Last minute gift ideas

If you're like me, you're probably entering panic mode about the remaining items that need to be checked off your list this time of year. To lend a hand, here are some of my favorite Etsy ideas. With these affordable and creative gifts, instead of coming across as frazzled and panicky (like me!), your gift reflects your composed, thoughtful and meaningful gesture.

For the Dog Lover

These adorable 5" x 7" cards from TerraDeiFarm come in a package of 6. Perfect for post holiday thank you notes!

For the Griller

We've got the World Tour Grill Master Set here from DenverSpice. 

For your dad

This cool key chain from Cjohannesen commemorates a special location with its longitude and latitude. 

For your mom

This pretty clutch by CreationsbyAngel is the perfect evening bag she never knew she needed.

For your bff

These adorable preppy wine totes from LibbieandWinston are the perfect way to say to your best friend, 

"I love you more than wine!"

Hope this helps! Remember, it's the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! ;)

Virtual Decorating Client Project in Boston

Technology is changing the way we stay connected so much that the pace just baffles me sometimes. As someone who has moved to different cities over the course of my adult life, I love that I can connect with friends of old and keep in touch besides just an annual Christmas card. (Although I LOOOOVE getting those, so keep 'em coming!)

One thing I've really enjoyed in business is being able to help friends with their decorating projects even if they live elsewhere. For example, right now I'm working on my high school friend's ginormous house in northern Virginia. She has a son with special needs, and it has been such a wonderful experience to help her make his room match his feisty and delightful personality. It's a great way for us to stay connected, too. I'll ask her to send pictures soon, because I'm hoping she's hanging the curtains we just ordered this weekend, (right, Theo?)

{Pottery Barn Kids}

Recently, my dear friend, Laura, moved from Denver to the Boston area. She bought the most amazing house and asked me to be her virtual decorator. We FaceTimed, and it was a great way for me to receive the grand tour, and then to focus on a few areas where she needed help. The house is new construction, but it fits right in with the architecture of her adorable New England town. The finishes are deeeevine..dark hardwood floors, thick chunky white trim, lots of windows and natural light, coffered ceilings. All the style and charm of an older home, but the modern conveniences of NEW! Her builder, Rob Ticktin, (Laura calls him Rob the Builder) did an amazing job. He only builds one home a year, and you can tell because of the attention to detail.

Laura took me on a FaceTime tour, and I easily got the lay of the land. She wanted to focus on getting her main living space finished. It's in the back of the house where there is a gorgeous kitchen with an eating area opening to a family room/living room.  Laura was ready to spring for some new furniture in the family room, window treatments, and a new rug. I did a little online shopping, we talked some more, and she did the rest!

One of the things we discussed was sofa positioning and overall furniture placement.  Her fireplace is opposite the sofa, with TV above the mantle, so luckily just one focal point. Her husband is TALL, so the double chaise configuration is perfect for their family. To make the room conversation friendly, we placed 2 custom swivel armchairs in a charcoal gray on either side of the fireplace. (sorry there isn't a picture of those) Laura's red console table is a colorful backdrop for the large sofa, so it's backside isn't too overwhelming when you enter the room from the front of the house. To offset the angles, we went with a round cocktail table with a bone inlay top and open, leggy base. The pair of end tables introduce a smooth, shiny surface and tuck nicely into the wide arms of the sofa. We found an indigo striped rug with red, gray and mustardy yellow stripes to pull the subtle palette together. I love how the ikat pillows bring a new pattern into the room.

Back in May, before Laura moved, her talented photographer cousin, Anne, had her home featured on the popular blog, Little Green Notebook.  Laura and I were both inspired by how Anne created gallery walls with seemingly disparate, but meaningful collections. (Read more about that project here.) We especially loved this enlarged old family photo.

{source}

Laura selected a photo she loves of her grandfather with his three brothers and had it blown up on canvas. We decided it would look great hung next to the new curtain panels in the eating nook. (Grandpa is 2nd to left.)

Laura's husband and daughters all play the piano, so we thought it would be fun to frame the piano with a gallery wall. Their collection includes a framed album cover, their Colorado license plate, a large Chinese watercolor from when Laura played volleyball in China, art by their children, and to add dimension and whimsy, a steel steer's head, an homage to Laura's grandfather's dairy farm. I suggested that Laura lay everything out on the floor and mix the shapes up to give it a collected but not too contrived look. I think she did a great job! Don't you?

Laura, thanks so much for sharing these fabulous after pictures. Your home is a beauty, just like you. 

If you'd like some design help, virtual or local, please contact me.

The Christmas Tree Art of Compromise

In our house, the tree is the ultimate symbol of compromise. We all have our issues...meaning our preferences on how the tree is procured, how it is decorated, and how long it hangs around. And then there is the reality of how it shakes out every year.

