Category: Home

Christmas Centerpieces-How to Create A Christmas Centerpiece

11/11/2013

     We all love and admire a beautiful table display, but how do you get that look? Does it have to cost an arm and a leg? Can you just use things that are already in your home?
     I get asked these questions a lot, so in honor of the upcoming Christmas season, I'll share a few tricks learned throughout the years. I'll walk you through my process of creating an elementary table vignette-once you have the basics you can tweak it to suit your own taste. Make it as simple or elaborate as you wish.
     I will only pick from a few basic items that are in the store and interchange items for color, interest, and variation. From very primary to more elaborate centerpieces. All very easy to re-create using things you may already have.
     Get your fun hat on! Leave your scared hat in the closet.

     This first centerpiece simply consists of "snowy", glittery pinecones, glass Christmas ornaments and a silver tray. The common denominator that relates all the items is that they are all shiny, glittery objects. Truly simple, but charming. Need color? Add red or green balls-whatever color that you want.
     This centerpiece would be perfect for a coffee table, or dining table that seats two. It is too small in scale for the large table I photographed it on. If you had a huge silver punch bowl and filled that, then it would be lovely on a large dining table.
      Another option to beef up the centerpiece size is to add large candlesticks. Just make sure that they, too, are gleaming and sparkly. I would prefer silver but crystal candlesticks, but this is what I had and they still work.This would not be the place for brown wooden candlesticks.

If you change out the candlesticks for colored ones and add colored vintage bulbs to a tiered pedestal silver dish, you get a whole other look.
Note; these items as well, are all sparkly. No grasses or organic things going on here.

You can throw a doily or a table runner under it and the same centerpiece pops!

Take away the candlesticks, add a champagne bucket with a miniature tree in it and you have another look.
There is a tree in this mix (organic) but it ties into the tablescape because of the shiny red ornaments.

     For the record, I would place a table runner under this arrangement and the one pictured below to connect the whole grouping together and make it show up better against the wood grain of the table. That's MY personal preference, but do what pleases YOUR eye.
     Your home, your rules!
     Remember, a table runner can be ANYTHING. A scrap of lace, linen, burlap or velvet. I have used fancy embroidered pillow cases, quilts, skirts, scarves....you name it, I've used it.
     Just remember the same concept, if it's a primitive/rustic centerpiece use a rustic piece of fabric like a quilt or piece of burlap. Use a more elegant fabric for a more lavish tablescapes. All pieces that are used should be "related" to one another.

Change out colors, dishes, containers, filler and runners for a completely different look.

A runner is used here as well to separate the wood of the table from the wood of the
carpenter's caddy.

For height and drama add twigs OR glitter sprays, depending on the style of your arrangement (the ones in the picture are too long for the vase they are in, but they are for sale in the store, so I couldn't cut them down).

Here are some items that you could use for your centerpieces:

Candlesticks/Taper candles
Bowls
Pedestal Dishes
Ornamental Balls
Greenery/Flowers (preferably fresh)
Carpenter's Caddys
Statues/ Figurines
Organic treasures (pine cones, fruit, buckeyes, gourds, etc.)
Platters
Urns
Lanterns
Jars
Fat pillar candles (varying heights)
Books (for elevating things)
Seasonal fruit (real or artificial)
Crèches (Nativity sets)
Topiaries

The above centerpiece is basically one color. Whites and creams with silver and gold accents. Try to keep colors to one color story (variations and shades of one color) with possibly a touch of an accent color. Or you can use two colors with a pop of an accent color (yeah, I know, the tool caddy had every color Christmas ball in it, but once you know the rules, you can break them)!
Here are some places that could use a centerpiece or tablescape.

Buffet/Sideboard
Coffee Table
Entryway Table
Sofa Table (Long high table placed along the back of a sofa)
Dining/Kitchen Table
Kitchen Island
Armoire Top

So now you are armed with a few ideas and pictures. At least ATTEMPT a centerpiece this season. Be brave, have fun, and remember to send me pictures of your final vignette. I always love seeing what you create!
Or just call me and I'll come do it for you..............

