Let's Get Handy!

"It takes half your life before you discover life is a do-it-yourself project." Napoleon Hill

We at SD were feeling a little crafty today and we all know when we want something done right, we need to do it ourselves. Here are some unique crafts anyone could do with just ordinary household tools.

A unique storage bench like this could run upwards of $200. Look what a difference a vintage suitcase, table legs and a little ingenuity makes!

What to do with those unused boards? Turn them into benches!

A plain doormat, fabric of your choice and spray adhesive and voila, you have a beautiful custom doormat.

We cannot believe this project! A $70 Ikea shelf turned into a chic and glamorous shelf. Similar pieces run about $1,500 and up!

This may be the cheapest project...ever! What a wonderful way to add a pop of color. These would also make excellent homemade picture frames.

Finally, a valid reason to keep drinking wine! Check out many more reasons to save those corks.

This is a clever way to capture all those wonderful summer memories. I'm tempted to make one for every season!

Happy crafting!

~SD

Tuesday's Finds! - Lust or Must part 2

"I believe thrift is essential to a well-ordered living." John D. Rockefeller

Hello all! We hope everyone had a spectacular weekend! Since everyone seemed to love our 'Lust or Must' post on Thursday, today on 'Tuesday's finds', we have part 2 for you to enjoy! :) Remember to click on the image to get to the source!

Black and white prints juxtaposed on a bright colored wall looks great and lucky for you, you do not need to spend a fortune on art to get the look..

Lust -- pay $1,875 for this fabulous set of prints from Horchow!!

Must -- check out Etsy!! We put together an equally fabulous set for you at a fraction of the price!!

Black and White #1 -- Title - 'Morning' from seller Valdas .. size -- 6.1" x 7.4".. price $12

Black and White #2 -- Title - 'Alice' from seller Alexandre Day .. size -- 8.5" x 11" .. price - $82.87

Black and White #3 -- Title - 'Circle Eclipse' from seller Manjuzaka .. size -- 11.7" x16.5 " .. price - $31.87

Black and White #4 -- Title - 'Snow Field' from seller MaiAutumn .. size -- 8" x 10 " .. price - $19.20

Black and White #5 -- Title - 'Ring Master' from seller ArtbyMaryKay .. size -- 6" x 12 " .. price - $55

Black and White (with a splash of yellow) #6 -- Title - 'Half' from seller SpeakHeartHistory .. size -- 6" x 9" .. price - $12

Grand total for all 6 prints -- $210.94 (plus the cost of shipping) Just add non-matching black frames and you will get the same fabulous look!!! :)

... and just to be extra generous, below are a couple more... enjoy! :)

Lust - Authentic from Design Within Reach $4,302 -- Must - Knock off at FunkySofa.com - $649

Lust - A gorgeous tufted sofa from ABC Home - $5,495

Must - Greenwich sofa from Home Decorators - $1,299

Welp... enjoy the rest of your Tuesday!!

~SD

Lust or Must?

"The difference between a bad artist and a good one is: the bad artist seems to copy a great deal; and the good one really does." William Blake

You know all of those items you are lusting over.. like those really expensive chairs that would go oh so perfectly on that wall in your foyer but... sadly... right now... it is just not in the budget! Bummer! Classic chairs and tables can be oh so expensive, but lucky for you, there are knock offs!! Yay for knock offs and less expensive options! Remember, when there is a will there is a way.. sometimes all it takes is a little bit of research to make your "lusts" into "musts". Enjoy! :)

Where there is lust : Eames molded chairs! Design Within Reach - price - $499...

There is a Must! Overstock - price $163.18 for a pair of two!!!

Where there is a fabulous upholstered nailhead chair there are a lot of lusts! This one from restoration hardware is $479 a chair..

... but this one from Target is half the price and will give you almost the same look ...

Everyone loves these dhurrie poufs! This one is $249 at West Elm and is fabulous.

... but with a little magic on the sewing machine, you can make your own out of a few $3 Ikea rugs! Check out this easy to follow tutorial!

I mean .. what lover of classic modern interior design, doesn't lust over a Saarinen dining table....?

Lust: Design Within Reach - $12,388

Must: White on White - $1,595

Hans Wegner elbow chair (an all time fave!). Can't afford the $1,075 at Design Within Reach price tag ..?...

Ok.. I admit the Ikea version is not quite as fabulous...but at $89.99 this Bojne chair gives a similar look at a small fraction of the price!

Lust: Jonathan Adler Chippendale Arm Chair for $595

Must: Ballard Macau Armchair for $249

~SD

Petacular!

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." Josh Billings

Have you looked for pet furniture lately?? Well .. we just did... and how spectacular are the designs out there!!? Check out our round up of funky and modern pet furn for the little critter in your life! :)

Peipod

Pet Modern

Urban Pet Haus

Modernist Cat

Urban Pet Haus

Greener Grass Design

Pousse Creative

The Refined Feline

The Bloom Room Studio

~SD

Color Love Friday: Grow wild cornflowers!

"A weed is but an unloved flower." Ella Wheeler Wilcox

August is but a few days away which means it is cornflower season! These pretty and spry flowers glimmer in long elegant clusters and their purplish blue color is simply striking! Cornflower blue is a beautiful color for anything in any season...

Let them bask on the window sill... like a lazy Sunday...

Cornflower blue doors and trim...

A very pretty casual summer uniform...

I dream of cornflower walls..

Cornflower walls with pops of bright red...

Country cornflower kitchen cabinets bring on the charm...

Gorgeous cornflower wallpaper in a funky toile wallpaper...

Exotic cornflower retreat!

Soft and sweet kids room...

Dramatic and effective in a lacquer finish...

Have a fabulously lazy wildflower weekend!

~SD

Tuesday's Finds! - Lux

"Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping." Bo Derek

It's that time again! Time for Tuesday's finds! This time we are focusing on some more goods with a luxurious feel! Sophistication on sale is what it is all about...

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams is having a wonderful summer tag sale! Offering 30% to 70% off through 7/29!.. So better get on it!

Love this side chair!

A side table with a modern look and brass details!

Another great chair! Comes in different fabrics! A great shape to break up too many clean lines!

Oooh la la .. Rue la la! This site is absolutely worth your while! Nuloom rugs at a fraction of the price! These 3 are fabulous but there is more where that came from!

Serena and Lily is on One Kings Lane this week! .. but hurry! Items are going fast!!

Gorgeous robin's egg blue bench for the bedroom at One King's Lane!

Add sparkle with reflective accessories ... at Gilt Home!

Gilt home also has some amazing bath items on sale! But hurry! These things go fast!

Happy shopping!!

~SD