Splurges v. Savings...Task Lights

Sometimes I'm out shopping for something totally practical and get distracted by beautiful things that I really don't need. This problem becomes even more pronounced when I get myself into IKEA. 

I have plenty of lamps in my house, but this one caught my eye and I've seriously been thinking about it all week.

Meet the Savings 

Image Source: Ikea.com

I have such a crush on this task light...it's becoming a problem. 

Why am I making such a big deal about this? Well, look at it! It's beautiful! The perfect mix of traditional, practical, a little industrial with a hint of nautical! And it's from IKEA, which means it's affordable!

If you're crushing, too...

This is the Barometer Work Lamp from IKEA in nickel (also available in red)

It's yours from only $49.99

Also check out the Barometer Floor Lamp for $10 more. 

Meet the Splurges

This is Splurges v. Savings, right? Allow me to introduce you to the exact same styling, but for at least three times the price. There is definitely an upgrade in quality of materials when you decide to splurge, but when it comes to style...the lamp from IKEA packs as good of a punch as it's expensive cousins.

Image Source: RestorationHardware.com

Restoration Hardware

Franklin Pharmacy Task Lamp

Antique Nickel

$229

Image Source: PotteryBarn.com

Pottery Barn

Cole Task Table Lamp

Antique Silver 

$149

The Moral of the Story

You don't have to spend a lot of money to get great style! You just have to look in the right places. IKEA is always one of the right places.

Have you found a great deal for the next Splurges v. Savings? Share it at helloroost@gmail.com!

Sources:

Barometer Work Lamp from IKEA. $49.99. See it here: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70089584/#/70089584

Barometer Floor Lamp from IKEA. $59.99. See it here: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30089576/

Franklin Pharmacy Task Lamp from Restoration Hardware. $229. See it here: http://www.potterybarn.com/products/cole-boom-task-table-lamp/?pkey=ctable-floor-lamps

Cole Task Table Lamp from Pottery Barn. $149. See it here: http://www.potterybarn.com/products/cole-boom-task-table-lamp/?pkey=ctable-floor-lamps

Fun Find....Butcher Chart Prints

If you didn't already know it, I'm a kitchen and bath designer by trade. I love all aspects of interior design (except how much time I spend on the computer). But, I love my niche the most.

The kitchen and the bathroom are two of my favorite rooms in a house. I could spend an hour detailing all the reasons why, but it really comes down to two core pleasures in my life: cooking and relaxing baths.

I tell you that to tell you this: I love to cook. I'm no pro, but I make a mean creme brulee. I dream of someday being able to design my dream kitchen with lots of counter space and a SubZero refrigerator.

When I finally get there (and believe me, it will be a while) today's "fun find" is definitely going to be a part of it.

Image Source: ZGallerie.com

Love these prints. They're the perfect combination of practicality, artistry, and simplicity. These prints could fit into a whole host of different styles from a rustic kitchen to a traditional one with white cabinets, marble counters and maybe a dark walnut counter on the island. Throw in some antique dark metal stools at the island and a bottle of cabernet sauvignon? Drooling.

Images Souce: ZGallerie.com

Order just one or buy all three and hang them stacked vertically. 

At this price, you can afford them all (which is half the reason I like them so much).

Each print measures 18" H x 22" W and you don't even have to go frame shopping. They each come with a dark espresso frame.

The best part? They're $39.99 a piece.

That's a pretty great price, considering it includes the frame.

If these aren't quite up your alley, check out the other art at Z Gallerie. They have some great stuff at reasonable prices. I have it bookmarked on my computer! You might want to bookmark it on yours, too!

Sources:

Cow Butcher Chart from Z Gallerie. Buy it at http://www.zgallerie.com/p-11021-cow-butcher-chart.aspx

Pig Butcher Chart from Z Gallerie. Buy it at http://www.zgallerie.com/p-11020-pig-butcher-chart.aspx

Fish Butcher Chart from Z Gallerie. Buy it at http://www.zgallerie.com/p-11019-fish-butcher-chart.aspx

You can afford....Custom Tile

Did she say custom tile?

Yup. Yes, that's exactly what I said. Custom tile.

Image Source: ModWalls.com

The people at ModWalls have taken all the pain out of searching for the perfect mosaic blend for your project.

Their Brio blend mosaics are made from 3/4" square glass and are available in every color of the rainbow and more. Now, you can create a custom blend of these tiles to fit your style. Heck, you can match just about anything (even your birdie). 

The process is very simple. You use the ModWalls "blender" to select the colors you wish to use from the 75+ shades and styles available. You will be able to see what your blend will look like as you go. You even have control over the percentages. Say you just want a hint a papaya...change it's quantity to 10% and voila! A hint of papaya!

The blender even lets you see what your mosaic will look like with different shades of grout. 

Once you're finished, you can submit the order or order a sample of your custom blend. I'd highly recommend getting a sample first. Colors on monitors are very unreliable. Your papaya might not be the color you thought it was!

Image Source: ModWalls.com

 

So what does it cost?

There's not a set cost of the blends. Custom orders require at least 20 sq. ft. The price of your blend is dependent on how many different colors you used and how much you change the percentages. Even splits are less expensive than say a 10%-40%-50% blend. I ran a few ideas through the 'blender' and even with 7 colors, the price never reached $20/sq. ft. 

You also get discounts as you purchase higher quantities.

How it's made

Each and every custom Brio blend is locally made by hand by Hope Service (a non-profit organization that employs developmentally disabled adults to do all kinds of work). The more than 30 clients from Hope Services create each sheet of your blend with heart. You aren't just getting some tile, you get a work of art. Learn more about Hope Services here.

If that sounds like a lot of work...

Don't worry. They've got your back. 

ModWalls have lots of pre-blended mosaics ready for purchase.

Sources:

Learn more about the process of creating a custom Brio blend at http://www.modwalls.com/howtocreateyourmodwallscustomglasstileblend.aspx

Start creating your own ModWalls custom blend at http://www.modwalls.com/CustomTileBlends.aspx

Learn about Hope Services at http://www.hopeservices.org/