Inspiration for incorporating yard sale and flea market finds

Since it's the yard sale time of year, I thought I'd show you some inspiring ways to mix in those great flea sale and yard sale finds. It doesn't really matter what style decor you have.

via Angie Hranowsky

via Southern Living

via Ivy and Piper

via indulgy

Here's another example of a what vintage lighting can do adding it with a barn style table and barstools gives it a charming rustic feel. 

via Heart Home

A Welcoming Front Door

Adding an extra touch to your front door can set the tone for the rest of your home. It can also make a guest feel at home the minute they pull up! Here are some tips to help you bring your front door to life:


via bhg

Make sure your house number is legible. There's nothing worse than having that uncertain feeling on whether you are walking up to the right house or not! Also be sure that it's visible throughout the entire day and going into the night. Outdoor lighting can be a great problem solver in this case.


via pinterest

Keep it simple! Leave enough room for your guests to be at the front door and not feel overwhelmed or cramped while they are waiting for you to answer. The extra breathing space is comforting and relaxing.


via architectureartdesigns

Add a friendly sign. Nothing says you're welcome more than a welcome sign! Adding a little touch to remind them you are happy they are coming puts a smile on everyone's face.


via flickr

Get creative! Adding an extra touch like window decor is stunning. It gives everyone a little eye candy which is great for small doorways where you might not have enough room for planters or decorations.


via indulgy

Show some personality! Don't be afraid to bring out things you love to to decorate your front door. It'll help your door stand out from others and can also be great conversation starters!

Have Fun with Lighting

I have a love/hate relationship with lighting. When it's done right, I love it. When it's done even a little bit wrong, I hate it. Let's not even get into how much most of it costs. It's easy to let lighting be an after thought when we're mostly so focused on furnishings and room layout. A lot of the time I have trouble even considering lighting until most of my room is put together. The good news is is that there is an endless selection of lighting styles out there to find a piece that not only matches your space, but can really take center stage and make a positive contribution to the room. You can make it a talking piece of your space or use it to add a little color!

via houzz

If you are starting from scratch and need to locate all of your lighting fixtures, there are tons or retailers online and with showrooms to find what you need. One example is homebase lighting. Homebase is a leading home enhancement retailer selling amazing finds for your home and garden. I particularly love their Habitat Lighting section!

I'm a sucker for lighting in unexpected places - like this chandelier over the island.

via House Beautiful

Between the options of ceiling fixtures, floor lamps, decorative lamps, pendants, and outdoor lighting the options can make the task of choosing daunting.  That's why I allow my room to make the decision for me.  Of course, if you find a lamp or fixture you absolutely love,  the room will follow.

Of course, your lighting doesn't need to scream either, a chic little piece can do it's job well in the background.
via Lonny

There are a few things to consider when selecting your lighting, like how much natural light is in the room, how much light you'll need at night, and where you will need direct lighting and ambient lighting. If you already have enough light in the room adding a fixture or lamp for decorative features can be a little more flexible. 

via BHG

You can really go dramatic in the dining room because you don't have to worry about people hitting their heads!
via Adore Home

Don't forget to be a little creative! You can get get a hollow glass lamp and fill it with something fun or meaningful. This gives you complete control of the final look and style for your space. Just because you need a little light in a room doesn't mean it has to be purely utilitarian - make it something worth looking at too!

via houzz

This post is in partnership with homebase.co.uk

Pretty Swedish interiors that will take your breath away

I don't know if I've seen a Swedish home I don't like - look at how pretty these are!

Great lighting in this room...pretty sure that pendant is Ikea.

How great would it be to walk into your home to a fire like this?

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!


via Alvhem Makleri

Chic interiors inspired by the one and only Audrey

We love Audrey Hepburn. She seemed so effortlessly chic and sophisticated. From Charade to My Fair Lady, her movies are style icons unto themselves. Who can forget the "little black dress" in Breakfast at Tiffany's or the black and white extravaganza of the races in My Fair Lady? Audrey Hepburn's personal style was equally feminine and elegant with modern twists. It's easy to see how these elements can inspire chic interiors.

Holly Golightly's wardrobe with its trench coats and little black dresses was classic but her apartment was anything but. Remember the bathtub loveseat?

Audrey as Holly Golightly on tub settee.†(via)

(via)

Her Brazilian inspired dÈcor in Breakfast at Tiffanyís was eclectic to say the least, fearlessly mixing antiques, modern lighting fixtures, taxidermy and vintage pieces with classic elements like a tailored tablecloth. Very Domino magazine!

