Holiday Gift Guide | Books I Love

December 4, 2018

Have you made a dent with your Christmas gift list? I’ve scratched a few things off mine and hope to get the rest of my shopping done next week.

Today I’m sharing another gift guide with you. This one is a round-up of some of my top book picks of the year. From entertaining and decor, to an inspiring memoir, all to these books will make a great gifts.

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THE GIFT OF READING…

Becoming by Michelle Obama–The minute I heard the Michele Obama was releasing a book, I put it on my Christmas list. I loved following her during her time as First Lady and admire the woman she is. I’m looking forward to learning more about Michelle’s life and the things that inspire her. This is a great gift for women of all ages.

Small Space Style by Whitney Leigh Morris–Have you ever thought about living in a tiny house or even downsizing your home? This book shares her tips and ideas for living stylishly in under 400 sq feet. And even is your house isn’t that small, there are lots of tips that anyone can use to create a stylish home.

Suzanne Kasler: Sophisticated Simplicity–Suzanne Kasler is one of my favorite designers and her books are always inspiring. As the title says, the pages of her newest book is filled with sophisticated simplicity. Beautiful interiors, inspiring vignettes and design tips that will help you create the home of your dreams.

Dream Design Live by Paloma Contreras–I ordered this book earlier this year and have spent countless hours flipping through the pages. Paloma has put some of her best design work on display and walks us through her process of design beautiful spaces. A must for anyone with a career or passion for design and decor.

The Book To Read Is Not One That Thinks For You But The One Which Makes You Think! Harper Lee

Nina Campbell Interior Decoration: Elegance and Ease–I’ve been a fan of Nina Campbell for years and own several of her books. This book is beautifully designed with stunning images of Campbell’s work over the years. A treasure trove of inspiration for anyone that loves classic, traditional decor with unexpected design details.

Savor: Entertaining with Charcuterie, Cheese Spreads & More–Since cooking is really not my thing, I’m drawn to cookbooks that make entertaining easy. Page after page of easy recipes and Charcuterie spreads that you’ll want to re-create for your next party.

Veranda Escapes–Another gorgeous book by former Veranda editor, Clinton Smith. Filled with beautiful images of gardens, pools and outdoor spaces, this book will inspire your personal outdoor oasis.

The Book Of Flowers–The cover of this book is what initially captivated me and after flipping through a few pages I was all in. Every page features illustrated watercolor images that are worthy of framing and displaying in your home.

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As we countdown to Christmas, I have a few more gift guides to share with you so stay tuned. To view my other gift guides, click the banners below…

**This post may contain affiliate links, which means I might make a small commission at no extra cost to you

New On The Bookshelf–Design & Entertaing Books

April 3, 2018

I’m seriously on my way to opening up my own library of design books. Just when I think I won’t add one more book to my collection, a whole slew of amazing books hits the market. Here are the new additions to the bookshelf (and floor, and under the table and next to the chair 🙂

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NEW DESIGN & ENTERTAINING BOOKS

If you’re a fan of House Beautiful magazine then you’re going to love this book. House Beautiful Tablescapes is a must if you love to entertain. This book is filled with gorgeous table settings and loads of styling tips for every entertaining occasion.

Need more entertaining inspiration? Charlotte Moss is an amazing designer and can also style a gorgeous table too! Charlotte Moss Entertains will inspire you with entertaining ideas and tablescapes for every season.

For all you design lovers, the Veranda Decorating book is one you want to check out. The book is designed as an A to Z guide on decorating with page after page of beautiful images.

Even though country or farmhouse are not my design style, I still find loads of design ideas and inspiration from Country Living magazine. Their newest book, Country Living Mini Makeovers is filled with loads of quick and easy design ideas to help you transform and refresh your decor.

The cover of Barefoot Luxury: Mexican Resort Living is what made me take a second look at this book. Even if you don’t live resort style you’ll find inspiration for decorating your home with a chic coastal vibe.

I really want to up my floral arranging game and Color Me Floral is the book to help me do just that. I love that this book shows you step-by-step how to create beautiful arrangements with single color flowers.

Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links which I have used to make shopping easy for you. I may earn a small commission through these links at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting ConfettiStyle to keep great content coming!

Holiday Gift Guide | Books To Inspire

December 5, 2017

The countdown to Christmas continues! I’m back with another gift guide and it’s one of my favorites. I’m sharing a few of my favorite books. Books that have brought me joy inspired me and taught me a thing or two this year.

