I bought those shoes last week, and while they’re a little old lady-ish, I love them. I’ll be wearing them nonstop now through fall. I go in cycles where I buy a lot for my wardrobe, and then I buy nothing for months (hence the lack of style posts lately). I’m kinda thinking I should get that dress and earrings now though. Aren’t they fantastic? Not the cheapest, but I can see them becoming a couple of go-to favorites.

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as My Summer Uniform | 6 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

Most of the houses on the Wright Plus Housewalk that I toured recently were decorated traditionally, but there were a couple of exceptions. One was the Frank H. Keefer House designed by E. E. Roberts in 1906. There was no interior photography allowed on the tour, but there was a gorgeous lighting fixture in the dining room, which is visible from the exterior.

I liked that mix of old and new, and that light was a major component in the look of the home. I assumed it was a super-expensive fixture, but then I spotted this glass orb chandelier from west elm. It’s not cheap, but it isn’t the thousands of dollars I assumed it would be.

In the right dining room, this would look fantastic. It’s on backorder right now, which is fine since I wouldn’t be ordering it yet anyway. It’s hard to find good-looking inexpensive lights sometimes, so I’ll be keeping it in mind!

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• So moving.

• I’m a basket case. (Or just someone who really wanted to put in a lame pun.)

• I still like chevron rugs, especially with unexpected pairings, like in this bedroom.

• Urban Outfitters’ new furniture line is looking pretty good — maybe an upgrade in quality?

• Sometimes you just want a really pretty light bulb.

• Looking forward to the new FEED line from Target. Always nice when the shopping you would want to do anyway aligns with a good cause.

• Have you seen the new paint line from Dwell yet? Such a pretty palette.

• Minipool!

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as Honor Roll | One comment | affiliate links may be used in posts

The rugs came up in the living and dining rooms to show off the hardwood flooring (which is beautiful and in fantastic shape). The Eames rocker came out of the living room and the fern is now on the front porch. We removed a small console table from the dining room, and also removed the table leaf and two chairs. People tend to move through houses in groups, so we made more room for them to navigate their way around. I think the house looks a little weird, but it’s standard staging stuff, I suppose.

Also weird but standard: real estate photos. All of the photos in this post, aside from the first side-by-side of the lighting, are from our listing. The photographer went super-wide with the angles to show more of the rooms’ structure, which sometimes makes for odd pictures. Also, why does my living room look even more pink in the photo than it is in real life? It isn’t really that pepto. (And obviously, no, I did not repaint the room in a neutral color.)

We upped the curb appeal a bit with new plants out front (which I actually did a week before we decided to sell, by coincidence), and weeding the garden. Brandon put a new coat of paint on both the front and back porches, making sure to work around my painted rug out front.

We made sure the closets were decluttered (they already were, for the most part), and have been completely on top of cleaning up toys every day. We turn on every light in the house for showings, and also make sure the air conditioning is on if it’s even a little warm that day, and that’s it.

I won’t feel comfortable sharing definitive news until we have signed paperwork and the sale is a done deal, but I will say that we’ve had a lot of interest and a lot of positive feedback. Sometimes the house is too big for a family and sometimes it’s too small, but everyone has said that it shows well. Pink living room and all.

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as Setting the Stage | 30 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

I do, indeed! The media stand in our living room was a floor sample that I bought in 2006 from west elm. It had a big scratch across the top, which didn’t bother us because back then we had a big TV (photo below) that covered the whole thing. We’ve had a flat screen on top for a few years now, and even though the scratch is still there (obviously), we don’t notice it.

The orange patterned chair you see above was a floor sample too. I spotted it at Anthropologie, inquired about it, and nicely asked if I could buy the model off the floor. I took it home that evening. Last year, I’d noticed and liked the Blythe chair in the store (clearly I have a thing for seating from Anthro). A few weeks later, I spotted a 2″ tear in the upholstery, so I asked about buying it at a discount. I got it for half-off, but made sure I could return it if I was unable to mend the tear. I patched it up, good as new, and the chair has been a happy addition to my living room. I sold the orange chair on Craigslist and made enough for it to be a nearly even swap.

The white Petrie chair and ottoman in the library was a floor model too. I bought them for the library shortly after Brandon and I moved into our house, and they’ve been great in that space.

