Thanksgiving Dinner!

Are you hosting the family's BIG Thanksgiving dinner this year?  Here are a few ideas of how to set a beautiful table and host your guests in style!

Here are 3 ideas for Folding Napkins from Martha Stewart

Natural centerpiece from Martha Stewart.

Mini pumpkins atop candle holders and rustic elements with white china.

(Source: HGTV)

Pumpkin place cards to put at each place setting.  Use hang tags (I found these tags at the office supply store, you can print directly on them from your computer) or use paint pens to label the pumpkins.  Attach to pumpkin with twine or raffia ribbon.

(Source: HGTV)

Elegant Thanksgiving Table Setting

(Source: Traditional Home)

Close up of individual place setting from table above.

(Source: Traditional Home)

A more non-traditional look.  I love the tablecloth, green lights, and gold accents.

(Source: House Beautiful; Design Herring)

Kids table with stuff to keep them busy!

Leftovers for your guests!!  What a thoughtful idea.

Unique and gorgeous table setting - various heights and contrasting colors.

(Source: House Beautiful; Design Trovato)

 

Happy Turkey Day everyone ...a little early!

Chevron

Chevron or Zig Zag as it is sometimes called is the "it" pattern of the moment.  And we are seeing it everywhere.  From furnishings, fabrics, wood floors to fashion.

I personally love Chevron and I like the unique ways it is showing up in design.  It's bold, modern and can be used as a punch in a variety of decors.

Here are a few examples.

I LOVE my Chevron pillows that I got through One Kings Lane.  They are in my master bedroom on the bed.  Perfect addition to our room.

Here's a Chevron pattern in some artwork.

(Source:Pinterest)

This is an Ikea dresser with the addition of embellishments on the front to form a chevron pattern.

(Source: House and Home)

Chevron painted dresser

(Source: House and Home)

Zig Zag Rug from West Elm

Premier Prints Zig Zag fabric swatch in Chartreuse

Here's a DIY Chevron table from Sunset

DIY Chevron patterned wall

(Source: Sabbe Interior Design)

DIY painted tray - take an ordinary cooking sheet and transform it!

(Source: Pinterest)

Matching Chevron wingback chairs.

(Source: Pinterest)

Christmas Inspiration

Two days after Halloween and its time to start Christmas decorating!!  Well, not really.  Actually, it is the start of my booking appointments for Christmas decorating....so I thought I would offer up a little Christmas decorating inspiration.

Love this feather tree topper with the rustic details!

(Source: Pinterest)

Want something fun and funky this year?  Check out this brightly ornamented tree in a pink room.

(Source: Pinterest)

Looking for a unique color combination?  This copper and teal tree is sophisticated.

(Source: HGTV)

Here's something rustic and natural to compliment your home. 

(Source: Southern Living)

Do you like minimalism in your decorating - here are some light touches of holiday decor.

(Source: Pinterest)

Here's a traditional gold ornamented tree.

(Source: HGTV)

Just for fun a tree "dressed" like Santa...notice the hat and belt.  There's a lot of stuff on this tree!!

(Source: Trendy Tree)

Traditional Metallic tree ..glistening with all the sparkly finishes.

(Source: Southern Living)

Modern look with Tiffany blue and white....gorgeous!

(Source: Southern Living)

A simply elegant tree.

(Source: Southern Living)

And finally, a traditional red and green ornamented tree...can't go wrong with the traditional colors of Christmas!

(Source: Southern Living)

Paint Palooza and other random things

Happy Halloween!!!  Mondays are traditionally my day to get things done.  Besides the usual chores and scheduling to-do's like bathe the dog <done>, call for paint recycling pick up <done>, reschedule dentist appointments <done>, three loads of laundry <done>, crock pot dinner <done>, bills <done>, I deemed today spray paint day.

Here are a few of the current takers for a new coat of fabulous!

I'm thinking some greys, maybe my favorite teal and an orange I have been wanting to try.  I even found a few more pieces to paint after this picture was taken.

