medium, size, and the artist.

Thursday's Things to Love:

flat-weave rugs

(west elm)

(macys)

(discontinued IKEA rug via door sixteen)

(madeline weinrib)

While I do enjoy a plush rug every now and again, there is something about flat-weaves that just gets me. I love how they add subtle texture and warmth to a room. I love that you can find great options with a reasonable price tag. What I love most of all are the amazing colors and patterns these rugs are available in.

Thursday's Things to Love:

Anthropologie's latte bowls
I'm convinced that these are the perfect bowls. When we registered for our wedding, I skipped the bowls entirely because I already knew just what I wanted. Plus they come in a large variety of colors, and each year they bring out new ones. Not too wide, not too shallow, not too plain, and not too spendy... they're just right.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

(armstrong)(no more mauve)

After hearing about Habitat for Humanity's ReStore from several people, my husband and I decided to check out the one just 30 minutes from our home. The store carries everything from furniture to cleaning supplies to toilets. They have an incredible amount of building supplies, which is awesome for new homeowners of old homes like us. We found Armstrong vinyl tiles for $0.33/sq. ft., which is a third of the price we found at retailers online. We were thrilled because we already had plans to replace the carpet in our sunroom with vinyl tile, as well as change out the linoleum in our kitchen for a checkerboard pattern of vinyl tile (a la the lovely image above). I love that we'll be making upgrades to our home while using materials from the era our home was built. The best part is that these stores are located all over the country, so chances are there is one near you!