Hot Summer Deals and Steals

There are some killer sales out there right now — it’s that time of year when back-to-school shopping is right around the corner and retailers are almost giving merchandise away to make room.

Check out what I found and these deals are so hot, you are going to need your sunscreen:

Ruddy Cheeks (up to 30% off):

I am head-over-heels for this bag.  It’s perfect all year around.  It will be mine.
(Maya Tote, Fossil, 30% off, $139.99 from $198)

Bona Fide Sunburn (up to 50% off):

This would make paying bills a lot more fun.
(Parsons Mini Desk, West Elm, 36% off, $159.99 from $249)

Look at those awesome zebras!
(Lush & Wild Tote, Anthropologie, 41% off, $39.95 from $68)

This would look fab in an entry hall.  Ok, my entry hall.
(Quatrefoil Mirror, Ballard Designs, 41% off, $159.99 from $269)

I am thinking about using these as night stands in my daughter’s big-girl room.  At less than $20 each?  Oh hells yeah.
(Lattice Top Side Table, Urban Outfitters, 47% off, $19.99 from $38)

Loving the modern design and the conservative leather detailing.  Sweet summer bag.
(Beachcomber Sophie, Kate Spade, 47% off, $145 from $275)

Third Degree Burns & Sun Poisoning (over 50% off):

How fun is this??
(Hable Cherries Percale Duvet Cover F/Q, Garnet Hill, 51% off, $84 from $170)

It’s like Burberry meets Nantucket for under $70!
(Know the Ropes Dress, Anthropologie, 53% off, $69.95 from $148)

Jonathan Adler on sale, whaaaa?  And 58.4% off?  White hot!
(Waterspout Taper Holder, Anthropologie, $19.95 from $48)

Love this cheery orange bag.  Especially that preppy tassel.
{York Street Medium, Kate Spade, 65% off, $119 from $345!)

Go forth and shop the sales!!!

P.S. Don’t forget to enter to win a $70 gift card to CSN Stores before Friday — click here!

It’s Nate Day! Buy Nate, Not That….

Happy Nate Day!  Nate Day was organized by the Moggit Girls as a day for the design blog world to celebrate the one-and-only, designer extraordinaire, Nate Berkus.  The Nate Berkus Show premiers on September 13th.  I can’t wait to set my DVR!

I love that this guy an amazingly brilliant designer with big-budget clients like, hmmm OPRAH!, but he always designs with a mixture of high and low priced items and isn’t afraid of some DIY.  This philosophy is reflected in his FABULOUS line for the Home Shopping Network (HSN).  In honor of Nate Day, I thought it only appropriate to do a little BUY THIS, NOT THAT action to celebrate this gorgeous and affordable line of items for the home.  Shall we?

LOVE THIS?

{Cosmopolitan Coffee Table, Williams Sonoma Home, $750}

BUY NATE!

{Nate Berkus Bamboo Table, HSN, $279.95}

LOVE THIS?

{Peacock Cotton Herringbone Throw, Vivre, $225}

BUY NATE!

{Nate Berkus Herringbone Throw, HSN, $24.95}

LOVE THIS?

{Wicker Hurricane, Crate and Barrel, $49.95}

BUY NATE!

 

{Nate Berkus, Set of 2 Woven Wicker Hurricanes, HSN, $14.95}

LOVE THIS?

{Kensington Iron Mirror Table, Layla Grace, $458}

BUY NATE!

{Nate Berkus Handmade Silver Tray Table, HSN, $79.95}

LOVE THIS?

{Mansfield Headboard, Williams Sonoma Home, $1,350 for queen lowest grade fabric}

BUY NATE!

{Nate Berkus Tufted Headboard, HSN, $349}

Dontcha just love him??

Happy Nate Day!!!!

 

Reader Question: Affordable Stools

I love getting questions from Spark! readers.  I recently received this one from Julie:

I need some help with finding some great stools for my entry way. Seen any lately that aren’t $500?

