AREA RUG SIZES

When I enter a room one of the first things I notice is the balance (or lack of it) in the room.  I see so many area rugs that are undersized or that the furniture is not positioned properly on the rug.

When choosing a rug for under a dining table the rug should be wide enough so that when pulling out a
chair the chair should remain on the rug. This will also insure that when seated all four legs of the chair will remain on the rug. A rug allowance of 24" beyond the width of the table is usually sufficient.

For example: If your table is 44" wide, allow 24" on each side of the table for the chairs. That gives you a rug width of 92" or approximately 7 1/2 feet. Your calculations may fall in between sizes. Since rugs come in standard sizes, unless it's a totally custom cut rug, remember it's better to go larger than smaller.

Use these same guidelines to determine the length of the rug.

When browsing furniture stores and/or magazines sometimes you'll see furniture angled on a rug with one or two of the front legs on the rug and the other legs resting on the bare floor. In some instances this may be acceptable, but, generally keep the entire piece of furniture on the rug or totally off the rug. It looks a little more pleasing and it keeps the furniture more stable.

8 1/2 Steps to a Romantic Bedroom

Happy Valentine's Day!  A designer friend of mine wrote a blog post for this special day.  The 8 1/2 steps caught my attention and who wouldn't want a romantic bedroom.  I'd like to share her post with you.
http://window-designs-etc.com/2011/02/14/8-%c2%bd-steps-to-a-romantic-bedroom/?blogsub=confirming#subscribe-blog

Last year I posted some pictures that captured the feeling of this day.  Everyone seemed to enjoy them so here they are again.  I hope you keep love in your heart not only today, but, everyday.

Flowers Displaying Color of the Year

Here I am thinking about flowers again.  As I was shopping for groceries the other day I passed the section where they display loose bouquets of flowers.  It was a dreary day and seeing them made me smile.  I decided to buy some.  First, I had to decide where I wanted to place them and that would help me choose which flowers to buy.  As I glanced over them one really stood out.  It looked like an over sized daisy and I liked the large flower heads and long stems.  I immediately decided it would be perfect in a tall vase on my bathroom vanity.

The color of the year is honeysuckle and the color of this flower looks just like the color of the flower that was published when the color was announced back in January.

Because it's on the bathroom vanity it's one of the first things I see in morning and one of the last things I see at night and that makes me happy.

 

Flowers to Bright Your Home

Living in Delaware can be pretty depressing in January.  We keep hearing about global warming, but, I can tell you that over the last ten years our winters have gotten colder and snowier (if that's a word).  The days are usually cloudy and grey which means we don't see the sun too often.  It's very uplifting and energizing when those rays of sun do shine. 

One way I've found to make things seem brighter and to put a smile on my face is to use flowers.  It's amazing how they can transform a room. 

                                                                                                               Photo from HGTV website
                                                  

                                                                                                       Photo from HGTV website

                                                                                                                Photo from HGTV website

Fresh Fabric Patterns

Honeysuckle, the new color of the year, will not appear in fabric selections until the spring.  Even then, it will not saturate the market because many of the fabrics for home furnishings and clothing fashions were made last year.  The color will be seen more by Fall and this time next year will have saturated the market.

This new fresh, vibrant color is a natural evolution from the fresh colors and patterns we've seen over the last few years.  Not everyone is drawn toward contemporary patterns, but, many people want a more modern look than traditional fabrics allow.  Therefore, over the last few years we have seen traditional patterns tweaked to give a more modern look and they have been made available in unexpected colors.

Lifestyles are more casual today than in decades past and the colors and patterns in home furnishings reflect that change.

2011 Color of the Year

Pantone's color of the year for 2011 is Honeysuckle.  See it and read about it here:  http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=20821&ca=4

This color is fresh and vibrant.  I can visualize it used on the walls of a powder room, sunroom or in a master bedroom for a soft romantic look.  It would be great to use as an accent in a contemporary room that has been done in black and white.

Opportunity for a Fresh Start

Every New Year's Day I take down the Christmas decorations while my husband watches football games.  On January 2 when I walk around the house it seems very bare.  The sparkle and ambiance that the decorations created are gone and the rooms feel void of warmth.  I find this a good time to re-evaluate my decorating choices and especially the choice and placement of accessories.

In my opinion this is the best time of year to make changes in the home.  As I mentioned, taking down decorations seems to leave a void and most everyone has an attitude of looking forward and making life changes at the start of the new year.  In many parts of the country we're stuck inside for much of the winter because of the weather.  As long as we're stuck in the house we can take that time to try new furniture arrangements, remove old accessories and replace with something totally different or take items from one room and try them in a different room.

It's easy to be creative when putting out the Christmas decorations because they're only temporary.  If people use this same approach when decorating their homes, they may be pleasantly surprised with the rooms they create.  My only hope would be that they don't get too creative and end up with something that lacks good taste and balance. 

Dressing a Room vs Dressing Me

My husband and I are invited to a "black tie optional" event being held in January.  If it were a "black tie" event, I'd know exactly what to wear.  The "optional" is what is throwing me off.  If a client asks me to create a formal living space for them, I know what formal pieces of furniture will work and I'll use a symmetrical arrangement.  For a casual living space I would place the furniture more randomly and I'd use soft, comfy fabrics.  Whatever they want, whatever style, level of comfort I'm sure I could satisfy their needs.

