Woodyliana {Pillows} and More Cougar Town Love

I'm super excited about a package I received from the amazing Woodyliana.

But first, check this out.  I'm always surprised by how many people I've met who love the Cougar Town painting.   

Here she is at her normal home, Omega Cinema Props.

 

 

In Jules' living room on the set of Cougar Town.

 

 

In my living room, the painting I had a friend paint for me.

If you are new to the blog or haven't previously read about my mad love for the painting, you can check it out here and here.

 

I bring this up because I've recently found another friend with a similar attraction to the painting.  Liana of Woodyliana Textiles!  You may know her from her former etsy shop and I blogged about her awhile ago when I bought these Betwixt beauties from her.
 

 

As Mary Ann of Classic Casual Home says, Li is the Pillow Master!  In case you're not quite convinced of her pillow mastery, here are some of her lovelies:

 

 

Classic Casual Home

 

 

 Classic Casual Home - One Room Challenge

 

Classic Casual Home - Vervain Ishtar

Those lumbars in Vervain Ishtar might possibly be my all time favorite pillows.  I was sad that Mary Ann wasn't selling them at her moving sale. 

So imagine my surprise when Li texted me this morning and sent a picture of this:
 

 

How awesome is this?  Li painted it after being inspired by the original Cougar Town painting she saw on TV and by the one my friend painted for me that Li had seen in my living room.  She customized the size to fit a specific space in her home (that corner in her living room where she used to photograph her pillows for her etsy shop, for those of you who remember that).  I love this size and now I want it!

I also love how she blended the colors and the drips...it's all so great!   I just love it and I'm amazed at Li's many talents!

OK, so back to the pillows.  No matter how many I have, I never seem to have the right ones.  However, I firmly believe one can never have too many pillows (holla!) so I am always excited to buy more. 

 

I purchased this gorgeous fabric from Kravet last year and for the life of me I can't remember the name of it.

 

 

It's a yummy wool blend paisley, with black, cream and gold. 

 

I sent the fabric to Li and voila, a glorious package arrived.

Seriously, isn't her packaging beautiful?  I always kinda hate destroying it to get to the goodies inside.

 

So much attention to detail.

 

 

 

  

   

My crummy iPhone photos do not do them justice at all.  I really need to learn my new camera...I've been saying that for almost a year. 

 

I am so pleased with how the pillows turned out. 

They are soft and cozy....the perfect wintery touch in my mostly white living room (it's 84 today, but whatever).

 

If you want the best, Liana the Pillow Master is your girl.

 

Hope you're having a great week!

As always, thanks for stopping by.

#youcanneverhavetoomanypillows

xo

~Karen~



Jonathan Adler Score!

If you follow me on Instagram (and if you don't then get on that please ;)

you already know about my awesome score over the weekend. 

I found one of the pillows for my new bedroom!

 

 

 

I was in Jonathan Adler in Santa Monica on Saturday, not really looking for the pillows because the ones I want for my bedroom,

(based on this inspiration room)

 

 

are a very old colorway.  So I was assuming I'd have to track them down on ebay.  But on a whim I decided to ask.

 

Of course the sales people said they didn't have either pillow.  Good thing I don't give up that easily.  "Are you sure...can you please check in the back?  What's that?  You want me to come back there and help you?  Sure!"  

There were hundreds of pillow covers in the back room....stacked on many many shelves.  Just when I was about to give up (salesgirl kept saying she was sure they didn't have that colorway anymore) there it was!

 

Then she had the nerve to tease me by saying the Melrose store had the other pillow.  She called them, they said they would hold it.  Hmmm....Saturday afternoon trekking across Wilshire from Santa Monica to West Hollywood?  Yikes.  But I was tricky and decided to take Mulholland from the 405 over the canyon to Laurel Canyon.  Little bit more miles but no trafffic!

 

Long story short, got to the Melrose store and it was the wrong colorway!  Bummer :(

 

But that's ok because finding the big pillow, and it was on sale btw, pretty much made my weekend!

