Fall has arrived, which means I need to tear myself off the deck and retreat inside. Looking around my bedroom, things are feeling a little dull, beyond the lack of sun and shorter days. I need something to cheer me up! I am saving for a new sofa and don’t really have $800 to update with a new bed, but what I do have is $55 for this beautiful Queen headboard!

Now that is some bargain. I get the effect of a new bed without draining the wallet. Check out fantastically talented architect Mina Jivad’s new collection of decals over at Blik.

Her headboard creations are available in an array of trendy colors, so you will have the most up-to-date looking bedroom and be the envy of all those who are just wishing for a new bed.

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First let me apologize to all my Tastemaker friends, I have been a little distracted lately, but for good reason! After great response from my fellow Stylefeeders, I decided to launch my own blog, CreateGirl.

Along with setting up the blog, I have been working on some really great design projects, which I will share with you over the next few months. Now I am back with the promise of regular posts again. So please forgive me and if I may shamelessly plug, take a peak over at CreateGirl, where you will find even more budget friendly home decor ideas and even some fashion finds! OK, back to work.

Across my desk this afternoon came a fabulous email from CB2, one of my “go to” stores. If you write a review on one of their products, you will be entered to win a $1000 CB2 gift card! We all know you like to share your opinion on products, so hop on over; in this crazy economy, don’t we all want to save a little? The lucky winner will be drawn on December 17th…now that would be a great Holiday gift! Below are a few of my favorite CB2 products:

Oh, not to mention all the pieces above are on sale! Have you purchased from CB2? Share your favorite pieces…and happy product reviewing!

All those stuck in a stuffy cubicle have dreamed of the day they could break free! Thank goodness Michiel can der Kley designed this amazing compact workstation for Gispen.

In another lifetime I was completely one of those who worked in a very boring looking cubicle, you know the ones with the gray felt and high walls. This would have been a welcome sight! van der Kley designed Globus originally for the corporate office but than saw there was an interest for it in the home, cafe and other lobby areas. You can now use it with your Xbox or even hook up a tv! The “ball” opens in the center to reveal a comfy swivel chair and a sturdy pull down board for your laptop. When not in use it can be closed, locked and with the convenient casters, easily moved from one area to another! Genius! I just love the sleek style and the comfort factor which might just equal more productive employees! Tell your boss you are really thinking outside of the box, actually I would say “ball”! At the moment it is only available in white, but can’t you just see it in fun, eye-popping colors? I am confident in saying this would make those long lay over waits in the airport much more bearable!

Is this something you could see working in yourself?

When scouting for a client, I always try to look in unexpected places. Recently I was searching for bedding and I stumbled upon two great finds, both on linen/bedding sites. Isn’t it fun when you find a gem in an unexpected place?

I love The Company Store, their sheets are fabulous and always in really fun colors. Wait one minute, what do I see as I am flipping through their catalog pages? These absolutely fabulous Urbino ottomans!! They are so fun, I especially like the turquoise option. The embroidered medallion on top creates a unique accent. I see this ottoman as a lovely addition in a bedroom, perhaps next to a vanity, or as spare seating for guests in a Living Room! They have a very distinct Moroccan feel, which we’re seeing all over the magazines right now.

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A few weeks ago, I was quickly flipping through the Ballard Designs catalog when I saw this piece:

At first, I didn’t think much of this Tole Topiary plaque but as the days passed, it just stuck with me. It’s an interesting piece and one I had not come across before, how refreshing!

Whenever I think of a grand home, I envision a pair of these three-dimensional topiaries flanking the front door. They make such a regal and classy statement.

I don’t have a grand home with a winding drive leading to the front door — yet — but the Faux Topiaries from Ballard could be a great stand in. I love how subtle they are and how flat they seem against the brick. I also love the idea of using them to add a different dimension and texture in the entry way of a home. Imagine at the holidays hanging little white lights on them? Too sweet! They are available in medium and tall. I guess the old saying is true: if you continue to think of a piece for days or weeks than it is one you should purchase, or else one day you will wake up to regret it!

Is there a piece of home decor to this day you wished you had purchased?

With Memorial Day upon us, all I can hear in my head is Andy Williams singing “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”! No, not Christmas or Winter… but the start of Summer! For me this really is the Most Wonderful time of the year, when I can finally shed three layers of clothing and feel the sun on my skin! Happiness has arrived. It’s time to take advantage by living outdoors. Whether you have a glorious rolling green backyard or a tiny piece of asphalt to call your own, you can absolutely make the most of it.

