Decorating For Normal People

While there’s no shortage of inspired design out there in the blogosphere, I’m always thrilled when I run across a designer who creates interiors that look like they could belong in a friend’s home (albeit a very design-savvy friend).  That’s why my latest design crush is on yet another Canadian designer, Michael Penney of Canadian House & Home.

He first caught my attention a few weeks ago when I ran across an online tour of his kitchen, but once I dug a little deeper I realized that I’ve seen his work all over the place!  Seriously, you’ve probably seen and loved at least 10 of his interiors without even knowing it. Do these bedrooms look familiar?

{ The bottom two images are from Penney’s own home.  You can tour his entire apartment here. }

I think my very favorite space of Penney’s is this fun and fresh apartment that he created on a serious budget:

Couldn’t you just move right in?

Armed with a little paint, wallpaper and ingenuity, Penney transformed a blank apartment into a swanky space with serious personality.  He included great finds from thrift stores, Craigslist, Ikea and even H&M and the result is so unique – quirky, colorful and full of fun.  I think my favorite feature of his design is the wallpapered plywood that makes a bold impact in both the living room and dining room.

Here are just a few tips to achieve Penney’s cheap but chic style:

Are you feeling as inspired as I am?  Am I the last person on the planet to discover Michael Penney?  Got any budget-friendly design tips that you’re dying to share with us?  Go ahead and spill the design beans in the Comments!

Image courtesy of Canadian House and Home.

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Delight In Black & White

These are some pretty awesome, graphic patterns, don’t you think?

Delight in Black & White Delight in Black & WhiteDelight in Black & White Delight in Black & White Delight in Black & White Delight in Black & White Delight in Black & White Delight in Black & White Delight in Black & White Delight in Black & White Delight in Black & White

Well, you’re about to think they’re even more awesome, because . . . they’re tile!!  That’s right, these gnarly patterns (which come in tons of different colors) are made entirely of tiny mosaic tiles.  Can’t you just see a modern kitchen tiled from countertop to ceiling in these babies, or maybe a frameless glass shower?  I would probably keel over and die if I saw something that fabulous.

Check out more of these beautiful tiles right here.  I think this one might be my ultimate fave.  What about you?

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Steal This Look: Flirty Femme

I hope you’ll enjoy this new series called “Steal This Look!”  With each installment of the Steal This Look series, a fabulous designer room will be recreated (by yours truly) using a combination of DIY techniques and decor available online so that you can easily recreate these designer looks in your own home . . . and for a lot less!

For the first installment, I’m focusing on this flirty, feminine room that was first published in Ideal Home in July of 2008.  I was instantly drawn to the sassy pops of fuschia throughout the space that keep the design looking fresh and modern (instead of potentially prissy and country).

Steal This Look: Flirty Femme

Here’s how you can recreate this look in your own living room in a jiffy (and without breaking the bank!) with a few DIY projects and lovely store-bought pieces:

Steal This Look: Flirty Femme

1. white sofa: $799

2. floral rug: $113.99

3. white end table: $139;

4. DIY upholstered coffee table: less than $20 (MDF), less than $5 each (legs), $3.49/yard (hot pink fabric).  Have the MDF cut to size at the store, then use spray adhesive to attach a layer of foam to the top of the MDF.  Next, wrap batting and the hot pink fabric over the top of the batting/MDF and staple the layers underneath to secure.  Finally, use screws to attach the four legs to the underside of the MDF (after spraypainting them a glossy white).

5. DIY quatrefoil stencil: $25.  While the original design uses wallpaper, this quatrefoil stencil is a beautiful and budget-friendly alternative to wallpapering that will achieve a similar look.  I chose the quatrefoil pattern just because I love it and think it will be a chic update to the space, but you could alternatively use this stencil to stay a bit closer to the original design.  Use kelly green paint to stencil the pattern on the walls.

6. DIY drop cloth drapes: $19.97 (+ lining with hot pink fabric).  Talk about bang for your buck!  Just line these drop cloths with the hot pink fabric (also used on the ottoman) for a touch of understated sass.

7. pillows: $24.99 for 2 (green), $18.99 (hot pink), $29.49 for 2 (striped), $20 for 2 (floral).

8. white bookcase: $59.99 (white bookcase), $25 each (glass door, in white, in 15.75 x 38.62 size), $25 each (solid door, white).  To keep this bookcase affordable, I decided to go with a mix-and-match option from Ikea.

Total: less than $1,500

Have a designer room in mind that you’d like me to recreate?  Just shoot me an email or link to it in the Comments section (it must be in quotes to be visible) and I’ll add it to the list!

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