Lace Packaging Tape

I am so crazy over this packaging tape. I'm always looking for fun ways to dress up my kraft paper packages.


Get it here or here. Or make your own by purchasing some cheap and lightweight ribbon or lace at the fabric store and carefully laying it on the sticky side of your clear packaging tape before taping up your box.


PS Sorry the posting around here has been so slow lately. We've been busy soaking up our last week in New York (we leave for Brussels on Friday). I'm not sure if or when posting will pick up again, but that's the joy of Google Reader right? You don't have to waste time checking up on blogs that haven't been updated. :)
PPS Wish me luck on the trans-Atlantic flight. I am *not* so excited about that...
PPPS I am super excited though about this park right by our new apartment in Brussels!

Speaking of Domino and Cheap Beds...

Did you notice that the headboards used in this adorable room featured in Domino (I can't get over this color combination!) are from Target?


I think $249 each is a pretty great price point and if I was in a pinch to get a guest room decorated, I would totally buy these headboards. If I had some time though (not to mention, another room to decorate), I would make my own headboards using the following:

Plywood, cut to fit by my friendly neighborhood Home Depot dudes:
Upholstery grade batting (available at most fabric stores):


Red linen or twill fabric. Since I am on a budget, I would probably use my 40% off coupon at JoAnn's or check what's available on eBay. No need to pre-wash my fabric, since I'm upholstering (not making a washable slip cover):

Trusty PowerShot staple gun... a girl's best friend (well, along with her hot glue gun):Upholstery nail strips (these make for very straight lines when you only have to put in one stud for every five nail heads):


I'm definitely putting this room in my book for later. I think it's a great, expensive look, but a really cheap and easy project.

Pottery Barn Teen

Who knew that Pottery Barn Teen was such a gold mine? I must have missed the memo, because, while there are a lot of teeny-bopper items to sift through, look at all these gems (as a bonus, all of these are on sale, too):

The Convertible Couch
I love the slate color of this apartment size sofa that converts into a bed for overnight guests.
It reminds me a lot of the Crate and Barrel Petrie Sofa. For less than half the price.The Reese Chair.
I think the navy is fun.
In a weird sort of way, I think it looks like the poor man's Anthropologie Astrid chair:
The Ooh La La Chairs
These French-inspired chairs are really cute and cheery. They would look great as a pair against a wallpapered wall, flanking a dark-stained secretary or a sideboard. I especially like the blue-green chair up front in the picture.


The Heirloom Bed
What a pretty bed. It comes in white, too. The look is definitely too much when displayed as a whole set, but as a singular piece in a bedroom full of furniture with straighter lines, I think this bed would look great.


Parlor Stool
I'm a sucker for anything with box pleats. And monograms.
The Maison Campaign Bed
Umm, hello! This is so similar to the bed from that wonderful Domino bedroom...**
**I'm pleased (and also embarrassed) to admit that while searching for this Domino image online (I couldn't locate it in my files for some reason), I saw that Nick Olsen from Domino Online also pointed to this exact PB Teen bed as a cheap substitute for recreating this room. I'm also probably the last to know...

Vintage Maps as Art

The May issue of Traditional Home magazine focused a lot on accessories for the home. They featured several famous designer's favorites. I love Thomas O'Brien's suggestion: frame vintage and antique regional maps. He collects antique maps of New York that were published around the time his home was built in the mid 1800's.

I really love decorating with beautiful and personalized objects and art. If we have a big open wall in our next house, I'd love to frame antique maps of all the places we've lived since Michael and I have been married.

Our journey together began in Arizona, where we grew up only a few short miles from each other, although we didn't meet until January 2003.


We moved to Cambridge, MA in 2006 for Michael's law school.

We lived in Washington D.C. during the summer of 2007.


Then back to the Boston area for another year of school.


This summer we're living in New York and

Brussels.

Next year we'll move back to New York after Michael graduates.


All of the photos and maps from this post were found on eBay using the search words "antique map" plus a city name. Many of these are really inexpensive and all are originals (make sure the one you bid on is not a reproduction, if you want a quality look).

Do you have any favorite ideas for unique, personalized (and inexpensive) art or accessories? Share with us!