Have I told you that spray paint is the best invention ever?  Tips to remember when spray painting = use a good spray primer before painting and let it adequately dry.  Your primer allows for better adhesion of your paint to an object and will allow you to skip the step of sanding.  Take your time and use the right distance so there are no drips or globs.  Then, do a couple of coats of quality spray paint with plenty of drying time between coats.  The key is take your time, spray evenly, use the appropriate distance from your object to prevent over spraying and drips and of course read the directions on the can.  Unfortunately, there is not a huge selection of spray paint colors but it is improving and manufacturers have created some interesting lines that have different textures and metal finishes.  I will post the finished products when they are all dry and in their proper place.

Random #1
Are you HomeGoods happy?  My favorite store on the planet...I have actually even gotten my kids hooked on taking a trip with me every once and a while.  It is definitely the type of place where you need to visit often, because inventory changes frequently.  If you see something you love, you better get it then, because it may not be there when you get back.

Here's my latest treasure!!!  A linen, tufted round ottoman.  She's a gem isn't she?  So cute and puffy!  I had been looking for an ottoman to place in front of my grandma's arm chairs in the family room so folks could prop up their feet and stay a while.  I have a lot of angles and square furniture in the family room (couch, coffee table, entertainment center) and so I was definitely looking for a round ottoman, which turned out to be harder than thought.  But I finally found one and she was only $59. 

Random #2
My sources for all the re*furbished home furnishings and decorative pieces are resale shops and antique malls.  Here is my latest stash of great finds waiting to be re*furbished.  I am still thinking of what to do with it all.  The frames will be repainted, the chair needs a little tlc but has a great cane-back, and the keys I just couldn't resist!!

Hope your day is filled with the opportunity to get things done both random and planned!

Choosing and Hanging a Chandelier

While going this process with a friend in her dining room and needing to switch out the chandelier over my own kitchen table, I thought it might be helpful to share a little bit about how to make this easy change in your home.  Updating a light fixture is a cost effective way to make a big impact in a room.  Lighting creates ambiance, mood and can update your style instantly.  Ok, I admit it I still have one of those brass fixtures from the early 90's but I am doing my best to gradually switch them all out.  I even re-painted one to an antiqued black finish when I first moved in and it has lasted for a while, but I'm ready to change that one out too. 

First, here are some gorgeous chandeliers of varying styles for inspiration, each is under $400 - if you shop around you can find some gorgeous pieces to fit your budget!

My obsession right now is everything Minka from the Minka Group, check out this gorgeous chandelier!

Lamps Plus for $379

Bellora Chandelier - love the drops with a rustic feel

Pottery Barn $299

Glass Link Chandelier - great for an eclectic or contemporary space

West Elm $299

6-light chrome Chandelier - traditional and formal

Overstock.com $227

Kathy Ireland Venezia Bronze 8-light - traditional and formal

Lamps Plus $150

Cambria Scroll Pendant - casual and would look great in a smaller eat-in area or small round dining table

Lamps Plus $299

Possini Euro Frosted White Glass - contempory or modern look

Lamps Plus $399.99

Now how do you know what size to buy and how to hang it?

Here's a few general guidelines that I have found helpful.  As with any purchase, use your judgement to evaulate what will look best in your dining space.  A good start is to see what you might not like about the current fixture regarding size and shape.

 Buying the right size fixture and hanging it correctly shouldn't be intimidating.  You need three measurements to get you started.  Determine the height of your room floor to ceiling, measure the width and length of your room and measure the length and width of the table.  

First, measure the height of your room.  In general, if the height of your room is over 7 feet tall your room is tall enough to hang a chandelier. 

Next, measure the length and width of your room in feet.  Add those measurements together.  The sum converted to a measurement in inches will equal the appropriate diameter for your chandelier.  For example, for a 14x20 ft room 14+20= 34 feet.  Change this number to inches, thus 34 inches - your chandelier should be no larger than 34 inches in diameter.  If the size seems too large based on the size of your table, take three quarters of the width of the table for your measurement.  For example, three quarters width of a 44 inch wide table, is 33.  The chandelier should be 33 inches in diameter.  

  And last, the correct height to hang the chandelier above a dining table is 30-34 inches above the tabletop.  I have found that 32 inches over a table works well - low enough to have impact but high enough to be visually comfortable when seated to dine.

Take your measurements and go shopping!  There are many styles and finishes to choose from.  Styles range from rustic to formal from a 6-arm chandelier to a pendant chandelier and everything in between.  Some popular finishes are iron, brushed steel, chrome, glass and crystal.  Look to create some consistency in how you have styled the adjoining rooms and what finishes are used in other areas of your home.  Begin with a style and/or color that is predominant in the room in which the new fixture will be hung.

These are general rules of thumb, as always eye-ball it and use your judgement as to what will look best for your room.  The examples above are for a dining room or kitchen table chandelier, but the trend for chandeliers is to use them just about anywhere...in a closet, bathroom, bedroom, or over a kitchen island...adding charm and interest to the most unexpected of areas.

White..nuff said!

White!

White couch, white chairs, white walls - black and orange pops of color.

White!!

White stairs, white couch, white walls contrasted with dark wood floor.

White!!!

White bedspread, lamp, art and mirror contrasted with touches of grey and natural tones.

I love the look of an all or mostly white room.  Crisp, clean, classic, comfortable, pristine, ethereal, elegant....all these words come to mind.  Pause.  Ok....I have kids, dog, hubbie...all of which would not do well in an all white room.  So if you're like me and love the look, but practicality takes over...why not infuse a pop of white to get some of the feel that these all white rooms possess? 

Here are a few of my favorite looks for bringing a little white into a room.

White slip covered furniture is always an option, easy to take off and wash when the spots and spills arise.  This chaise from Ikea is a great look (I am thinking about this one for my office)!

White walls, white couch with pops of color like orange and red and dark furniture pieces.

White wall of frames!

White lamps!

White towels, shower curtain, mirror and vanity top with dark grey on walls and dark vanity base.

Gorgeous white dresser refinished and used as a sofa table.

(All photos sourced from Pinterest)

These are some great ways to infuse the crispness of white in any room - maybe just a little less than some of us had hoped for!!!

Spindles, Spools....love

I first saw it at the Wisteria Warehouse Sale and a woman was trying to strap the chair to her trunk.  It's a big chair and it was not fitting IN the trunk but she was determined and yes, she got a steal.  (On a side note, if you live in the Dallas area you MUST attend the Wisteria Warehouse Sale - once a year but well worth the wait http://www.wisteria.com/).  So I headed inside, hoping for the same treasure but sure enough they were sold out.  What???  We were only about 45 minutes past the opening time.  But indeed they were all gone.  I saw a few strays in an aisle behind the rope (intended to keep us out) and asked the sales person about them. She said they had accidentally double-sold the chairs and were required to take them off the floor - apparently others had taken a liking to my new beloved chair as well.

Well, I forgot about the chair and went on with my shopping.  Until today... I was reading the current issue of Southern Living and saw the chair again!  It was used on an outside porch with a fireplace and porch swing.  They are brown with a cream patterned cushion. There was no sourcing information and I couldn't find the picture online so you'll have to take my word for it ..they look great.

So I thought about doing a little research to find some photos of inspiration and sources to buy the chair.  Here's what I found.

This is the original chair that I fell in love with at Wisteria.  At the warehouse sale, it came without a cushion and ran about $200 - a steal.  But in the catalog it has a cushion and is called the European Spindle Chair.  I tried to source online but it may be out of stock at this time.  It is by far the best price that I have found for this chair at a measly $699.  Isn't it gorgeous??

This is actually a black painted birch wood reproduction.  There are vintage ones out there and I am sure they are even more gorgeous!  <insert historical furniture lesson here :)> The basic spool chair is a furniture design that involves a frame made entirely of turned pieces. Sometimes referred to as a Carver chair, the spool chair dates back to the 17th century, and is often considered to have its origins in the New England area of the United States. Some are also European influenced.  Simplistic in design, the typical spool chair usually has minimal decoration, making the chair both classic and easy to include in most designs.  It's timeless.

Here's are some examples of the chair featured in design.  It can be used in multiple spaces.

Bedroom

(Source: House Beautiful)

Family Room

(Source: Belmont Design Group)

Living Room

(Source: Jacqueline Derrey Segura)

Family Room

(Source: House Beautiful)

One of the most popular producers in the US of the Spool Chair is Hickory Chair.  Their chair runs around $1700.  This chair looks good coming and going (note the back detail).

Looking at the chairs online and doing the research makes me want one even more.  I don't even know where I would put it ...but one day I WILL have one.