 

#cheapthrills  #imeasy

 

Have a good one!

 

xo

 

~Karen~

 

 

The Waiting Is The Hardest Part

Last week it was The Grateful Dead....this week it's Tom Petty.  I'm feeling musical I guess.  My son will be so proud.

Seriously, the waiting is killing me!  I want escrow to close and I want to be moved so I can commence decorating.

Here are some pretty rooms that I want to copy right down to every last detail (it's ok to do that right?)  

This one above from Jennifer Laraia Designs has me thinking about a sectional for the first time ever.  It's so pretty and inviting. 

Cannot shake this one.  Danielle Moss.  The painting reminds me of the Cougar Town painting and I'm in love with the brass sconces from Euro Style Lighting.  White sofa, no brainer for me.

I've had a crush on these chairs (above) for a long time but always thought they might be too modern for me until I saw how Liz Bachman styled hers with sheepskin and ikat pillows.  Love!

I really love the light and airy feeling in this dining room (Liz Bachman again).  I've always loved the West Elm chairs but never would have thought of using them with this table....love them together.

And if I could squeeze in this little tulip table (decor8) that would make me happy.  Here's an eye opener....almost all of the dining tables in my Pinterest  board are tulip tables.  I've never owned one.  Apparently I really like them a lot.

And of course you remember this bedroom.  This is going to happen, some way some how...and by some how I mean without the $1300 nightstands.

 

And could we please throw in one of these cuties....loved this Jonathan Adler pillow for awhile now.  Just buy it already.

Six months of NOT buying stuff while house hunting is no fun!  

I'm ready to shop and agonize over every decision and second guess myself to death and wonder if I have any taste at all.  Yep, that is my decorating process.  
 

#happyhumpday

xo

~Karen~

 



Luck of the Irish?

Maybe so!  I'm only about 1/4 Irish but I'm definitely having some sweet giveaway luck!!

 

 

This morning I found out I have won

TWO giveaways! 

 

I am the lucky winner of this awesome Cococozy pillow (above) from the lovely Coco!  Coco has a beautiful blog and she is also the owner, creator and designer of the awesome Cococozy line.  Check out the full line of home decor products at Cococozy.com.  They are stunning.

 

 

I doubled down my winnings with this second awesome prize from Rene at Cottage & Vine.  Rene's was one of the first blogs I became addicted to and is still one of my very favorites!  If you are not familiar with Cottage & Vine, you might be living under a rock (I mean she has been mentioned in House Beautiful people!)...check her out!

 

 

From Rene I won this sweet Martha Stewart wristlet and a $50 Staples gift card!  How cool is that?!!  I am so excited!!

 

(I'm noticing that my two prizes coordinate very well in black and white...got a theme going on.)

 

Thank you so much Coco & Rene for my lovely prizes.  You ladies rock!!

 

My week is off to a fantastic start!

 

Hope yours is too!

 

#cantsayIneverwinanythingeveragain

 

xo

~Karen~

 

 



Copy Cat and Oscars Monday

Sometimes you see a room that stops you in your tracks.  You say out loud to no one "whoa whoa whoa".  I love it when this happens!

 

source

 

Saw this Jeff McNamara image on Pinterest the other day and did the whoa whoa whoa thing.  Then started to break it down.  It's so simple.  I can do this.  My basic bedding is all white.  I have been called a dog with a bone...when I want something I will hunt.it.down.

 

 

Dash & Albert rug

 

 

 

Jonathan Adler Bargello Puzzle pillow

 

 

 

Jonathan Adler Bargello Waves pillow

 

 

 

Lamps Plus

 

How cool is Lamps Plus new Color Plus line of lamps in a bazillion colors?

Or here is the actual lamp in the photo, it's this one from Circa Lighting:

Circa Lighting Lauren lamp

 

 

For the art above the bed, I already have some great black and white prints that would be perfect.

 

 

And here is where my plan hits a road block.

