Brightening the SPIRITS!

It’s the Holidays and time to be Jolly.  When inviting friends over for the festivities make sure you provide a gathering spot for mixing, concocting, and celebrating the season.  Even if you have space in your kitchen and have carved out a spot for a wet bar an additional bar cart is simply too much fun to resist. Snazzy & snappy, these carts provide a party on wheels. I love these versatile pieces  because when not in use they can transform into a multitude of other things (bathroom cart, side table, plant stand, mini library, etc...)  Utilitarian and functional for sure, but chic and cheerful in appearance is the intent.  Start with the cart and build your vision with beautiful accessories.  My favorite is the glassware, gold, silver, and colored are wonderful options to make your cart sparkle.  Make it fancy, staging your cart is a great opportunity to dust off your wedding stemware and other cut glass pieces. Fresh flowers in a vase and fruit are ideal for a pop of fresh color.  Eclectic and inspired styling will help the crowd gather and keep the spirits bright!

images gathered from Pinterest

Remember a “Toast” is a great way to start the night – or send your company on their way.

I love this one for New Year’s Eve –

 Here’s to a bright New Year,

and a fond farewell to the old.

Here’s to the things yet to come,

and to the memories that we hold.

Most of all enjoy your family and friends, share laughter and joy,

 savor the moments and have a blast creating memories!

 Happy Holidays to all!

CHEERS!

Big Impact - Low Commitment with Wallpaper

Framed Wallpaper

 It seems like a life long commitment when you choose a wallpaper to hang in your home.  Hours devoted to hanging and $$$ put out, it better be worth the investment, right? I am constantly intrigued by the newest trends in wallpaper but don’t necessarily want to be married to it forever.  Looking through Pinterest, the other day, I found so many ways to have my cake and eat it too!  Love these big impact – low commitment ideas for wallpaper throughout the home.

Peel and stick wallpaper from Target

   

Ceiling done in a metallic wallpaper-
creating beautiful drama

Even if you are renting you can now have your walls covered, if you choose, in fabulous paper.  Many retailers have heard the demand and filled the need for peel and stick removable paper.  “Wallpaper tiles” are another option, the tiles are 2’x 4’ sections of self adhesive paper, handy for smaller projects.  I also love murals, they help to create a focal point for an otherwise "hum drum" room.  A singular wall commitment is easy and won’t break the bank.  

Make your books pop off the shelves 

Even if you don’t want to paper the walls, furniture is always a great choice to apply paper.  My favorite placement of paper is behind the books in a bookshelf.  The volumes and "chachkies"pop with a dynamic graphic backdrop. 

It’s the little things that matter most. Think of your Powder room, Laundry room, dressing room or closet, and even your staircase as a perfect spot for a splash of colorful wallpaper.  What about the backsplash in your kitchen, instead of tiling try a small floral paper to liven up this small space with a touch of whimsy.  

Backsplash whimsy

Liven up the Laundry Room

            

Wallpaper - now you can try it out, without stressing out!!!

Note - many of these projects can be done in an afternoon...before guests arrive ;)!

Some of my favorite retailers for wallpaper: 

Anthropologie: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/category/wallpaper/home-wallpaper.jsp#/

Target: http://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=wallpaper&category=9976365|All|matchallpartial+rel+ALL|all+categories&kwr=y#?lnk=snav_rd_wallpaper

CB2: http://www.cb2.com/all-wallpaper/wallpaper/1

West Elm: http://www.westelm.com/search/results.html?words=wallpaper&cm_sp=HeaderLinks-_-OnsiteSearch-_-MainSite&cm_type=OnsiteSearch

Local Farm to Table Offerings

Shopping Local at area Farmers Markets 

The trend these days in restaurants is to prepare locally grown and harvested produce and meats for their patrons.  Why not follow this "farm to table" philosophy in your own home, buy and prepare local! Fortunately, I am surrounded by two farms which provide fresh and organic, produce and provisions, Erdenheim Farms and Maple Acres.  Erdenheim Farms, with picturesque pastures filled with livestock familiar to the Scottish Highlands and story book barns, has a small stand located near the stately sheep barn. It is open Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings only. They are currently selling honey, eggs, freshly pressed apple cider, kale, micro greens grown in their own greenhouses, and angus burgers and hotdogs or larger portions of lamb and angus. Maple Acres has been open to the public for a long time and has an established following, its' stand is open everyday of the week with year round offerings.  They preserve and pickle their own produce creating sauces and condiments, holiday décor, and freshly cut christmas trees. While selecting freshly picked produce and flowers at Maple Acres you often bump into a neighbor, class mate, colleague, coach, student etc… it is a little hub of the community joining many surrounding areas together.  They have added hayrides, yoga, and their grounds are available for a venue rental, furthering the community interest and involvement.

Maple Acres Farm Produce

Erdenheim Farm's stately sheep barn

As mentioned recently on CBS’s Sunday Morning program in November, the newest trend in community development is to center a neighborhood around a farm, creating an “Agrihood.” 

