Reader Question: where do you find table linens?

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The most popular reader question I have received lately is where are you moving?!  

I'm going with another question for now: where do you get all your pretty tablecloths?

The truth is that I just keep my eyes open at every store.  You never know, you just might find something amazing at Safeway if you are looking.  I also do a lot of antique shopping and I love to peruse garage sales.  The older the house, the better linens you will find.  If you are on a tight budget (aren't we all?!), then I would definitely recommend just checking here and there to see what you can find.  But it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with beautiful linens so you know what to look for.  Here are some of my favorite designers for colorful table linens:

April Cornell is amazing - a little pricey, but if you are looking for good quality and beautiful colors she has it.

Cath Kidston I know I have mentioned her before, but she is a really great designer.  She has beautiful tablecloths, as well as pretty fabric that you can use to make your own.

Danica Imports is a wholesaler to keep your eyes open for.  They do have a list of sellers on their webpage.

If you want to make your own table linens, you can find some fun fabric at Heather Bailey or Amy Butler.  Etsy has some already made tablecloths from Amy Butler fabric.

Another brand to keep on your list is Xochi.  I believe the local Moscow TriState and the Coop sell Xochi brand.

And, of course, if you have kids, check out Oilcloth.  They come in beautiful, fun colors that you can wipe off and you never have to iron!

Reader Question: Painting Trim

"In my sun room currently the trim is a beige color and the walls are a light ivory. What do you think about trim being darker than the walls. Because my trim is so wide and such a neat feature I am torn. I would like to paint the walls a light color. Would painting it lighter make it stand out more or would the walls take over? So do you think I should paint the trim a lighter ivory-off white color or leave it darker?"

Beautiful trim is an amazing thing to have in a room. You can get away with very little art, barely any window treatment, and basic furniture and still have a gorgeous room. One way to get the trim to stand out is to paint it white and put a bolder, contrasting color on the wall. But this is overdone, and in a small room you often want a lighter wall. Trim can be beautiful when painted a color, but to make it really stand out you will need to know a couple of tricks.

First, choose a color that is a sharp contrast to your wall color.

Second, keep your walls very neutral (don't try to put dark blue on the trim and light blue on the wall, it will just look tacky).

Third, choose a glossier finish than the wall. If you are using eggshell on your walls, choose semi-gloss for the trim.

Hope that helps!

How to Decorate with No Time and No Money #4

Hope from http://www.ellisandhope.blogspot.com/ asked this question on last week's post. "maybe you already covered this, Lindsey, but do you have tips on how to figure out what your vision is when you feel like you like a bunch of different styles and influences?" This is such a great lead in to my next tip on decorating your own home without spending a lot of time or money.

Now that you have picked your three main colors, found inspirational pictures, and started editing, you have probably found that your "style" isn't limited to just one look. Or, perhaps, you live with other people and their stuff is also in your home. This is where you really have to get creative and start using your design eyes. You absolutely don't want your house to look like a magazine - we use them for inspiration, not for copying.

So, how do you incorporate all your favorite things into one "look"? If you have used your three main colors on many of the large areas of your home, then things should already be looking a little more pulled together. I have many different styles of furniture in my own home, but I try to keep them all coordinating by color because I love so many different styles.

Another way to make mixed styles work is to separate them by room. Kid's rooms are always a fresh palette - so if you are dying for something totally different from the rest of the house, go for it! Master Bedrooms are usually very separate too, and can handle a different look. If you are going to stray from your larger color palette, try it in these out of the way rooms.

Let's say, for example, that you have your grandmother's old bedroom set. It's beautiful, but the rest of your furniture is from Ikea and obviously not working with it. Just go ahead and decorate the bedroom to match the old set and try to pull in a color or two from the rest of the house. Learning to use color to your advantage is a huge step in good decorating. Designing well is all about making something work visually, and color can trick the eye better than anything else.

Another situation might be that you love the eclectic style of Anthropologie, but you also really like the clean looks in Pottery Barn. In this sort of a situation, you can pick elements that you like of each and use them. For example, you could go with a Pottery Barn style, but use colors that you find in Anthroplogie. Or you can use Anthropologie's mismatched style, but use textiles and and patterns that are a little cleaner like Pottery Barn.

The number one thing to remember when you are decorating is to fill your home with things that you and your family love. Yes, change the colors of things, edit things that really clash, create a vision, but don't be afraid to keep your grandma's afghan draped over a modern couch. The mix of styles is what makes it your home and the very best decorating is one with personality.

How to Decorate with No Time and No Money #4

Hope from http://www.ellisandhope.blogspot.com/ asked this question on last week's post. "maybe you already covered this, Lindsey, but do you have tips on how to figure out what your vision is when you feel like you like a bunch of different styles and influences?" This is such a great lead in to my next tip on decorating your own home without spending a lot of time or money.

Now that you have picked your three main colors, found inspirational pictures, and started editing, you have probably found that your "style" isn't limited to just one look. Or, perhaps, you live with other people and their stuff is also in your home. This is where you really have to get creative and start using your design eyes. You absolutely don't want your house to look like a magazine - we use them for inspiration, not for copying.

So, how do you incorporate all your favorite things into one "look"? If you have used your three main colors on many of the large areas of your home, then things should already be looking a little more pulled together. I have many different styles of furniture in my own home, but I try to keep them all coordinating by color because I love so many different styles.

Another way to make mixed styles work is to separate them by room. Kid's rooms are always a fresh palette - so if you are dying for something totally different from the rest of the house, go for it! Master Bedrooms are usually very separate too, and can handle a different look. If you are going to stray from your larger color palette, try it in these out of the way rooms.

Let's say, for example, that you have your grandmother's old bedroom set. It's beautiful, but the rest of your furniture is from Ikea and obviously not working with it. Just go ahead and decorate the bedroom to match the old set and try to pull in a color or two from the rest of the house. Learning to use color to your advantage is a huge step in good decorating. Designing well is all about making something work visually, and color can trick the eye better than anything else.

Another situation might be that you love the eclectic style of Anthropologie, but you also really like the clean looks in Pottery Barn. In this sort of a situation, you can pick elements that you like of each and use them. For example, you could go with a Pottery Barn style, but use colors that you find in Anthroplogie. Or you can use Anthropologie's mismatched style, but use textiles and and patterns that are a little cleaner like Pottery Barn.

The number one thing to remember when you are decorating is to fill your home with things that you and your family love. Yes, change the colors of things, edit things that really clash, create a vision, but don't be afraid to keep your grandma's afghan draped over a modern couch. The mix of styles is what makes it your home and the very best decorating is one with personality.