I am imagining Julie using stools in her front hall like this:

{Image from DecorPad via Simplified Bee}

Or like this:

{Image from Little Green Notebook}

Although I do not know much about Julie’s entry way or her design preferences,  I decided to give her a wide range of options and keep it under $200 per stool.  Shall we?

Bargain Stools: Under $100

{Hourglass Side Table, Urban Outfitters, $78}

 

{Cindy Crawford Trellis Foot Stool, JC Penney, $99.99; and check out this post
on painting and recovering this stool by the girls over at Matters of Style}

 

{Zebra Kilim Stool, World Market, $59.99}

{Black and White Printed Stool, World Market, $79.99}

Stools That Won’t Break Your Bank: Under $200

 

{X Bench, Ballard Designs, as low as $179 depending on specs}

{Julah Ottoman, Anthropologie, $198}

{Louis Stool, Restoration Hardware, as low as $170 depending on specs}

{Charles Ghost Stool (Small) by Philippe Starke for Kartell, Unica Home, $127.50}

{Courbe Ottoman, Ballard Designs, as low as $149 depending on specs}

{Seagrass Stool, Gumps, $195}

 

{Chinese Garden Stool, Wisteria, $129, and if you didn’t see my previous post, try $49  for something similar at Target, click here to read}

{Pod Table, Urban Outfitters, $110}

It’s hard to pick a favorite, isn’t it?  Also, CB2 has some great options.  Their website was down when I was preparing this post, so definitely go check out their selection too. 

Julie, I hope that I have given you some inspiration for your entry hall.  Thanks so much for writing!

Do you have a question?  I would love to hear it!  Leave me a comment or drop me a line at needsparkblog@gmail.com.

 

 

Bravo Brocade Home

So, I have been on the prowl for attractive and functional shelving for my home office.  Look at the swoon-worthy ledge shelves ($69) that I found at Brocade Home:

As I looked around, I fell in love with just about everything B.H. had to offer.  And at relatively affordable prices too!  Like this UH-MAZE-ING black high gloss floor mirror ($699):

And check out this fun metal side table ($299):

I wish that I had a place to put this gorgeous entertainment storage console ($599) — eye candy!

I would love to give this ceramic plate set as a hostess gift or engagement present — on sale from $49 to $19!

This lovely headboard ($599 for queen) would look great in a girl’s bedroom, well okay, almost any  bedroom.

And, of course, you know me and white bedding, I HEART this amazing textured duvet cover ($249) (pictured above too).  It just went on my “wish list”!

I love these artistic chairs ($199) and one would look fabulous by itself as an accent in a bedroom, or as a set around a kitchen or casual dining room table.

This innovative and unique ruffle shelf ($499) is adorable.  Wouldn’t it look great in a powder room with pretty jars, soaps and toiletries?

Are you with me?  Have you fainted?  Is your jaw on the floor?  Do you die?

Which is your fave?

Bravo Brocade Home!

Favorite Wedding Presents

A dear friend of our family is getting married in April!  She just graduated from college and is 22 years old.  She has just begun the process of registering and asked for some advice about the process.

Which prompted me to reflect about my registry and the wedding gifts that I received, now almost 7 years ago!  This post was a stream of consciousness, as I tried to recall quickly, the gifts that I use and love the most.

I am hoping to inspire ideas for wedding guests, as well as prospective brides and grooms, and to also hear from you about your favorite wedding gifts, as a giver or recipient.  Leave a comment and let everyone know!  Here’s my top ten list:

1. Le Creuset 9″ French Oven (aka Dutch Oven). I use this for everything, from boiling pasta, to frying chicken, to soups and spaghetti sauces.  Mine is a since-discontinued pretty bright yellow color and I just love it!

2. Tiffany Hampton Candlesticks. These add instant panache to any dining room table.  They sit on mine all year ’round.  I love them so much that they have become my “go to” wedding gift.   

