Visit the Shaks

The Style Files has a great post about silver furnishings and accessories. The trend has been popping up all over the web over the last few months.

Silvery coat hooks and tea pots make sense, but I'm surprised at how great the precious metallic looks on upholstered furniture.

It's finally here, today's the day we announce the lucky winner of this super fine giveaway from Plaza Rugs and Shak In Style!

So without delay, we would like to congratulate Stephanie Webb on her big win! Yea Stephanie! We hope you love your rug (what's not to love) and for those of you who are green with envy (and rug-less) be sure to check back with us for more exciting giveaways coming soon.

And remember, you can still be a winner by taking advantage of Plaza Rugs offering for a 10% discount on a specially selected rugs just for Shakadoo readers. There is over 550 to choose from and free shipping to US Residents.

Just enter the code Shak10 at checkout for a savings of an extra 10% on these specially selected rugs! With a 10% discount and Plaza Rugs' everyday low prices and free shipping, that's an awesome savings! But hurry- this discount is only available until May 31, 2008!

I've run hot and cold on these safari pillows from Z Gallerie. Their $75 price tag had me leaning towards cold.

But, with the recent trend towards safari-themed accessories, and they fact that these pillows are marked down to $29 a piece, I'm warming up to them.

FYI - Z Gallerie is having a pretty big sale online (up to 70% off). But they do NOT allow returns on sale items.

Designers are continuing to streamline the look of unfinished wood, making the usually log-cabiny-rustic material in to a modern-design muse.

These sleek side tables are made from reclaimed, antique barn beams up to 200 years old. Without the bark, logs can really be quite chic.

And this clean-lined walnut dresser features an iron base and accents that have a distinctly woodsy feel.

Benjamin Moore has a new Green paint. And I don't mean Kelly or Emerald.

Their new Aura paint line has low levels of VOCs (airborne contaminants) and comes in 144 colors. It's also self-priming. That means that, in most cases, you'll only need one coat.

Via D Home and Garden.

It's getting a little late for holiday shopping. Which means, of course, that I haven't even started yet. Procrastination is a curse.

Luckily, the design blogs are loaded with wonderful, simple gift ideas for the design-inclined on your "nice" list.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Ornaments from the Frank Lloyd Wright collection for the architecturally-inspired.

For the design library, Punk House, a deviant take on interior design.

For your favorite green thumb, a miniature citrus tree. A lovely, classical accent for any home.

For the font-fanatic, the bold, grahic Noa Bembibre calendar.

Luxurious bathrooms are becoming quite the must have these days. I was watching a segment on the Today show this week about the trend of high end bathrooms.

"Today's bathrooms are all about luxury and excess", says Merideth Viera. Excess to the tune of six figures for some make overs. But not everyone is that fortunate to spend more on a bathroom than for say...a home!

"According to one survey (the American Standard Bathroom Habits Survey), most Americans reveal they would spend between $2,500 and $7,500 to remodel and decorate their bathrooms. 30% would be willing to spend more than $10,000 to make their bathroom the ultimate dream bathroom." says Barbara Corcoran a real estate expert and columnist in New York.

In her post Bathrooms with Bling, she shares a list of over the top features for high end bathrooms. Here are just a few,

- Flat screen TVs, sometimes embedded in the bathroom mirror
- Stereo surround sound
- Refrigerated vanity drawers storing tub-side beverages
- Wood-burning fireplaces
- Windows and French doors with views to die for

A few of my favorites that I found were, heated toilet seats, warming drawers for towels, and my very favorite...extravagant bathtubs! Who wouldn't want to bathe in these beauties???

What a relaxing atmosphere! Love the lighting under the tub.

Cyprium copper bathrtub

courtesy of bornrich.org

Glass bathtub
courtesy of wasauna.com

Stone Bathtub courtesy of Advent Design

It made me wonder if you had that kind of extra cash
lying around, what kind of extreme bathroom would you design? Let us know. 

The holiday shopping season is in full swing. Need a little gifting inspiration? Here are a few of my favorite gift guides from around the web:

Domino Magazine's list of 50 gifts under $50. This list is full of hand-picked items from the luxurious to the whimsical.

