New Trend? "Mid Century Froufrou"

Speaking of froufrou fabric, how stunning would a mid century modern chair, like this one from Crate & Barrel look recovered in the fabric from this absolutely lovely vintage chair from One Kings Lane?

Six years later, I still love OKL.

Long time no see.

Baby John "Hutch" posing for his KatesFaves debut 

A lot has changed since I last checked in. Namely, a husband, two kids, a house to decorate and no one to talk to (who listens/cares) about all of my home decor obsessions. So, I'm back!

I'm crushing on our new bedroom wallpaper from Meg Braff Designs.  As the "vintage palm" trend rages on, the elegant bamboo print is a perfect complement to the teak bed we found at CB2.

Now I'm on the hunt for some mid-century chairs that I can recover in an over-the-top floral (aka froufrou) pattern....

A Homage to One Kings Lane

It's been a while, right? Well, it's been quite the year. Need I say more? A lot has changed; namely, my new found obsession with home decor. Once a "shabby chic" kinda gal, I've found my own sense of style, thanks to various home decor sites, but mainly, One Kings Lane (OKL).

Similar to other popular first-come-first serve online boutiques (RuLaLa, Gilt, IvoryTrunk, etc), OKL brings chic brands to the savvy masses by offering member-only deals on fabulous finds. What sets OKL apart is their Tastemaster Tag Sales, featuring drastically discounted pieces from top interior designer's personal inventory.

You must strike while the sale is hot, or you'll miss the boat on one-of-a-kind steals. I'm still stewing after missing this amazing Mike Mills print from Molly Luetkemeyer's tag sale last week. If anyone is listening, I would like this for Christmas. Good luck finding it though.

Necessary Reads

If you haven't already, be sure to pick up the August issue of Domino magazine for a beautiful feature on the farmhouse I visited last summer in New York. Go Alice!

While you're at it, everyone's favorite architect, Mr. Jeff Corney, looks fabulous in his stunning condo in the July issue of Chicago Social. The Mies van der Rohe feature story is of course by my favorite editor, miss Amalie Drury.

Brocade Home

A wise man once said, "dang girl, you get a lot of catalogs." It's true, I do. And only because I make sure I recycle all of them, I love it!

My most recent unexpected catalog is my new favorite - brocade home. Snazzy damask wallpaper, intricate headboards and crystal chandeliers? Sold.

And, they have a blog!

Instant Wall Decor

Ready to "hang" vinyl stickers from IKEA.

Feathers and Robins and Coral, Oh My!

Back on the prowl for my apartment, Thomas Paul pillows are my latest find for those stylish finishing touches.

Spice Up Your Space

If you're looking for a way to spice up stark, standard issue white walls, Creative Wallcovering offers a beautiful, temporary solution with stunning patterns and captivating murals for any taste or style. Think wallpaper, without the glue. And, it's affordable too!

Purple Passion

ABC Carpet is by far one of the most fascinating home stores on the planet and a great place to spend an afternoon in New York. On every floor, I fell in love with something - a mirrored nightstand, a lacquer tray table, and this...a Labrazel crystal bath accessory set in a color I've decided is "the epitome of me." When the tissue box cover will cost ya $675, don't call it purple, you must call it a violet alexandrite.

The Evolution of Style

Never in my life would I imagine myself being the person to walk by a store called Evolution - stop - acknowledge the presence of skeletons in the window and proclaim, "Ooh! We must check out their natural coral and ostrich eggs!" However, since I began my never-ending search for perfect, stylish living room decor, I'll stop at nothing to find a unique piece, no matter how freaky the journey.

The Chair Off

The quest for the perfect accent chair has led me to the proverbial crossroad of cheap vs. chic. $350 Ikea Chair (left) vs. $2,500 Anthropologie Chair (right). Is it even a question? Who's up for a road trip to Schaumburg (slash has a car)?