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Coffee Bar Dreams

11/4/2013

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     Even before the purchase of our 2-story home was final last year, I had dreams of stepping out of the bedroom, getting a cup of coffee and padding back to bed. Without going ALL the way downstairs to the kitchen. That would be exhausting! Plus, you know that once you're downstairs, the dishwasher needs to be emptied, sofa cushions need to be straightened, the cat needs to be fed, etc., etc. and before you know it, your day is in full swing. Before you're fully awake or even ready for the day to begin.
     Don't get me wrong, I am an early riser; my eyes open anywhere from 2:30am to 5:30, but just because my eyes are open, doesn't mean I'm ready to charge full speed ahead. I prefer a gentle slide into my day.
     Hence, my home coffee bar dream.

     A few weeks after we were in our home, we found an old rustic work table and hauled it up the loooong flight of stairs. This piece was so heavy we both couldn't speak (or breathe) after we got it up there. We just leaned on the walls with our arms and legs trembling. My husband (a man of few words) said quietly, "You better like this."
     Done. Coffee bar in place.
     After tweaking, adding pieces, taking away pieces and about 200 cups of coffee, we have it down to a science.
     This picture is an idea of how you could start with a no-frills, basics-only bar.

Functional, but still pretty.

Here are some things I have learned from a year of having a coffee bar upstairs:

Keep your coffee maker on a tray that will contain ALL spills or leaks.
Keep a stock of non-perishable creamers and sugars in containers.
Keep a supply of napkins on the bar.
Have a container for clean spoons and a container for dirty spoons.
Keep a jug of distilled water upstairs (to fill the coffeemaker).
Have a variety of teas and coffees available.
Don't use white linens on the coffee bar.
A basket of bottled water is nice if you're not in the mood for coffee.
Keep coffee supplies nearby for easy re-fill (filters, coffee, tea, etc.).

Basic coffee bar with bottled water and flavored creamer.

You may customize your bar to suit your family and the style of your home. Use baskets to hold things and you have a rustic/organic look. Corral items in black and white trays, wrought iron baskets and the look is more trendy. Put things on silver trays and it's instantly fancy.
If you have a Keurig, you can expand the choices to tea, cappuccino and hot chocolate. I even use the Keurig for tea bags. I just don't put anything in the coffee holder, shut it and run hot water through to the tea bag waiting in my teacup.

Elegant coffee bar.

Obviously, you can customize a coffee bar to suit your taste. Be as simple and easy-peasy or as fancy and elaborate as you like. Your home, your castle, your rules! Here is a list of ideas that you can use or toss:

Pillar candle in coffee beans
Peppermint sticks for stirrers
Sugar cubes
Flavored syrups
Whipped cream (will need to be on ice)
Colored sugar in a labeled shaker
Cinnamon in a labeled shaker (with tiny holes)
Powdered cocoa in a labeled shaker (also tiny holes)
Seasonal décor in background (keep actual working space free from unnecessary clutter)
Chalkboard-style sign that can be changed to suit the day and/or season (my kids and guest write silliness on all my chalkboards :)

If you are not a coffee drinker or do not need or want this for daily use, this idea can be changed out for any beverage and any/or occasion.
If you are having a party, this is a nice idea for serving beverages and leaves you free to attend to other matters. Guests enjoy this and often gather around the beverage area. It is a nice ice-breaker as guests will watch others concoct drinks you may not have imagined. Your only job is to just keep it stocked and wiped down.
Some Beverage Bar ideas:

Hot coca Bar
Mimosa Bar
Breakfast Drinks Bar
Martini Bar
Iced Tea Bar
Wine Bar

If you are serving coffee to a large group, there are large coffee urns available for rent or purchase.

Hopefully this gets creative juices flowing and you create a unique beverage bar in your home. Remember; you drink beverages every day and serve beverages any time that guests are in your home anyway. Why not put a little forethought into it and prepare an area to keep it all in? It can be as simple as a folding table, a coffee pot, a collection of mugs and paper napkins. People will appreciate you effort and if you keep it stocked all the time, it will always be easy if someone drops by.
Share any ideas and pictures that you may have. I always love hearing from you!!

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The Charms and Quirks of Living in an Historic Home

10/14/2013

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There is not much that can compare to the charm of living in an historic home! Creaky floor boards, nooks, crannies, high ceilings, built-ins and elaborate woodwork are hard to find and incredibly expensive to replicate in a new home. Not to mention old homes make a great back ground for just about any antique you can put your hands on!