Etsy has gift guides for everyone from significant others to the environmentally sound. That means hand-made gifts for everyone.

Design*Sponge has a great wish-list for the guys on your list, created by an actual guy. And a fabulous compilation of must-haves from other bloggers.

The work of Alberto Pinto in the Designer Spotlight over at Life in a Venti Cup.

Tons of recipes for spooky Halloween cupcakes collected by Buzz Feed.

Williams Sonoma Home does the basswood stag head. $598. Not sure if that includes the wreath.

The New York Times has a fascinating slide show about home decor best sellers and bombs.

They interviewed stores from across the nation about what flew out the door and what sunk like a stone. The results are very interesting and often surprising.

Here are the best seller, bomb, and best bet from Ige in Los Angeles:

BEST SELLER JOHN DERIAN SKELETON PLATE SET, $880

“I’ve had to explain over and over what decoupage is, and that the images John uses are often historic or rare. Once I explain all that, I end up selling the entire set. Often the customer is a doctor.”

BOMB HAPPY PEOPLE GLASSES BY KARIM, RASHID FOR GAIA & GINO, $100 TO $130

“One part of the problem is the cost. The other is that there is modern design everywhere now. People probably look at these and feel they’ve seen them, or something similar.”

BETTING ON BIRD FEET OBJETS BY SWALLOW DESIGN, $13 TO $45

“Because my customer seems to be over the ordinary, I’m betting on these completely useless but intriguing cast metal birds’ feet. I’m going to merchandise these by putting them under a bell jar to make them seem more precious and curio-like.”

I love the skeleton plates. But I'm shocked those glasses bombed. They look really cool. But I'd guess they failed because they seem a little hard to hold.

Thanks to my friend Amber for the tip.

Last week, I posted about blue velvet furniture for fall.

Blue is already showing up at stores like West Elm (like this Imperial Rug). And velvet really shows off the smoky depth of the color.

But would it work with modern decor? Casa Sugar thinks so and wants to know if you agree.

Deep blue and navy are all the rage on the runways this season. So it's only a matter of time before the trend makes it's way to furniture and accessories.

In fact, Traditional Home has a lovely slide show of vintage-inspired blue velvet furniture up on their site right now.

Shown here the salon lounge chair from Baker (right), the Margo chair from Candice Olson,  the Carter Sofa from Hickory Chair Company.

Crate and Barrel's Fall catalog is offering a way to redo you office and keep you eco-conscious clear.

Their Kyoto desk and filing cabinet are spare but elegant. And their constructed out of one of the world's most renewable resources: Bamboo.

Desk, $999
Filing Cabinet, $799

I am so excited that fall is almost here. After record high temperatures for the month of August in Missouri, I am looking forward to cooler days and nights. That brings me to a cool table top firebowl for your deck or patio that  I found at Luxury Housing Trends. They wrote a blog post called Tabletop Firebowl Adds Warmth TO Your Deck Or Patio and I think it's a great idea......

"If you're looking for a way to extend your outdoor entertaining days into the fall, then a little heat source might be just what the weatherman ordered. After all, there are usually plenty of sunny days left in the fall; you just need a way to keep your guests warm in the evenings. You could get any old patio heater, but wouldn't a fire be a little cozier?"

I made the mistake when I built my house of putting in ventless fireplaces. I actually bought a table with a fire pit in the middle because I missed a real fire and now can sit outside and enjoy the cooler temperatures without being cold. The firebowl  is an even cooler product because it can be moved. I may have to pick one up for myself!

I live in Dallas, home to one of 4 Sprinkles Cupcakes locations in the nation. And I have to admit that Dallasites are cupcake crazy these days.

For those who don't have the pleasure of fulfilling their $4 best-cupcake-you've-ever-tasted cravings on a daily basis, there is hope. Sprinkles cupcakes now offers their cupcake mixes through Williams Sonoma.

The kits, which come in chocolate, vanilla, lemon and red velvet, serve 12 and include Sprinkles' signature confectioners' dots.

