Design Board: Fresh Family Room

Long time, no blog. I know. This time of year is always crazy. I've just started with new clients decorating their new house that they will be moving into in January. They wanted to start from scratch and are giving the house a complete overhaul with new hardwoods, carpet, paint, tile...the works! And to go with all that newness, we are ditching the old furniture and starting fresh!

Here is the design board for their new family room.

Love. It. 

The sofa, chairs, and rug have already been ordered...and let me say, those green chairs are going to be amazing. We went with a sofa almost identical to this one and we are upholstering it in Sunbrella fabric, which will make cleaning it a breeze. The ready-made curtains will get custom treatment with that gorgeous greek key trim and their fireplace is getting a fresh coat of dark grey paint.

I can't wait for it all to start coming together!

Part Deux

So after making my initial list of gift goodies last week, I have come across so many more great ideas! I had to share with all of you. Any of these would make a fantastic gift to give (or get).

I mean, this is the best thing ever.

I loooove this.

Sometimes DSLR just won't do.

Lulie Wallace has prints for a limited time!

So does Teil Duncan!

This is a super deal! Love her eyeshadows.

Who wouldn't want this showing up every month? 

Lots of good gift subscriptions.

You know I love a good coffee table book. This is a super fun one.

The hubs should totally get this for me. (amiright?)

Cookie Jar / Sweater / Camera /  Lulie Wallace / Teil Duncan / Bobbi Brown
/ Birchbox /Book / Tshirt

I Feel Like I Just Did This....

Christmas decor is up! It's kinda sad that it will be up for a very short amount of time this year. I usually get a good 4-5 weeks out of it. I also switched things up a bit this time. I found the cutest little starburst/urchin picks at Michaels and I cleared out the bin.

So cute, right? I love them. They come in a few different colors. I bought all of the gold/silver, black/silver, and orange/red. It brings something modern into my traditional mantel.

The stockings are also a new addition. These came from the hubby's late grandmother who had them hanging at her house every year. I'm happy that she was able to make myself and my daughter one before she passed away. They are a wonderful reminder of her and I am honored to have them.

This lady also got some bling for the holidays. 

(you can see my tree in the mirror...I swear that thing is crooked, but the hubs insists it's straight. Oh well. I'm certainly not messing with it anymore.)

My dining area got a complete makeover from last year. That's an artificial garland and wreath with pieces of fir tree from our yard woven in. And huge magnolia leaves from our trees. I love, love the way it came out. Oh, and it's also hanging with 3 thumbtacks. I decided to do this at 7:00 one night and I was out of command strips. Do what you gotta do. 

I used to have a whole set-up on the table with mirrors and candles and garland and little trees. I toned it down this year and went minimalist. Just brass and greenery. And black candles, naturally.

And finally, my favorite new ornament! And crap, a bulb is out.

Merry almost Christmas everyone!

Turkey Coma

Hope all of you had a wonderful holiday weekend! I'm completely over all things turkey. We are STILL eating leftovers.

Since I made such a huge deal of my plans for my table, I thought I would share with all of you what I actually did...

I loved it. 

A few deets on the items I used...

Brass pineapple chargers - I found these at an antique store for less than $8. For a set of 10 solid brass chargers! They were in craptastic condition when I bought them but I knew a good polishing with Brasso would bring them back to life.

Tablecloth - Anthropologie. I bought this over the summer and finally got to use it. I am always on the hunt for good tablecloths. They make the table. 

Blue and White Plates - Spode. I am obsessed with these. I already bought the coordinating set so I have a full set of 12. Buy them here.

Gold salad plates - Homegoods. These were a last minute addition. I loved the pattern and for $3.99 a plate, you can't go wrong!

Gold flatware - Reed and Barton via Craigslist. Best. Find. Ever. 

Blue goblets - Another antique store find. $2 each. 

