If you want the look of custom textiles, but don’t want to spend the money, all you need to do is two things: do your research and search the mass market for designer textile influenced pieces available to the masses and at a low commitment, inexpensive price tag. As in fashion or any creative business, influential designers’ creations eventually make their way into many forms that everyone can enjoy. Some may call it the look for less, but if you think about it, it’s the look for more value.

A prefect example is in bedding. All I did was a quick surf to the major e-tailers and I came up with four great examples right off the bat:

1. West Elm goes Wearstler

LEE JOFA:

1.Bengal Bazaar 2.Edo Linen

WEST ELM:

1.Wild Orchid Ikat 2.Plaster Ikat

2. From Paule Marrot to Pine Cone Hill

DELGRECO TEXTILES:

1.Camille 2.Les Grandes Pavots

PINE CONE HILL:

1.Melody Quilt 2.Hot House Floral

3. Pierre Frey to Pottery Barn

PIERRE FREY:

1.Les Jardins d’Eyrignac 2.Fauvisme

POTTERY BARN:

1.Woodland

4. back to the beginning; John Robshaw to West Elm

DURALEE:

1.Rosehips 2.Saffron 3. Terracotta

WEST ELM:

1.Layered Ikat & Block Prints 2.Lola Quilt 3. Alhambra Duvet

Many of you may not know that I have been a guest blogger for Wayfair for a few months now. Wayfair is a Boston based company, online purveyor of housewares and furnishings, and I decided to join their blogging team when Ms. Kris Kennedy (formerly editor-extraordinaire of Better Homes & Gardens) signed on to become their chief of Editorial and Content– a fresh, innovative role for this young and progressive company.

Wayfair is a bit of a giant; millions of product under one umbrella at varying price ranges. Truly, there is something for everyone on the site, no matter your taste of budget. What struck me as most compelling, is the company’s openness to embrace social media with action… not words. Hiring Kris and her team said it all to me. It was a huge move in demonstrating Wayfair’s full investment in social media and curated online content (a well thought out endeavor) to reach their customer and create a place for buyers to read, learn, see and visit, as well as shop for about ten trillion items for their homes. Everything from cookware to Missoni pillows…

Anyway, I learned this afternoon that Wayfair designed a brand new home furnishing scheme as part of the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Part of Ellen’s biggest “giveaway” yet, Wayfair has furnished the home of Lisa Jarmon, an Ellen audience member in-need. How cool to produce something so visually appealing and gift it to a total stranger? Take a peek at the home– a bright and modern take on family living in neutrals, oranges, turquoises, reds and yellows, it screams “happy” to me. Watch Ellen show Lisa her new home here!

My favorite item in the Dream Home? Without a doubt, the turquoise trunk/coffee table in the Living Room. Feels Asian inspired to me–love the color(s) and can think of about 4 places I would use it: playroom, kids’ room, casual common room or even at the foot of a bed. There are probably more, I just can’t think of them on demand… Find it here.

In the wake of re-doing Anna’s bedroom, I decided to do a mini makeover of Ellie’s (new) room. Somehow it felt odd– asking her to move into Anna’s old room with everything already in it’s place, like taking on another person’s identity; after all Anna’s room was decorated for Anna. I needed to put Ellie’s stamp on it without a total re-do. Plus, I was sick to death of the whole pink and green thing. I mean, SICK of it.

I thought I would remove the bulk of the pink in Anna’s window treatments and chair (The iconic Paule Marrot Tulip in Pink), but not get rid of them, just put them away for a sleep. I happened to have the bamboo shades from my first design go-round of the room, so I re-installed those and made curtains. My original plan was to have all yellow and green. Yellow reminds me of my Ellie; she is such sunshine… and the whole yellow and green thing was such a throw-back, I mean few people request that combination.

But, after it was installed, although it looked sort of Regency-inspired, with the gold/crystal chandy and tiny sunbursts above the beds. The crisp new drapery with yellow trim, even with that insane Zebra carpet– to me, it was falling flat. My thought was to add orange, and I did so in the form of those color blocked pillows and a huge retro poster (not pictured) that is mainly citrus orange. But, still then, it lacked vibrancy and pattern that I feel comfortable with. And then it happened…

Ellie requested that pink be re-introduced. @#$$ I thought! How am I going to do this without it looking the same as it was? Here is what I have come up with so far:

I am doing a tailored slipcover for the club chair in the bright orange floral (also Paule Marrot), recovering the yellow benches in the new Lulu DK Matisse print (white with green, coral, yellow, pink), making a few shams in that retro-fabulous cotton eaf print from Old World Weavers, and somehow I plan to throw a dose in of the orange and pink criss cross. Will this do the trick? We will have to wait and see….

Years ago, my mom introduced me to Florence Broadhurst prints and specifically, wallpaper. I was tempted to use it in my Los Angeles house, but another wallpaper from Osbrone & Little won out. It would have been right at home in my former mid century abode.

Having said that, I am a big fan of foil and metallic retro-looking wall coverings in the right environment. You must be after that retro 1960′s through 1980′s vibe. Think “A Simple Man” through “Scarface”… It can be really very cool in a powder room and even more so in a main space like a dining room, but you need to be risk adverse and really go for it. Paired with Danish Modern or Mid Century pieces is an obvious winner, but what about with more mixed furnishings, they must be well curated and spare– too much happening amongst this paper would be a headache– but it CAN work with many different genres, really!

I can see lacquered pieces, Roccoco here and there, even uber contemporary pieces like spare Donghia chunky upholstery could work. As my idol, Tim Gunn would say you need to “make it work” by pairing down to the most essential and letting the wallpaper be the star.

1. Ninfa 2. Cockatoos 3. Peacock Feathers 4. Palais Chinois 5. Birds of Paradise 6. Banswara

In case you were skeptical, take a peek below. Use a solid foil paper in gold or silver to give the ceiling a soft shimmer. Notice the office vignette, it gives off the vibe of a grasscloth but has a soft metallic glow—very Tom Ford, “A Simple Man” look. What about the formal dining room, very fancy-glam. If you are scared to commit, then don’t go for the turquoise picture below, but perhaps settle for an application in your closet like the silver nautical-patterned paper. Make it work!

1. Mark Lund Photography via Decorpad 2. Jan Showers 3. Pinterest 4. Pinterest 5. Pinterest 6. Pinterest