Proper Hunt: November 2010

Gosh, this post is going to sound awfully selfish of me but I can't help it. Or maybe it's not entirely selfish since I am trying to make it easier for those of you who are trying to figure out what to get me for Christmas. Jennifer Boles of The Peak of Chic will be having a Tastemaker Tag Sale on One Kings Lane tonight at 9pm EDT featuring 50 vintage design & style books and I would so love it if I were to get one of those books for Christmas this year. Totally batting my eyelashes whilst saying this.

For those of you who aren't familiar with One Kings Lane, I am sorry that I am just mentioning this now because it is a fabulous place to get some of the world's best designer decor. To further explain, it's an online shop that features incredible sales on top brands for the home that launch every day. But the one caveat is that these sales only last for 72 hours so you have to move fast if you see something you like. Hence, this one-off post on Jennifer Boles' vintage books.

I will be doing a proper post on my holiday wish list like I did last year, but I just had to do a one-off for this since these books are pretty rare and well, when they're as rare and fun as these, you just gotta hop on it right quick. Besides, I'm sure you'll have fun shopping on One Kings Lane's website for all of your home decor needs (and wants).

One Kings Lane - Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Tastemaker Tag Sale at OKL

Gosh, this post is going to sound awfully selfish of me but I can't help it. Or maybe it's not entirely selfish since I am trying ...

Country Living

Technically not a mantel, but you could decorate your mantel in the same fashion.

Who else is excited about decorating for Christmas? I am! I am! We got our Christmas tree on Saturday (I was too pooped out from Thursday to do anything on Friday) and got more lights and ornaments yesterday. We haven't put up the lights and ornaments just yet, but I have a feeling we'll be doing that tonight. Usually, we have white lights on the tree but this year I decided against it. I've been so inspired with the jewel tones found in clothes and jewelry that I thought why not try it out on the tree this year. So, the theme for the tree is Kate Spade since jewel tones are all I see in her line.

I've also started thinking about changing the mantel from it's Fall theme to a Christmas theme. And to help me (and you) along with that project, I've gathered a few images for some inspiration. Which one below is your favorite?

House and Home

Tiered topiaries flanking the fireplace creates a polished & festive look.

House Beautiful

Country Living

Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

House and Home

Better Homes and Gardens

Southern Living

Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

Christmas - Monday, November 29, 2010

Christmas Decorations for the Mantel

Country Living Technically not a mantel, but you could decorate your mantel in the same fashion. Who else is excited about decorating for Ch...

Like I said in my Thanksgiving Tablescapes post, I was inspired by the last photo for our own tablescape.

The table is set, the bar is stocked, and the fridge is busting at the seams. I'd say we're ready to have a Thanksgiving feast with loved ones. So much time and preparation have gone into making today a day of eating and spending time with family and friends. But I realized just last night, amidst all of the planning and preparing for today, that I completely forgot the reason why we have Thanksgiving in the first place. I was too busy thinking about the flowers we would have, or what kinds of side dishes we would be serving, to realize what today is all about. And at that moment, I started to really count my blessings, literally. I have much to be thankful for and while I do tend to forget from time to time, today wont' be one of those days.

Thank you to my family, friends, and readers for allowing me to share my musings in this blog. It really is one of the joys of my life and I'm so happy that I can share it with you.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

DIY place cards that I printed last night. Told ya I would have them this year!

{Photo Credit: Yours Truly, Christina Johnston}

tablescape - Thursday, November 25, 2010

Our Thanksgiving

Like I said in my Thanksgiving Tablescapes post, I was inspired by the last photo for our own tablescape. The table is set, the bar is stoc...

Basket-Weave Place Cards
In my truest form, this is completely and utterly last minute but better late than never I say! If you're like me, you haven't made or finished writing your place cards and are even possibly trying to think of what to do. As I promised in my Thanksgiving tablescape post, I WILL have place cards this Thanksgiving and these are a few options that I think are great last minute DIY place cards that anyone can turn to.

Some have step-by-step instructions while others are pretty much self-explanatory. Either way, it should get your creative juices flowing to create your own place cards.

Fresh Nest Design

Pine Cone Place Cards

Rustic-Napkin-Ring-Place-Cards_full_article_vertical

Good Ideas and Tips

Design Sponge

Hostess Blog

These are available to buy on Etsy, but if you're really crafty, it's definitely something you could try to make yourself.

Rustic Place Cards

I'm leaning towards this one...

place cards - Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Last Minute DIY Thanksgiving Place Cards

Basket-Weave Place Cards In my truest form, this is completely and utterly last minute but better late than never I say! If you're like...

The new secretary in it's rightful place (far right).
Do you know how long we've lived in our house? Two years, and in those two years we have not put any, that's right, any window treatments in our living room. We figured since everyone else had them up, we wouldn't need to worry about it for awhile. And honestly, the thought of spending a ton of money on window treatments didn't really motivate us. BUT we are singing a different tune now that the drapes are finally up and we have the privacy that the rest of the neighborhood has had.

The minute I saw these Pottery Barn Velvet Drapes in the catalog, I knew they were perfect for the room. With winter just around the corner, I knew velvet would be most appropriate and the color (Maple Leaf - the perfect mix of red and orange) was exactly what the room needed - that perfect pop of color that would contrast with the walls and really complement all of the other colors found in the room.

