IKEA Helped Furnish My New Home: Hemnes Bookcases and TV stands

I know IKEA gets a bad rap sometimes, but when you've just bought a new home and need to furnish it quickly, IKEA is the way to go. Yes, there are some things that can be iffy at IKEA (ie, any type of upholstered item, rugs) but for the basics like bookshelves and TV stands this place is pretty good. Check out some of the items we bought to help create our family room wall unit:

We started with the Hemnes TV stand ($199) in gray-brown:

Then added the Hemnes bookcases ($180 each) on both sides of the TV stand:
Finally, we added Hemnes bridge ($120) to finish off the look and make it a fully functional wall unit:

Total cost of this project: $679. Not bad considering how big the unit is. I searched far and wide for something of this size elsewhere and the prices ran well into the thousands. Plus the Hemnes line is real wood, not particle board.

MirrorMate Frames

Need to transform a stale mirror in your bathroom to something that looks a little more custom? Enter MirrorMate. An easy and affordable way to update the look of your bathroom.

Ordering the frame is easy, just pick the style you like, enter the measurements of your mirror and then bam! Within about a week or so you get your custom frame shipped to you. Putting it together is relatively easy. You will need a second pair of hands to help you stick the frame onto the mirror.

The price of the frames depend on the style you choose and the size of your mirror. I have to say the MirrorMate frame made a big difference in my own bathroom...it completely updated the room. 4 stars for MirrorMate!

The Clear Banister Gaurd Kit

Bought the Clear Banister Guard Kit from Cardinal Gates a few days ago. The gaps in between the rails of my banister are just too big, and I felt that this posed a safety risk for my son. The kit contains a large plastic sheet, a hole puncher, and some ties.

It's relatively simple to install. My husband did it in about a half hour (it's a small banister). All you need to do is measure the plastic, mark where the rails are, hole punch the plastic sheet and put the ties through and around the rails. Once all of the ties are securely around the rails, the plastic sheet will cover all of the gaps. No need to drill or screw any nails into anything.

So far it's working pretty well. My son is intrigued by his reflection in the plastic but other than that he pretty much stays away from the banister. It's barely noticeable, which is nice.

The plastic rolls are available in 5ft ($21.95) and 15ft ($47.88) lengths.

The Neiman Marcus Christmas Book 2009

It's here. It's online. And it's waiting for your credit card. While most of the gifts in the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book would be considered budget-busters, they do have a category for $250 and under. But who are we kidding? We want to see the good stuff!

Check out some of the "Fantasy Gifts":

Customized Cupcake Car (for real) $25,000

Algonquin Round Table Experience (Dinner and conversation with Christopher Buckley, Roz Chast, Delia Ephron, Nora Ephron, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Gopnik, John Lithgow, Anna Deveare Smith, George Stephanopoulos, Ali Wentworth at the Algonquin Hotel) $200,000 (all the money goes to charity)

His & Hers ICON A5 Sports Aircraft and Pilot Training for Two $250,000

Hall Artisan Wine and Art Experience (includes resort stay, winemaking lessons, make your own personal wine and it will be bottled and delivered to your house) $20,000

Hallmark Personalized Photo Plates

Having a party? Want your face on the paper plates? You're in luck. Hallmark Cards today announced the introduction of Hallmark Personalized Plates. The plates give consumers the ability to design paper plates with full-color photos and text. More than 200 plate designs, including birthday, wedding, graduation, pet birthday, baby celebration, retirement and anniversary, are available at http://www.hallmarkparty.com/. Consumer can add their own photos, write their own personal message or choose from among more than 700 unique suggested messages.

The nine-inch paper dinner plates come in packages of 10. Each package retails for $10.

NY Fashion Week Highlight: The Snuggie!

A new line of Snuggies were unveiled at a NYC runway show this week. I can't believe how far the Snuggie has come. I remember watching those ridiculous infomercials and thinking "Who the hell is going to buy this?". Well, it looks like people are buying it, because the Snuggie has become a pop culture phenomenon. And if it's good enough for the runway, it's good enough for me!

IKEA Fabrics: Start Sewing!

My co-worker Jenny loves to make quilts. During our lunch break we sometimes wander over to the quilt store around the corner to check out the pretty fabrics they have in stock. Some of these fabrics are pretty expensive so making a quilt ends up becoming quite a financial investment.

IKEA has some relatively inexpensive fabric in some really beautiful prints to make your own pillowcases, quilts, and duvet covers...in case you can't afford the stuff at ABC Home Store.

Papercut Art

Check out these beautiful papercut artworks by Tina Tarnoff. Each piece is handmade and signed on the front. Very original concept that will have people asking "Where did you get that!"

Marie Antoinette:

Waiting for the Phone to Ring:

My Shoe Collection:

World Tour:

Flower Pot:



Back Where You Belong:

Autum Kiss:

ABC Carpet and Home Store

If only I was rich...the kind of damage I would do at ABC Carpet and Home. This place is just spectacular...the antique furniture, the decorative pillows and throws, the pretty crystal chandeliers, the $50,000 rugs...it's all here. My cousin Vita and I went over there today to look at some rugs (not in the $50,000 price range of course). The saleswoman was actually pretty disappointed when we asked her where the remnants (aka sale) rugs were located. After perusing the rugs, we went across the street to the Home store. This was a mistake. Because this place is truly untouchable unless you have a money tree growing in your backyard. Vita and I oohed and ahhed at a bunch of stuff, especially the decorative pillows, the beautiful antique chandelier lamps, and the unique china. We left empty-handed of course but it was still worth it, spending a lovely lunch hour in one of the most beautiful stores I've ever seen.

ABC Home has an online store, however they have very few items for sale. Here's a couple of things you can purchase online...this website really does not do justice to the actual store.

While we are on the subject of pillows and rugs, ABC Home carries the Madeline Weinrib line of pillows and rugs. I can't even guess how expensive they might be but they are so beautiful. Check out some of the items from the Madeline Weinrib Atelier.

Pancake Lovers Rejoice!

Now you can flip your pancakes without worrying about ruining their delicate shape! Introducing Ebelskiver Filled-Pancake Turning Tools from William-Sonoma. This just goes to show that there really is a tool for everything.

Nursery Rhymes Are Not Just For Kids

I absolutely love Fishs Eddy! You cannot go to this store and not come out with something. They have such unique dishware, glassware, and other household items. I went to the store looking for a gift for my sister-in-law for her wedding shower and stumbled upon these adorable Nursery Rhyme Cereal Bowls, Mugs, and Drinking Glasses. I bought her a set of bowls, mugs, and glasses hoping she would like them (I hate buying off registries)...and boy did she ever! In fact, she whispered to me at the end of the shower that my gift was her favorite!

Check them out: http://www.fishseddy.com/