 

 

C.Bell Waves Side Dresser



 

 

How gorgeous is this lacquered nightstand?  It's kind of important in the overall feel of the inspiration room right?  But's it's $1075!  And obvi you need two.  Yikes.

 

 

Herein lies the challenge.  What are some suitable (and by suitable I mean "normal" price range) substitutes?  I'm taking suggestions...email me photos please.

 

In other news...

 

#Oscars2013

 

ARGO!!!

 

 

 

Woohoo!!!  How did you enjoy the show?  I thought:

 

 Seth was adorable and very funny. 

 

Barbra made me bawl! #memories #hubbell

 

Jennifer Lawrence charming and deserving.

 

Ben Affleck was ridiculously sweet.

 

Daniel Day Lewis..Brits can really make a good speech.

 

Jane Fonda #bestdressed

 

I'm out...Have a great Monday.

 

xo

~Karen~
 

 



 

E-Design and Why It's Awesome

About a year ago I was really struggling to get my dining and living rooms together.  I had been reading design blogs for a couple of years and thought I had absorbed some design skills.  Haha!  Doesn't work like that.  I was so frustrated because those talented gals (and guys) make it look so easy that I was sure I could achieve the look I wanted.  Wrong!  You non-designer types know exactly what I'm talking about, right?

 

 

 

I realized I needed help and e-design was the perfect solution.  I highly recommend it!  It's totally afordable and can really save you from making costly mistakes, not to mention help you get the rooms you really want.

My dining room below...
not possible without e-design.

 

Before this great invention, ordinary people like myself could never have afforded to hire a professional designer.  Along with their higher fees, they sometimes add 20%-40% to the price of everything they buy for your rooms.  No offense to designers...you are totally worth it, but that can add a lot to the price of a design.  So if you're on a budget, like most of us, connecting with a talented designer through the internet is a fantastic alternative.

 

 

 

How does e-design work?

 

1. Start checking out design blogs and find a designer whose style you like.  I looked for one whose home I also liked, not just their client projects.  Somewhere on their blog it will say if they do online or e-design consulting.  You will contact them via that link on their blog.  

 

2.  The designer will contact you with the details of what their services and fees are.  Typically you will pay a set fee for a room design that will include a couple of phone conversations with the designer, a design plan and sources for everything you need to purchase to implement the plan. 

 

3.  You will then email the designer pictures of your room along with dimensions, your budget, what colors and styles you like, how you intend to use the room...stuff like that.

 

4.  This is where you usually have the first phone conversation with the designer to further discuss your likes and dislikes, and what you want to accomplish in the room.

 

5.  Once the designer has completed your room plan, you will be sent an invoice to pay for the service either through Paypal or via check through the mail.

 

6.  Once the designer has received your payment, they will email you the plan and sources.

  

7.  At this point there is usually a second phone conversation wherein you discuss the plan, the sources and your general giddiness at how much you love your designer for giving you this fabulous plan for your room.

Happiness ensues.

 

 For my living & dining rooms, I worked with Lauren of The Cottage Mix.  Lauren's style is light, neutral, a bit coastal & traditional with texture and great woodwork.  I was instantly drawn to Lauren's style when I first laid eyes on her foyer (below) which I think is absolute perfection.  It was love at first sight for me.

  
So I contacted Lauren, sent her my awful before photos (see below...yikes) and she got to work.  

 

I cannot stress this enough (hence to bold type)...from the moment I contacted Lauren, I felt a tremendous relief of pressure just knowing that help was on the way and I was no longer going to drown in that design black hole of confusion and indecision. 
(Cue the angels singing here.)

Above is part of the design plan that Lauren created for my dining room showing lighting, host chairs and fabric choices. I was keeping my table and had already purchased four wicker chairs.  We also talked about adding four pieces of art around my existing mirror.  Lauren suggested these frames from Pottery Barn which I purchased and used to frame four sea fans that I bought at Wertz Bros in Santa Monica.  That's how my dining room below came to exist...

thanks to e-design.

