Compartment Life

Hammer Time

Shannon Summers — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:40:30 +0000

Yesterday, I was sending thoughts out into the Twitter-verse when I came across this gorgeous image from Elle Decor Magazine.

{Elle Decor}

Oh I’m a sucker for hammered metal. When I first moved into my condo, the original owner left a hammered metal soap-dish in the powder bathroom. I guess they didn’t feel like packing it. If you had only seen my reaction when I came across it, you would have thought I won the lottery or something.

1. Foundry Adjustable Personal Table $299, 2. Copper Tone Hammered Metal Charger $11.98, 3. Ren-Wil Sahara Hammered Metal Chrome Finish Vase $91.95, 4. Hammered Silver Urn with Lid $139.95, 5. Threshold™ Hammered Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker $9.99, 6. Hammered Metal Cuff $1.00, 7. Hammered Nickel Hurricanes $79.95, 8. Hammered Metal Serving Bowls $5 – $99

Round Up: Green and Gold Table Accessories

Shannon Summers — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:50:36 +0000

Gold Stones $Free, Allegra Hicks Placemat Set $9.99, Bracket Dinnerware $3.95-$6.95, Manchester Glass Set $128.00, Flawed Gold Plate Bowl $49, Gold Flatware 5pc Set $29

A great tablescape can really “beef up” a routine dinner. Just taking the time to set up some placemats, layer some bowls and light a candle really can make a huge difference in the dining room.

Vibrant Lulu & Georgia Rugs

Shannon Summers — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:35:07 +0000

Here is a breath of fresh air in the rug world. Lulu & Georgia carry accessories for all style types, glamorous, bohemian chic, vintage, eclectic, or cutting edge. Her Empress rug collection is stellar just by color alone, but the rugs come from the recycled materials of Indian saree cloth., which makes them two times as fabulous. Hello? Colorful and eco-friendly? Yes, please.

The rugs are almost too beautiful for the floor and absolutely could stand in for a wall art piece on their own. Especially if you’re into the woven wall hanging trend that’s sweeping the design community right now. One of these rugs could totes pass. Just imagine all the worldly flavor the blended colors would bring to the party.

Naiya Rug

I would add this purple gem to my bedroom, I know the color would pop against my current monochromatic color scheme. It has always been a struggle for me to tone down color choices in decorating my home, but for once I’m not thinking in terms of paint. I could absolutely add this rug to my house without making a huge time commitment like I would with purple paint, and if I needed a change after a while, I could always roll it up and move it to another room.

Kundra Rug

Also, another decor struggle I’m constantly battling is how orange my floors are downstairs. I believe at one time the original homeowner had carpet in the living and dining areas, and then one day said homeowner decided to pull up the carpet and/or flooring and expose all the concrete underneath, and then chose to stain it a rusty-brown-orange color. Don’t get me wrong, I love having stained concrete, but, if I could tone down the orange, I would.

All that is to say, I like this orange rug and wish I could add it to the downstairs but I think the clash effect might be too much.

Savita Rug

Lulu & Georgia have quite a few other rugs and host of other home goods, so drop in when you get a chance and peek around.

lulu and georgia rugs www luluandgeorge com au

Color Wheel: Valentines Day Bouquet

Shannon Summers — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:00:14 +0000

{Original image source Design Sponge}

Young House Love Lighting Collection

Shannon Summers — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 22:25:42 +0000

An amazing new lighting collection has hit the market thanks to John and Sherry of Young House Love, and I’m so in love with it right now. It’s available through a local store near them in Richmond called Shades of Light.

{Image Source: Shades of Light}

John and Sherry make a point of keeping their products at a reasonable and affordable price, such as their recent book, and their lighting collection is no exception. Each piece is $99 or less!

{Image Source: Shades of Light}

My favorite piece in their collection is the Large Wire Globe Lantern, the same one they put in their own dining room. It casts this really great shadow on the ceiling that is incredibly graphic.

{Image Source: Shades of Light}

One thing that really impressed me were the availability of options, Shades of Light and Young House Love made the shades separately if you decide you don’t need a whole light kit. Perfect for someone like me who tends to have lamp shade ADD. Aside from the actual lighting kits, they also carry several add-ons you can buy to upgrade your order or even an existing light you already own. I would really enjoy trying the hexagon or quatrefoil patterned metal cutout light diffuser to give a current drum shade chandelier some extra flair. That is, if I had a drum shade chandelier…..

