Friday Find: Chic, Eco-friendly Chandelier

Who says going green can’t be stylish?

In honor of our earth, today’s Friday Find is a glamorous light fixture by Jane Gray for Stray Dog Designs available at Green with Glamour. The drum pendant is made of antiqued mirror disks edged in recyclable tin surrounding a four armed chandelier. Handmade by artisans in Mexico, the fixture retails for $625.

Happy Earth Day!

Friday Finds: Decorating with Yellow

A burst of sunshine. Fresh squeezed lemonade. Sunflowers in full bloom. These are just some of the images that come to mind when I think of the brightest color on the color wheel, yellow. Adding yellow {in any amount} to an interior design brings energy to the space. The color is often referred to as cheery and who doesn’t want a little dose of that? So today’s Friday Finds are all in the happy hue of yellow.

1.GiGi Nightstand at Urban Outfitters, 2.Carnaby Hollywood Vase by Jonathan Adler, 3. Ceylon Table Lamp - Bungalow 5 at Tonic Home, 4. Coco Cozy Throw in Cane Yellow, 5. Pair of Citron Foo Dogs at Pieces, 6. Modernist Bowls at West Elm, 7. White Chakki in Maize Spade by Serena & Lily, 8. Ishtar Yellows by Barry Dixon for Vervain.

How about you? Do you decorate with yellow?

Friday Find: Colorful Iron Garden Chairs

A week of non-stop rain has me longing for sunshine and outdoor entertaining. Wouldn’t these colorful iron garden chairs by British designer David Le Versha be delightful on any patio? This playful collection was inspired by wrought iron fencing would be great paired with traditional, contemporary or modern outdoor furnishings.

 

This turquoise beauty would be my first pick! All are available at Anthropologie.

Happy Friday!

Friday Find: Chic Lantern Lighting by Urban Electric Co

I’ve been on the lookout for just the right lantern pendant in an entryway. The selection of fabulous lighting at Urban Electric Co. has always been impressive, but I am loving the variety of lantern lighting currently available. I’ve selected some of my favorites to show you. 

Urban Electric features several lighting collections by designers such as Mark Maresca and Michael Amato. Some of my favorite lanterns they designed appear above.

Another remarkable lighting collection represented by Urban Electric is by designer Amanda Nisbet.  She brilliantly infuses some bright, playful color in her lighting collection. Gorgeous!

Simplified Bee has been nominated for the Circle of Moms Top 25 Design Blogs! Thank you to everyone that has voted so far! And I realized you can vote once every day until March 21 - just click on the thumbs up. Thank You!

Friday Finds: Fun & Vintage Organizing Products

I am always on the lookout for fun products to help organize our homes. So when I came across these vintage-inspired reproductions at Urban Outfitters, I knew they would make a great Friday Finds:

1. Industrial Metal Wall Shelf – great for organizing magazines, files or dishes.

2. Tote-All – perfect for holding kitchen utensils, art supplies or pens & pencils.

3. Stacking Wire Baskets – would be a great addition to a mudroom to store hats, mittens and scarves. 

4. Public Transit Authority chalkboard – excellent for centralizing communication in a busy home.

Happy Organizing & Happy Friday!

Friday Find: Super Chic Poufs

Who doesn’t love the cute, practical and kid-friendly pouf? Perfect for extra seating, resting your heels or adding a touch of whimsy. In any case, you can't go wrong. Here are some super chic poufs that have won my heart:

1. Jaggery Pouf by John Robshaw, 2. Shag Pouf at Calyso St. Barth, 3. Leather Pouf at Calypso St. Barth, 4. Pink Moroccan Leather Pouf at Serena & Lily, 5. Kuba Jaipuri Pouf at Calypso St. Barth, 6. Wool Stool at Clayton Gray Home, 7. Knitted Poufs at CB2, 8. Mushroom Pouf at Anthropologie

Any of these stylish poufs catch your eye?

Also, Morgan at the creative & fun, Pepper Design Blog is interviewing me today {grin}... to read it please drop by here.  

Happy Friday!!!

Friday Find: Wallpaper Collection by Galbraith & Paul

Since 1986, Galbraith & Paul has been captivating us with their beautiful hand block printed fabrics and lighting shades of silk, linen and velvet.  They also create gorgeous made to order hand-tufted rugs to the trade. 

Jumping into one of the hottest design trends this decade, Galbraith & Paul recently released a new collection of wallpaper that elegantly echos the artisan hand of their printed fabrics. 

