Whole Living

Here's a great article on how to incorporate "Wabi Sabi," the Japanese term for embracing imperfection in your life and home, from Whole Living. It truly is the simple things that can make everyday life more enjoyable. Also, I am inspired by Hilary Thomas' website and her approach to design. She follows the same mantra, to "find beauty in the imperfect." Although her interiors look pretty close to perfection to me. Enjoy perusing if you have a moment. She's also featured on One Kings Lane right now in a Tastemaker Tag Sale. Have you signed up for their e-mails yet? You won't regret it!

CoffeeTable Books

I'm guest blogging on Sandhillsdig.com today, a great website started by my friends and Moore County natives, Anna and Wes Smith. Click here for the post and enjoy checking out their site. If you live here or want to come visit, it's the best insider's guide around! Here's a sneak peek of the post:

Insider Tip!

Maybe this is just news to me but I was excited to learn that most big box stores like West Elm, Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn, will ship at no charge if you find something on line that you like and then call a store and order it directly from them. I was about to order these knobs on-line and the shipping was $14! But I called the Raleigh store and they shipped them same day at no charge.




Last year I found some outdoor pillows from West Elm that I loved and the website said they were no longer available. I called their Charlotte store and they had them in-stock, half price and they shipped them for free that day! Speaking of West Elm, they have some neat new collaborations right now with Benjamin Moore, Lutz & Patmos (above), Sesame Letterpress (above) and more!

Inspired!

Furniture Market in High Point did not disappoint this year!

A couple of my favorite discoveries were Charlie West Pottery & Lamps Charlie West is a potter from Cleveland, GA and his lamps are one-of-a-kind works of art (if ordering a pair, they should be ordered together). They begin as a piece of clay and after being shaped and fired, they are beautifully and artfully glazed. They are true statement pieces and I can't wait to place them in a client's home.



Beautiful pillows and accents from Busbin Fine Home Furnishings in Charlotte, below and at the top of the page.


Bungalow 5 is always fun to visit! Their brightly-colored furniture and accents are hard to pass by.


These products are sold exclusively to interior design professionals. By hiring a designer, you have access to a whole new world of possibilities for your home. No one should be limited to the same old catalogue of choices!

To Market, To Market

Busy week, furniture market, trip to Raleigh to visit my very talented photographer-friend, Sara, and lots of client work and appointments. I'll return with the design inspiration I'm sure to gain at market.

Special Reader Discount!!

I am so excited to announce that this weekend, the personalized stationery store A Touch of Whimsy Designs is offering Happy House Blog readers a 15% discount on orders placed by midnight, October 17th. How cute are these Halloween treat bag stickers (and 18 for only $7 plus a discount!!).


Not only do they have really cute and unique designs, but their products are well made, well priced and the turn-around time is quick (5-7 business days + delivery). I've ordered notes, address stickers, memo pads in acrylic holders, and gift enclosures for Janie and I love them.



The seasonal/holiday section is my favorite...it really is one-stop shopping: cards, invitations, gift stickers, fill-in thank you notes and address labels.



A Touch of Whimsy also has precious gifts like monogrammed platters (above), personalized clip boards (below), lunch boxes and water bottles. I think personalization, in any form, makes a gift so much more thoughtful and well, personal!


Use code happyhouse15 at checkout to receive your 15% discount now through Sunday. And a big thanks to Gina, owner of A Touch of Whimsy. She's great to work with, very responsive AND a fellow North Carolinian. Happy Shopping!!

Front Porch Planters

I love these sleek copper planters. I have seen similar ones around town and was excited to find these here. They come with custom inserts so you don't have to fill the entire planter up with soil. Wouldn't they look great with boxwood topiaries? These below are from Plow & Hearth and are actually made from a resin material. They have a self watering system so your plants will stay hydrated.

I think either will look great with these antique-reproduction light fixtures (below) I picked out for a client from McLean Lighting Works in Greensboro, NC. McLean is great to work with and their selection is amazing. Browse the site for a moment and I promise you'll be inspired to upgrade your light fixtures!