Wine glasses - Wedgewood

I usually like to keep my table decorated for at least a few days after Thanksgiving, but since Christmas is right around the corner, I had to take it down the next morning. But Christmas decor is up! And I switched things up this year.....next post? Probably.

Have You Started Shopping Yet?

Goodness gracious you guys...it feels like we just did the holidays. Like...yesterday. But here we are again. Not that I'm complaining, this is my favorite time of the year. Cold weather, boots, twinkly lights, mashed potatoes. By March I will be completely over it and dreaming of a day at the pool, but for now I am loving it.

Because Thanksgiving is super late this year (only 3 1/2 weeks until Christmas after you stuff yourself silly on Thursday), I am getting a jump on all my shopping. Which means I also put together my annual "I would't hate it if one of these showed up under the tree" list.

What's on it? All kinds of goodies. First of all, after getting a facial in Vegas, I decided I have got to get a Clarisonic. For real.

And yes, those are LV Mini Almas. Do I think Santa will throw one my way? Doubtful. The hubs thinks I need a new purse like a fat kid needs cake. But you never know, Christmas is a time for miracles.

Unfortunately that Sephora Superstars kit is sold out online. Sad face. Maybe there are a few lurking around our store here....

Cosmetic case / Boots / Book I / Book II / Clarisonic / Parka / Necklace / Sunnies / LV Mini Alma

Happenings....

We were in Vegas last week. I am always floored by the decor in the casinos and hotel. No expense spared.

Like this Fornasetti wallpaper in our closet for goodness sakes...

Or this amazing marble floor in the bathroom at the Venetian...

 

 

This pink chandelier in the elevator lobby was bananas...

As was all the art throughout our hotel, The Cosmopolitan...

We had a fantastic time. Lots of shopping, eating, and gambling, naturally.

Also...big things happening at the parents'.....

Like new chairs being delivered...

New lamps finding a home...

Blue and white garden stools are showing up...

Shelves getting styled...

 

We can see the finish line! Sofa and chairs are being delivered after thanksgiving! 

Holiday Inspiration: Place Settings

With the holidays really quickly approaching, I have had place settings and tablescapes on the brain. My family decided to have Thanksgiving at my house because my parent's house just isn't suitable with all the decorating chaos. Not that I'm complaining...I love to throw a party. Instead of doing things like....I don't know....laundry....I have been playing around on my favorite site for all things table. Zara Home. They always have such a fantastic selection and the prices are crazy reasonable.

I'm not a "themed" holiday table setting person. I just like things to look interesting and out of the ordinary for a special occasion. The good thing about these place settings is that you could use them all year. No reindeer or turkey plates here.

I'm crazy for those bamboo plates, which is why i used them twice.

Look 1

Tablecloth / Dinner / Salad / Flatware / Tumbler / Wine

Look 2

Tablecloth / Dinner / Salad / Flatware / Tumbler / Wine

Look 3

Tablecloth / Charger / Dinner / Salad / Flatware / Tumbler / Wine

Paint!

Is going on the walls at my parent's house! 

You can see the new cabinets and console.  

And this, my friends, is the beginning of the high gloss dining room ceiling.

Dying.

You can see the old paint color in this photo...that tan color underneath the trimmed out white. That is going away and everything is going white and bright!

Wheeeeeeeeee!!! I love progress.

Pop-up Shop: Sally King Benedict

I hope none of you slept last night. Furbish Studio launched a pop-up shop of original works and prints (her first ever) by Sally King Benedict. I've been dying for one of her "face" abstracts. It went live around 11 pm last night and by midnight, pretty much everything was gone. You are still able to snag a print at the moment, but I'm certain those are close to selling out. They are working on another round of originals, so if you want first dibs, I suggest you bookmark the site and check it every 5 minutes (just kidding...kind of). I am really hoping my mom (who luckily doesn't sleep) snagged this gem for me for a Christmas present. Fingers crossed!

Check out the shop here.

Master Bedroom Details

When I posted my bedroom makeover, I told you all that I would spill the sources of the room. Most of the furniture items have been in there since it was first completed a few years ago, but many of them are still available now!

