Search Results for: monogram hat

Room(s) of The Week

March 23, 2012

Since most of the country is having unseasonably warm weather now, I know that many of you have your outdoor living spaces on your mind. During the warmer months, I love nothing more than to spend time outside with a glass of tea and a stack of magazines. And, I especially love it when the outdoor space I’m in has as much style and flair as an interior room. Check out these fabulous outdoor spaces and a few tips I have on making the most of yours!

I love the idea of using outdoor furniture styles that look as though they are meant for the inside. No longer do you just have to settle for wicker or wicker-like furniture for your outdoor space. This space is stylish, elegant and oozes of comfort.

Look for weather resistant metal tables or how about outfitting a round fire pit with a wood or metal top to create a table. When the fire pit is needed just remove the top and you have instant ambience.
Check on-line specialty stores like Bellacor.com which offers a great selection of outdoor table and floor lamps which have all the style and quality of indoor lighting.
Go bold and bright with your pillows. There’s not better way to energize an outdoor space than with fun and vibrant pillows. I love the selection of indoor/outdoor fabrics from Calico Corners (just a sampling in the photo below).

via Calico Corners

I love the cheery feel that this small but impactful outdoor space has. Bright colors, lots of flowers and a mix of textures add to the personality of this space.

When it comes to flower pots and containers, mix and match. Use a variety of colors, mix metal with ceramic and add pieces with detail.
Garden Stools are one of my favorite outdoor pieces. Not only are they practical but there are so many styles and colors to choose from. Two of my favorite sources for stools are Wisteria and Home Decor Direct. And here are a few of my favorite styles…

Turquoise Cane Pattern Garden Stool–Home Decor Direct

Carved Stool–Wisteria

And finally, every outdoor space needs a beautiful serving tray. I’m loving the large acrylic tray (monogram available) from The Zhush!

Monogrammed Acrylic Trays - Large

And while you’re at it, add in a set of these “oh so cute” acrylic gingham plaid Salad Servers to serve up your spring salad. Also available from The Zhush.

Country Gingham Salad Servers

Now’s the perfect time to take advantage of the warm weather and get your outdoor space together, just in time for the weekend!

10 Creative Ways to Decorate with Vintage Silver

March 6, 2012

If you’ve followed along on this blog for a while, you know that I have an affinity for vintage silver plated pieces. I especially love trays and serving accessories and have compiled a nice little collection. While trays lend themselves to creating beautiful wall decor statements or tabletop vignettes, there are so many other creative ways to decorate with vintage silver.

Here are 10 great ideas for incorporating silver pieces into your decor.

1. Flower Vase— silver-plated Mint Julip Cups are perfect for small floral arrangements to set around your home or use as part of a dining tablescape. I love the look of these monogrammed pieces and would collect an assortment of monograms to work with my more eclectic decor.

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2. Spice Rack–This is a really creative idea…using silverplated serving dishes as spice racks, hung on the kitchen wall.

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3. Vanity Tray–Nothing elevates the style of personal accessories or toiletries more than a silver tray. I have several in my bedroom holding perfume bottles and jewelry and just love the touch of elegance it adds to the room.

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4. Kitchen Backsplash–Did you ever think to hang a silver tray above the stove as a backsplash accent? Me either. I love this idea and the impact it can add to the kitchen.

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5. Stylish Magnet Boards—I love that these tray can look pretty while also being functional. Just hang, add magnets and you’ve got a great display area.

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6. Chalkboard Tray–When I bought my first silver plated tray I had every intention of creating a chalkboard out of it, but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. After seeing this image I really want to take one of my simpler trays turn it into a chalkboard. Not only does a tray like this work for everyday use in a kitchen or office area, but I love how it can really make a party table come to life.

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7. Placemat—I’ve been on the hunt for really simple silver trays to use just for this purpose. Using a silver tray as a placemat alternative is such a stylish way to dress up a dining table.

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8. Office Work Station–Totally makes sense that the chic and savvy designer Mary McDonald would use vintage silver pieces to hold all her desktop office tools. Silver cups are great for holding pencils, paperclips and all your other desk accessories. And, I love the idea of a silver tray as an in-basket.