The collection offers a wide variety of fresh and fun color palettes in classic patterns that range from subtle to bold. All are beautiful. Take a closer look here.

What’s your take on wallpaper – love it or not?

Friday Find: Cute Mobiles for the Baby’s Nursery

New year, new baby? With several recent requests for design tips on decorating nursery rooms, today’s Friday Find is dedicated to cute mobiles. In addition to offering a baby some visual entertainment, the mobile can help pull a theme or color scheme together. With so many adorable options today, I couldn’t pick just one, so here is a sampling of mobiles that caught my eye:

Above: 1.Crawling Critter Mobile 2. Handmade Eli Elephant Nursery Mobile  3. Kushies Zolo Mobilo 4. In the Jungle Mobile

Above: 1.Flights of Fancy Mobile with Peanut 2. DwellStudio Sparrow Mobile 3. 5 Little Birds Told Me {custom} 4. Jolie Petite Chose Bird Cage Mobile

Above: 1. Around the World Mobile 2. Regatta Mobile with 5 Sailboats 3. DwellStudio Transportation Mobile 4. Balsa Wood Hanging Planes

Once you have selected the perfect mobile for your nursery, make sure you know how to hang it safely so that it won’t harm the baby. Go here to learn how.

Happy Friday!

Friday Find: The Future Perfect

Brrrr - It’s getting cold outside. This morning I just wanted to turn off the alarm clock and stay bundled up in bed. Doesn’t a sleep-in, cozy breakfast in bed with a good book kinda day sound just right? So today’s Friday Find features items from  The Future Perfect that would be perfect for a lazy winter morning. Showcasing the newest and best in decorative arts and design, The Future Perfect is a mecca that offers extraordinary talent from New York and the world.

Image Above: 1. Himmeli Small Pendan by Paul Loebach; 2. Nos Da Throw by Donna Wilson; 3. Fox Cushion by Donna Wilson; 4. Sprig Mug by Donna Wilson; 5. Compendium of Interior Styles by Francois Baudot; 6. Breakfast in Bed Tray by Donna Wilson; 7. Gold Milk Jug by Selett; 8. Antiquaires: Flea Markets of Paris by Laure Verchere; 9. Speak – er by the.

Happy Friday!

Friday Find: PetitNest - Infant & Children's Room Furnishings

It was all the buzz at the recent ABC Kids Show in Las Vegas: PetitNest. The modern classic collection of infant & children’s room furnishings offers fresh decor solutions for young families. PetitNest is the product of Hollywood style-savvy moms: actress Tiffani Thiessen {currently starring in the hit USA Network television series "White Collar"} and  interior designer Lonni Paul {finalist from HGTV’s "Design Star"}.

Offering bedding that is nontraditional {no more boy = blue or girl = pink}, PetitNest 's color palettes are perfect for a gender neutral nursery design and couple's  waiting until birth to learn the sex of their baby. In addition, the patterns and colors allow families to uphold the same high standards of style and design throughout their home in their children’s rooms.

The giant tree pictured above will soon be available in a flat form to hang on nursery room walls. White bird decals currently available at PetitNest can be used in combination with the tree or you could add your own monkey, squirrel or owl to coordinate with your room's theme.

Beautiful form meets high function - love it! PetitNest creates multi-use furnishings such as the Sophie Dresser above {available in beech, walnut and white}. By adding a simple changing table, the dresser is ready for all those diaper changes. When its time the changing table is removed and the dresser may either stay in the toddler's room, be placed in an entry or serve as a small buffet in a dining room. It's not inexpensive at $1,650, but a solid investment that will last long beyond baby’s first years. PetitNest collection will also be eco-friendly and certified by the Sustainable Furnishings Council. 

For more on this up-incoming company, be sure to visit their website at PetitNest or see a video interview on Project Nursery.

Do you like the look?

*images via Project Nursery & PetitNest

Friday Find: “Hope” Pink Crib for Baby Girl

In an effort to continue to raise awareness about breast cancer this month, today’s Friday Find is the special edition "Hope" Crib by Little Crown Interiors and Newport Cottages Furniture. Not only is this crib beautiful, it's for a great cause; For every "Hope" Crib sold, Little Crown Interiors and Newport Cottages will make a donation to Breast Cancer Research.

The pink crib gives parents the opportunity to donate to breast cancer research, while providing their baby girl with a customized and bench-crafted crib. Every "Hope" Crib features customizable fabric end panels, to coordinate with various nursery styles and color palettes. Love the crib above {top pix} with pink, blue & white Caden Lane bedding.

