Classic with a Twist: December 2011

Zen from Jen: 8 Tips to Feng Shui Your Home!

What a nice surprise when I was given a gift of candles from
my daughter's boss for Christmas...

Some Zen from Jen!

Ashley and Jen are a dynamic duo sweeping the marketing corner of the IT world
from their home base in Austin... via Spiceworks.

(sidenote: Their brand color is the Tangerine Tango...
the Pantone 2012 Color of the year... read about it here:)

She's a huge believer in Feng Shui and we thought you should know about it too!

Here's the dish...

Feng Shui Home Design is the Ancient Chinese method of achieving harmony through the arrangement of items and space.

I know that I have heard many different ideas on Feng Shui,
and many are misunderstood or misinterpreted.

These 8 tips and points help to explain the beliefs
and process of this design technique!

Photo from Patricia Gray Inc.

Chictip.com has some wonderful tips to designing with
Feng Shui shared below!
De-clutter Every Room.
Clutter in the home restricts the flow of positive energy, and can
result in cluttered thinking.
Having a tidy, organized home will result in feelings of calm and relaxation.

Position Furniture Correctly
Furniture should be positioned so as not to restrict free
passage through the room,
as this is a reflection of the flowing of energy.
People should be able to sit with their backs to a wall whenever possible.

Keep Work and Rest Areas Separate
*this means no sleeping with your Blackberry**
Any work or home office space should be kept very distinct
from living or sleeping areas.
The belief behind this rule is if these are mixed then relaxation
will be impossible, and work material kept in the bedroom will
prevent getting a good night’s rest.
Check this bed out! It follows the curves known by Feng Shui and
must be very comfortable by the looks of it!

Hang Mirrors
Mirrors are believed to reflect positive energy, therefore doubling the effect.
They also work by preventing the flow of negative energy around the home.

Photo from manolohome.com

Display Plants, Flowers, and Fruit - Bring the outdoors IN
Displays of fresh flowers and plants promote positive energy.
Displays of oranges and lemons throughout the home are
thought to bring good luck.

Photos from elledecor.com

Fill The House With the proper colors
Colors have a special significance in feng shui, with
different colors representing different things.
For example, green symbolizes nature, and is therefore
representative of life and hope.

Yellow represents power, and red and purple are said to be lucky.
Relaxing colors are best used in living spaces.

Photos from elledecor.com

Avoid Sharp Lines And Corners.
Roundness is preferred in feng shui.
Wherever possible corners should not point to beds or chairs, as they
will prevent calmness and relaxation.

Thank you Jen for thinking of me!

Until Next Time,

Saturday, December 31, 2011 Comments: 1

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and Santa was good to you!

This was a special holiday for me, partly due to a thoughtful,

blonde haired beauty that I'm proud to call my daughter.

I'd like to share my favorite gift for two reasons:

A. It means so much to me

and

B. It's artwork for your house!

Enter.... My Wordle

Ashley took the time to contact my friends and family members

(at least the ones she could find their email addresses secretly!!)

and asked them to send in 3 words to describe me.

She entered them into the Wordle program and

Viola'!...

my Wordle was created.

Looking at the photo, if the word was repeated a few times,

then the font is larger than the others.

Seeing all the names of my close friends and family who contributed,

basically took my breath away as I forge through a challenging time.

I got a kick out of some of the terms, but for the most part,

I'm just so touched and inspired by the people in my life.

So for you... here's artwork for FREE!

Go to www.wordle.net and create your own,

choose the colors for the words and background,

print, frame and hang.

Give it as a gift- just time and no money

**the best kind**

I'm a lucky girl...

Until next time,

Tuesday, December 27, 2011 Comments: 6

Most of you are winding down the work week, but we are still going!
I'm off to New York, New York's house this morning to work on
the Remodel that has taken a life of it's own!

We are waiting for the above tile for the guest room bath...
which is going to be clean and classy-
black custom cabinetry and custom tile by
Natural Selections.

I told NY, NY... the house guests may never leave:)

If you are expecting guests over the holidays, keep reading
to get your guest bath whipped into proper shape!

Like me, we will all be doing lots of tidying up,
rearranging and getting ready for company this holiday season!

What is the one thing that will get used no matter what when company comes over??
The Guest BATHROOM.
I think, many times the guest bathroom gets overlooked because...
well, you never need to go in there, you use YOUR bathroom.
So it often gets put to the bottom of the list when it comes to redo's...
But, really, it should be closer to the top of that list.

Here are a few ideas for those already redoing
their guestbaths,
and a few tips for those who just want to spruce it up!

First off-- never be afraid of the windows!
Any natural light you have in your guest baths, take advantage of it!
For you lucky ones who have windows...
Free standing vanities are great in guest bathrooms because you have the
flexibility of doing what you want with them.

