There’s been a lot of talk about what’s new in the Obama Oval Office as redecorated by California interior designer Michael Smith. According to Penelope Green from The New York Times, the response from TV audiences and bloggers is “a collective yawn: too brown, too dowdy, too ho hum.” That seems awfully harsh to us. If you look closely, you’ll notice a custom made rug woven with quotations from Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and others. Two plain, but probably very comfy beige sofas flank a contemporary coffee table from Roman Thomas. A little pop of color is added to the room with two midnight-blue lamps by Christopher Spitzmiller (we love!).

What hasn’t changed is one of the key pieces in the room–the Resolute desk–seen below in John F. Kennedy’s office. It was a gift from Queen Victoria to Rutherford B. Hayes. The Resolute, built from pieces of a salvaged Arctic discovery vessel, has been used by almost every president (Obama included) with the exception of presidents Johnson, Nixon, and Ford. The gold silk damask curtains from the Bush years (a very pricey item) remain untouched, too. That was a good decision.

Below, another view of the revamped Oval Office.

What we really love about the redecoration though is the striped wallpaper. To us, it made the largest impact. We’ve been using striped wallpaper to brighten and heighten rooms for years. It’s a tried and true trick used by decorator’s for generations. So here are a few of our favorites from our favorite wallpaper company, F. Schumacher & Co. They’ve been been producing beautiful wallpapers since 1889, many of which have graced the interiors of the White House. Below, four never fail neutral stripes in keeping with the Obama’s new Oval Office. What do you guys think of the redesign? – S & L

1. Deco Stripe (5003243) 2. Wilton Stripe (203853), 3. Colindale Stripe (5002462), 4. Farewell Stripe (203890)

Leopard-print is one of the biggest trends for fall. It popped up on countless runways during the Fall 2010 shows and is a clear editorial favorite in almost every September issue–check out Jennifer Lopez decked out in leopard print Dolce & Gabbana on the cover of this month’s Glamour. We’ve been fans of the print for awhile and love to mix it into our outfits using just about any accessory. Just last month I found a fantastic blue and pink leopard print pencil skirt by Lanvin at a consignment store for my mom. She’ll wear it now with a sleeveless black shell and sandals and in the fall with a sweater-set and tights. Here are a few of our favorite leopard print pieces for the fall…accessories are a great way to get in on a “loud” pattern without going overboard. Meow!

1. Leopard Stole, Stephen Sprouse for Louis Vuitton, 2. Nina Leopard wedge-bootie, $109.95, 3. J.Crew calf hair belt, $60, 4. Banana Republic calf hair mini chain bag, $69.50. -L

While we were on Cape Cod this weekend, we stopped by the Harwich Antiques Center in Harwich, Massachusetts. If you’re still on vacation, or are planning a trip to the Cape in the near future, you should definitely stop in. You’ll find over 100 different antiques dealers in this location, and they all have a sharp eye for really special collectibles. Lauren always heads straight for the the vintage jewelry collections when we arrive, because she inevitably finds some exceptional pieces at great prices. The blue necklace below immediately caught her eye–she had to be convinced to step away from the display.And below, these necklaces are both rare and in perfect condition. Vintage jewelry prices are pretty reasonable–especially if you consider how much retail stores are charging for faux vintage jewelry these days.One collector has amassed quite a large collection of white Ironstone. It’s all in perfect condition. We love how these pieces in tints and shades of white look displayed together. We pick them up piece by piece when the price is right, but we really admire collections of this size. The vegetable tureen on the bottom shelf is a very special piece because it has an engraved design, and the top and the handles are very detailed. A piece like this is a true family heirloom. It was selling for $225.We stopped to admire this carved wood mantelpiece for its originality. Switching out a boring mantlepiece for one like this is a terrific way to start a home redecoration. You’d be adding instant character to any room.We love blue milk glass. These pieces would look absolutely gorgeous hung in an arrangement on a crisp white wall. If you see them for under $10, grab them. Keep watching, we’re out there searching for great pieces to share every day.- S & L

If you’ve ever been to Door County, Wisconsin, you’ll surely recognize the storefront of Wilson’s Restaurant. Wilson’s Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor has been located in the heart of Ephraim since 1906. It’s a classic Door County landmark, and as far as we’re concerned, it’s an antique worth mentioning. We had lunch here last week surrounded by happy vacationers from across the county, many of whom stop here as they tour the small towns looking for pottery and vintage pieces to take home with them.

