This room has gotten a lot of attention over the past few months (and I have a huge $25 update that I’ll reveal next week that changed the ENTIRE room for the better and nope, it’s not paint).  Anyway, back to this room and all it’s attention-getting from Better Homes and Gardens DIY (forgive me for linking again) to getting pinned on West Elm’s ‘Spotted’ board (in my little world it’s a big deal, so let’s pretend it is.).  So I wanted to scientifically break down why I think this room is so appealing.  You know because I’m all sciency and junk.

 

I think it has something to do with opposites.

 

  • It’s symmetrical but also, not.
  • It’s got rustic wood and a mirrored disco ball.
  • It’s got brass and silver, round and square, curves and corners.
  • It’s feminine and yet also somehow masculine.
  • It’s got cowhide, linen and noodle shag.
  • It’s got modern glossy finishes and distressed paint.
  • It’s got $4 sheets on the windows and $150 sheets on the bed.
  • It’s a completely neutral room, if not for those three shots of pink.
  • It’s sophisticated and a little quirky.
  • It’s pointy and soft, light and dark, old and new.
  • As I look around rooms in my house that I love, I’ve found the whole “opposite” thing to be true everywhere.

 

 

I thought about how I did that and a few things stuck out to me.  Two in particular.

 

1. I’m VERY patient. 

 

Only when it comes to a few things and one of them is when I need to buy something and putting a room together (I’m impatient when it comes to painting and sewing and waiting for my iced coffee).  Two years ago I knew I wanted an upholstered headboard, I just got one a few months ago.  It was worth the wait.  We don’t use credit cards and I’m very picky about where I spend my cash so I’d rather wait for something and research it than buy it on a whim.

 

2. I’m willing to shop ANYWHERE.

 

I’m using the word “Shop” lightly knowing that sometimes I “shop” at the side of the road (stumps anyone?).

One of the most common questions I get asked is “Where do you shop?“, I think some people assume I have a secret store that I sneak in through the back door in an adorably decorated alley.  However, every room in my house is a good mix of retail and thrift, new and old and free and high-end.  I usually have something I splurged on, a few quality workhorses, a mix of items I got for killer deals at yard sales, a few handmade items from local artists or etsy sellers and a couple of DIY and madeover items that I did myself.  And I think that’s why it works.  Here’s the breakdown for the master bedroom:

 

  1. Twin sheets from Ollie’s (a local discount store) Curtain rods from Big Lots
  2. Chair: One Kings Lane, Pillow: West Elm
  3. Disco Ball: Ebay, Pair of Lamps: Home Goods
  4. Cowhide Rug: Metrolina, Shag Rug: One Kings Lane
  5. Mirror: DIY, Lantern: Habitat ReStore
  6. Bed: Joss & Main, Sheets/Blanket: One Kings Lane, Black and White Pillow: Etsy
  7. Pair of side tables: One Kings Lane, Wood tray: Target
  8. Chair: Salvation Army, Pillow and Pouf: One Kings Lane

  1. West Elm Table via the Thrift Store, Thrifted planter for plant, Thrifted book
  2. Z Gallerie Boots, Yard Sale Ottoman turned makeover, Bust: Home Goods
  3. Monogram: Southern Nest via Etsy
  4. Lamp: Home Goods

If I bought everything in this room from Ikea, it could still look good, I love me some Ikea, but it wouldn’t have the same collected feel.

As I think about the two rooms I’m working on next–the boys shared room and our guest room, I’m making sure to allow for the yin and yang to interact.   One of the places I keep an eye on is One Kings Lane.  They are having some great sales today all about Mastering the Mix and pairing up opposites and asked to sponsor this post if I’d pass the word along to you.  And I want to pass on more than “Hey go look at these sales, you’ll be glad you did.” I want to tell you how I use One Kings Lane.

As you can see in my rundown of sources up there, OKL had a big impact on our master bedroom.  I used to be afraid to shop online but now I actually prefer it for many items. One Kings Lane is a flash sale site (that means they have curated sales that last for just 72 hours) I’ve purchased things from them for about two years now.  And I use their online shop to my advantage.

Here’s how I shop at OKL:

I categorize::

 

 

This is all stuff I would consider purchasing. I love all the different styles (I love most of what is sold at One Kings Lane) but I have to be picky because of the price.  These items are things I love, that I think are worth the money *note: opposites: modern vs. rustic, netural vs. saturated color, girlie vs. masculine, metal vs. cushy.

I use flash sale sites to my advantage.  I don’t go in blindly and automatically believe that everything I see is the best deal ever to be had. But there are deals to be had if you are an informed shopper.

And then….

 

This stuff above I love. But I wouldn’t pay that much for BUT, it doesn’t mean I get all mad at One Kings Lane and never look there again oh, no.  This is valuable.  Because when I go to the cottage and see Angela’s cypress table::

And find out that she paid only $35 for it?  I realize it’s a steal. So if I’m out and about and see one for $100 that I love, in the past I might not want to pay $100 for a side table but after seeing one at One Kings Lane for $899, I realize that $100 is still a great price. (side note, if anyone sees one for $35, call me?).  It’s the same with all of those items up there, I love them, and they teach me what to look for and to recognize a good price when I see it.  Kind of like when you are buying a house and you spend so much time on the MLS website that when you see a super amazing deal you almost think there is something wrong with the house because the price seems so out-of-place.  That’s how I am with household items and One Kings Lane is a big part of that.

 

Pin it, and Add A Referral Code

 

So, yes, I encourage you, if you are a person who likes to be schooled in knowing a good deal when you see it, join One Kings Lane (you give your email and they send you daily emails that you can opt out of) and pin things for your home that you love for future inspiration.  ALWAYS look at the prices because sometimes, you’ll find something amazing.  And, be sure to use your referral code even on Pinterest, that way if someone clicks and buys, you’ll get a $15 credit in your account.  What a fun surprise!

Here’s how:

1. Hit the “pin it” button when you see something on One Kings Lane you want to pin.

2. Categorize it and write whatever you want, then hit “pin it”

3. At the top of the One Kings Lane page in red it says “invite friends” click that and it will take you to a page like this.  At the bottom there is a little code starting with “http…” copy ALL of that code then…

4. Go into your Pinterest account, find the pin you want to add the referral code to and hover over it until the “edit” button pops up. Click “edit pin” and then delete the old code in the “LINK” field and paste your referral link in.   The new link should look something like what mine looks like up there only it won’t say Nester Smith.  Then hit “save” and you have added a referral link to your pin.  If someone somewhere sees the pin and clicks on it and joins OKL and buys something, you’ll get $15 credit in your account within a few hours.  And you can use that same link on your facebook page or blog.

 Now go on, start practicing, visit One Kings Lane, get inspired, pin something, buy with purpose, consider using opposites and learn!

PS, all those items featured in the photos are currently for sale (until it sells out!)