wall flowers?

i love wallpaper. it's not surprising, really, since I am such a pattern fanatic. I've been searching far and wide for a nice graphic pattern for one wall of the living room, but just when I found the perfect pattern, I realized there's pretty much no way I can afford the paper, plus around $60 shipping from Germany. So I move on. I am an easy girl to please because I like so many things. The paper has to have dark brown in it because of our swell dark brown couch, but other than that I am open to some different interpretations. Very excited about this bargain damask I found here. Besides being what looks like the exact shade of brown I am after, and besides my current damask obsession, this wallpaper is less than $18 per double roll - by far the best price I've seen for something I like. I was going for something more geometric originally, like these patterns from graham & brown, but when I put that $60 per roll price tag up next to my new damask friend here, it's hard for a frugal girl like me to resist the cheaper price.











This interesting pattern was on a slight discount at American Wallpaper for around $42 - better than suggested retail, but still more than I want to pay. I am thinking about it. I think if I ask Eddie, he'll just make a mean face. Looks like this decision is up to me.




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This last one, Helsinki, really had me thinking I'd found the one. It's so seriously cool it almost makes me nauseous (in a good way). But again - not in the mood to shell out $120 plus shipping for one measley wall. Maybe, if I'm persistent, I'll find it on discount somewhere. But in the meantime, looks like the damask is our future wallpaper.

The round table

i've been thinking i want a round dining table. the one i really want from west elm is on sale for $399 in the catalog but they don't even have it online. even though $399 isn't too bad, I'm considering the DOCKSTA table - only $149. Eddie says it's too small (41 3/8 diameter). I've seen lots of different room shots with the Saarinen table and all sorts of different chairs (obviously can't afford that one, but it's clearly where IKEA came up with the design). So what chairs would I choose? In the top pic, the chairs are far too masculine for me, I'd like something a bit organic looking to offset the industrial look of the table. Been looking for some chinoiserie style chairs, with no luck in my price range. Also love the Bertoia wire chairs, but am favoring them for the breakfast bar in the taller height - that's IF I can find a cheaper version. Eddie is such a comfort fiend. It's a constant struggle to find something comfy with a modern aesthetic.

And so it begins

This is my spot to gather images and links for cheap and fun decorating in my new house. We'll see how long this scheme lasts before I go back to ripping pages out of magazines (messy!)