Abbey's Mirror

Over the past few months, I have been working with Abbey Nova (of Design Scouting fame) to decorate her amazing NYC apartment. Abbey and her little family are so, so lovely. It's been a treat to get to know them and to collaborate on their space, which is about 95% done now. Hooray! I was looking at my notes from our first meeting and there were about three pages of to-do items. We are down to FIVE items! Crossing off a to do list is just about my favorite thing in the world.

Here's a photo from that first meeting. Abbey got this great mirror on sale from Pottery Barn a while back and it's no longer available. At $300 or so full price, it wouldn't break the bank, but it also wasn't super cheap. I love the shape and the finish and I was so surprised when Abbey told me where she bought it.

Then last week I was at IKEA buying some Ribbas and I spied this new series called Odby. The largest frame is almost exactly the same as Abbey's mirror.

For $40 you can buy the Odby at IKEA and then get some mirror cut for another $20 or so and then paint or gold leaf the frame. $50-70 buys you a really lovely, large mirror, perfect for a dining room, above a mantel or in a powder bath.

{Stay tuned for more photos and some great projects from Abbey's apartment.}

Lack Hack

I love the IKEA lack side table. It comes in all sorts of great colors, and at $7.99 each, you absolutely cannot beat the price. I use it in all sorts of projects and often add to or embellish the simple design.

It's fun to be on the look out for new lack hack ideas. I love this photo, from MWM design, featured on Kelly's blog yesterday. Also! This is the cover of the new online magazine from Australia, Ivy and Piper. It's a must-read check it out!

And it got me thinking... could a couple of simple corbels from Home Depot and a little time with my sander make a Lack table this gorgeous?

House Beautiful

Hack of All Hacks

There are so many ways to get more mileage out of our IKEA purchases. There are entire websites dedicated to doing this - IKEA Hacker is a great one.

But this project, courtesy of Lindsay at Penny People Designs, is my all-time favorite.

The equation for the perfect cheap nightstands:

The IKEA Rast dresser. Cost =$39.99 ea.

+ Creamy white oil based paint (the suggested shade is Benjamin Moore's Chantilly Lace)


+ Minwax wood stain in a deep shade (like Dark Walnut)


+ Gorgeous brass ring pulls (these from Bellacor are my new favorites)


= this loveliness

image via Penny People Designs blog

Couldn't you just die? Such an easy and impressive project!

Plus, I spy a Crate and Barrel Colette bed, which can only ever add to the beauty of a room. And in case you're wondering, like I was, what the wall color is, it's Benjamin Moore's Classic Gray. Nice choice.