Monday, December 13, 2010

Christmas Snapshots

Scenes around my house this Christmas...






The wreaths in the living room windows are wearing some snappy red zebra ribbons...







When you come in our front door, this wall vase is mounted on the 2nd floor overhang...






When you stand in our small foyer and look left, there's the secretary...









The living room is open to the dining room...







Back outside, the front door shows off  this year's wreath project.  I sprayed a craft store twig wreath silver, added fresh boxwood and some unidentified piney-knobby things (anyone know what those are?  my flower guy didn't even know) that I sprayed with some sparkle, and then added in some more silver picks and red berries...











Hope that added a little Christmas happy to your day!!

Please consider becoming a Follower in the right side bar?   My Christmas wish is to reach 75 by the big day (although with a little elf-like magic, maybe 100 to start the new year? :)

Talk to you soon,
Carol 


Saturday, December 11, 2010

Before and After: Dining Room Built-In

Remember My Friend's Edgy House?  Progress is in progress...walls have been changed from plum to satin black beneath the chair rail, the chairs are in ,and drapery is in the works.  The dining room corner built-ins were on the list this week,  and I'm happy to show you how I styled them with items we shopped for in Glen's basement.

Here's where they started.   There are two, in opposite corners.  (Notice the federal pediment at the top.)





Glen's ranch-style house is masculine, minimalist and graphic.  No fuss.  So, I suggested we get rid of the incredibly wrong federal motif and make a contemporary transformation...






When it came to styling, we shopped Glen's house for the (perfect!) things he already owned, and added in the slightest touch of Christmas bling.  Check it out...











Glen found the black and white damask wrapping paper at Target to add some wrapped gifts to the decor -- they are so perfect they just might stay post-holiday.















When the shelves were finished, we added to the dining table.





I tried to go for the urn-type container filled with a collection of wine corks, but the bulk of it was making my minimalist friend panic :).  I asked what he thought and I got "it's ok...I like it...,"  and I laughed and said "you'll be changing that the minute I'm out the door."  It didn't take that long.  I turned away and he said "What about this? You said we could put an ornament on top."





So I added another couple of ornaments on the table.  He smiled (and sighed relief.)  What do you think?

While at the house, I also taped out and painted black stripes over white in the nook.  I can't wait for that reveal, coming in the next couple of weeks.  This project has been a time challenge for both of us -- I'm squeezing this in for my good friend, and he's getting together with me in the middle of launching the retail line of his cosmetics company.  Not easy!





The entire room will make its debut in January with a party he promises me he'll throw!  (I just need to get sewing the drapes!! Ahhh!)

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Cute, I'm Not...

When it comes to decorating, I don't do cute.  It's just not me.  Except...at Christmas.  On my kitchen chandelier.  I let a little cute in the house.  But only because my cute Christmas birds are a little pretty, too. (Now don't get offended if you like cute -- I can appreciate that, I really can, but it's like wearing the wrong size shoe -- everybody has their own personal fit).

On to my cute-slash-pretty birds.  I bought these about 4 years ago and I love putting them in the kitchen every year for a little happy.  I mean, come on, how can this baby not speak to you? (Unless of course, you are in the camp that gets freaked out by birds in the house!  In that case, tune in tomorrow instead.)







I layer natural looking greens all around the base of the chandelier to give these guys a tree house to call home for a month...













Who can't find a little love for a bird with a hat and a scarf (but still a little pretty?)






Check out the earmuffs...(still a little pretty...)



















What Christmas decor in your house makes you a little happy? 

Talk to you soon,
Carol
PS   I'm at Color Outside the Lines for Friday Vignettes --check it out :)





Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Window Wednesday: Staging for Selling

Daryl from Vermont Cottage is putting her house on the market and needs to dress her newly installed white windows in the family room.  The concerns?  Budget, privacy needs, and an appealing look to buyers.

Here's a look at what Daryl had going on before the new windows were installed.  It's hard to see in the picture, but an orangey wood blind was perhaps inside-mounted, with drapes to the floor.  She says the blind color dictated her choice of paint color, which is in Ben Moore's pallet  for Pottery Barn called Warm Cognac (can you say gorgeous?).





With the new windows being white, Daryl's thinking of faux wood blinds in white, with white floor length panels that she'll make herself (bravo on the sewing!).  Daryl wants the best look possible for buyers, but she doesn't want to over-invest.  They also need privacy in the meantime.

