Entryway Holiday Decor

With the holidays just around the corner, no doubt you’re beginning to think about preparing your home for all the festivities.  Wondering where you should start? How about dressing up your home’s entry to make a seasonal statement?  Whether you have a small porch or expansive courtyard, there are fun ways to spruce up your otherwise ho-hum front entrance to kick-off the holiday or winter season.  There’s no need to rival the Griswold’s with Christmas lights and inflatables either, just remember the 3/3 Rule: 1) Keep it simple, 2) Make it festive, and 3) Have fun.

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From Drab to Fabulous in a Few Easy Steps

There are a few things to do before you pull the ornament and decoration boxes out of the attic.

• Make a plan.  Clean and de-clutter the outside entryway.  Determine focal points (generally the front door, a set of windows, an outside railing — anywhere that draws the eye).  What you can do is dictated by available space, but no matter how much or how little room you have, think about grouping holiday items near each other for best effect. Also design with vertical space in mind in order to draw the eye up.
• Establish a color scheme.  For the maximum impact, choose two main colors and one accent color.  You can use seasonal colors such as red, green, silver, gold or white. Keep in mind there are no hard and fast rules (other than 3/3 rule) so have some creative fun and set the color stage for welcoming your guests. 
• Gather materials. Repurpose existing materials and decorations, and consider using live plants, as that can help bring life to an otherwise cold and dark season. Something as simple as a potted conifer, even an oversized Rosemary bush can be used depending on the climate and availability.    They’re reasonably priced and can remain on the porch until the ground thaws in early spring, at which time you can dig a hole and plant them!  If live plants aren’t your thing, many of the discount stores sell pre-lit small conifers that look genuine and come potted in urn-type planters.  They’re hassle free and last year after year.  
• Tie it all together.  A great decorating tip is to repeat a few elements.  Using evergreen garland along the railing compliments the green in planters.  Ornaments salvaged from the attic with newly purchased ribbon and hung from the porch can compliment the over-sized decorations in the planters.  It’s a perfect 3/3 rule — simple, fun, and festive!

Deck the Halls – Staging the Scene

• Reuse warm-weather containers and planters as part of your outdoor holiday display.  Birdbaths, terra cotta planters and baskets are a great place for lighted wreaths and additional holiday ornaments, and can be spray-painted for a new look to match your latest decor.  They make a dramatic display and transform themselves easily from one season to the next.  Fill them with evergreen garland, huge ornaments, sparkly twigs or white lights and see how fast they go from an annual planter to a full-blown holiday display. 
• Utilize real pine roping for an old-fashioned holiday look or purchase/reuse artificial pine roping to swag from posts, railings or frame the doorway.  Add lights, bows, or other adornments to change the look from year to year.
• Add sparkle.  Lighted displays create an instant intimacy on the porch once the sun goes down.  Consider going eco-green by investing in new LED lights as well.  They’re much more efficient and provide a brilliant light source.  If you’re short on outdoor outlets, consider battery-operated ornaments and use them during peak hours to preserve the battery life. 
• Create a lighted walkway with luminaries.  Battery operated tea lights are all the latest and they come complete with a flicker flame for a truly authentic look.  Luminaries can be created from just about anything ranging from seasonal gift bags to mason jars.  A quick Google search on “winter luminary projects” turns up many creative, inexpensive and easy ideas.   
• Suspend oversized ornaments or wreaths from garden hooks. Also think about wreaths with a different twist. We’re accustomed to seeing wreathes made from pine boughs, but you can also use other plant materials, such as eucalyptus or cotoneaster, a garden shrub that has red berries in the winter. Some garden centers also sell wreaths made of living succulents.

There is something magical about arriving home to a well designed holiday porch. With a few simple items and some creativity, you can give your home a winter season makeover with festive curb appeal.

