I got a fantastic email today from a favorite friend. It was an interview with a 26 year old stylist/decorator in the UK who is already wildly successful with her flamboyant designs and use of color. Her new book comes out in April called “Bazaar Style.” Her name is Selina Lake. I’ll be browsing B&N in April.
One thing she mentions is how flea markets inspire her design. Flea markets house tons of novelty items – most are dated, worn and have seen lots of love or better days (depending on how full your particular glass is). How many of us have used things in our homes that look tired and have “garage sale fodder” written all over them. All of us right?
It’s often amazing to me how you can breathe new life into a room by re-arranging furniture (my step mother understands the science of this and my dad’s house looks fresh and exciting every time I walk through the door), painting walls a great color, re-hanging and re-arranging photos, swapping lamps or spray painting an old birdcage hot pink perhaps?
Consider putting a different lamp shade on that old lamp and painting the base a high gloss finish in a great spring color. Sand and paint and old desk, dresser or frame.
I recently recovered the cushions on my wood frame dining room chairs. It took me 30 minutes (and $27) to cover 6 chairs in a heavy leopard print. They’re very Kate Spade now and pretty fabulous. And they feel new.
Take a look at your home and your things and before you start hauling a bunch of stuff to the garage or to Goodwill, ask yourself what other color it could be. If you screw it up, no harm. Tag it for the garage sale and move on. I know you have some gems in there. Happy Monday!
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