{Image Source: Young House Love}

They have quite a few others in the collection that I didn’t show here today so I would highly recommend checking out their full collection here then heading over to the Young House Love blog and reading the full details of their experience in putting this collection together here!

young house love lighting young house love lighting review black drum shade ceiling fan diy drum shade for chandelier drum shades large wire globe lantern by Young House Love

Weekly Steal: Highland Black Desk

Shannon Summers — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:00:57 +0000

Highland Black Desk

Original Price: $175.99

Sale Price: $151.19

CLICK HERE TO BUY

Ends on December 26th, 2012 at 9AM CST.

Don’t miss out on this weeks sale! Seriously, a quality desk for $150? Gotta get it!

Custom Wall Coverings by Casart

Shannon Summers — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:23:09 +0000

Being a former apartment dweller myself, I know how strong the urge is to personalize an apartment. No matter how temporary the living situation may be. Unlike most people though, I have a hard time suppressing the urge to paint. However, if you’re not the painting type but you still want to add a personal touch to your home without making it permanent this might be the product for you. A new line of removable and reusable wall coverings is now available from Casart.

both of these designs are Mary Douglas Drysdale Signature Colors

Each panel is 52″ W and comes in different sizes to meet the height of your ceiling, 8′, 10′, and 24′. They’re durable and simple to cut to size, imagine a thick wallpaper but without the messy back. The wall treatments have a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing you press on the wall you want covered, but the best part is they aren’t permanent so you don’t have to worry about violating a “no painting/wallpaper” clause in a lease agreement. The wall treatments are also reusable once you take them down, just replace the original backing sheet on the Casart covering until you’re ready to put it up again.

left image: Mary Douglas Drysdale Signature Colors, right image: Birds & Birch by Casart

As most of you know, I’m a color freak, so I love that you can pretty much color match any pantone or shade of Benjamin Moore paint to make a wall custom covering. I also read that you can upload images and pictures as well to make wall installations.

I once saw this episode of Home By Novagratz where they created custom wallpaper for a client’s home; they took pictures of the client’s children and created larger than life prints and put it up the children’s bedroom of the client. Doing something similar could make a bold statement in a room. Knowing myself, I’d create giant pictures of my dogs and put it up in the kitchen, which would make no sense but could be kinda cool, right? I’m such a nerd.

2013 Pantone of the Year

Shannon Summers — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 23:12:52 +0000

The terrible events from Friday’s shooting at Sandy Hook have weighed heavily on all of us. I’m sending lots of love and prayers towards all those involved, if you would like to find out more about how you can help those affected, please read this heartfelt post from Nice Girl Notes that contains links to several donation sites of the victims.

I’m thrilled about this year’s color, I’ve been waiting patiently for a great shade of green! I must admit, I was not a huge fan of 2012′s Pantone of the Year, so when I found out about this year’s color I put on the first shirt in my closet that matched this year’s Pantone. This jewel toned color has stood for many things over the centuries, new growth and vitality, oftentimes wealth and prosperity, and in some countries it represents healing and unity.

To me though, it represents great style! Here are some things I would add to my home in this color:

1. Soda Lime Pitcher $28, 2. Foto Pendant Lamp $19.99, 3. Nate Berkus for Target Green Tortoise Shell$39.99, 4. Elephant Bank$6.95, 5. DeLonghi kMix 5-cup Drip Green Coffee Maker $129.95, 6. Metal High Gloss Clover Coat Rack $19.95, 7. Turf 30″ Clock $49.95

What was your favorite pantone from the past five years? Admit it, were you a tangerine tango fan? Do you get pretty worn out on the pantone of the year after a couple of weeks? Who else is loving the color green?

Guest Post: Celebrity Home Style For Less

Shannon Summers — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:25:25 +0000

{Image via Architectural Digest}

Celebrities have money to burn and can invest in top-of-the-line items for their interior decorating. It’s not hard to get lost scanning the photos of sprawling kitchen areas laced with chrome and granite, or perfectly arranged dens with hand-crafted, coordinated pieces (What else is Pinterest for!). It’s inspirational! Then you check your bank statement… and it’s demoralizing. How to cope!? While you may appreciate the champagne taste, the beer budget you’re living with will hamper your decorating efforts. It’s going to take efficient spending, but you can give your home that makeover you promised yourself.

{Image via Architectural Digest}

Put Your Money Where It Counts

It’s not a crime to spend on design, but spend wisely – you’re designing for the long term, here! Invest heavily in quality additions that are durable and versatile. You could add hardwood flooring, which lasts for decades and compliments nearly every design intention, or granite countertops, which are resistant to scratches and immediately upgrade the aesthetic of your kitchen. If you want to add a rug to the foyer, wouldn’t it make sense to spend $150 on a piece that will last for years over a $50 rug that gets worn within one? Being frugal doesn’t necessarily mean spending the least, it means spending the most effectively.

