Houston Design Blog | Material Girls | Houston Interior Design

Averill, of the fabulous blog, Odi et Amo asked me to participate in her fascinating series, “Shop like a Designer.”  Head on over to her blog to see my favorite sources!

{My favorite Houston store, Shabby Slips, as seen on theredvault.com}

Attention Houstonians!  Your favorite shops in Houston are now available in ONE PLACE to browse products, negoiate prices, and even purchase online!  Thank you, technology! 

The Red Vault is, “a website of high-end, yet affordable, Houston area home accessories dealers and designers all located in one website.  It serves as a vessel between dealers, designers, and end users.” 

Here’s my Red Vault Wish List:

 

Limed Oak Desk and Gold Leaf Coffee Table from Shabby Slips

Louis Philippe Silver Leaf Mirror

Chrome Bench with Grey Cowhidefrom Vieux

Pair of Bergere Chairs from Maison Maison

18th Century Italian Altar Pricket from The Gray Door

Paris Opaline Chandelier from Antique Company

Even if you don’t live in Houston, it is still a great place to browse for antiques, rugs, accessories, lighting, etc!  Make sure to check out their blog for updates and insider Houston shopping tips.  Happy hunting!

Would you mix ivory/cream with stark white?  I’m going to try to pull it off at Casa del Haskett and thought this picture of Tory Burch in her apartment could be a great inspiration (though it could just be lighting and photoshop that makes the sofa appear more cream).  I have an cream leather barcelona chair that I want to pair with a white slipcovered sofa and have been a little concerned about pulling it off!  Monochromatic isn’t always easy people…

Do you grativate towards white-white or ivory & creams?

So I fell in love with the desk the minute I saw it on Craig’s List.  I decided to create a whole “desk-scape” around this piece.  I did a great inspiration board on Photoshop, but Word Press is not agreeing with me, and it’s late, so I will just post the individual items…

Robert Abbey Lamp via Lamps Plus

Ikea Slipcovered Chair in fabric from Calico Corners

Jon Hart Planner (I have one in pink)

Julep Cup from Etsy

Pencils and Paperweight from Iomoi

Kate Spade Vase

Russell and Hazel Business Card Holder… I have a lucite one from Target and I love it!

So what’s your favorite desk accessory??

Cassandra, from Coco Kelly posed the question a while back, “where do you drape your jewels?” At the time my dresser was A MESS – costume jewelry everywhere with no attention paid to order or aesthetic.  Keeping all my costume pieces in tact is a challenge for me.  I needed to create an “organized mess.”  The first order of business was finding a large bust for {some} of my necklaces.  I found this one at the Wisteria Outlet in Dallas.  I still might prefer a white ceramic bust but I guess I’ll have to hold out on that one…  I’ve had the brown coral dish for a while, it just needed to be cleaned and “organized.”  I also already had this piece of faux coral from Pottery Barn, so I’ve been playing with draping some of my cocktail rings on it.

P.S. the bust scared the beegeebeez out of my dog…she barked at that thing for like an hour.  I do think she’s kind of creepy…I don’t really care for her expression.

This Gold Manzanita Tree is on my wish list…I could really use it for my earrings.

{picture from here}

{cute DIY tutorial here}

{love this photo from the late Blueprint…wish I could just drape like 5 necklaces – it looks better “styled” but is not my reality.}

Unfortunately I have no idea where I got this photograph, but what a glamorous site for stashing your jewels!

One of the most ingenious night stands I’ve seen is what Lisa Epley did for her daughter’s bedroom.  She purchased three-drawer chests from Ikea and had a local glass store cover them in mirror.  LOVE IT!  

I decided for this week’s {late} version of Furniture Friday, I would highlight the night stand.  Now I am definitely not a proponent of the matchy-matchy bedroom suites, but I do like pairs of tables on either side of the bed (even though mine don’t match).    

 

I love the curves of the Burleigh Nightstand – $349 from Rooms To Go.

Allison Side Table from Plantation 

I LOVE this table also from Plantation.

I would love a pair of Cohen tables for our bedroom.  

Cheap and Chic, the Hemnes from Ikea. 

 

Hampstead from Williams Sonoma Home

This table is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before…but gold and carrarra- what’s not to love?!

For some earthy goodness try this teak table from Lekker. 

I’m dying to put a pair of these in my parent’s bedroom.  If you live in Dallas make sure to check out the Wisteria outlet.  I either spotted this chest on one similar last time I was there.  

Sherry Side Table from Hickory Chair 

 

Black Lacquer Bedside Table from Mecox Gardens

Trashy or Classy?!?  My vote, classy if done right.  

No, I’m still not tired of mirrored furniture!  I LOVE this one from Pieces.

Ming Table from Tonic Home – $1,250

I’ll take two!  Swanky Stud Side Dresser from CBell.  

 

When you get tired of these chests in your bedroom, they’d look great flanking a fireplace a la Renea Abbott. 

So which one(s) would you love to have in your bedroom?  Do you like pairs, or do you like to mix it up?

I’m still completely obsessed with this Parson’s Desk/Table from Mockingbird Manor.  As of April, it was still there…sigh…

In my perfect dream world it would be in my fictional entry with this celery colored grasscloth on the wall behind it.

Martha Stewart Coral Peonies or the like would always be fresh on the console with a Louis Philippe mirror on the wall above (I think a mirror in an entry is basically a must).

I’m so obsessed with this chevron jar I spotted here. A pair would sit underneath the console.

A pair of Cream Pagoda House Lamps & a Delphi Italian Ceramic Shiny bust (below) from The Well Appointed House would also reside on the console.

Naturally I’m sure of a few of my favorite statement necklaces from Anthropologie would end up stashed on the bust.

Now, I just need to find the perfect house!

I want to know your answer to the age old decorating question…to chop or not to chop? What on earth am I talking about, you ask? Karate chopped pillows! Do you love? Do you hate?

Examples of “The Chop:”

{image from Mrs. Howard Personal Shopper}

Phoebe Howard does it…

{image from Mrs. Howard Personal Shopper}

{image from Simple Style}

You often see karate chopped pillows on pillow-back sofas (see above).

Seeing as how my apartment is a chock-full of furniture, I’ve decided to put further furniture acquisitions on hold until we finally find a place to call our own (although I might get crafty with a headboard). My focus has been shifted towards accessories. I’ve spent way too much money snagging up accessories that are just so-so from major big-box chains and then hating them 6 months later. In fact, I have an entire walk-in closet full such impulse purchases. Now I’m focused on buying things I really love – flea market or high brow. Here are a few pics of my favorite accessories that I’ve had my eye on…

After seeing this DIY headboard that Shannon of Pink Wallpaper created, I was suddenly motivated to take on the project myself.  If the idea of wielding a staple gun makes you tremble in fear, here is a collection of not so do-it-yourself upholstered beds and headboards.