Stylish Substitute: Suzani Throw Pillow

I have a great Stylish Substitute for you today. I have been in love with this blue and white suzani print for quite a while. In fact, it inspired my living room makeover!

 

Printed Suzani Pillow

$65 at Dwell Studio

Artisan Weaver Rheinau Decorative Pillow

$44.99 at Kohls - use promo code LUVTOSHOP for 25% off, making this one only $33.75.

That's almost half the price ya'll. My kind of deal! 
And talk about a dead ringer!

{DIY} Watercolor Love

Lately I have been so inspired by all of the watercolor motifs that are popping up on products all over the place. There is something so calming and ethereal about them that I just love. 

I decided to paint some of my own to display in my home. The best thing about this type of "art" - you can't mess it up! I just used cardstock and regular watercolor paints. Made me feel like a kid again :)

Here they are framed and hanging in my kitchen. The perfect pop of color for not a lot of cash or time. Sometimes little projects like these turn out to be my favorites! 

Stylish Substitute: Greek Key Bedding

One of my favorite classic patterns is greek key. I don't think it will ever go "out", and as such, I have several things around my house with this motif. Today is one of my favorite Stylish Substitutes - I have the "save" on my bed currently! 

Splurge: 

Williams-Sonoma Classic Greek Key Bedding

$557 for Queen Duvet and Two Shams

Save:

Overstock Serena 3-Piece Duvet Cover 

$65.99 for Queen Duvet and Two Shams

That's a $491 savings! Can't beat that for classic bedding. Have you found any good saves lately?

Currently Coveting...

Let's go virtual shopping, shall we? I'm currently wishing hard for any or all of these items to suddenly appear in my home!

 

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Chippendale Chair Chair Score!

Has there ever been a thrifted/vintage item you just had to have? I'm talking stalk Craigslist every day, frequent goodwill and thrift stores, and show up early for every estate sale? This is how I felt about Chippendale Chairs. 

After diligently stalking for 4 months, I FINALLY saw them waiting for me at a weekend estate sale. I dragged my mom and partner in thrifting out of the house at 6 am to make sure we would be first in line, and after scaring some other people off (no, but really) I scored! 

Four of these came home with me and are currently undergoing a makeover for my dining room. I can't wait to share the finished product. I am planning to spray them glossy white and am still debating the upholstery - teal velvet?  Black and white stripes? Solid black vinyl? We'll see :)

I also snapped up two of these, though I can't say I needed them. Perhaps they will become side chairs in my living room. They remind me a little bit of the Italia Chairs from Horchow.

I'm so happy to finally have these home and in the garage for some paint and upholstery. I'd love to hear your holy grail thrift item! 

French Bull for Target

Have you seen the new small kitchen appliance release at Target? They have partnered with Jarden Consumer Solutions to release a line under the lifestyle brand French Bull. Think bright colors, chevron patterns and a whole lot of fun! I am in LOVE with how fun these are and seriously considering breaking my current crock pot to make room for this beauty ;)

Crock Pot. Blender. Coffee Maker. Toaster.

My life via Instagram

Watermelon Agua Fresca. The largest rose ever. Cute pencils from Target Dollar Spot.  

Ikea Lappljung Rug gracing my dining room. Vintage Grand Ole Opry Hatch Show Print found at the flea market. Delicious seafood smorgasbord. 

Recent trip to Gatlinburg, TN. Fresh baked rosemary bread. Accessories via Kate Spade, J. Crew and Target.

{DIY} Instagram Collage

It's no secret that I love Instagram. I love being able to easily and quickly document the little happy moments that make me smile every day. I noticed that with as many pictures as I take every week, it had been forever since I'd updated any in the frames in my home. After being inspired by all of the Instagram collages and gallery walls on Pinterest, I decided it was past time for me to create a project using my Instagram photos. However, after being shocked at how expensive and difficult it is to find a large collage frame with 4x4 openings (the standard print size), I decided I'd make my own. 

Supplies needed:

Old frame

Poster board

Instagram prints

Scissors and tape

I started with this very sad $6.99 frame from Goodwill that had been sitting in my garage for months. I am in love with any and everything faux bamboo, and knew when I bought it that I'd eventually think of the perfect use for it. You're cute pup, but it was time for you to go.    

This frame is approximately 24x30, but any size frame will do depending on how many pictures you want to use. This one had obviously seen better days, so the frame itself got a quick coat of metallic spray paint to bring it back to life. I then went through my Instagram feed and picked out my favorites. I used Walgreens to print the photos - you can do it right from their phone app, making it super fast and easy to get your prints. 

Then pop out your current frame insert, cut the poster board to the same size and arrange your prints until you like how they look. There is really no method to this, but I wanted the poster board to appear as if it was a matting for the prints, so I made sure to space them evenly on all sides. I had a kitten helper in this process, admiring his photo. 

See how it looks like they are matted in a fancy, expensive frame with 4x4 openings? That's what we're going for! After I arranged them how I liked, I simply taped them in place and popped it back in the frame. 

I am loving how custom the finished project is, and better yet, how much money I saved over buying a new frame. 

I'd love for you to follow me on Instagram - it won't be long before it'll be time for another one of these!