An Elegant Touch of Vintage

FREE IMAGES Adding a simple elegant touch to your decor, using vintage items, may not seem as easy as it sounds. Here are some great pictures to help you get inspired:

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It can be as simple as adding an older piece to your current home decor, or mixing great finds together to create a room filled with a vintage feel.

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Don't feel rushed to find the perfect pieces, sometimes it takes a lot of shopping around, thrift stores, and flea markets to find that perfect one.

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Mixing modern with vintage may be more of what you are looking for.

via mydesignchic

The fun thing about a vintage touch, is it is completely up to you! Add a few pieces, or make it a whole room of vintage decor.

via vkvvisuals

What's your favorite way to add vintage?

Blogs I'm Loving

FREE IMAGES Here's a few blog posts I am loving this week:

Shopping at Bark with HouseDoctor

Eames Chairs with Mocca & Me

Herringbone Floors with TipToeButterfly

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Dark Grey's with MariaKillam

Friday Favorites

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Today's Friday Favorites come from OneKingsLane

Inspiration for mixing and matching bedding

FREE IMAGES I love mix and match bedding, and can't wait to pick out the linens for our bed once our wedding is over and we have time to focus on decorating.

I love unexpected mixes like the leopard pillows with the ikat pillow.
via Pinterest via Heart Deco

via designstories

If you doubt your ability to mix patterns, start off with one color in different patterns, and add one accent pillow in another color. A monochrome palette will be foolproof.

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via elementsofstyle

via Pinterest via  Indulgy
If you have an upholstered headboard in a non-neutral color, you will need to consider it when selecting your bedding.

via  Indulgy

New bedding and linens is probably one of the easier ways to make a big impact if you are looking for a change.

A Necessary Mattress Primer (with a little eye candy to make it more interesting)

FREE IMAGES So obviously I'm a huge believer in the necessity of a beautiful bedroom, and I could loose hours pouring over inspiring bedroom photos.  Mattresses are something that maybe aren't the most enticing topic of study, but they are a vital one.

So I've done a little bit of research for you so you don't have to...

via Lonny Mag

Pillow top
Most people these days are in love with pillow top mattresses, and I am a recent convert myself.  Their initial comfort and relief of pressure points is above average. As comfortable as they are, there are some things you want to keep in mind. That extra pad of cushion can make you feel like you are floating on a cloud, but they "they are at least two times more likely than non-pillow top mattresses to have durability / longevity problems"- SD 

If you sleep hot you may want to consider forgoing a pillow top. Before making the investment of a mattress, you could always get a pillow top topper for your current mattress to see if it's the mattress type for you.

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Memory Foam
 Memory foam mattresses are also a top seller these days. These are fantastic because they form to your body and most people will say that having one has enhanced their sleep. One con I found again is that they tend to retain heat, so they won't be the best option for hot sleepers, and another is the initial off-gassing and odor complaints seem to be higher than with other mattresses.

The pros are movement isolation (so your tossing partner won't disturb you as much), long life span, and superb pain relier. - via SD

Latex
Latex mattresses are something I've been hearing about for a few years now.  They have many advantages of memory foam mattresses, but not the cons that come with them. The can also be "all natural" which appeals to green consumers.  The cons are that they can be hard to find and therefore hard to test, as well as find reviews for.  Natural Latex mattress tend to be more expensive than other mattresses of the same size, but tend to have longer lifespans.

Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses are the most popular mattresses.  They are the most widely available which makes them easiest to try out because showrooms always carry them.  Due to the fact that they've been around so long also means you'll have many different variations to try, and many different price points to shop from.  Pros are ease of movement on the bed and that they're good for those who sleep hot.  Cons are that they tend to wear out after 5-7 years, and coils and padding wear down.  They also aren't the best for reducing motion transfer.

via BHG

Pocket Sprung
Pocket sprung mattresses may not be something you've heard of but one of it's great features is that the springs move independently to support your body.  The independently moving springs also helps with not transferring movement from your partner.  Not so great features are that it's a heavy mattress and not great for those with allergies do to all of the filling.

via countryliving

Hopefully this review can help you narrow down one or two types of mattress you'd like to shop for.
Whatever type of mattress you choose, be sure that you've done your research since mattresses aren't a cheap purchase and tend to stick around for a while.

this post is in partnership with zsleeps.co.uk

Setting up Shop

FREE IMAGES Whether you are working from home or have your own shop as your business location, the fact is that your working hours are being spent in an environment that you can organize and decorate as you see fit! Of course, if you are trying to welcome customers, there should be a bit of science and study behind how you arrange and present your goods and wares. A friend of my just recently opened up a shop and I was shocked at how much is involved in a successful shop opening.  They ended up gutting and remodeling the entire space!

