Ever feel like your apartment or house needs a change? Just a little something to shake things up a bit without doing anything too drastic (or expensive!)? Well you can follow in Frances’ footsteps who changes her couch pillows and bedding every few months! These types of small adjustments are refreshing and can really change the look of your place!

One of our favorite sites for affordable pillows that has a broad selection is Pillowsandthrows.com. They have everything from bright, Moroccan style prints to peaceful and sophisticated solid neutrals. It’s definitely a one-stop-online-shop for anyone craving a pillow-fix.

Minor adjustments to your home’s decor can make a major impact so knock yourself out (while getting more bang for your buck!) and try something new!

You don’t have to be in NYC to shop this boutique gallery offering a curated selection of open-edition (unlimited) fine art prints at very reasonable prices. Only in your wildest dreams have you conjured up images like the ones you’ll find here. The artists represented have diverse backgrounds from traditional fine arts to the comic culture but they all share a common thread in their imaginative and whimsical imagery.

The website alone is worth the visit, with creative transitional graphics that look more like a Tim Burton cartoon. Works are available at three price points (including tax): $20 alone, $40 matted, $80 framed. At these prices you can afford to create a fantasy land in your own home!

charmingwall.com

Anyone who knows me (or has been a loyal MKIA reader) can attest to the fact that I hold a dear place in my heart for the city of Paris after living abroad there. This basically means that I am absolutely and undeniably obsessed. I have turned every dorm room, house and apartment bedroom that I have ever lived in into a shrine to the City of Lights.

That being said, I wish I had known about Brocade Home, a Parisian treasure trove, before decorating my most recent bedroom. With shimmery and ornate wallpaper, luminous chandeliers, and intricately carved mirrors—any room can become Marie Antoinette’s Parisian boudoir.

It is avec mon plaisir to present you with some of my personal picks from the site that showcase just how timeless Parisian décor can be. With romantic and feminine pieces like these, maybe you too will fall in love with this modernized twist on decadent 18th century style from my favorite city in the world. Allons-y!

A twinkling, traditional chandelier will be the perfect accent for bedding that is fit for a (French) queen!  These sparkling frames or small, decorative plates could be great gifts (even if you just send them to yourself!)  This opulent and iridescent wallpaper is très chic—especially with one of these gorgeously elaborate mirrors

Whatever happened to the simple pleasures in life? Taking a leisurely walk on a sunny day, a home-cooked meal, or a hand-written note? Walks now accelerate into shoving other pedestrians out of your way, home-cooked meals are made in someone else’s foreign kitchen, and hand-written notes are typed and sent through cyber-space.

But it doesn’t always have to be that way.It has now become a lot easier to reinvent the time-honored tradition of the hand-written word with the help of Carrot and Stick Press.

Sure, there are a lot of stationary companies out there, but Carrot and Stick Press’ products caught my eye with their cool collection of colorful journals, placemats, photo, table and folded note cards.  The company was recently founded in 2000 by two dedicated grad students who turned their love of playful prints for every occasion into one they could share (and we’re sure glad that they did!)

Photography has always been a great love of mine, and I wish I knew about GreatBigCanvas.com to cover the naked walls of my first apartment while moving in. The site is home to larger than life panorama shots of major cities and landscapes printed on canvases that definitely make a modern statement and liven up any room in an affordable way.

I love these two prints below, the first of bustling Times Square in New York City, and the second of the lower part of the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, because they’re not your average scenic shot, but rather give an edgy and fresh spin on the two classic (and my personal favorite) cities.

It gets even better. You can personalize your wall art and make your own photo canvas with CanvasOnDemand.com. All you have to do is upload one of your personal photos, choose the size of the canvas, and you’re all set.

For someone like me who has a collection of thousands of photographs from countless destinations (especially my beloved Paris and NYC), why not become your own photographer and artist and proudly display your pièce de résistance on your wall?

Whether the photo artwork is your own personal masterpiece, or someone else’s new-age look on the world, your wall will definitely no longer be left in the buff and will be happy to house the sizable addition.

In a world where beautiful things often cost too much, those of us with high-end taste but lower-end budgets often feel left out. Enter Rosanna Inc., a purveyor fashion – forward tableware and accessories. As the website says, it is Rosanna’s “goal to create high-quality, functional dishware, both richly handcrafted and affordable.” Their European-influenced wares will make any girl who’s ever played house want everything on the site!

Inspired by the glittering votives of one of the oldest cathedrals in Verona, Italy, the Illuminare collection (pictured below) was my first Rosanna purchase. Twelve of them, in varying sizes, are scattered on a large Moroccan tray in the middle of my dining room table and, as promised, they look absolutely enchanting. In fact, everything on the site has a magical quality and with new collections added each season, there is never a lack of options.

That being said, and probably inspired by (read: jealous of) Lo’s recent trip to Paris, I’ve become obsessed with the Dauphine Candlesticks. Who wouldn’t want to invoke the infamous style of Marie Antoinette in their own home? The “Initially Yours” collection is also something I am hoping to add to my own collection. If this were 3 years ago, I would have put this site and 12 of these beautifully initialed, oversized mugs on my wedding registry. Good news for any of the newly engaged ladies reading…Rosanna Inc. has a gift registry! Yet another website that I wish I knew about before I got married!

This little piggie went to market, this little piggie stayed home, and this little piggie rocked out to his iPod allllll night at home! These ipod speakers, appropriately named the iPig, are not only adorable—but so functional! With an iPod docking station that syncs with all iPod models, sensory touch volume, a remote control, five speakers and different color options—what more could you want from this little Babe?

Yes, I’m a bit biased because I love pigs (my family has called me “Piggy” or “Pigeletto” practically since birth because of my messy nature), but you have to admit that these piglets are definitely too cute to eat. After dancing the night away to your favorite playlist, all you’ll want to say is, “that’ll do Pig, that’ll do.”

You can buy your very own iPig at speakal.com.

Although the name is inspired by the owner’s former home on Jane Street in Manhattan, this site is a gateway for International interior design. If you are looking for something unique for your home or a gift for a host or hostess, this is the place. Their accessories are both artful and practical. I love that when I buy something from here I know I am not likely to see it anywhere else. It was hard to choose which item to feature but my husband and I own the “Ghost Clock” – which we love for its’ “Alice in Wonderland” whimsical design.

There are so many fun and affordable things on this site – I am currently coveting their Fuzz Votives and the DuffyLondon Chandelier Prints. FYI – 2jane.com also offers a gift registry that I wish I knew about before my wedding. Talk about a great alternative to Crate and Barrel! 2jane.com

If you like to surround yourself with beauty there is no better or more affordable place to start collecting art than Lumas. This ingenious site offers original art in affordable editions. The selection is fantastic and they have a great newsletter showcasing new artists. My husband and I recently purchased this piece by Pep Ventosa, a beautifully distorted photo of The Eiffel Tower. We love it because it’s both romantic and interesting. There are so many options on this site for every budget – we know you will find something to make your home a haven. Lumas.com