Thanksgiving 2010

This year was the second year that I had Thanksgiving at my house in California.  I had never decorated for the holidays before, and had a blast doing it.  Here are some of the decorations I made.  As you can see, they were very easy to do and inexpensive.  Most of the things were purchased at craft supply stores, such as Joann's and Michael's.  I cut the leaves myself from an outline I found on MarthaStewart.com.

extra seating - stackable chair

If you find you need extra seating, but don't like ugly folding chairs, then this West Elm chair is an excellent solution.  These good-looking, modern, bent wood chairs are stackable, so they have a small footprint in a storage closet or the corner of the room.  Their design is somewhat reminiscent of an Eames molded plywood chair, and they come in three attractive colors: birch, white, and walnut.  Better still, they are currently on sale for $84 (normally $99).  

set of 2 $168

set of 4 $336

wall clock

This is a great-looking wall clock, made of plywood and MDF (medium-density fiberboard).  16" diameter.

Wood Wall Clock - West Elm

$49

Halloween

To me (and I know I might be alone on this) hardly anything is better than Halloween.  I love the creative costumes, its unique color scheme (black + orange = awesome) the sweets, and especially the decorations.  

One great way to turn your house into a home is to decorate it for the holidays.  Pulling out the things that you only use that one time a year makes it feel special.  The extra thought that goes into it is what makes it feel like a true home, and not a rental apartment.  

Case in point: Christmas.  If you take the time to shop for, pick out, erect, decorate, and light a tree in your residence, it will instantly give it that warm, cozy feeling of being home.  So, since it's October I'm dedicating this post to fun Halloween-themed items you can put in your home this month!

Pumpkin with Lid

this could be used alone as a centerpiece, or as a serving dish.  The orange is bright and festive.  $34.95

White Pumpkin Candles

for the sophisticated trick-or-treater  $6-$29

Halloween Cookie Cutters

you get it, awesome.  $19.95

 

the do-it-yourself: paper bag luminaries

and of course, the classic, Jack-O-Lantern

Marimekko bedding - Seireeni

I am a big fan of the design house Marimekko.  Since its beginning in 1951, Marimekko has been a powerhouse in textile design.  Their textiles can be seen anywhere from fashion to interior products, such as bedding, window treatments, towels, and table linens.  Often colorful, whimsical, and bold, they have a very distinctive style.  To read more about Marimekko's history, please click here.

When first I saw the Seireeni Bedding available from Crate & Barrel, I  was struck by its boldness and pizazz.  This is for someone wanting to make a (loud) statement.  It was designed in 1964 and is still stunning in 2010.  

Full/Queen Duvet Cover $119

King Duvet Cover $139

Pillow Sham $34.95

Also, those glass lamps are fantastic.  $219

Stephens Lamp

This is a very cool accent piece lamp.  It has a structural feel and is a sizable scale to add some dazzle to a room.  Remember, lighting is like the jewelry of interior decor, and this one really sparkles.

From the catalog: "Classic mid-century silhouette lightens up a steel birdcage antiqued to a brass glow.  Putty drum shade in polyester.  Requires 150W bulb. 

Crate & Barrel Stephens Lamp

229

wine storage solution

One of my friends recently asked me if I knew of any good solutions for wine bottles in a small space.  I came across this and think it is attractive, compact, and versatile.  It can be mounted on a wall (a great space saver in a small apartment) or stacked on a horizontal surface.  

Shesham Wall Mount-Stacking Wine Rack

$29.99 for one

$49.99 for two

Crate + Barrell

paint = trend

What many people might not realize is that paint colors are trends that change from year to year.  Paint manufacturers analyze trends in color in other sectors and develop new colors to introduce each year.  From what I've noticed, the major trends change every 2-3 years.  It's very similar to the fashion industry in that way (just a bit slower to change).  In fact, paint colors are often influenced by what's happening in fashion.  

So, that being said, I'd recommend bold paint colors be reevaluated every several years to be sure they are still current.  I watch HGTV a lot, and see the interiors of many houses all over the country that are for sale (on House Hunters).  I am always shocked by how many houses put VERY bold paint up a decade ago and never updated it.  I see a lot of schemes that were current in the 90s.  Leaving those in your house would be like only wearing fashion that was popular in that decade.  Crazy - no one would do that (hopefully).   The same goes for the colors on walls.  If it's something bright and bold (not neutrals) it should be changed at minimum every 5 years to stay current.

Keep current by checking with major paint manufacturers: Benjamin Moore, Dunn-Edwards, Sherwin Williams, etc.  All of these companies do a yearly trend report and introduce new colors.  You can check their websites for the most current trends.  And give them a try!  It's a great way to freshen up a space, and is an inexpensive way to make a major impact on a room.  Try a trend on an accent wall if you don't want to make a major commitment.  You can always paint it back after a few months if you're through with it.  It's like a new fashion accessory. 

Here are a few links of the most current paint trends:

Benjamin Moore 2010 Envision Color

Sherwin Williams 2011 Color Forecast

Dunn Edwards Specs + Spaces

Dunn Edwards 2011 Trends Preview

Here are a couple schemes that I really like (both Dunn Edwards):