Daryl can do the white on white she's thinking , but my thought is to keep the warm and cozy feeling the room already conveys.  My suggestion?  These bamboo blinds from Walmart.  Yes, I said Walmart.



http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bamboo-Window-Roman-Shade-Havana-Pecan/10858209


They are pretty decent for the price ($35+), add lots of texture, and are incredibly "in" right now.  I'm suggesting this color as I think it will bring the warmth of the floor right up the wall, and blend with the paint color, giving the illusion of a bigger space.  If Daryl wants to do panels as well, I would re-hang the ones in this picture as the color is softer than white (white blinds, white windows and casings with white drapes feels too "clean" and crisp for me with the existing elements).

When staging a house, a finished look is appealing and the windows should always be dressed.  When they're not, buyers look at coverings as an additional expense (uh-oh).  Putting something "now" on the windows, like a bamboo shade, also gives a potential buyer the notion that this house has been well-kept.  Whether or not Daryl adds panels, I would mount the bamboo shades above the top casing (not on it), and have the shades be the width of the window to the outside of the side casings.

The only caveat with these shades is that they don't provide complete, black-out privacy.  If that's essential in Daryl's home, I might suggest just making the panels and pulling them closed at night.

Thanks, Daryl, for sharing your windows, for leaving regular comments, and for being a Follower of my blog!  I hope this suggestion helps, and I wish you Good Luck!  (Oh, and thanks for linking to my Chocolate Cake post, here!)

 If you would like me to solve a window issue, suggest a treatment,  critique what you have, or anything window related, please send me an email and picture to SofasandSage@gmail.com.  The only requirement is that you 1.  Become a Follower in the right hand column, or let me know that you already are, and 2.  Leave a comment on a Window Wednesday post.

Talk to you soon,
Carol 



Sunday, December 5, 2010

I'm Dreaming of A White Mantel...

Come on, everybody now..."I'm Dreaming of a White.....Mantel....Because the One I Have's Butt Ugly....."

Here it is.  I dare you to tell me that it's not ugly.  I dream of a creamy-ivory mantel, with thick gorgeous moldings down the side, maybe some kind of stone work over the brick.  But, alas, I have this. Shall we sing another chorus?





This is Christmas season #4 with this fireplace.  I've tried it all.  Swags, glam, glitter, mirrors.  Nothing really works.  I'm not exaggerating.  My man says he's doing the new cherry mantel this winter (no, not white, wood.  More wood.  Ok.  He only asks for one thing.  Natural wood.  It's the least I can do when he never knows what the walls will look like or where his nightstand will be when he comes home.  He lives with me -- the spouse of a decorator is not an easy calling.)  Anyway, for now it's another season with this.  After going through all my boxes of  Christmas decor (shamefully, there are thousands), I ended up here...




It actually looks half decent in the room.  But lets take a closer look, shall we?





Check out Santa's expression.  He looks embarrassed to be up there on a mantel so skimpy his big feet hang off.  I swear to you that's what he's thinking.





Here's the middle shot.  It's ok.  It'll do.  But if I bring you in closer to look at my cardinal...






He'll look you square in the eye to let you know he'd fly off there in a second if he wasn't clipped down to a branch.  He's got a bit of an uppity attitude.  You see it, don't deny it...

All kidding aside, working a not-so-great fireplace is best done, I think, with simplicity.  I'm all about a natural look this year, and a bit less than my normal over-the-top.  I don't know why, but it's feeling right this year.  Less is more.  (Did I really say that?)

My mantel and my fireplace are less than fabulous, and not a lot to work with when it comes to great decorating.  But one thing I don't have to dream about?  A house filled with love and laughter and a strong family -- because that, I have, in spades.  I am blessed this holiday season.  And that's a whole lot better than a fabulous mantel (even a dreamy white one) to adorn.

What's your decorating nemesis?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Cha Cha's Christmas

My friend Charlene (Cha Cha) has fantastic style.  Leopard is her middle name, and her home at Christmas is something to behold.  My husband and I were invited to dinner last night, and I was giddy all day knowing we were in for a huge treat.  She knows how to make her guests feel incredibly special.  Do you have a friend like that?  I am one lucky girl to call her friend.

I took a million pictures last night, because everywhere you look in her home, there is something magical going on.  She calls her Christmas look this year "Euro-glam."  Check it out...




This cabinet is 1800's French...




Yes, she made the wreath...
















Even the wine was dressed for dinner...(can you stand this?)






Charlene pays attention to EVERY detail.  If you don't have a fireplace, you invent one if you're Cha Cha.  This is snuggled in at the base of her staircase...







Ok, then there's the fact that she is an incredible cook.  (Recognize the fabric on the table from my dining room? We went shopping together and fell in love with it.  We both had to have it!)













I couldn't quite capture her gorgeous white tree adorned with crystals, but this will give you an idea...






Even her kitchen window sill makes you feel warm and welcome...





Thanks, Charlene and Larry, for a lovely celebration of the season...






And ,I hope you enjoyed a little Euro-glam inspiration.


Talk to you soon,
Carol