Ashley Furniture Homestore in St. Louis Missouri gives away $500 in Groceries -- FREE Groceries

Do you need furniture, but feel you can't justify another purchase so soon after the holiday buying season?

Do you need a TV console for the new flat screen TV you got for Christmas?

Does your room look bare now that the Christmas tree is gone?

Ashley Furniture in the greater St. Louis Missouri area is making it easier to consider a new purchase at this time. They are giving away $500 in free groceries for each household that buys $500 or more worth of furniture.

Yes, that's right. FREE Groceries!

This is NOT a gimmick, it's for real (see the store for more details and/or learn more at http://www.claimyourgroceries.com/ ).

We are seeing a lot of happy faces in Ashley Furniture Land..."You're Gonna Love This Place!".

The offer ends this Sunday, January 4, so hurry in!

If you come to the Kirkwood, Missouri store, ask for me, Dana King! I work at the Kirkwood location on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If you have not been in our store, there has never been a better time to stop by. You will be blown away by the prices and the merchandise that represents EVERY style.

Bring photos of your rooms and I'll be happy to suggest items to complete your space. You will be amazed at how we can do so much for $500!

NEW from our St. Louis Favorites

More great stuff from a St. Louis favorite: UMA.

I just love their new bamboo screens. These are especially practical if you need to divide a room but don't want to pay for dry wall or don't want a permanent divide. I love the organic feel, the colors and shapes. Starting at $260, they create a lot of drama and interest for the buck.

While they are shown in a contemporary space, I think the screens can complement any style.

From the website:

Roll them, curl them, make them your own shape. These pliable bamboo screens are in many colors; tan, light green, chocolate, turquoise, natural, and black. The undulating top makes them even more fluid and organic. The natural features of the bamboo are accentuated by a light stain. And at only $260 for a 6' x 8' screen, they are amazingly inexpensive for a room divider. We also stock an 8' x 10' version with no scallops and it's priced at only $380!

Visit UMA in downtown St. Louis or on the web at iloveuma.com

And here is a shout out to another St. Louis favorite -- Colleen Livingston Mitchell, Photographer and Digital Artist, will show her work at an Art Show opening this Sunday, June 1 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Soulard Coffee Garden, 910 Geyer Ave in St. Louis. I plan to be there with camera in hand and share highlights next week.

Modular Carpet

Have you discovered FLOR?

Easy, easy, easy... liveable, affordable, stylish and fun!

FLOR provides us custom DIY carpet to fit any style and space. And it is so easy you can install it yourself. It's ideal for tight budgets or if you just want a custom look.

Right now mod*mom will give away the newest addition to the FLOR line-up. Carpet tiles designed by Alexander Girard.

If you want to see FLOR tiles in St. Louis, check out UMA at 1100 Locust, downtown.

Tell me your favorite FLOR tile and why.

Affordable Affluence

When you think "brocade" do you think, like me, "expensive"? Or "Marie Antoinette" --very feminine, velvety, silky or lacy? Or, perhaps a style that borders on "garish", especially if overdone?

That is what comes to my mind.

But Brocade Home makes me think again.

Their offerings are neither expensive or over-the-top. Think "minimalist boudoir" -- a cleaned-up and current version of style that reads "nobility".

Lisa Versacio is the creator of this relatively new line. She is also the creator of West Elm. I think she is brilliant in the way she takes a concept and gives it mass-market appeal -- in this case, that concept being "elegance".

Hand carved curve back chair -- citrus -- on sale now at Brocade Home for only $159

Check out the sale going on now at Brocade Home.

World Market Screen Tranformed

Here is a great idea from Dose of Design. This World Market screen is budget-friendly and makes a great addition to almost any style room, but imagine how it can be transformed with paint.

Dose of Design used Photoshop to create the bright-colored versions below. These would be perfect for a contemporary or whimsical space.

What can you transform with paint?

Master Bedroom– found it at the Big Box

Photo courtesy of Katherine Bish

I recently designed a model home, on a budget, for Town & Country Homes, Inc. in the Central West End, St. Louis, Missouri.

For budget-wise furnishings we turned to Ashley Furniture. This company has been around a long time, but in recent years it has exploded with growth, while other furniture companies have been struggling. In the last two years, five Ashley Homestores have opened in the St. Louis area.

They top just about everyone's list for known value and selection. As a result, Ashley is the most often chosen furniture brand for television home makeover shows.

In Style. In Reach. That is their slogan and it fits.

We furnished the entire bedroom with Ashley's contemporary Metro Silhouette -- headboard and bed frame, dresser with mirror and night stand -- for only $675.75.

For the lamp, I bought a shade at Wal-Mart on sale for $9.96. It was the right shape and right price, but the wrong color. I painted it brown to match our color palette. The lamp base was found at Target for under $30.


















The small decorative mirrors above the headboard were an IKEA find for under $3 each, a total of $15.

I found the window treatment panels at Sears, which, though regularly priced at $40 for a pair, had been marked down to $20. I found the curtain rod, regularly $50, in the clearance section at Bed Bath & Beyond for $4.97. That was a steal. It had a very slight dent which I secured towards the wall out of view.

The total cost of the window treatments was under $50 to dress the two windows. Had I not searched items in the scratch and dent and clearance sections I would have paid $130. My savings: $85.




So don't forget to look at those clearance aisles for big savings!

The bed comforter set was found at Target for $100.


I found a decorative glass bowl and vase on sale at Wal-Mart for under $20. The circular design and blue and brown colors mimic the circular patterns and color in the bedspread.

Our grand total for the bedroom: $894.96. That's a lot of bang for your Big-Box buck!

Because this bedroom is in a model home, it is void of any personal history by design. Model homes are to be generic so potential buyers can envision their belongings in the room.

