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Tuesday Huesday: Picnic-Ready Prints, Updated

by Liz Gray April 2, 2013 5 Comments

If we were playing a word association game about patterns, “picnic” would be the first thing I’d pair with “red gingham.” (Closely followed by “vintage apron.”) There’s something incredibly homey about the pattern, which this sweet found object collage by Mandy Lynne Design captures so well.

I’d never considered taking the pattern from picnic table to focal point until I saw this amazing living room. It takes the gingham wallpaper often associated with, say, ’80s country decor and ornamental chickens squarely into this century by pairing it with eclectic accents like the hand-carved mantel and original artwork. The incredible floral rug makes the perfect visual counterpoint.

Red, Mint + Teal Vintage Living Room Color Palette - Tuesday Huesday on Design Happens

Vintage Fabric Collage :: Gingham + Floral Living Room

What say you: Would you feel at home with the plaid and floral combination?

Menswear-Inspired Gift Wrap + How to Make a Ribbon Rose

by H. Camille Smith December 12, 2012 13 Comments

The holidays are sneaking up on us fast! Hanukkah began this weekend and Christmas will be here in less than 2 weeks. If you’re like me, you’re in gift wrapping crunch mode.

Honestly, wrapping gifts is one of my favorite things about the holidays but wrapping guys’ gifts can be tough — the trick is to keep them seasonal and masculine. For my mens’ gifts this year, that means this awesome blue plaid ribbon (love!) and handy-dandy, works-with-anything Kraft paper.

Another Kraft paper bonus: Thanks to its thickness, you can paint it without rippling the paper. So for Grant’s gift, I painted on a chalkboard gift tag then topped it with a blue plaid ribbon rose (in honor of his bowtie obsession) and a sparkly snowflake ornament. Chalkboard Gift Wrap With Handmade Ribbon Rose

Step 1: I planned to add the ribbon rose on one side and have the chalkboard tag take up most of the remaining space so I first taped on a band of ribbon to determine the tag’s placement. Next I used a ruler to mark out a rectangle, leaving the corners unmarked. To round the tag’s corners, I sketched around a small tin then erased any pencil marks that wouldn’t be covered by the chalkboard paint. chalkboard gift wrap

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Daily Delight: Red Plaid Bedding

by Grant Dudley August 23, 2012 14 Comments

I’m a single guy in the market for new bedding. And let me tell you, it is not easy to find a masculine look with some semblance of color. I don’t want all this black, brown and navy blue that I seem to find everywhere — come on, not all dudes are afraid of a brighter hue here and there.

It appears that Bed Bath + Beyond has come through for me, though. I’m sold on their Willamsport Plaid collection.

Plaid Bedding

Am I the only person who struggles to find non boring, non floral bedding?

MORE ON BEDDING FROM DESIGN HAPPENS

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Daily Delight: My Dream Cereal Bowl and Spoon

by Briana Mowrey January 15, 2012 10 Comments

Waking up early on weekends usually means taking the dog for a walk, and maybe grabbing a cup of coffee from the neighborhood café. But sometimes I long for the days when it meant coming downstairs before my parents were even awake, pouring a bowl of cereal for myself and settling in with some cartoons. When I saw the Obol and this Alexander Teaspoon, they had me wishing for a giant box of Cap’n Crunch.

cereal bowl and spoon

I think the Obol’s “never-soggy” design is so smart! (It’s easy to get distracted by cartoons and then Cap’n Crunch can turn into Cap’n Mush). You can scoop in as much as you want for each single bite. And I love the Alexander spoon. For some reason, acrylic spoons have a much nicer mouthfeel to me than metal, and you can’t beat that plaid for a little pizzazz in the morning. The only downside may be having to fight family members to get “your bowl and spoon.”

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Daily Delight: Scotty Dog Ornaments

by Briana Mowrey November 25, 2011 1 Comment

I just got an email from the store Plasticland, and its subject line sums up my plans for the day: “Deck the halls and avoid the malls!” Christmas music was already all over the radio on Wednesday when we made the drive from NYC to my mother’s house in South Jersey. Now, fueled by leftovers and some great ideas from the new issue of Sweet Paul Magazine — like these Scotty Dog Ornaments — the decorating begins.

scotty dog ornaments

Photo: Dana Gallagher

As much as I love some of the old ornaments we’ve collected for sentimental reasons, the idea of making ornaments fills me with the holiday spirit. Plus, these cute canines couldn’t be easier to craft. All you need is tartan fabric, card stock, glue, scissors and some string. I doubt we’ll want to neglect all the old ornaments entirely, so I’m thinking these doggies will get their own tree — a smaller one that we’ll keep in the bedroom. (Another perfect second tree perch? The porch.)

Perhaps this is the start of an all-new tradition! Or maybe I’m just mad for plaid…

Collegiate Patterns: Fond Memories Of Fall + Preppy Style

by Brian Patrick Flynn September 8, 2011 16 Comments

I have a love/hate relationship with the beginning of autumn, almost as if I’m Robert Redford and autumn is Barbra Streisand and we live on a planet in The Way We Were galaxy. Hate: My allergies act up and throw off my productivity. Love: I’m instantly brought back to the late 1990′s during my college days in Tallahassee, Florida. While lots of people have fond memories of funnels and blacked-out blurs, I think of open windows on breezy afternoons, piles of leaves on the sidewalks and the very angry lyrics of one Ms. Alanis Morissette playing in my black/tan 1993 Jeep Wrangler. But above all, I think of the iconic style that goes along with college: tartan, plaid, varsity letters and the overall preppy vibe that is early-twentysomething-ness.

While sourcing materials for my latest bachelor clients, I’ve been noticing how drawn I am to all things preppy. There’s something classic and graphic that goes along with the style; it also works well with different aesthetics, from uber-traditional to contemporary or mod. As I compiled ideas for clients, I came across some textile-ish items sporting that collegiate look. Whether you’re looking for that perfect comforter or plan to cover your adult office in Ralph Lauren tartan, here are some collegiately stylish items available online that evoke that studious feel. You know who wishes he could be studying shelter magazines right now but he can’t due to his sinuses killing him? Me. The love/hate relationship with autumn is in full effect.

BEVERLY HILLS POLO

The Beverly Hills Polo Club Argyle 3-Piece Comforter Set in navy from Amazon.com is a cost-effective way to add a studios look to any bedroom. Add a few accents of hot pink to give it a girly edge or pair it with fire engine red or lime green for a colorful, masculine look.

ethan tartan wallpaper

Ralph Lauren has been King of the Preppies since the 1970′s. His Ethan Tartan wallpaper is insanely affordable and a great way to add classic, preppy elegance to just about any room. At $60 per roll, it’s possible to cover a teency weency powder room for less than $250. There are two options: green/blue and red/green. Personally, I’m drawn to the red since it’s a bit more gender neutral.

Flor Plaid

How many people do you know with plaid floors? Exactly! FLOR’s Pop Tartan adds a graphic touch of preppy right underfoot. This is exceptionally wonderful for students looking to dress up their dorms or for families with kids since the product is totally reusable. Just stick the carpet tiles down in whatever configuration is needed now, then pull them down and lay ‘em in your next place. If you get a stain on a square, simply swap it out.