Star-crossed love

These starburst mirrors were a must-have item that I've wanted since I started decorating my apartment more than five years ago. The mirror (similar to the Pottery Barn, Baker or Plantation versions above ... click photos for links) is the perfect focal piece -- it makes the room feel larger doing double duty by reflecting light, plus it's gorgeous to look at! But ... and this is a big but ... the only ones I could find were around $500. I thought about saving up for it, but in reality, it was too much to drop on one piece.

Instead I headed to Target and found a round mirror with etched circles on it. Before I got around to hanging it like six months later (seriously I have major procrastination problems with hanging stuff by myself), Target, being the best store ever that it is, had come out with miniature versions of the starburst mirror. Naturally, I bought two ... at only $30 each. Twice the star power (for a measly fraction of the high-end stuff)!

This not only worked out better for my wall (the one starburst mirror would have felt a tad too small for the space), but it also complemented my circle-etched mirror I had already purchased. Circles are continued throughout the space in lamps, pillows, candle holders and furniture in the living room, window treatments, mirrors and my table in the dining room .... and a few other places throughout my apartment.

Then I found green pillows at Target probably a year later with sunburst patterns!

Now they have a larger capiz version at Target online but it doesn't say how much it costs. But I'm more than satisfied with my trio of mirrors for now!

Quote of the Day: "Every star has that certain something that stands out and compels us to notice them."

-- Maureen O'Hara

Purple & orange

If I had a second bedroom, my plan would include decorating it in one of my favorite color combinations: purple and orange. And, of course, white! The overlapping squares daybed from West Elm would be perfect for piling the colorful pillows for a lush place for a guest to collapse. Shades of orange are sometimes hard to match, but I think these would work together well. The Astrid chair may be a little too much orange, but I love it so much I had to add it. (I also like this canary print tangerine chair from Target.)

1. BlissLiving purple pillow
2. Lamoon Modern pillow
3. Gemini Flamingo pillow
4. Astrid chair from Anthropologie
5. Pines in a Fall woodcut from Etsy
6. Capri Teardrop lamp from Jonathan Adler
7. Overlapping Squares Daybed from West Elm
8. Kaley Bloom rug from Pottery Barn


Quote of the Day: "I want a love like my bed. Someone to support me, someone comfortable, someone who will listen to everything I say, and will be there to catch all my tears. Essentially, a bed is the greatest model of an idealistic love there is."

Coral fixation

Beach accents add a calming feel to a room, whether through found objects like shells or an ocean-like liquidy turquoise for wall paint. I used all of the above in my dining room, from a hurricane filled with sand and starfish to a faux coral piece on a shelf to a capiz chandelier over the table.

Because my apartment is small, I also have an extra chair in the room, which has a small accent pillow with coral. Then I added a coral votive. Then I started to think ... when does a room evolve into becoming too "done." Themed rooms are common for kids' spaces, but what about adults?

For the most part I think if you're staying true to yourself and you like the look, it's OK. I chose to have a focal shelving unit which houses all my capiz frames, shells, etc. But they are all white, which cuts down on the clutter. My walls are turqouise, which offers a contrast to the stark objects. Plus I introduced orange into the room through framed art and the orangish coral. My rug brings all the colors together: orange (more of a peachy tone really), turquoise, beige, purple (from my living room).

I love the details and textures with the pearls in this new coral pillow from Pottery Barn (above).

I also love the color and graphic image on this Dermond Peterson Coral Red Linen Pillow, and this Red Coral Needlepoint Pillow from Bellacor.






Here's my coral pillow (below) from Pier 1 (like $7 on clearance!).





Quote of the Day: "Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can make a child look like a deer."
-- (Deep Thoughts with) Jack Handy