See the episode on the "Agrihood" community development trend: 

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/homes-sprouting-up-around-farms/

Not only do these farms give us healthy and fresh options but they also allow us to experience how and where our food comes from.  Something that is so important to the development of our children’s relationship with food.  It is essential for them to understand where their food comes from, not just from the supermarket shelves, but from the earth and from their neighbors.

The Shelves are stacked at Maple Acres Farmers Market

It is a healthier option to that of mass produced “store bought” offerings.  Not only are you bringing home good stuff but you are also keeping your purchases within the community therefore supporting local farming operations and thus your neighbors.  Whitemarsh and Plymouth Meeting have been ahead of the trend and we have been lucky to have these two farms within reach.  

Welcome to the Agrihood!

Thanksgiving Inspirations

Hunting and Gathering for Pinecone Inspired Arrangements 

While I answer phone calls, sit in on Open Houses, make deals while waiting to pick up my kids from practice, stay up a little later to make sure all my ‘I’s” are dotted and “T’s” are crossed before heading to a settlement, my good friend, Alice, is busy helping and creating behind the scenes for my Blog.  I wanted to provide my followers with original ideas for Thanksgiving decorating.  Alice Flint has been involved in floral design for years, so I naturally asked her to come up with some clever creations for my Blog.  Not only does Alice enjoy the creative process but also loves to produce something from little money spent.  This time of year provides us with leftover pumpkins, pinecones, dried plant material, and beautiful evergreen leaves, all of which Alice incorporated into her Thanksgiving displays.  Often in the woods walking her dogs she foraged many pinecone varieties to use in her arrangements, I honestly didn’t know that there were that many around here.  A quick run to Michaels for spray paint and oasis, gathering up containers that she already owns, and clipping various greenery from her backyard she made 4 designs that will be displayed throughout her home this Thanksgiving.  Take a look at her process and be inspired in your own home this Holiday.  

Wishing you and your family a wonderful and joyful Thanksgiving.

ARRANGEMENT  NO. 1

ARRANGEMENT  NO. 2

           

ARRANGEMENT  NO. 3

                               

 ARRANGEMENT  NO. 4

Nook and Cranny, Nik and Nak, This and That - PART 2

the treasure hunt continues...

As mentioned in my previous Blog – Nook and Cranny, Nik and Nak, This and That, I would visit the remaining antique stores in Glenside, Pa.  Late October and Indian Summer day graced my friend and I as we embarked on our continued treasure hunt.  

Potluck Findings

First stop, Potluck Findings, Glenside Ave., an antique store that features new and old stained glass in the large front windows.  Inside the shop the abundance of furniture was awesome, the store is very large and open allowing for the big finds to be viewed and sold easily.  Since I gravitate toward the curios and accessories I focused on shelves, cases, corners, and ledges brimming with collectibles.  Items that caught my eye were cuckoo clocks (true nostalgia), tiny porcelain figures (perfect for vintage style baby’s room display), and old wooden Coca-Cola cases that evoked a backyard BBQ.  

Quite a few of the larger pieces are up-cycled by the owner – breathing new life into them. 

Lori Bilodeau Antiques and Collectibles

We then drove down to Keswick Village and we were delighted by Lori Bilodeau’s Antique and Collectibles.  The inventory was meticulously labeled and arranged creating wonderfully coordinated vignettes.  Lori has a discerning eye and showcases that through her carefully selected stock.  It is always hard to feature any particular items but I LOVED the one of a kind Noah’s Ark, it was remarkable and I would’ve scooped it up if I had a larger budget that day!  Original oil paintings, a beautifully decorated wooden box, gorgeous hand painted Polish pottery, oodles and oodles of glassware and china lined the walls and shelves.  Lori Bilodeau’s Antiques is a wonderfully appointed and curated shop that you can confidently purchase from.  

The Pink Door 

Back in the car we drove back to Glenside Ave. to visit The Pink Door.  At first glance, the shop seems sparse, because of previous experiences with shops that are overflowing with everything…but give this shop a good gander.  The minimalistic display was surprisingly enchanting, lovely mirrors, sparkling chandeliers, cabinets, art work, all very well chosen.  An added bonus, the owner does custom painting of the furniture, too.  She and I struck up a great conversation about a coveted stoneware pottery vessel with a crown and the number 6 on it, a very cool find. 

I might go back for that one! 

 I have to admit we hit all the stores open that day,  revisiting ones from the previous blog and I grabbed up a bunch of goodies.  Best part was that the prices couldn’t be better, the shop owners are very gracious with discounts, you don't have to haggle they just offer great prices!!  You leave feeling as though you just grabbed the brass ring! With the Holidays approaching consider shopping local and present your gift recipients with a one of kind, hand selected, treasure from one these fabulous antique stores!

Visit the Website/Facebook pages of the shops mentioned-

Potluck Findings:  https://www.facebook.com/PotluckFindings/?fref=photo

Lori Bilodeau Antique and Collectibles: http://loribilodeau.com/

The Pink Door: https://www.facebook.com/The-Pink-Door-of-Glenside-381318575223663/?fref=ts