As passersby a store only has a few seconds to get our attention and convince us to take a peek inside, so more or less everything falls on the window or store front to get us in the door.

Here's a few enticing storefronts:

via Flickr

via Fabulously Broke

Want to feel like your shopping in a French flea market? (albeit a very $$$$ one), Anthropologie has your number!

via Apartment Therapy

A whimsical Hermes display
via the bwd.com
However, if you have a shop that is open to the public there are lots more things to take into consideration than purely decor or interior design issues. Here are a few things to think about:
When setting up shop you need to consider the location very carefully. You want as many potential shoppers as you can find so make sure you are easy to see and in a great walking path! Being tucked in an alley way might not be a great spot if you need to catch your shoppers eye.


via Pinterest

Parking is also a great advantage! Having dedicated spots for your clients makes it a more pleasant experience getting into your shop. In some places, like cities, there isn't parking available for many of the shops but there is local transportation! Make sure people can get to you - there have been many instances where I don't shop a certain spot because I know I won't be able to park.



via etsy.com

If your business is primarily online than it may be better off for you to find a cheaper space in the alley way where you can still be seen but don't need the foot traffic. 

Another thing to look for before finding your space is the local competition as well as your neighbors! You don't want to be competing with a larger store that sells similar items as you but you also do want to be near neighbors that don't fit in with your typical buyer!


via domestikatedlife.com

It's a good idea to find out what kind of clientele you have and figure out where they would go shopping! That's where you need be!

Sometimes it's better off to have the right kind of help when you are looking for that perfect space. Fenn Wright are specialists in finding retail premises in Suffolk and having that type of local knowledge an experience that they provide can really make a difference in finding the perfect space for your shop.


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Make sure you have room to grow! Your location can be a big part of the success of your business and changing your location can make it really hard on your customers as well as you! Think about the space and place where you'd want items to go. Then try to think about your space when you expand. If you have options for both, then the space might just be the perfect one!

this post is in partnership with fenwright.co.uk

Fashion Forward Apartment

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When it’s time to find apartments, you probably think about the size, location and available amenities, but what about style? How can you make your apartment unique and represent you, rather than looking like the boring, cookie-cutter versions that everyone else has.  It’s easier than you may think.


via interiordesigning.net

Here are a few tips to find that perfect apartment:

One of the best ways to design a fashion-forward apartment is to start with the best possible unit. You will find apartments that are better than others when it comes to unique features or modern upgrades. For example, apartment communities like BRE Properties include amenities such as dishwashers, washing machines and updated kitchen appliances. If the unit looks nice from the start, half of your job is already done.


via ghoofie.com

Before you sign a lease to the apartment, it would be a good idea to figure out what the lease will allow you to do. Can you paint the walls or hang pictures? Find out what you can do and ask if there is any process you'll need to take to make any changes!


via lifearts.blogspot.com

While a splash of color on the walls will go a long way in making the apartment unique and stylish, there are plenty of things you can do even if you can’t paint. Start by hitting the magazines and online sites like Pinterest.com. You’ll find the latest apartment fashions and design ideas.


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If you’re on a budget, it’s time to hit the thrift stores, swap meets and online classifieds. You can find furniture, decorative pillows, pictures, shelves and more if you keep your eyes open. Some colorful throw pillows, well-placed decorations or table centerpieces can help transform a lackluster room.


via bhg.com

Consider getting crafty as well. It’s quite easy to make curtains and other decorative items that will give your apartment a sense of individual style. You can even recycle items for an eco-friendly touch. Wine bottles turn into flower vases and milk crates turn into side tables. There are lots of ways to repurpose everyday items into distinctive decorations.

via Pinterest

Even if you can’t find apartments that are stylish, with a little creativity and imagination you can still create a space that suits your sense of style.

this post is in partnership with breproperties

My visit to the Wisteria outlet in Dallas!

FREE IMAGES While on business in Dallas, I got to experience a little bit of design junkie heaven: the Wisteria outlet.  It was in transition for the end of the winter season, but even though it wasn't styled perfectly, it was still a gorgeous and inspiring site to see.

Behold!

I was loving all of the table-setting inspiration.  

Aren't the walls covered in book pages cool?  And the intricately carved arches reminded me of my adventures in Morocco!

Soft-goods and upholstered items donned pretty pastels like lavender and periwinkle.

Look yonder! The Wisteria "flea-market" corner, full of treasures you never knew you wanted needed!!

A Texas-sized thanks to my friend Susan, who was an awesome host during my stay in Dallas, and for taking me to Wisteria-wonderland!

If you aren't lucky enough to live near Wisteria in Dallas, you'll have to do with beholding Wisteria online like the rest of us. *sigh*