Search Results for: napkin storage

Easter Tablescape | A Colorful Twist On Tradition

April 5, 2019

Happy Friday friends! Today’s the day that I’m sharing my fun and colorful Easter tablescape with you. I had so much fun creating this table decor and this just might be one of my favorites of all times.

The inspiration for my table started when I was organizing my table linens. First I pulled out the table runner that Boho Luxe Home made for me for the 2017 Merry & Bright Holiday Home Tour. You can see how I styled the runner for Christmas here. Then I pulled out a navy and white plaid tablecloth I got from HomeGoods. I put the two patterns together and that’s when the full vision of my table came to life.

Here’s my 2018 Easter tablescape…

Easter and spring tablescapes traditionally use pastels and soft colors, but my table puts a brighter and more colorful twist on Easter tradition.

For the place settings, I combined white plates, vintage Blue Willow plates and small blue & white bread plaid plates. I used woven placemats and bamboo silverware to add a more casual element to the table. The texture and darker tones are a nice contrast against to all the formal elements on the table.

p.s. this bamboo silverware is my absolute favorite and is such a great deal. You can snag a set or two of your own here.

white charger plate // blue willow dinnerware // white china //navy & white plaid plates (similar here)

Ashes Of Roses Table Runner // Blue & White Ginger Jars

rabbit with basket (similar here)

I created a really fun and unusual centerpiece using this adorable resin rabbit I found at HomeGoods. When I saw him, I knew he needed to come home with me.

I sat the rabbit in the center of a pedestal bowl that I had and added flower stems to fill the bowl and the bunnies basket.

faux flowers from Amazon

I added two blue & white ginger jars to the table along with a couple of small ceramic rabbits. And to make my tablescape even more “Eastery”, I filled tea cups with Easter grass and foil-wrapped chocolate eggs.

Instead of using a single color dinner napkin, I layered two colors together and added a brass napkin rings. You can check out the creative way I store my linen napkins here.

I just love the way my tablescape turned out. It’s so colorful and whimsical and of course has a little touch of chinoiserie which I love.

Now that my Easter table is done I’m going to start working on making Easter baskets. I’ll be sure to share them with you when I’m all done.

If you’re looking for creative Easter basket ideas I have two really fun and easy ideas for you. My DIY Easter Candy Jars perfect for kids of all ages and budget-friendly. And for the adults in your life, my Ice Bucket Easter Basket is fun to create.

To see my black, white and red Easter tablescape head here.

My Spark JOY Journey (Organizing Around The House)

February 26, 2019

Several weekends ago I stumbled across the show Tidying Up on Netflix. Tidying Up is the popular home organization show based on Marie Kondo’s best-selling novel, The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up. I’ve never read the book but heard a lot about it and knew it had to do with organizing your home. I assumed the show was based on the same premise.

One Saturday morning I sat down to watch one episode of the show and found myself hooked. The approach that Marie takes to decluttering and organizing is simple but so impactful. Her method of folding clothes and organizing drawers is life-changing.

I binge-watched the series that day and had the urge to organize every inch of my house. I started in the kitchen and plan to tackle one room at a time over the next few months. And just like Marie directs people to do on the show, I’m using her ‘spark joy’ method as I go through each space. If an item sparks joy and is something we use, it stays. Items that are no longer useful or that have no value to us go in the trash or donation pile.

Today I thought I’d share a couple of areas that I’ve organized and a few tips that helped we whip these spaces into shape. And because good organization requires tools, I’m sharing some of my to-go organizing products from The Container Store. (this is not a sponsored post, just sharing products I love)

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THE PROBLEM AREAS & THE SOLUTIONS

The first area I organized was our kitchen. Cooking may not be my thing but I love kitchen gadgets and had more than my fair share. I opened every drawer and sorted through all of the items and then organized like items together. I used these bamboo drawer organizer trays to hold our silverware and cooking utensils.

tip: keeping like items together is key to keeping drawers organized and tidy. Group items by function (baking, knifes, entertaining pieces so you always know what you have and where things go.

Another area in the kitchen I organized was the pantry. Our pantry is not large so I wanted to maximize the space. I used a bamboo expanding spice shelf to hold my spice jars and save space on the shelf. I also hung a white Elfa utility wire door & wall rack on the pantry door to hold canned goods. The door rack at The Container Store are one of my absolute favorite products and I’ve used them in other areas of my house as well.

