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This is just the kind of inspiration I was looking for...so pretty and fresh...

i spent a good portion of my day yesterday strolling around ikea. usually when i go to ikea, i am in and out in less than 30 minutes. impressive, i know. i usually only have a few things i need to get, and i walk in with a list and my game face on as i zip through the aisles.

yesterday, i took my time. went and walked around the showroom for the first time in two years. ikea does a brilliant job of staging their showroom.i found myself wanting to linger and touch everything!

here are a few of my favorite things from ikea:

ektorp upholstery.
the classic, traditional shape of this line is clean and simple, and the slipcovers are available in a lot of colors. you can get a couch, a chair, a love seat and a sectional  in this line.

at $29.99 for a pack of two, these grommet topped panels are a budget shoppers dream. the texture is great, and the fabric hangs nicely. these are available in bleached, beige, brown and purple.

eivor throw.
i fell head over heels in love when i spotted this! it is already gracing the sofa in a local clients home.
sometimes throws may look great online, but then they feel cheap and scratchy in person...this throw is soft, has a nice weight to it and doesn't feel cheap...and it's only $19.99.


sanela cushion cover.
the oblong shape and velveteen fabric make this a very versatile, affordable ($7)  addition to any pillow arsenal. to dress them up, consider adding greek key trim. it is available in 5 colors.

i love the long, lean shape of this desk. it's great for those tight spaces, and fits a laptop or an imac perfectly. available in high gloss red, black, grey and white.

i use this classy little task light pretty often in my design plans. it looks much more expensive than it's $49.99 price tag, and the shape is reminiscent of a vintage architects lamp.

$19.99.

simple. affordable. packs a visual punch. what's not to love?

you won't find a more affordable cow hide rug anywhere. trust me, i've looked.

(if you do find one, let me know! please??)


ribba frames.
for real...who doesn't love these things? the price and selection alone are what often bring me to ikea. i know i can count on sturdy, good looking frames in a variety of great shapes and sizes. i picked up 3 yesterday!

plastis dishwashing brush.
i know...weird pick.

but i really love these! they are soft, work well, and wash up nicely in the dishwasher. and at only .99, i don't feel bad when it's time to "retire" one.

image via Postcards and Pretties

i am having some second thoughts on reupholstering my vintage chairs. 

even though the chairs themselves were only $30 a piece, one of the chairs has some damage in the caning on the arm:

in order to get this fixed, i got an estimate of $150. (i was pretty surprised at this! i thought it would be half this cost..)

the upholstery estimate per chair is $225, and they each need about 2.5 yards of fabric. i already have enough of a simple nubby neutral fabric that i really love. i paid $15 per yard. however, because i plan to paint the chairs, i would need to deliver the chairs to the upholstery shop, let them strip the chairs, pick them up, take them to the restorations specialist to get the caning fixed, bring them home to paint them, and them bring them back to be reupholstered...and then, pick them up once they are finished. that's a lot of gas and time...

my bargain chairs are slowly becoming a potential money pit:

chairs: 2 at $30e ach=$60

caning restoration: $150

upholstery: 2 at $225 each=$450

fabric: 5 at $15=$75

paint: $30

gas, taxes, etc: $100?

i could save a little bit of money, and some driving by stripping the old upholstery off myself...i'm just trying to figure out if the hassle and time is worth it.

i have had my eye on these chairs for a while...i could get two new chairs for about the same cost that rehabbing the vintage chairs would be...i would probably get these in the grey or the beige, but the orange velvet is really pretty too!

some other budget friendly options:

i love the unique look of the vintage chairs, and the frames are nice and sturdy...just starting to reconsider the money and effort that will go into fixing them.

and this... well this is just oh so pretty and creative that I had to show you. Have a Beautiful Tuesday xx

images via Tumblr

most of us associate navy blue with summer or spring, probably because it pairs so nicely with crisp white, sunny yellow, and pastels like pink and lavender. but navy happens to be one of my favorite colors for fall. something amazing happens when navy blue is mixed with the warmer "fall" colors of deep oranges, camel and soft ivories...the result always makes me *sigh.

here are some beautiful rooms with touches of navy by one of my favorite design firms, marcuso warner miller:

 i would LOVE to have this sofa in my house. that white trim on the navy velvet is just scrumptious.

this embroidered circles pillow has great texture and a great pattern.

this fun navy tray table would add a dose of blue in a preppy, classic way.

adding original art to your home is always a great idea: bottle of blue on etsy is a great choice...

i really like how the two shades of navy give a subtle pop of color in this geo dot rug.

love this medallion shower curtain.

i recently completed a design plan for a master bedroom, using some navy blue silk curtains, and this fabric (katsugi by schumacher) on some throw pillows on the bed. i adore this fabric!

marfil collection ivory/blue rug...bold and fun!

i am a sucker for houndstooth, and this navy houndstooth rug is so elegant and chic.

**by the way, rugs usa is having a 50% sale on a huge selection of rugs, including the above ones, and the homespun chevron rug i blogged about on friday! if you are needing a rug, now would be a terrific time to take the plunge...the deal expires today.

happy shopping!

let me know if you find something great! i SO want to buy myself a new rug for my family room or entry, but after evaluating my budget and list of projects, i have decided that i will get more bang for my buck by spending the money in other places.