SoBro Bungalow

Cottage Chic on the Cheap

(Image via NY Times)

I just read this story about a young couple, who bought a weekend home in the Catskills and renovated and decorated for less than $10,000. Most of the decor comes second hand -- Craigslist, family pieces and found items. Quite inspiring. See the slideshow here.

Dishy

A few months back, I came across a not-to-be-passed-up dish towel on sale at Anthropologie. I bought four, added curtain clips and voila.

How Nice

Caitlin Holcomb creates gorgeous light shades using vintage handmade doilies, lace and new trims. The shades and other items -- acrylic paintings on wood, Mini Deer Plaques, Mod Cabin Clocks, banners done with colorful vintage fabrics, Illuminated Memo Boards -- can be found in her etsy shop, Nice.

Keep tabs on what Cailin is up to on her blog, Nice-Etc.com.

An Open Letter to sfgirlbybay

Geez Victoria. You should have warned me to steer clear of your blog yesterday. One glimpse of Lucie Summers' work, and I could not get over to her etsy shop fast enough. Initially, it was for this mixed media lovely:

But then there was also this Gocco:

And then there were these cards:

My change purse is a little lighter. Great find. Thanks.

829+730=?

It's been two years since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast. Residents are still trying to put their lives back together. Here's how you can help.

The Katrina Cottage designed by Marianne Cusato. Cute as a button, well designed and costs as much as FEMA trailer. Plus, it can be added onto later. Genius. The design has proved so popular that blueprints are now available for purchase through Lowe's. (Photo: Lowe's)

Reminds me of these c. 1880 shotgun cottages for sale through Indy's Historic Landmarks. (Photos: Historic Landmarks)

Sweater Hack

(Free People)

There's something about this sweater that I really, truly love. I think it's the idea of taking your boyfriend's/husband's/father's/brother's sweater and adding unexpected, feminine details to it. I'm also digging that by adding embelishment, an old sweater becomes something new. That doesn't really ring true if I plunk down 128 smackers for the Free People version though, does it? I'm seriously considering raiding Jeff's sweater collection (or Goodwill) and trying this myself. Anyone have suggestions for attmepting this hack? ETA: Anyone else up for this? Let me know if you try it. I'd love to see the results.

A Good Read

The September/October issue of Blueprint arrived in my mailbox Saturday. I love getting magazines on the weekend when there's actually time to read through at a leisurely pace. Why doesn't that happen more often? Anyhow, good stuff abounds.

Lots of yellow and blue, which I'm digging at the momment.

A feature on Lotta Jansdotter's Brooklyn home. I was thrown for a minute because the article refers to her as Lotta Anderson. Hmmm...Jansdotter? Anderson? Whichever, her place is amazing.

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Tiny Haus

More fun stuff from Haus for the little ones.

Haus Love

I found a killer pair of earrings over the weekend at Haus on College Avenue, but spent most of my time on the "Home" side of the boutique, perusing the artful mix of antiques, vintage, and new items.

Feeling Like Goldilocks

Is it too much to ask to find an office chair that's nice to look at while being easy on the back and pocketbook? Maybe so. In its September issue, Elle Decor lists the 10 best office chairs, None really grabbed me with the exception of the Eames Management Chair (pictured above in a lovely wintery white), and sadly it's a smidge too rich for me. I need something small (I'm 5'4" and the space between my desk and bookshelf is a slim 30"), and I absolutely need an ergonomic chair. My poor back demands it. On looks alone, I found some chairs that I like, but I have no way to test them unless I drive to Chicago or DWR's studio in Columbus, Ohio. (And I'm not knocking Columbus as I'm sure it's lovely, but why the heck does DWR have a studio there but not in Indy? Hrrmmph.)

Caper

Crate & Barrel

Aeron

Jake

Nelson