Adorn: October 2008

So often I see things that seem like such an obvious idea, but yet I never think of them. Case in point: APA Company (an interior design firm in Seattle) has found an untouched niche in decorative candle sleeves for chandeliers. Now many of you might be wondering, what's that?! Most chandeliers have a cream or white wrap around the base of the light. Even the most expensive ones have this overly basic accessory. Luckily, APA Company has come up with brilliant designs to take this boring element of a chandelier and elevate it to new heights (literally!).

Here's an example of what I'm talking about:

BEFORE A CANDLE SLEEVE:

AFTER ADDING A DECORATIVE CANDLE SLEEVE:

The designs range from sophisticated and whacky, to basics and holiday. There's pretty much something for everyone. And, for those who get into holiday decorating (whether it's Thanksgiving or Christmas), these sleeves are easy to change and refresh, depending upon the season!

Most of the sleeves range from $12 - $21 per pair, depending upon the size. I've attached a few more images below of some of my favorites. For the full spectrum of offerings, you can shop directly from her website here: http://www.apacompany.com/

Perfect for that spooky Halloween party:

Beautiful touch for Thanksgiving:

Perfect for a festive Christmas celebration:

In these tough economic times, how's a girl going to afford to redecorate sensibly? Many, many people are putting the breaks on their retail therapy and keeping their cash to themselves. And, I think we can all agree it's probably a wise thing to do. Living beyond our means is OUT; being financially responsible is IN!

So, how can you spruce up your space on a dime? By shopping for bargains and using items in ways that they weren't originally meant to be used. Sure, being frugal is more time consuming, but in the long run, it's so much more satisfying!

Here are just a few additional thoughts:

Be patient - that object you lust for at Pottery Barn will eventually go on sale. I rarely pay full price for anything. Whether it's clothes, home decor, etc., it will eventually go on sale. And, the great thing about waiting for a sale is that often times the urge to buy it goes away. Or, even better, you find something you like even more for 1/2 the price!

If you shop online, ALWAYS Google for coupon codes. Whenever I shop online at Garnet Hill or Ballard Designs, I always search for coupon codes via Google to see if I can get an additional 10% off, or perhaps free shipping. Unfortunately, I have never found coupons for Pottery Barn (cheap bastards!), but there are definitely other deals to be had elsewhere. Example: I just did a search for "Illuminations coupon code" and found a 20% coupon code from RetailmeNot.com. (by the way, Illuminations is having a 50% off sale on all of their Halloween items! Click here to check it out!

Shop at thrift stores, Goodwill, or other similar places. Now that the garage sale season has pretty much ended, people are more likely to donate their unwanted items rather than hold onto them for a garage sale next summer. I especially love to get nice coffee table books and small accessory items there. Just a word to the wise: be weary about upholstered items - you just don't know what lurks in the depths of the cushions!

Salvage yards are IN!! For those truly wanting to be eco-friendly, going to your local salvage yard to find treasures is not only good for the environment, but good on your wallet as well. I love purchasing salvaged stained glass windows and using them as wall art. You can find amazing light fixtures at bargain basement prices (just make sure they actually work!).

Below are some items I found on http://seconduse.com/ (but, you have to hurry, because the good stuff doesn't last very long!)