Spice up your Thanksgiving table!

We’ve got just a couple of days until the table needs to be set and ready for Thanksgiving dinner. This year, I challenge you to try something new and modern. Something that says you are ready for 2013! Here are a couple simple ways to modernize your Thanksgiving table setting:

1. Utilize found items. Forget the leaves that all the other table settings have and try something from your backyard! Branches and sticks can be spray painted gold, red or white and will look glorious running down the table. Use berries for pops of color, and you can even spray paint gourds and pumpkins to give them a nontraditional color.

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2. Mix up the color scheme. Traditionally, Thanksgiving colors are reds, oranges and browns. Not this year! Bring in some pinks with your oranges and add pops of white, cream and charcoal to make the colors really stand out. Add turquoise with your brown. Place-mats, plates, candles … whatever you chose, dare to add some colors we rarely see this time of year.

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3. Combine patterns. Don’t be afraid to mix and match! Unconventional patterns make for an exciting dinner table, especially if you mix them up. From runners to napkins, tablecloths to ribbons, adding some funky patterns will make your Thanksgiving dinner setting unlike any other. Square or round white dishes pair nicely with any patterns you choose.

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4. Layer place-mats. A multitude of place-mats can add depth without cluttering the already full table. Again, be fearless with your color and pattern choices, but make sure it’s cohesive and doesn’t take away from the food on the table.

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Whatever you choose to set your table with this year, dare to modernize it a bit so it stands out from all the rest! Happy Thanksgiving!

Design the life you love.

Diamond in the rough: Have a piece of old furniture you are thinking of throwing out? Give it new life with these tips and tricks!

Maybe you have an old piece of furniture sitting in storage, maybe a family member or friend just got rid of a set and gave it to you but it doesn’t really go with anything in your place. Whether it is extremely dated or just not your style, there are a lot of different ways to revive a piece of furniture.

Here is an example of a basic dresser that was painted and had O'verlays applied to it. O'verlays are a great inexpensive product that you can apply to many different types of furniture that instantly add some unique style and personality to your furniture.

http://www.myoverlays.com/

Reupholstering furniture is another great way to update it. The dining chair image below shows a great before and after example of how to reupholster a dining chair. The frame was also painted.

There is a shop in Buenos Aires that refurbishes furniture. The chair below is just one example that shows how they reupholstered the cushions. While some pieces can be quite a task to reupholster, others are much simpler.

http://www.ravalwarehouse.com.ar/

The great thing about having old furniture that you have been thinking about throwing out, you can take a risk with a bold finish. Painting your furniture can be one of the most cost effective ways to revive a piece of furniture. This dresser below was painted with a beautiful cerulean blue color, and it looks like the edges were sanded down to give it a fresh but antique effect. Another great feature of this piece is that two different styles of hardware were used. This can definitely add more character to a dresser.

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Here is another example of how paint can transform your furniture. There are many different stencils that you can get to create artistic effects like the one below.

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www.coolknobsandpulls.com

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Although small, don’t forget about the impact of unique hardware for your furniture. There are an endless number of styles, colors, and finishes to choose from. This can also completely change the look of your furniture so that you may not even recognize it after the transformation is complete.
 

Hopefully these tips and tricks will inspire you to take something you were thinking about throwing out, and turn it into your favorite piece of furniture in your home. Design the life you love!

Holiday Cheer Without the Tinsel

I am passionate about constantly reinventing and revamping existing pieces in my clients' home.

Do you remember the urban vegetable garden I planted on the Calhoun Beach Club balcony?

Well, I wanted to make use of the beautiful ceramic container and the vibrance that plants add to the space.

I spoke with my cohort gardener and she said that to keep a ceramic container outside in a Minnesota winter, I must remove the dirt from the container and place the plants in a separate smaller cardboard liner. I added packing peanuts around the smaller container to keep the smaller liner stationary.

The end result is seasonal without the tinsel and bows that so often time are used in holiday decorating. I am inspired by the beauty of the outdoors. I try to decorate with natural materials as much as possible.

I also brought one of the smaller ceramic container inside to add a little holiday cheer to an entry way. I choose plants that are hardy and do well without a lot of sunlight or watering.

Autumn Color Palette

I love creating environments for my clients to enjoy year round. I particularly, like these images of the condo space I designed that welcome Autumn's colors and crisp air. This condo's interior design transitions easily by simply adding seasonal accessories. The warm textured pillows and throw suggest that the home owner relax on the sofa with a warm beverage and book. As this home owner loves the outdoors, I brought nature's beauty inside as coffee table decor.