Remember how I promised to tell you how I shop at One Kings Lane? Last fall my sweet friend Jessica sent me an email about One Kings Lane and introduced me to them.  OKL {can we call it that from here on out?} is kind of an online sample sale that’s open to the public.  Their deeply discounted {up to 70% off} many times luxury items are listed for 72 hours and often sell out before the sale ends.  The only thing you need to do to have access to the sales is join by entering in your email address so OKL can send you sale emails {no worries, you can set your email preferences to get them less often, but I like to be reminded to check every day}.

OKL carries ALL sorts of items all relating to home.  These bakers seem to be one of the most popular~they always sell out within hours and see, only $18. But they carry much much more than $18 bakers.

I use OKL a little differently than most people.  I study it.  To me, OKL is like a home magazine/encyclopedia/home textbook that’s updated daily.  I feel like after looking at OKL every day for months, I have more of a handle on what my style is and I’m also better at spotting a great deal.   For example, see that vintage English laundry bin on casters up there for $549?

It reminded me of this one I found two years ago for $5 at a thrift store.  This has been sitting in the garage forever.  Thank you OKL for reminding me to use this.  Now I’m putting it in our family room.

You know how I’m all into the classy taxidermy because I live in North Carolina and my boys think antlers and horns are cool and don’t tell anyone but I do too so I want some but I’m not going to shoot an animal and I’m too cheap to pay hundreds of dollars for some of these?  I kept seeing them on OKL and I got familiar with their price point.

Well, back in November when I went shopping with Eddie Ross, there was a booth that carried all these mounted antlers and I got this little plaque for under $40.  I knew it was a good price because I had studied up at OKL.  Passed that test, right?  I feel like I’m getting a free edjumakation.

I also actually purchase things from OKL.  So far I’ve bought four rugs and I love them all.   It can be VERY scary to buy such a big expensive item that you can only return for store credit.  I have some tips.

First of all, I knew I was in the market for unique rugs so I kept my eye on OKL and watched a few of their rug sales.  There was one time when I missed a rug and I really regretted not buying it.  You can look at the upcoming sales page and find the name of the company for the upcoming sales.  So, the next time I saw a rug sale, before it even went live, I  googled the rug maker and got familiar with their items and the price points.  You don’t know exactly what items will be for sale but, you can get a feel for what might be available and if you might be interested in something this research can save you precious decision making time.

Like this Rug Market “Rome” rug I ordered for my son’s room.  First I googled it and found this image from Studio 10|25 .

This is a much better photo of the rug than the one OKL provided {a different colorway but that didn’t matter}. I could see that the rug had lots of raised texture and that was something I wanted.  I also found some of the retail prices of around $300.

When the rug went live on sale at 11am at OKL I went ahead and bought it.  Two hundred dollars for a 5 x 8 rug that I get to pick out that is graphic and that can act as a car maze for my 10 year old and also still look fine when he is 18 years old, is a great deal. Plus, one of my goals this year was to liven up our boy’s room and this one needed a rug.

As you can see, all of the wildest dreams that this rug has had about living in a fabulous immaculately decorated home with attention to every detail have clearly come true.  I think this rug just enrolled in counseling.

Another rug that I purchased through OKL was my Amy Butler Georgia Rug.

Layla Grace sells the same size rug for $676.  Again, the photo at OKL wasn’t all that telling so I did a google search and found many photos of the rug in real rooms and I knew this would be a rug that would give my office the personality that it needed. And, since my office was basically neutral but for the window mistreatments that were a dirty robin’s egg color, I took a gamble and decided that no matter what shade of robin’s egg blue this rug turned out to be in real life, I would be able to use it.

I think this rug makes the entire room come alive.  It was a great deal at $400. And it really needs to be vacuumed.

Let’s look at one more example::

Say I was on the lookout for a glass end table.  I would be able to see that an upcoming sale was being hosted by World’s Away.  A quick google image search would take me to Matthew Izzo’s site where you can see this pretty World’s Away table.

Now we have an idea of the items that might be listed and their retail cost.  When the sale goes live at 11am EST we see this

Wow!  It’s the exact same table for almost 50% off! Now, personally, if I liked this table, I would probably keep an eye {or two} open for it at Tuesday Morning or a local shop Black Lion.  Plus, if this were an item that I DESPERATELY thought was the only and best choice for a place in our home, I would know a good deal when I saw it.  So if I were at Tuesday Morning the next week and saw something similar  it for $59, I would know that is a good deal for that style of table.  However, if I saw it at Tuesday Morning for $200 I would know to be mad at myself for not purchasing it from OKL.  And, I’ve noticed that many times, the brands seem to relist every few months.  So if I were patient, I might find this deal again.  Ideally, I would know ahead of time, what I’m looking for and what I’m willing to pay, that way as soon as I see something at OKL that is a good deal, I could grab it up.

Now, remember, OKL services HIGH END designers as well as us normal folk.  So you will see some things that will seem outrageous in their prices.  Like pillows for $200-400.  And a pair of drapes for $1800 and a sofa for $12,000.  Yes you read that right.  But don’t throw the sofa out with the bathwater, there are deals to be had.

Remember my bedroom makeover? This chair was about $400, the side table back there was $169 and that huge 8×10 rug was less than $400.  All from One Kings Lane.

And at least once a week there are some really amazing finds at low low price points {I promise to try to tweet or talk about the great deals on facebook when I see them}.  And there are always great deals at higher price points, I’m just slower to make more expensive decisions.

And this is the part that makes shopping at OKL fun.  When you refer friends, you get a $25 credit after they make their first purchase.  Some of you made a purchase at OKL after reading about it here a few months ago, thank you so much!  I’ve definately used my own cold hard cash to make purchases but, having some store credit helps too.  Once you are a member, if you think your friends would like OKL, you can refer them with the URL they give you on “Your Account” page.

You can even personalize your URL and change it to your blog name or something fun if you want.

Here’s the part where I give you a link that is MY own referral code if you want to sign up at OKL and browse around and start your design education.  New sales go live at 11am today and it’s Tuesday so the are new twilight sales tonight! I’ll try to remember to post on the Nesting Place facebook page when there’s an extra amazing deal at OKL {right after I make my own purchases thankyouverymuch because the great deals always sell out super fast}. Good luck and hang in there!