Best of MI...Ruthie Sommers...

Good morning!! Happy Fourth of July to all of you!  I have the day off and will be lounging.  I am watching Wimbledon right now and can't wait for the women's single and men's single finals this weekend.  I used to do a regular column called 'The Green Scene' and decided to run this with one of my favorite designers - Ruthie Sommers.  I highlighted her ability to recycle furniture that she sold in her now-defunct store in Hollywood.  Her design is timeless and looks just as great as it did in June 2010 when I did this post.  Do you like her designs?  Any favorites here? 

One reason I think Ruthie Sommers' design aesthetic is so popular is that she recycles and reuses furniture that she use to sell in her now-closed store in Hollywood,Chapman Radcliffe Home, and in her clients' homes too...here is a house in Hollywood she designed...

Notice the bedside table, which looks like a piece you would see in any consignment shop or Goodwill store repainted to look glamorous!...

 This room has an antique desk in the corner...looks lovely...

The kitchen has several recycled items...the chandelier is vintage, the Saarinen table by Knoll is a classic and the vintage chairs are reupholstered in candy colors...yummy...

This chair looks like it came from a consignment shop, redone with new upholstery...the sconces on the wall are vintage too...

Ruthie made this home more personal with items already owned and used...not brand new...it is a great way for the client to save money and own something unique...you can use organic fabrics too that don't cost a lot (more on that later)...I'll be back on Friday with the Fabulous Fabrics series - see you then!

Visit Ruthie Sommers website: http://www.ruthiesommers.com/

(original images for Traditional Home by Grey Crawford)

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Gotta have these...! (on a budget)

Here are my picks for this week's items that I gotta have, but, on a budget. 

I will be honest with you - I am tired of seeing decorating items to buy in sleek magazines that just cost too much money. Not many people have $1,000 to drop on a sofa, let alone any other piece of furniture. Re-use pieces, paint them, decorate them, anything you can do to recycle will cost you far less money. So, I thought I would highlight items from big box stores - K-Mart, Wal-Mart and Target. You can find virtually anything for your home and it doesn't have to cost the earth. Good taste is good taste is good taste, no matter what. So, tell me, do you agree?  Does it seem like magazines are pushing really expensive items in the middle of a deep recession?

A great big red clock available at Target for $28.34 -

this is a price cut -

This gorgeous graphic comforter set from K-Mart is available

in both Full and Queen for $29.99 - and it is on trend -

Ok, this is my favorite - a PINK SLIM TV! This is available

in pink, white and purple for $209.98 - it is 32" and at 

just 2" it is ultra slim. I have wanted a white TV for ages -

who wouldn't love to get rid of the black 'carbunkle'  TV (as I 

call it) dominating your living room?? 

(images Target, K-Mart + Wal-Mart)

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't have hundreds of dollars to spend

on home decor items.  It is no wonder thrift, consignment and second hand

stores are doing so well right now, especially in the Northeast US.  Next week,

we'll explore other big box stores and what they have to offer for any 

budget. 

Let me know your thoughts - thanks for stopping by!

If you need help decorating on a budget, please contact me for my great

pricing and first time customer discounts.

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