February 18th, 2009 by CoolThings

While I love to decorate, I’m not rich, and the things I like are not cheap. Luckily, I can be resourceful and I have found a great site with wonderful tips, ideas and affordable items. Thriftydecorating.com is a fabulously entertaining blog about affordable decorating. You can check in often to find great little tid bits to help you turn your home into your dream home without going broke in the process. Love it! Check it out!

February 9th, 2009 by CoolThings

I was afraid of mixing different patterns together, but after looking at these photos I might give it a try. If done right, the look is fantastic!

February 2nd, 2009 by CoolThings

If you have read my blog before, you already know that I love pieces that look great even when they are not being used. For example, I purchased these lovely, mosaic vases at target.com with no intention of ever putting anything in them. I used one as a bookend and the other as an accent on my sofa table. Then, one day a friend, who I have not seen in a while, paid me a surprise visit and brought flowers as a gift. I don’t normally keep flowers in my house becasue my two cats keep mistaking the flowers for their afternoon snack, so I didn’t have a flower vase handy - or so I thought. I took one of my mosaic vases (the ones that I don’t use as vases), and discovered that they look just as amazing with flowers in them! Imagine that!

January 19th, 2009 by CoolThings

I love wildlife about as much as I love to decorate and now I have found a fantastic was to enjoy both! I have discovered fabulous, animal-shaped, throw pillows by Fauna at designpublic.com. They are a wonderful way to have as many animals as I want without the mess. With just about any animal from cats and dogs to zebras and elephants, you can give any room a wild style that is adorable at the same time. They are also the perfect size for kids to hug and love just like their favorite stuffed animals. Made with 100% cotton and water-based ink they are just $24 a pop, making it affordable for you to enjoy the wild life.

January 13th, 2009 by CoolThings

My dream home would be decorated with fine art. Works by Picasso would be hung on every wall of every room. The stunning images would give me peace after a long day, beauty when I am feeling ugly, and would ignite inspiration when I feel stalled. But that is my DREAM, and I am willing to bet that neither you nor I could afford fine art for all the rooms in any home. But no need to lament, you can still give your home a sophisticated and artistic style that is impressive.

I found affordable prints of my favorite works by Pablo Picasso at art.com. They offer gorgeous prints of beautiful art work by many different artists and photographers. Not only can you choose from hundreds prints, but you will also find canvas art, framed art, lovely tapestries and more. Art.com will even custom frame your prints if you want.

Now, I can live out my dream, and you can give your place a look you will enjoy everyday.

January 6th, 2009 by CoolThings

My house is “Goldilocks Perfect” – not too big, not too small – it is just right. But even Goldilocks Perfect has its drawbacks. My perfect-sized house doesn’t leave much room for an entryway table and I needed a simple and compact place to keep all my “leaving the house necessities” – keys, mail, shopping lists, or anything I need to remember to take with me when I run out the door. I wanted something that was out of the way and multifunctional.

This is where www.chiasso.com comes in and helps me find the perfect piece. Their disc shelf/mirror is a great option for my home. Its style is cool, modern and original. Since it hangs on the wall it is out of the way, and all my things are at eye level so I remember to grab them on my way out the door. And talk about multifunctional - it is a mirror, shelf and work of art all in one. My house is once again Goldilocks Perfect.