Great gifts for the "already has everything" person!

It seems like gift giving is getting more difficult each year...it's so hard to find perfect gifts for my family and friends as they get older because they have everything! So this year, I am spending time looking for special and one-of-kind gifts. Here are some ideas that I came up with...

I love to give food and drink gifts...especially cocktail gifts. This cocktail shaker
from Paper Source takes the guess work out of making a perfect drink.
This would also make an excellent hostess gift. Another great idea would be
a vintage decanter paired with a bottle of their favorite liquor...

or fill a beautiful glass decanter with your favorite margarita mix!

You can't go wrong with a personalized gift. These pillows would be perfect for a
newlywed couple. Prices start at $11.69 from Sham Shak on Etsy.

For the college student or sports fan, Dooney & Burke has a line of

purses and wallets for almost every NFL. MLB and collegiate sports team.

For the chef, I love the idea of buying a vintage Pyrex dish and filling it with spices

(check out local spice shop) and maybe a few cooking gadgets. You can find great vintage

casserole dishes in almost every color and pattern on Etsy and Ebay.

These pins would make stocking stuffers or white elephant gifts.

Check out Get Badged for all sorts of badges!

For People who have 4-legged children, you can't go wrong with getting something for
their furry friend. I found his adorable advent calender from Noribees Crafties

For the Bookworm, I love this personal library kit from Anthropologie.
I can't tell you how many times that I have loaned out a book
and forgot when and who I let borrow it!

These tags (also from Anthro) are the cutest! And, the receiver will surely appreciate a
special monogrammed tag. The gift wrap can sometime make the gift extra special!

Final countdown for Fixer-Upper

Set your DVR....Fixer Upper's final season will begin Nov. 21 on HGTV. I have enjoyed watching this show over the years and I will miss seeing Joanna Gaines transform her magic makeovers every week. Of course, you can always visit Magnolia Market in Waco. They have made the little town of Waco, Texas a hot spot destination by opening up their many successful businesses, which includes a bed and breakfast, bakery, restaurant, garden, gift shop and much more.

Photo credit: Magnolia Market

Old stuff repurposed

It's no secret that I love to re-purpose old stuff. I've been freshening up antique furniture for years. I've found some fantastic recycled ideas on re-using furniture and everyday items on Etsy and Pinterest. Just thought I'd share.....

Love this idea of transforming an old suitcase into Hemingway Desk by Destinations Village.

Galvanized bucket repurposed into an ottoman by Knock Off Décor

These mid-century side tables are easy to find but they are not always in great condition. Fussy Monkey Business  had a genius idea to turn them into kid's furniture. Wish I had thought of this when my son was a toddler!

I am loving this beautiful piece of furniture by Morning Whispers Art!
A great way to cover up veneer or wood when it is damaged beyond repair.

Gus N Boots Lighting is featured at a shop in my neighborhood. They were one of the first to repurpose mason jars into lighting. Check them out on their Etsy page....GusNBoots

 

Last but not least....my stuff repurposed! Top photo is an old desk drawer lined with wallpaper that is made into a wall cubbie shelf. Bottom photo is a old cabinet door/glass knob/wallpaper that was re-purposed into a wall hook. Check out my Etsy site.....

Brushed Bureau

Halloween Haunting

If you are doing some last minute Halloween decorating, check out Pinterest for some great creepy ideas. Here are a few of my favs....

 These realistic ghosts are made from cheese cloth and Styrofoam mannequin heads.

Add dry ice for a scarier effect!

The more the scarier...found this on Pinterest. Love the arrangement of witches!

Re-create a scene from Alfred Hitchcock...simple, easy and cheap.

If you want to totally creep out trick or treaters, create this wreath of plastic snakes!

Chinoiserie Chic Style

I love Chinoiserie Chic style especially when it is updated in bold, bright colors and modern prints. It seems like Asian inspired home décor is popping up everywhere these days. I've also noticed that the Chinoiserie style furniture seems to go fast and furious at the antique auctions. I've been lucky to find a few items at reasonable prices. Below are a few of my favorite examples of Chinoiserie Chic...

A modern take on Chinoiserie style by Jonathan Adler. Love the bright orange cabinet!

I never get enough of Anthropologie! Loving these pillows and chairs from artist

Paige Gemmel. Her updated take on Palm Beach Chinoiserie is beautiful! 

A more conservative approach to Chinoiserie Chic is this lovely
hand knotted Tibetan wool and silk rug by The Rug Company

I'm loving this modern print fabric called

Escher Pagoda by Kelly Steele on Spoonflower

Check out this beautiful pink, feminine room by David Kaihoi featured in House Beautiful.

This wallpaper looks like a hand-painted mural....a great alternative to original artwork!

Getting benched

Getting benched is not fun...however, this kind of "getting benched" was a lot of fun! I purchased these two bench seats at a local antique auction. Then, picked up some colorful upholstery fabric for the seat cushions and painted them in coordinating colors. The top bench is painted a moss green with a bold floral eggplant colored fabric. I love the finished product! The bottom bench is a little more conservative with a bright green floral fabric and dark gray paint. You can check them out at the Sleepy Poet (vendor #1344, space N-14)....they are ready for a new home!

