Pepper Design Blog

I *Love* Occasional Chairs

I love occasional chairs for so many reasons… but mostly because they function as a versatile piece of furniture for extra seating, can be as pretty as you’d like and break up the structure of traditional rooms.

Apartment Therapy featured Catherine’s cozy blue home and occasional chairs above.

Whether you reupholster your own find from a local thrift store or splurge on a designer look (get that look for less at Pier 1, which features all four chairs above) incorporating a beautifully upholstered chair into a living, dining or bedroom makes a perfect addition.

How great are these beautiful French provincial chairs featured at Decor Pad? The old-fashioned formality of traditional sitting chairs takes on a brand new meaning when mixed into an eclectic space.

Country Living gets cozy with a linen occasional chair — featured to the right includes the Coniston chair, Chairs 1000 satin chair, and a french beauvoir chair )that’s definitely within budget) from Target.

So lovely! More great looks on every budget to follow. Read more »

In with the Old! New Year’s Refurbishing Inspiration

I am inspired this New Years to find beauty in the old — to embrace the well-worn as well-done and honor the original craftsmanship of ‘outdated pieces’ by providing them a new lease on life. Perhaps it’s a need to downsize, or maybe it’s that I’m not ready to throw in the decorating hat even though I have accumulated more than enough furniture to fill the house.

Refurbishing is clearly the answer! With the unfortunate lack of space to add more ‘stuff’ — I continue my decorating adventures without having to give up previous ‘stuff’.

Ruthie Sommers (spotlighted in December) is an excellent example of a very posh interior designer who regularly scrounges through the thrift store circuit to come up with THESE incredible projects! The room at top (how perfect is that room?) is filled with this sofa (above) and this dresser (below).

Wow! is all I have to say to that. Follow the jump for three more refashions by Sommers. Read more »

Friday Guest Blog Interview: Ruffles and Stuff!

This week my guest blog interview is inspired by everything handmade… and it’s wonderful! Take a journey with me to visit Disney of Ruffles and Stuff and her beautiful DIY world.

As we approach the holidays and our wallets become a bit barer (and our New Year’s resolutions a bit stronger!) I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce you to a very lovely lady that embodies all things crafty and (most importantly!) pretty. A personal resolution of mine is to cut back on the ‘purchasing’ and up the ‘repurposing’ for home decor — and Ruffles and Stuff is the PERFECT blog to meet such requirements.

What’s most exciting is that all images in today’s interview are projects handmade by Disney herself! She covers the gamut of delicate slippers (see below) to framed flowers and ruffled lampshades (after the jump). Disney also designs and creates beautiful clothing (see Chanel-inspired cuffs above) for herself and her two year-old-daughter.

Disney shares that her two greatest joys in life are rain and coffee (she’s a Washington native) and that “other than reading Dr. Seuss and scraping play-dough off of the floor, my favorite thing to do in my spare time is craft!”

I love that her living room walls are black and that she offers step-by-step directions on making your own bib necklace… and you must read her answers to the four PDB questions (and check out pictures of her home makeover and projects) after the jump! Read more »