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Ideas & Inspiration Fall 2009
Ideas & Inspiration
Copyright 2009 - Beautiful Living - All Rights Reserved For updates join our mailing list
Stylish Interiors and Beautiful Living
Outside In
Inside Out
As we begin to lighten up our homes this spring, don't forget to bring some of the outside in and the inside out.
Garden statuary, flowers, herbs and other garden delights can find a home indoors as well as out. Swap out heavy area rugs with a textured natural mat instead and open up the arrangement to let furniture and spaces breathe a bit.
Garden inspired furnishings should have an airy quality about them, but should also remain comfortable. Outfit wrought iron chairs with plump cushions and pillows. Mix upholstered pieces in with weathered wicker. A garden bench makes a wonderful banquette in a kitchen or dining room. You can mix found treasures and cast-offs with regular furnishings – a classic garden style formula. No need to re-do gently distressed pieces, just clean them up a bit and let their aged-patina shine through.
This beautiful rattan and mahogany chair from Crate and Barrel makes a perfect companion to existing living room or dining room seating. Its rubbed black finish and soy foam fill cushion looks smart in any room of the house.
Large planting pots and urns can be transformed into accent tables with a simple glass round. Display vintage garden tools with framed seed packets as an interesting wall collage. Architectural elements and garden statuary can stand in as fine art or as a backdrop to other decorative pieces.
Rough-hewn textures look at home mixed in with finer materials and work especially well in the spring and summer months when our decorating takes on a more casual approach. Update your table decorations and accessories with a nod to nature by displaying bowls, baskets or plates of spring green apples, pears or lemons. Stretch your decorating dollar by choosing realistic faux varieties widely available at retail stores. This is also a great way to add color to a neutral color palette or introduce a new color into your room.
Consider adding bowls or hurricanes filled with river rocks or moss to tables and bookcases. Take a cue from Mother Nature and bring some of the outdoor colors into your home. Spring greens are very popular this season and work well with just about any color imaginable.
Welcoming Guests
I love the idea of guests - decorating my home for the season, preparing delicious meals - but the reality often leaves me over-stressed and tuckered out! Welcoming people into our homes is a big undertaking and never more so than during the holidays. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. As with everything in life you must prepare and get organized. With these simple tips - your guests will want to return and you will welcome them back with open arms.
Readying Your Home
If you've already got a guestroom, you're one step ahead of the crowd. If not, you can certainly prepare an area of your home without much fuss. (I had 15 unexpected guests one stormy Christmas night!) My motto - be prepared. Now is the time to look through your linen closet and freshen up some extra blankets, pillows and cases. Keep linens fresh by lining your shelves with dryer sheets or fragrant sachets. (Even camp sleeping bags will come in handy for the unexpected, so dust them off and wash these too.)
Prepare a large basket or decorative box filled with guest essentials like toothpaste, an extra toothbrush or two, soaps, shampoo and conditioner, (this is where hotel or travel sizes come in handy.) razors, shaving cream and lotion. Set aside washcloths and towels just for guest use as well and store this handy item right in your guestroom or in a storage closet. Don't forget to let guests know where they can find extra blankets or simply house them in their room.
Prepared foods and easy-to-make-ahead goodies will save the day. The one thing I've learned over time is that I can't cook every dish from scratch and wow my guests with a gourmet feast each night and still remain sane! Let yourself off the hook and doctor store-bought items with stylish flair. (In other words - ditch the box and place it on a plate.) Doesn't everything look better on a bed of lettuce or nestled beside a bunch of grapes? I think so. Now resort to your tried-and-true favorites and freeze ingredients until you're ready. Cookies, breads and even pies can be made well in advance. Stock your pantry with nuts, dried fruits, chocolates, pasta, olives, oils, crackers, cheese and your favorite herbs and spices so you always have something on hand to nibble. Take advantage of store sales and pick up a few packages of (pretty) paper napkins, cups and plates. I'm a big fan of real dishes too, but I prefer not to wash dishes three-four times a day and visit with my guests instead.
If your guests are staying for more than one night (or three!) it's okay to order in. A quick salad makes a great side dish to just about anything you can order up, so make sure you always have salad fixings on hand. My new favorite includes toasted nuts, dried cranberries or pears. (Yum!)
Let early risers prepare their own breakfast by setting out muffins and cereals the night before. Fill the coffeepot and let them know that the first one up is in charge of "making" the coffee.
Give guests a list of things to do or see in the area and a simple road map or directions so they can have fun exploring on their own. Outfit your guestroom with a few paperbacks, magazines, pens, pencils and paper so they can retreat to a quiet area for some personal time. We all enjoy each others company more if we're allowed a break every now and then.
Last but not least... let your guests help - with dishes, setting the table, preparing the meal - so you can enjoy the time you have together just as much as your guests!
BOO-TIFUL INTERIORS
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COLOR & TEXTURE - Gray and neutral colors play a big roll this fall, but how can you warm up these sometimes "chilly" colors? Look to nature to help guide the way.
Spicy hues pair very nicely will cool colors giving them an instant lift. Shades of paprika, mustard and cayenne will add just the right dose of intense color without overpowering the space. The amount you add is up to you.
Use shades of orange in a dining room instead of red for a change. Orange is a stimulating color, but not quite as overpowering in some cases. Throw in cool celedon into the mix to quiet things down.
Remember - if painting walls is not your thing and you still prefer something lighter, bring the color into your room through art and accents as seen in the pictures below. Product information no longer available.
Find a spot in your home that you can cozy up with a favorite pillow and blanket, a basket filled with notecards, books, pens and pencils and, of course, your Style File to inspire you while you reflect and restore.
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Est. 1999
CLASSIC STYLE
I love a new outfit, pair of shoes or bag like the rest of you, but with my strict budget and dislike of shopping (yes, that's right!) I am much happier adding a colorful scarf or trendy accessory to a tried and true outfit to stay au courant.
Build your wardrobe from classic (quality) clothing the way European women have done through the ages. Now make it your own by adding your own personal touches to an outfit. Here's my list of Fashion Classics.
Black Trousers and a Black Skirt - In a lightweight wool or crepe; these staples can be dressed up or down.
The White Shirt - If you can - get them in both crisp cotton and silk. Although you can dress the white cotton shirt up, it doesn't have the same panache as the silk.
Blue Jeans - Every American wardrobe has a least one pair. Decide which cut and color works best for you and your figure.
The Trench Coat - In black, navy or camel - a trench coat can be throw over jeans or a suit and instantly make you feel pulled together.
Cashmere Sweater - Beg or steal for this must-have item. You can find deals out there, but beware "cheap" cashmere (from China) will not last long enough for the investment.
The Details...
Invest in a quality made boot, shoe and bag. Then fill in the gaps with trendy items as the seasons change or when you want to add a jolt of color to an outfit. Top it off with a signature piece - a silk scarf, a piece of jewelry, glasses or belt. Black, navy, gray and camel will work with any color combination you can put together. That said, regardless if your outfit is a classic or hot of the fashion presses, put your unique spin on it. For inspiration, follow what fashion setter Patricia Field does - mix in the unexpected!
