Alternative locations to sale shopping

I may not be one for going shopping at the mad "before Christmas sales" but I do love the "after" Christmas sales. For some reason, the pressure is off, and I can actually start stocking up for gifts for next Christmas! I also love the offbeat stores where people don't always flock to like they do the big box stores. I have found some of my best Christmas treasures at grocery stores if you can believe that! I have this unbelievable three foot tall metal Santa adorned with big round old fashioned colored lights. I saw him at the local grocery store and watched for him to go on sale after Christmas. And voila! I scored Santa at a huge discount. I also got a set of wonderful fall colored stoneware dishes this way from my local grocery store. Often, chain grocery stores will contract with companies that make home products just for them-such as pillows, throws and dishes. They are my favorite dishes, and I watched them until the price dropped to well over half off.

Enjoy those sales!

Repurposing household items

Tweaking household items and using them for a purpose other than their intended one can be very creative! For instance, I love to collect old linens and table clothes. Flea markets and antique stores have a great assortment. I have used older white embroidered table clothes as a blanket on the end of a bed. The white is crisp and clean and great for layering (even in the winter). After Christmas you can often find great prices on table linens that aren't really specific to Christmas. After last years holiday I stocked up on pretty cranberry red table clothes from Target-they make wonderful gifts as a well as a nice throw on a couch during the holidays. Throw pillows and dining room chair covers can be found for 75% off or more after the holidays. So, stock up, and think about how you can re-purpose them!

I've used table clothes for curtain panels, as well as for a pretty shower curtain. And, shower curtains come in such a great variety now, they can also be used as easy, ready-to-hang window treatments, since the grommet holes are already there!

Is your home a winter or summer home?

Is your home a winter or summer home? What I mean is, does it really feel most comfortable in a certain season? I know mine does. When I have all my Christmas decorations out, my home really feels like it fits in well in the winter months. For instance, one of my favorite pieces of art on my wall is of a snowman my daughter painted (and won an award for!) as a kindergartner. I had it professionally framed, and yes, I do leave it up all year. (It goes well with my chocolate velvet chairs sitting below it) My cranberry red curtains and throw pillows come alive, too. Then, of course there are my yellow walls that seem to breathe in the other pretty colors of winter.

Design Philosophy

My design philosophy is to use and live in your space efficiently. To furnish it economically and to see the clients' personality come through with the design and ultimately the space.

Make It Easy

To me, a decorated home should look easy, the same as wearing clothes. I know if I spend too much time getting dressed or ready for the day I feel too "made up". The same goes for decorating. If I spend too much time making things precise, it looks too "made up". Perhaps that is why I'm not too symmetrical or matching when it comes to design. I really enjoy the look of a room when it's "layered" like clothes, and an easy, comfortable fit. It makes it more comfortable for friends and family. My favorite homes of clients are not the the homes that look like they could be out of a showroom, but those that look put together over time with comfort and thought in mind. Just like you can learn about someones personality by what they wear, you can also learn about someones personality by how their home is decorated.

Green tree

This year, I did something I thought I'd never do...I purchased a "faux" tree. We've always enjoyed going as a family to cut down a live tree in the past. They are always beautiful. But, lately I've been more concerned about all those trees that are being cut down each year and sadly discarded (hopefully they are being recycled after the holidays, though..)

I came across a beautiful faux tree at a local store. Even though it was 8-10 times more expensive there are many positive things about it. The leaves look very much like a real Douglas fir tree, honestly, it's hard to tell it's fake. It also came lighted with over 450 white lights. If one goes out, the strand still lights. The lights are very evenly distributed around the tree-and it looks beautiful when it's on. There is no watering, (hence, no needles falling on the floor) and, at the end of the season it can go in a box and be stored in the attic! This is definitely not the trees of 30 years ago! After the holidays, it might be worth looking for one, as they will be marked down significantly. I can honestly say this is a beautiful tree...

Have you ever been shopping and come across that perfect throw pillow, pair of lamps or rug that has the perfect colors in it? I know I have, and then I wonder-"Will that rug fit? Is the pillow the right color of red?" I now keep a notebook in my purse as well as a tape measure for this reason. Yes, usually you can return things if they aren't right once you get them home, but I always dread the time, energy and not to mention the gas that it takes to return things.

So, anything that I'm thinking about for my home or client, I keep a detailed list, and often a picture or fabric or paint sample. That way, instead of having to shop specifically for that item, I can now purchase it when I come across it. I have found many of my favorite items this way! Happy shopping!

Bring Nature in

I've written before about bringing nature indoors, especially during the holidays. One of my favorite (easy and no-cost!) is to cut twigs and arrange them in a glass vase. Adding cranberries in the bottom with some water will provide some color as well as nourishment for the twigs. In Better Homes and Gardens magazine I saw another way to do this. The twigs can be spray painted (a silver would be pretty) and then a clear coat of shellac can be applied for some shine. Add some glitter for the final touch!

A Fun Way to Hang Christmas Cards

During the holidays I really enjoy receiving (and of course mailing) Christmas cards. I've recently started including a silly poem that sums up our year to include with our Christmas picture. One year I had this great "tree" that was wire that held all the cards. It looked great, but the problem was whenever I added a new card, they would all fall out! So, in haste one year I sold it in our garage sale-some one was thrilled to buy it. I thought, yes, it's pretty, but just wait...

So, this year I'm hanging a long ribbon down my wall, and attaching the Christmas cards with a cute clip as they come in. They won't fall-yea! And, they'll be pretty and easy to see.

A little old, a little new

For me, designing a room is a process that evolves over time. As a designer, I really prefer a lived- in look that has taken time to come together. I have had clients with beautiful homes that I wonder why they need me to help them? The furnishings might be beautiful and the room in order, but what really gets me excited about design is helping a clients' room (or home) come together and reflect their personality. I love a little old, (actually I love that a lot) a little new, and a lot of personality!

For instance, I love the look of an older cherry Queen Anne table paired with mahogany school house chairs. Not a perfect match, but it looks great together and has evolved over time. I also think a little worn is ok! Yes, my tables may have scratches in them, my wool rugs might not have all of their loops looped, but to me, that's ok, because really, our homes are meant to be lived in. So, enjoy your home this holiday season, and here's hoping you'll be living in it a lot over the holidays!