(Update: bottom green/gray bench is sold)

Just beachy on Bald Head

As promised, I decided to post a quick follow up on the Southern Living Idea House on Bald Head Island in NC. This gorgeous beach house has a laid back open style with several porches that welcomes outdoor living. Perfect for entertaining a large group...the ultimate party house! There are also a couple of wonderful design features that make this house unique...

1. Built for the warm beach climate. Love that the builder eliminated dry wall on the ceilings so the walls could breathe with less mold mildew buildup. An opening in the kitchen ceiling (see picture above) lets hot air escape upstairs, which means cheaper energy bills. 

2. Open to outside living. This is a popular concept but this house really takes advantage of opening up to outdoor living. There are many porches in this home, which includes a sleeping porch. The photo above shows retractable windows from kitchen to outside bar...who wouldn't love to eat lunch out on the porch or take advantage of cocktails after a long day on the beach?

3. Extra flexible living space. There's a separate living quarters with its own kitchenette attached to the house by a breezeway which makes it perfect for an office space, mother-in-law quarters or rental income.

The 2017 Southern Living Idea House is still open to the public for a short time. For more info, check out Southern Living. (Photo credit: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller) 

Moody blue

I've added another furniture piece to the store...a beautiful blue vanity desk. It has a fresh new coat of ASCP Aubusson Blue with a top layer of clear wax. It's distressed along the edges to give it that worn look. However, I decided not to go heavy with the distressing on this piece. I also kept the original brass federal pulls....the brass complements the blue nicely! I am guessing this desk is from the 1940-50s. And, it's ready to go to a new home! (update: This desk is SOLD)

What's "in store" for July....

I've been busy adding a few things to my space.....baskets, floral prints, barware (glasses, decanters, ice buckets, etc.), furniture and chalkboards. Come check us out at The Sleepy Poet.

 

 

Update: blue chest is sold

Campus Cool

It's that time again when college kids are scrambling to get their gear together. I recall my first college dorm that looked like a prison cell with two standard twin beds, desks and chairs. However, I was lucky enough to have roomie who loved decorating as much as I did. Her mom was an expert sewer so we picked a color scheme and my roommate's mom created curtains, pillows, etc. to match our bedding. We created an awesome room which was the envy of our college hall! I've put together a few cool products and ideas to help with the dorm room/apartment design dilemma...

Not your average dorm frig from Urban Outfitters.

Other colors also available.

Ikea is a must for back to school items.

Check out this stylish comfy swivel chair on sale.

Target also has the great pillows, lamps and rugs.

You can find great clearance deals this time of year.

Also, don't forget to check out Pinterest for creative ideas.

I found this awesome dorm decked out with vintage vinyl.

You can find great unique vintage stuff for little $ at

your local thrift stores and antique malls.

New look for the nook

Those small niches and nooks can be a pain to decorate! What was the builder and architect thinking? The most creative designers will find them frustrating. You can either try to hide them or bring attention to the area. I vote for focusing in on the small awkward spaces. I found some great inspiration by adding standout paint, wallpaper, exposed beams, etc. It's especially nice when you can redefine a small space and give it purpose. Check out some of my favs below...

Love this bold paint color! Great idea for a cozy nook in a small space

featured in Apartment Therapy

Awkward upstairs space which was re-designed into an office featured in Talo & Koti.

I love how the designer repurposed the difficult angled wall space

by adding these desks and cabinets.

This bookcase was re-purposed into a bar. It was part of a beautiful Brooklyn Brownstone renovation featured on Apartment Therapy. The wallpaper is by Hygge & West

Sloped ceiling space re-purposed into a closet. Love the window bench and rustic beams!

Décor Pad

Inspiration on the Island

The 2017 Southern Living Idea House is now open to the public for tours on Bald Head Island, NC. Just thought I would do a quick FYI post since many of you are headed to the NC coast for summer vacation. Tickets are $15 and you will need to be transported by ferry to the island. This part of the island is not accessible by car so you might also want to bring a good pair of walking shoes. I'm planning to visit this summer and hopefully post more pics. For more info, visit Southern Living.

What's "in store" for June (Part 2)

As promised, I am posting part two of newly added items that have been added to the store....

Rattan book/magazine rack in mint condition from the 1970s

 I am constantly adding barware to my space...they are popular items!

I was lucky enough to find this vintage gold ice bucket and Anchor Hocking Tartan pitcher!

(Update: pitcher is SOLD)

 

Vintage Asian artwork in gold bamboo frames

(Update: Both artwork is sold)

Blue/White Chinoiserie Monkey with basket on head. This monkey grabbed my  

attention at an estate sale. I almost kept him for myself...sorta felt bad about selling him.

He would make a great planter or perfect on a bar cart to hold lemons or olives. (update: sold) 

More brass from planters to candlesticks.

I had to restock because my inventory was getting low!

(Update: all brass is sold again) 

Also, coming soon are new lamps and a painted tall chest. I have not had time

to take photos but I will post pics on right (For Sale @ Sleepy) when they

  finally arrive in the store. As always, feel free to e-mail

if you have any questions about these items.