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9. Utensil/Kitchen Caddy–What a great way to add vintage style to your kitchen. Not only is a silver urn good for holding kitchen utensils but you could also use it to hold wrapped food products like granola bars or tea bags.

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10. Plant Holder–Silver Ice buckets or urns are perfect for housing a plant within your decor and makes for a great addition to a tabletop vignette.

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Now that you have some ideas on how to decorate with silver, I wanted to share a few things I’ve learned about shopping and caring for silver!

When shopping and caring for silver plate, keep these tips in mind:

All silver plate in England and North America had to be stamp marked until the 1970’s when stickers were allowed to be used in Canada and the U.S. When looking at a silver piece the first thing you want to do is flip it over and look at the markings on the underside. There might be several markings such as the country it was made in, markers name and/or trade mark symbol or product number.
When scouring flea markets and thrift shops, don’t shy away from the tarnished pieces. This is often where you can find your best deals and with a little elbow grease your piece can look as good as new.
If there is any tiny lumps or bumps on a tarnished piece of silver plate then pass it by. These little bumps are called pitting and it means that the silver has come loose from the base.
The best types of cleaners to use on your silver plate are soap cleaners like Twinkle that you use with a sponge to clean them under water. I also love a good silver polish like Goddard’s.
After cleaning a piece of silver, let it sit out for 24 hours before you put it away to make sure that there is no moisture on it. You can store it either in a tarnish resistant cloth or wrap it in flannel and put it in a plastic bag that you can close. Another trick I use to cut down on the tarnish is to put a piece of white chalk in the storage bag. The chalk absorbs moisture and really cuts down on the tarnish.

I’m planning to shop Scott Antique Market this weekend and will be looking for some unique silver plated pieces to add to my collection (and decor). Several of my silver pieces I’ve lucked upon at Goodwill and other thrift stores, so keep you eyes open when you’re out shopping at these type of stores too!

Happy Decorating!

The finishing touches…My Christmas Decor!

December 12, 2011

The wreath is hung…

The ornaments are made…

The tree is up…

The table is set…

And now the finishing touches…

HANDCRAFTED GIFT TAGS

I used tradtional paper tags and layered on decorative papers, handmade pinwheels with a mirror center and faux holly leaves.

PICTURE FRAME WREATH

I painted a thrift store frame Christmas red, hung an ornament from the center and added a bow to create my festive & fun door wreath!

GIFT WRAP

Every year I coordinate my gift wrapping with my tree colors….this year it’s red, white, silver and kraft paper which works with the burlap elements on the tree.

And, every year I wrap each family members gifts in a different color paper so that identifying gifts is easy…

All the gifts for my brother and nephew are wrapped in red and white. My brother is a drummer so I tucked a sheet music card under the twine I wrapped his gift with.

My hubby’s gifts are all wrapped in the natural kraft paper. I love monograms so I’ve used several different styles on his gifts. You’ll also see that my yarn pom poms are also a fun addition to my gift wrap.

p.s. the mini ornaments came in a pack of 16 from Target for only $1.00

On this gift, I used a decorative piece of scrapbook paper on the front of the package. It has a simple white design and the perfect spot for a holiday message!

My mom’s gifts will all be wrapped in silver this year. Here I added a red satin ribbon and a antiqued silver glitter ornament which was only .50 cents from a local gift store.

Wrapping presents is one of my favorite things to do and at Christmas I tend to go all out.

My gift wrapping tips:

*Keep your color theme narrow

* Use a variety of papers to give your gifts visual impact

* Pretty ribbon is a must

* Embellishments will take your gift wrapping to the next level…be creative!

HANDMADE CHRISTMAS CARDS

I created my Christmas cards by grouping several different size tags together..some store bought and some I cut myself. On one of the tags I sewed a clear pouch and filled it with Confetti as an nod to my company name. A larger tag holds a photo of my husband and me, and a smaller blank tag was used to write a special holiday sentitment. All the tags are tied together with a pretty silk ribbon.

