The Look for Less

If you're anything like me (a complete design dork), you have folders full of your favorite interior images. I save any image I find that has a cool design trick, unique color palette, genius organization, or just has a great look to it to pull out when I need a little extra inspiration. One of my new favorite things to do, is to take these images and create 'The Look for Less'.

I got this idea from another amazing and inspiring blog. Erin over at Elements of Style had the great idea to have a contest to win a free copy of Domino: The Book of Decorating (if you don't already have it, you need it). Using an image straight out of Domino itself, I created an inspiration board on a budget, and won the book! I had so much fun making this one, that I haven't stopped since.

This room is exactly my taste. A mix of modern and traditional elements with bright color popping off of the neutral backdrop of the room. Just the right mix of sophistication and comfort. So I set out into the glorious mess that is the interwebs and searched out inexpensive furnishings that would capture the feel of the room. I wasn't looking for exact matches, just as long as the pieces had a similar aesthetic. And here's what I came up with:



I found almost everything at everyones favorite stores, like Ikea and Target, and a couple things from some not so obvious places (Pottery Barn Teen = an amazing resource for some surprisingly sophisticated pieces). Here's the full source list:

Drum Table from West Elm - $119
Tillary Ottoman from West Elm - $199
Stripe Pillows from West Elm - $19
Glass Cloches from West Elm - $19
Alden Bookcase from Target - $160
4 Cube Storage from Target - $119
Chrome Arc Lamp from Lamps Plus - $339
White Vases from Ikea - $1.99 each
Turquoise Vases from Jayson Home - $28-$89 each
Naha Tray from CB2 - $39
Ribbon Drape from PB Teen - $59
Madison Armchair from Pottery Barn - $899
Meurice Sofa from Circle Furniture - $1689

This is a great way to approach a daunting design dilemma when you're not really sure where to begin, or if you have a hard time determining your personal style. Grab some shelter mags, scope out design sites (and blogs!), and pull out anything that speaks to you. Choose one as your inspiration and find pieces that echo the elements you love most around the room. Having a starting point like this makes the whole process much less intimidating, and searching for inexpensive alternatives becomes like a scavenger hunt (not unlike scouring the sale racks at your favorite store). The result is a pulled together, designer-approved look that's already guaranteed to work. Gotta love it.