Pottery Barn

Small Space Storage Solutions For The Closet-less Fashionista

Anna Yu on Oct 26, 2009 8:23 AM PDT

Lately I've been looking at apartments with some friends who are looking to move to a new place. While many have spacious kitchens, lots of windows, and large bedrooms, I've found that some have tiny closets or no closet at all! I'm certainly not a fan of using the hallway closet to hold all of my clothes along with the vacuum cleaner, but there are definitely options that can keep your clothes safely in your room. If you have a small closet, keep all your dresses, shirts, and pants inside the closet. Then make the most of your free wall space by adding something like the Fleur-De-Lys Hook Rack to hang your jackets and coats. For larger storage solutions for the closet-less, go for an armoire like this bamboo wardrobe (cute dog not included). An armoire may seem like a fortune to spend, but if you get a quality piece you love, you'll keep it forever. Lastly, for the minimalist (in style and budget), a simple rolling rack may do just fine for less than $20. Take a peek at my slideshow to see it all!

Tags : wardrobe , pottery barn , napa style , ikea

Sitting Pretty: Chic And Comfortable Tufted Furniture

Anna Yu on Sep 17, 2009 10:08 AM PDT

Unlike many of my friends, I actually like firm furniture and beds. If I sleep on a soft and mushy bed, I wake up with a sore back. Guess I could blame it on my semester abroad in Taiwan where I slept on a bamboo mat for four months. Hard as a rock beds and wooden furniture are now my priorities when shopping for my home. That's when I discovered the beauty of tufted furniture! I know tufted pieces can seem really old fashioned and taken right out of Versailles, but I can imagine just getting one or two and having it look super chic with my minimalist (read: IKEA) furniture. Best of all, it's a nice balance between firm and soft. I really like the convertible couch found over at PB Teen which doubles as a sofa and a full size bed, and this velvet ottoman from Brocade Home which does triple duty as an ottoman, coffee table, and extra seating. I can imagine Goldilocks finding tufted furniture "just right." Take a look at my slideshow for more!

Tags : wisteria , williams sonoma , tufted furniture , tufted , pottery barn

Go Wild With Animal Prints For Your Home!

Anna Yu on Sep 8, 2009 4:19 PM PDT

For my fall wardrobe, I've been looking to include animal prints whether it's a luxurious leopard print jacket or zebra print flats. However, these sultry prints can't stay confined to your closet! Your home can always use some animal prints. Thankfully, you don't need to go to a safari or harm any poor creatures to put some animal prints in your home. From your living room to the bathroom, you can easily add a touch of the wild side to every room. Take a look at these animal print chenille toss pillows. They're super soft, less than $20, and sure to liven up a plain sofa. Serve up a meal on zebra printed plates which are bound to make your regular meat and potatoes meal seem a bit more exciting than usual. Like a lot of other decadent things in life, animal prints should always be used in moderation. If not, then you run the risk of looking like Austin Powers decorated your pad. Take a peek at my slideshow to see how you can bring the animal kingdom into your home!

Tags : zebra , world market , rug , pottery barn

Chic Curtains Add Style And Shade To Your Room

Anna Yu on Aug 19, 2009 10:24 AM PDT

Do you ever wake up with the sun in your eyes? Sure it may be a natural wake up call, but surely there are days where you just want to sleep in. That means you should cover up those naked windows with some chic curtains! Curtains can shield your eyes (and your furniture) from the harsh sunlight, keep the cold or heat out, and make any room look more put together. Shopping for window treatments can be confusing so make sure you measure all the windows and bring the measurements with you to the store. It also helps to bring swatches of any furniture you have in the room to make sure none of the colors clash with your new curtains. Besides getting curtains, don't forget the curtain rods, finials, holdbacks, and tiebacks. Take a look at my slideshow to see them all.

Tags : window treatment , window , west elm , tieback , pottery barn

Create An Outdoor Oasis With A Hammock Or Swing!

Anna Yu on Aug 6, 2009 10:19 AM PDT

Summer is the perfect time to go on an exotic vacation, lie on the beach and sip fruity cocktails. Though typical me forgot to request vacation time off and plane tickets (and baggage fees!) are still kind of ridiculous, I've decided to stay home instead. Who knew that my front porch, backyard or even my living room could transform into a vacation worthy spot? All it took was a swinging hammock or other hanging chair. I love the Palmetto All-Weather Wicker Hanging Egg Chair from Pottery Barn that I can totally use as an outdoor reading nook. Kids (and grownups) will go wild over the Giddyup! Tire Swing made of recycled tire swings. Hang it on a sturdy tree branch and your backyard will soon become the go to destination for outdoor parties! Take a peek at my slideshow for more hammocks and swings!

Tags : chair , decor , furniture , hammock , pottery barn

10 Cool Coffee Tables For Your Living Room

Anna Yu on Jul 9, 2009 10:17 AM PDT

Under all the newspapers, magazines, books and junk mail, I know there's a coffee table somewhere. But with all the water rings and chips, maybe it's better off hidden under paper, or maybe I should start looking for a replacement I'd be proud to show off! Coffee tables come in all shapes and sizes depending on the size of the room and needs of the user. They can offer lots of storage or just act as a surface for your drinks and a place to prop up your feet! They also come at various price points from less than $200 to $12,000 (we can always dream, can't we?). With all the summer entertaining going on, now's the perfect time to upgrade from that poorly self-assembled Ikea find or worse, milk crates. Just remember to use a coaster to maintain the longevity of your coffee table. Take a look at my slideshow for coffee tables straight from the Hive!

Tags : west elm , pottery barn , modern , home