Making things pretty on a penny is always a subject of interest to me, clients, friends, family and judging from the emails I receive, most of my readers.
The summer retail season is heating up, and the stores, outlets and online sights we love to call favorites are rolling out seasonal finds much to the delight of decorators, designers and gotta have it guys and gals.
Seasonal decorating is nothing new, but the items in which to accomplish this mission of home decor beautification are.
Summer style spotting with pen, paper and bookmark icon ready to jot and save is proving to be successful on the summer finds front.
Here is the first round of the Gotta Have It List summer 2015 edition.
This is not the first time the Quorum 6 Light Salento Chandelier in Persian White has made an appearance on the Gotta Have It list.
Why the encore feature?
It begins and ends with my all time favorite four-letter word, SALE!
H & M continues to impress with decorative accents big on visual quality and style at an affordable price.
You just can’t go wrong with an accent piece in the decorating darling duo of black and white.
A classic color combination paired with a trending pattern in pop of zebra detail places this ceramic jar accent at the top of the Gotta Have It list summer 2015 edition.
Named after English architect Charles L. Eastlake, the design of this late 19th century style of furniture is one of my least favorites.
This mass produced style is actually more of a “in the style of” interpretation of what American professional cabinet makers serving as master furniture designers deemed an authentic replica of Eastlake’s design.
Charles Eastlake was not impressed with the results. Mr. Eastlake and I are of the same school of thought.
His words say it far better than mine.
“I find American tradesmen continually advertising what they are pleased to call Eastlake furniture, the production of which I have had nothing whatever to do, and for the taste of which I should be very sorry to be considered responsible.”
~ Charles L. Eastlake
That being said, the Eastlake style chair in the above image from Style Me Pretty demonstrates how a chic update can transform an otherwise dated piece into a hip and happening accent chair focal point.
Not all antique furniture pieces are prime candidates for paint, but in the case of Eastlake furniture I say pick it out, shake it up and paint it pretty.
Late summer means treasure hunting days at one of my favorite haunts, Korner Shoppe Antiques.
This gem of a joint is full to the gills with my kind of treasures, trinkets and trash.
Inspiration struck as I perused the shoppe’s Facebook page so I did what all deal dreaming decoristas do- I sketched out plans for an upcoming project around copper pots and pans.
One very brilliant episode of Mad Men placed Howard Johnson’s back into the thoughts of a generation of hungry Americans who ordered up cups, plates and scoops of American fare under the iconic bright orange roof.
This Howard Johnson’s sugar bowl from Fishs Eddy is on its way to the Places In The Home test kitchen counter sprinkled with memories of summer vacations, motor lodges, fried clams and 28 flavors.
What home decor items will you be adding to your Gotta Have It List summer 2015 edition?