Sometimes it pays to be patient and wait for that item you’re coveting to come up as a floor sample. This means you have to be OK with it disappearing though, and possibly losing out on getting it at all. Other times, it’s all about spotting a good deal, knowing where it will work in your home, and pouncing on it right away. I think that’s the case more often than not, and you have to be able to make quick decisions while avoiding that terrible buyer’s remorse feeling. Furnishing with floor samples is really a lot like buying through flash sale shopping sites in that way, but with the benefit of being able to see the item in person.

Now, that’s what has worked for me, but I also called around to ask store managers about their standard policies regarding floor models. I stuck mostly to the usual suspects of nationwide stores so that the post would be helpful for more people. Here’s what they had to say…

Tips on Scoring Floor Models, from Store Managers

• Design Within Reach (DWR) sells classics, so there isn’t a lot of turnover from season to season, but the best time to start looking is when seasons change. They’re packed with outdoor furniture right now, so they’ll sell it at the end of the season, and that’s when a lot of floor samples will go (regular items too, not just from the summer line). Late fall is another good time to check in with them. They redo their floor layout when they make changes and anything deemed a floor sample will be available at 30-50% off, with further mark downs every two weeks at 10% increments. You can call the studios and ask what they have available. They will take their name and number, but something like an Eames lounger is likely never going to be a floor sample. Don’t be too wishful in your thinking!

• Jayson Home & Garden has a big sale twice a year. The next will likely be in July, but the biggest is in the second week of November, when they have a massive warehouse sale. It’s like the notorious Filene’s bridal sale with a mad dash for the dresses, but at Jayson’s you can expect a couple hundred design fans waiting outside for the doors to open. They sell overstock, or things that came in differently from what they were expecting. To be notified, sign up for the newsletter list and wait for the sale announcement. If you can’t make it in person, you can call to ask about what made it to the sale, but remember that most of the really good stuff is going to get scooped up in person right away.

• Pottery Barn has seasonal floor sets, with usually two or three floor set changes per year. Major furniture changes happen going into summer, and again going into fall, so late February/March, and again in August is when they’d have the most floor models available. Customers can always inquire about a certain piece, and the stores will sometimes keep an informal list with a customer’s name and information in case they do go on sale.

• Anthropologie has two types of floor models. The first are found OOAK objects, and those can always be sold. As for furniture, if it’s available to order online, they aren’t supposed to sell the floor model. When it’s out of stock or damaged, they can then sell theirs, usually at a discount because it’s worn. They do need approval to sell, and their furniture doesn’t go on sale often.

• Crate & Barrel has a final sale cart with smaller floor samples (like small appliances or decor) year-round, with items that are damaged but still usable. They change their store floor plan twice a year, and January and July is when there are a lot of samples marked down due to wear and tear or being discontinued. They also clear pieces out when they are the last of their kind. Prices are non-negotiable, but furniture is deliverable or you can take it home with you. Tags will note damage, and the price will reflect it. Mark downs will continue to drop in price each week. Naperville’s outlet sells them year round, based on returns from the warehouse.

• The Land of Nod holds on to everything to sell right before the holidays as more of an event, and to clear space for holiday decor and toys. You can also visit the outlet in Naperville, right next to Crate & Barrel, to purchase returns and overstock from the warehouse.

• Room & Board has one catalog that comes out every January, and that collection is in the stores through the whole year. Prices are held steady and they do not have sales, but on December 26, they always have a big clearance event. Discontinued furniture is available online and in stores, and floor models in the store are marked down further than the online because they were sat on or walked on (rugs). Each year the percentage changes — sometimes up to 60%, but more often in the 30-50% off range. They don’t keep a list of customers interested in floor samples, so you need to be ready to check in yourself to see what’s available. Scope out the store and know where the things you like are located, so you can make a beeline for the items you’re interested in.

Good luck to those of you on the hunt! Any other tips that have worked for you? I’d love to hear ‘em. I’ll be right here, patiently waiting for both the blue sofa and the right house to put it in.

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as Tips for Furnishing with Floor Models | 15 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

This post is brought to you by Banana Republic. Visit www.BananaRepublic.com for the hottest summer fashion trends.

Last week, I spent a couple of days here.

I’m lucky to have this job of mine. Banana Republic wanted to work with me to promote their new Milly line, and asked that I invite a few people for a summer outing. Inviting bloggers wasn’t a requirement, but I wanted my friends Jess, Kim, and Heidi to come. Then I crossed my fingers and sent an email to the owner of Camp Wandawega, hoping to rent a cabin. You know — that place in Wisconsin with the paint-by-number nursery?

