Vignettes and Details

A sunny dining room filled with warm yellows and golds. We staged the tabletop as if a European lunch were about to be enjoyed.

Whiteware on the sideboard and sunny yellow paint add up to a cheerful dining room in this staged home. We painted the chair rail white to stand out. A trio of Currier and Ives prints brings a note of tradition to the space.

Two swirled vintage glasses on a hand painted tray. Southern charm at its best. All you need is some lemonade and a front porch.

Tarnished silver plate has a charm all its own. Pair it with a vintage engraving, a silver plate tray and some fresh limes in a bowl and you have an instant design pedigree.

We painted the original vanity black, put in a wood-look Allure floor, added a mirror, a zebra rug, new shower curtain and a Chinese garden drum. Brand new bath!

We added a glass shelf from Target over the toilet and staged it with white and black accents. A starfish sits atop towels under a black and white photo. Walls are Benjamin Moore's Saybrook Sage.

Details in fresh tones of grass green, black and white make for a perennially satisfying arrangement. The vintage vase adds authenticity and age.

A modern dining room vignette featuring two vintage molded plywood chairs, a starburst table mirror on a stand and a vintage African statue. On a shelf below, a vintage wicker elephant. Underneath it all, a leaf-patterned rug.

Nothing says traditional like some Blanc de Chine. Here, a white bird rests on a vintage bedside table. Blues and greens make up the palette in this traditionally styled bedroom.

This Master Bedroom in a beachside condo was treated to calming tans and deep browns. We love the pillow pattern, an Indian wood block style with a Moorish tile feel. A simple vase holds plain brown branches.

Foo dogs. Can you ever have enough? Even this little guy -- who we found minus his partner -- works when you pair him with chunky books and lotus candle holders.

We found this desk for $12 at a thrift shop. Took it home and realized the only thing we wanted to do was paint the drawer fronts and add new vintage style hardware, which we found at Cost Plus. Wall color is Benjamin Moore's Silverlake. Pull up a stylish chair, add a large richly colored vintage painting and a modern glass lamp. Now it's totally shab fab.

We repainted this little bar cart and transformed it from a plain brown cabinet to an ooh-la-la martini zone. Wouldn't you love to pour a couple of glasses for your friends in front of this cutie? We love how it turned out.

The bookcase is a knock-off of the Network bookcase by Room and Board, and it was manufactured for Target a few years ago. We love how it can be used either vertically or horizontally, depending on your space and needs.

In this beachside condo, we staged using fresh greens and browns. A light green leaf pattern rug and Target's Dolce lounge chair keep the living room fresh. Two leather top X-leg ottomans stand in for coffee tables, while the bookcase sports a yellow glass lamp and rustic root bowl.

This detail shot of this beachy condo shows a bronze-toned book cover acting as the perfect foil to our color scheme. Surf's up.

In this large Spanish style bathroom with traditional Saltillo tile, a vintage cabinet holds pampering bath supplies. A burnished gold tone mirror reflects in the background. Wall color is Ralph Lauren Manor Gray.

We painted a lantern white to make it look beachy.

A traditional lamp is updated by placing it on a white Saarinen style bedside table. Eclectic accents like a vintage white bird, prints in gold frames and sumptuous linens soften the look.

We staged this Living Room to be calm, soothing and neutral with little pops of pattern. The sofa is the Chloe by Macy's. The coffee table peeking out on the right is from Urban Outfitters.

The soothing neutrals in this Living Room make for a serene escape. We recovered the seats of the two chairs in the foreground with a coordinating fabric.

Black, white and yellow in a high contrast, high drama Hollywood Regency style. We designed this room for impact. The nightstands and art are vintage finds.

Detail of Hollywood Regency Bedroom in black, white and yellow color scheme.

Can't go wrong with a yellow, black and white color scheme.

This Asian inspired Living Room got a strong dose of orange in the form of gourd lamps and pillows. Green tones dominate, with hits of gold and brown.

Details matter when you're designing and staging a room. A great tabletop never goes unnoticed. This one has a modern feel.

In this room, we used a combination of vintage and new vases, plates and bowls, hand-stenciled with numbers to create a Pottery Barn look

We created a fresh nautical look by hand-stenciling black numbers onto simple white vases.

We worked with a mix of materials on this mantel display, ranging from vintage finds to a DIY-framed Cost Plus napkin and hand-made vintage book bundles.

DIY vintage book bundles bring a high-end decorator look to any space

A collection of vintage personal accessories fills shelves in this modern office

Eccentric vintage items on a shelf in this modern office project

A dark gray wall accents the bright red of a modern credenza in this eccentric office space

A dark gray wall accents the bright red of an IKEA Olle chair and the modern CB2 credenza in this eccentric and eclectic office space. The wall color is Dior Gray by Benjamin Moore.

An IKEA Expedit shelving unit and a Galant desk pair for an organized, clean-lined home office space

Modern office with organization galore in the IKEA Expedit bookcase. Fresh, white, open -- and ready for anything!

A closeup of the bed and bedside table in this updated traditional bedroom.

A great space for yoga with a seagrass mat, a double wall basket for pillows, a woven ottoman and space to zen out on the deck.

An IKEA Malm dresser serves as a spot for a Mid Century Modern tabletop display.

An IKEA Malm dresser serves as a simple counterpoint to a faux bamboo Chinese Chippendale chair with a geometric design pillow and Mid Century Modern details.

On the bed are sheets by Thomas O'Brien Vintage Modern for Target, and the room is painted Manor Gray by Ralph Lauren. The headboard is from Target. Then we added a selection of bed pillows from Nate Berkus' line for Linens 'N Things, Target and Ross (Damask pillows), and framed some 1960s Fillmore West handbills in crisp white frames from Target for above the bed.

On the bed are sheets by Thomas O'Brien Vintage Modern for Target, and walls are painted Manor Gray by Ralph Lauren. The headboard is from Target. Then we added a selection of bed pillows from Nate Berkus' line for Linens 'N Things, Target and Ross (Damask pillows), and framed some 1960s Fillmore West handbills in crisp white frames from Target for above the bed. The red Chili ... more »

A set of Danish modern candlesticks, square white plates and 70s green and aqua geometric napkins atop an antique pine table equal an eclectic and interesting mix.

A set of Danish modern candlesticks, square white plates and 70s green and aqua geometric napkins atop an antique pine table equal an eclectic and interesting mix.

A curvy retro modern lamp sets the tone for a tablescape featuring coffee table books, a yellow vase and a black faux bamboo tray.

Acacia wood grain tray on a coffee table

A modern orange lamp shares a tabletop with a white foo dog and a faux croc box.

An Asian dining tablescape features Tibetan stools and a simple table with red and gold accents.

Two orange lamps flank a brown leather club chair accented by Chinoiserie tables in this Asian inspired Living Room.

Shells and a white faux croc tray in a beachy coastal countertop display in the bath.

A can of white spray paint is all it takes to take a couple of bird figurines from a motley mixture to a smart set.

Take a Chiavari Ballroom Chair (like the kind you see at wedding reception tables) and paint it a bright color, like the yellow we've used here, and it's transformed.

Make your own vintage book bundles. Just tear the covers off old books and tie them up in string. Or you can buy them from Pottery Barn or etsy.com.

A yellow Mid Century Modern chair in a Hollywood Regency styled bedroom adds just the right vintage touch. Walls are painted Benjamin Moore Silverlake. The B&W pillow is from Target

We painted and reupholstered a pair of vintage Thonet cane back bentwood chairs that had seen better days. We used satin finish Rustoleum 2X Cover spray paint in Granite and recovered the seat cushions with a vintage batik fabric.

We updated this little vintage footstool by painting it a rich coral red and reupholstering it in an orange and green geometric print.

We updated this vintage Regency style chair by reupholstering it in a B&W geometric print.

We updated the look of this vintage chair by painting it fresh green and reupholstering the seat cushion in a geometric pattern of orange and green.

Little green tables that have gone unloved for awhile tend to gather at our doorstep. They’re just naturally drawn to our DIY spirit, in hopes that they, too, will one day end up on the blog. Such was the case with this sad (but cute and full of potential) little thrift store find for $8. A little love, some spray paint and a DIY coral stencil later, this table is ready to grac... more »

Anchored in the reality of needing to create our own unique and low-cost decor, we’re always trying new things. We love nautically influenced design elements handmade from what we already have on hand (isn’t that what handmade means?). Here's a simple round bamboo tray from IKEA, which we gave a fresh spin to by painting it in Rustoleum Heirloom White 2X Cover Satin spray paint... more »

A grouping of photos in frames, a manzanita branch and a polished nickel lantern mingle with books both old and new in this eclectic bookshelf display.

We repainted a set of three chairs a fresh white and reupholstered them in Waverly's B&W toile fabric for a whole new look.

We first designed this Hollywood Regency Bedroom in a more eclectic colorful style, then toned it down to B&W with yellow accents later on (see other photos inside this project set). The oil painting is vintage original and was found at an estate sale for $13. This room garnered features in the design blogs Design*Sponge and IKEA Hacker for our transformation of IKEA furniture,... more »

A vintage Larry Laszlo for Towle Sterling martini pitcher and stirrer on a mirrored tray on bar top set the mood for an art deco style room. Vintage framed art from the1920s adds to the vibe. The glasses are by Calvin Klein Home.

A vintage handmade Ikat throw from Timor lays across a bedroom dresser.

There's nothing like the rich color and bold design of an ethnic rug to make a room. Here we show a prized vintage kilim style rug from our home design inventory in an outdoor setting to show off its bold coloration.

We painted this vintage trunk white so that we could use it in home stagings in either modern or traditional homes. It had been a dingy Army green before and while it had some vintage charm that way, we prefer it light and versatile. Above it, we put a Charley Harper bird print into a simple white frame.

We styled this bedroom with a mix of vintage and modern pieces. The side table is pure 1950s, but we've edged it up a little with pattern and B&W.

A vintage cockatoo figurine stands proudly against dark books on this console table.

A vintage ashtray serves as a potential bedside jewelry holder and foil to coastal decor like a sea urchin in this tabletop display.

We used a vintage Navajo blanket as a graphic B&W focal point atop a white bed.

We reupholstered a pair of Hollywood regency chairs from the 1970s with a fresh B&W geometric print.

A vintage trophy and a humorous eye chart are great eclectic details to use when personalizing a space. All were sourced by us at vintage and thrift shops.

Yes, you can put a plate wall in a bedroom, especially when you use white platters like we did here and mix in other vintage details, like original oil paintings and hand-painted furniture.

A vintage dresser circa 1950s gets a colorful update when we paired it with modern and other vintage details in this eclectic and very personal bedroom.

DIY apothecary jar terrarium. http://madisonhome.tumblr.com

A vintage wicker wrapped demijohn is the perfect accent piece for a dining room or kitchen

Table top with glass lamp, wooden vase and Chinese pottery on top of a distressed desk

Eclectic bedroom with a desk featuring a distressed finish, a Crate and Barrel chair, a glass lamp and large oil painting. A soft blue and taupe color scheme prevails.

A retro bar with 1950s bright orange tray and gold-banded martini glasses with a vintage lamp

A fresh mix of colors and vintage-modern furniture makes for a bright corner of this living room

A mix of modern and vintage items add a personal note to this home office, including a vintage French Hitchcock poster

A personal mix of modern and vintage details in a home office makeover.

A vintage dresser being used as a dining buffet shows its potential for entertaining with classic white pottery and traditional styling

A vintage dresser top with books and vintage detail

A modern tablescape with books and natural details

A CB2 Array bookcase filled with books and a collection of Broadway posters in this personal take on a modern office

A vintage wicker wrapped demijohn and vintage oil painting share space in this bookcase styling

An IKEA LACK bookcase holds a variety of books and decorative items in this home office.

An IKEA LACK bookcase holds a variety of books and decorative items in this home office.

On a bedroom dresser, a combination of colorful red items against a brown and white striped curtain.

Don't be afraid to display a vintage print in a rustic wood frame like this outside if you're hosting a tea party or other garden event, as we did here. The charm of this little boy in a hat with the sun illuminating his face is priceless.

A fresh color scheme of orange and green is a winner every time, especially when it includes fresh foliage to accent stoneware and table linens.

A well-made wrought iron table and matching chairs need only a shaft of sunlight and a subtle blue bowl to shine on this patio.

A vintage C. Jere wall sculpture is a true conversation piece in any design. Here we used it to great effect at an outdoor event leaning against a stone fire pit.

We used a vintage C. Jere wall sculpture casually placed next to an outdoor water feature at an evening garden event.

A large Tuscan style lamp is placed in front of a mirror in an entry way for additional drama.

A vintage plate shares a tabletop display with a sea urchin under a glass dome and a soapstone ginger jar

A 1960s Moses Soyer lithograph with orange and brown accents.

A set of vintage Heath Ceramic coffee cups and saucers

A vintage Bavarian vase in a bedroom dresser top display

A vintage seashell motif tray holds jewelry on a bedside table

A selection of hand-painted antique plates from the turn of the century against a dark wood-paneled background on a plate wall

A vintage Ikat throw is used here as a bedspread

A bright yellow and red color scheme is used in a small space home office/guest bedroom combo

A vintage flowerpot holding a succulent plant shares space in this dresser top detail with a vintage wooden box, a Chinese tea basket and a Mid Century vase

A Jonathan Adler for Pottery Barn ceramic vase atop a simple stack of books with a driftwood branch makes for a clean and modern table top display.