It’s a delicate balance, to create a home that’s unique, rich and well-edited…and not spend yourself out of living in it!! Let’s be honest, we all covet some beautiful things with ludicrous price tags (I’m personally all hot and bothered over a $2,000 lamp at the moment) and investing in a few items that make you proud and make you smile is an important part of this balance. So, we rely on box store “stuff” to fill in the gaps. And this is where things get tricky, because if it’s available down the street for a good price AND you liked it… there’s a good chance all of your neighbors did too! None of us want our homes to look like everyone elses’, but budget and availability drive most of our design decisions. The trick is to lean on the chains for the basics- items that are classic and simple, and will create a beautiful backdrop for the vintage and the special. I try to strike a balance of fabulous flea market finds with luxurious splurges, and of course some tried and true BOX STORE STARS like these…

There are so many places in any home for this standby; neutral, natural and timeless. With Ballard’s  Terrific Trio Table you get the whole shebang- table, skirt and glass for $149. It can be a side table, a nightstand, an entry table, I could go on and on… I popped one in the awkward corner created between my sofa and wing back chair, and it proved to be the perfect solution! Especially for Floyd, who uses it as a spot to hide from Bean…

Simple, gorgeous, and perfect for so many interior styles, Room and Board’s Architecture Bed is the one I sleep on every night!  It was a great way to break up my long, narrow room- visually- and it creates such a strong frame for simple bedding. I’m dying, though, to use a pair of twin sizers in a guest room…

I love West Elm’s Jute Diamond Rug for its utility, its subtle hit of pattern and its durability. It’s also a great base to layer hides or more detailed rugs over, like I did in my living room.  And $299 for a 9 x 12 – get outta here. It’s practically free!

I’ve used IKEA’s RIBBA Frames in every size and color- they’re unbeatable for the price; simple and utilitarian and elegant all at once. They let the art speak for itself.

Oh IKEA, what would we do without you? The LENDA Curtains are ideal for so many rooms, and, they’re only fifteen bucks a pair?! One five y’all…you couldn’t buy the raw fabric for that!!