Picks from The Nest Egg for House Beautiful's "I'm Looking For A Storage Ottoman"

I always enjoy the "I'm Looking For . . ." feature in House Beautiful magazine each month where their writers scour the design landscape looking for the best of certain types of rugs, accessories or furniture pieces. We've featured one such issue in our blog before where the subject was "I'm Looking For A Banquette" and which highlighted "The Wong" by Joe Ruggiero which is one of my favorite settees. I recently read the "I'm Looking For A Storage Ottoman" piece and enjoyed all of the wonderful colors, shapes and sizes included in the feature. I thought I'd share some of our favorite storage ottomans from a few of our terrific manufacturers that we carry in the store.

Brunner Small Storage Ottoman by Uttermost (23w x 20h): I have the larger version (37w x 21h)of this in my family room. It's faux leather which makes it wonderful for small (and messy) children. It wipes right off, doesn't scratch easily and can store throws, extra pillows, stuffed animals, etc. The larger size also holds children quite comfortably (with the top off of course) -- our boys love to snuggle inside the ottoman with pillows and a blanket and watch a movie. The price ($595 for the 37" round and $310 for the 23" shown above) is also hard to beat for a piece that gets tons of use and holds up so well. It's nice to not cringe when you find a 4 or 6 year old boy standing on the top.

The Laughton by Joe Ruggiero for Miles Talbott is a truly beautiful and functional piece. It has wedge feet and standard biscuit tufting on the top. It stays open when lifted which is also a nice feature for small children and has two lifting tabs that hide inside for easy opening. At 53w x 27d x 18h, it has ample room for storing large blankets, magazines, sweaters, toys and more which makes it a nice piece for the end of a bed or for a family room. It is available in all of the gorgeous indoor Sunbrella fabrics by Joe Ruggiero, any of the Miles Talbott fabrics or in leather.

The Article No 54 wooden cube by Aidan Gray is a favorite piece of ours at the store. It brings such wonderful textures to a room with the washed wood, metal nail head edges and burlap cushion. At 18x18x18, you could tuck a pair under a console or place a tray on top and use as a cocktail or side table.

This is the 9491-40 from Lee Industries. At just 20" deep, it's a nice size to tuck into a hallway or into a family room to use for extra seating.

Eastern Accents makes gorgeous bedding as well as lovely storage ottomans. There are so many terrific fabrics and trims to choose from. You can order one of their pre-designed fabric pairings or customize to make your own. We love this Paris map fabric on the bottom of the piece. This would be lovely in an office or bedroom.

A storage box ottoman, also from Eastern Accents. Ottomans are a great way to bring in more pattern and color to a room. They aren't overpowering but you can add some playful or modern elements with the fabrics you choose. It's much easier to commit to a bold pattern when it's on an upholstered accent piece versus one of your main upholstered seating pieces.

Also from Eastern Accents, this pattern would be really fun in a young girl's bedroom or playroom. This is a great option for injecting a pop of color when you're using a softer base color that you can grow with.

As House Beautiful described them, storage ottomans can be used as "an extra perch, a little table, a secret hiding place" (they may not have known how true that was)! You'll never regret purchasing a storage ottoman. Any piece that can serve dual purposes is a smart choice in our book.

Aidan Gray Laura Mirror Featured in Real Simple Magazine

The new July issue of Real Simple Magazine features a "Personal Shopper" for Mirrors in their Home "The Guide" editorial. They include mirrors within the "Under $200", "$200 to $500" and "$500 and up" budgets. There are some wonderful options included from lines we carry including Global Views and Arteriors.

One of our favorite mirrors currently in the store is the Laura Mirror (above) from Aidan Gray which is included in the "Under $200" listing. They describe the mirror as a "medieval relic". At 30" the weathered frame and the antiqued glass fit into many decor styles and at $198, it's a terrific find!

Here's a beautiful Aidan Gray shot (above) incorporating the mirror along with many of their other accessories, including the Dana Lamp shown above and below.


We put a pair of the Dana lamps atop this beautiful stained media center from David Lee Furniture. They are a great contrast to the wood stain and really give the piece a new feel. At 21", these lamps could work bedside, in an entry or on a small console ($245.)

Aidan Gray is a wonderful line full of items that add a warmth to interiors through their antiqued finishes, reclaimed woods and European inspired designs. Take a look at all they have to offer. We're happy to special order anything you see that we don't currently have in stock.

Style + Storage + Sensibility = The Article No 54 Wooden Storage Cube

February and March are always an exciting time at the store because with all that we see and buy in such a short time at the Atlanta market in January, we sometimes forget what things look like in person until they arrive in the store. (side note: it's a fun time for most of us . . .not quite as fun for the "crew of 2" unpacking everything!)

I have to admit that I literally gasped because I was so excited when I walked out on our sales floor on Monday morning and saw some of the new arrivals from Aidan Gray Home.

I am so incredibly fond of this new "Article No 54" wooden storage cube for so many reasons! I'm loving burlap right now . . .we see it used in many different ways including drapes, pillows and lamp shades. It's an interesting combination when matched with lighter linens and silks, adding great texture.

So to start, the burlap tufted cushion on top is terrific, the reclaimed wood and the stenciling are fabulous, surrounded by rustic distressed metal and nailheads. It's a lovely size at 18 x 18 x 18. When guests come over, you can pull it up for extra seating or place it between two armchairs with a square tray on top and you have an attractive side table.

The woven handles make it easy to move around in your space and of course, the best part is the hidden storage! Who doesn't need a little extra hiding space . . .for magazines, books, throws, toys, etc. The burlap cushion just lifts right off! Oh wait, the best part really is the price at $265.

It's such a treat to find style, storage and functionality all in one great little package! Our stock room is FULL right now . . .I can't wait to see what shows up next.