What’s New Wednesday: Accent Tables

With the holidays approaching fast, accessorizing the house for incoming guests can be frantic. We received new accent tables with finishes ranging from bronze, aged nickel, antique brass, and polished nickel to place in every nook.

This grooved metal accent table in bronze and aged nickel measures 15.75”D x 24.5”H and is priced at $172.99. The top has a mirror inlay with etched lines surrounding it and a tapered base.

This bronze accent table with black granite base has bamboo stylistic influences and measures 14”D x 26.5”H for $264.99.

These square accent tables in polished nickel measure 24.5”H x 12”W and are priced at $224.99 each. Pair them to add symmetry to any room and see how well they go with each other!

This stacked link accent table in antique brass measures 11.75”D x 24”H and is priced at $245.99. The top has a marble stone inlay that is gorgeous!

We are certain that at least one of these tables can add a new pop of function and style to any room in your home. Stop by the store today to check out what we have in stock for the holidays!

Holiday Décor DIY

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that we decided to do our own holiday décor when I couldn’t find what I wanted for a client.

I personally like a clean, elegant look for the holidays.  I would rather have a few really pretty pieces than tons of stuff everywhere.  So, for this client I was looking for those specific pretty pieces and could not find anything, so we made it!

Here are 2 easy DIY wreath ideas and a banister garland example for your home.

1) Basic Holiday Wreath

I think pretty ribbon is the most important part of holiday décor, followed by interesting ornaments.  We started by purchasing some lovely ribbon (it helps to have a retail store!), found some elegant ornaments and then bought a basic wreath and extra greenery elements to add to the wreath.

Step 1: Pretty Ornaments and Ribbon

Step 2: Basic Wreath in the right size (36” here)

Step 3: Extra greenery elements to add richness to the basic wreath

Step 4: Inspiration Pictures- collect ideas from catalogs, Pinterest, Houzz, etc.

Step 5: Start adding elements to create the look you want

I started with red amaryllis, but didn’t really like that direction, so I pulled them off and started again with holly leaves and just a few red berries.

Once I took out the red I decided to start with this reindeer ornament as the centerpiece of the wreath, then pulled a ribbon to coordinate.

Step 6: Make your centerpiece bow

We had a little bow making lesson from my mom and learned how to twist the ribbon and tie it with floral wire.

We wrapped another ribbon around the main part of the wreath, added the big bow and stuffed it with tissue to help keep its shape.

Step 7) Hot glue ornaments strategically around the wreath

Step 8) Hang the wreath and make sure it looks balanced/finished

And there you go, a unique and beautiful wreath for the front door!

2) Simple Boxwood Wreaths

I like boxwoods, so I bought 3 boxwood wreaths to go in the 3 windows above the sofa.

Step 1) Start with a quality boxwood wreath (ours is plastic, but looks very realistic)

Step 2) Pick a ribbon and a dramatic ornament.

We made the bows, picked an ornament, then tied them on with floral wire

Step 3) Repeat process

Notice our bow lengths were all different.  I decided to trim them at the client’s house once they were hanging.

Step 4: Hang with Velcro wreath hanging strips (available at Target)

And, the final product:

While we were there we also added garland for the fireplace and banister

We used a good quality garland from NDI.  It is expensive, but it really looks fabulous.  If your allergies prevent you from using real greenery (as was the case here and also with me, as well), I would invest once in a really nice tree and garland.

I layered 2 ribbons on top of one another, made a couple of bows at key banister points and added a couple of ornaments to the bows.

I only have a one story home, so I can’t do banister garland, but I was wishing I could once I saw how pretty this was.  The house flows nicely with the coordinating elements but it doesn’t feel cluttered.

I hope this helped you generate some ideas for decorating for the holidays!  It is now officially the time to get started!  Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and truly enjoy this holiday season!

