As a kid, and even sometimes as an adult, I have an impossible time falling asleep on Christmas Eve. It’s easy to pinpoint the root cause as a child – the anticipation of the unknown wonders to behold on Christmas morning. All our presents magically appearing under the tree and finding “evidence” of Santa’s visit in half-eaten cookies was enough to satisfy my youthful curiosity. It wasn’t even so much about the presents, but really the “magic” of it all. So what keeps me awake now, as an adult?
I’d like to believe the holidays bring out a little child wonderment in all of us. Even though I hate the commercialization of the holidays, I think there are a few things that capture the whimsy we experienced as children. See below for a little inspiration and a few nostalgic favorites for this year!
I have to start off with the ever-increasing antics of the “Elf” assigned to families all over the US. In the name of Santa, parents have stretched their creativity to the limits to capture his nightly shenanigans!
West Elm – Felt WreathPottery Barn Kids – Advent CalendarCrate & Barrel – Felt GarlandWest Elm – Owl OrnamentWest Elm – Bunny OrnamentCrate & Barrel – Assorted StockingsPottery Barn – Advent Calendar PillowCrate & Barrel – Yuletown PlattersCrate & Barrel – Snowflake Coasters
I am obsessed with white rooms and the layer of textures which translates into a winter wonderland atmosphere for the holidays. Starting with a neutral base and adding in shimmery textures makes for an enchanting space. The ambient lighting achieved with candles and starry lights completes the effect for entertaining!
See below for inspiration photos and a few of my pics for luxe this holiday season!
Mercury is a given for neutral luxe and these new ornaments from RH don’t disappoint. They are gorgeous!
Venetian Glass Ornaments from Restoration Hardware
Everyone needs a little faux fur/snow in their “wonderland”…perfect backdrop to beautifully wrapped gifts!
Faux Fur Tree Skirt from West Elm
I love the energy of this sculptural wreath and it pairs well with white!
Modern Tinsel Wreath from West Elm
I am kind of obsessed with this lantern and it’s simple clean lines. It would look stunning all year in your home!
Lillian Lantern from Crate & Barrel
These unique snowflakes have an origami feel and could definitely be displayed beyond the holiday season.
Geometric Snowflakes from Wisteria
This fabulous brushed gold bowl would make a statement to any dining or cocktail table.
Ophelia Bowl from Crate & Barrel
Love the octagonal shapes and modern edge of these candle holders which would fit in to almost any decor.
Mercury Octagonal Hurricanes from West Elm
Adding a little bling to your sofa just got easier with this glitzy geometric pillow!
Maddie Beaded Lumbar Pillow from Pottery Barn
These string lights are amazing and are available in gold or silver. Where are you going to use them in your home?
Starry String Lights from Restoration Hardware
Love the graduated beading effect on these candles; bet they look beautiful as they burn down.
So, you love the holidays but you don’t love the traditional decor elements? Luckily, there are many other ways to dress up your space for the season without OD’ing on plaid & pine trees. Unique color palettes, mod stylized shapes and unusual accents like peacocks and gemstones are building blocks of a non-traditional scheme. Feel free to make a statement with your decor!
See below for inspiration photos and my favorite things on the market this season!
Shiny silver balls tied with a pink thread make for a festive entrance!
Silver Ball Garland from CB2
Amaryllis stems flourish in the peacock-inspired hues of these stunning vases!
Faceted Glass Vases from West Elm
Clear tree silhouettes grouped together would make a statement for a dining table or entry.
Acrylic Trees from CB2
Agate drops offer a hint of nature and can be hung anywhere or tied on a package for a color pop.
Agate Ornaments from West Elm
Spinning shapes in silver & gold delight audiences young & old!
Wire Ornaments from CB2
Love the unique colors in these capiz shell ornaments!
Capiz Paillette Ornaments from West Elm
Functional & retro in bold colors, these glasses are durable for kids & tipsy adults!