And anything in velvet is a-okay with me. Seriously, the minute I took the drapes out of the packaging, I thought to myself, "I want a Scarlett O'Hara dress made out of these!". I think my husband thought I was a bit crazy for saying that, but trust me, they REALLY would make a fabulous southern belle gown.

Seeing the room with drapes, I ask myself how could we have gone without them for that long??

Before

Check out the new location of our bar (far left).

After

Emma on her perch, or command center as we like to call it sometimes.

before and after - Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Scarlett O'Hara Would Kill for these Drapes

The new secretary in it's rightful place (far right). Do you know how long we've lived in our house? Two years, and in those two ye...

I finally found them! Well, not the exact ones but these are a darn good replica of them. I found them perusing the online magazine, Adore Home, and couldn't believe that I had found them without even trying! Granted, they don't offer the same fabric as the one in my post but they do offer other fabric choices. A bit pricey I might add, but for something so unique and cool, it just might be well worth it.

Replica Philippe Starck Mademoiselle Chair

chairs - Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Remember those Floral, Floating Dining Chairs?

I finally found them! Well, not the exact ones but these are a darn good replica of them. I found them perusing the online magazine, Adore ...

Awhile back, I did a Bulletin Board post on Sarah Richardson, the Canadian designer who stars in "Sarah's House" on HGTV, and while I mentioned how fabulous her interiors are, I forgot to mention a very important person on her show. Her associate designer, Tommy Smythe! How could I have forgotten to mention him? He provides such comedy for the show, along with a masculine view on how things should be designed.

Well, I'm happy to say that Tommy's many dwellings were featured in House and Home, and I am delighted to share them with you. His rooms are the kind that my husband would love to have in our home. Maybe we'll decorate the office as an ode to Tommy since it's the only room in the house that hasn't been decorated with a feminine hand.

bulletin board - Monday, November 22, 2010

Bulletin Board: Tommy Smythe's Houses

Awhile back, I did a Bulletin Board post on Sarah Richardson , the Canadian designer who stars in "Sarah's House" on HGTV, and...

I'm not sure if I had mentioned this, but during Snowmageddon I had discovered a great find on Craigslist. It was a vintage mahogany secretary that had the perfect proportions with great lion's feet to boot. I was gung-ho about it the minute we got it home and I started sanding that night thinking I could finish the whole project in a few days. Ha! Yea, that obviously didn't happen because I'm just telling you about it now.

Well, after months of pushing it off and being quite unmotivated, we finally got fed up with having the secretary in the garage (it was taking up precious space from my husband's car) and decided to finish it. It took us about 2 weekends to finish it completely, but I am proud to say that we finally did it and it is currently in our living room right underneath our Housing Works find from our last NYC trip.

Before

The feet on this secretary is what sold me.

After

Total labor of love.

We replaced the bar with the secretary since the location was a better fit for it. I'll have to show you the new bar set up but that will have to wait for the next post since we made another improvement to the room...

*The paint we chose was BEHR Premium Plus Ultra Paint And Primer in Black Sapphire.

paint - Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Recycling Project: The Secretary

I'm not sure if I had mentioned this, but during Snowmageddon I had discovered a great find on Craigslist. It was a vintage mahogany ...

west-elm-sesame-letterpress-harvest-plates

Sesame Letterpress Harvest Entertaining Platters
With Thanksgiving just over a week away, there's lots to be done and I'm not just talking about the food. We're hosting Thanksgiving this year and if you know me well, you would guess correctly that I am even more concerned about the house than the food. Questions concerning what kind of table cloth to use, which glasses to drink out of, and what type of flowers to put on the table have filled my head. I'm sure those of you who are expecting guests feel the same way I do. Which is why I've gathered a few items I think will help alleviate any pre-Turkey day jitters you may have.

Square Party Tablecloth

A floor length tablecloth might be the best way to change the look of our dining table.

Table Accessories

Positively polished and modern.

Marie Antoinette Dinnerware

Sacred Bird Dinnerware

Mixing and matching between these two sets would create the kind of table I want this holiday season.

Ruffled Dessert Plates

Perfect for that slice of pie!

Antiqued Glass Gourds

Add these antiqued glass gourds to add some sparkle to your table.

Flourish Coasters by Thomas Paul

These Victorian-like coasters come in different colors and designs.

Pomegranate Nut Bowl

This Michael Aram dish was too adorable to leave out.

kate spade new york "Bubbly Dot" Champagne Saucer

Get retro (and chic) by drinking champagne in these saucers.

Cheers Punch Bowl & Balloon Glasses

Nothing says "party" more than a punch bowl with matching glasses.

Chrysanthemum Chip & Dip

Get a little fancy serving your chips & dip on this dish.

Copper-Plated Chafing Dishes

Keep your food looking good (and warm) in these chafing dishes.

Blenheim Vintage Handle Napkin Ring and Placecard Holders

I had featured these in my "What I'm Fancying Now" page but these ones from Burke Decor are on sale!

tablescape - Monday, November 15, 2010

A Proper Table Setting Part III

Sesame Letterpress Harvest Entertaining Platters With Thanksgiving just over a week away, there's lots to be done and I'm not just t...

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Tastemaker Tag Sale at OKL

Christmas Decorations for the Mantel

Our Thanksgiving

Last Minute DIY Thanksgiving Place Cards

Scarlett O'Hara Would Kill for these Drapes

Remember those Floral, Floating Dining Chairs?

Bulletin Board: Tommy Smythe's Houses

Recycling Project: The Secretary

A Proper Table Setting Part III

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