{Image via Architectural Digest}

Spread out the Expense

I’ll be honest, I struggle with this one. If I fall in love with a set, I want the whole package – I can just put it on credit, right? Cooler heads must prevail – spread the expense. Buy a set of matching chairs in the spring, and then go back for coordinating end tables in the fall. Believe me, your house guests won’t realize a piece is missing! I prefer to go room by room, and invest more in rooms that I have more interaction with. When guests come over, where will you spend your time? It will take a longer to create your dream décor, but you will eventually reach your goal.

{Image via Architectural Digest}

A Fresh Coat of Paint

Paint is relatively cheap, and most homeowners can handle painting themselves. It’s a new look for your home, without rampant spending! Choose colors that make you smile and look great with the furniture you’ve chosen (or plan to). Trying to whittle down a color scheme on a “blank” wall can be difficult. When I pick my paint, I always think of the window treatments I’d use in the room. Take the paint chips to your fabric outlet, to see how different patterns will interact with the colors. And hey – it can be fun, too!

Easy Wall Murals

While you don’t have the budget for a personal mural artist, you can afford to invest in beautiful wall stickers to help you create the right look. Paint a clever quote on the kitchen wall, or grace the wall above the couch with the branches of a cherry tree that’s preparing to open its blossoms. Appropriate for any wall in the house, they create a custom look without requiring a high payment.
Get Clever with Furniture

If you love old items that have a story to tell, then you can get a little creative. Convert a vintage little red wagon for children into a bookshelf by removing the side rails from the long sides. Buy a small used kitchen table, cut the legs shorter, and use it for a cool coffee table. Turn an old window sash into something new by making it a shadow box or using it to frame other items. A short, wooden ladder can be the perfect spot for hanging a collection of your favorite magazines, kitchen towels or even throw blankets. Repurposed items are great conversation starters, and have that aura of grandeur we strive for!

You don’t have to enjoy a celebrity budget and lifestyle to have a home that looks fantastic. Invest in your property by putting the bulk of your money into high-quality, durable additions. Buy new furniture pieces a little at a time to spread out the expense. Remember to get clever with furniture or paint to create a wonderful new look without going broke.

Erin Devine is a freelance writer and editor for Floor & Décor Outlets, a factory direct flooring store. In her free time, she maintains her own blog about all things home renovation and interior design, DIY Home & Floor.

(Image source: Realtor.com)

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Trend Watch: Greenery

Shannon Summers — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:04:58 +0000

Chanukah just started and Christmas is swiftly following! What I love most, more than gifts and more than food, is the spirit of joy and peace people seem to carry around during these months, but what I love secondly as much is the festive decorations! I am a blogger and lover of small space interior decor after all, it’s just in my nature. Being in the blogging world it’s easy to spot the trends, and this season I’ve fallen in love with greenery. So deck the halls, and deck the doorways, because greenery, both living and imitation, is on-trend this holiday season!

Living Greenery In The House

This picture speaks to me because the greenery is so feathery and soft looking. I feel like I can actually smell the evergreens straight through my computer screen. Garland is a fairly inexpensive, yet highly effective theme to run through your home. Pair garland like this with red accents, in this image they used a red tablecloth and red apple filled hurricanes to achieve a fresh and current holiday look. Hit up your doorways with loads of fresh greenery, try this on fireplace mantels and staircase railings as well.

{Image source: Better Homes and Gardens}

Give The Gift of Greenery

Okay, not literally, but I’ve seen people using it on holiday cards and present tags. Check out the tutorial for the mini wreath cards here, they present it as holiday cards, but I think it would work as present tags too.

{Image source: Frolic Blog}

Green Advent Calendars

If you’re planning on DIY’ing an advent calendar, you’re just in time, but you better get started quick! Christmas is fourteen days away and counting! I am not an advent calendar type of girl, but this advent calendar struck me differently and is one I would try if I had more time. It’ll make a strong impact as a fixture on top of a sideboard table or once again on a fireplace mantel. Check out the tutorial on Oh Happy Day.

{Image source: Oh Happy Day}

Merry Christmas! What holiday decor style are you working with this season? Are you going the tradition red and green route or have you jumped on a different trend? Please share in the comments and don’t forget to visit my pinterest board just for the holidays!

feathery greenery greenery home decor trends