First, decide what is most important to you. Do you want to have a place to lounge out on a chaise or is having people over for a dinner party the most important factor? In this post, I’ll present some wonderful chair options for creating that outdoor living room.

First is the fabulous Rex chair from CB2. It is available in two sizes, lounge and standard. For a lounge chair which sits lower to the ground and is a bit wider, the price is inexpensive. I can just picture us now….a drink in one hand and legs hanging over the side. The poppy, which is EVERYWHERE right now, is my favorite color. Talk about a sunset!

I absolutely love the vintage feel of Atuto’s ring chairs. Their style is sweet and full of interest. The gentle, delicate klismos back made of sturdy iron creates a nice contradiction. I could see them used in a little garden in the summer and then pulled inside as an accent chair in the cooler months. Lovely!

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There in the corner sits the lonely chair I bought years ago at a flea market. Of course I had every intention of stripping the old paint and gracing it with a shiny new coat that very same weekend. We all know how good intentions can go; I never got around to doing it. Finally, this weekend I thought to do a bit of research. As much as I love my Ben Moore paint, I felt this chair needed something special and all its own. As I start my internet search I stumbled upon “The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company,” which I am impressed with right away. Can we all say GREEN and free of any VOC?! Love it! To top it off they are a local company here in Massachusetts, even better. The Milk Paint Company literally makes their paint out of milk protein, lime, clay and earth pigment. It arrives in a small package and you just add water to the desired thickness. They state there is a bit of a milky odor when you first start to paint, but as soon as it dries you are left with an antique looking color.

Most of the photos they show online are of very “old fashioned”-looking pieces, but I think in this age of the “vintage” craze, an older looking piece mixed in with some contemporary pieces will give it the spotlight it deserves. In other words don’t get scared off by the pictures, think outside the box!

Fabulous, I have made some progress, now off I go to wait by the post for my “Soldier Blue” milk paint to arrive. I will post some pictures and give a review when it arrives…then again don’t hold your breath, we know how long it has taken me just to pick the paint!!

Even though my iPhone lets me check my email, receive sms, and talk to people, I still love it when someone leaves me a physical message. In this posting, I’ll introduce you to some decorative, fun and decidedly modern ways of leaving messages.

Write it on the Chandelier

Ingo Maurer’s Zettel’z 6 chandelier has been on my wish list for a long time. Why anyone haven’t bought it for me yet is a true mystery (hint, hint..). This wonderful chandelier includes 40 printed and 40 blank sheets of rice paper. In other words: you can dress this light fixture with your favorite poems, love letters, pencil drawings, etc. What a wonderful way to leave a message to your honey!

Write it on the Wall

A $1200 chandelier is of course not the only way to leave a message in your home. Chalkboard stickers are somewhat cheaper and can look great in your home office, your kitchen, a playroom, or in the hallway. They come in lots of different shapes and colors, and can definitely be decorative as well as useful.

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We can’t all afford items from our favorite designers. And some of us just change our home so often we don’t necessarily want to spend the money on one particular item. In searching for yet another new bedding ensemble, I decided to check out some of my favorite designers and, man, what they are doing at a discounted price!

First, we have Dwell Studio’s new line for Target. This ensemble just looks crisp, clean and completely refreshing…talk about coming out of winter hibernation into the spring breeze!

Then there’s the fabulous Angela Adams designing for Bed Bath and Beyond. The Lulu bedding collection features her signature oval pattern. The ever popular teal and brown combo is shown here and creates a warm, comfortable haven.

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So we’re all carrying around digital cameras… whether integrated into our phones, traditional digital point-and-shoot cameras, or digital SLRs. We are taking more photos than ever before, so at least some of them are bound to be good, right? Now the question remains: how can we best display the wonderful visuals that we have captured? The answer is: personalize your space with them!

First let me make one thing clear: I am not talking about a regular personalized photo-mug or mouse pad that you can order from any online photo printing service. Think bigger and bolder! I am talking about making your photos the focal point of a room, proudly displaying your best snaps and giving them the attention they really deserve!

Your Photo Blinds

Don’t have a room with a view? Do something about it! Get your favorite photo printed on window treatments like blinds or shades. Balcony Vacations is one of the companies who offer this service, and some of them do customized sizes as well. With the daylight spilling through your blinds and illuminating your photo of a French meadow you can bring a little piece of nature into the city and pretend it’s summer all year long…

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