What’s New Wednesday: Driftwood Shutter Locker

Driftwood is a popular material that can be styled differently in a variety of homes! A trending look I’ve seen recently includes driftwood and metal used in conjunction to make a dining table, console table, lamps, etc. The natural wood finish has a light and simple look that is not so visually heavy and dark.

This Driftwood shutter locker we received is perfect for a back hallway, entry room, or in front of a narrow alcove. We can also order it in a variety of different finishes that include distressed espresso, white wash, even turquoise! Depending on the finish, prices may vary.

With additional storage space on top and below, it will fit just about any belongings your family and guests hand you during the holidays! The locker measures 24”W x 20”D x 83”H and is priced at $995. Stop by the store and see for yourself!

Just a reminder that we will close today at 4 and will be closed tomorrow, Thursday the 28th. We will resume normal hours on Friday at 10 am.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Learning “All About Carpets”

You probably don’t know this, but I get daily emails from PR companies asking me to feature a certain topic or product.  99.9% of the time I just hit the delete button because I am not interesting in selling anybody anything on my blog.

But, I am interested in educating myself and you, so when a book mentioned in one of these emails caught my eye, I asked the PR company to send it on.

The book is simply called “All About Carpets: Everything You Need to Know, A Consumer Guide”  by Glenn Revere.  There is an older version, but this one has been revised and updated.  You can purchase it here on Amazon for less than $15.

The reason I was interested is because I am often recommending carpet as part of my job and it is important for me to be educated on it.  Most of the vendors I work with haven’t seemed to want to educate me.  They just say “Trust me, you want this type” or “They are all the same, even if the price is different’’.  I’m not comfortable with that and really want to understand why something is better.

On top of that, though, there is more.  I know, for example, wool carpet is ‘the best’, because I have been told so and it is the most expensive.  But, it probably isn’t ‘the best’ for a playroom, right?  So, I’ve been trying to learn ‘all about carpet’ for awhile now.  How convenient for me someone has written a simple book on it!

Here are some key points I learned from the book and wanted to share with you for when you are considering purchasing or recommending carpet:

#1: Wool Carpet- accounts for approx. 3% of carpet sales

Wool carpet

Source

Advantages:

• Very soft
• Very resilient- it springs back to shape, even if furniture marks are made on it
• The rough surface hides dirt, making it look cleaner
• Wears well
• Dyes easily, making it better for color depth, especially with very light or very dark colors
• Is color fast; soil and dirt clean out easily

Disadvantages:

• Most expensive, but can be most economical because it will last 20 years and still look good
• Staining- wool absorbs moisture, so it will quickly absorb spills.  It can be treated with products like Scotchgard to help repel spills

A couple of other notes on wool, not from the book: wool is a non-allergenic fiber and dust mites will not survive in wool carpet.  It can also improve air purity, especially versus nylon.

#2- Nylon Carpets: Most popular type, approx 65% of production

Nylon Frieze style carpet

Source

Stainmaster is the best known nylon brand.

Advantages:

• Low priced
• Wears better than wool, “given equal face weights”
• High abrasion resistance- foot traffic will not cause the fiber to wear out.  What does cause the fibers to wear is when the carpet gets dirty and is not cleaned.  The grit will actually cut the fibers away from the carpet, which are then sucked away with the vacuum
• Non-allergenic- mold or mildew can not grow
• “Stain blocking” feature- stain resistant but not stain proof
• Cleans easily

Disadvantages:

• Is a more coarse fiber, but it has gotten softer of late with technology
• Not very green, but becoming more so with recycling centers now accepting used carpeting

#3- Polyester

Polyester Patterned styled carpet

Source

Advantages

• Costs less than nylon
• Practically fade proof
• Can feel soft
• Naturally resists staining
• Cleans well with hot water extraction

Disadvantages

• Overcoming a bad reputation from the 1960’s for not holding up, flattening down, getting “ugly”
• Has a lower resistance to abrasion (fiber’s “ability to withstand wear”)

#4- Olefin/Polypropylene

Outdoor rug

Advantages:

• Does not absorb water (often used in outdoor rugs)
• Outstanding fade and stain resistance
• Can spot clean with bleach and not harm the color
• Strong fiber- resists abrasion
• Moisture and mildew resistant

Disadvantages:

• Tends to flatten down (you will notice most outdoor carpets feature very flat fibers)
• Low melting point- friction from the wheels of a toy car run back and forth over the carpet could cause it to melt

This book is full of other topics as well, such as rug pads, styles and installation tips, all of which is really helpful if you are in the market or want to learn more.  For now, I trust you will feel a bit more ‘educated’ as it pertains to the various types of carpeting after reading this post.  Furthermore, what better time of year to discuss this topic with Thanksgiving dinner less than a week away.  If your family is anything like ours, we will be testing how well carpets clean by 4pm next Thursday!

Thanks for following my blog and Scott and I would like to wish each of you a very happy and safe Thanksgiving!

What’s New Wednesday: Christmas Village Decor

Tis the season! Stop by the store today to “deck the halls” in Christmas decorations. Create your very own classic Christmas Village with our brownstone house, red barn house, and snowy red cottage.

The brownstone house is priced at $99.99 with dimensions of 9”L x 16”W x 14”H.

The snowy red cottage is priced at $48.99 with dimensions of 6”L x 7”W x 7”H.

The red barn house is priced at $87.99 with dimensions of 7”L x 15”W x 13” H.

On the other hand, if you’re leaning towards a White Christmas, we have a white country chapel and white barn ornaments to suit your home.

The white country chapel is priced at $69.99 with dimensions of 9.5”L x 8”W x 11”H.

We also have plenty of bottlebrush trees and standing Santa’s of various sizes to set atop a mantle or table!

The 17” silver Santa is priced at $56.99 and the 14” silver Santa is $45.50. Did I mention that we have plenty of garland and ribbon to decorate with!

The white barn ornaments are priced at $21.50 and the grey cottage ornaments are $19.99.

The houses and ornaments both have built-in lights that can be turned on and off. I think the lights make a big difference in creating a cozy Christmas village within a home. Lastly, don’t forget that they can also serve as great gifts!

This Old House: Dining Room Drama

I am very honored to have one of my dining room projects featured in the November/December issue of This Old House Magazine.

They have a great article on creating “Dining Room Drama” using bold colors in the dining room.

You might remember the dining room on the bottom right.  I did a blog post about it last year as a ‘Before & After’.  The home was all beige and we added a lot of personality with color!

It is always a nice affirmation to see your work in a national print magazine!

This issue also has a great article about making an easy coffered ceiling (one of my favorite tricks) and The Top 100 New Products of 2013.

Check it out!

What’s New Wednesday: Stunning Horse Artwork

I am excited to share this stunning “simple horse” giclee with you all! I love the drama of black and white photography.  However, originals are often incredibly pricey (in the thousands of dollars range).

I came across this giclee recently and thought it would be a great add for the store.  It is the perfect artwork for a chic and tranquil space. The monochromatic gray palette adds a note of serenity with its cool colors.  Also, I think the content speaks greater without a burst of color.

Stop by today and see for yourself! The dimensions are 28.25” width by 41.25” length, and is priced at $622.50. This piece really adds a lot of impact for the money!

2013 ASID Design Excellence

Wednesday night was the Austin ASID Design Excellence awards.  Last year was the first time I entered and I won 3 awards.  This year I entered two categories and I won two more awards!  I am humbled by the recogniction and the appreciation for the results of my designs.  When you love what you do, it really isn’t work!

The event was really fun.  The ASID always has a social portion with vendors where we can learn about new products (countertops, tile, sunshades), have dinner and enjoy the view to the river.

This year’s emcee was Andy Langer from KGSR, my favorite local radio station.

I won a merit award for Product Detail/Special Design for a reclaimed wood wall.

And, I was really thrilled to win first place for Best Traditional Residence over 3,500 sq ft for this project:

All in all a great night.  And, Thursday was a great day as well.  Emily, my mother and I spent the day making holiday wreaths, swags and garland.  I could not find what I wanted for a client at market or at any store, so we decided to design it and create it ourselves!  My mom made the bows and Emily and I spent a lot of time with the glue gun.  I took a lot of ‘in process’ photos and will do a post on holiday decorating in the next few weeks.  Can’t wait!

What’s New Wednesday: Lattice Bench

The Lattice Back Garden Bench with Rattan sits up to three and comes in a distressed aqua color. The aqua is such a subtle pop of color for any space! The bench has a great geometric design on the back of the chair and infinity circles on the side. Such cute details!

The dimensions of the bench are 54”W x 17D”x 33”H and it sells for $1,366.

If you don’t know- Rattan is made of various palm stems used in wickerwork, canes, and furniture, and is used as the base of the seat in brown. Stop by the store today and check out our stock of garden stools to go along with the bench for your home or a friend’s home!

On the Market in Spicewood, TX

I have been paying more attention to Austin’s ‘hill country’ home market since we decided to participate in the Parade of Homes next year which will be located in “Willie Nelson’s Tierra Vista in Spicewood”.  Many people have second homes in this area.  But, there is also a large community who make this area their primary residence.

Source

Generally, those who live at the edge of the Hill Country either work in Lakeway, work from home or have flexible jobs.  It is only a 35 minute drive to downtown, but Austin is funny about driving long distances.  Maybe because the traffic is so bad.  Having lived in California and Atlanta, it doesn’t begin to compare but you tend to go with the city norms and Spicewood is a bit far for many to live there and work downtown.

My friend, Anita Erickson at Red Chair Market mentioned she had seen a home she thought I might like.  Her primary reason why: ‘it had a lot of white’.  Well, at least she knows me!

So, I thought I would share some pretty pictures for those of you dreaming of a Hill Country modern lake home.  The house was covered in Austin HOME magazine and there is a link to the article below if you would like to read more about the homeowners and their three children (yes, children with all that white!).

Article

The address is 23601 Old Ferry Road (all photos are from this site) and the listing is with Eric Moreland Properties.  Eric has some great properties on the market which I will share with you some other time, but I thought this home had some unique features.  The family that built the home is from Houston and they were looking for a weekend retreat at the lake.

The hub of the home is the great room and kitchen.  What would normally be the breakfast area houses a ping pong table (there is another dining area just around the corner).  You can tell this place is all about having a good time.

The kitchen has a unique layout and actually uses a feature that we used in the Southern Living Showhouse, a ‘prep’ or ‘sub’ kitchen where the behind the scenes work can be done.

So, the kitchen here is actually two islands (no overhead cabinets!).  Very open.

You can see from this angle, sliding doors open to reveal the ‘work’ kitchen.

Here is a closer view.  Wouldn’t it be nice to just tuck all your mess away when the guests come over?

A couple of quick pics from the master bath.  Scott and I both hate having to squeegee down glass shower doors so I am always looking for ways that home owners get around having to install one.

These homeowners put in one of those lovely linear drains in the back corner and just tiled the whole area.

They show a photo of one of the guest baths.  I hate reaching into a shower and getting my hand/arm wet with ice cold (or scalding hot) water to adjust the temperature.  This handle placement removes that issue.  I have to think about that for future new build projects.

Did I say something about a lot of white?  The media room/kids area:

The children’s bunk room:

And, don’t forget these great views and outdoor spaces.

Hard to believe you are a half hour from downtown!  It is nice to see people who aren’t afraid of the ‘white canvas’ to paint a fantastic home.  As we move closer to the closing of construction with the Parade home in this part of Austin, it will be fun to share other inspirational projects with you.  I never tire of seeing new, functional and fun designs and I trust you don’t either!

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween last night.  We did!  Emily and I are spending the day at an install in San Antonio today, I will make sure to take a lot of photos for future Before & After’s!