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Lux Tip: Arrange Bookshelves by Color

Filed under: Decor, Lux Tips

A simple way to brighten your living room is to clean up the look of your bookshelves.

First, have a look at where in the room they are. If you have valuable books, you want to avoid direct exposure to sunlight. Also, look at the lines the shelves create. Would the room look wider if the shelves were opposite the entrance instead of along the side walls? Could you arrange them around a corner with a chair to create a reading nook?

Once you're sure they're in the best possible place, dust them. Dust them like crazy. Dust them for real; take the books off the shelves and rag-dust.

Look at the books on the table or floor, wherever you've put them. Do you need all those? There's probably a stack you haven't touched in years. Is it an attractive stack of books? Unattractive books you don't ever use should go into storage.

Once you've got clean shelves and only the books you need, try arranging them by color. You can create all kinds of patterns; a rainbow, alternating chunks of reds and blues, lights and darks. Play around with stacking, as well. Lay some books horizontally in stacks to create bookends, or in the middle of a shelf, top a stack with a trinket.

You have nothing to lose; this is one of those rare decorating choices which is completely reversible. Why not try it?

It's just another easy way to make life more lux for cheap or free.

Lux Tip: Little Accents Make a Big Difference

Filed under: Decor, Lux Tips

If you want to spice up a room that looks a little bland, little accents can make a big difference.

One thing I recommend is to add luxurious, elegant details. A personal favorite would be the doorknobs and drawer pulls available from Anthropologie. A doorknob or drawer pull is such an easy thing to switch out, and the designs available can really change the whole look of a room. Think about adding drawer pulls like this one to an all-white kitchen.

Curtain rods are relatively simple to upgrade, too. A surprising place to find an affordable, chic curtain rod? Home Depot.

Sew a bead or bauble onto a pillow, or even use an old brooch or pin to liven up the look of a curtain. Tiny accents can make a whole room sparkle, and the details will make it feel more like home.

It's just another easy way to make life more lux for cheap or free.

Lux Tip: Wall Decor

Filed under: Decor, Art, Lux Tips

Pretty!Big empty walls getting you down? If you haven't found the perfect tapestry or can't get your Monet back from the Art Institute of Chicago, you've still got to put something on your wall to make it feel like home.

Get down to the local thrift store. Look through the art they have there. It's not likely to be any good, but you might get lucky; in any case, what you're looking for is the frames. In fact, the more horrendous the art, the better, because it's likely to be cheaper!

Get a couple vintage-looking frames and toss the prints of angels and hippie landscapes. If the frames are looking shoddy, spray paint them! A nice glossy black is very chic on a carved frame, or you can just do a touch up with gold paint or a nice stain. What to put inside? We don't recommend you try your own hand at painting--not for your wall. Why not get some cool paper from Papyrus or your local paperie, or frame an interesting piece of fabric?

It's just another easy way to make life more lux for cheap or free.

The 1984 Fishbowl by Danny Cheung

Filed under: Decor, Pets, Art, Children

I came across this gem while browsing pictures of unique children's rooms. Named The 1984 Fishbowl, this revamped design by Danny Cheung putts a modern twist on the age old glass fish bowl. It's quirky shape is eye catching, the windows are made of magnified glass providing a detailed look at your goldfish, while the opaque walls provide refuge. I love the retro look of this funky little fish bowl, it would make a stylish addition to any room, and I imagine kids would go nuts for it. Available online for $430.

Indoor Living Wall Planter

Filed under: Decor, Garden, Green

Apparently these stylish indoor wall planters are all the rage in penthouse apartments and cafes in Italy and Paris. We all know the benefits of having indoor plants: cleaner air, increased humidity, aesthetic appeal...so why stop at a few when you could do a whole green wall! These innovative planters feature a hinged panel that cleverly hides the water reserves, and neatly designed planting grids that allow you to easily plan your indoor garden. I love these but I'm not sure hanging them directly behind the couch is the best idea, guests don't usually like leaves in their hair! Available online

for $169 each.

