You remember ShoeMint, yes? It’s a collaboration between Rachel Bilson and stylist Nicole Chavez, manufactured by Steve Madden. The members-only site continually rolls out new styles, so they’re always on-trend, and the site even makes personalized style recommendations for you. Styles start at $79.98 whether you choose fabric, leather, or suede, and they offer free shipping and returns. I’m pretty well set in the flats and heels department but I did need some new sandals for the upcoming warm weather, so I picked the cuties above. I’m gonna rock them with shorts and that loose, white sweater, and the orange necklace I picked it up years ago at a local shop.

Which pair would you choose? Visit ShoeMint to register for free (no obligation to buy), then pick your favorite pair and leave a comment below with your choice for a chance to win!

One entry per person, open to US and Canada residents only. Entries will be accepted until midnight CST, April 23. One winner will be chosen at random and notified via email, and they will be noted in this post once confirmed. Good luck!

p.s. New members save 20% on their first purchase.

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as ShoeMint Giveaway | 216 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

Leather sofas, especially of the tufted variety, have been on my radar for a while. I liked this one a couple of years ago, and you all left some useful comments about the practicality of leather for families with kids and pets. (It’s a go.) Then of course, there was the eighth edition of Making it Yours, featuring a green leather chesterfield. I don’t think a chesterfield is quite my style (although I do appreciate them), but I am finding myself drawn to leather.

Victoria has a beautiful leather sofa from DwellStudio (above, featured on The Everygirl).

Genifer Goodman-Sohr (image source) had one black leather sofa in her SF apartment. It belonged to her boyfriend/husband, as I recall (I have the old Budget Living magazine around here somewhere). She then picked up a matching one for her Nashville home (featured in Better Homes & Gardens).

I know I can’t run right out and buy a new couch, but I’m filing the idea away for when it’s time. I put together a list of my dozen favorites, but it’s the one above from Jayson Home that I’ve really got my eye on right now. So good.

Someday, or something similar, perhaps.

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as Tufted Leather Sofas | 34 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

Can I make that sweeping generalization in the title? Probably not, but I do love having a pink rug in my living room. (Although those chevrons have been done to death. It was not so when I bought my rug in 2008!)

I love this space from Holly Becker of Decor8, with its pink overdye rug. The photo appeared in her book, Decorate Workshop.

And Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan of Apartment Therapy has a hot pink rug, too. This was his living room, featured in Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces.

You see what I mean about design bloggers and pink rugs? Maybe we’re an odd bunch, but I love the look.

I just wish I’d known better than to choose cotton for a busy living room in a house with two young kids, a dog, and three cats — though in my defense, we didn’t have children at the time. I’ve been looking at wool rugs for a possible replacement (maybe?), and I keep coming back to pink. Here are some of my favorites.

1. Madeline Weinrib Zigzag Rug
   cotton, available at ABC Carpet & Home
   This is my rug. It can be ordered in custom colors, but when I came across it in shades of pink, I had to buy it. I would still recommend it, but for a room with less foot traffic.

2. Dippy Pink Rug by Susan Sharp
   wool, from The Rug Company
   Gorgeous, and less in-your-face ombré as it appears on screen (as seen in Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan’s home, above, and repurposed in his apartment). It’s expensive though.

3. Preppy Pastel Pink Rug
   wool, from The Land of Nod
   The color looks more vibrant than pastel to me. The price is right, but the solid color is a bit plain.

4. Overdye Magenta Rug
   wool, from Rugs USA
   I like that the underlying pattern is less obvious than in some overdyed rugs. Less trendy. I would love this rug in my living room. Think it would work with my floral chair?

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as Pink Rugs: The Choice of Design Bloggers | 36 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

Fab always has fun finds from big design names along with independent designers, so I like working with them to highlight some of my favorites. Here’s what I’ve got my eye on right now.

