I'm going to be on TV!

UPDATE: SEGMENT AIR TIME CHANGED TO 8:50 AM

I interrupt this blogging vacation to bring you breaking news! I'm going to be on national TV!

My employer, WeddingWire, will be instituting an "unlimited vacation" policy for its employees starting in 2012. The new policy has gotten some media interest and tomorrow I will be doing a live interview on Fox & Friends, Fox News' morning show, along with our HR director. They wanted to interview our HR director as well as an employee and my company asked me to do it!

So, if you're interested in seeing what my face looks like when it's talking, tune in at 8:50 am tomorrow morning (Dec 31) to Fox & Friends on Fox News. I won't be talking Chinoiserie, but I hope you'll get a kick out of it anyway. Perhaps I'll try to work "foo dog" into the conversation.

Merry Christmas

Carter and I wish all of you an incredibly merry Christmas and happiest of holidays!

Enjoy your time with friends and family :)


p.s. I'm taking a little break this week...be back on Jan. 2. See you Monday!

Silver-Cool Accessories

I am team Gold/Brass/Gilt all the way. It is my preference in metallics. But I was recently perusing the interwebs and found a whole slew of silvery items that I want so I can mix them with my gold items. I absolutely love mixing metals.

These are all on Z Gallerie (which btw, is one of my favorites sites for objets):

Are you Team Gold or Team Silver?

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Pretty Pastel Bowls and a DIY

Have you seen the "Tapas" line of plates and bowls from Royal Doulton? Profiled in a couple of mags and some gift guides? I had the bowls on my Christmas list and removed them! (my list is always shamefully long) But even so, I can't stop thinking about how delightfully pretty they are with their pastel tones and swipes of color.

I wanted them for display just to look at them!

In other news, I recently came across a DIY project that creates a similar swipe of color along a white bowl and it reminded me of the RD sets. Check it out - how to create lacquered jewelry bowls.

Project featured on Stay in the Lines, found via Parlour, found via Ashley :)

Really great little project and the possibilities are endless!

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Trigger Pulled: Alita Pendant Light

I love all of the holiday frenzy deals, mostly because I typically score some great discounts for myself! Case in point, I pulled the trigger on a pendant light for our basement renovation last week - the Alita Pendant from Uttermost.

Our new den will be split into two areas - the "front" portion will have a sectional, TV and recessed lighting with table lamps; the "back" portion will have a game table with a pendant light over it.

I knew I wanted something large and metallic - but all of the gorgeous fixtures I liked were not budget friendly. But last week Horchow had 30% off of everything and free shipping. I saw this fixture for the first time and totally fell in love...and we were able to get it for $100 off, which brought it within the realm of possibility.

It's a little more edgy than I was planning, but seeing it now, it's exactly what I need. And I love that it's not a true gold or a true silver, but somewhere in between. I've since seen it also carried on Wayfair for a lower original price, but I still got it for less on sale at Horchow.

I can't wait for this den to come together...

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Candy Christmas

Christmas decorating for 2011 is complete but with our basement renovation underway, I have put Carter on notice that there shall be two Shuffler Christmas trees next year...one in our living room and one in the new den.

And since our den is shaping up to be a nice combination of colors, I have already started planning a candy-themed tree for next year.

Pinterest

Via trendytree.com (a great inspiration site for trees!)

Design by Tobi Fairley

I already have a fantastic set of candy cane ornaments to start my collection. And last week, I picked up a set of these lollipop ornaments from Target:

I will be majorly scouting the after-Christmas sales for candy ornaments - drop me a line if you happen to see any!

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Friday Crush

My crush this week is HANDS DOWN - hands down! - Beth's Chinoiserie dollhouse. Beth, of Chinoiserie Chic, has created the most beautiful, over-the-top, totally creative house in miniature brimming over with Chinoiserie. She has revealed it room by room on her blog this week - and every single room is a treasure. Above is the dressing room - those window treatments! You MUST visit her blog and see the rooms so far - you will be stunned and will smile ear to ear, which is a wonderful way to start the weekend.

This weekend is packed with all sorts of Christmas events, so I'm so excited to get it underway. See you Monday!

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Pom Pom Throws

I'm not sure when it happens, but there is a tipping point when I realize that my infatuation with something is getting out of hand. Most recently, I've tipped over the line of normalcy with throw blankets.

Like nutcrackers, I don't think you can have too many. And so, I present the Pom Pom Blanket from Calypso St. Barth:

GAH! They are all so incredibly good, I can't stand it. And, being from Calypso I thought they would each cost eleventy billion dollars, but they are only $60 each! That's pretty good for saturated jewel tones with tons of pom pom personality.

This would make a great Christmas gift. For me.

