Table for Two–Valentines 2012

February 7, 2012

I mentioned last week that the hubby and I have decided to make Valentines a quiet evening at home. We’re planning a special dinner so I created a pretty Valentines tablescape just for the occasion.

Since I don’t typically decorate for Valentines and don’t have much of anything in the way of Valentines decor, I decided to use elements I already had and see how I could dress things up with decorative scrapbook paper.

To create the centerpiece, I gathered together several glass vases and wrapped a band of Valentines themed paper around each one. I purposely used several different sizes and shapes of vases to give the entire centerpiece arrangement more dimension. Four of my vases hold flowers and the rest, including the small votive holders are all for candles.

My place settings were really simple to pull together. Red cloth napkins placed on the diagonal are used in place of traditional placemats. I placed additional napkins to the left and right to add more color to the table and to frame the vases. I placed a square white plate ($3.00 from HomeGoods) on top of the napkin and added a red and white floral plate on top. The floral plates were purchased from Target for $1.62 each (yeah SALE)!

The napkins are folded accordion style and wrapped in the center with a band of the decorative paper. A King and Queen playing card are used as placecards.

The view from above…

Close up of the flowers…

I used a mix of flowers, all red and white of course and especially love the fluffy white hydrangea stems and the red tulips. Most of these flowers should hold up until next Tuesday, but if not, I’ll add a few new stems to keep the table looking pretty.

I am so happy with the way my Valentines table turned out. Lots of fun patterns, beautiful flowers and the perfect setting to share the day of love with MY LOVE!

Do you have any special plans for Valentines?

Adore

February 1, 2012

Just wanted to check in and see if you’ve had a chance to read the latest issue of ADORE Magazine. It is absolutely my favorite ever and it filled to the brim with great design articles and some of the most beautiful images I’ve seen. Head here to check it out and take note of a few of my favorite articles (listed below).

* Store profile on Brisbane’s’ gorgeous store, St. Barts, on pg. 26. Yet another reason to visit Australia.

* A great article of Fabulous Workspaces on pg. 35–love all the cool office accessories they showcase.

* Profile on designer Myrica Bergqvist–pg. 71. My design idol list keeps growing.

* A tour through the beautiful Portuguese home of interior decorator and TV personality Ana Antunes–pg. 78. OMG, such a gorgeous home!!!

Drop everything and head over to ADORE right now and check it all out. It’s Fab!!

Right on TARGET!

January 26, 2012

It had been ages since I strolled through Target, so earlier this week I headed to my local store to check out what they had to offer. Target has always had some stylish home accents and good prices but their collection are getting better and better each season. The items that they have are always right on trend and are can really work in just about any style of decor.

Here are few things I fell for, all under $50 bucks.

I love this decorative finial and think it would look fabulous on a console table or as an accent with a bookshelf display. There’s another style that works with this one as well.

This white lattice top tray is just gorgeous. What a great addition to a vanity , guest bedroom or bar area.

Whenever I’m looking for decorative accent pillows, Target is one of my shopping destinations. I love this damask print all done up in chocolate-brown.

Target has a great sale going on now on their lamps and lamp shades so if you’re in the market check it out. I love this quatrefoil pattern shade and at only $19.99 it is a great deal.

p.s. I picked up an off-white rectangular shade for only $7.00 that is going on my Longest Yard Sale crystal lamp which I snagged for .50 cents last August. I’m adding a little something, something to the shade and will be sure to share when I’m all done.

Isn’t this Owl Lamp too cute for words. I keep looking around my place to see If I can find a spot for it. I’m sorta obsessed with Owls lately!

Target has a lot of new furniture pieces as part of their designer Target collections, including several decorative stools similar to this one. I love the french inspiration for this piece and think it would be a great little accent piece under a console table or next to a chair.

Ok, hold on to your boot straps. This gorgeous mirror is only $24.00. How great would this be as part of a gallery wall? Or hanging by itself for that matter.

And last but not least, this red lantern is such a great accessory that could be used in so many different way. How about as part of your Valentines decor? It’s available in red or white and comes in two sizes. The small shown here is $14.99.

Well, that’s just a few of the latest and greatest that Target has to offer. Items sell quickly so if you’re looking for new accessories for your home make a bee-line to your local Target! I know you’ll find something great!

Click on the links below for more info on each item!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Words to Inspire

January 24, 2012

When something is irresistible, you should buy it. Pictures, objects, and furnishings that speak to you tend to speak to each other, creating improbably wonderful harmonies.