Holiday Elegance- Urns from Home Depot cost as little as $12.  Some gold spray paint, greenery, lights and ornaments bring new life and classic holiday elegance to your front step during the winter season. (Idea courtesy of www.homedepot.com)

Winter Wonderland- Repurposed ice skates with a touch of garland and ribbon set the stage for upcoming winter fun.  Throw in a vintage sled and wait for the “snow” to fall. Nothing says “Let it Snow” like a sled and skates.  (Idea courtesy of www.betweennapsontheporch.net )

Luminaries of Light-Use vintage or store bought mason jars filled with white beans and flicker candles for a safe and beautiful way to add glow to your entryway.  Tie with raffia or wired ribbon to add color.

Presents to Pine For– Glue floral foam forms together to form box shapes.  Attach lighted garland strands with T-pins, then wrap with colorful ribbon for fresh looking presents that make a presence on your porch.

Modern Minimalism- For an easy, yet striking display, paint a repurposed old frame a bright holiday color. Attach ornaments with festive ribbon for a clean look that speaks to the creative spirit of your home. (Idea courtesy of www.adiamondinthestuff.com)

Color Trending – Table Design for the Holidays

By Andrea Vollf

For many of us, the holiday season is one of the most important times of the year. Family and friends from near and far get together to celebrate the magic of the season, give thanks for all the blessings received throughout the year and welcome the upcoming year in a positive way. There is nothing like the feeling of being home during the holidays, and with that in mind, founder of VK Sustainable Concepts and registered interior designer Andrea Vollf shares some elegant tablescape ideas that embrace the latest fashion trends and color schemes, yet remain simple and tasteful enough for any home décor.

Recently elected the color of the year 2013 by Benjamin Moore and one of the top 10 colors for spring 2013 by Pantone, the yellow family will be a constant for the upcoming year. Yellow represents the sun, optimism and the energy people tend to be searching for in order to make things happen. With that in mind, why not integrate the color into our holiday décor? Vollf designs a balanced and inviting table that integrates the warmth of yellow with the coldness of blue. Deep blue chargers and satin napkins set the stage for an elegant and warm décor using vanilla candles, golden pine cones, recycled mesh trees and milky rocks, all grounded by a rich, warm, embroiled tablecloth.

Embracing Pantone’s color of the year for spring 2013, Monaco Blue, the designer creates an elegant tablescape with blues and whites. Resembling the tranquility of the ocean, blue helps to focus on the trend of bringing the outside in while fostering feelings to reconnect with our roots and practice an introspective attitude. She uses a large amount of recycled glass, upcycled silver mesh trees, a white linen tablecloth and pine cones from her backyard (to add some sparkle, Andrea applied glittery nail polish to the edges), along with blue candles, plate chargers and napkins.

A Feast for the Eyes – Perfect Plates, Platters and Presentation

By Aly Wagonseller

The house is decorated, menu finalized and it’s time to enjoy the spirit of the holidays. Yet, with all the effort we put into making our home sparkle and shine this time of year, we sometimes forget about one of the most visual elements of the festivities…the food.  Hors d”oeuvres tossed haphazardly onto mismatched platters or colorless potatoes next to a drab-looking turkey slice are the usual offenders. Throw in silverware displayed in plastic cups more appropriately used for poker night and you’ve got a table that shouts anything but holiday glam.

Still, with shopping, cooking and simply finding the time to take a shower before your guests arrive, how can you possibly gourmet-up the presentation of your meal without incurring a major meltdown?  It’s easier than you might think. With a few simple rules, tools and creative ingenuity, you can make even the simplest of culinary offerings look like artful displays. 

 Elements of Style

When it comes to garnishing and plating food both individually and on platters, there’s no need to go overboard.  The goal is to add color, dimension and symmetry to the plate, all within a timeframe that keeps food hot and appetizing when it reaches the table.