(via)

We love the bold black and white stripes and French style accessories of this small powder room. The stripes remind us of Eliza Doolittle's races outfit from My Fair Lady. What do you think?

(via)

Beyond her famous movie roles, Audrey Hepburn personified feminine, European chic. Tailored clothes, classic accessories and crisp color combinations are hallmarks of her style.

(via)

We love these rooms "inspired" by Audrey!

(via)

Mary Macdonald found inspiration in the famous Tiffany blue box. The feminine but not frou-frou furniture and black and white photos give her office a crisp, tailored feeling.

(via)

We're inspired with interior design ideas from the mix of antiques and frilly touches, like the feather covered table lamp in this garret bedroom. The dressing table and French chair add a Parisian feel to the dÈcor.

(via)

This room is tailored without being fussy, just like Audrey. The black and white picture of her in this room is a nice touch along with the delicate wall sconces.

This post comes courtesy of Arcadian Lighting, a site that specializes in top quality light fixtures at extremely affordable prices. Come visit us today!

disclosure: this is a sponsored post from Arcadian Lighting

A really great sample sale for all French country and vintage lovers!

This sale is for items gently used by Redefine Home in photo shoots. They have some really great deals but there's only one of each item - so hurry if you're interested!

The sale's here!


ADORE this cabinet

A sand dollar shadow box

Help a reader with a decorate a condo-to-sell question! Pretty-please!

I have a tough question for you guys!
"I'm decorating our friends condo that he just purchased...for resale purpose. My decorating style is modern but has to be comfortable, uncluttered especially for resale. He has to tear out the old drywall because Florida had a problem with Chinese drywall. He wants to add architectural detail to the living room before hanging the drywall. What can be done to a typical condo living room to add interest but without closing it off? How can he make his condo look different than the other condos in the complex so that when a buyer walks in it screams, buy me."

This one is tough as I have very little (okay - no experience), with this sort of thing. Below are some ideas I have dug up that I think might work.

A. This would be for after the drywall is rehung, but "Another way to play up (or fake) architectural detailing in a room is with light. It's a good idea to incorporate a mix of light sources, so if possible, try to bring in overhead lighting as well as floor and table lamps. If you've got a focal wall, washing that wall with downlight can add a lot of drama to the room, as can picture lights or lighting installed inside cabinetry. If you can switch out flush-mounted ceiling lights for a pendant or chandelier, do. Adding sconces might require some electrical work, but if you're able to add the proper wiring, it can be worth the trouble. " - via ehow (click to read the whole article)

B. "Don't forget to look up. It's common to leave ceilings white and paint or paper the walls, and there's nothing wrong with that. But why not think beyond the walls and brighten up your ceiling with paint or wallpaper? Use the same color as the walls for a seamless look, or try something different; I like a glossy ceiling or a contrasting color or pattern. Depending on the style of your home, metal ceiling tiles can be a great, classic, yet modern look. They come in a range of styles, from simple to more ornate designs." -via ehow (click to read the whole article) With this tip, remember to pick a "buyer friendly" paint color.


C. Since you're style is modern - you may want to avoid moldings, wainscoting, and/or bead boards. One thing that really works for me is shelving - you can get very affordable modern shelving from places like Ikea, West Elm, and Crate & Barrel. Artfully adorn them with beautiful objects - nothing too large and distracting.

This image also shows another treatment - adorning one wall with wallpaper. Just make sure it's a wallpaper design that is not too extreme in anyway - modern - but clean, as you want all potential buyers to like it.
via House to Home

This is a great overall example of modern, but still livable decorating. Also keep in mind window treatments! I don't know what your living room has in the way of windows - but treatments (hard/and or soft) can make a huge impact.
via Domino Book of Decorating

I love the modern but cozy look of this room - the lighting and spine bookcase are very memorable.

via BHG

The two above images show how shelving and built-in nooks with lighting and make a big impact.
via From plus Function


I really hope this helps - please don't hesitate to click on the "comments" link below and leave your ideas. PS: If you get your updates via email click here - http://seismicaces.blogspot.com/2010/02/help-reader-with-decorate-condo-to-sell.html and scroll down to the very bottom past all the other comments, and you'll see a link to "Post A Comment"

Thanks!

Have a great weekend!

Private 20% off code for you! Lighting discount from Beach Dwelling

Enter code: LIGHT20, Save 20% on all Lighting through December 4th!
Beach Dwelling offers simply gorgeous accessories, furniture, linens, and vintage items for your home. I've had a long-time love affair with their pillows, but their terrarium lamps are pretty tempting, and affordable.

*love love love* this mirrored console








Go to Beach Dwelling to see more!