Fab-u-lous Pillows

from Etsy.com

I'm a card carrying member of T.P.A.A.   For those of you that don't know, that stands for Throw Pillow Addicts Anonymous.   I think this addiction started back in the day when the show Trading Spaces was on the air.   Hopefully I'm not the only one who remembers that show.....Vern Yip or Genevieve Gorder ring a bell for anyone??   Anyways, I loved that show.   And one of the most important things that I learned from watching the show is that the easiest way to change your decor is by changing the throw pillows.   It's fairly inexpensive too.  

Photo from designer Caitlin Wilson's blog

If you're ambitious, you can always seek out cute fabrics and sew your own (or do a no-sew version).   But there are plenty of gorgeous pre-made options too.   There are some amazing designer options available right now that feature the trendy mod patterns, but you can also find more inexpensive options at places like HomeGoods, Target, etc.  

Pillows on my couch
(left, Chevron from Target $19.99
right, Caitlin Wilson Pillow Cover $70)

I have absolutely no qualms about using a combination of the two.   Currently, I have chevron pillows (from Target, $19.99) and interlocking trellis pillows (covers from Caitlin Wilson Textiles, $70) side by side on the couches in my living room.   I like mixing different styles so that the room doesn't look so "matchy-matchy".



Pillow by Willa Skye Home via Etsy

Photo from Sew Mama Sew

Designer Tip:  If you want your pillows to look like the ones that you see in designer home magazines, ditch the poly-fill pillow inserts, and opt for feather pillow inserts instead.  Not only are they WAY more comfortable, but they look more elegant and are easier to shape and fluff too.   Normally these kind of inserts run in the $60-$80 range. 

However, I found a great alternative at Crate & Barrel.  (Here's the link:  http://www.crateandbarrel.com/search.aspx?query=pillow%20inserts )  These feather inserts are available in a wide array of sizes, and they are allergen-free.  I ordered the 18x18 and the 20x20 sizes, and I was impressed by the quality.   I really wasn't expecting much when I placed the order, because I didn't think that they would be exactly what I was looking for, mostly because they were so cheap.   But they completely surpassed my expectations, and they are exactly the same as the $80 feather version!

Caitlin Wilson Textiles

DL Rhein

Try to look for pillows that are have covers; make sure they have a zipper where you can remove the pillow cover off of the pillow itself.   That way, the fabric on the pillow can be removed and washed if it gets dirty.   And FYI, don't knock your Grandma's advice to use Scotch Guard.   Using a very light spray coating of Scotch Guard makes the fabric stain and water resistant, and it also protects the colors of the fabric as well!

Lilly Pulitzer comes Home!

If you're a lover of all things Lilly Pulitzer, you should check out her home furniture and accessories line.   I'm a fan of Lilly, but the idea of having all-over prints in my home didn't really appeal to me at first.   But when I took a look at her furniture designs and fabrics designed especially for the home, I fell head over heels in love!

picture from Lilly Pulitzer home collection preview

 The best way to describe her home line is 'Lilly inspired '.   For the most part, it doesn't look like a Lilly fabric factory threw up all over someone's living room ;).   The pieces are upscale chic, and have a more grown-up Boca Raton feel to them.   And as you might expect, bright white is a common theme in her home collection.   You also see a lot of bamboo caning details, asian architectural influences, and pops of Lilly's signature pink, sunshine yellow, and soft blue.   Very fresh and fun.

picture from Palm Avenue boutique

If you fall in love with Lilly's new venture just like I did, be prepared to spend big.   The sticker prices of her Lilly Pulitzer home collection put her in the high-end furniture spectrum, with couches and chairs running in the two to four-thousand dollar range.   Then again, she also has things like placemats, mugs, napkin rings, and pillows that are all under $100.  


Online, you can find her collection at places like horchow.com, neimanmarcus.com, and garnethill.com.   I've also noticed that a lot of the Lilly Pulitzer "via" shops (merchants authorized and licensed to sell Lilly Pulitzer, who buy their products wholesale directly from the designer) are starting to carry furniture collections.   The idea is to create a Lifestyle boutique for brand loyalists to be able to buy everything from clothes-to-home all in one spot.   Either way, if you have the opportunity to see these in person, do so!   Just like her clothes, everything in her home line is very well-done with impeccable attention to detail.

Pretty in Pink

I'll admit it: I've never been brave enough to take pink full-fledged in any area of my life, especially home decor.  Unless you count my bedroom when I was 5, or that one time in my college where I had 2 pink pillows in my apartment....but I'm pretty sure that doesn't count.  With super bright colors making a come-back recently, I'm now falling in love with pink for the first time.... especially hot pink and magenta.  It's hard not to "go over to the dark side" (as I like to call it) after you see some of the amazingly gorgeous rooms from top designers featuring this color. 



Tobi Fairley

design by Windsor Smith (from Housebeautiful.com)

These days, nearly every store you walk into has a collection featuring some variation of pink.  Designers like Lilly Pulitzer, Robert Kaufman, Amy Butler, & Caitlin Wilson are incorporating this fresh and fun color into their fabrics more than ever.  Interior designers seem to be embracing the color with renewed passion, as seen in the portfolios of some of the most renowned (as well as fresh new faces): Jonathan Adler, Nate Berkus, Cozette Coffman, Vanessa De Vargas, Krista Ewart, & Tobi Fairley just to name a few.

 

Pantone Inspiration: Fuschia, Watermelon, Rose, Blush, Salmon, Magenta, Carnation, Honeysuckle, Pale Pink, Pink Flambe

Playful Patterns: Ikat, paisley, interlocking caning, greek key, stripes, polka dots, floral, chevron, stripes, scroll, bohemian embroidery, toile, seersucker, chinoise, fretwork, trellis

Even though I seriously doubt that my hubby will endorse a massive pink room makeover anytime soon, I'm happy to say that one thing is for sure: Pink isn't for little girls anymore!  It's all grown up, and sophisticated in a whole new way that will make even the most staunch "pink hater" give it a second look.