However, there is a trade-off to being the owner and temporary keeper of these graceful, grand homes.

Things I quickly learned in my home :

You can't blow dry your hair, run the coffee pot AND have the TV on at the same time.
It's a long run from the bedrooms down to the basement (electrical box).
To have hot water at the kitchen sink, the water MUST be turned to "hot" in the master bath.
There is a TON of dust in these homes; dusting is NEVER finished. Ever.
When your son and husband are quietly talking, laughing and moving things,
there MAY be a bat in the house.
Randomly the laundry room will smell like someone's in there smoking. I have had Tom get his gun and check the whole house for intruders. No one's ever there.
Whatever remodel project you plan costs more, takes three times as long as you think it will, and piggy-backs onto another unplanned and un-budgeted-for projects.

Endearing quirks start with our bathrooms.

Most of the main level wash rooms are tiny, all have original fixtures or replicas that cost an arm and a leg to look "old", and few have heat. The side-by-side photo above is of the 6 head shower (original to the home) in my master bedroom. It's supposed to be a" Lady's Shower" that leaves your hair dry. PHHHTTTT! Right! It's like being in a carwash and hits my 5 ft self right in my ears. My hair gets soaked every time.

On to the doors in the house. Since the homes are hard to heat, there are doors everywhere so you can close off a room to keep the heat in. My foyer has NINE doors in it. Nine! Nine doors that are paneled and need to be dusted. On both sides. I HATE dusting and have never dusted a door in my life until moving into this home (did I mention there are nine doors)? There are also arches everywhere.

These heavy doors are built to keep out the weather, but the cold still creeps in. Vestibules are supposed to keep the cold contained when you enter, but there is just no keeping the cold out. The heating bills are always high and it doesn't matter how high you turn the heat up, the temperature stays around 67 degrees. So we keep the thermostat at 68 and wear socks, slippers and sweaters. Sometimes to bed. From October to May. Cozy.

The doors extend to the many built-ins. THESE are wonderful. My favorite is the butler's pantry. For the first time ever I have a place for my china, crystal and silver. Everything is close at hand and stays clean behind the doors. Sadly, I have no butler. Or maid. Even though there is a button on the floor under my dining room table to press and call the maid. I've pressed it many times. No one comes.

Other built-ins include laundry chutes and linen closets. Our laundry room is upstairs, so the chute is only used to hide our electric and cable wires. The linen closets are welcome spaces. One of my linen closets is even cedar-lined. I believe that is to keep moths out, but I have seen moths in it.....

Another unusual facet to our old homes are the slate roofs. Horribly expensive and time-consuming to maintain and repair, we (my husband) keep a close eye on it. But they are certainly beautiful and unusual.
Speaking of unusual, our home doesn't have one, but some of the neighbors have gargoyles adorning their homes. Amusing and so very unique! This one's tongue is hanging out.

So, this was a brief glimpse into life in an older home. Quirks aside and given a choice, we would ALWAYS choose to live in a home rich with history, charm, creaks and groans. The oddities are certainly worth it!
Remember though, no matter where you live, it's never about the house. It's about your HOME and the people who live in it, visit and enjoy it!

WELCOME!

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Crazy About Collections

9/30/2013

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     Collections. What craziness possesses us to search out, hunt for, buy and acquire STUFF? We know we can't "take it with us", our kids don't want or like it (for the most part), and most of it needs to be dusted. So why and how do we collect things?
     I think we collect two ways; unintentional collecting and intentional collecting. The unintentional collector acquires things through circumstances. By inheritance possibly, through marriage or maybe you just had one lovely resin rooster and suddenly every Christmas and birthday you are unwrapping yet another rooster.
     That is how my Christmas nutcracker collection began. One innocent nutcracker given to me by my son when he was five years old. Now I have over fifty! I have written the giver's name and year given on the bottom of each one.

Clyde, wearing his Christmas tie, sitting with a few of his nutcracker friends!

     The Intentional Collector is much more purposeful in his or her "gathering". This collector buys something for value; either monetary or emotional.
     There are many people that collect purely for investment purposes, I don't know any personally, but they do exist. They buy something that will only increase in value. Perfection, rarity and re-sale is the goal of these collectors.
     Re-sale is the last thing on my mind when buying things to add to my collection. My goal is to accumulate and KEEP my often imperfect things! I am an emotional collector and I believe the majority of collectors are. I, personally, get heart palpitations and my palms get sweaty when I spy something I love to collect!!! I will spend the last dollar in my purse to get that thing! Sometimes we emotional collectors buy items because it triggers a memory, fills the last piece in a set, or just because it makes us happy.