On the day after Thanksgiving, my kids long to be the family in this car. They want a tree that we chop down in the woods, while drinking hot cocoa and singing carols. Sounds fun, so we tried this approach one year. We headed for the foothills, but got horribly lost on the way to the magical Christmas tree filled forest. By the time we agreed on where to park and set out on our quest for the tree of perfection, the kids were starving and cold as was the hot cocoa we brought along. We soon realized that every tree looked like it had auditioned for a Charlie Brown Christmas. Yes, whining ensued, and a lot of it was coming from me. None of the trees was quite right. Disillusioned and freezing, we left the magical forest, probably the only car leaving without a tree tied to its roof. We drove straight to Big Lots in suburbia, and paid $45 for a tree that met our (my) stringent requirements. We got it home and in the stand. In the light of day a friend remarked on our tree's bluish green color. We soon discovered it had been spray painted! Really? Does the pursuit of the perfect Christmas tree have to be this complicated?

So for the kids, it has less to do with what the tree looks like and more about how soon it goes up (Black Friday preferred), and the seasonal beverages we are enjoying. (Can you relate?) In fact, as long as they can drink egg nog while we're decorating it, they don't really care about the tree's overall vision. Lesson learned: keep the kids happy with hot chocolate and egg nog. Done.

Now for my husband, I do believe he was tortured in some past life during the holiday season. He totally embraces the spirit of the season with charitable acts and a festive demeanor, but when the boxes of decorations are brought up from storage, the complaining begins. He loathes the Christmas decor. I learned early on in our marriage that I can count on him for lighting and for spiking my egg nog on the night we decorate the tree. So it probably comes as no surprise that his preferred Christmas tree comes in a box, is pre-lit, gets set up on December 23rd, and taken down on December 26th.

As you can imagine, I'm a bit more particular. While I'm not eager to jump in the car on the hunt for the perfect tree on Black Friday (I'd rather be eating leftover pie), regarding the tree, I do have issues. They involve height paired with fullness and now, after the Big Lots debacle, I can add natural color to my list of criteria. As for decor, I would love a tree that has an overall style and color palette. Something like the one on this cover...

Or these...

I realize these are depersonalized with more emphasis on matching the decor of the room than imbuing the spirit of the season. Am I that shallow? Well, maybe a little, but don't judge me too harshly because our tree usually ends up looking something like this.

{source}

This tree is live, and it's decorated with love, and that's a happy compromise. I'll post pictures of our tree (when we finally get it up!)

What are your Christmas tree preferences in your family?

If you want to truly love where you live, please contact me about design services.

Happy Thanksgiving

Steve and I have been hosting Thanksgiving at our house almost every year since we got married which makes this the 16th year. It started as an orphan type Thanksgiving and has evolved over the years to include single friends, newlyweds, babies, cousins, grandparents. It's never the same guest list twice, and we always have tons of food (leftovers...yum!). Many guests are wise to the fact that we always have at least 2 turkeys. One in the oven to "smell" like Thanksgiving, and the other in the deep fryer outside. This year, we threw a third in the mix, a smoked bird. Every guest has their preferred flavor of cooked bird, and each style has its fan base. So it's most likely that our smoked style will make a comeback next year alongside the roasted and fried varieties.

While Steve is busy preparing his birds, my mind is wandering to table setting. This year, we had a mix of cousins, grandparents and aunts and uncles, so we decided to bring some whimsy to the table with this little turkey pinecone craft which was the brainchild of Steve's sister.

We had ladylike turkeys...

Turkeys with goatees and Saturday bed head...

And turkeys at the kids' table...

We have lots to be thankful for, and are happy to celebrate with family, friends, delicious food and a cranberry mojito.  

Cheers, and hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

easy Thanksgiving centerpieces

It's a Chicago weather day here in Denver. The freezing rain is keeping everyone indoors and cozy which is a novelty in this town. So my mind is wandering to Thanksgiving and how I will "decorate" the table this year.

You'd think I'd be all over this project with elaborate displays and hours of crafting prep, but I am too busy (and impatient) for this type of work. I'm in search of EASY centerpiece ideas that are creative, cheap and doable. Here are a few images I found. You can find the links on my Pinterest page if you want more information on a particular idea and even directions on what to do. Now for the eye candy. :)

I love the beauty and simplicity of this greenery in the canning jars over a chocolate brown tablecloth.

Source: bhg.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Running mini pumpkins and ribbon down the center of the table seems pretty easy.

Source: bhg.com via Lisa on Pinterest

How cute is this simple pear placecard?

Source: countryliving.com via Lisa on Pinterest

These stacked pumpkins seem easy to accomplish with a cakeplate or pedestal bowl that I already own.

Source: diylife.com via Lisa on Pinterest

I love the collected look of this display. The varying heights and autumnal colors are simple and elegant.

Source: midwestliving.com via Lisa on Pinterest

It's time to take stock of what I have and give one of these a try. I'll take pictures and let you know what I come up with.  Hope this gives you some holiday inspiration. Stay warm.

If you want to truly love where you live, please contact me about design services.

back in brass

A year or two ago I would have groaned if I knew that brass would be making a comeback. The image of the ubiquitous builder grade chandelier comes to mind...

Source: lightingdirect.com via Lisa on Pinterest

It takes me back to the 80's like the AC/DC song that this post's title has pumped into my head.

