Decor Hack: How to style a bench as a coffee table

I've got a very exciting thing happening. My Austin apartment is almost finished and I'm prepping it for a pretty fabulous shoot. For now its on the hush, but details will be coming soon.

If you have been reading my blog for some time, you know I pretty much change around my home all the time. It is sort of like my creative laboratory where I try out new things.

Just recently, I decided that my side table wasn't cutting it because there was barely enough room for a drink and I wanted my current brass coffee table to take its place. I figured while I was looking for another cool coffee table, I could use my fab little black and white tufted bench. I am now obsessed.

It actually is the perfect fit for my living area because its long and narrow. It provides much more space for items and to put your feet up. I'm also loving the black and white pop it has. Now, I am a believer that benches make for REALLY good coffee tables. Here are a few more examples that I like...

style at home

french cottage

orange

playful-modern-coucharea

Source: Cottage Fix

My bench picks:

BENCH PICKS

Get yours: [ modern grey ] [ french linen ] [ pop of pink ] [ rustic chic ] [ black glamour ]

My bedroom collaboration with Farrow & Ball

Today is an exciting day. I finally get to reveal a little project I have been working on. A while back I partnered with Farrow and Ball #finditpaintitloveit campaign. Numerous design aficionados have scoured the world for gorgeous flea market items and refurbished them with F&B paint and wallpapers. The collections are absolutely lovely so of course I was beyond excited to take part. Here is my beaming beauty...

I found this dresser at a flea market for $100. I literally think it might have been my best find ever. It's so well made, its signed on the inside of the drawers (which proves quality & craftsmanship), and the curves on this girl are just gorgeous. I love the marbled wood look that was on the dresser before and the motif in the center, but I think it was lost on the piece. The gorgeous gold hardware just faded into the background. I felt it deserved so much more. I went with Farrow & Ball Wevet paint in full gloss, to give it a bit of that wet look. I knew the stark white would highlight all the lines and it did!

BEFORE:

before

AFTER:

IMG_1002

The only thing about the white, you can see the imperfections. Although, there is something about imperfections that I actually like and I'm hoping that over time, more happen. I sort of like that worn look. It reminds me of Paris. I also put up the tapestry piece I scored while at Round Top this Spring. I really bought it for the gold frame with black velvet trim and thought about changing it out for a mirror. For now, I like it as art for the bedroom, its very romantic. I'm all about vintage art.

images via ashlina