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT…ALL THINGS CHRISTMAS AT THE MCKEE HOUSE!

Now that all the major projects are done and my client projects are complete, it’s time to sit back and give thanks for all that I have this holiday season.

Wishing each of you a Very Merry Christmas!

{ check in tomorrow for a few glimpses into some of the holiday decorating I did for clients}

all images by ConfettiStyle

A Colorful Christmas

December 11, 2011

We are so used to seeing Christmas in traditional colors like red and green, with maybe some silver and gold thrown in for a little pizzaz! While I love the traditional colors of Christmas, it always brings a smile to my face when I see Christmas done in an untraditional way.

My friend Tina has an energetic and vibrant personality and when it comes to Christmas decor, that’s exactly what you get! Check out the fun and festive Christmas statement that Tina created this year in her home!

This is one of several Christmas trees that Tina has put up in her home. This pink and orange beauty sits in her family room. I love those pink angel wings!

Tina is very crafty and made these orange and pink birds for her tree….

She also made some cute monogram ornaments…

and created some fabric wrapped ornaments with beautiful fabric remnants.

Even here dining room centerpiece is colorful and vibrant, but is decorated in jewel tones. You can see a glimpse of another tree in the background. I love that Tina used mirrors to add to enhance her centerpiece. This is one of my favorite tablescape tricks!

Here’s a upclose of that gorgeous blue bowl filled with ornaments and pinecones she spray painted gold.

Tina also added several of her handmade finials to the centerpiece arrangement.

Isn’t it fun to see such a fun take on Christmas decor? Kudos to Tina for putting the MERRY in Merry Christmas!

Is your Christmas decor traditional or merry & bright?

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

November 23, 2011

We’ll the countdown to Black Friday is underway. I’ve made my shopping list and am ready to hit the stores and get my shopping done.

Unfortunately, I have lots of family members who fall into the “they have everything” category, so when it comes to making my gift list, I have to do a lot of leg work to find those unique, different and special items. Since I’ve already done the research, I pulled together a gift guide that just might help you complete or start your holiday gift list. I think you’ll love all the items I’ve found and I hope you’re inspired to shops the stores and the web come Friday!

ConfettiStyle’s 2011 Holiday Gift Guide

Butterfly Decoupage Trays–$8-$12 West Elm. So pretty and versatile. These trays would look great holding jewelry, candles or even a pretty soap in the bathroom.

Canvas Electronics Cases-$9-$24 West Elm. I am loving the yellow case for my iPad (with monogram…hint, hint)!

Luxe Faux Fur Throw–$79 Restoration Hardware. I have this throw in another skin variety and can’t live without it.

Vintage Hardware Necklace–$38 ConfettiStyleDesigns (Etsy Shop). What woman doesn’t love a stylish piece of jewelry…and one of a kind to boot!

Botanical Floral Pitcher–$29.99 Kohl’s Even though the flowers may say spring, I think this adorable pitcher would brighten your kitchen year round. And, a great price too!

My new favorite travel and carry-it-all tote, The Large Cool Kiwi Traveler Bag–$108 Liligrow.com. All the beautiful bags by Liligrow are handmade by owner and designer, Tamara…right here in the US of A! What a fabulous gift to give someone.

The Perfectly Imperfect Home book by Deborah Needleman, founding editor of Domino magazine. Full of awesome decorating advice, beautiful illustrations and design inspiration $19.80 Amazon.com.

Artisan Leather iPad 2 Case–$99 Restoration Hardware. This is one handsome case that any man would love.

Tiffany For Men Cologne–$95 Tiffany & Co. Even men like that get to that little blue box as a gift.

Stuff Every Man Should Know book–$9.95 Z Gallerie. This is a great book for a young teen or the older set. “Stuff” is filled with useful tips on classic guy stuff, etiquette, socializing, business, personal appearance and relationships.

Vintage Cloth Tape Measure–$49 Restoration Hardware. I remember my dad having one of these when I was growing up. It’s the perfect blend of man-tool and style!

Plush Robe–$69 Restoration Hardware. So cozy and warm, and I love the steel grey color. The guy you give this to is sure to love it.