Door County is also somewhat of a destination for antique seekers particularly coming from the Milwaukee and Chicago area. We were quite amazed to see how many antique stores there were in this magical summertime resort area. Many of the pieces were of the highest quality, and, in fact, many were collections of very important pieces made in England–and transported to the mid-west over the years. Below, an impressive collection of flow blue plates and a platter hung quite decoratively on the wallpapered interior of Chelsea Antique store on the outskirts of Ephraim.

Inside this converted barn, was a collection of amazing antique English porcelain pieces many of which were rare, and in perfect condition. Above, these flow blue platters date back to 1825. Who knew?

Even the flower beds in front of the barn were inspired by English gardens. It was a sunny summer afternoon, so everything looked so lush. If you’re in the area, definitely take a look inside.

Later that day, we drove back to Milwaukee and stopped at one of our favorite consignment stores, Legacies, Ltd on Port Washington Road. The vintage outdoor furniture in front of the building drew us in. Don’t you just love these round iron chairs? They would look fabulous with a fresh coat of paint on just about any patio or outdoor space. Any found metal table would complete the set.

Our most inspired find was this collection of gold painted mirrors found tucked inside the seat of an upholstered chair. Talk about a needle in a haystack! There were about eight of these decorative mirrors stacked on top of each other. The were  being sold for $15 a piece. They were all slightly different from each other.

We held this one up to show you how dense and heavy they were. These are the perfect beginning to a wonderful arrangement of similar, but not matching artistic pieces for above a sofa, a bed, or a hall table.  If they hadn’t been so heavy, we would have carried them back to New York with us. This is a perfect example of a great consigned find that could easily, and cheaply transform any room.  We’ll do more antiquing on Cape Cod this weekend.  So stay tuned. – S & L

So much of today’s trendiest clothing is embellished with studs, jewels, and gems. But where did it all start? Visiting my little sister, Sam, in Woodstock this past weekend, I realized it began with the Bedazzler. The original Bedazzler hit the market in the early 70s and quickly became an essential appliance for crafty girls across America. Fast forward to 2010 and seven year-old Sam is holding up the tradition, spending the summer bedazzling just about everything in sight. You should see her jean jacket! Challenged by my step-mom to make a bedazzled piece of my own, I decided to transform an old Hane’s tank into my version of the bejeweled tees from Prada Resort 2009. Below, Sam models the tank I made.    

How did I do it? Well, I didn’t actually use the Bedazzler (not precise enough for such detail). All you need to bedazzle your own tank or t-shirt is an assortment of studs and gems (easily found at Michael’s or other craft store) and a pair of tweezers. My first step was to lay out the general shape of the necklace using the larger, clear gems.

Next, I started adding the studs and smaller gems to fill in between the larger gems.

Once you’ve got the stud or gem placed where you want it, carefully push it through the fabric. Using the tweezers, bend each of the four prongs so they lie flat on the inside of the shirt.

Et voila! Time consuming, but so worth it in the end. And you don’t even have to own a Bedazzler! – L

Summer’s nearing it’s end, but we’re still out there looking for great pieces in all kinds of interesting places, including flea markets, consignment stores, tag sales, and outdoor antique fairs. We’ve got plans to do plenty of scouring in the coming weeks, so stay tuned, as we share our finds with you. Here are a few of our favorite pieces from our summer travels. You can find pieces like this, too. Re-purposed and vintage pieces can transform the rooms in your apartment or home without breaking the bank. Forget about following the latest trends, think about furnishing your home with classic, stylish pieces that are made to last. The birdcage below is a beautiful example of American folk art. It was obviously handcrafted, and has the perfect weathered patina. This is the kind of piece that would add immediate pizazz to any room.

We’re not big fans of expensive “new” outdoor furniture. Vintage modern pieces like this have tremendous appeal. Finding a set like this with so many pieces intact is a great get. We’re not purists, so we would repaint them at some point, when the rust started to bother us. But for now, these chairs are fabulous.This love seat has perfect proportions. While it may not interest you at first glance, try to imagine how it’ll look recovered, with new seat cushions.This is a piece worth investing in for the long haul, even if you had to live with it as is for a while, until you could have it recovered.

Lamps like these are wonderful finds. And they are always less expensive than their newer replicas. This vibrant marigold color is stylish and fun. All you’d need to do is purchase lampshades, and you’d be on your way to transforming any room. And yes, we love pairs. The next couple of weeks are going to be really fun, so check in regularly! – S & L