 

 

In my living room I wanted to keep my white sofa and white chairs.  Lauren used a  painting I already had to pull the other colors...green and blue.  Here was part of the plan:

I purchased the green striped rug from William Sonoma Home and a new tv cabinet from PB according to Lauren's plan.  We added some new accessories and some custom pillows & some John Robshaw pillows.  I had a 4" navy linen border added to my PB cotton panels (Lauren had done this in her living room and I liked it).  Voila...it all came together thanks to working with a pro.

I cannot even begin to count all the money I've wasted buying pieces of furniture that didn't work...my kids received a lot of free stuff from my mistakes.  The cost of an e-design is more than worth it, not to mention the fact that I was not capable of getting the look I wanted by myself.  Had to just suck it up and admit that.

 

My sister Linee and I both love the style of Mary Ann at Classic Casual Home.  What's not to love about her gorgeous rooms?

 

 

  

 

  Linee recently worked with Mary Ann on her living room and she is thrilled with the plan Mary Ann has come up with.  Linee had her basic furniture pieces and fabrics in place but was frustrated at not being able to pull it all together.  Mary Ann came in and took it to the finish line with this gorgeous plan that included lighting, drapes, flooring, rugs and accessories:

 

I can't wait to see Linee implement this plan and I'm especially excited because this is where our family spends Christmas.  Awesome!  It's gonna be fantastic.

 

 

Another of my favorite designers is Rene of the blog Cottage & Vine.  Rene is such a sweet person and I love her design style.  Here is a fun design board Rene created for an e-design client:

 

 

I love the way Rene created a room plan that is modern, yet warm...colorful yet calm.  It's called talent people...it's not accidental, it's talent.

 

Another fun design team is the mother-daughter duo of Powell Brower Home...Nancy & Bethany.  Here is one of their cool design boards for an e-design client:

 

 

 

Nancy & Bethany also offer a service they call "Design in a Box". 

 

 

 

After a telephone consultation, they put together a box containing a plan with paint colors, flooring materials, fabrics, and furniture & lighting sources.  Bethany says this service is great way to save money and complete your room on your own timeframe.

 

There are so many choices out there for

e-design...literally thousands.  The beauty of this internet thing is that we can connect globally and you can find a designer that you love and is in your budget...regardless of where you live. 

 

Find one you like and just go for it! 

 

#you'llthankmelater

 

 

~Karen~  

 

  

 



Pretty Bedroom By My Favorite DIYer

 

My good friend Jill is one of those creative types with crazy talent...the kind of talent in SO MANY things that makes you just shake your head in awe.  Combine that with the fact that she is also one of the nicest people on the planet and you have an impossible combination of awesomeness. 

Today I bring you a small sampling of her talents.

 

 

I have witnessed Jill and her husband transform all three of their bathrooms, doing all of the work themselves,  and creating some of the most lovely and creatively done spaces you could imagine...like this one for example where they remodeled their master bathroom and added some barn door hardware on which to mount the doors.

 

 

 

Very fun.  So it is no surprise that when Jill decided to redecorate her master bedroom, there would be some clever stuff going on in there.

 

 For example, when she spotted this painting below on Ballard's website, she really loved the painting but not so much it's high price tag. 

 

 

No problem...just paint your own!

 

 

Seriously?  This is the kind of stuff you're gonna have to deal with if you want to be friends with Jill. The woman is ridiculous (in the best possible way).

 

Pricey drapes?  Not happening.  Just get an adorable duvet cover at Home Goods and magically turn it into lovely window treatments.

 

 

See what I mean?  That's talent people.

 

 

I love the soft green and gray with touches of cream and black.  So fresh and pretty.

 

 

It's no surprise that Jill has created yet another lovely, comfortable space.  It's just what she does...with the greatest of ease. 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by today!

 

~Karen~

xo

 

Wall color ~ Dunn Edwards Covered in Platinum

 

Bedside lamps ~ Pottery Barn Adjustable Arc Sconce

 

Bedding & pillows ~ Home Goods or Marshalls