It's Not Easy Being Green... Or Is It?

With spring in full swing and summer on its way in, green is everywhere you turn. Just like the fresh flowers and fresh cut grass that lift your spirit when you see them, bright green accent pieces in a room elevate the mood and add a sense of fun.

Green accent pieces don't have to cost you a lot of green (pun intended!). Today I ventured into one of my favorite stores, Cost Plus World Market, to see what kind of deals they had for me. This place is my go-to for unique pieces at a decent price. The quality tops that of other discount retailers, too. Always a bonus!

Check out the goods. Lots of green without spending it!

Accent #1 – Green storage cube with reversible dinner tray, $89.99 on sale. I love this in front of a living room couch, or as a small side table. Group 2 or more together for a mock coffee table that you can move around as needed. For small spaces, these storage cubes are the perfect multi-purpose purchase.

Accent #2 – Super cute armless chair in floral print, $159.99 on sale. If you have larger pieces of furniture that are neutral, try jazzing up your space with a chair like this. This floral would also pair well with stripes or plaids… if you're ready to be bold!

Accent #3 – The same armless chair in a lovely, plush green apple velvet, $159.99 on sale. The fabric is to die for! Talk about luxury without the luxury price. So chic. Put a pair of these chairs in a room, add a bright, multi-colored pillow and rock out!

Spring green is in, and the pieces above are proof positive you don't have to spend a fortune to add a splash of it to your home décor. If you're not looking to purchase new furniture but love the color, try infusing it into your tablescape with napkins, salt and pepper shakers, or a vase. Check out the limitless options at www.worldmarket.com. And ladies… as a side note, their jewelry is ridiculously awesome. FYI.

Till next time… keep it fabliss!

J-Style

Recently I was lucky enough to go on a 9-day vacation to Japan. No kidding. It was an amazing experience filled with culture, delicious eats, and lots of photo opportunities.

One of my favorite photo opps was a trip into a small boutique in the Harajuku district of Tokyo. An expatriate from Europe owned the joint and he had some incredible finds. The shop displayed an eclectic mix of tribal influence, soft touches with accessories, and fun, funky pieces that would brighten any home. If only my carry-on luggage could have accommodated an extra couch or chandelier!

While you may not make it all the way to Tokyo, the inspiration is enough to get your creative juices going. Take a look at a few of my favorites:

LOVE this crazy floor lamp. What a great, creative way to brighten a room.

This rugged set is just waiting to be worn in. The rose pillows were unbelievably soft and iridescent, and offered great contrast against all the wood tones.

Finally, I fell in love with these capiz shell chandeliers. I've found them here in the states at places like Z Gallerie and smaller boutiques. They remind me of the beach...

The Boring White Couch Experiment

Let's talk couches. I love the look of a crisp, clean, white couch. It anchors a room and brightens it all at once. But, when the time comes and you lose your patience with your living room's look, how can you spruce it up without busting your budget? With couches running upwards of $2000, you certainly don't want to replace it on a whim! So what can you do? This got me thinking, and before I knew it I was on my way to IKEA for a field trip and experiment.

THE CONTROL: Boring white couch. Only $699 at IKEA!

THE VARIABLES: Pillows and blankets galore! All under $39.99/piece

THE HYPOTHESIS: For a few measly bucks, we can brighten up our living rooms and our lives. Bold splashes of color will be our keys to success!

THE RESULTS:

Fabliss Couch #1 - Black and white with a pop of color and LOTS of texture on the pillows. Pairing houndstooth pillows with a polka-dot blanket gives it a daring sense of mismatched chic.

Fabliss Couch #2 - A cozy, less formal option with a blanket that screams "warmth and comfort!" Pull colors from the blanket to go wild with variety in tone and texture. A mini-bolster breaks up the monotony of square and rectangular pillows.

Fabliss Couch #3 - This look infuses on a bit more color and pizazz by using bright, patterned pillows and a deep blue blanket. With the over sized gray pillow, you have many comfy naps ahead of you. A textured white zebra in the middle of the couch breaks up the midnight blue.

THE CONCLUSION: Our hypothesis is confirmed. Using color and pattern yielded big changes without the big budget. With all items purchased at IKEA, you can bet these accessories are a great deal and won't leave you pinching pennies. Dare to mismatch prints to get a bold look. Your boring neutral couch will be turned upside down!

So there we have it. A little mini-experiment at IKEA that yielded big results. The next time you get down in the dumps about your boring, neutral couch, go crazy with accessories! Save a few bucks and brighten up your life!