You say you don't collect things? Look around you-I bet you have three or more of something in or around your home. We all tend to buy things that speak to us in some way; think about what you buy when you travel, or the things that you have kept from childhood.

There are many ways to display your collections; traditionally our parents kept them in curio cabinets, china cupboards or maybe marched across a fireplace mantle. My mom has many beautiful dishes and tea cups displayed in china hutches. They are in PERFECT condition and are rarely used. Only for "special" occasions. That, of course, is why they are in mint condition.
Today however, the trend is to keep things out and sometimes to even....GASP....USE them. EEK! Yes, sometimes things get broken, but I LOVE using beautiful things every day. These things begged to be used and touched. Items can be displayed in baskets, on a shelf or windowsill, on a mirrored tray, piled on a table, or just scattered throughout your home.

Some thing I buy because I love them, but I end up using them every day. The mannequins and busts in my home hold my necklaces because they keep their shape so much better than when hung they are hung on pegs.

Everyone who knows me knows my umbrella obsession. I have two hung in my living room. Really. From the ceiling. The peaked, pagoda-style ones are my favorite. They look just like any umbrella until you open them. Pure BLISS!

For those of you that have neither the time nor the patience to pick things up one at a time, a "collection" can be picked up at one place. All the lanterns pictured below were at one sale. The negative is that each piece does not have a story and you will have to cough up all the money at one time. However, this is a great way to decorate if you have a large home that needs a punch of personality fast!

     Don't be afraid to mix old items with new- you don't need to be a purist for a great look. My clock collection has a clock from T.J. Maxx in it! Who cares, if YOU like it!
     Collections can be great conversation starters, add personality to your décor and can be so much fun to accumulate. When I am out looking, I call it treasure hunting.
     If you have a collection you love please share! Email your pictures to me and I will share them on my FB page.

My collection of vintage luggage does double duty as Christmas decoration storage.

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Autumn Traditions

9/2/2013

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Labor Day is upon us and with it comes the promise of Autumn and the wonderful sights, sounds and traditions that go with it.
Seasonal traditions give us a feeling of continuity, permanence and belonging. Good, bad or indifferent, they can occur intentionally but more often are unintentional. The traditions of my home have come about over years; some we have dropped by the wayside, others have withstood the test of time.

The tradition of music in my home is here to stay. As soon as I come downstairs in the morning, I load the CD player. My favorite fall crooner is James Taylor. He sings to me year-round, but in the fall, his Greatest Hits CD is in the player all the time. Vivaldi's four Seasons is also played regularly. My kids grew up hearing this, so this music feels like fall to them as well.

The smells of Autumn are a huge tradition as well. I burn candles almost daily. My candle of choice is Pumpkin Spice from Wal Mart "Mainstays" brand (I get no endorsement for this!). I have burned thousands of candles from cheap to very expensive and this is the best by far in my opinion. One candle in my 1000 sq. ft. store is enough to make everyone ask what smells so good. The large jar in the picture runs around $5.
To further surround myself with the aroma of Fall, I also like to pretend I'm baking and make my own simmer pot. One tsp. cinnamon, 4 cloves, a sliced apple, a simmering pot of water and Voila! Smells like you've been baking.

Tradition for the first day of school called for me to both bake and cook. Pancakes in the shape of teddy bears for breakfast (boxed mix), potato soup (recipe above) and apple dumplings (Betty Crocker's traditional recipe) have been made like clockwork for years in our home. Cider and doughnuts also signal the arrival of Autumn for us. My kids are out of the house and they still request these things at this time of year. If you are a young mother, remember, it's just about the yearly tradition of it. Make it as easy or difficult as you wish, but keep in mind, your kids will want no break in tradition.

Seasonal, traditional snacks also emerge-in their usual containers. Caramels MUST go in the acorn jar, candy corn in the candy corn basket, and peanuts-in-the-shell go in the straw pumpkins.