Decor that Will (and Won't) Fly on a Private Jet

Filed under: Decor, Wings


The whole idea of having a private jet, besides the obvious privacy aspect, is that you get to have it decorated however you want, right? Maybe not, depending on exactly what features you're after. Any plane that wants to fly in U.S. airspace has the Federal Aviation Administration to comply with, and no matter how fancy you make it a plane just isn't any fun when it's stuck sitting on the ground.

On the bright side, many features can be modified or changed to where they're still enjoyable but don't break any laws -- like chandeliers are okay if they're retractable, and you can have all the heavy mahogany and big screen TVs you want as long as you're willing to trade off in terms of increased fuel and lower over-all capacity for things like passengers and cargo.

So what isn't okay, ever, on a plane? An open flame, which automatically rules out features like fireplaces and gas stoves.

But as long as you have a golden toilet, who cares.

2120, A Store For Palm Beach Modern

Filed under: Decor


Modern design seems to have a natural home in Florida, sunnier climates seem to be a better setting for clean lines and spare style. 2120, a modern design store in West Palm Beach is a haven for lighting and furnishings that are contemporary, witty and highly individual. Their website reveals many design finds including plenty of Philippe Starck, a splash of Eames and the sleek and simple pieces of Jasper Morrison. I am enthralled with this lucite armchair which sells for $3,750.

Christopher Spitzmiller Butternut Gourd Lamps

Filed under: Decor

butternut gourd lampThis time of year people often use pumpkins, squash and other gourds to decorate their homes. If you are looking to make that sort of look permanent you could invest in the ceramic butternut gourd lamps from Christopher Spitzmiller. Spitzmiller is a celebrated New York City-based designer who works with a small team of artisans to create each lamp. Each lamp is set in hardwood base cover with either 23k yellow gold or 9k white gold. The bases can also be finished in mahogany or enameled and come with an off white vellum paper shade. The lamp costs $1,475 for the standard wood base or $1,875 for the white gold base.

PB Teen

Filed under: Decor

Perhaps I'm just a bit late in catching on, but I didn't know that Pottery Barn had a site specifically for products for teens' rooms and back-to-school things. The site, PB Teen, is great. Unlike some of the furniture and decorative items marketed to the age range by other stores, everything appears to be very well put together and attractive - no bargain basement materials or shoddy workmanship. They offer beds, rugs, light fixtures and desks, in addition to many smaller items, including bags and bedding. They even have a selection of themed rooms to provide inspiration for someone moving into a dorm or a first apartment, as well as inspiration for parents who are looking to remodel the room of child.

Ice Centerpiece Molds

Filed under: Decor

While the Cool Ice Jewels are a nice touch of icy bling for drinks, sometimes something a bit larger is needed to really add flash to a party. Ice sculptures are nice, but they take lots of planning. It's so much easier just to make one at home using an ice mold. Simply fill up the mold and use it as a centerpiece, filled with candles or flowers, or as a serving bowl for fruits and ice creams. Just like a full-blown ice sculpture, it will catch the eyes of all your guests, like a giant diamond on the table. Use food colorings to add jewel-like colors to the tablescape, or freeze flowers or fruits right into the mold. Price: $29.99.

Murano Designer Lighting

Filed under: Decor

A new blog devoted to lighting, Pimp Lighting alerted us to the unique lighting options from Murano Designer Lighting. They fell for the Sole line which uses gorgeous Murano glass in extravagantly colorful starburst creations that can cost up to $39,900 for a 98"  chandelier and demand an equally impressive setting (a marble foyer perhaps). A lot less pricey and oddly charming are the Nido lights which look like glowing eggs in metal nests. They are part of Minital Lux's series of lights which mimic natural shapes. The Nido lights sell for $390 to $2,090.


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