♦ BOOKS TO INSPIRE ♦

“A party without cake is just a meeting.” –Julia Child

Pizzazzerie–Entertain In Style–Courtney provides how-to instructions for more than a dozen occasions, each complemented with full tablescape details; decor tips; and recipes for each party.

In Style Parties–This book has been completely revised and updated since its original publication. Page after page, you’ll find expert advice for hosting any type of party. This is a great resource book to own if you love to throw parties and entertain family and friends.

Veranda Entertaining–It’s the ultimate inspirational guide to throwing a sophisticated and stylish soirée. You’ll find ideas for choosing a centerpiece and selecting the right appetizers and cocktails to make your event stand out.

The Art of the Bar Cart–The Art of the Bar Cart features 20 different styled bar setups themed around favorite libations, personal style, or upcoming occasions.

“A home is much more than a mere shelter, it should lift us up emotionally & spiritually.” –John Saladino

William Yeoward–Blue and White and other Stories–William Yeoward reveals his passion for color, his inspirations and the ‘stories’ behind his unique use of color on a journey through a dazzling array of beautiful homes.

An Eye For Beauty–This fabulous design book is written by one of my design idols, Beth Webb. Webb explores the fundamentals of creating a home in which every element enhances our ability to live well.

Style Secrets–House Beautiful Style Essentials: What Every Room Needs is an inspiring and hardworking handbook that will show you how to create the rooms of their dreams by revealing what “every room needs.

The House That Pinterest Built–When Diane Keaton decided that she wanted to build her own home from the ground up, she took to the boards of Pinterest to find inspiration. This book is a compelling account of Keaton’s journey in building her home, from idea to realization.

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” –Steve Jobs

The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion–The Crossroads of Should and Must has a universal message—we get to choose the path between Should and Must. It’s about the difference between jobs, careers, and callings. The difference between going to work and becoming one with your work.

Girl Code: Unlocking the Secrets to Success, Sanity & Happiness—GIRL CODE is a roadmap for female entrepreneurs, professional women, and anyone in between who wants to become a better woman.

In The Company of Women–Over 100 exceptional and influential women describe how they embraced their creative spirit, overcame adversity, and sparked a global movement of entrepreneurship. The profiles paint a beautiful picture of what happens when we pursue our passions and dreams.

The Wisdom of Sundays by Oprah Winfrey–Organized into ten chapters―each one representing a powerful step in Oprah’s own spiritual journey and introduced with an intimate, personal essay by Oprah herself―the Wisdom of Sundays features selections from the most meaningful conversations between Oprah and some of today’s most-admired thought-leaders.

Favorites Of The Week { A Little Of This & That}

September 2, 2017

Hi friends. I hope everyone had a great weekend and have fun plans for the long weekend ahead. Crazy is the only word I can use to describe the last two weeks of my life. I was ‘crazy busy’ packing for the move to our new house. And once we got all the boxes and furniture moved in there was craziness with new flooring being installed. And add in a little ‘kitchen crazy’ since we haven’t been able to use the dishwasher in two weeks and having to cancel our order with Lowes. #servicefail And did I mention the hubby had to re-wire the dyer with a new electrical cord.

Things are finally settling down and good things are happening. We purchased a new dishwasher from Home Depot and had an awesome buying experience. It’s being delivered today and I can’t wait. We’ve unpacked some of our boxes and are finally getting settled into the kitchen and bedroom. And the best news of all…we are heading to the Caribbean tomorrow for a little rest, relaxation & rejuvenation.

Even though I skipped out on blogging last week, I’ve been working hard to get back on schedule and have a line-up of new blog post to share with you next week. Until then, enjoy a few favorites from the week and the long weekend ahead.

Favorites: Design & Style…

Great advice for decorating at any age.

I shared this gorgeous tablescape on Instagram and immediately went on the hunt for black plates. H and M has these black plates which are a great price.

I loved taking a look inside Erin Gates’ design studio.

15 ways to layout your living room. If you study these images you’ll find lots of design inspiration.

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Favorites: Shopping list…

There are lots of great new design, entertaining and style books coming out this fall. I’m looking forward to this fun book all about styling your bar cart. {affiliate link}

Have you noticed that Amazon is really stepping it up when it comes to their clothing selections? I’ve seen lots of bloggers posting about items they’ve purchased. I spotted this cute ruffle sleeve sweater and I’m considering it. I can’t believe it’s less than $25! {affiliate link}

I’m still searching for the perfect bar cart. This one might be a good option.

Favorites: Pins

This table setting image led me to my new favorite Instagram site, The Chinoiserie Collective. So many gorgeous images.

I love the color palette and design details in this kitchen.