Video Sunglasses with Memory Card–$99.50 Frontgate. He’ll never have to set his beer down to video those special family moments!

Voluspa Jar Candle–$26 Anthropologie. Voluspa is one of my all-time favorite candle lines. Their scents are magnificent and their containers are simply beautiful.

Hobnail Bowl–$49.99 Z Gallerie. What a beautiful gift to give someone for their home. I love the shape and the mercury glass is such a timeless finish.

Chalkboard Frame–$31-$59 Pottery Barn. What a stylish and functional gift to give. Add a family photo and your gift will be a big hit.

Address Embosser–$24 Neiman Marcus. Just the thing every home needs to send stylish correspondence and holiday cards.

Slate and Wood Boards–$24-$49 West Elm. I love these cheese/cutting boards. The slate piece is removable and can be used on its own, or you can turn the wood board over and use as a cutting board. Pretty Cool!

Silver Plated Breakfast Tray–$79 Pottery Barn. At least once a year, every member in the family should have breakfast served in bed….on a stylish tray!

Flatware Stockings–$19.95 Crate and Barrel. How adorable? These petite stockings will add cheer to any holiday table.

Soiree Appetizer Set–$19.99 Z Gallerie. Bite size desserts are all the rage right now and any party host or hostess would love this set. And, you can’t beat the price.

Red Wafer Soap Set–$19.95 Crate and Barrel. I love beautiful soaps and so will anyone that receives these. 16 bars in total and 4 fabulous scents.

Happy Tumbler–$1.95 Crate and Barrel. These cute little glasses just put a smile on my face. What a great way to spread a little “happy” around this holiday.

Set of 3 Pedestal Dessert Plates handcrafted by yours truly–$55 ConfettiStyleDesigns (Etsy shop). Add a box of chocolates or mini cupcakes and you’ll be the bit of the party.

Tear Off Luncheon Napkins–$28 Anthropologie. What a FAB idea. Love the colors and the polka dot. Give these and help the party hostess take casual party decor to the next level.

36 Hours: 150 Weekends In the US and Canada book–$39.99 Anthropologie. What a fantastic gift for the family that loves to travel and explore new places. I just might be giving this gift to the road warrior in my family.

Herringbone Throw–$47 West Elm. This menswear inspired throw is super soft and very stylish. Add a monogram with the families initial for a personal touch.

Vintage Scrabble Game–$199 Restoration Hardware. Family Game night just got better with this vintage board game. This beautifully crafted piece will be in the family for years to come.

White Snowflake Pretzels $21.95 Crate and Barrel. Food always makes a great gift, especially when it comes in a gorgeous book. Shoot, I’d buy it just for the box.

Lawn Bowling Set–$129 Pottery Barn. After all, who doesn’t need one of these?

Native Union Pop Phone $29 West Elm. A little old school technology to work with your modern day iPhone. Love it!

Petite Tape Dispenser–$10 Restoration Hardware. They may not need it, but it sure is super cute. (I bought one for myself.)

Heated Stadium Seat–$119.50 Frontgate. The ultimate gift for the ultimate sports fan.

Bone Petite Playing Card Set–$89 Ballard Designs. Just fabulous!

And, when it comes to Stocking Stuffers, check out my go to stores for great, inexpensive gifts…

Cracker Barrel–I love to put a piece of retro candy in my stockings and CB has a great selection. Plan to have breakfast at Cracker Barrel Friday morning and you’ll nail two birds with one stone!

Container Store–Something for everyone and great prices too!

Micheal’s $100 section (now a $1.50). You find all kinds of great gifts to fill those stocking. This is also a great place to pick up inexpensive teachers gifts.

Ok, you’ve got a great head start on your holiday gift list. Have fun shopping and don’t forget…no pushing!

Cheers~

Last Minute Pumpkin Decorating

October 27, 2011

Ok, I’m so behind the eight ball when it comes to decorating for Halloween. I decided last night that I need to create a few decorative pumpkins, so I went searching on the web for some quick pumpkin decorating ideas. And boy, did I find some fantastic looks that can be pulled together in no time flat.

