Blonder Ambitions

Category: Design

  • CURRENT OBSESSION – STATEMENT PILLOWS

    CURRENT OBSESSION – STATEMENT PILLOWS

    I am currently pillow shopping to add some pizzaz to the cream colored sofa in my living room… I love having a cream colored sofa because the possibilities are literally endless.  Along my pillow shopping journey, I have created a few sofa inspirations… and I decided to share them with you.  Peruse, get inspired, and please share some of your ideas with me!


    Sofa: Barcelona Slipcover Sofa


    Pink and White Fancy Pillow Cover $15
    Vintage Fabric Applique Lovebird Pillow $18
    Set of Two Spring Floral Pillow Covers $95
    Magda The Owl $32
    Mon Amour Burlap Pillow $15


    Set of Two Green and White Fancy Pillow Covers $29
    Blue Green Bright Floral Pillow Cover $15
    Decorative Designer Lumbar Pillow Cover $44
    Chevron Yellow Pillow Cover $15

    Bang Recycled Felt Applique Pillow $99
    Decorative Designer Pillow Cover $35
    Red Rose on Zebra Pillow $26
    The Good Life Recycled Felt Applique $89
    Red Trio Rose Pillow $32


    Swavelle Pillow $22
    Orchid and Orange Peacock Feather Lumbar Linen Pillow $38
    Set of Two Decorative Ikat Pillow Covers $95
    Tree and Fern Dark Berry Linen Lumbar Pillow Case $32

  • MAKE A CUSTOM BIKINI

    MAKE A CUSTOM BIKINI


    bikini above: Everything That Glitters Bikini {$329} by Beach Bunny Swimwear

  • HOW TO – DECORATE A BOOKCASE

    HOW TO – DECORATE A BOOKCASE

    My bookcase has been a constant saga of reorganization and frustration {see here and here for the journey}… it was cute, but it wasn’t quite right.  So I decided to take a day and revamp the shelving decor.  Read on and you can learn how to take some ordinary shelving and make it something all your own.

    So, my bookcase was ooooookay {yawn}… but it wasn’t there yet.  I had already saved this bookcase from being sent to the dump {it used to be a horrible brown spotty wood color… I painted it glossy white and papered the back with a pink and white damask print}.  If it was worth saving, then it should be worth filling properly.  As I do with every design project for my company {if you’re curious about what I do, click here}, I start with an Inspiration Board {which is basically a collection of images that inspire me and helps collect my thoughts and direct my ultimate design vision}.


    *images courtesy of elements of style, the zhush, all things chic, and favim

    After looking at my Inspiration Board for design direction on my bookcase project, I started laying out all of my necessary decor items… namely books, framed photos, and miscellaneous knick-knacks/pretty things/sentimental items.

    The final step in the process is arranging all of the items so that they are aesthetically pleasing.  This involves a bit of trial and error and a lot of walking back and forth {so you can see what your arrangement looks like from different areas in the room}.  My final product {I am in love with it} looks like this…

  • HOW TO – DECONSTRUCT & RECONSTRUCT A T-SHIRT

    HOW TO – DECONSTRUCT & RECONSTRUCT A T-SHIRT

    I was headed to the Big Four… basically a huge metal music festival where Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax would be playing… and I had no idea what to wear.  My man gave me one of his cherished Metallica T-Shirts and told me to do whatever I wanted with it.  Perfect.  With the assistance of an embroidery needle, a silver Sharpie, some awesomely sharp scissors, crimson ribbon, and a safety pin… I got exactly the Metallica shirt that I wanted.


    1. Gather your supplies… T-shirt. Silver Sharpie pen. Scissors. Ribbon. Etc. 2. The beginning T-shirt… Cute, but not quite the look I was going for. 3. My “Aha!” moment when I thought… “I can make over this shirt.” 4. Using the silver Sharpie to mark where to make the cuts.  5. Close up of the Sharpie markings. 6. I like this much better… a tank top! 7. No… I don’t. I can make it even better! 8. Cut a slit down the middle… yeahhhhh. 9. Love it. 10. Only loved it for .5 seconds… decided to cut up the sides.  11. Decided to re-stich the sides with some satin ribbon.  12. Stitching myself back up. 13. Happy! That’s what I wanted. 14. The finished product. I even added a metal-esque safety pin. Love.

  • HOW TO – MAKE THE PERFECT GIFT BASKET

    HOW TO – MAKE THE PERFECT GIFT BASKET

    One of my childhood friends was having a tea for her bridal shower… after settling on a Betsey Johnson New York crocheted navy and pink frock and hot pink ruched pointed toe pumps, I decided to shop for her {coordinating} pink gift.  I figured that with Easter right around the corner… a bridal basket would be right on point.  What bride-to-be wouldn’t love some pink kitchen accessories, killer cupcake mix (with the perfect pearl topping!), and some gourmet truffles to eat while she bakes?  A simple gift basket how-to is below.


    1. Gather all materials… basket, tissue paper, ribbon, any other accessories, and the gifts.  For the gifts, try to stick with some kind of a theme (here the theme was twofold: pink and cupcakes)… All these gorgeous goodies are from Williams-Sonoma. 2. The adorable edible sugar pearls that are ideal for chic cupcakes. 3. Yum. Chocolate + champagne + pink + gold leaf = p.e.r.f.e.c.t.i.o.n. 4. Tie your ribbon around the basket and line the bottom of the basket with coordinating tissue paper that is all bunched up. 5./6. The final basket… with tiny faux flowers in the corner for a sweet touch. ♥

  • HOW TO – 70s CLUB CHAIRS BEFORE & AFTER

    HOW TO – 70s CLUB CHAIRS BEFORE & AFTER

    I decided to continue on my DIY journey… and I took some 70’s club chairs (complete with chipped wood and torn fabric) from one of my friends who was going to just toss them {only aghast… because… as stated in an earlier post: “I see the best in people. And furniture.”}… I saw so much potential here.  Good bones… Just in need of a little TLC.  With the help of some fine grain sandpaper, clorox bleach wipes (always disinfect reclaimed furniture), hot pink high-gloss paint (Disney’s “Invitation to a Princess”… I died.), and some thick pink embroidery thread… my new “Cocktail Corner” (pics to come soon) was one step closer to completion.


    1. The original chair. Cracked, torn… so much potential. 2. Putting in the work… First rub sandpaper over all wooden components and then paint (4 coats!) on all of it. 3. Bam! Hot pink! 4. Embroidery thread (it’s strong stuff) and very thick needles… They have to be able to pierce through the thick material… I had to use a hammer to get the nail through. 5. Cocktail Corner is coming along. 6./7. Detail shots. Love the brass studs and the perfectly imperfect stitching.