I keep my cloth dinner napkins in the kitchen, inside a lower kitchen cabinet. Before I found the perfect solution, they were stacked in a wicker basket. It was hard to pull out set of napkins without messing up the entire stack. What I really needed was a container where I could stand the napkins up, see everything at a glance and easily access the napkins I wanted. This large multi-purpose bin was the perfect solution. My dinner napkins fit like a glove and the handles make it easy to pull the bins out and carry them around. I have three bins that sit side-by-side and they fit perfectly under my kitchen cabinet.

tip: containers that allow cloth napkins to stand or lay flat will keep them from getting wrinkled

GOOD ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE EFFICIENT & LOOK NICE

Another problem area was how I stored my ever-growing collection of dinner plates. The buffet in our dining room holds my parent’s wedding china, our wedding china and an assorted mix of serving and entertaining pieces. Dinner plates were stacked on top of charger plates and tea cups and saucers wedged on a shelf. I wasn’t maximizing the vertical space and knew I needed a stackable shelf to solve the problem. These white medium grid stackable shelf fit the bill and I am so happy with how they work in my buffet. The shelves lock together and are sturdy enough to hold the weight of the plate stacks. I used three shelves in each of the side cabinets.

tip: use felt china separators between your plates to protect the surface and prevent scratches.

The middle cabinet holds all of my charger plates (this is after I purged 4 sets), serving platters and candle holders. I use quilted china storage cases to hold serving platters and tea cups.

tip: I bought 8″ x 10″ sheets of felt from the craft store to place between the charger plates to protect the surface.

WHEN YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOU HAVE, YOU’RE MORE LIKELY TO USE IT AND ENJOY IT

With the china buffet done, I set out to organize all of my overflow of vintage dinnerware. I’ve collected about 12 different sets of plates and don’t have room to store them in the kitchen or buffet. I decided to store and display them on a tiered table that sits on one wall of the kitchen. I used water hyacinth storage bins to hold smaller plates on the lower shelf and then stacked larger plates and bowls on the middle shelf. These baskets are sturdy and I can easily pull them off the shelf using the handles. The medium basket fits appetizer and dessert plates perfectly. And the large basket is the right size for salad plates.

tip: hang a tag from the handle of each basket with a list of the patterns inside so you know at a glance what each basket holds.

I only have a couple of spaces checked off my organizing list but I’m thrilled with all the changes so far. I’ll be sure to share more of my ‘spark joy’ journey as I work on other areas of my house. Until then, here’s a round-up of some of the organizing products I’m using and loving from The Container Store.

1) Multi-Purpose Bin 2) Medium Grid Stacking Shelf 3) Water Hyacinth Storage Bin 4) Bamboo Spice Shelf 5) 2-Drawer Mesh Organizer 6) Pantry Door & Wall Rack 7) Bamboo Drawer Organizer Trays

Do you love organizing your house? I’d love to know your organizing tips and tricks so leave me a comment below.

For more inspiration, check out 5 Tips for Organizing Your Home With Style & Ease and Building and Organizing A Gift Tag Assortment

Weekend Wrap-Up | Design, Shopping & More-Vol. 11

September 2, 2018

I don’t know about you but I’m really trying to make the most of the long weekend before the hustle and bustle of fall and holiday activities start. First up on my to-do list is cleaning out the storage closet in my garage. If you don’t hear from me next week, send out a search party. Here’s a round-up of my favorite reads and inspiration from the week. Enjoy!

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Fun Read and Inspiration

I was looking through my Pinterest account the other day and was shocked to see that I’ve pinned almost 30,000 images and have over 950,000 monthly viewers. If you don’t already follow ConfettiStyle, just click here.

How To Organize Your Life According To Your Zodiac Sign. When it comes to me, the insights about Aries are pretty true expect I prefer a pretty notepad to post-it-notes.

Wow, knowing this makes me love Trader Joes even more.

After seeing this beautiful giftwrap, I’m going to keep a stash of brown paper bags and silk flowers on hand.

Love this fall fabric wreath I spotted on Etsy.

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Labor Day Sales

Old Navy: 50% off all Sweatshirts, Tees, Jeans and Dresses. It’s a great time to stock-up on basic and layering pieces for fall. My favorites are this scoop neck top and this plaid swing dress.

Loft: 40% off your entire purchase. I never shopped the Loft until recently and so far I’m loving everything I’ve purchased. I just ordered this striped poncho.

Mark & Graham: Add’l 30% off Sale Items. It’s a great time to pick up stocking stuffers for Christmas. My picks are this leather mouse pad, this denim tote and these nylon travel bags. And the best part, all of these items are monogrammed.

