Pillow Fight!

I hope you're enjoying a nice relaxing long weekend.  Can someone please explain to me how September just happened??  I digress.... Pillows!

Along with a new sofa comes the need for some new pillows.  Yes, the need.  I've come to the conclusion that it must be in the female DNA because men just don't get pillows.  Every single time I say something about a new pillow, Hubby responds with "ya know, I was just thinking we didn't have enough pillows."  You are right, Hubby, one can never have enough pillows!  Who's with me???  Pillows are a relatively inexpensive and non-committal way to instantly switch up a room.

Exhibit A- our new sofa.  While I love the simplicity of just the single center pillow (a HomeGoods find that I still adore), functionality-wise, we need to add a pillow on each side.  I want something fun and colorful that won't compete with the adjacent ikat chair or the orange/coral pillow.  That's not too much to ask.

1. Fanner Diamond Pillow Cover in Platinum from West Elm.  Simplicity with artistic flare in the form of texture
2. British Bouquet pillow from Caitlin Wilson Textiles.  Color and fun.
3. Embroidered Dot Pillow Cover in Blue Lagoon from West Elm.  So pretty and simple.  It would be rather simple to take this as an inspiration and create a custom version.
4. Paint Palette Pillow via Tonic Living.  The fabric itself is also available from Tonic Living and I think is the current front-runner in my sofa race.  An artsy floral with enough color that it can hold up next to the existing pillow.
5. Blue, Purple, and Green Linen Pillow Cover from Pillow Flight on etsy.  This shop has such great affordable options!  I'm also a sucker for paisley-inspired florals.  I think I need to veer out of the box, though.
6. Cowhide Pillow Cover from Wisteria.  I'm not going to lie and tell you I love the cowhide... It would not be very comfortable to rest your head on during detective show binge-watching... BUT I love the style/idea here.  Creating a pattern with individual fabric pieces and leaving raw edges- beautiful.  With felt, jersey, or some other cozy material I'd be totally sold.

I could day dream about pillows all day if I wasn't careful.  So many options!  Such pretty fabrics!  Endless possibilities!  I bit pillow-crazy? maybe!

Padding the Issues

I have a very deep and important topic to discuss with you today.  Rug pads.  Wait, don't go!!!  I'll try and make it exciting! When Rug Pad USA reached out and offered for me to try their product, saying I was skeptical was a bit of an understatement.  Rug pads rank on my priority list right below fixing my dripping faucet and right above cleaning under the bed.  For example, we have an area rug on our carpet in the bedroom.  Our bed's legs cause the quality IKEA rug to pucker something fierce.  A nicer rug with a proper rug pad would probably have no issue in this situation.  My solution: stick a stiff carpet sample under the bed legs for support.  It has sat like that for over 3 years.  Just call me MacGyver.

My biggest rug pad situation (yes that's a thing) was in the kitchen.

Flat weave runners are delightful on the eyes, but have little to no 'stay put' power on their own.  Also being in the kitchen, Hubby requested, back when we got the rug, something cushy that would be good for standing.  Again, MacGyver had a solution!  I folded up a regular rug pad for more cush... and then when it kept going askew, I splurged for "As seen on TV" Ruggies.  This solution was acceptable... the Ruggies kept the 4 corners in place and the folded pad was pleasing to your feet, but the pad kept bunching and although the 4 corners stayed in place, the center of the rug liked to go it's own way.

So when Rug Pad USA asked if I'd like to try a rug pad, my thoughts immediately went to that wonkiness.  I'm willing to give almost anything a try and really, it couldn't be any worse than my makeshift solution.

When I took the Premium-Lock rug pad out of the packaging I was intrigued- gripping rubber on one side and coarse felt on the other.  Seemed promising.

The second I put it down and placed the rug on it, my rug pad skepticism flew out the window.  The rubber held the pad onto the hard wood floors and the texture of the felt kept the rug in place.  I even gave it the twist test.  Are you familiar with this test?  Stand on a rug and... do the Twist!  It didn't budge.  You win rug pad.

I dig the rug pad so much I'm most likely going be getting another for the flat weave rug at my front door.  I won't lie though, it's tough convincing myself to spend more than a few dollars on something I'll never see, but I don't think my feet can ever go back to my previous go-to of "the cheapest rug pad I can find".  Cheapskate Frugal skeptic MacGyver here even sees the value.

The design nerd in me also really appreciates that they're made in the USA, have no VOCs and several (like the one I received) are LEED certified.

If you don't believe me, test it out yourself.  Use the code pr15off to get %15 off a Rug Pad USA rug pad of your very own and let me know your thoughts!

***Rug Pad USA did send me a sample to review, but all words and opinions are 100% me (for better or worse).  They actually encouraged my full honesty in the interest of market research.  Now there's someone who stands by their product!***

Make it Work: Steamer Trunk

What?  Another new series?  I'm on a roll!  I hope you're loving them! In the past I've shown you all the treasures (and some not so much...) for sale on Craigslist, but I though it would be fun to not just show you the piece, but also show you how you can make it work in your own space

This week's treasure:

The steamer trunk

Currently listed on the Boston/North Shore Craigslist for $10.  Seriously $10.  The picture makes it look pretty decent and if the inside is clean and usable, $10 is a steal!

Antique steamer trunk, meet modern home:

via Houzz

How I would style this piece:

1/ IKEA Stockholm sofa-  Surprise! Just goes to show you can have style at any budget!

2/ Olia Table Lamp via Lulu & Georgia

3/ Penelope Night Stand via West Elm

4/ Racing Stripe Pillow via Serena & Lily

5/ Domino Pillow via Lulu & Georgia

6/ Sculpted Metal + Leather Bowl Chair via West Elm (another surprise)

7/ Triangles Dhurrie Rug also via West Elm

Are you loving/hating my new series posts?  I'd love your feedback on Make it Work, 5 Ways, or Crash!