There were two of us, with a few hours to spare, looking for good times in the OC.  A beautiful day, we itched for something different, unique and one-of-a-kind that would preferably be punctuated with yummy treats and drinks.

Our destination?

The OC Mart Mix in Costa Mesa

Have you been there yet?  Ok, yes…it is a little tough to find… but what a gem!  It’s nestled behind the South Coast Collection of furniture stores (SOCO) which I’m sure you’ve seen from the 405, just north of Harbor. The OC Mart Mix is very similar to the LAB Anti-Mall and The Camp in that it is filled with wonderfully creative places to shop, eat and just hang, indoors and out.  You’ll find unique, one of a kind items… from clothing, old and new, to furniture, home accessories, organic body products, art made from salvaged items, jewelry, sports, cycle and surf shops, a spice store, even a sewing workshop.

The Mix houses a fantastic coffee shop, wine and olive bar, bakery, a new cheese shop and by now… probably more.  Each time I go, there are new places to explore… it’s growing quickly. Definitely worth the drive!

You’ll want to stay for a while….  The open air courtyard is gorgeously landscaped… a perfect spot to soak up that all important Vit. D and enjoy a treat.  Visit in the evening to bask under twinkly lights and in front of the firepit.

Go to the Mix on a Saturday and you’ll get to shop the farmer’s market and sample yummies from gourmet food trucks.  Line up!

The OC Mart Mix is a fun place to explore, meet up with friends and be inspired by creative people and things.  I’m ready for another fix….!  See you there next week?!

She said her furniture was old and not very stylish, but she liked it anyway.  It’d been with her for many many years.

She said she wanted to treat herself to a makeover… a birthday gift to herself.  A new look for the home she spends so much time in.  We asked her to leave for several hours while we pushed and shoved, angled and repositioned, hung and styled.

She had been on pins and needles while we worked, and could hardly wait to come home and celebrate a birthday that started with an “8.”  Let the party begin!  It’s NEVER ever too late to make your life more beautiful.

I love huge coffee tables… Big, bold and roomy, they have lots of space for decorating and styling, on top and underneath!!

But sometimes such a big piece just isn’t practical. It can take up waaay too much space, not allowing play room for the kids or a spot to do your daily workout.  If you need flexibility… to be able to quickly and easily open up a sofa bed, make room for a crowd on game day or work on a big project, a large and heavy table in front of your seating just won’t work.  But… we need some kind of surface nearby, for a cup of tea, glass of wine or snacks, don’t we?

Have you thought about grouping a few smaller, lightweight tables that are easy to pick up, move, remove or reposition depending on what is going on in the room? It’s a great look and SO flexible!  Maybe these pictures will help you think about new options in your living spaces.

Close together, angled, spread apart, high, low, round or square, matching or not, these combinations just plain work!  They offer such flexibility and look a lot less typical than having one-large-coffee table.

You can also group end/side tables.  Here, 2 small tables fill the space between chairs very well.

Another option is a cute little “C” shaped table that can be pulled up close to the sofa… the lower section can slide underneath. They’re functional, but you hardly know they are there. Like these from Room and Board:

Crate and Barrel:

 And West Elm:

What kind of tables do you have in your living space?