Kristan Cunningham » living room – Trends and Design Ideas – Kristan Cunningham

The Beat on Drum Shades

Kristan — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:31:56 +0000

Finding kickass lamps is easy. At any given thrift store, flea market or estate sale you can bet your paycheck that I’ll walk out with one. The hard part is finding ones with shades that don’t make them look dingy and dated. I know that a new modern drum shade will make any of them a fabulous find, but often they cost more than the lamp itself. So when I come across a source for an affordable option, I take note…and since I love y’all and want you to have kickass lamps in YOUR homes, I put together this little list of affordable drum shades (I kept the selections under $30) to spruce up your swap meet scores!

Beige Linen Drum Shade 13x14x10 $19.99 from lampsplus.com

Natural Fiber Tapered Drum Lamp Shade from Pottery Barn $29

Laura Ashley Classic 14 in. Wide Drum Lamp Shade, Black, Faux Silk from Amazon $28.80

Portfolio 11 X 13 X 9″ OFF WHITE DRUM LAMP SHADE $14.99 from Lowes

KIVSTA from IKEA, $25 16 X 10

Country Living Round Hardback Mod Drum Shade $24.99 from Sears

Home® Mix-and-Match Lamp Shade – Cream 11 X 13 X 9 $16.99 from Target

16” Drum Lamp Shade Natural Linen $16.88 from Walmart

Large Drum Lampshade from Destination Lighting by Design Classics from Amazon for $20.96

(Headline image courtesy of Warner Bros. Records and Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Furniture Placement Without the PAIN

Kristan — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:22:23 +0000

It’s a fact. No matter how much planning you do on paper, something always seems to change when your actual furniture gets into your space. You over estimated the width of a wall between two doorways, so now, that rad console-the one that was gonna look so good there- has to live somewhere else. Or you guessed incorrectly, and that bay window is made up of 38 degree angles- not 45, because that would make your life too easy.

That’s why I think this product my friend just turned me on to is so genius. It’s called Lay It Out , and they’re life-size furniture templates. Just pieces of paper really, but in the size and shape of sofas, rugs, chairs, tables, beds… you get the gist.

I think this is a great idea if you’re moving into a new home and have limited access or time to properly document measurements and draw the whole shebang out. So, whether it’s on your one walk through, or the morning of your actual move in, you can move furniture around to see where it should live without ACTUALLY moving furniture around. And you can do all of this before the moving truck arrives, so that the movers don’t talk about you behind your back after they move your sofa for the third time…

You can buy different packages like living room, dining room bedroom, or go for the whole kit and caboodle with the Total Home Package. Package rates vary from $19.99 to $99.99. Y’all are gonna thank me for this one : )

Bamboozled!

Kristan — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:21:51 +0000

We have all heard by now how sustainable bamboo is…it’s an all around fantastic material, in so many ways. It also happens to look great, with a warm honey tone perfect for a light minimalist feel. The best news is, it’s not just good for flooring! Check out these fantastic bamboo finds that not only make a small impact on the environment, but on your bank account too!

Bamboo Bowls from West Elm, $5-29

IZOLA Numerals Toothbrush Set from Velocity Art and Design $11

IKEA Boja Table Lamp $39.99

Bamboo Dry Erase Board from CB2 $59.95

Dragan Jar with Lid Set of 3 (Painted Bamboo) from IKEA $14.99

Bamboo Box Knife Holders from Viva Terra $49-$89

Bamboo Basket/Shopping Bag from Pearl River $14.35

Minimalist for Minimal Money

Kristan — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 21:32:40 +0000

When I was “leafing” through NYT’s Home & Garden section, as I’m want to do on a Thursday morning, I came across this article. Something occurred to me. The old saying “Less is More” can certainly be true. But why is it that when it comes to modern, minimalist pieces Less often costs More, too? Here are a few great finds that are reminiscent of those pricey sleek sweeties, but for a lot less moolah.