Check them out?

This pumpkin is covered in M&M’s, but I might try spray painting thumb tacks to create the same look.

Love the sparkle and glitter of these pumpkins…a little spray paint and some wood letters and you’re done. This would even be cute on mini pumpkins.

Love the stylish feel of this pumpkin. A little paint or maybe orange electrical tape?

Considering the ribbon hoarder that I am, I have lots of ric rac lying around so creating these would be easy and cheap.

We made these glittered pumpkins and sold them in my store last year. They are super easy and so cute. I really like them displayed individually on glass or metal candleholders. P.S. the Martha Stewart glitter at Michael’s works great for this project.

I love all things monogrammed and these pumpkins are so chic and don’t need lots of carving.

I just might try these. Spray a base color on your pumpkins, add stickers and then spray the entire pumpkin in gold. Peel stickers off an you’ve got this look.

I’m so glad I found lots of ideas that are quick and easy. Now, I need to get decorating. Off to Hobby Lobby I go!

Are all your pumpkins decorated?

all images via pinterest

Atlanta Market Recap–Part 2

July 22, 2011

The Atlanta Home Gift and Home Furnishings market always has a great line-up of design talent speaking throughout the show. I always make it a point to attend and always come away learning a few new things.

One of the events I attended was entitled, What’s Your Style: New Media and Design. The panel discussion was moderated by Krissa Rossbund, the senior design and style editor for Traditional Home, and included design icon Stan Topol, design maven Tobi Fairley and the co-founder of Matchbook Magazine, Katie Armour.

The panel discussed a variety of topics, but much of the conversation centered around developing a successful design or retail business utilizing both traditional and modern forms of marketing and social media.

Be Professional, in what you say, how you act and how you run your business. Clients will trust us as designers it we run every aspect of our business in a professional way. And, always work with a contract.
Be Clear and Concise with clients. As designers, we are hired for our skill and ideas, and it is our responsibility to make sure that our clients clearly understand our vision so they can buy into it.
Don’t under-value your time or creativity. This hit home to me, as I sure it will with many designers. We often give away our ideas, time and talent when were in the moment, versus fully acknowledging our gift and charging for it.
Use your blog to showcase your work….it’s a great way to reach a wider audience and showcase your expertise.
Share your design experience with your blog readers and build a relationship with them.
Develop a source for original content–this will give your blog its unique personality.
Use twitter to strike up a conversation with others in the design industry. I wasn’t on the twitter band-wagon at first, but I now realize how value it can be to building your business and most importantly building friendships.

And, one last bit of wisdom shared by Mr. Topol that I took to heart was this…”Our payment is our creativity…when we compromise our creativity, we are cheating ourselves!”

It was great to chat with Tobi after the presentation and have this photo taken.

Another wonderful presentation I attended was with designer Vicente Wolf. He discussed his design philosophy and had a few words of advice:

Don’t over think the design process–follow your gut!
To create the most interesting and beautiful spaces, mix old and new elements.
Think of design like you do cooking..a pinch of this, a touch of that–combine elements to give the space its flavor.

I also attended a presentation by Kathryn M. Ireland, one of the talents on the hit Bravo show Million Dollar Decorators. Kathryn was so down to earth and such a pleasure to listen to. She shared stories of the show, her “insane” life as she calls it, and a few photos of her work.

Kathryn was signing copies of her new book, Summers in France, so I picked up a copy and had a photo taken with her.

And finally, I sat in on a presentation given by Marie Nygren, co-founder of Serenbe and Keith Robinson, owner of the event design firm Gloriosa Event Design. This dynamic duo gave tips and techniques for developing stylish party settings using eco-friendly products.

Marie and Keith

A beautiful floral arrangement with fresh herbs and plants added in.

A casual tablescape using items taken from inside the home.