– Mary McDonald, Mary McDonald Interiors: The Allure of Style

images via pinterest

Food & Friends

January 23, 2012

Happy Monday. I wanted to pop in again and share a great evening I spent last week with friends.

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of having dinner with some dear friends at one of Atlanta’s newest restaurants, Southern Art and Bourbon Bar, and boy was it an incredible experience.

Southern Art is located in the InterContinental Hotel and is the latest restaurant from renowned chef Art Smith. If you know anything about Art Smith, you know that he is an incredible chef with a flair for Southern inspired foods. His cooking credentials have earned him personal chef roles for Martha and Oprah and are showcased in his 4 restaurants around the country: Art & Soul in Wash. DC, Table Fifty-Two in Chicago, LYFE Kitchen in Palo Alto and Southern Art here in Atlanta.

I was so excited for the evening and it didn’t disappoint.

First let me tell you about the decor at the restaurant and then we’ll move on to the yummy food.

The decor at Southern Art is simply stunning. Very comfortable but full of high style. One of the features I loved the most were the blown glass chandeliers and artwork ceiling. Each of the chandeliers are adorned with colorful glass spheres and pendants and are flanked by commissioned pieces of artwork which are suspended face-down for the ceiling. The ceiling is so colorful and Looking up was really magical!

There were several styles of seating in the restaurant, but my favorite were these chairs. A silver-grey leather was used on the interior of the chair and a beautiful orange and grey flocked damask was on the exterior.

The wallpaper used throughout the restaurant mimicked the chair fabric with an added pop of yellow. So beautiful.

One of the most unique details of the restaurant was under foot. In the areas where carpet was used, the carpeting showcased one of Art’s recipes woven into the rug.

Here’s a look at one of the private areas within the restaurant. What a great way to spend an evening with friends.

And, here is a look at the main dining area. See the heart artwork on the left? Well, it is said that Art’s partner, a very accomplished artist, painted those on the fly when it was determined that artwork was needed for that wall. Let me tell you, they really gorgeous.

Also notice the open back balloon chairs and banquette below. The balloon chair was another chair style used in the restaurant, upholstered in a vibrant red fabric.

One of the truly custom features of Southern Art is the meat carving station. The station sits at the front of the restaurant and houses a great selection of dried meats carved on site.

Next to the meat station was the dessert bar. Each of the desserts available on the menu is showcased under beautiful glass domes.

The dessert menu is fairly extensive, so if you’re looking for a place to end an evening with dessert and coffee, this is it.

Mockingbird Cake and Banana Pudding Pie above and Chocolate Cake below (a work of art)

Cake Pops

Peanut Butter Pie

And a peek at the dessert menu.

In looking at the main menu you can see that it is a personal reflection of all the food Art Smith loves… southern inspired dishes. As a starter for the table, we were treated with Rosemary Cheddar biscuits and a mini dish of sautéed veggies. Then it was on to the main course.

My friend Shannan had the Southern Fried Chicken which was served in a stylish ceramic “bucket”.

I had the braised short ribs which were melt in your mouth yummy!

And, my friend Robyne had the New York Strip and Chris has the Catfish. We also shared a special treat at the table…Arts Mac-N-Cheese. To-die-for!

Dinner was really good, but we did save a little room for those desserts. Here’s a peek at what we shared at the table.

That Chocolate Cake with a huge chocolate fan on top. If you love chocolate it doesn’t get better than this.

Apple Pie–loaded with crisp, crunchy apples and the perfect blend of spices.

Peach Cobbler. This is what I ordered and oh my gosh was it good.

And the 12 layer Red Velvet Cake. And, if you’re wondering, each of those wafer thin layers is cut by hand, by the pastry chef.

All is all, the dinner at Southern Art was incredible. I had so much fun spending the evening with great friends, taking in all the beautiful decor and eating some of the best food Atlanta has to offer.

After dinner, I snapped a few photos of the hotel lobby. The InterContinental just changed out all the furnishing and I loved the color and details used in the space.

This balloon chair is gorgeous and the nail head detail is stunning.

The area rugs are a mix of grey, cream orange and gold.

The nail head trim is repeated on the oversized ottomans used throughout the lobby.

I hope you enjoyed the little recap of my night out with friends. If you live in Atlanta or are planning a trip here, make sure to stop by the InterContinental Hotel and enjoy a wonderful meal at Southern Art.

Southern Art and Bourbon Bar

3315 Peachtree Road NE in Atlanta, Ga 30326

404-946-9070

images via Southern Art and ConfettiStyle

Room Of The Week: Perfect Pops of Color

January 20, 2012

An all white room brought to life with the perfect pops of color!

