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Red Winter Centerpiece
I hope you had a very Merry Christmas! My holiday guests were greeted with this winter centerpiece that I designed using roses, carnations and sprigs of holly from my yard. The ceramic vase was made in Italy, and it belonged to my husband’s grandmother.
By using such hardy flowers and greenery, this arrangement will last through New Year’s Day.
Red is a wonderful {and very romantic} color choice for winter floral displays. This type of centerpiece is perfect for winter parties, weddings and Valentine’s Day.
You can usually find red roses and carnations in the grocery store, and if you don’t have access to a holly shrub, any type of evergreen will do. Have a Safe and Happy New Year!
Red Hot Ideas
Look what I found at Marshall’s:
Marshall’s is definitely one of those places where you need patience to rummage through stuff, but every once in a while I find something perfect, like these red peep-toe pumps. Coincidentally, I just wrote a story over at Houzz.com about using the color red.
Just like a red dress, stilettos or peep-toe pumps, a red room can be elegant and sexy. This is a great color for a dining room where you want guests to be comfortable, attentive and ready for a lively conversation…
…and red is perfect in the bedroom because it is the color of love and passion. Also, why not paint your powder room red? Your home will have an element of surprise:
For more red hot ideas, check out my ideabook over at Houzz.com.
Two Dozen Red And Pink Roses
If you received flowers on Valentine’s Day, here is an easy, artful way to arrange them:
My wonderful husband gave me these beautiful roses and I arranged them in milk-glass bud vases — three roses in each vase. You can use any type of vases, and drinking glasses will work too. They don’t even have to match.
The idea is to spread your flowers around. Arrange your containers in a group or put them in separate rooms. Flowers don’t last long, so this is one way you can enjoy them even more!
Colors To Watch in 2011 – Part 3
If you’ve been following my recent posts, you know that I’ve already named the following hot hues as Colors to Watch this year:
Wasabi GREEN | Peacock BLUE | Smoky GRAY
In this post, I’m presenting the fourth and final color {and the hottest of them all}. Drumroll please…..
{decorpad}
This alluring shade of red is one of my faves right now. I love warm colors and I’m also drawn to ‘in-between’ colors. In the case of Fiery Red, is it red or is it really burnt orange? I like that you don’t know for sure. Hey, color should be a little mysterious sometimes….it keeps things interesting.
Fiery Red was spotted on the runway recently…
…and pop princess Rhianna is rocking her red ‘do all over the globe. It’s no surprise that this super hot color has also turned up in HGTV’s Dream Home 2011:
Only Fiery Red {Tomato Red by Sherwin-Williams} could warm up this cozy Ski Dorm, which is part of HGTV’s newest Dream Home located in Stowe, Vermont.
Of course this color isn’t just for colder climates. Fiery Red adds a warm, welcome pop of color to any space any time of the year:
{design redux}
{google images}
{decorpad}
{decorpad}
Irresistible Red
Red means energy, power, passion, drama, love {and luck in China}. I find that irresistible.
{photo by Catherine Thursby via annarbor.com}
{My study – Porter House Designs}
{Lenny Kravitz office via unplggd.com}
Client Project: Working With A Red Sofa
In this post, I’m sharing a design project that I’m working on for one of my clients. It involves a dining/living space, red sofas and gray paint.
As you can see in this BEFORE picture {above}, the space desperately needed some character and coziness. The homeowner loves her red sofa and love seat, but she wasn’t sure how to decorate around them.
Here is my computer rendering of the AFTER space. The first thing we did was paint using a pewter gray {Anew Gray from Sherwin-Williams}, which is actually a warm gray so it, along with a shag area rug, added instant coziness. The black and silver frames above the sofa will hold family photos. I also added elements that would provide texture and a few accent colors.
The renderings include a few “place holders,” but I’ll show you the actual pieces in separate photos — for instance, pictured above is the actual sofa lamp/end table combo. The lamp is from lampsplus.com; table from target.com}
{BEFORE}
The space really needed additional lighting, so I worked a few extra lamps into the design. The homeowner also wanted a scenario with extra seating, so I presented her with an Option B, pictured below:
{The bench is from anthropologie.com}
Pictured above is the BEFORE dining area, which opens to the living space. Below are the AFTER renderings:
{This is the actual host/hostess chair from pier1.com}
My client already owned a terrific piece of art that provided a pop of red to the dining space. An arrangement of dinner plates adds interest to the opposite wall.
Here are the actual window treatments {below} that will be used in both the dining and living area:
The space is coming along beautifully! We’re in the process of purchasing all of the items and waiting for everything to arrive. I should have photos of the completed space to show you soon!
If you need design help, I’d love to work with you {and it doesn’t matter where you live}! Contact me at info@porterhousedesigns.com.
Fab 4th of July Ideas
To celebrate Independence Day, I’m offering my first ever Porter House Designs Printables!
You can use these ‘Interstate July 4 Signs’ as cupcake toppers, straw tags or any other idea you come up with. These Printables are FREE and you can download them HERE. Below are some other great Red, White and Blue ideas from around the web. Enjoy the Celebration!
Retro Party Decor from Etsy
Ideas and Guidelines for Designing with the American Flag by ShelterPop
Sweet Treats from Martha Stewart
Snack Bowls from Plum Party
Go Rogue With Red
My home just wouldn’t be the same without our red room.
Situated just off of the foyer, our crimson study/piano room greets visitors with an unexpected yet welcome blast of color. It also provides a nice balance to the neutral walls of the nearby dining room. Our crimson space provides warmth, energy, drama, and it makes our home feel more festive during the Christmas season.
Using red can be risky, but if done right, it’s like the prettiest girl at the prom — it gets noticed. Below are some other ideas for using red at home:
5 Last-Minute Christmas Ideas
With just one day left until Christmas, I wanted to share 5 easy, last-minute decorating ideas from the Porter House — just the thing for those holiday procrastinators {you know who you are}!
1. Candles and Holiday Greenery
Arrange an assortment of pillar or votive candles, along with fresh sprigs of holly, pine or magnolia leaves. You can find all of these varieties at your local garden center. Or, if you already have mature evergreens in your yard, you can do what I did here and just clip a few branches.
Place your arrangement at the front porch to greet your guests or create a tablescape indoors on your dining or coffee table.
2. Pine Cones and Pomanders
Combine cinnamon-scented pine cones and orange pomanders; arrange them in a bowl, platter or basket. Use fresh oranges for the pomanders. Using a toothpick, poke holes in the oranges and create a pattern. Then push whole cloves into each hole. This centerpiece is laden with texture and fragrance. It also makes a great conversation piece!
3. Candy Cane Displays
Candy canes are not only inexpensive, but they come in a variety of colors and flavors. Create a festive display by arranging them in colorful goblets and mugs.
This is a great party idea because it’s always fun to let your guests help themselves to edible arrangements.
4. Ornamental Displays
Place pretty ornaments in a bowl or decorative platter for a very simple, elegant centerpiece.
5. Put a Bow on It!
Purchase ready-made bows from the craft store or make your own. Bows make the perfect finishing touch on wreaths, topiaries, chairs, lamps…you name it. I made all of the bows shown above. It’s pretty easy, but you may need a little practice. Click Here to learn how to make bows.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these last-minute ideas — from my house to yours. Happy Decorating and Merry Christmas!
{Click Here for more inspiration from the Porter House}
All photographs by Kelly Porter of Porter House Designs
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
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