Fellow Bloggers

I truly, truly do not know how I would get through my days without my fellow bloggers and blog-readers. The passion, vision, strength and encouragement that you all give me and we all give one another is an amazing relationship. The education, ideas, thoughts and opinions help me realize the different dreams and beliefs we all have. But we share a common way of expressing them through our blogs. 

I am writing this post based on a new blog I came across today. A post from Ree at The Pioneer Woman titled The Lettered Cottage, which then led me to The Lettered Cottage blog. The young couple is "enthusiastically passionate about life, love, music and design!" I love that description. Anyways, point is they have a tab/page on their blog devoted to other bloggers that mention, blog or link to their site. Kind of like a thank-you card to those bloggers who have advertised their site/blog. 

An easy and simple concept- blogging about other blogs. After 4 1/2 months of blogging I have come to a realization that this is a community, a network, a social network on our world wide tool of the internet.


And I have fallen completely, madly in love with this relationship.

Obsession

I have recently been dying to buy a wall mounted animal head. Like as in a faux animal, for decor. Not "lets go huntin and kill me a big ole' animal so I can mount its head on my wall." 

These cardboard/paper heads can be found at West Elm or CardboardSafari.com. They are paint-able so you can customize your head to coordinate with your room decor.

Or these white laquered versions can be found at ZGallerie. Check out the website for several other animals.

Check out the images below for some animal-inspired rooms! I love them all!

Have a grrrrrrreat Thursday!

Product Week III - Solid Surface

Feeling obligated to clarify and educate everyone on solid surface materials. I am sure you have all heard of this type of material but there seems to be some confusion on exactly what these products are made of, how they are manufactured, the sustainability, durability and difference between the manufacturers.

• Not all solid surface is called CORIAN- this is a brand name just like Kleenex/tissues.
• Each manufacturer produces their product out of difference materials- do your homework and make sure you know exactly what you are purchasing. There is a big difference between polyester and acrylic made products. Polyester is more brittle than acrylic which cracks and breaks easier. They also have different fire ratings.
•  There are a few companies that offer a solid surface material with quartz or a quartz look. Cambria (see link below) is a complete quartz material that competes with solid surface.
• Solid surface is more durable than granite.
• Solid surface is super stain resistant and a safe surface for food preparation. Moisture cannot penetrate its surface, unlike granite (natural stone). Solid surface is used in all of my commercial and hospital projects just for this reason.
• Solid surface is maintenance free, unlike natural stone. There is no sealing, polishing or reconditioning.
• Most have a lifetime warranty.
• Many are now made with recyclable content which makes the product sustainable.

Based on my personal and professional opinion I would choose a solid surface material over natural stone (granite), concrete or any other product any day of the week. Its durability, lifetime and functional characteristics go above and beyond any wear-and-tear that an owner could put their counter tops through. Check the manufacturers listed below for trustworthy product. The colors, patterns and designs are endless!

Cambria

Corian

Staron

Avonite

Wilsonart

Formica

LG Hi Macs

Music Music Music

So I have to admit that I have not touched my iPod in at least 5 months... there may have been the deletion of a convenient, free music download program, but whose to say. Plus my frugal-self does not use iTunes. Anyways point of this post is to introduce my readers to The Hype Machine. I love, love, love this music blog site (even added it to Blogs To Love, right hand side) and I highly suggest clicking on the Popular tab, pressing play on the first song that comes up and enjoying the sounds. New, hip, songs you have probably never heard of but they will soon be blasting on the radio six months from now. Gotta love it.

Miss you

Product Week II - Paper Table

Are you ready for this super fabulous creation that everyone needs in their life? Whether at work, in a meeting area, kids play room or next to your couch, the paper table has so many uses. I first was introduced to the table about 2 years ago on a trip to Steelcase in Grand Rapids, Michigan. At that time the table was not being made for purchase but was just a concept (see photos below).

One of the reasons Steelcase was not able to manufacturer these tables is because of their extreme weight. Shipping that amount of paper is not ideal. But Turnstone (partners to the Steelcase Family) came up with a solution - a sleek, urban, simplified table with paper-pad top. Again, can be used in so many different spaces and arenas. Draw, sketch, take some notes, design concepts, charts, logs, stay organized - rip the top piece of paper off and start again!

Check out both companies!

www.Steelcase.com

www.Turnstone.com

Love you West Elm

Alright, I know, this is suppose to be Product Week but I keep receiving these newsletters in my inbox and had to share with my fellow bog-readers! West Elm has the best sales going on right now. Well to be more specific the best bedding sales. Last week they had a gorgeous duvet set for $40! Get outa here! Looks like they have a fantastic sale for window panels and hardware as well.

Anyways, check it out.

West Elm

(click here for a direct link to the bedding sale)

Product Week! Modular Walls

I am rolling out Product Week! Want to share, educate, explore and introduce products to my blog-readers that you might not of seen or heard of before.

So for Monday I would like to introduce modular walls or dimension walls. There are several companies that produce similar and competitive products. The ones listed below are manufacturers that I have used or dealt with in the past. One of my favorites is Modular Arts Dimensional Surfaces and Panel Designs. They have unique, intricate designs that are just stunning. The product is made of a safe, durable and fire safe mineral and are also installed with low VOC kits.

Modular Arts also features Interlocking Rock Tiles. These are for easy installation or even a DIY project! Check out some of the great patterns available here.

Check out their full line of designs:

Modular Arts

Another manufacturer is Dimension Walls by MDC Wall Coverings. MDC offers a more flexible material that can be curved or flexed. But for the most part the designs are very similar.

And last but not least is Interlam Sculpted Wall Panels. They have the largest selection of designs and products by far including the dimension walls, screens, customizable panels, veneers and 3d weaves. Pictured below are some of my favorites but definitely check out their website for more.

Enjoy!

Love you Friday

Few things

Just in case you missed it in My Life...

I NEVER...
watch a TV show live

I CRAVE...
Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies

I ROCK... 
dancing in my undies

I SMELL...
like Ralph Lauren Romance, always

I LOVE...
my girls

I HAVE...
a boyfriend 

I WEAR...
MK's Glitz watch and love it

I READ...
about vampires

I COLLECT...
allergies

I ADORE... 
my mother

I NEED...
my mascara

I AM A FAN...
of Jim and Pam

Figured these could change daily, weekly... maybe even hourly. But for the most part they are me.

Shout out!

One of my Blogs To Love (Rebecca Dodson Photography), girlfriend, fellow interior design co-worker and uber-talented photographer, gave me a 'shout-out' on her blog!

Check it out here!

Her post is titled Polyvore which is an online design tool to create, browse or purchase items based on collage concepts. Of course I had to try it out. I title it "My Someday Living Room."

Enjoy

Future digs

I have been thinking about my future 'place' a lot lately. Don't know where I will be in a year, or maybe two, but would like a double-duty bed when I have the space. Unfortunately I do not have enough room in my current townhouse for a bed frame like this. Plus my bed is up against a window and I would not want to block the light and view with a heavy headboard.

This little treasure is from West Elm and is more on the pricey side. Ikea has some more inexpensive options but I am more in love with this one.

Someday.

Will anything ever work?

GTL

Ok, I know, Jersey Shore, really? 

I find myself questioning laundry vs. dry cleaning techniques or even stain issues when it comes to my clothes. Found several sites with remedies, how-to's and easy solutions and wanted to pass one on.

Great link for all your laundry questions from Real Simple.

Had to list these dreamy laundry rooms - wish I had one.

Have a fabulous Friday!

This is a test! First blog post sent from my cell phone. Technology is crazy, addicting, convenient... Love it!

Someone has stolen my heart

Val's Discount Warehouse.

Yes, Val's has my heart. If you have not been, you need to make the trip.

3920 Gunn Highway

Tampa, FL 33618

Had a complete, whole, entire day to myself and decided to take a trip (about a 30 minute drive) to Val's. Since my lovely roomie rearranged our entire living room it motivated me to clean, organize and go buy a little something new for my room. Had in mind a big ole' vase or maybe some eclectic candle holders or maybe some faux foliage... and ended up with none of the above. Extremely distracted by the Christmas decor sales.

My 2011 Christmas tree we be stunning! I plan on a hot, spicy, crimson, sexy, fiery, provocative tree. 

My purchase:

• red glitter ornaments (12) $4
• gold/burnt orange ornaments (12) $4
• creamy gold ornaments (12) $3
• glitter twigs (3 packs) $6
• gold ribbon (10 yards) $2
• large, gold, beaded ornaments (5) $1 each
• red, peacock feather ornaments (5) $1.50 each

Grand Total: $32

Lets just say I am extremely impressed with my bargain finds. 

My absolute favorite find are the burnt feather ornaments. I had to limit myself from buying ten boxes of them.

Hope you had a good Tuesday!

Steelcase

Last year Steelcase (the worlds biggest office furniture company) partnered with Crate and Barrel and Target to sell their task chairs to the residential population. Steelcase is known for their durability, ergonomics and aesthetic appeal in the latest and greatest furniture designs. The company has been working in  the commercial office space world for about 100 years and is now selling to the mass market.

Don't be alarmed by the chairs high price- the quality of these products beats any other residential chair manufacturer and is well worth the cost. The ergonomic adjustments offered on these task chairs are back saving. Having your office or work space set up correctly is key to a pain free and healthy work environment (check out the chart below). 

Plus they are not bad to look at.

The task chairs in the photos below can be found at Crate and Barrel.

Steelcase Think chair in leather

Steelcase Think chair in leather

Steelcase Think chair with mesh back

Steelcase Think chair with mesh back

Steelcase Cobi chair

Steelcase Cobi chair

Ergonomic chart that everyone should follow

Another partnership made was between Herman Miller and Costco. Herman Miller is another world wide office furniture manufacturer who produces quality products. I highly recommend buying from a commercial furniture manufacturer when purchasing key pieces of furniture for your home or office.