Tuesday, December 22, 2015

A CHRISTMAS TABLE OR TWO

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The presents are wrapped, the cards are mailed, the cookies are baked and the guests are arriving shortly. Time to set the table. If you haven’t begin to think about setting the Christmas table, here are a few creative possibilities for you. You may already have some of these items just waiting in a cupboard. Maybe you have time to make a napkin ring. Or an idea that you can save for later. Time to polish the silver…

Christmas Eve Dinner


 A little casual place setting...


 A vintage Santa sleigh and reindeer centerpiece...


 Simple napkin rings...


A red paper luminary to invite you to sit and stay awhile...




Drill a hole through a wine cork, thread a few wood cranberry beads on a ribbon...

Christmas Dinner


 Simple, but elegant...




 Children's engraved flatware and baby cups tied with a velvet ribbon to the garland...






New Year’s Eve Dinner


 Classic clock plates and a noise maker...

 

 A crystal garland on a black runner...

 

 An etched star wineglass for New Year wishes...



Vellum take out boxes with an electric votive glows past midnight...


Wishing you a table full of family, friends, guests and good memories. Happy Happy!






Saturday, December 12, 2015

COZYING UP THE GUEST ROOM

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You have waited all year. You have planned, prepared and executed. And now is the time. You are ready. Bring on the overnight holiday guests! Now that you have created the Ahh bed, the room is waiting to be taken to the next step. Cozying up the guest room. Adding a few “little luxuries” to the room will have your guest tucking in and really never wanting to leave. Follow these few simple touches and your guests will be awarded to a five star stay.


Add a set of fluffy flannel sheets…


Piles of extra warm blankets…


Dare you add a fur throw?...


No overnight stay is complete without cashmere bed socks…


A sheepskin rug to greet toes…


And of course a set of his and her toasty robes…


Plenty of super soft towels…


Soothing bath salts for that truly relaxing stay…


Followed by milled soaps, lightly scented lotion and a soft candle glow…


An electric candle programmed to stay lit till dawn…


Now you are set to house heads of state, kings and queens and royal families (even if they are yours). The bed is made, the room is set, pillows are fluffed, the bath awaits and you are ready. All year ready. Five stars. All you need now is a little snow and they will never want to leave!  Sweet Dreams.






Saturday, December 5, 2015

THE MANTLE-PRIME REAL ESTATE

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Location, location, location, say the Realtors! Focal point say the designers! Combine the two and you have...The Mantle. Prime Real Estate. The perfect place to house your creative talents. Or just a resting place for a few of your favorite things. The mantle is no longer just a place for placing a pair of candle sticks and thinking you are done decorating that room for the next twenty years. It is the new stage, to be changed seasonally or just when a whim hits you. Here are a few ideas to get you started thinking of your next exciting venue. Set the stage, dim the lights…..


Whether you like a comfortably stuffed look or you prefer a clean simple look, this mantle can make anyone happy. Using a few (key here is to edit and not use every item in your collection at one time) of the white pitchers I collect creates a warm feeling when you walk into this room. I love the shape of each, never tiring of their look.


Switch out the botanical and add a satin bow and you have transitioned effortlessly into another season.


If you have a love for the classics, gather a pair or two of silver candle holders, white tapers, silver bowl, a boxwood wreath with matching boxwood balls and you have a beautiful and elegant mantle.


Here is a mantle that stages my love of dishes and blue and white stoneware. Add a little floral and you are done (for now, but not finished).


Some of our collections and loves sometimes get out of hand. I have way too many (but yet not enough) books and they are scattered all around my house. They are so nice to look at when gathered together. Comfortably stuffed. Add a little book page garland, a cup of tea, and a favorite reading spot and I’m not leaving the room anytime soon.


I rescued this paperback from a lonely beach bag. I normally wouldn’t take apart a book, but this one was doomed from the start. The cover was the first to go, then the pages started to blow away and then well, there was some sunscreen. So, I tucked the book away waiting for the perfect project, the book page garland.



Using an awl, I poked a hold in the middle of the page through a stack of pages.


Then I crumpled a page.


And a few more (about 75 pages total).



Then strung them on a length of twine. I measures the space between two hooks on the mantle  (42") and added 7" for a total of 49" length of twine for the garland.



Once strung and tied to the mantle, I tied a black satin ribbon on the ends.


For the wreath, I tied a few tea cups on a wreath and then hung it with a black velvet ribbon.


Very Cozy.


The mantle becomes a vacant lot shortly after the first of the year. So, to prevent this from happening to you, create a little winter woodland that can warm up the room along with a toasty fire long after the holidays have been forgotten. 



To make the woodland garland, this is what you will need-



I sprayed painted silver bells with Kilz Primer, three light coats.


Cut a strip of floral wire about 6”.


Wrapped the wire around the very top of the pine cone.


Then twisted the wire about 2”

Then formed a loop and trimmed off excess wire.

I measured the space between the hooks on my mantle 42" and added 7" for a total of 49" finished length for the twine


Form a loop at one end of the twine, then alternately string one bell and one pine cone until all 7 pine cones and 8 bells were incorporated.



 Fifth Avenue, Rodeo Drive and Michigan Avenue are all known as prime real estate because they attract visitors year round. What these locations have in common is they all offer new and fresh visual excitement that tugs at emotions from your past. Your mantle is one of these prestigious streets. Visitors to your home will always stop to see what is new on your mantle. You have the tenants, they are in your cupboards, closets, bookcases and tucked in boxes waiting for their moments to be displayed.