Pattern mixing perfection! I never thought of mixing different chinoiserie patterns until now.

via One Kings Lane

In Other News…

Voting ends Sept. 15th for the Interior Blog Awards. If you haven’t voted yet, I’d love for you to cast your vote for ConfettiStyle here. #IBA17

On The Bookshelf: New Design & Entertaining Books

August 1, 2017

One of the things I love to do during the Atlanta Gift & Home Furnishings Market is to shop for new design, entertaining and coffee table books. It gives me an opportunity to preview the books before they are released and available in stores or online.

I’ve always loved books (a by-product of a mom who was an English teacher) and have amassed quite a collection over the years. These days most of my book purchases are design and entertaining books so that’s what I look for at market. And boy was I excited to see so many fabulous books scheduled for release in the fall and winter.

Here’s a round-up of what I have on order. And to make ordering easy for you, I’ve included links (affiliate links) to all of the titles so you can pre-order your copies today.

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Inspiration Notebook | May 2017

May 4, 2017

You might have noticed that I didn’t share my inspiration notebook with you last month. Last month was a blur and I just didn’t have time to pull it together. Things are still crazy busy but I did manage to log an insert in my inspiration notebook this month. I enjoy taking the time to pull these pages together and recognize the things around me that provide inspiration.

When I looked at the calendar the other day, I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that it is May. We’re almost half way through the year and I’m already exhausted just thinking about everything thing I want to accomplish before the year ends. While I can’t control the future, I can enjoy today so the pages in my notebook for May are filled with things I’m enjoying on a daily basis. Here’s a look at what’s inspiring me in work, home and my personal life. Enjoy!

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DESIGNING: I’m hoping that a new design client I’m working with will love this Gabby Clay Chandelier as much as I do. It’s the inspiration for the entire dining room.

READING: I couldn’t wait to find dive into this gorgeous entertaining book, Veranda Entertaining. It was everything I expected and more–beautiful images, inspiring ideas and drool worthy tablescapes. One of my top 10 design books ever!

RELAXING: I haven’t been sleeping well lately so I’m trying to make sure I spend time winding down at the end of the day. The Nest Blue Garden Candle is my go-to spring candle scent that helps me to relax and unwind.

INSPIRED BY: I’ve been seeing lots of floral arrangements in old wood boxes popping up on Pinterest. I love the look for a spring and summer tablescape.

LISTENING: Most days when I’m at my desk working I have jazz music or a podcast playing. The Clever Podcasts are a favorite and every episode has great takeaways for career and life.

CRAFTING: I love crafting and recently I’ve been drawn back to jewelry making in my spare time. One of my new sources for unique chain/hardware is my local lighting store for chandelier chain.

SHOPPING: We’ve got a cruise planned for early September and I’ve already started shopping for a dress to wear on formal night. I’m channeling my inner Carolina Herrera and thinking of pairing a crisp white shirt with this Red Floral Ball Skirt or this Black Floral Ball Skirt. Which would you choose??

LOVING: Just when I thought BaubleBar had it all they come out with these super cute Caicos Pom Pom Earrings.

CRAVING: Now that fruit season is here, I’m loving my morning meal–yogurt and fruit parfait. My ingredients include plain vanilla yogurt, granola, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. Yum!

MAY INSPIRATION NOTEBOOK | 2017

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Product + Inspiration: Frame-able Botanical Art

February 21, 2017

Framed botanical prints are one of my favorite wall decor statements, especially when hung in a grouping of 6 or more. A larger grouping can be beautiful on a living room, dining room or foyer wall.

via Living Etc.

Building a collection of framed art pieces can get costly unless you use a designer trick and clip your images from an art book.

Oversized coffee tables books are a great resources for inexpensive artwork and there are even books on the market designed specifically with framing in mind.

Here’s a round-up of my favorite books with frame-able botanical art and some design inspiration to inspire you.

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PRODUCT + INSPIRATION:

FRAME-ABLE BOTANICAL ART BOOKS

Frame-able Botanical Prints by Carol Mennig contains 92 original and frame-able botanical art images inspired by artist from the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. The images measure 8″ x 10″ and have a more organic in feel to them. With over 90 images, this book is a great value at $18.95.

source

I just ordered the Instant Wall Art–Botanical Prints book for myself after seeing the images used in a stationary project. The book contains 45 frame-able prints most of which feature vibrant colors and intricate detail. And this book is only $14.59!

