Last Minute Gifts

Just a few days to go until Christmas, and if you are like me, no matter how prepared you try to be, there is always SOMEBODY you still need to buy a gift for. I usually go for practical gifts that people will use or need, so this year I have been trying really hard to think our of the box this year and give something fun. Here are a few things I've stumbled upon to help you brainstorm some last minute gift ideas.....

For those living in rain in the winter like myself:

Hunter Wellies

Burke Decor carries these industrial and whimsical ABC coasters:

Thomas Paul glasses case....only $15

For all you letter writers out there.... A Wax Seal from Katrina Alana

Book and Design Lovers: American Fashion Designers At Home

For the Green-lover:

Water Carafe made from recycled glass

For Him:

what would a list be without the I-Pad?

Kiehls Ultimate Man Collection
I feel like I could go on, but my 3 year old rerally wants to play games on the computer, and I've got some more shopping to do!

Decorating with Tiffany Blue

I was browing Canada's Style At Home website and found this fresh and beautiful Christmas inspiration photo.




I love the deterant from typical a Christmas color scheme: reds, whites, greens and golds. Tiffany blue, silver and white are the perfect combination for modernity, class and sparkle to add that special "Christmas Magic" (as my niece calls it).



Here are a few more WHITE inspired Christmas trees:

What Holiday color scheme are you into these days?

Stocking Round-up

We are heading out of town next week to go to my parents home for 10 days at Thanksgiving....I couldn't be more excited! I just love being on the East Coast during the holiday season. Then we will be back in Berkeley for about 2 weeks, then off to Southern California for up to a month :) I'm telling you all this so that you can understand why I am going to start decorating for Christmas next week. Christmas has my favorite holiday decorations, and I just love making my home feel like a magical wonderland! I even started listening to Christmas music. Normally I have a rule (and my husband has the rule for me) no Christmas music and no decorations until after Thanksgiving. But with all of our traveling on the horizon, I want to squeeze out every ounce of this holiday season.

So today, I want to do a Christmas stocking round-up. I love Christmas stockings and love fireplaces and mantles to hang them on. We had a fireplace in our first apartment, but never since. So here's to Santa's chimney :)

Ballard Designs

horchow

MacKenzie-Childs

Bloomingdales ...reminds me of my childhood

Pottery Barn

My Living Room

Living in student housing is definitely not the most glamorous place to live! Not to mention living on a student budget. But, it is my home. So over the next few posts, I am going to share some of that space with you. Today I'm presenting my family room. It's where we hang out the most. We were going to get ride of the love seat and add a chair....but we found that we really use that extra seating. That'll be one of the first projects once my husband completes his MBA and we move into a new place. This room is filled with simple modern design, bold and graphic patterns, personal photos, kid-friendly space and items, all with a touch of glam.

We have had the sofas and side table pretty much since we were first married. Other things in the room have been rotated in and out.

I have been slowly fading out of browns and warm colors, and into black and white and yellow. The lamp was from Z gallerie and was originally bronze with a brown shade. I spray painted the base in a high-gloss white, added some inexpensive white fabric and black ribbon for trim.

The rug and throw are from Ikea. My friend helped me make the chevron pillow and thomas paul canary pillow ( I bought the fabric but am still lacking a sewing machine). The black and white pillow I bought off etsy.

My amazingly talented brother in law made the painting for me one year as a Christmas present....and it is pretty much the inspiration for the room. The butterfly print is from etsy.

As always, it is a work in progress :)

Rustic Charm

With it being November (where has the time gone?!?) I am really feeling the coziness of the season. I am currently loving all things rustic, warm and nature-inspired...think Ralph Lauren, Restoration Hardware, vintage finds, worn leather chairs.... This doesn't necessarily mean turning your home into a log cabin (although I wouldn't mind being holed up in one for a bit); You can add rustic elements to your current living scheme or just be inspired by these beauties. Enjoy!

Ikea

We all have a love/hate relationship with Ikea. While the products are not meant for longevity, they are stylish, affordable, and work great in a pinch. I went the other day to get a few random things for my home, and had to snap some pictures of some noteworthy products and displays.

Love this room...love that clock bookshelf! I'm always looking for new places to store/display books! Love the pops of color and of course love the rug (since I have it!)

This is not typical Ikea style....it looks more expensive and traditional. I'm digging it though...love the persian-style rug and the library feel.

Love this glass front cabinet and the neutral color....sort of a muddy grey. They have it in other colors as well.

Happy Halloween

I'm off to celebrate the weekend with my sweet husband and kids...parties, candy and lots of fun! We are dressing up as Toy Story characters; what areyou going to be?

(some festive decorations on our TV armoire)

Enjoy the haunted weekend!

Celerie Kemble

Celerie Kemble is an innovative and celebrated designer of our time. Her rooms are anchored in traditionalism, playing with color and pattern in a modern way always with a touch of whimsy. Lonny magazine did a great piece on Celerie Kemble, showcasing her NYC apartment. They also highlighted a few quotes of advice from Celerie's mom, Mimi, two of which I loved:)

"There is really no such thing as a dead end.Everything can be reapproached."

"Even with every effort made, my hair is still going to look messy. Work harder on being funny and kind."

So here's to Celerie!

Halloween Hauntings

With Halloween just around the corner, I'm sure many of you are planning Halloween or Harvest parties. I'm a little behind this year...my older son still hasn't decided on a costume yet (he's deciding between a monster, a superhero and a pirate), we haven't been to a pumpkin patch yet (where we usually hit up a few) and I haven't even planned my annual pumpkin carving party yet. In any case, here are a few decorations to help your house feel festive! I've also added a few inspiring rooms to get your creative juices flowing. Enjoy!

SPOOKY HALLOWEEN

these would really pop with some food coloring!

zgallerie

zgallerie

monster name tags

papersource

HARVEST THEME

Love the Pottery Barn candle pumpkins

owl place cards

paper source