I'm usually a fan of a little more warmth and mixture of materials, but how gorgeous and serene is this living room by Canadian designer Jennifer Backstein? I spot about seven different clear, shiny and/or reflective surfaces which, along with the monochromatic color scheme, gives this space its heavenly demeanor.

Maybe its the fact that our world has been a sheet of ice for the past few months (although it's melting at the rate I'm typing this - yesss!) and it seems that a frosty surface is all I have ever known. Maybe its the Hollywood regency glamour that it brings to a space. Maybe its the floating, airy feeling it brings to even the teeniest of living rooms. Whatever the reasons, I love me some lucite.

Lucite is actually a brand name for a type of acrylic resin (also known as PlexiGlass) which was originally developed in the 1930s. Due to its extremely durable yet moldable properties, it was even used for military purposes during World War II. (Example: the windshields on fighter planes.) Since then, it's become a versatile favorite in both contemporary and traditional design and can be found not only in interiors but also in jewelry, shoes and handbags.

Liz Taylor sporting a lucite purse. Image via Johanna Ost.

Marilyn Monroe rocking her favorite pair of lucite heels, via Refinery 29.

Due to today's popularity of mid-century modern design and the high caliber of its most famous designers and manufacturers who produced (and still produce) lucite products, having a lucite habit can become pretty pricey, pretty quickly. But it sure does look pretty! Queue the below lucite twisted, faceted king size bed, for a cool $65k. (Eric, we need this!)

Charles Hollis Jones for Cain Modern via 1st Dibs — Charles Hollis Jones for Cain Modern via 1st Dibs

Although this is absolutely stunning, not all of us have an extra hundred-thou lying around to drop on some lucite ice. But that doesn't mean we can't all channel the look in our own interiors. The extra bonus? How it brings polished surface space to a small interior without commandeering the entire room.

So, I say, let there be lucite! (And let it be under $400 max, please.)

~L.S.

Vintage Lucite Flower Charm Bracelet, $45 via Chairish

Modern Stacked Lucite Lamp, $275, via 1st Dibs

Clear Acrylic Coffee Table, $271, via Overstock

Acrylic Makeup Storage, approx. $25 USD, from Muji

Love the styling of this small entryway console via Devon Rachel (Similar from CB2, $379, here). — Love the styling of this small entryway console via Devon Rachel (Similar from CB2, $379, here).

Lucite + Gold Desk Accessories, $40. Similar here.(Side note: This tour of The Everygirl's Co-founder Danielle Moss's Chicago apartment on Apartment Therapy is one of my favorites of all time. Take the full tour here.) — Lucite + Gold Desk Accessories, $40. Similar here.
(Side note: This tour of *The Everygirl's* Co-founder Danielle Moss's Chicago apartment on Apartment Therapy is one of my favorites of all time. Take the full tour here.)

Acrylic Side Table + Magazine Holder, $130, from Wayfair

Acrylic Block Frames, $24.95, from Crate and Barrel.

Acrylic Box with Oco Cluster, $89, from One Kings Lane.

There's nothing I Iove more than a good mid-century modern classic. The organic forms and clean lines are simultaneously old and new. These pieces were groundbreaking when they entered the market in the 1950s and have become beloved staples over the decades. Introduced in 1956 by the Finnish American architect and industrial designer Eero Saarnien, the pedestal "tulip" table is no exception to this rule.

Saarinen designed this as the table pared down to its simplest form. The result: quite simply gorg. The tulip table works magic in its surroundings and holds its own in any style decor.

Before we even closed on our apartment, I spent hours pouring over our floor plans. The living/dining area proved challenging. Lacking an entry foyer and formal dining area, I wanted both. Without much square footage to work with, I set out to work on some furniture plan scenarios. Don't let that wide angle lens deceive you!

The result? A breakfast nook/entry. I shall call it a "brentry"!

For "brentry" inspiration, I came across this image from Better Homes and Gardens. Something about the cheery blues and greens and the simplicity of the dining table coupled with the cozy, more traditional upholstered chairs struck just the balance I was looking for in our new home. I wish I knew who designed this happy room so I could give photocred where photocred is due!

With this inspiration in mind, I embarked on my search for a 42" round pedestal table that would double as a beautiful entry table in our small space. Alas! I found that unless you have approximately 4K to shell out on a shiny new Saarinen table from Knoll, Room and Board, or Design Within Reach then you are straight out of luck. And if you do, the more power to you!

I ended up scoring on Craigslist. (Similar here). Sure, my Saarinen table is "vintage" from the 90s (that makes us 80s babies antiques then, right?) with several scratches on the base and some chips along the edge of the marble top, but that just adds to its character. The quality of the marble top is beautiful and I like that it has slight imperfections. I also had to opt for the 48" v. the 42" drawn in on my plan. However, it works! It just goes to show that decorating is not an exact science, and when you really love a piece, you can fudge it. And for $400 v. $4,000? Yes, I can certainly fudge that - with room left for some tulips...