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Vintage Tammis Keefe Scarf Pillows

Until recently, I did not know of Tammis Keefe. But one of my Etsy searches introduced me to these gorgeous pillows, and I discovered that Ms. Keefe was a scarf and textile designer in the 40s & 50s. And Etsy seller cfsdesign has created some beautiful, one-of-a-kind pillows using vintage Keefe scarves.

I think these pillows are so beautiful! They are slightly quirky, slightly formal and definitely unique. Placing one in an armchair or as the centerpiece on a sofa would be amazing. And I know we all love to see beautiful old things re-purposed into something new.

Visit cfsdesign's Etsy shop to check out her collection.

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20 Gold Mirrors Under $200

My latest ideabook on Houzz is pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. One thing that I always work into a design is a mirror...and my favorite kind tends to be the golden variety. I'm a sucker for a sunburst, but really all manner of gold mirrors make me happy.

I found twenty (20!) really gorgeous mirrors that all cost LESS THAN $200. What??? Yes, it's true. I love that these gorgeous pieces can make a wonderful impact in a space for such a great price.

Some of my favorites:

And the whole collection:

I'm real proud of this one, Clark.

Enjoy the round-up on Houzz with links and sources and let me know if you pick one of these mirrors for your own home!

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Flamestitch Walls

Image from here via La Dolce Vita via New Ravenna

When I grow up, I want a really glam powder room done in pastels and metallics. Remember this one? The flamestitch pattern above was done with tile. I'm overwhelmed at that concept. The result is so incredibly gorgeous. I wonder how easy it would be to install? Honestly, this look would overwhelm in my house...but one day, when my house is a bit more sophisticated in its aesthetic, this is exactly what I want!

I'm also currently OBSESSED with the mix of pastels and metallics. Is that a throwback to the 80s? I don't know, but I can't get enough of the combination. 

What are you currently going mad over?

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Friday Crush

Photo by Laura Moss

Wow!!! This room really took my breath away when I spotted it on House of Turquoise. The design is by Lynn Morgan and I find it so refreshing, don't you? I've been so drawn to pastels recently, and think they will make an appearance in our basement reno, so this room seems to accumulate so many things I've been loving lately. That jar on the coffee table is so fetching. And is that a fig tree? Is that what those trees are? I need one. Just beautiful....

We have a weekend packed with family and friend time! Hope you have a great weekend...see you Monday!

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Painted Urn Lamps

These Sedgefield by Adams urn lamps are currently available on One Kings Lane and I absolutely love their colorful take on a very classic lamp silhouette:

I come across urn lamps very often at places like HomeGoods (or vintage ones on Etsy) and I love the idea of painting them two-tone with a great color and white, like the examples above. The leaf pattern on these is kind of fancy, so perhaps just a simple double stripe or chevron at the bottom would be easier to replicate.

Would make for a great, easy DIY project!

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Lavumchid in Katie Ridder Rooms

I was thrilled to be sent a copy of Katie Ridder Rooms by Heather Smith MacIsaac for review. After spending some quality time flipping through its pages over Thanksgiving, it has earned the title of My Favorite Design Book for 2011 (Celerie Kemble's To Your Taste held the title for 2010).

I know a book should technically be judged by what's inside, but I can't overlook the fact that its cover is reason enough to own it. It looks killer sitting on this table in my house.

All images from Katie Ridder Rooms

The room on the cover is probably our favorite room by KR.

And since all shades of lavender, lavumchid, are having a moment in my own heart and the hearts of design enthusiasts worldwide, I quickly zeroed in on all the lovely shades of lavumchid that KR uses in her interiors.

I need to live in this room. The lamps and sofa are painfully beautiful.

Love how the gorgeous fabric is used as the piping on the plum chair!

Of course the book is chock full of color, pattern and KR's signature eclectic style - tons and tons of incredible inspiration. Like the floor of this kitchen that has me thinking perhaps we need to do this in our basement reno:

You won't regret getting this one (or asking Santa to bring you one). 

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My Nutcracker Collection

While Crystal was at my house this past weekend helping me "wallpaper" the kitchen, I asked her to snap some photos of my Nutcracker Collection to share with you.

Look at these amaaaaaazing pictures!

All photography by Crystal Ku

I almost wept looking at these. She really captured the beauty of my collection, didn't she? Carter will attest to my complete devotion to these colorful wooden men, and truly nothing makes me happier at Christmas than setting them out on display. I will cherish these photos.

As you can see, I went with boxwood greenery around my mantel this year and I really like how it turned out. My tree is once again shining with a collection of green, ivory and metallic ornaments and topped with (faux) poinsettia stems. 

I hope you liked seeing my Nutcracker Collection as much as I like showing it!

And, if you are local to the DC area, Crystal takes some truly wonderful family photography (her specialty). Contact her if you are interested in a session!

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