Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Decorating for the Holidays



Although my beloved Clark Griswold would vehemently disagree, I believe in subtlety when it comes to Holiday decor. I am all for incorporating the the spirit of the season in the home . . it's just that giant snowmen, multicolored flashing lights, and borderline creepy Santa figurines can be, well, scary. Here are my picks for this season's sophisticated touches. . .

Swap out your everyday throw pillows for punchy new versions that echo the vibe of the season. I adore this chevron love from Deco Yellow.  



Holiday Trellis $80

Holiday Sparkle $50
Go Greek $18

Sliver Silk $55


Candy Cane Love $24

Fun, Modern Menorahs are unexpected and always a hit!

Winter Branches $99


Jonathan Adler's Utopia $295


Mod Menorah $150


City Folks Skyline $125


Puzzled $159

Puppy Love $120

Rethink your Holiday Stockings. . .displaying these modern takes on Santa's Sock are a whimsical and unpredictable way to bring in the season.

Simple & Sweet $26

Union Jack $36

Rustic Sweet $18

Even Sweeter $21

Chevron! Color! Pattern! Oh my! $18.50 each

Be Fabulous You and go Bespoke $150 for 4


Or just keep the decorating neutral all together. . .

Porcelain Glow $6-8

Magnolia Leaf Wreath $65


Twig Globe $70


Feather Wreath $19

Winter Forest Candles $20-45

Lacey Snowflake Decals $23 for 6

Simply Etched $24-29


Last but not least is my favorite pick for this season- a true City Girl's delight . . . No muss no fuss.

Decal Pine $55

Happy Holidays with Big Love to All!
xx,
Nic


Monday, November 7, 2011

Monday, October 31, 2011

Simple High Impact

Updating your space need not induce a trip to your therapist's office.  In fact, simple fixes on the cheap may just be all that you really need for a gloomy weather Pick-Me-Up. Here are my Top 5 picks for High Impact updates.

No. 1 - Install Dimmers.
For around $10 a pop and 10 minutes of your time- viola! Atmosphere! See how easy it is here 



No. 2  - Refinish Your Floors.
Updating your floors with a new finish is approximately 1/8 the cost of new flooring. This is definitely one to leave to the pros- however the cost is minimal at around $1.50-$2.50 per square foot.



No. 3 - Swap out Old Hardware for New. 
Transform your kitchen or update the architectural details of your home in an afternoon.  New doorknobs can do wonders to a tired interior. Ikea has a great selection of smart modern hardware & Anthropologie always has charming options.





No. 4 - Paint! 
Walls are the largest surface area of your home. Make the most of the opportunity to inject some personality or welcome a cool calm. For about $100 per room for paint & supplies you can afford to take a risk....just keep the rest of the room neutral if you go with an overachiever (I'm currently adoring Peacock Blue) If painting isn't your thing, I recommend Thompson Holiday for all of my professional paint jobs- small or large.


No. 5 - Dress your Windows.
Clean lines will give your space a sophisticated & timeless update. The trick is to keep your hardware classic and aim to hang curtain panels about 3-4" from the ceiling to maximize your ceiling height.





Enjoy these updates. And remember. . .  Baby steps. Baby steps
xx,
Nic