Nordstrom: Their annual Summer Sale is in progress with savings up to 40% off. This Kate Spade handbag is a great price and I love this cashmere wrap.

Pier 1: Buy more, save more including sale and regular priced items. These napkin rings and these plaid plates are great for fall and Thanksgiving entertaining.

Z Gallerie: 20% off Art & Decor. I love these navy lidded jars and this colorful art is stunning.

Anthropologie: Extra 40% off sale items. This tea-for-me would make a great teacher or girlfriend gift. And this statement necklace is a great deal.

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On the blog this week

My latest thrifting finds

End Of Summer Coffee Table Decor

The Art Of High / Low Style Mixing

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Before I sign off, I wanted to remind you that the voting is still open for the Amara Interior Blog Awards. I’m honored to have been nominated for Best Design Inspiration Blog and would love your vote. You can vote here.

Design Resource: The Sofa & Chair Company

November 13, 2017

As a designer my job is to research and source stylish, high-quality furniture and decor to fit my clients needs and lifestyle. Often times my search leads me to my favorite stores locally. And other times my search for beautiful furnishings and decor might lead me across the pond.

The Sofa & Chair Company is the UK’s leading manufacturer of luxury sofas and hand-crafted furniture. Their extensive furniture collections boast luxurious fabrics (silk, leather, velvet and cashmere), sleek finishes (chrome, brass, marble), and refined details (feather and down cushions, tufting, welt trims)–all elements that speak to style and quality. In addition to carrying in-stock items which are available for immediate shipping, all of the items in their designer furniture collection are available for customization. Working with their design team, you can create a one-of-a-kind piece to fit your exact size, fabric and finish specifications. And with delivery services available worldwide, their items are accessible to everyone.

To inspire your decorating dreams, I’ve created several mood boards using furniture, lighting and decor from The Sofa & Chair Company. And I’m sharing a few design and styling tips as well.

SOPHISTICATED LIVING ROOM

The foundation to any beautifully designed living space is a cohesive color story the has visual interest and depth. The Sofa & Chair Company makes it easy to create a sophisticated space with their wide range of furniture styles and fabric options. Here I paired a lush velvet sofa in navy with lighter toned occasional chairs. The gold accent color represented in the artwork, lamp and vase create a cohesive story within the room. And the subtle pattern in the rug ties the color story and room design together while adding another layer of design elegance. design tip: It is best to use an accent color in at least three places around the room. You want to color to look intentional, not accidental.

SHOP THE LIVING ROOM: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // RUG

The living room would take on a slightly more eclectic feel by using this framed botanical textile art by US designer Aviva Stanoff.

ELEGANT DINING ROOM

A space like a dining room can be both functional and elegant by combining classic furniture designs with artistic accessories. For this mood board I used a combination of wood finishes to create sense of masculinity and depth. The addition of a softy tiered chandelier, brushed brass accessories and a pastel hued dining chair soften the room while adding elegance. When entertaining, classic tabletop decor in silver and black will stand out without commanding attention. design tip: a light-colored chandelier and rug will visually make a small dining space appear bigger. And mixing metal finishes (gold with silver) will make a dining room feel elegant in an instant.

SHOP THE DINING ROOM: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 //5 // 6 // 7 // 8

SHOP TABLEWARE: silverware // napkin rings // dinnerware // glasses // charger // tray

To add a touch of femininity to the dining space, I’d replace the sculptural piece with a beautiful Tulip Vase.

CHIC ENTRYWAY

A beautiful and chic entryway sets the tone for your home and introduces your home’s personality. To welcome guests with style, I designed this space around an sculptural console table. A pair simple lamps allows the shaped mirror and dramatic artwork to pop. And a pair of plush fabric ottomans with a gold-tone metal base anchor this welcoming vignette. design tip: a small entryway can appear bigger by visual extending the width of a console table with artwork and furniture flanking each side.

SHOP THE ENTRYWAY: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

In a small house or apartment, an entryway is a great place to add additional storage. Replace the console table, mirror and lamps with this chic Torrington Cabinet for an entry way that pulls double duty with style and storage.

STATELY MASTER BEDROOM

Combining dark and light tones is a great way to create a bedroom that feel stately and elegant. A light-colored rug keep the space from feel dark and heavy. And the black night stands help to visually ground the room while adding a bit of drama. design tip: framed photos like this shot of the Parliamentary Building in Budapest, Hungary make for a unique art statement in any room.