That’s the one. I’d seen the place in magazines and photo shoots for years, and was thrilled when Tereasa was able to accommodate us. Kim was familiar with it too, and was equally excited about going. Can you tell we were into it?

We were all pretty into it. (Plus we all got some cute new clothes, so bonus.)

Jess decided that we were glamping. I don’t know if that’s technically accurate, as we did have beds. The showers were communal, so I guess there was that. And we probably could have slept in the camper, had any of us wanted to.

Anyway, we slept in beds, in a sweet little 3 bedroom cabin. This was my room.

Brace yourselves, because this place was amazing and I have approximately 2,042 photos of it. (more…)

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as Camp Wandawega Getaway | 38 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as Running Circles | 17 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

You’re already seen the laundry room and half-bathroom. The storage area has these shelves built, but since we decided (abruptly) to sell, it’s not looking so photo-ready in there. I’m assuming you’re not all that interested in it anyway though, as it really is just a bunch of storage.

Let’s see the parts you might actually want to see, yes? Here we go.

The basement has fairly high ceilings (for Oak Park, at least). We’ve never had any issues with flooding or seepage, even before we remodeled and finished it. The problem, I suppose, and the reason you haven’t seen “after” photos until now is that it’s not really finished the way I imagined it would be. It looks fine, but it’s far less Pinterest-y than it could have been. You know what I mean.

Dude. I know what you’re thinking. Where’s the bunting? The pom-pom everything? The framed Etsy prints? But don’t worry! It’s still plenty twee!

I kid, but I really was going to do a paint-by-numbers mural on the far play room wall. (Next house, perhaps, especially after seeing it in person at Camp Wandawega.)

We had a problem with one cat peeing on the rugs I tried to have in the space before. I don’t know why it started, but once it happened, it just kept on happening. We had to throw the rugs out. The striped rug that’s in the play room side is the one that I bought for August’s room and so far, it is unspoiled. (I’ll tell you a secret though. We only have it out when we’re going to be playing down there. Then it gets rolled up as a precaution.)

Ta da! Finished.

p.s. Our house is for sale today. All official-like with an MLS listing and everything.

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as The Finished Basement Studio and Play Room | 40 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

We’ve been trying to have the kids play outside as much as possible while we get the inside of the house ready for sale. Luckily, the weather has been cooperating with us.

Now, some things you don’t mind on your kids. Natural, broad-spectrum 30 SPF sunscreen? You bet — we’re going to be in the sun for a while. (Actually, I’ll take some too.) A little dirt, from playing outside all day? Not a problem. Let them have their fun, and they can get cleaned up with a little bubble bath later. Permanent marker all over your little girl’s face?

Hold up.

See, Eleanor got a new toy puppy the other day, and it came with bunch of veterinarian accessories, including a prescription pad. I watched her writing (scribbling) on it with a blue marker, carefully filling out each line and narrating as she went. It was adorable, but I thought nothing more of it. Turns out she held on to that marker. A couple of hours later, E suddenly thought it would be a great idea to be a tiger! Actually, I think she was trying to be Diego’s baby jaguar friend. Either way, that blue marker ended up on her face, hands and arms.

Rawr.

No, she had never drawn on her face before. She did a pretty decent job, considering the lack of a mirror, eh? Oh well— it was just a little marker. Permanent marker, mind you, but it will fade soon enough. At least the sunscreen did its job.

Making it Lovely readers can enjoy $10 off a minimum purchase of $40 using the code Lovely10off40. Limited to first-time buyers (one per customer) and expires June 19, 2013.

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as Rawr | 19 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

What a great time to skip town!

A while back, I arranged an overnight trip with a few friends and now it falls during a busy week. The house was photographed for its listing earlier today. I have my last studio portrait lighting photography class tonight. Brandon’s holding down the fort with the kids, and I’ll leave tomorrow morning to pick up Kim*, Jess, and Heidi. (We’re heading up to Camp Wandawega.) When I’m back on Thursday, Brandon and I will finish any last minute staging, and the house will hit the market Friday.

Quickly, quickly!

* Kim’s closing on her new house the day ours goes up for sale! I’m looking forward to boring Jess and Heidi with our real estate talk.

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as Clearing Out | 6 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts