Category Archives: Decorate

by Stef | December 23, 2010 · 9:52 am

{Free Download} Christmas Typography Sign

Only one more sleep ’til Christmas Eve, have you finished your shopping? If you are struggling for a last-minute gift or looking to add a little Christmas cheer to your house, we may just have a solution for you.

I’ve been inspired by the many signs I’ve seen in store and online showcasing the wonderful art of typography. Artistic subway signs always seem to catch my eye. So this Christmas, I decided to make one for myself using all of my favorite Christmastime phrases. And now you can have it to…for free!

To showcase this in your house or to assemble it and give it as a gift, simply download the PDF file here. Print it at home or at your neighborhood printer. You can purchase or create your own mat. I bought a red and white mat at Michaels and inserted it into a simple white metal frame. It found its perfect place propped up on my leaning bookshelf amongst some Christmas nesting dolls.

Wishing all of you a very blessed Christmas, from our haute homes, to yours.

2 Comments

Filed under Decorate, DIY, Holidays

Tagged as christmas subway sign, christmas typography sign, downloadable christmas word sign, free download christmas sign, free download sign

by kkregel | December 13, 2010 · 9:34 am

Quilled Paper Ornaments

My family is big on ornaments. Growing up our tree was a hodge-podge of vacation finds from around the world, antique pieces and homemade treasures. But for as long as I can remember, these little paper snowflakes made an appearance on my parent’s tree. I’ve always liked the look of them but never knew where they came from until a few years ago.

The History
Turns out, my mom had made these “paper quilling” ornaments when she was first married. With my dad in grad school and my mom a teacher, funds were tight but she still wanted a pretty tree. While only a few are left, they’re now a sweet reminder of the fact that beauty doesn’t have to cost much. Romantic, right?

According to my brief research, paper quilling – or paper filigree – has been an artform for over 500 years. Long ago it was done as a way of embellishing religious documents and later, in the 18th century and Victorian eras, as a suitable artform for proper young ladies(1).

How To:
Paper quilling is fairly easy and mindless, although it can be time-consuming. It’s a good thing to do while watching TV. Basically you just roll the strips of paper into shapes and glue them together. Different shape combos of circles, scrolls, teardrops and such make up different snowflake patterns.

You’ll Need:
1/4″ strips of paper (or a quilling kit)
school glue
a tiny paintbrush, darning needle or something similarly sized

I would recommend buying a kit or two online to get started. They come with instructions, paper and design templates. After you get the hang of it you could make up your own designs.

Bonus Idea!
I’ve also decorated a few of this year’s gifts with my quilled ornaments, which is a fun way to pretty up your gift wrap and give an extra little present at the same time.

(1) Sources: Custom Quilling, Gem State Quilling.

48 Comments

Filed under Decorate, DIY, Holidays

Tagged as christmas wrapping, holiday gift wrap ideas, paper filigree, paper quilling, quilled paper ornaments

by Stef | November 26, 2010 · 6:48 am

DIY Winter Wreath

This may make me less of a haute homemaker and I am a bit reluctant to share this with you, but I have no idea how to sew. This is no exaggeration. I have never threaded a needle, I’ve never sewn a button on a shirt. While I have dreams of winning Project Runway, I know it won’t happen in this lifetime. So while wandering around JoAnn fabrics, I decided to embark upon a quest of creating a winter wreath for my front door. With this wreath, I hope to fool all who enter that I am able to sew.

Possibilities are endless with this wreath. You can use Christmas fabrics and yarn or fall fabrics or all neutrals with burlap for a little bit of a rustic feel.

What you need:

12 inch foam wreath form
3 packages of yarn
floral wire
ball pins
2-3 different types of fabric
scissors

What to do:

Start by wrapping all three packages of yarn around the wreath form. (This is a bit time-consuming, wrap while watching Dancing with the Stars, it goes by faster).

Once the yarn wrapping is completed, begin cutting fabric circles with approximately 4-5 inch diameters. The circles do not need to be perfect. My wreath incorporated 20 or so circles.

To create fabric flowers, pinch middle of circle and gather at the bottom.

Using about an inch and a half of floral wire, wrap it around the bottom of the fabric.

To fix the flowers to the wreath, stick a pin straight through the center of the flower and press into the wreath form.

Alternate patterns. Fix as few or as many flowers as you would like to create the look you want.