SHOP THE BEDROOM: 1 // rug // 3 // bedding // 5 // 6 / 7 // 8

In a larger bedroom, the addition of this beautiful Erasmo Leather Topper Dresser would highlight the lighter tones within the room. p.s. I am madly in love with the tassel drawer pulls!

POLISHED HOME OFFICE

Home offices often get neglected when it comes to decor. I designed this office to include a mix of traditional and modern elements creating a space with interest and character. The Sofa & Chair Company has a great selection of abstract artwork and rugs that mix easily with any of their desk styles. And if you’re looking for to add a unique design statement to your office, switch out the desk chair for an upholstered bench. design tip: black is a great furniture color to use in an office space because it creates an instant focal point in a room that typically has lots of visual chaos going on.

SHOP THE OFFICE: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // rug

One advantage of decorating with classic colors is that you can easily change out elements of your decor to give the space a new look. Replacing the black and white rug with this pink Vivian Fringed Rug would give this office a whole new vibe.

When it comes to creating sophisticated, elegant, stately, chic and polished spaces, The Sofa & Chair Company makes it easy with their collection of fine furniture, lighting and decor. You can view their entire collection of products, learn more about the company and how to contact them for deliveries here.

disclaimer: This post was sponsored by The Sofa & Chair Company. All opinions are my own and all design boards represented in this post are my original concept and design.

Shopping Ikea–New decor and fabrics!

February 22, 2016

Hello friends. I hope you all had a great weekend.

Since I hadn’t been shopping at IKEA in a while, I decided to stop by the store on Saturday to see what was new. Whenever I plan a trip to Ikea, I try to go early in the morning or an hour or so before they close because the crowds are usually at a low point during those times. Well, I must have missed the email announcement that Saturday night was ‘kids night’ because the store was packed with families and there were kids running around everywhere. What usually takes me an hour to get through the store took me a lot longer because I was constantly dogging little ones.

Despite the crowd and super long check-out lines, we made it out in one piece but did have to stop and get ice-cream on the way home to calm our nerves:)

Anyway, back to my shopping trip. I spotted several new items I wanted to share with you including some of the new fabrics Ikea is selling.

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One of the first things I spotted were these glass jars. I love the cork tops and the simple shape. These would be great on a kitchen counter to hold snacks and staples and I can even see them being used as a terrarium or to hold seasonal decor like the photo below. If I remember correctly, the largest size was $24.00 and the medium was $14.99.

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When I spotted these wood boxes I immediately thought of a thousand different ways to use them. And they are the perfect piece for a DIY project. Unfortunately the store was out of this size but did have a larger/longer size available. It think the price was $5.99.

Another great piece I saw was this woven side table. The top is a metal tray and it comes off to reveal storage space inside. I didn’t much care of the white stripe around the center but that could be fixed in a flash with spray paint or stain. Just image this in a bold, bright color for summer. $79.99

I loved this black planter and will probably go back and get one. The textured pattern on the outside is really nice and the inside is painted gold which you can see in the website photo below.

I never pass up the pillow aisle at Ikea and it never fails that they have something I want. This blue and cream striped pillow cover was really nice and I loved the watercolor effect the stripes had. Like most of the pillow covers, this one was a great deal at just $8.00.

Next up was the fabric department at Ikea. If you’ve never looked at the fabrics that Ikea sells, I suggest you do. Their fabric department is set up with a cut-it-yourself station so you cut the yardage you need and take it to the register to be rung up. You won’t find designer patterns or designer quality but many of the fabrics are great for decor like pillows, table linens or even drapes. And you can’t beat the price with most of the fabrics under $10 a year.

Here are a few favorites…

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Berta Ruta–a classic red and white plaid $8.99/yd Also comes in other classic colors.
Emmie Ros–this is a vintage inspired floral design and would be great in with shabby chic decor–$6.99/yd.
Sofia–a classic black and white stripe for only $7.99/yd. I used this fabric to make a skirt for the file cabinet in my office and love the weight and quality of it. Also available in other colors.
Pilorf–I love, love, love the floral design on this fabric and think it would make a really pretty table runner because of the way the pattern runs. $5.99/yd.

Blue and white products are a big trend at Ikea and they have some great blue and white fabrics for sale. This Sommar pattern is modern and classic and is only $5.99/yd.
At first I didn’t know if I like this abstract foliage fabric and then I remembered that Sherry Hart used it to make pillows for one of her projects and I was sold. It’s a great design that in the right application can look high-end. $9.99/yd.
This Sommar blue and white grid pattern is another classic design they sell. I can envision this as drapes with a beautiful trim detail or made into a duvet cover. $5.99/yd
Classic black and white floral design with an antique washed look. $7.99/yd.