 Color

Most proteins are lacking in the color department.  Arranging at least one brightly colored vegetable between like colored meats will help liven up the plate, but there are other options.  Consider making a colorful sauce  that compliments the meat or fish you’re serving. A vivid cranberry coulis, for example, could work with poultry, while an orange ginger sauce might be perfect for ham or fish. Spoon the sauce onto the plate, nestle the meat overtop, and you’ve got something special.

Strategically placed sprigs of leafy herbs like parsley and cilantro, or chives and green onions crisscrossed atop or placed vertically within softer foods like mashed potatoes, are a simple way to add colorful impact and height to a plate. Thinly sliced julienne carrots and red bell peppers add a pop of color and texture when neatly piled atop main entrees; a mélange of finely chopped herbs, citrus fruit and cranberries, or brightly colored spices like paprika create a colorful frame when dusted on the outer rim of the plate. Serving food in edible fruit or vegetable “dishes” like hollowed out oranges or bell peppers is also a fun way to add interest, especially as a centerpiece.  Whatever you choose, the garnish should compliment the flavors in the dish and always be edible. 

 Dimension

You’ll be amazed at how merely adding height to the food on your plate can make you look like a culinary superstar. One simple, yet effective method is to mound your starch to create a base for showing off proteins. Pile potatoes, rice pilaf or pasta onto the back third of the dinner plate (in the center if using a larger platter). Prop up whole cuts of meat like pork and lamb chops (bone up, and preferably crisscrossed) against the mound, or fan thinly sliced meats artistically at the base. A drizzle of sauce or a twist of thinly sliced lemon will give this display a “wow” factor.  

Symmetry

Location of the food on a plate also matters. Avoid overcrowding your food by using the largest plate practical for your table setting.  Plate the tallest item (starch) at the back of the plate, your focal point slightly off center, and sauces and smaller vegetables along the side or front of the plate, making sure to keep the rim free of stray food.  Using the chef’s clock formation (starch at ten o”clock, meat at two o”clock, and vegetables at six o”clock) is always a safe bet. 

For platters, create visual division by compartmentalizing the food. For example, if you want to plate three different kinds of appetizers on one platter, neatly arrange rows of like appetizers on one third of the platter, another kind of appetizer in the next segment and so on.  On circular platters, arrange like items along the outside rim, another item inside of this, all spiraling around a centerpiece or container with dipping sauce.

Tools of the Trade

Having a few basic items at your disposal can go a long way in speeding up your food beautification mission. Many items can be found at discount retailers including Home Goods and Smart and Final.

Plates

In general, white or lightly colored plates and platters are optimal.  Patterns tend to compete with the food, while brightly colored dishes make food appear muddy and lifeless.  This doesn’t mean you should throw away grandma’s elaborate china.  Instead, consider using fanciful tableware as a base for simple white dinnerware to be stacked upon.  Choose interesting shapes and sizes of platters and bowls, and don’t discount the use of footed cake plates for added height at the table.

In the Kitchen

Sure, you can go overboard purchasing fancy gadgets at Williams-Sonoma, but some of the most valuable plating instruments cost just a few cents.  A plastic squeeze bottle with a small opening or a simple pastry bag with varying styles of tips are perfect for strategically drizzling sauces onto plates, creating designs of crème fraiche or putting sour cream in soups. Metal egg rounds, cookie cutters with scalloped edges or ramekin cups make it easy to mound your starches.  Simply place the cutter in the desired position, scoop in your filling, smoothing off the top if desired, then remove the round for a beautiful clean line. For taller mounds, use the ramekin as a mold, making sure to add a light coat of cooking spray for the easy removal of particularly sticky food items.  A vegetable peeler is a kitchen staple equally adept at making Parmesan cheese and chocolate curls as it is at creating citrus peel spirals. And don’t discount the power of the fork. When placed with the tines against the peel of vegetables like squash or cucumbers, you can score the peel before slicing to create a professional-looking scalloped edge.  For more ideas on garnishing food, check out Garnishing: A Feast for Your Eyes by Francis T. Lynch.

Table Dressing

Table cloths are, of course, a wonderful touch, but here again, you’ll want to keep things simple so as not to compete with your beautifully plated food. Table cloths with plain centers and colorful borders keep the room from feeling stark while also allowing a neutral place to display your food.  Layering an opulent table runner over a solid colored cloth is another great idea. Elevate platters and plates by simply stacking a few books or sheets of cut Styrofoam underneath your table cloth.  Create height randomly, with balance from one end of the table to the other, or elevate dishes in the middle of your table to the highest level, graduating downward as you near the edge.  The resulting look is fantastic, keeps all the food easy to reach, and prevents Aunt Mary’s blouse sleeve from creeping into the cranberry sauce.

Creative Ingenuity

Creative ideas off the plate can also make your table, and the food that’s on it, look much more appealing.  Instead of using tacky plastic cups for displaying silverware, glue filigree ribbon onto the outside top portion of a medium sized glass cylinder. Partially fill with cranberries and insert silverware in an upright position amongst the fruit. Decorate the table with pinecones, unscented votives, rosemary sprigs and more cranberries for understated, yet colorful glamour. Make large platters that hold smaller items like baked brie festive by adhering a ring of cranberries along the rim with corn syrup. Finish with a “bow” made of three or four green onions cinched in the middle with another onion. Create edible holly by bunching endive along the side of the plate and sprinkling with pomegranate seeds. The possibilities are endless! 

Don’t leave your table in decorating doldrums this holiday season. With a tiny bit of effort and minimal planning, you can create a feast that’s as friendly to the eyes as it is to the stomach.

Fun with Function

The Perfect Play Room on a Shoestring Budget

By ARAContent

Playrooms are ideal spaces for encouraging children”s creativity, providing them with the stimulation they crave, and helping them create a connection with others. The great news is that you don”t have to build an addition onto the house or set aside your family vacation fund to create a great playroom.

A Cubby or a Nook

Many unused extra spaces in the home can function as a perfect playroom.  A sewing room you no longer have time for or an extra bedroom that isn”t being used are great options, but smaller spaces under staircases and large closets can also make for great play areas, giving an almost fort-like feel for your child to play make-believe in.

“Don”t let a small space rain on your playroom parade,” says Nancy Bohnett, Academic Director of Interior Design at The Art Institute of Las Vegas. There are simple ways to make a room feel larger, like adding a mirror. It can be used for dress-up time and helps the space feel larger.  Children can also use washable markers and paints on the mirror, which can easily be cleaned once playtime is over.

Regardless of whether you choose an enclosed room or a more open area, the important thing is that you make sure the space is safe and secure for the ages of children who will be playing in it.

A Room with a Reason

Once you’ve found the perfect play spot you must define a goal for the room, taking into account who will be using the space. Need some direction? Review online resources for playrooms or visit stores that offer playroom ideas. Places like Target and even children’s clothing stores can be great resources for fun, functional and inexpensive ideas and designs.

‘Create universal spaces that will grow with your children,’ encourages Bohnett, ‘Your first child may be a 3-year-old girl who loves princesses, but she may outgrow her love for pink in a few years and gain a baby brother who will also use the space as he grows.’

Keeping it Simple

When it comes to the walls, playrooms should be bright and cheerful, but there”s no need to go overboard with paint. ‘The reality is that children”s tastes change as they grow. Creating an accent wall in a favorite color is a great way to bring color to the space and save money. It can be something your kids help with, putting their handprints on the wall or something fun, and can be easily changed over time,’ says Bohnett.

In fact, Bohnett encourages restraint in all the decor. ‘Be careful not to choose a theme that will be outdated in a short period of time. Allow the toys and creative pieces your children create in the room to dictate the space. You”ll save time, money and frustration in the long run,’ she says.

The Nuts and Bolts

Decorating your room is important, but you also need to think about the functionality of the space. Durability and safety are important factors, allowing for kids to be free to create and play, while keeping the elements of the room intact.