1. Ciao Travel Tags
   All the easier to spot your luggage by.

2. Decorative Ampersand
   Because I have a thing for decorative ampersands.

3. Walnut and Leather Wall Shelves
   These are gorgeous. Pricey, but gorgeous.

4. Lilac Pantone Business Card Holder
   I may pick this one up to hold a few of my pink and gold business cards.

5. Hello Foil Card Set
   Rifle Paper can pretty much do no wrong.

6. Red Medicine Cabinet
   I have this in white, in my basement bathroom.

7. Flower in a Can: Impatiens
   The cute container will decorate a sunny spot while you wait for the flowers to bloom.

8. Gold Stripe Thank You Cards
   Simple and pretty, and the shiny gold makes them special.

9. Mother and Child Tray
   I’ve always liked the illustrations on these Vitra trays.

10. Lilac Pantone Mug
    Hot chocolate would be extra nice in this mug, and it would be cute as a vase, too.

11. Pinch and Pair Set
    Four little containers that can store and stack.

12. Amazing Pink Tea Towel
    Why not treat the care details as a design element?

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as Fab March | 13 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

Lighting I Really Really Want to Work in the Kitchen

1. Factory Satellite 3
   I don’t know if it would look funny hugging the ceiling, and I worry that the shades will block too much of the ambient light that we currently have bouncing off of the ceiling. Also, Edison bulbs look great but I would replace them with fluorescent bulbs for practicality, and even the round ones may throw the look off a little.

2. Bluff City Pendant, Large, Mint/Red
   It’s supposed to be a pendant, not a flush-mount fixture. It’s slightly too tall (13″), and I’m not sure it would provide enough light. But I love it. I would happily save up for this one.

Somebody please tell me that one of those two will suit my needs perfectly and we will be happy forever and ever. Except don’t if it isn’t true. I mustn’t allow my infatuation to get the best of me.

Here, we have some more options.

Lights I Like a Lot but Know Won’t Work and are Therefore Easier to Resist

3. Artimede Nur Mini Ceiling Light
   The “mini” version is still fairly large, and it’s a good size for our kitchen, but it focuses light downward and wouldn’t provide enough general illumination.

4. IKEA 365+ Brasa Black Pendant Lamp
   This looks much more expensive than it is, but again, it directs light downward. And it’s another pendant that I’m trying to force into a semi-flush mount, and that’s probably silly.

5. FLOS Glo-Ball C Ceiling Light
   If you haven’t seen this one in person, you’re probably thinking this is a really simple light with a really high price tag. I assure you it is organic and special and beautiful, and yes, the price tag is still high. I don’t love it enough to spend that much, and it only holds one bulb anyway.

6. FLOS Smithfield Ceiling Lamp
   I adore the shape, and there is even a 3-bulb option. Alas, it is directional, downward light.

I used a fancy-ish html trick to continuously label those bullet points with a break between the ordered lists, so hopefully the numbers correspond. If not, may the powers of deduction and common sense be your friend.

Moving on! This next collection has another catchy name.

Lighting That Will Work Just Fine but That I am Less Excited About Overall

7. Robert Abbey Antique Nickel Ceiling Light
   Cute. But is it too cute? Also, the shade is fabric and I wish it wasn’t.

8. Black Horizontal Stripe Nickel Wide Ceiling Light
   Black and white stripes would look good in the kitchen! But on the light? Dunno. And it’s fabric again.

9. 3-Bulb Semi-Flush Light
   This is the stupid light we already have. It is passable. It’s biggest selling point is that it’s already in the room (no work, no money spent).

Can you tell I don’t have as much enthusiasm for this last set? There’s also this collection of flush mount lighting to look at from when I did my big ceiling light guide last year, and my whole lighting board on Pinterest.

What do you think? I’m tempted to try one of the first two out, and then Swiss cheese my ceiling to bits with recessed lighting. Kidding (sort of).

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as Kitchen Lighting Options | 65 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

It arrived, and I like the scale of the stripes. I like the color (the darker stripes are more charcoal than black). Here’s what I’m not liking so much: it’s not very soft. I knew it wouldn’t be plush — it’s a dhurrie — but it’s a smidge scratchy. And when I vacuum it, it gets all caught up and bunches like crazy. Annoying.

Also, how did I forget that I bought a twin-sized blanket with brown and white stripes for his room? August and I have snuggled under it in the rocking chair together as we read bedtime stories for the past six months! Brown can often be paired with black, but not in this case.