Stacking Acrylic Wine Glasses from Crate & Barrel
Faceted cocktail glasses are great for retro entertaining with a twist…Manhattan, anyone?
Cassiopeia Glassware from West Elm
We all love flameless candles and these new string light versions are a fun alternative!
Embedded String Light Pillar Candles from Pottery Barn
Stemless flutes make great gifts and since they don’t scream “holidays”, they can be used all year round.
One of my favorite things about the holidays and winter in general is the transformation of the outdoors. Sleigh rides and skating outdoors amidst pine trees, snow and barren branches makes warming up next to a fireplace all the more appealing. Adding rustic traditional elements to your decor can take your interiors through the holidays and into the abyss of winter. Pops of red, lots of textural elements and plenty of candles aglow will warm your spirits!
See below for inspiration photos and a few of my favorite things to buy for this season!
I love this new collection of lit twig animals! The polar bear is by far the cutest!
Lit Twig Polar Bear from Pottery Barn
Who doesn’t need a sleigh that has no function other than to look pretty?
Red Metal Sleigh from Pottery Barn
I love burlap and red plaid and together they make a festive combo!
Burlap & Red Plaid Stockings from Ballard Designs
I had a cocker spaniel growing up and one of their signature features are their eyes. PB captured the essence of them plus a few other breeds in these quirky ornaments!
Bottlebrush Cocker Spaniel Ornament from Pottery Barn
I love this handwritten effect of the sentiment on this platter; perfect for a hostess or holiday gift. Also, the warm color makes it ideal for fall and winter entertaining!
Shanna Murray Platter from West Elm
With the upswing in craft breweries, these would make a great gift for your favorite beer drinker this season!
Hoppy Holidays Beer Glasses from Crate & Barrel
With its traditional font, this festive runner feels as much at home on your dining room table as in your kitchen!
Hello! Meet my new chairs and see their journey to my dining room!
So, I had the bright idea to get inexpensive chairs and paint them pink to add a pop of color to my dining room/office. Of course I chose pink…not shocking at all given my obsession with the color. Not just any shade of pink, naturally, it had to be the Pantone color of the year for 2011 (when I started this project) Honeysuckle…which will look fabulous! I had to assure a lot of people, especially my family (boys) who did not see my vision…now to find chairs!
These photos were my inspiration for doing painted chairs…I showed my friends and family, but some people still couldn’t envision pink.
It’s funny how I was always drawn to the simple, classic shape of the Bentwood chairs. It actually took me several months of on and off scouring Craig’s List for the “right” chairs to take on the festive pink hue and not break my piggy bank. I was so excited when I finally discovered these “gently-worn” vintage Bentwood chairs and purchased all 4 for $20!
Seriously needs help!
I did a lot of searching for fabric to recover the chair seats…a lot of searching, actually. In the end, I decided I liked the simplicity of the wood seats instead. So, my dad had to remake them because the original seats were in bad shape.
Stripped down and ready to sand & primeMy grandpa makes the best helper! He’s always ready to tackle a project with me!A few of the chairs needed a bit more repair…we called in my uncle Doug, our “body man” to do his magic!
After getting them home and inspecting them further, I discover that one of the chairs has a slightly different shape and is shorter than the other 3. My family thinks no one would notice but I decide to highlight the difference and paint that chair silver.
The 3 pink chairs got tinted primer, they look like I coated them in Pepto-Bismol at this point…
After lots more painting, sanding, clear coats…basically blood, sweat and tears from my family, my chairs arrived for my birthday last year! They look great in my apartment and I’m so happy with how they turned out! Huge thanks to my family for all their hard work!!!
The pink is fabulous! Check out how well it coordinates with my original Jeff Kapfer bag, too!Love how the silver turned out, too!All 4 chairs ready for a party!The silver chair adds a little sparkle to my living room!
Stay tuned for the blog post on the completion of my office with the new chairs!