Dimples & Tangles

Botanical art on a black background are hard to find. The Art of Instruction: Vintage Educational Charts ($23.28) book contains over 100 vintage botanical and zoological images that would make a dynamic wall statement.

room image source

At over 600 pages and only $19.99, A Garden Eden: Masterpieces of Botanical Illustration contains numerous botanical images from the National Library of Vienna. The illustrations range from flowers to fruits to leaves.

room image source

Basilius Besler’s Florilegium: The Book of Plants ($19.99) was first published in 1631 and is a pictorial document of the flowers grown in one of the great German gardens. The illustrations are organized according to the four seasons which could be a fun way to showcase images seasonally, as part of your decor.

source

Cactus designs have been a hot trend over the past two years and the book, Vintage Botanical Prints: Cactus contains 25 frame-able images from the early 20th century. This book was published last December and sells for $13.99.

Emily A. Clark

The book, Botanicals: Butterflies and Insects is the most expensive art book I found but boy oh boy is it a beauty! $55.10

Including more than three centuries of drawings, each page explodes with rich colors and lifelike details. The images include exquisite flowers, delicate fruits, and exuberant butterfly images. Tracy from Right Up My Alley used the images in the book to create a beautiful art grouping over her piano.

Right Up My Alley

Spring is a great time to freshen up your wall decor and inexpensive art books will give you get a lot of bang for your buck.

TIPS FOR CREATING A DYNAMIC BOTANICAL ART WALL

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♦ Use a single frame style and color to create visual consistency within the art arrangement

♦ Use a frame with simple details so the frame doesn’t compete with the images

♦ If you’re using a mat with your frames, a simple white mat will look best with most botanical images.

♦ In most cases, you want to hang your images no wider than 3 inches apart on all sides. The smaller the images, the closer the frames. The larger the images, the wider the spacing.

Happy shopping & happy decorating!

*Affiliate links used for your shopping convenience. I may earn a small commission through these links at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting ConfettiStyle to keep great content coming!

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide (aka–things I would want)

December 12, 2016

Happy day friends!

I’m just dropping in to share one last holiday gift guide with you. It’s my Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide and it is near and dear to my heart. All of the items on the list are chic, stylish and something I’d personally love for Santa to deliver to my door.

Have you been looking for a gift for that special someone and haven’t found it yet? This gift guide is here to help.

Happy shopping!

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The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

♦ I love everything that Lollia makes including this Lollia Poetic License Diffuser ($48). Scent diffusers are a great way to add fragrance to a home without burning candles. I especially love to use diffusers in a bathroom or tuck one away in a guest bedroom.

♦ This Gilded Monogram DOF Glass ($18) is a good gift for someone (like me) that loves to entertain. One, two or four make a great hostess gift or family gift. If you’re celebrating the holidays at a New Year’s Eve party, a set glasses would be ideal to ring in the new year.

♦ A pretty necklace can make an outfit. The Silver Links Statement Necklace ($29.99) is a gift that will be enjoyed long after the holidays are over.

♦ Emerald Green is one of my favorite colors and you can’t beat the price on this Green Pashmina Style Shawl ($5.99)! It’s the perfect layering piece over a sweater or under a coat. One for them, one for me.√

The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide by ConfettiStyle

The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

♦ You’ll wow anyone with a gift of these Silver Mercury Glass Hurricane Candleholder ($11.89-$19.59). They will look stunning grouped in the center of a table or next to the hearth. And I’d also use them as vases by dropping a clear glass jar inside to hold flowers. Check your local Cost Plus because these are selling out quickly online.

♦ Pretty {and functional) gloves are hard to come by but this pair of Echo Touch Zip Boucle’ Tech Gloves ($39) checks both boxes. You can operate a cell phone with ease and stay warm while doing it.

♦ This L’Objet Malachite Tray ($120) is the most expensive gift in the gift guide but it is a beauty. Envision this sitting on a side table, night stand or vanity holding pretty perfume bottles.

♦ If you’ve never read any of Steve Harvey’s books, I recommend you do. His books are filled with solid wisdom, advice and lots of laughs too. I can’t wait to read his newest book, Jump: Take the Leap Of Faith to Achieve Your Life of Abundance ($18.04).

♦ A girl can never have too many handbags. The Crossbody Bag with Metallic Straps ($39.90) is a great bag for weekend shopping or traveling when you need hands free.

♦ I’m always stuffing my electronic cords in a zippered pouch but they never stay organized. The idea of something to keep everything neat and tidy is so appealing. I love this Leather Charger Roll Up ($49) because its compact and comes in fun colors.

♦ Personalized stationery just might be one of best gifts you can give someone. This 7 Tablet Notepad Set with Holder ($41) is a great price and personalization is available in array of colors.