So I’m not sure I’m feeling the striped rug in there. I put it down without a rug pad, but I’ve since purchased one, so I’ll see if that helps with the vacuum slippage issue. The rug isn’t terribly rough underfoot and August isn’t a newborn so it’s less of a problem now, but I wish it were a little softer. And then there’s the clashing! Rug vs. Blanket! Stripes vs. Stripes! Who will win?

p.s. Prepare thyselves for striped rug overload right this way! I’m considering this runner for the kitchen (such a good price).

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as A Striped Rug for August’s Room | 29 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

I didn’t like the white walls in the kitchen until I added our big black and white print. Now the walls look intentional instead of forgotten. I would love to recreate the print for you as a free printable for download (it wouldn’t be difficult), but it doesn’t feel right. I know the quote can be attributed to Candice Bergen, but I don’t know who created the print, or when. Instead, I’ve rounded up a few options for black and white wall art that would feel right at home in my kitchen — and maybe yours, too.

1. OMG CAKE

2. Like Ron Swanson, I want you to give me all the bacon and eggs you have. (Wait, wait…)

3. Butcher Prints (set of 3)

4. This cute flag conversions tea towel, designed by Shanna Murray is no longer available, but the idea of framing it was so cute that I still wanted to include it here.

5. This conversion tea towel could be a good substitute for the last one.

6. This triangle tea towel would also look fantastic on display in the kitchen.

7. These pretzels are making me thirsty. (Maybe he had a different interpretation!)

8. Kitchen Cooking Print

9. Newgate Bubble Clock

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as Black and White Wall Art for the Kitchen | 27 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

I don’t like to share unsourced images, so I set to tracking this one down. I finally found it (Remodelista credits the kitchen to a Parisian architect, Phillippe Harden), and was rewarded with additional photos of the space.

I’ve got to get cracking on those curtains in the kitchen so I could play around with the palette in Photoshop. I don’t know that I want to go this colorful, but… maybe I kind of do now? I have to give it some thought.

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as Blue and Green Kitchen | 24 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

(in case you’re curious: dress • cardigan • bracelet • shoes)

If I’m going out with my big camera in tow, I’m not going to carry a camera bag and a separate purse. With my other bags, I have to pare down a bit, but the Chelsea fits everything I usually carry, plus my camera with a small lens attached and two additional large lenses. I also like the classic, feminine shape and gold hardware.

Would you like a Chelsea camera bag (in either cognac or black) of your own? ONA will give one away to a lucky Making it Lovely reader. Just leave a comment on this post to enter. Good luck!

One entry per person, open to U.S. and international entrants. The giveaway ends next Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at midnight CST, and a winner will be selected randomly.

p.s. You can keep up with ONA by liking their Facebook page.

* Congratulations to the winner, Molly!

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as ONA Chelsea Camera Bag (Giveaway) | 1797 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts

I’m working with Fab again, this time to share my favorite quirky finds from their Valentine’s Day gift shop. As usual, I spotted some of my favorite independent designers among the offerings.

1. Son Of A Sailor Durango Pink Necklace
   Pink and brass? Thank you for combining my two favorites into something I can wear around my neck.

2. Rococco-LA Flowering Heart Print
   Such a good print.

3. AMINIMAL Central Park Earrings
   This would be a sweet token to remember a New York romance by. Or for architecture nerds and urban planners – whatevs.

4. Core Bamboo Heart Cutting Board
   Is there symbolism in taking a knife to a heart-shaped cutting board? Maybe, but it’s just so cute.

5. The Social Dept Baby Tee
   I carried a watermelon.

6. M.G. BAKER Bow Tie
   I love this. Brandon wore a pink tie to our wedding, but bow ties are having their moment now.

7. ASHKAHN a.bird, b. booty Print
   Hey professor, what’s another word for pirate treasure?

8. 1965 Playboy Pair
   Dirty magazines seem kitschy and campy when they’re vintage.

9. chain chain chained Necklace
   Brandon gave me this necklace for Christmas. It’s really sweet, and I’ve been wearing mine a lot.

10. RIFLE + RADFORD Rafferty Ring
    Aquamarine plays nicely with just about everything.

© 2013, published by Making it Lovely as Fab Valentine’s Day Gift Guide | 17 comments | affiliate links may be used in posts