To hang the wreath on my front door, I looped a piece of floral wire, twisting it at the bottom, slid a pin through it and inserted into the back of the wreath. If you wish to have it hang lower, you could tie it up using leftover fabric or thick ribbon.

So whether you can sew or not, this wreath may have your friends thinking you can! I plan to have this wreath warm up my front door all winter long.

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Filed under DIY

Tagged as DIY no sew wreath, DIY winter wreath, fabric flowers, yarn wreath

by kkregel | November 22, 2010 · 8:05 am

A Festive Holiday Table

When it comes to holiday decor, I love a look that’s equal parts rustic and glam. This year for my holiday table I’m working in flashes of gold on an otherwise neutral palette. With just a little effort, a table full of things I already had feels festive and special enough for guests.

I dressed up a plain white tablecloth with an unfinished burlap runner, antler sheds and golden twig balls. Fragrant cedar boughs and real cranberries add bits of color and a fresh feel.

I couldn’t decide between these two DIY napkin rings so I used both and placed them on alternate settings. I wrapped sparkly gold ribbon loosely around brown napkins and tucked a sprig of cedar and a nametag inside.

For the cranberry napkin rings, I used a needle and floss to string a handful of cranberries into a circle shape. Just knot the floss around the last cranberry and rotate the knot the to underside of the napkin for a prettier look.

8 Comments

Filed under Decorate, Entertain, Holidays

Tagged as cranberry vase filler, DIY napkin rings, gold branches, holiday table setting ideas, holiday tablescape, rustic holiday ideas

by Stef | November 5, 2010 · 8:03 am

What a Difference Some Paint Makes: Master Bedroom Before & After

Darn you Martha. I want to dislike what you do, what you sell, what you write. But every time, I am delightfully surprised by the quality of your products and the creativity of your work.

My husband and I recently realized we were sleeping in a room with hospital white walls. Our bedroom was one of the first rooms we completed with furniture and art, however, it never looked complete. Enter Martha Stewart Living paint in Driftwood Gray.

Okay, so it isn’t a bright burst of purple, but this subtle gray just gives added warmth to the room and allows for the black furniture to pop out from the walls.

This paint went on with such ease. No dripping and only two coats! Next time I look to paint, I’ll be heading back to Home Depot for Martha’s. We typically use Behr and have used a few others and this is by far the best quality.

Photo courtesy of The Home Depot

I am looking to add a few pops of color to our room with maybe a vase or some colored bed sheets. I am thinking deep teal or plum. Thoughts?

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Filed under Decorate

Tagged as driftwood gray martha stewart paint, gray paint, martha stewart living paint, modern master bedroom pictures

by Anne | November 3, 2010 · 8:53 am

Creating a Mom Cave

I have always referred to our basement as the man cave. It is a place where my husband goes when he needs a break, to hang out with his buddies or to watch a game. I recently heard the term “mom cave” and I was instantly intrigued. What is a mom cave? I want one!

Turns out a mom cave is a relatively new trend giving women, not just moms, a place to regroup, get organized or even (gasp) relax. It is essentially a prettier version of your typical home office. While women have been designing spaces for themselves for many years, Elaine Griffin, one of the Top 100 Designers named by House Beautiful, gave it a catchy name and reinvented the concept. Mom caves can come in many shapes and sizes and it turns out creating one can be quite easy. They can be a transformed extra bedroom that never gets used, a little nook hidden under your stairs or simply the far corner of your bedroom.

Here is some inspiration for creating a space in your home that is just for you.

Photo courtesy of centsational girl

Photo courtesy of Three Men and a Lady

Photo courtesy of Young House Love

Photo courtesy of HomeGoods

Photo courtesy of The Life Styled

Photo courtesy of The Container Store

I have this very awkward wall at the end of my upstairs hallway that is too big to leave bare, but too small to turn into a room. I am starting to think it is the perfect spot for my mom cave.

Step 1: Find the perfect wall color. Have any suggestions for paint colors that your currently loving?

7 Comments

Filed under Decorate, Family

Tagged as creating a home office, feminine office, home office, mom cave, momcave, small desk, small office space

by Stef | October 22, 2010 · 8:18 am

Pumpkins & Polka Dots and Festive Fall Fare: Part II

Yesterday I shared the recipes for the main course from my pumpkins and polka dots party, but let’s get onto the good stuff. Today..it’s dessert!

The pumpkin centerpiece is a harvest vase from Crate and Barrel filled with silver dollars. I swooned over these at Sendik’s and had to ask what exactly they were called. They are very delicate and the best part is, they don’t die.

What says fall more than a caramel apple? With a twist on the original, I created these cupcakes, complete with a caramel apple stick, to resemble a taffy apple in both look and taste. The cupcake is apple spice with a sea salt caramel frosting, topped with crushed peanuts.

Apple Spice Cupcakes (based off Martha Stewart’s Applesauce-Spice Cupcakes)

2 C all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 C unsalted butter, softened
1 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 C natural applesauce (I use Mott’s)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tin with paper liners. Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cream butter, sugar and brown sugar using an electric mixer on medium-high. Add eggs one at a time. Reduce speed to low. Add applesauce and flour mixture, beating until combined.

Fill cups with batter – almost to the top. Bake for 20 minutes, rotating pan halfway through. Transfer cupcakes to wire rack to cool before frosting. Yields 12-18 cupcakes.

Sea Salt Caramel Frosting

1/4 C sugar
2 TBSP water
1/4 C heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tsp sea salt
1 C powdered sugar

Briefly stir together granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Continue cooking, without stirring, until mixture turns dark amber in color, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and slowly add in cream and vanilla, stirring with a wooden spoon until completely smooth. Set aside until cool to the touch, about 15 minutes.

Combine butter and salt and beat with electric mixer until fluffy. Reduce speed to low, add powdered sugar, and mix. Turn off mixer and add caramel. Beat frosting on medium-high speed until airy and thoroughly mixed, about 2 minutes. Refrigerate until stiff before using, about 30 minutes.

I doubled this recipe for these cupcakes because I like a lot of frosting. One and a half would probably work too or just one if you like more cupcake than frosting. I frosted the cupcakes using a frosting gun, topped with crushed peanuts and stuck a candy stick in the middle to resemble a caramel apple.

And last but certainly not least, an old fall favorite, pumpkin dip. This can be treated as an appetizer or dessert, or both! I served it with gingersnaps, crackers and apples.

Pumpkin Dip

One package 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 can pumpkin puree
1 TBSP maple syrup
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Beat cream cheese, sugar and pumpkin in a bowl on medium-high until well blended. Add following ingredients and mix throughly. Chill until ready to serve.

Wishing everyone a festive fall!

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Filed under Appetizers, Cook, Decorate, Entertain, Treats

Tagged as apple spice cupcakes, caramel apple cupcakes, crate and barrel fall vases, fall desserts, fall recipes, pumpkin dip, pumpkin dip with apples, pumpkin maple dip, sea salt caramel frosting, silver dollar centerpiece

by Stef | October 21, 2010 · 8:00 am

Pumpkins & Polka Dots and Festive Fall Fare: Part I

On a crisp and cool autumn night last week, the girls gathered for monthly Ladies Night at my house. With pumpkins and polka dots strewn throughout my home, guests feasted on a festive fall menu. This simple and affordable get-together makes for a great Halloween party, but has the legs to last through Thanksgiving.

As guests entered the house, they walked along a pathway of pumpkin lumineria, purchased from the dollar bin at Target. Mums, pumpkins dotted with acrylic glitter paint and my new fall favorite – a gray pumpkin – framed the doorway.

The ladies were treated to a buffet of festive fall fare including apple cider punch, party mix, pumpkin dip, fall spinach salad, butternut squash soup with pumpernickel croutons and caramel apple cupcakes, complete with sticks. Each of these items were pretty simple to make and created a fun fall menu.

Butternut squash soup is quickly becoming our family fall favorite recipe, especially with the new addition of an immersion blender to my kitchen tool repertoire. The simple to make pumpernickel croutons add that extra bit of crunch to the soup to leave you wanting more.

Butternut Squash Soup:

3 TBSP unsalted butter
3 TBSP all-purpose flour
4 C low sodium chicken stock
one butternut squash, peeled and cut into chunks
1 tsp curry powder
1 C heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste

To begin this soup, you need to make a blonde roux. In a large pot, melt butter until it begins to bubble. Slowly whisk in flour until a thick mixture forms. Slowly whisk in room temperature chicken stock. Bring to boil. Add butternut squash and curry. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until squash is tender.