So here are the deets........

Shams - Ralph Lauren Langdon Border Collection 

Duvet Cover - Restoration Hardware Washed Belgian Linen in White

Quilt - Pottery Barn (Ours is from a few years ago...this one seems to be the closest to it)

Cheetah pillow fabric - P Kaufmann Cheetah in Stone

Lumbar pillow fabric - Kelly Wearstler Bengal Bazaar in Apricot

Rug - gifted

Bedside Tables - Z Gallerie Borghese Chest

Lamps - Barbara Cosgrove Square Glass Pillar (buy here. Note: I added grosgrain trim to my shades)

Mirror side table - West Elm

Abstract artwork by Eva Carter (I found this piece at a re-sale shop. Major score.)

Mongolian Lamb pillow cover - West Elm

Black bamboo side chair - I found this years ago on sale at Pier 1. Here is something similar.

Starburst mirror - really old from West Elm. I believe it was the first thing I ever purchased from them.

That should do it! I have one more thing I want to add and that's some new sheets. I can't decide between these 2....

Coral embroidered sheet set from Crane & Canopy

Katie sheets from Biscuit Home

I have heard rave reviews about Biscuit, but I love the simplicity of the embroidery. So who knows.

Design Board(s): The Parental Makeover

Welcome Pink Pagoda readers! Today I am linking this post to the Blue and White Bash over at The Pink Pagoda. Head over there to see some really fantastic all things blue and white posts!

My parent's redecorating is starting to come together. We have ordered most of the new den furniture, like the sofa, chairs, and cabinets. Oh, right, we decided to do cabinets rather than a lone TV console. I did an updated design board to show my mom what everything will look like. And you get to see it too!

I'm not a huge fan of all-in-one TV units. You know, with the console in the middle and then the 2 shelving units/bookcases on either side all made of the same wood. They always look so heavy to me. So we opted for a console in a completely different material than the cabinets. Ahhh...space. There is even room at the bottom for some baskets if we are so inclined. 

And because I like all of you so much...I'm posting the dining room board as well!

The dining room was originally going to keep all of its original furniture. But then I saw 2 blue velvet host chairs and, well, plans changed. The dining room is completely separate from the den, so I figure a little nod to the sofa was in order. 

My mom has a very similar oil painting hanging in there now and I think with the new blue chairs, it will look amazing.  I love a good Louis dining chair, so I think these will be making an appearance. We have to think of something fast because my mom sold her old dining set in like 3 hours on Craigslist. And Thanksgiving is around the corner! Gulp.

**If you are interested in your own design board, email me at hendersondesigns@gmail.com**

For the Love of a Sink...

This is the thing about Craigslist. I'm obsessed with it. I check it every day. And most of the time I come up empty handed, but then there are days where it's like I won the lottery. Most of the things I find, I have no use for. But, oh man, it's fun to look.

Like today.

An antique cast iron farmhouse sink.

 I don't need a sink. I have a perfectly nice one sitting 5 feet from me. But it's not this sink. Which makes me sad. I almost didn't post this because of my irrational fear that someone else will steal this out from under me (which they should...I'm not buying a sink). And this one needs a good ol polishing with some Bar Keeper's Friend (best stuff ever...look it up). Anyway...this led me to googling images of homes with farmhouse sinks.

2 farmhouse sinks! 2!
 Sink hoarders.

Farewell, sink. It was fun while it lasted.

Kari Herer Photography

I just love coming across new (to me) talent on the internet. Etsy is my favorite place to search out artists and craftspeople (craftsmen? craftswomen?). I came across Kari Herer's Etsy shop and was blown away by her gorgeous photography. Her compositions and use of light are crazy good. One of her larger prints has been added to my Christmas list.

Behold the beauty.

I also love her use of illustration...

Beyond talented.

See all of her work in her Etsy Shop.

*all of these photos belong to Kari Herer*