Gift Wrap

Remember how excited you got as a kid on Christmas morning? How on earth did beautiful wrapping go out of style?! You can give a simple, small gift, but if it comes in a beautiful package, anyone would feel lucky to recieve it!

The key to a great looking gift is the patterns and textures you use in the materials. A flat finish on the wrapping paper gives a more formal feel and is easier to fold and handle. A metallic finish will give a fun, whimsical look. It is very important to choose the right ribbon to go with your wrapping paper. Ribbon makes the different between a smile and a gasp when you show up at the door. For an elegant affair such as a wedding or formal shower, silk ribbon will create an expensive looking gift without costing a ton. Satin is a great option for all occasions, formal or casual. A non-wired ribbon is easiest to tie, and will lay nicely without a lot of fuss.- just tie into a regular bow and let it drape down the sides. Wah la! Happy 5th birthday again :)

Teacher's Pet

As Fall creeps up on us, it's time to start thinking about back to school. My sister-in-law is a grade school teacher, and I went with an apple theme for her birthday this year.

This is a perfect gift for the little ones to give to their new teachers when the school year begins!  Purchase apple muffin mix and bake as directed. Mix cream cheese frosting with several drops of red food coloring, and cover the top of the muffin. Cut sour apple candy straws into 1 inch lengths and stick in the middle with a spearmint leaf. Catch the very tip of the leaf with the bottom of the straw to make it stand up like a natural leaf. You can use this same idea with peaches for a peaches and cream party or pumpkins for Halloween!  

Design your Mood

Think back to a time when you were most happy. Was it when you were a kid, sitting on your grandmother’s sofa, eating homemade candies from a glass dish? Was it a family vacation to the Bahamas? Now take that memory, and dissect it into what made you feel so happy, so relaxed. Think of the sounds, smells, colors, the textures and how they felt on your skin. Now why not create that incredible atmosphere in your own home? I’m not talking about sticking your grandmother’s Waverly wallpaper on your walls or throwing sand on your living room floor, but taking the elements of memory and recreating them in your own space.

Let’s start with the example of a great beach vacation. Imagine the bright blue sky, blue/green ocean water and velvety white sand. Mother Nature uses every color, yet never clashes. This look is so easily achieved with light, sky blue walls, velvety white textiles and blue/green watery silks. Add in natural elements such as birch, wicker and straw, and you’ll have an elegant, beachy room that will take you back to your favorite moments every time you enter the room, no matter where you live. Now if we could only see Mother Nature’s closet…

HGTV Can't Miss Color Trends

I love how the subtle, shimmering fabrics in this room give it a feeling sunshine glistening off the water, and the painting gives you an understated glimpse of an ocean skyline.

For the Love of Chandeliers

Of all my obsessions, I'd have to say my biggest love are chandeliers. This is a picture of my first house as it hangs in the center of the great room. In our new house, it sits in the garage, covered by an old sleeping bag and dust, just waiting for a home. I am on month 8 of convincing my husband that we need a chandelier in our bedroom more than we need a ceiling fan. The small factor that we do not yet have air conditioning, I think has something to do with it.

I designed my dining room completely around the chandelier, painting the walls black to really make it pop. Black walls are perfect for sophisticated glamour-for those of us who grew up but still have the urge to play Pretty Pretty Princess and cover our lives in sparkle.