Christine Schwalm Design

One of my favorite sources in Manhattan is Pearl River Mart, located in SoHo.  They have a ridiculous amount of product there.  Three floors filled rather neatly with everything from clothing to dishes to snacks.  I love going there and just brainstorm ideas.  A while back, when my best friend was getting married, I thought it would be fun to do decorations from here.  A combination of brightly colored lanterns and parasols (a play on the whole "showers of happiness") as sort of a nod to her Karate black belt status.  Alas, this did not work for the Italian restaurant where the event was held. 

I'm in the market for a few things for my new place.  I am looking to add some texture (practicing what I preach) and interest.  The space is somewhat small so this bamboo bench is perfect.  At 14" wide it keeps the traffic patterns clear.  It would also be perfectly at home at the end of a bed or in an entryway--perhaps in the next apartment.  A smaller table will also encourage me to have less clutter (yes, I do it, too).  I also purchased two yoga mats that I'm going to tack to the wall behind my bed to help define the space.  My lease does not allow me to paint (boo!) so for $8 I'll have the look of grasscloth wallpaper at a fraction of the cost.

So if you're in the market for--well, basically just about anything--take a visit down to Pearl River Mart.  And let me know what sweet bargains you found that I may have missed.