3. Pasta/Salad Serving Set. We didn’t register for anything like this and when we were given a set (now discontinued from Williams-Sonoma), I almost returned it because it didn’t match anything in our kitchen.  I am so glad that I kept it because we use the heck out of it!  The set is great for salad and pasta.  The shallow bowls are great for just about anything — eating casseroles, rice & beans,  jambalaya, etc.  The set below is from Napa Style.

 

4. Antique Accent Table. An aunt and uncle gave us the most gorgeous antique accent table for our wedding similar to those below from 1st Dibs.  It is a one-of-a-kind, priceless and unforgettable gift.

5. Cuisinart Griddler. I actually didn’t get this as a wedding gift, but it’s so registry-ish that I had to include it.  Except for the coffee maker, this is the most-used appliance in our kitchen!  Easily interchangeable plates transform it into either a grill or griddle.  It opens all the way to lay flat too.  It makes a mean (and fast!) grilled cheese.

6. Three Tier Glass Serving Piece. I use this each time we have guests over and stack cookies, cupcakes, fruit, finger sandwiches, etc.  It is pretty empty too!

7. Calphalon Nonstick Pots and Pans. Ok, duh.  I use these everyday and heart them.  They are like old friends to me!  🙂

 

8.  Murano Glass. A very sweet cousin brought us four Murano highball glasses back from a vacation in Italy.  They are gorgeous.  These Murano bowls from Uncommon Goods are the only comparable picture that I could find.  I love setting my table with those beauties!

9 & 10. Henckels Twin Cuisine Hallow-Ground Santoku Knife, 7″ & John Boos & Co. Cutting Board. We got a big set of knives and this one is the only one we use!  The easy-to-use knife and the solid cutting board makes chopping a pleasure instead of a chore.

This post wouldn’t be complete without the few items that we registered for that sit collecting dust in the cupboards.  We should have passed on the: KitchenAid Mixer (too bulky to keep out on the counter and too bulky to pull out and use!), the Bread Machine, and the Toaster Oven.

Do tell — what gifts do you use the most and what never gets used?  Do you have a favorite wedding gift that you received, or like to give?  Discuss!

Buy This, Not That — Bedroom Edition

Welcome to the 3rd edition of “Buy This, Not That.”  Check out these great bargains for the bedroom!

LOVE THIS?

[Bradley Kirchofer Beadboard Bed, Layla Grace, $1,819 for queen]

BUY THIS!

[Thomas Bed, Pottery Barn Kids, $959 for queen]

OR THIS!

[Brighton Bed, Crate and Barrel, $669 for queen]

LOVE THIS?

[Empire Iron Bed, Sundance Catalog, $1,695 + $325 shipping for queen]

BUY THIS!

[Iron Cameo Bed, Horchow, $569 +$74 additional shipping for queen]

LOVE THE DUVET & SHAMS?

[Crowned Crane Duvet, Anthropologie, $298 for full/queen, $88 for standard sham]

BUY THIS !

[Organic Cotton Pin-Tuck Duvet Cover, West Elm, $99 for full/queen, $19 for standard sham]

LOVE THIS?

[White Solid Border Bedding Duvet, Williams Sonona Home, $348 for  full/queen, $98 for standard sham]

BUY THIS !

[Morgan 400 Thread Count Duvet, Pottery Barn, $199 for full/queen, $39 for standard sham]

LOVE THIS?

[Hampstead Nightstand, Williams Sonoma Home, $1,550 + $110 additional shipping]

BUY THIS!

[Tapanga Nightstand, Pier 1 Imports, $199]

LOVE THIS?

[Louis XV Side Chest, Layla Grace, $558]

BUY THIS!

[Spring in Paradise Nightstand, Pier 1 Imports, $129]

Happy Bedroom Bargain Hunting!

P.S. Be sure to click back tomorrow for an amazing guest blogger on her fave things!