Traditional decorating items also emerge. No matter how time-worn and tacky! I just make them work. The fiber-optic scarecrow looks awful in pictures and I actually had to trim his straw hair this year, but he does adds a warm glow to the foyer. The pottery scarecrow broke his hat off long ago and I just place it precariously on his head. My kids will sometimes hide it so he looks like Friar Tuck.

These happy fellows have been in our family for years. Notice the tall guy lost a tooth somewhere in his travels, but it doesn't matter. They MUST come out!

This year we made room for a new tradition; a large chalkboard for people to write their favorite thing about Fall on. There, of course, have been silly things written on it, but I enjoy seeing what other people like about this season change.
However you celebrate this season change, I encourage you to create a new tradition this year. Include everyone in your house and see what ideas you can come up with. Be creative, think outside the box, make it as easy or time-consuming as you wish, but enjoy the process. Happy, HAPPY FALL my friends!

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Back Porch Make-Over

8/8/2013

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So, this is a view of our back porch. We never sit out here, just pass through, so I decided to amp it up a bit. I had dreams of sitting out here sipping coffee in the morning or wine in the evening. Hmmmmm....what to do, what to do?????

A close-up of all that drabness. So! Where to begin? I found an old wrought iron couch on Craigslist for $20.00. It was black, so I used two cans of Krylon white gloss (easier to wipe down) spray paint to transform it. I am impatient, so of course I just drug it out on the grass to paint it. The surrounding grass and my feet were also a lovely white when I was done! The cushion was in decent shape, but had a hideous flower print. So, I covered it with an old, stained quilt and a crocheted coverlet. I used white sheers that were original to our house and hung them with hooks.

I found the old kneeling bench at Goodwill for $5.00 and invested in some new pillows. The birdcage is from Faded Velvet, and my husband wired a tiny chandelier (also from Faded Velvet) to hang inside it. I added two ferns because I think they make any room feel warm and homey. I will, of course, kill them eventually because I have no green thumbs.

I used my the existing bistro set that had been on the porch, but added coordinating cushions.

The shutter is also from Faded Velvet and I just propped it in the corner (it has withstood several strong windstorms as it is, though it does bang against the house a bit). The chandelier from Faded Velvet wasn't wired, so I just painted it white and added some crystals and hung it for some added sparkle. The tall iron fern stand and window from Faded Velvet just add another layer of charm. Ferns are an inexpensive décor touch that add an organic feel to all the hard edges of the wrought iron and concrete.

A close-up shot of the birdcage chandelier. God bless my hubby, who wired it for me. I have learned how to wire and re-wire lamps and chandeliers, but it goes faster and there is less fussing (see *swearing) when he does it.

Here is an evening photo. The lights are just the C-9 Christmas bulb strings, but I think they look magical at night! You could use the tiny Christmas lights too, whichever is your preference, or whatever you already have. Whenever the kids come over they call them the "party lights". And, yes, it is lovely at night to sit out there and sip a glass of wine.

Another night shot. If you look closely, you can see Clyde, our sweet old cat in the foreground. He thinks we put the couch outside for him. I forgot to mention that I used an older rug that I had for the floor of the porch. This really added warmth. People ask about keeping all that white clean. I have washed everything one time (since the first of June) and it is now August. If it storms I bring the pillows and quilt in if I think about it.

A full picture of the porch. It is not a large space, but we do entertain and have meals out there. When it is breezy, the sheers and lace blow gently in the wind and it is a lovely spot to escape to. In the Fall, I will change out some things for the season, but I hope to use the porch into October!

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Christmas Centerpieces-How to Create A Christmas Centerpiece

Coffee Bar Dreams

The Charms and Quirks of Living in an Historic Home

Crazy About Collections

Autumn Traditions

Back Porch Make-Over

Author: Donna

Archives

Categories:
Faded Velvet
Our Home
Before & After
Holidays
Entertaining
Our Neighborhood

Christmas Centerpieces-How to Create A Christmas Centerpiece

Coffee Bar Dreams

The Charms and Quirks of Living in an Historic Home

Crazy About Collections

Autumn Traditions

Back Porch Make-Over

Author: Donna

Archives

Categories:Faded VelvetOur HomeBefore & AfterHolidaysEntertainingOur Neighborhood

Categories:
Faded Velvet
Our Home
Before & After
Holidays
Entertaining
Our Neighborhood