Typically the Guest Bathrooms are smaller.
Use big scale patterns on the shower curtain to really accentuate
a more grand appearance in the small space.

Color! When else can you use bright vibrant colors in your home?
Definitely not a lime green wall in the living room (I hope).
But you can easily play off wonderful colors in a small bathroom, and
offset it with white trims, frames and fittings.

Photo courtesy of BHG

I love the bead board that keep reoccuring in many of the bath photos.
This adds just a touch of texture to the small room,
and gives interest to the bottom half of the room.

Photo courtesy of BHG

As much as possible, stay light and airy so that the space doesn't start to close in on you.
Add baskets, trays and accessory items to make the room feel more lived in and welcoming.

Mirror mirror on the wall....Mirrors will always expand a room.
Reflection is a wonderful thing.
Use a whole wall to become a mirror or frame a mirror with mirror.
You can't go wrong. Don't worry.

Double vanities. If you have the option or flexibility of doing this,
separating vanities to become two stand alone items will provide
each guest his or her own space with the same room for those sharing the bath.

Be a hotel! Make sure you are stocked up on "extras".
Towels, toiletries, etc. Be creative with the display.
Find a great wooden cabinet to paint, or use baskets attached to a wall...

Add hooks and shelves for extra storage and space.

Candles! They smell nice and set a wonderful ambience. They are a must have.

Photo courtesy of BHG

And lastly, fresh flowers. They will always brighten up a room...and someone's day;)

Photo courtesy of BHG

I promise to show you after pictures from New York, New York's
vintage inspired black and white bathroom in ~~January~~ the beginning of
the New Year!

Until next time,

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 Comments: 1

Pantone Color of the Year 2012!

Pantone has come out with their "Color of the Year", that is predicted to be the hit,

not only in interiors, but fashion and art as well!

**I hope my girls read my blog so they can understand why

they got so many gifts in this color on Christmas Day:**

Dance into the New Year with this Vivacious and Appealing Reddish Orange!

“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an

orange with a lot of depth to it. Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset,

Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the

friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that

emanates heat and energy.” - Pantone

"Energize interior spaces with Tangerine Tango patterned home accessories.

Pillows, bedspreads and tabletop accessories in this high-impact hue add spice to

any room. Or incorporate Tangerine Tango appliances and personal electronics for an

unexpected pop of color. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home?

Paint a wall in Tangerine Tango for a dynamic burst of energy in the kitchen,

entryway or hallway." - Pantone

Watch for the emersion of orange in all our fashion stores. Have fun pairing this

new color with all your favorites!

Begin by adding one piece of orange to your room...it is such a bright, wonderful color,
it doesn't have to be much to make an impact!

An accent wall of Tangerine Tango is fabulous!

Create a coastal look with the pair of turquoise and tangerine.

You know it's one of my favorite combos...
read about it here

Photo courtesy of House of Turquoise

A peaceful atmosphere with a hint of orange can be made with soft,
sophisticated lines of tangerine.

Jump on the band wagon with the Pouf craze and purchase a

Tango colored one for a pop of fun color and comfort.

Feeling brave and loving this Color of the Year? Have a blast with it,
and use it as the focal color with only pops of black and white.

And always use Tangerine Tango as an accessory item.
It is the PERFECT mix of elegant and fun!

Have fun with it!

Until next time,

Saturday, December 17, 2011 Comments: 1

This flask caught my eye.. why, I am not sure:)

But...

#1. If you are looking for a last minute gift idea

head over to Liquid Courage Flasks.... to make your purchase.

or...

#2. If you refer back to this motto daily and

are into recycling... read on!

What are you doing with all those empty wine bottles and corks?

Why not put them to use as great Christmas decor??

They can make an elegant centerpiece,

or a fun ornament! Check out these ideas.

Paint your wine bottles! Spray paint works great for this type of craft.

Make sure and read on it, to ensure it will adhere to glass, and have fun!

Fill the bottles with glitter sprigs and set on top of a mirror for

extra reflection on your dining room table.

Looking for an interesting mantel piece?
Try this Wine Bottle Light (and be extra careful!)
for a unique conversation starter.

I recently saw this Wine Bottle Christmas Tree and had to share it with you!!

Using an iron frame and upside down tilted wine bottles, this large tree was created.

Here is a close-up of the construction.

An easy, natural look using wine bottles: wrap each bottle in yarn
(in whatever colors you prefer) and mix & match sizes of bottles for added interest.

Looking for a dining table light display?? This is perfect.
Use tall candles to fit inside the neck of the bottle at varying heights
for an eye popper of a table decoration!

Feeling crafty and have extra corks? Make an ornament!
Simply use hot glue, and pipe cleaners to form this little Rudolph.

Here are a few wine cork wreath ideas that are fabulous.
This more "jumbled" look was made by tedious work of hot glueing each piece
in the location YOU want it and then attaching to a wire wreath frame.