When I look at this room, I see the different finishes used on the ceiling (high gloss) and walls (flat) and how that slight variation makes the architectural details stand out. I love the lighter finished floors and how that same wood tone is repeated as an accent in the area rug, tray and green pillow, giving it more impact. The mix of materials (tables, ottoman, lamp) fill this space with personality. And, there’s no better way to add interest to neutral furniture than to add colorful and artistic pillows.

I’d call this a refined space full of fun!

Ilovevintagestuff.tumblr.com via ConfettiStyle on Pinterest

The Anatomy of Coffee Table Decor

January 18, 2012

If there was a reference manual listing the top 10 decorating challenges homeowners face, decorating coffee tables would be on the list along with decorating bookcases, selecting area rugs, choosing a paint color and space planning. I’ve talked about it before, but with the new year upon us and many of us making changes to our decor, I thought it would be a good time to revisit the ins and outs of coffee table decor.

Why is decorating your coffee table such a hard task? Maybe it’s because beyond looking good, the coffee table has to work for other uses as well. Or, maybe it’s because the coffee table is below our natural sight line and our perspective is thrown off when selecting accessories. Or, maybe it’s because finding the balance between too much stuff

and too little stuff is a real road block.

What ever the obstacles might be when it comes to decorating a coffee table, there are a few rules of thumb I follow that help me to pull together the right look every time.

Keep proportion in mind

Not only do the items on the table need to relate to each other in size and scale, but they also need to relate to what is happening in the rest of the room.

The large flower arrangement is balanced by the tall silver candlesticks. And, all the items on the coffee table as a collection, create a mass that balances the size of the table and the large wall art. Nothing feels too big and nothing feels too small.

When you have an oversized coffee table, it’s always best to use one or two larger decorative elements for balance. The blue urn is the perfect centerpiece to balance all the other pieces in the room.

Remember, when creating balance and proportion a group of items can work just as effectively as a single item. The grouping of glass jars creates balance on the left against the oversized floor lamp on the right.

Create a Wave

It’s never good to have items that are all the same height on your coffee table. The arrangement will feel static. Instead create a wave from left to right or front to back using items of varying heights.

Low boxes flow into the taller vase which flows down to the rattan ball and then over the bowl on the books. Visually the arrangement has interest and keeps the eye moving.

Varying heights left to right and front to back.

Consider the view from angels

Because coffee tables are viewed from all corners of a room, make sure there is something nice to look at on all sides.

Variety is key

What really brings coffee table decor to life are the items you use to decorate. Keep your decor interesting and give it some personality by using a variety of items.

The simple addition of gold bracelets adds personality to this coffee table decor.

A variety of boxes in different finishes and patterns keep this table lively.

Add color

Whether through flowers or pottery, a pop of color can serve as the focal point of your coffee table decor.

Make it personal with books

Books are the easiest way to personalize your coffee table decor. Decorate with books that showcase your love for design, fashion, art etc. and let them tell the story of your life.

Leave a little breathing room

I think a coffee table feels more inviting if there is space open to place other things on it like a drink, food or even a game. Don’t fill every inch of the surface…allow space for everyday activities.

Trays can do wonders

Think of decorative trays as a frame that surrounds and shows off the decor your place on your coffee table. Trays can tie together unrelated objects and provide structure and impact.

When ottomans are used in place of a coffee table, a tray is always a good idea. The books, magazines and flower vase on this ottoman would have much more impact and presence if it all sat on a decorative tray.

For an eclectic style, I love the idea of multiple trays!

Love this black tray on this black ottoman. The tray adds interest without taking away from the beauty of the ottoman.

And here are a few other design principles I like to keep in mind when decorating coffee tables…

I never use picture frames on coffee tables because it’s not pretty from all sides

I almost always place a candle on the coffee table and always in a beautiful container

Flowers and something shiny are my go-to elements for color and pop

I tend to always leave the book jackets on the books when I decorate coffee tables…it adds more visual interest

A decorative box is a necessity to hold remotes, matches and coasters

I always include a round object on a square coffee table and a square object on a round coffee table to create contrast

So you see, decorating coffee tables does not have to be that challenging. Use what you love, make an impact and above all it must feel good to you.

Happy Decorating!

If you’d like help creating a home you absolutely love, CONTACT ME about my design services!

all images via pinterest

That Chair!

January 17, 2012

If you’ve read my post here and here it’s obvious that I can’t get chairs off my mind. Chairs that make a statement, add a fun element to a room and just make you happy when you look at them.