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My Little Lilac Tree
After completing my home office a couple of months ago, I was thrilled to have found the perfect Christmas tree to grace my new space.
I found my 3 ft., pre-lit lilac tree at Michael’s. It now sits on my work table and fits perfectly in the corner right next to the window.
I wanted my tree’s adornment to be simple, but at the same time I wanted a little bling. My happy medium? Clear glass ornaments, including round ‘bubbles’ and oval-shaped baubles in hues of pink, purple, amber and green…
…and glittery gold ‘word’ ornaments {that spell Noel, Peace, Joy and Hope}, shimmery gold and silver snowflakes, sparkly purple feathers, and a shining gold star on top.
With so many sizes of Christmas trees available these days, it really is easy to find one that fits into smaller spaces.
With so many colors to choose from, why go traditional pine green? Pick a tree that reinforces your space’s color palette. This year, you’ll find blue, pink, purple, orange, white, black and red trees. Check out treetopia.com for options and ideas. Celebrate the season with color!
Colors of Classic Gifts
{I originally posted this story last December, and thought it would make a fun read again this year. Enjoy!}
There are just some gifts that will forever be synonymous with Christmas.
A few of these items are “the gifts we love to hate,” while for some of us in the DC area, they are “the gifts we used to buy from People’s Drug Store when we were kids.” Still, others are the gifts that make us wonder, “who still buys these things?” Whatever we think, all of these items still manage to re-appear every holiday season. Since I always say that color inspiration can come from anywhere, I thought it would be fun to create palettes using these cooky but classic gifts of Christmases past. All colors are from Sherwin Williams.
The Chia Pet (drugstore.com) has really evolved over the years. Originally available as one pet, you can now buy a Chia elephant (above), kitten, bunny, frog, turtle and even a Chia Shrek.
Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia palette: Gecko, Domino and Smokey Topaz
Old Spice is still a favorite of World War II Veterans everywhere.
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- Grandpa’s Signature Scent palette: Real Red and Commodore
The Lifesavers Book was one of those inexpensive gifts you could get from the drugstore. Below is a vintage ad from 1951 (atomicmall.com), and a picture of what this gift looks like today, available from drugstore.com.
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- Lifesavers Latest Edition palette: Forward Fucshia, Festival Green and Confident Yellow
I personally think that the Soap on a Rope (caswellmassey.com) is a great invention. Let’s face it: A bar of soap is slippery. Every kind of soap should have a rope, not just ‘gift’ soap.
Don't Drop The Soap palette: Indigo, Cosmos and Icelandic
Finally, the holiday season wouldn’t be the same without fruit cake. OK, go ahead and laugh but some people like fruit cake. My husband’s grandmother used to make fruit cake every Christmas {I just never saw anyone eating it}.
No Thanks I'm Full palette: Sociable, Black Bean and Grenadine
Holiday Glam
Straight from the pages of Elle Decor’s December issue:
…a bold and glamorous Manhattan apartment designed by Miles Redd. With vibrant bursts of red, blue, black and white, this home is not only holiday-ready, but it is energizing and exciting all year long. Not a bad deal for the homeowners who have young children and love color.
Drama + Details: Visual interest abounds in this apartment thanks to elements such as glossy lacquer paint, the use of nail heads {check out the red door, above}, black + white flooring, and custom window treatments.
The homeowner, who is an active environmentalist, keeps holiday decorations simple and natural.
{A festive home for the holidays…and all year round!}
photos from Elle Decor
Girls Holiday Hues
Just a little more Holiday fun today. Today, over at Design Dazzle, you’ll see an inspiration board that I’ve created especially for girls…
I’ve included colorful party invitations and pretty cool items for decorating.
While you’re over at Design Dazzle, be sure to read about their 1st Blog Birthday Celebration happening all next week. Toni, the blog’s publisher, is giving away some fab prizes! InStyle magazine has also just named Toni’s blog among their “Best of the Web” for kid’s blogs/inspiration. She’s done a fantastic job showcasing spaces, parties and crafts for kids and teens, so have fun browsing through her site!
Plenty Of Holiday Pink
The holiday season is almost here and many people are asking what colors will be hot this year. Aside from the traditional hues of red, white, silver, gold and green, we’re seeing more contemporary hues such as blues, purples and plenty of pinks.
From soft, feathery pinks to vivid vivacious ones, pink is back for the holidays.
Have fun mixing and matching different shades of pink ornaments and flowers such as tulips, gerbera daisies and poinsettias.
As you can see, poinsettias are available in a variety of pinks. These plants always look best in groups or rows of at least three. For a real festive, dramatic look, mix in a few red ones. For a cooler palette, mix pinks with white or silver. Either way, adding pink to your decor is a great {and pretty} way to add unexpected style to your home as you celebrate the season.
Blue: A Hot Hue For Christmas 2009
By all indications, blue will be a hot color for Christmas 2009. We’ve seen blues the past couple of years for the holiday season. Colors such as navy, aqua, silver blue and baby blue will remain popular choices this year, as well. Good news for you blue lovers — and for those people {including me} who bought a bunch of blue Christmas decorations last year!
top photo from Christmas World
Christmas In Blue
By now your holiday decorating should be complete. But just in case you’re one of those Christmas Eve decorators, here are few more inspiration photos from the Porter House — more blue and less red. Because if you’ve waited this late to get your decorations, blue may be the only color of mini-lights you’re going to find left at Wal-Mart.
Holiday Inspiration From The Porter House
Where’s The White Stuff?
Each holiday season I decorate my home and yard with snow in mind. Pine green wreaths with red bows sprinkled with snow on top. Rustic benches and outdoor wooden chairs covered with a fresh coat of the white stuff…these are a few of my favorite things. Unfortunately, here in the Washington, DC area we have yet to see any significant snowfall, so I’ve been a little bummed. But then I simply remembered these pictures that I took last December when we had about 4 inches of snow….and then I don’t feel so bad!
That Kennedy Center Red
The Kennedy Center has been in the news lately. First, with the announcement that it will be the venue for The Oprah Winfrey Show during Inauguration Week. Then, just this past weekend The Kennedy Center Honors paid tribute to Barbra Streisand, Morgan Freeman and others (shown at top).
This time of year brings back my own memories. When I was a child, my father would take me to The Kennedy Center to see The Nutcracker. It’s been a few years since I’ve last been there, but one thing about The Kennedy Center has always stood out to me — that distinctive red. Red carpeting, red seats and red opera house decor, all accented with white and gold. There’s also a colorful surprise in the Hall of Nations (below) where the flags of several countries hang from the ceiling.
A trip to The Kennedy Center is always inspiring. Here are some ideas for bringing the look into your space:
In this entryway (bhg.com) light blue is paired with red, just like some of the flags hanging in the Hall of Nations at The Kennedy Center.
In my red study, I have a white Christmas tree adorned with gold and white ornaments. If you like this idea, go ahead and copy it!
Boxes wrapped in red, gold and white (pointclickhome.com) will add a festive touch to your home this season.
The Kennedy Center has gorgeous gold and crystal chandeliers given as gifts from Austria and Norway. This lovely Mardella chandelier from the James R. Moder collection (lampsplus.com) is sure to add sparkle, elegance and maybe even a little envy to your dining room.
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