Tuesday's Top Ten: Online Design

Actually... it's Top Five, and it's online shopping, but to make up for the other five I included one item from each spot that we have in our home {in the design of our home ;)}.

I am an avid online shopper, but I still try really hard to stick to American made purchases. The following five sites are my favorite {i.e. most trusted} online shopping destinations. And although you have to be careful with a couple of them, a large portiion of their products are made in the USA.

If online shopping makes you crazy nervous, I recommend making sure one of two qualifiers is always met. Any time I buy online, either I have seen it in a catalog that has more accurate pictures/colors than online, or there are a lot of really good reviews. And if it's a bigger purchase like a rug or piece of furniture {yes, I have ordered both...you didn't know I was such a risk taker, did you? ;)} - order a swatch of the material or the wood finish before you commit. Oh, and be sure to pay attention to dimensions. They'll getcha.

Aside from those requirements, I only have a couple of other tips. Always look for free shipping. All sites have it periodically, and it's worth the wait to hold off. And if you sign up for the emails from whichever sites you're looking into, you'll often get coupons for significant percentages off or sales that they don't post for everyone to see.

Okay, here we go:


{5} Etsy



I started with this one because it is the most unique and probably the most blogged about. For the three people who didn't know waaaay before me, it's an online market where talented people sell what they make and less talented people {or at least in my case ;)} can buy it. I love the idea and the products!



This is a close up of a pillow cover I am almost ready to integrate into a new scheme in the living room. It is from LilyonBlue, and I was super impressed with her!


{4} Pottery Barn



This is one of my favorite stores and online sites for accessories, and their frames have free shipping almost all the time.



Here is a part of the collection of PB frames with family photos on our buffet.


{3} Target



I just purchased our new dining chairs from Target.com, and we love them! They were on sale and plus had an extra discount at the time. Target's website has 15% off furniture items pretty regularly and has free shipping on orders over $150 on a regular basis.



I'll do a big picture once I find the perfect rug to go under the table :)


{2} Ballard Designs



I'm a BIG fan of Ballard Designs. You can find a 15% coupon in a lot of issues of Southern Living! We bought our living room rug from here a while ago, but I ordered a swatch first {for ~$5}. When they sent the swatch, they sent another coupon {worth a lot more than $5} with it. Score :)



These are the large and medium medici capitols from BD. They are perfect for setting a drink or magazine down when you're on the far end of the couch. It may not be their permanent home, but it is working for now.


{1} Overstock



If you haven't shopped on this site, what are you waiting for?!? It's like a super sale every single day. And you get shipping for $2. Like the bar stools you see in our kitchen below. The low profile of the back keeps from obstructing the view of the island.

The picture on top is from a while ago...you can tell we were not good at training Lady not to chew shoes because they are all on the stool and the counter. Once the shoes were out of reach, she went for the pant leg. Yikes. ;) The picture on the bottom is the website's picture of the stools. They shipped for free. They came fully assembled. And we got 10% off. The reviews were really what sold me, though.



....

Now, get to shopping ladies {and gents?} - somebody's got to support this economy! ;)