And another new item I spotted in the fabric department was a bundle of fabric swatches that were on sale for $4.99. Each swatch measures 8″ x 8″ and there are 50 pieces in the bundle, 10 each of 5 designs. I immediately thought of making dinner napkins from these or using them in craft projects. I might be going back to get these as well.

So there you have it…a few of my favorite things at Ikea.

Country Living Fair 2014–What I Saw, What Inspired & What I Bought!

October 27, 2014

Last Friday I took some time away from my desk and headed to the Country Living Fair at Stone Mountain Park with my gal pal Tina. This is the 4th year that I’ve attended the fair and as usual, the fair was packed with people, fall inspiration and lots of vintage and vintage inspired items. Here’s a look at what I saw, what inspired me and what I bought.

The weather was absolutely perfect on friday which made strolling around the fair even more enjoyable.

The signature tower of pumpkins and gourds is always my first stop once I pass through the entrance gates. I don’t know where they find all of these pumpkins but it never fails to amaze me.

One of the reasons I go to the CL Fair is for the ideas. There are usually a handful of displays that catch my attention and this cute silverware caddy was one. The container is a vintage metal drawer from some type of storage cabinet and I just love the idea of using it to hold a napkin and silverware. I will never look at small vintage drawers the same again.

I was also inspired by this cute petite pumpkin nest. Tiny pumpkins get me every time.

There were beautiful fall floral displays all throughout the CL Fair space and these caught my attention.

One of my favorite booths to check out each year is the French Laundry Home. They have some of the most beautiful linens and their collection of Christmas pillows got me inspired to DIY a couple of holiday pillows this year.

Here’s a fun item I spotted made from reclaimed wood. Pretty cool, right?

This hydrangea and pinecone arrangement was really simple but yet so pretty. And the best part, the hydrangeas were made from burlap.

I’ve been collecting vintage shoe last recently and here was a big pile of them for on $10 each. I was tempted but didn’t buy.

Most of the vendors at the fair take the time to decorate their booths and this is one of the booth displays that caught my attention. The display was over the entrance to the book and I think it was the mix of different greenery and white pumpkins that made it so fun. This look could easily be adopted for a mantle display.

This JOY sign inspired a project idea that I’ve added to my to-do list.

Here’s another fun fall DIY project. Real acorn tops and decorative fabric bottoms. The fabric was filled with rice to give it shape and form and then hot glued into the acorn top.

There were tons of vintage and DIY typography letters at the fair but these, made from reclaimed wood, were by far my favorite.

Every year at the fair Country Living creates new displays throughout the area. This year as you walked around the fair there were huge canvas images of old magazine covers displayed between the trees.

I stopped Cari Cucksey’s RePurpose booth to check out her new paint line. Her paint line is called Chroma•Color and is a water based Paint & Primer in one. The paint line includes some really beautiful colors and based on the furniture pieces I saw in her booth the paint has a beautiful finish when applied.

So now on to the good stuff….what I bought.

I didn’t buy much this year and the only things that came home with me were a set of small ironstone plates, a woven basket (I’ll be creating a holiday arrangement in this for my front door), some vintage jewelry pieces and found objects (for jewelry) and a few small metal letters I’m planning to use in a holiday project.

I had a great time at the fair this year and as always there are a few things I passed up but now wish I had bought. Oh well, there’s always next year!

Summer Entertaining: Picnic Baskets Essentials

July 10, 2014

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What’s you favorite thing to do during the summer. Is it heading to the beach to romp through the sand? Maybe you like to take afternoon drives through the countryside? Or maybe your ideal summer day it hanging our around a pool?

Yes, I love to hang out at the beach but since the closet real beach in 5+ hours away I can’t do that on a regular basis. I also like to take drives through the countryside but living in Atlanta, getting to the country takes a drive too. And since I don’t have a swimming pool, that’s not an option. What’s left–a day in the park.

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Essentials for a Well Stocked Gift Closet

April 22, 2014

Outside the holiday season, the spring and early summer months are prime gift giving times with graduations, weddings, mother’s day, father’s day and many of my friends and family’s birthdays taking place during these months. Shopping at the last-minute for gifts is not something I like to do so I tend to keep a stash of essential gifts on hand in my gift closet. These are items that have universal appeal and items that can easily be paired with another piece if the occasion calls for a little something more. Here’s a look at the items I like to gift most and always keep in my gift closet.

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