Category: Shopping

Time to Design

Sadie1 Comment

I feel like I’m at a little bit of a turning point right now. I just moved into a new apartment in a new town and I need to figure out what I’m going to do with the space. When I moved, I ditched a few of my main pieces of furniture, so I have some room to design the new space. Since I have a new job, I’ve decided that I’m at a point where I want to start acquiring pieces out of want rather than need. I mean, instead of borrowing my parents’ and friends’ hand-me-downs, I want to start putting together a cohesive design by buying my own stuff.

Here’s my plan of action. I’m not in a position to just go on a shopping spree right away and buy everything I need. Nor would I want to, because I want to live in my apartment for a little bit to understand how I will use the space and what pieces I really need. So I’m going to come up with a loose color scheme and style for each space, start with the main necessities, and gradually add things as I see fit (and can afford them). So this is a list of the pieces I’m shopping for in a prioritized order:

1. small sofa (something that can fit two people easily and three in a pinch)

2. bureau for the bedroom (right now I have a big closet and lots of storage containers but no bedroom furniture besides my mattress)

3. curtains for the bedroom and living room

4. area rug(s) (my apartment is carpeted, but adding some color with a rug would be nice)

5. coffee table and side tables (I have some basic ones that I got for free several years ago but I would love to get new ones)

6. accent chair for the living room (if I have room for it, I already have a recliner)

7. small accent pieces like art and lamps

8. small kitchen upgrades like new silverware

My space is definitely limited and I live on the fourteenth floor of my building, so I have some parameters. I need things to fit in the space and through my door, and if it’s a piece of furniture, I need it to be able to be delivered directly to my building.

Here are some things I have my eye on right now:

Sofa from West ElmWEsofa

Or this one from Crate and Barrel (I’m feeling a dark grey for the sofa)CBsofa

A pretty basic dresser from Pottery BarnPBdresser

Rug from Pottery BarnPBrugOttoman from West Elm that could double as a coffee table

WEottoman

Does anyone have some shopping/design advice or thoughts?

I have a pretty blank slate right now, so I’m trying to find some solid vision that I can work with.

Retro Find at the Paisley Parasol

CarrieLeave a comment

Today, I went shopping at Macy’s and found so many bargains. I can’t tell you how much I love their One Day Sale. I found the perfect dress to wear to my beau’s 30th birthday bash next weekend. I would like to give a shout-out to my personal shopper, my mom, for helping me find the perfect ensemble for me to wear.

On our way home from the mall, we stopped at this store called the Paisley Parasol. The owner was incredibly warm and welcoming. She personally invites all of her customers to come in and browse around. Little did I know when I walked in there that I would be walking away with this new Retro kitchen cabinet. It was a steal at $299 and free delivery. She has amazing prices that you just can’t pass up!

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It fits perfectly in my dining area and I plan on using it as a small buffet table when I have a crowd of guests over for a party. Who knows what parties I will be holding in the future but I sure look forward to using this new piece. In the meantime, I am going to fill it up with some of my favorite things to put on display for everyone to see. I’ll show you the finished display when it is completed!

Hooty Who is coming to tea?

CarrieLeave a comment

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To all my Chi Omega sisters, check out this new teapot I found at Pier 1 Imports today. It was a spectacular find to add to my collection. I have a collection of fun teapots, cookie jars and other retro finds above my kitchen cabinets as decoration. I have so much kitchen gear that I am currently building an oversized pantry space in order to keep everything organized. I am converting a small closed in porch area into my dream kitchen storage area. I can’t wait for this project to be completed! Here’s just a taste of what I have stored above my cabinets. And there is a whole lot more where that came from…

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I got the gingerbread man cookie jar from my mom this Christmas. He is so cute! The cookie jar on the right was my nana’s. I also collect retro Pyrex refrigerator dishes as well.
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I love to collect eye-catching pitchers as well as Pyrex mixing bowl sets. I have seen this particular pattern on Rachel Ray’s show.
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Anything to do with baking is a collector’s item for me as well. I have an old fashioned cake sifter and a cake plate. I got the cake cookie jar on the right from my mom for my birthday last year. What kind of collections do you have?