Thanks to April S. for the tip.

A few weeks ago, I predicted that wall decals were a trend on its way out. And, in general, I stand by that decree. But, I am certainly willing to admit that I was wrong about Blik. Their wall decals just keep evolving.

I am totally enamored with the Alphabet Zoo
design shown here. It is one of the results of a Blik-Threadless user-generated design contest.

You can vote on the next round of Threadless Blik sticks  here.

[Source]

Just a few links to start the morning off:

Read about Martha Stewart's new collection for Macy's at Decor8.

Check out what your favorite color says about you and how you use color in your home on HGTV's Color Code Web site.

While we're talking about color, read up on why to use Low-VOC paint and where to find it.

Sunken living rooms, leopard print, avocado green...trends come on strong. But when they go out, they can take entire rooms with them.

We all want our home to look fresh and stylish, but who can afford to change color schemes and motifs every 6 months? And yet, there's some new and amazing trend dazzling our eyes every two minutes.

In this month's Domino "Best" issue, they asked professionals about decorating mistakes they can't help but make. Coral, one of this summer's biggest motifs, was cited as one of those mistakes.

So what to do if you just bought a set of fabulous pillows with coral appliqué? Don't panic. Franki at Life in a Venti Cup reminds us that there is nothing wrong with latching on to a trend for the right reasons.

If you love coral, or skulls, or orange for their core coralness, skullness or orangeness, go for it. Even if the hipsters have already moved on to the next greatest thing.

But just for giggles, here's my list of 10 design trends that are starting to wear a little thin (don't hate me, I've loved all these things too):

1) skulls

2) coral and shells

3) Audubon-style prints

4) wall stickers

5) chandelier motifs (not the real thing)

6) bird motifs

7) tree branch motifs

8) antlers and faux deer heads

9) Tord Boontje

10) the "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster

You don't have to fight for a copy of the latest Harry Potter to get a little magic in your books now days. The latest bookshelves go really easy on the "shelf." Instead, books appear to float on the wall, or perch precariously on slender metal bars.

The Invisible Bookshelf from Chia'sso. $15.

Sticklebook invisible shelving from POAA, €44. [Style Files]

U Bend bookshelf from Up to You, $95. [BLTD]

This dual chamber sports bottle from Swigz is such a neat idea it's hard to believe it took so long to come into existence! Can't decide between lugging around gatorade or water on your next workout? Not a problem anymore! 2 drink chambers + 2 sports pull tops = twice the fun for you, whatever your drink(s) of choice may be!

{via uncrate)

Design Within Reach now has a section of their site dedicated to eco-friendly products. I don't know that they're any more green than they have been in the past, but they've recognized the demand for recycled and sustainable products and have made them easier to find.

For example, this Emeco Navy Chair is made from 80% recycled aluminum. I've seen it a hundred times and never knew.

Yellow, black and white continue to rule with a light, bright hand. If you're mulling over a summer-y make-over for a room in your home, check out Hatch's ode to this surprisingly elegant trio.

I must admit, I've never seen or heard of anything quite like this. A floor mat literally made out of vintage leather belts.

Katie, at Better Living Through Design says,

"This handsome, handmade floor mat is made of artfully assembled vintage leather belts that have been rescued on their way from waist to waste. Its rich tones, textures, and tread-friendly patina evoke the look of a wonderfully worn wood floor, albeit with a decidedly warmer under-foot feel. Each Vintage Belt Floor Mat is a one-of-a-kind creation, and as such, colors and characteristics will vary slightly from those pictured."

In the right setting, this could really ad a unique aesthetic to a home. At $648 it is a bit out of my price range but you can buy it here.

X-treme Dumpster Diving: You may have picked up a chair or two from the curb, but imagine pulling out half-eaten jars of peanut butter and  half-used bottles of detergent. Not because you have to, but as a political statement. Learn more about the Freegan Movement at Hatch.

Also, read about the decadent Hollywood glam sets from the new Nancy Drew movie over at More Ways to Waste Time.