To commemorate each donation and serve as a reminder of its purpose, each "Hope" Crib will come with a custom plaque for a personalized sentiment . Whether parents wish to leave a message of love for their little girl, or dedicate the crib in honor of a survivor or loved one lost to breast cancer, the crib will stand as a testament to their dedication  to helping find a cure for this tragic disease.

Your invited to celebrate! Little Crown Interiors and Newport Cottages would like you to join in a  special celebration of the "Hope" Crib: Thursday, October 14, 2010 from 4pm - 7pm at the Newport Cottages Store in Fashion Island, Newport Beach, CA. See the beautiful crib in person, in a nursery setting created by Little Crown Interiors. Items throughout the design will be raffled off, with proceeds to benefit Breast Cancer Research of course.

On another "pink" note, the on-line auction for the Pink Wishbone Project started yesterday... you have until October 28th to make a bid on one of these fabulous, one-of-a-kind chairs.

Also, today is the last day to enter to win a custom window shade by Redi-Shade... go here.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

 

*images courtesy of Little Crown Interiors

Friday Find: Exotic Storage Bins & Baskets from Serena & Lily

Conquering clutter while still be style-savvy is important here at Simplified Bee.  So when I spotted these chic, worldly and functional storage options at Serena & Lily , my heart went pitter patter. Made of hand-hammered aluminum in Indonesia, the Kuta Tin Boxes {above} are gorgeous and would be a great addition in just about any room of the house. Mine would hold craft supplies.

Handmade in Africa, these zigzag patterned Senegalese Storage Baskets are a  fun way to store everything from toys to laundry. Each is unique and made from strips of recycled plastic - love that they are earth-friendly too!

 

Inspired by Indonesian wedding baskets used to hold offerings to the gods, the vibrant Bali Baskets are a winner in my book too. Available in mint {shown}, azure and cherry and made of  sturdy woven bamboo.

It's hard for me to pick my favorite. Do you have one?

Friday Find: Sang and Serena Inlaid Furniture & Hand-blocked Textiles

After writing this article on Bone Inlaid Furniture and Decor , I was introduced to a wonderful , eco-friendly company called Sang and Serena.  The company embodies three concepts when designing its furniture and textiles: eco-luxe, East-meets-West, and old world-new needs. Every item that they design and import is environmentally sensitive, rich to the eye and to the touch and a fusion of cultures.

Here is what Sang and Serena have to say about their stunning inlaid furniture pieces:

"The art of inlay work within India dates back to the 17th century. During that time, precious and semi-precious gemstones along with marble were used as the primary mediums for this form of craftsmanship.

Today, inlay work persists. Sang and Serena obtain their furniture from the Indian state of Rajasthan, where the art is practiced using regionally sourced bone and mother of pearl. The bone is extracted from camels that have passed on naturally; its cream-colored opacity manages to exude an elegant rusticity. Meanwhile, the mother of pearl is separated from the outer shells of water-dwelling mollusks; its shine is incredible, opalescent."

 

Sang and Serena released a beautiful and vibrant collection of hand-blocked textiles. It includes six exclusive quilt designs available in king, queen and single sizes. The patterns are visually rich. And the texture {100% cotton} is soft to the hand. Here are my favorites:

 

To learn more about these one-of-a-kind, handmade pieces or to make an order, visit Sang and Serena.

Also, it's not too late to enter to win two throw pillows of your choice! Go here to enter.

Happy Friday!

Friday Find: Back-to-School Labels by Emily Press & Discount

Labeling items such as supplies, jackets and backpacks is another important step in organizing for back-to-school and increases the odds of items returning home at day's end. Traditional sticky labels are easy to make at home, but don't always hold up over time and aren't always the right size. Emily Press Labels to the rescue! First seen on Project Nursery, these hip labels are today's Friday Find.

Emily Press Labels are great because they are highly functional and durable, yet style-savvy. Available in a variety of sizes and types, the super stick-on labels are customizable with trendy color palettes, playful characters and fashionable designs.

Keeping cost in mind, I was instantly drawn to the value of the School Label Packets. There a few options to choose from, but the First Class School Label Pack is a winner and only available until Sept 30, 2010. It includes It includes 93 personalized including shoe labels, tag-a-tag clothing labels and dishwasher safe slim labels. The tag-a-tag labels are designed to stick right on clothing tags and not wash off in the laundry. 

The shoe labels are my favorite! Can't wait to get my order. 

To get 10% off your next order, enter code PROJ10 at checkout. Order soon though, the offer expires September 7, 2010.

Happy Organizing & Happy Friday!