Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. To imitate someone is to pay the person a genuine compliment. Although the original quote attributed to Oscar Wilde actually states “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness” I'm guessing he was unaware of my budget and my love for all things Restoration Hardware. The truth is when it comes to decor - I do love me some high-end stores, I just can't marry that love with their prices.  For instance... I had been long lusting after this gorgeous Vintage Inspired Paris map from Restoration Hardware. It's a reproduction...

Whenever I head into Michael's, I'm sorely tempted by those wooden crates that are stacked neatly at the door - usually on sale. They're even on the shelf at Home Depot now. I love them because they remind me of old fruit crates, minus the labels, that were a charmingly retro piece when I was younger. The trouble is, they look way too pristine as is with their spotless blond wood to have much character. They're just kind of boring, you know? Since Pinterest always has great ideas for how to make new look old and beautiful I did some perusing...