However, this room is off to a great start to become a personal space. Just add some Etsy finds, heirlooms and special touches.

As this bedroom demonstrates, the Big Boxes offer great savings for the budget-minded decorator.

Not Grandma's Wallpaper, part 3

Well, I am still stuck on wallpaper.

Here is something from MIO, a company based in Philadephia that is dedicated to creating sustainable and innovative design.




What MIO provides for wallpaper is green, easy on the wallet, and easy to install. But best of all, it’s unique in its dimensional form.

This paper doesn’t come in a roll, instead it comes in 12 by 12 inch squares, called “paper forms”, that you can adhere with tape.

Simply peel and stick.

Paper forms can be painted, so you can customize your look.

Besides the obvious use as wall coverings in a contemporary space, I can see these being used as an inexpensive and unique substitute for a headboard.

I also see them on a ceiling; wouldn’t that be interesting – now, that’s not your Grandma’s ceiling tiles!

You can see the MIO paper forms in St. Louis at UMA.

Or if you live elsewhere, you can order online.

Not Grandma's Wallpaper, Part 2 - Found it at the Big Box

The party goes on, “virtually” forever.

If you missed it yesterday – you can join in now. This has been so fun and, I enjoyed your birthday wishes and my relaxing day off.

But now it’s back to work churning-out design ideas and spreading the good news of “design on a budget”.

My mind is still on wallpaper -– “designer” wallpaper, for less.


What do I mean by “designer” wallpaper? Well, it is the artsy-looking kind, the kind that looks unique, not the every-day kind.

The trend these days in most design is “bold” -- bold colors and bold patterns. So while your Grandmother’s wallpaper might have had small lacy flowers in subdued colors, the new look of today will tend to be large graphic flowers in often saturated or rich colors.

Following?

Here are some examples from Graham & Brown, which I found at one of our favorite places: Target.


A fresh take on baroque. This reads "sophisticated". I can see this in an elegant hallway or bedroom.

This reads "periwinkle" or at least it reminds me of Julie's favorite color.

This woodgrain pattern is an inexpensive way to add wood to the walls. This is not your Grandma's wood paneling!

Faux tile in the bathroom. You can fool your guests!

Pots and Pans in the kitchen. Too fun! I can see this being a great backdrop to show off colorful accessories and appliances in blue, lime and orange.

Wallpaper with too much information. This would be fun in an office or it would make good reading in the bathroom!

Wonderful for those feminine spaces.

This can work in about any space as a backdrop for bold color or soft subdued furnishings.

Very retro, very fun! Team this with your mid-century modern furnishings you find on eBay or Craigs List.

I am considering this one for the focal wall, behind the headboard, in my son's room. He already has the guitar.

Very fun for a focal wall. Great in a bathroom or for a child who is a swimmer or diver.

Find more examples online at Target.

Are you getting the “wallpapering bug” like I am?

Tell me, which of these Graham & Brown wallpapers is your favorite and why? Where can you see it in your home?

Not Your Grandma's Wallpaper - introducing Ferm Living Shop, a favorite

I am getting excited about wallpaper again. For years I have been telling people to take it down, especially if they plan to resell their home.

While I don’t think we will ever get back to the homes that have every room covered in wallpaper, I do think we will do our bathrooms, hallways and focal walls.

Designer wallpaper has the most exciting choices. Mostly these are high-end priced, but I am finding resources that are more affordable, like Ferm Living Shop just launched in the United States last June. A roll -- 32.8 feet long and 21” wide -- costs $85.00.

This is not your Grandma’s wallpaper. This is art!


Just look at the yummy selection on the Ferm Living Shop website, including fantastic wall stickers too. And coming in February many of these designs will be found in their bedding selection too!

Christiana, a retired lawyer, saw an opportunity to indulge her passion in design by signing on to be the USA distributor for this new Danish firm. She is delightful and she is happy to take your order and answer questions.

Or you can see me, if you live in the St. Louis area, to view their selection of samples.


Don’t miss their ornaments, just in time for Christmas.

These damask inspired acrylics (pictured on the left) also feature kissing squirrels! What a fun play on the damask design. I plan to get several for my tree this year.

Really Good Stuff for Less

I asked my friend Diane if she has been enjoying my blogs.

She said, “well, they are nice, but I want to know where to get the really good stuff for less.”

Like Diane, you would probably love to have access to the savings provided designers at trade-only showrooms without having to hire a designer.

Most people don’t know this, but you can!

This is how it works:

Through my accounts, and for a small fee, you can buy at trade-only showrooms. You don’t have to hire me, if you are being your own designer. Or if you want to try me out, this is a painless way to see how we work together.

For some showrooms, like KDR, I need to be with you to place the order. And while I am with you, you are free to ask my advice to guide you to furnishings that meet your needs.

Other showrooms, like Pro-source, an excellent showroom for flooring, don’t require that I be with you.

Why buy at trade-only showrooms?

The savings can be significant, often saving you 30 to 40 percent off retail. While most furnishings offered at trade-only showrooms are mid to high-end, what you save may actually equal what you would pay for low-end furnishings at a traditional retailer. In short, you get more for your money.

Selection, service and quality at trade-only showrooms are unmatched by many traditional retail outlets. There will be items you just won’t see elsewhere. Sales associates at trade-only showrooms don’t turn over as much as traditional retailers and so their knowledge about the products is extensive.

If you live in the St. Louis, Missouri area, call me to learn more: 314-652-1759.

If you live in other parts of the country, call local trade-only showrooms and ask for their recommended designers or contractors. Negotiate with the designer or contractor to pass significant savings on to you.

Let’s go shopping!

How about it, Diane?