Here are few party design ideas shared by Marie and Keith:

Monogram flat bed sheets and used them as a stylish tablecloth option
Incorporate vegetables from the garden into your centerpiece and tablescape–it’s an easy way to add color and texture
Cover plastic chairs with bed sheets, curtain panels or fabric remnants (as Keith did in the above photo)
Layer, Layer, Layer for interest and to create depth
Don’t be afraid to move furniture from the inside the house, out and use it as part of your decor
Candles are a must for any party occasion
Don’t be afraid to mix and match china or dinnerware–this can sometimes create the most beautiful table decor
Be unique and do something that will make your table decor stand out.

The Atlanta Market always brings in great talent during the show, so if you get the chance to attend, jump on it. The next major show takes place in January 2012.

I hope you enjoyed my insider view of market. Tomorrow I’ll be back with the final installment of my visit to market, focusing on some of the new design books coming out later this year.

Have a great weekend!

Classic Gift Ideas–My top 15 + one

July 6, 2011

Beyond the holiday season, summer is a major gift giving time for my family. There are always a number of wedding gifts that need to be purchased, as well as graduation gifts, summer party hostess gifts and birthday gifts.

When it comes to gift giving, I try to be creative and select a gift that is both practical and unique. And, I hardly ever give a gift listed on a gift registry, not because I’m insensitive to the recipients wants, but because I want my gift to be different and special.

Here’s are a few of my all-time classic gift ideas, perfect for just about any gift-giving occasion!

A great hostess gift or housewarming gift–Fleur De Lys Pitcher–Anthropologie $28. I’d fill it with fresh flowers it I were taking it as a hostess gift.
The perfect gift for a newly married couple. Chenille Throw–Restoration Hardware–$79
The Melamine Salad Servers from French Bull make a great bridal shower gift or hostess gift. And at $15 you can’t beat the price.
If you’re looking for a family gift or a gift for a man, this Personalized Acrylic Ice Bucket from Dabney Lee is the item. Available in lots of patterns and personalization options –$60.

An outdoor party gift calls for Melamine Platters from-French Bull. Platters are available in round or rectangular shape and come in many fun patterns. Prices range from $18 to $25.
I love giving (and getting) candles and one of my favorite to give is the Kula Candles from Anthropologie. I love the stylish tin containers and the $20 pricepoint.
I purchased a set of these notepads for myself years ago and have been a fan eve since. These Personalized Notepad Sets with Holder make a great wedding, graduation or new job gift. Pick yours up from Horchow for $32.

Who can’t use a great set of Glass Pillar Candleholders. These chunky ones are from Pottery Barn and will work with any decor style. Prices range from $19.50 to $39.50. They are also great with decorative ribbon added to them for the holiday season.
Personalized Address Labels are one of my go-to wedding gifts, and they are always a hit. Available from Neiman Marcus–$16 to $21.
If you’re looking for a unique graduation or anniversary gift, think about a clock. When I give a clock, I add a note about how the clock symbolizes the ” future” and “good times ahead”. Tabletop Clocks from Pottery Barn. Prices range from $29 to $59.
The perfect gift for a special girl friend is the book entitled The Gospel According to Coco Chanel. Full of life wisdom and style advice every girl can use. Anthropologie–$19.95.

Useful and stylish, these Monogrammed Leather Coasters from Saks Fifth Avenue are a great hostess, birthday or graduation gift. $48
Everyone knows I love a good inspirational quote, especially ones that can be use as part of your decor. This box quote sign from Primitives by Kathy is one of many available. Inspirational Saying Plaque $46.
When it comes to a gift for a more formal occasions, Monogrammed Linen Guest Towels are what I often choose. I love these from Pottery Barn. $19 for set of 2
Silver Plated Picture Frames are such a versatile gift, one they everyone can use and appreciate. Available from Pottery Barn, from $14 to $34.

Wine always makes a great gift for birthday parties, anniversary events, bridal showers and as a hostess gift. But when I’m looking to make the gift of wine even more special, I add a Personalized Wine Bottle Label.

Myownlabels.com can make a label for just about any occasion and with just about any message or image. And, the custom labels can be used on food gifts, beer or even a gift baskets. This is such a great way to make your gift unique and special.

So there’s my list of top gift items… I’d love to know if you have a go to gift that you can always count on!