But lately, I'm seeing the most beautiful variations on the brass theme. Instead of the builders' brass chandelier, what about something like this?

Source: houzz.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Lisa on Pinterest

The October 2012 issue of Real Simple features this room on the cover...

Source: google.com via Lisa on Pinterest

The fixtures above have a more contemporary design to them, but the brass equalizes the modernity in a way that gives it a more classic esthetic. These two pendants would scream contemporary in a chrome finish, but they seem more earthy and interesting in brass.

Source: mstreetdenver.wordpress.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Lisa on Pinterest

I'm finding a lot of brass in furniture like this classic and timeless brass bed...

Source: houzz.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Lisa on Pinterest

and in plumbing fixtures...

Source: houzz.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Source: coastalliving.com via Lisa on Pinterest

I love how the modern lines and warm patina of the faucet fixture above soften the cool carrera marble backsplash behind it.

If you're not ready to fully jump on the brass bandwagon as in this bathroom here (but how fun!)

Source: houzz.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Maybe you would possibly consider a mild flirtation. Why not try mixing in an accent lamp?

Source: amazon.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Source: crateandbarrel.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Or say hello to this little cutie.

Source: housebeautiful.com via Lisa on Pinterest

So is brass back for you? Do tell.

If you want to truly love where you live, please contact me about design services.

for an ugly brick fix -- is paint a go, or a no?

In my 'hood almost every home is brick. But they are bricks of a different color.

You've got the charming and classic red brick...

The beigey brick ...

The yellow brick...

Or even orangey brick...

And all these houses wear their colors well in my opinion. I wish I could show you a house of powder puff pink brick a block away, but it just turned over, and guess what the new owners did? Yep, they painted it gray. I can't blame them. Who'd want to live in the "pink house"? Okay, maybe my 2 year old niece, but she's not paying the mortgage.

It really seems like a lot of the neighbors are going for paint on the brick. It's a no brainer if it's already painted, but taking that leap is a long term commitment. And everyone has an opinion about whether it's a good idea.

One of my neighborhood clients (and friend), just bought a house with an orangey tone brick. This orange (which she detested) was, shall we say "enhanced in its orangeyness" by a terra cotta trim on the windows, gutters, and fascia. We talked a lot about how we could tone down the orange in the brick with a different trim color, and she was convinced, albeit reluctantly not to paint the brick.  BUT, she just really hated the brick. It kept needling her. I kind of wanted to go for painting it too, but we kept hearing, "It's bad for the brick." We both were having dreams like this.

Source: google.com via Lisa on Pinterest

I did a little research, and came up with some interesting information. "Painting brick can be tricky because brick is porous, especially if it’s older brick. Porous brick absorbs water, so you need to give the moisture a way to evaporate. If you cover the brick with paint that blocks moisture, ice crystals may form within the brick in cold weather, causing spalling. A cement-based coating is the safest paint for exterior brick, says Chip Clark, vice president of engineering services for the Brick Industry Association, a trade group. He recommends against all-acrylic house paint for exterior brick." (read full article here)

Now that's good information, but we quickly learned that almost any opinion could be substantiated by someone advocating for their position. Rather political, eh? Ultimately, the following is the advice we heeded, frankly because it was what we wanted to hear. "Painting a brick exterior on a house can be a time consuming job, but the results are often worth the effort. Some people adamantly feel that exterior brick should not be painted with house paint, while others enjoy the aesthetic look of exterior paint on brick. Painting exterior brick is a choice that comes down to personal preference, functional need and style. It's ideal to paint over a brick exterior when it is damaged or unsightly." (read full article here)  The plain truth is that my client and I both found her brick "unsightly" and that gave us the permission we needed to proceed.

So paint the brick she did, and we are all thrilled. It looks amazing. I almost drove right by the house the first time I visited. WHAT a difference!

{The AFTER shot.  Their 3 square lite front door is now a glossy black. Very hip.}

If you want to truly love where you live, please contact me about design services.

get the rug right

Many designers start with the rug, and work their way up in a room. The rug can define the palette, or calm it down. It can provide presence with texture without adding much color at all.

Source: countryliving.com via Lisa on Pinterest

I think it’s okay to think of your rug as an investment piece, much like art, if you know you’re going for quality and longevity. But you also have to consider how it’s being used. If it’s going to serve as your runner by the front door, spare the expense and get a hip indoor/outdoor rug like this one.

Source: ballarddesigns.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Always a sucker for the chevron lately. Will I love it as much in five years? I’m not sure, but at this price I know I’ll be happy for at least three! Lately, I’m loving the look of a simple graphic pattern with a workable palette…

Source: dashandalbert.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Source: surya.com via Lisa on Pinterest

For a recent family room makeover, we’ve selected this rug. It’s providing us with the most beautiful palette inspiration for the rest of the room. I’m excited to see how it all comes together.

Source: surya.com via Lisa on Pinterest

What are your thoughts on rugs? Do you like to play it safe? Would you pony up for a real gem? I’d love to know…

If you want to truly love where you live, please contact me about design services.