Bonnie Studio Sofa from bludot for $1399

Klubbo Coffee Table from IKEA, $49.99

Kiki Table from Chiasso, $48

Klimos Dining Chair from West Elm $99

Contact Stool from CB2, $129

Hancock Carbon Bookcase from CB2 $199

Metal Leg Dining Console from West Elm $399

Inspiration & Ideas from Iacoli & McAlister

Kristan — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 19:34:34 +0000

The Seattle-based design studio Iacoli & McAlister make indisputably beautiful objects. Lighting, furniture, jewelry, all approached with the same careful attention to proportion and negative space. They also have a unique way of recycling existing objects and giving them new life, something you know I’ve got nothing but love for. Like this 7 lb. wrench they simply powder coated pink and hung on the wall.

Or these one of a kind pedestals, using vintage candlesticks as the base and a solid surfacing top.

These guys are filled with great ideas. I also love their simple stripped down approach to furniture and lighting. It really gets the creative juices flowing. These feel like things you can emulate, create your own version. Think industrial items + reclaimed wood + spray paint! Of course, you can always save yourself the trouble, everything you see here is for sale on their site!!

Hack it Up… IKEA Hacker

Kristan — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:47:25 +0000

I was browsing one of my favorite blogs this morning, and it occurred to me that not everyone knows about it, but everyone should. It’s IKEA Hackers, an ingenious site all about projects that can be done with IKEA products as the raw materials. We all know by now that you can buy a dining table at IKEA for less than it costs to buy the wood to build it yourself. The only thing less expensive? The products and pieces of products you can find in the As-Is clearance area at your local IKEA. This blog gives how-to instructions on tons of projects using IKEA stuff, both by the writer of the blog and readers who send in ideas. Here are some of my favorite projects of late…

Lack bench/lounger
Materials: Lack coffee tables

How To: Make a Mod Chandelier (for under $10.00!)
Materials: HEMMA Cord Set, Wooden Dowels, Spray Paint

Let them eat cake!
Materials: Lampan Table Lamp, Tin Tray

Paper napkin and wooden beads
Materials: NYSNÖ paper napkin

Trofast Children’s Craft Table
Materials: TROFAST Frame, VIKA AMON table top (L: 40 1/8″), 2 GRUNDTAL rails, 2 MALA paper rolls

Malm bed with loads of underbed storage
Materials: Malm, Alsarp

Driftwood Book

Kristan — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 08:34:56 +0000

Sculptures D’Ocean, Marche’ aux Puces St-Ouen de Clingancourt, FR $2

Color Combo Crush: Peacock & Navy

Kristan — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 05:06:29 +0000

They’re both blue, but together they say “happy”!

Target Indigo Ashanti 3 pc Towel Set, $16.99

Jonathan Adler Neptune Collection, $9-22

shiboridragon.com Indigo Diamonds, $12 yd

Anthropologie Meeting Vines Curtain, 50 x 84, $228

Get the Look for Less: Julianne Moore’s West Village Loft

Kristan — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 17:37:51 +0000

Julianne Moore’s West Village Loft is a calm and peaceful space, combining modern and natural touches to create an airy, clean look. You can get the same look for your home without spending the big bucks by using my buying guide below!

Palecek Driftwood Stick Table Lamp $319

Baxter Sectional from West Elm $449.00 – $1,647.00

Walnut Coffee Table from andy1000 on Etsy, $300

Flor’s Short Shag in Bisque $6.32/sq ft.

West Elm’s Henry Arm Chair in Cotton Twill, $499

Vate Floor Lamp from IKEA $29.99

Best Sofas Under $1000 Roundup

Kristan — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:17:50 +0000

Karlstad from IKEA $599

Clark Sofa from West Elm $999

Brooks Sofa from Room and Board $799

Lorimer Sofa from West Elm $799

Lilly Sofa from Raymour Flanigan $699.95

Bolla Sofa from CB2 $999

Kivik from IKEA $499

Night and Day Convertible Sofa from Urban Outfitters $588

Silhouette Sofa from Crate and Barrel $999

Chloe Velvet Metro Living Sofa from Macy’s $899