The Down Low

When it comes to flooring, hard and washable surfaces are ideal for these spaces. ‘Having floors that can withstand the rigors of childhood play is important for a parent”s sanity,’ says Bohnett. ‘Not only do children play with many things that roll along the floor, but they also play with messy things like paints, clay and Mommy”s nail polish.’ Laminate wood or tile is washable and a great choice for kids. Individual carpet tiles are also a great way to add both texture and softness to the room, and if one tile gets ruined, it’s economical to replace.

The Sunny Side of the Street

Lighting for the space can be a breeze as well. Overhead lights that are already built into the space, daylight and some indirect light are all you need. Grab an old lamp from the garage and paint it to match the new scheme. It”s a great way to personalize the space and an inexpensive alternative to a custom child-themed lamp.

For the Grownups

Don”t forget that even in a kids” space, parents need a little room. Make sure there”s a comfortable place for you to sit and supervise your children.

Finding your Fill

Now that your room is taking shape, make a list of the items you”ll need and want, whether it”s an easel for your little artist, bins to store a large collection of blocks or a table for the perfect tea party.

You may find that you have many of the items you need, whether they are crammed into your child”s current space or stored in the garage.  For the items you need to purchase, take advantage of places like Ikea online, peruse a garage sale, check the listings on Craigslist, find some treasures on eBay or visit a recycled furniture store to pick up pieces you need.

With a little TLC and some paint, any piece can make a great addition to your playroom. A vamped up chest of drawers is a fabulous hiding spot for puzzles, games and tiny trinkets. Fill the drawers with plastic ice trays for sorting costume jewelry; silverware organizers for pencils, paint brushes and craft supplies; or shallow plastic food containers for Legos and the like.  Closet sweater stackers and over-the-door shoe organizers are also great places for coloring books and art supplies. The possibilities are endless.

Creating a safe but fun playroom for your child shouldn’t break the bank. By being creative, repurposing the things you have and staying away from trendy themes, you can count on a playroom that works for your family for years to come. To learn more about The Art Institute’s schools, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.

Reuse…Recycle…Redecorate

Creating a Fresh New Look for Free

By Tracey Drake

For most people, home is a place to retreat from the everyday stresses of life. It’s where we go to rejuvenate, and it’s important to have a space that mends the spirit and provides comfort and happiness for those we love. Unfortunately, budgetary constraints may be preventing you from revving up tired spaces, leaving your home in a kind of decorating limbo that’s stale and less than appealing. How to break the rut? Reuse…Recycle…Redecorate!

A Different Perspective

The easiest way to redecorate without spending any money is to simply ‘rethink’ your existing furnishings. Every day, interior designers and home stagers rethink for their clients. What this means is moving furniture, accessories and décor accents from one place to another, and in many cases, from one room to another. It may seem like an overly simplified way to redecorate a home, but you will be truly amazed at how small changes can make a big impact.

Get started by taking a tour of your own home, going into each room with a fresh eye and an open mind. Don’t forget things hidden away in closets, cabinets or in the garage. Create an inventory paying special attention to each piece of furniture, the draperies and area rugs, and accessories such as lamps, vases, artwork, plants, throws and toss pillows. A few helpful hints for successfully integrating your “stuff” might include:

• Measuring: Scale is very important when rearranging items from one part of your home to another. By taking the dimensions of furniture and large scale items like trees and artwork before you move them around, you’ll save on back breaking mistakes.

• Organizing: Put like accessories into one specific area of your home; for example, the lamps all on the dining room table, artwork lined along the walls of the spare room, vases on the kitchen countertops etc. This makes for an easy way to visualize and then “shop” for what you need without having to run all over the house to find things.

• Inspiration: This can be found in decorating magazines, furniture stores and online. Look closely at the shape and scale of the room in the picture, choosing those that best fit your own home design and furnishings. Use the picture as a kind of schematic guide for placing the furniture and accessories in your own space. It’s a great way to gain new perspective and obtain a professional look.