If you do not have an immersion blender, transfer contents of pot to a blender or food processor (this will likely be done in two steps). Puree until mostly smooth (I like to leave a few small chunks in for texture). Transfer back to pot and slowly whisk in cream over medium heat. Add salt and pepper. (If you use an immersion blender, just place into pot and puree until you reach the desired texture.) Top with pumpernickel croutons and serve.

Pumpernickel Croutons:

2 C pumpernickel bread, cubed
1 TBSP olive oil
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp oregano

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Spread on cookie sheet and toast for 15 minutes, flipping croutons halfway through.

The fall spinach salad included spinach, roasted and salted pumpkin seeds (aka pepitas), dried cranberries, four-pepper goat cheese and sliced Cortland apples, dressed in a creamy balsamic dressing. Pumpkin seeds are a great alternative to croutons or almonds for creating a fall salad.

Every good ladies night needs a good drink. While a good glass of wine will usually do, I decided to put together an apple cider punch for the occasion.

Apple Cider Punch:

6 C apple cider
2 C orange juice
juice of one lemon
1 bottle chilled champagne

Mix and serve over ice.

Join me tomorrow for the pumpkin dip and caramel apple cupcake recipes!

2 Comments

Filed under Cook, Decorate, Drinks, Entertain, Main Dish, Sides

Tagged as apple cider punch, butternut squash soup recipe, fall food, fall party ideas, fall recipes, fall spinach salad, fall tablescape, glitter pumpkins, pumpernickel croutons, pumpkin tags, pumpkins and polka dots, salad with pumpkin seeds

by kkregel | October 11, 2010 · 9:26 am

{Inspired by} Dramatic Branches & Autumn Leaves

Lately I’ve been totally digging the idea of swapping out a fresh flowers for big, dramatic tree branches. Maybe it’s the autumn colors and falling leaves that are everywhere right now but branches just feel so fresh and sculptural. Kind of like the statement necklace of floral arrangements.

So yesterday when the hubs and I went hiking, I came prepared with clompers in tow. I have a moderate obsession with anything orange so this stunning maple was right up my alley. Anchored by some river rocks, it’s exactly the look I’ve been coveting this fall. Pretty fabulous, right?

The great thing about branches is that you can swap them out with the seasons and they can be totally free, depending on where you live. If you’ve got a yard, trimming those overgrown branches will suddenly be a lot more fun. I like them on mantles, in entry ways or on dining tables like these gorgeous ideas below – anywhere that you’re looking to make a major statement and you’ve got the height to pull it off.

Photos: Martha Stewart Living, Coco + Kelley

Photos: Coco + Kelley, Lonny Magazine
Photos: Elle Decor, Rue Magazine

Photos: Elle Decor, Living Etc

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Filed under Decorate

Tagged as branch decor, easy fall decor, fall flower arrangement, fall leaf decor, leaf branch arrangement, orange flower ideas, unique floral arrangement

by Anne | September 2, 2010 · 2:03 pm

Organization {Bedroom Closet}

We moved into our new house 5 months ago and in the midst of kitchen remodels and massive amounts of painting, I have completely neglected other areas of our home. For example, my bedroom closet was a total disaster. In fact, I am slightly embarrassed to share these pictures with you, but if you promise not to judge, I will let you take a peek.

With fall just around the corner, my tall boots and bulky sweaters were just dying to come down from the attic. I took one look at this mess and realized I needed to do some major rearranging before my closet was fall ready.

I had just one day and a $50 budget to get it all done. Here’s how it turned out:

Reorganizing a closet takes just a few simple steps. The hard part is getting motivated!

Step 1: Purge

Set up three piles: keep, throw and donate. Go through each item in your closet and be brutally honest. Do you like it? Does it fit? When was the last time you wore it? Allow yourself to keep only things that make you feel good and that you enjoy wearing. I think I cleared out about a quarter of my closet and haven’t missed any of it.

Step 2: Think about what you need to make your closet work for you

Some people might need a solution for organizing sweaters while others need more space for hangers. For me, I needed some serious shoe organization and a way to stack things on my top self so they were easy to find and easy to put away.

Step 3: Organize, Organize, Organize

Purchase things that will help you organize or simply use things you already have! I purchased 2 shoe organizers, on sale for $22/each from target, that gave me plenty of storage and also added a low shelf for my boots.