I'm also very confident in choosing clothing and how I dress....usually.  It's not often that I attend a formal event.  And styles and customs change from time to time and from one region to another.  So, I'm finding myself in a quandary.  I googled "black tie optional" and then went looking for a dress.  Imagine how happy I was to find something on my first outing.  I bought a nice evening bag and am looking for shoes.  Also, I went through my jewelry box and found the perfect jewels. 

I should have stopped there.  One last "google" to make sure everything was ready.  It seems like every site says basically the same thing, then each one adds a few extra comments to confuse the issue!  Now, I'm having second thoughts on my choice, time is running out, and since many women are now shopping for New Year's Eve dresses, I think my choices will be very slim. 

Probably all will go well, although at the moment, I'm a little stressed.

Christmas

It's five days till Christmas.  I'm ready except for a few minor things.  I always do this.  Each family member gives me a wish list at Thanksgiving time. I choose what I want to give them, do the shopping (hopefully, early) and then proceed to wrap.  Each person usually has the same number of gifts to open and approximately the same dollar amount is spent on each person.

Somehow, I always fall short with someone.  Then I find it necessary to go out and buy another gift.  Fortunately, this time it should be easy to purchase what I want.  Also, I'll make sure I'm at the store in the morning when the doors open.

My decorating is done and some of the baking is done.  Christmas Eve is always at my house.  We have dinner, open presents and go to church.  I have to admit that last year I was so tired and everyone was in such a rush that we never made it to church.  Most of the time my family comes for Christmas dinner.  This year my son & his fiance are having an open house on Christmas Day so I get to relax on that day.  On Sunday we're invited to a cousin's house for lunch.  I'm really looking forward to this weekend!

Here's a glimpse at Christmas in my house......

An Artificial Christmas?

When decorating my home for Christmas most of the greens inside are artifical and the outside greens are real.  I do this because I know the greens outside will stay fresh because of the cold and those inside won't wilt because of heat and lack of water. 

For years I frolicked (I like that word, it sounds Christmasy) through fields of trees looking for the perfect one to decorate.  It was fun when my children were young and we made it a family affair.  After they grew up it wasn't as much fun going by myself (my husband went once and that was enough for him).  Then one year I awoke to tiny little spiders all over the walls and ceiling.  Apparently, one had built a nest in the tree and the warmth of the house produced all the little ones!  That was the last year for a live tree.

I've been wondering what decorations will look like years in the future.  When I was growing up I didn't know anyone who had an artifical tree.  Well, I take that back, once my mother bought a silver tinselly looking tree.  (She read a lot of women's home magazines with so called cutting edge ideas.)  Another time she went out in the woods and picked up a large branch that had fallen off a tree, took it home and spray painted it gold, then proceeded to put lights and balls on it.  She placed it in front of the picture window where everyone passing by could easily see it.   As a teenage, I was mortified!  My brother and sister and I protested so much that she has never attempted any unusual decorating since.

In the 19th centuy:
          All the Christas trees were live........now many are artificial     
          Candles were placed on trees......today we use electric lights
          Live holly decorated the home.....in modern times holly is red plastic with a foam core
          Pine cones were gathered from the woods.....resin pine cones sprayed with cinnamon scent are sold in bags.
          Waxed candles burned brightly.....now we can use battery operated faux candles.

Fifty years from now will all of the decorations we use be artifical?  Will anyone even remember when live/real decorations were used?  With the advancement of technology and modern manufacturing the "natural" factor is being taken out of so many things in our lives.  I hope we don't get too far from nature and remember that we are human and humans thrive and are happiest when connecting on a personal level and surrounded by nature.

                       I WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON
                                                                        AND A
                                           MERRY CHRISTMAS FILLED WITH LOVE
          
         

Giving Thanks

In a couple of days we'll be gathering around the dining table with family and friends to feast on turkey and all the trimmings.  Let's remember to share our bounty with those less fortunate and to thank the Lord for all of our blessings.

I'm especially thankful for my family and our good health.  I'm thankful that my parents are still enjoying life in their 80's.  I'm thankful that my children and grandchildren live close by and I get to see them frequently.  This year my son-in-law's family will be joining us for dinner.   My table is already set and I'll be cooking all day on Wednesday so that I can enjoy everyone on Thanksgiving Day.

I hope your Thanksgiving Day is full of joy and gratitude. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I love duvet covers. They act as bedspread, quilt and blanket all in one. A duvet is the quilt that is inserted into the cover. It's usually white and covered with an inexpensive cotton or cotton blend fabric. A lightweight duvet can be used in warm months and a denser one in the winter. The duvet cover can be coordinated with the rest of your bedroom, and because the insert can be changed with the seasons there is no need for multiple coverlets. Thus, saving money and doesn't that sound like a good idea!

Rugs With Fringe

I like fringe on rugs. I don't like messy fringe on rugs. There is no way that the fringe can stay neat when it is in an area where it gets constant use. Even vacuuming messes it up.



I've found a way to have neat fringe. I read this in an article years ago and have been "combing" my rugs ever since. It takes me only a few seconds to comb the fringe with a wide toothed comb. It's fast, easy and the fringe always looks nice and neat.

Fall Centerpiece

Making a colorful fall centerpiece is easy and inexpensive when you use fresh fruit, colorful gourds (bumpy ones for texture) and winterberry twigs (or whatever else you find in your yard). Using organic materials is also better for the environment than artificial. When you're done with the centerpiece eat the fruit and throw the gourds & twigs into the garden to decay back to the earth.