Invite a friend over for an extra set of eyes, muscles and ideas, and get things rolling. Two heads are always better than one, and it helps to have a fresh outlook from those that don’t see your home on a day to day basis.

From This to That

Thinking outside of the box is important when decorating with recycled and repurposed items. Experiment and don’t be afraid to alter the color, shape and purpose of your belongings to create interest and functionality in newfound form.

Furniture Makeovers

Less can be more in a space, especially in the case of an over-furnished master bedroom. Consider moving that oversized highboy dresser to the end or along an empty wall of the upstairs hallway. Properly accessorized with a vase of flowers, family photographs or a sophisticated lamp, it does double duty as an elegant way to store linens or off season clothing. In a tired looking family room, an outdated solid oak coffee table could easily take on a new life in the entry way. With just a few seat cushions on top and baskets beneath to hold homework, backpacks and unsorted mail, what was old is now new, and serving the need for additional storage and clutter concealment.

Fabric from Unexpected Places

Sometimes all a room needs is a touch of texture and color, and the easiest way to accomplish this is by using fabric. Cotton, silk, and linen sheets, thin, chenille bedspreads or duvet covers make fabulous window treatments. For smaller windows, tea towels or placemats make adorable café style curtains for the kitchen or laundry room. Create rod tabs with inexpensive ribbon pinned to the underside of the fabric for a casual, country flair. For larger windows, create a rod pocket by folding fabric over the rod and securing with small safety pins which will not be seen from the front once the panels are adjusted for fullness. Conversely, a window valance makes a perfect table runner for a small dining room or coffee table. Embellish it further by folding the edges to a point and pinning a tassel to hold it in place. When you want to change things up again, no harm no foul to your linens; simply unpin, wash and press, and they’re as good as new for another use.

A Work of Art

You’d be surprised what you can turn into wall art if you put your mind to it. Repurposed, clear DVD or CD cases make for an amazing piece of art when fitted with your personal, digital photos and hung side by side in a large, rectangular grid. Visit www.Ehow.com for instructions to make it. Colorful plates or shallow bowls that may be taking up valuable storage space make a graphic statement when artfully arranged on plate hangers or shelves. Antique quilts and decorative rugs are also great options. When using a number of different items or pictures on your wall, be sure to have an organized design to avoid a cluttered look, and paint all frames the same color for cohesiveness.

Unused, Unloved Paint

Every year, millions of dollars are spent on gallons of paint that end up hidden away on a shelf in the garage.

Check your stash to determine how much paint you have to work with. If you have less than a gallon in a single color, think about painting a single feature wall–perhaps behind the fireplace–to make the hearth a feature of the room. Other options might be to paint outdated or inexpensive accent furniture pieces. Don’t be afraid to use vibrant hues including that seafoam green or barnyard red that wasn’t quite right for the entire room, but would make for a nice pop of color as an accent. Tone down your piece by distressing with fine sandpaper, allowing some of the original wood tones to peek through.

The art of looking beyond a single purpose and seeing the vast possibilities your existing furnishing could have might seem daunting at first. But with a little imagination, a bit of elbow grease and a ton of creative energy, your home can be new again without buying a single item.

Host a Neighborhood Swap Meet

So you’re tired of your own furniture and decorating accents but don’t want to foot the bill for new ones? No worries – host a decorating swap meet!

• Gather your friends, family, and neighbors or post an ad at your community center.

• Invite everyone to bring their unwanted furniture, knick-knacks, accessories, dishes, fabric, draperies and unused paint and building supplies.

• Be sure to make a rule that if someone brings something, they must take something home.

• When the event is over, anything that is left over should be donated to charity. It is a win-win situation.

Remember: One woman’s junk is another woman’s treasure! A do-it-yourself swap meet is a great way to find new pieces for your home without spending any money.