It's one of those wet, cold New England days when all you want to do is curl up by the fire with a cup of tea and a good book. There's just one glitch: no fireplace. If you love the look of a real fire, but lack the space or cash to install one, consider a portable fireplace.
Let's face it. For some of us, Thanksgiving dinner is less like a Norman Rockwell painting than a tableau vivant of domestic dysfunction. Wouldn't it be great if we could avoid all that awkwardness? Honesty stamps may be just the answer.
We're always excited to discover young, talented designers with an eye toward creative reuse. Polish design group Kompott transform humble, elementary objects such as wooden crates and ladders into functional furniture and modular storage solutions.
Monochromatic table settings are easy on the eyes and let the food you've worked so hard to prepare take center stage. The key is to layer on the textures, incorporate different tones of the same hue, or mix patterns and sheens from the same color family. Here is some inspiration for creating tonal tables that are anything but one note.
Of all the trends to emerge in the past few months, patchwork is probably among my least favorite. This week, I challenged myself to find some pieces even the most patchwork-phobic decorator could adore.
Consider the olive. Bold, fruity, elegant, and sophisticated. An emblem of peace and a symbol of health. It's one of those versatile colors that can accommodate a range of styles depending on how it's used and what it's paired with. From fresh and funky to dark and dramatic, here is some inspiration to get you thinking about olive green in a whole new way.
We've been fans of Maya Romanoff's distinctive wallcoverings for a while, but the Blanket design by David Rockwell for Maya Romanoff sparked a lively discussion around the dinner table last night. Would you get shocked after touching it? Would balloons stick to it? Would you have nightmares of Tim Gunn chasing after you with a hand steamer?
Remember Paul Villinski's Beer Can Butterflies? Some of you were over the whole butterfly trend, but this wood veneer version might make you reconsider.
Some packages are just too pretty to part with. That's how we felt when we saw Integrity Spirits' Lovejoy Vodka bottles. If the name alone doesn't put you in a festive mood, the chic graphic label will. With five different designs, you can even choose the color and pattern that fits your decor.
Tucked away in a quiet industrial park off Storrow Drive is the lyrically named and heavily stocked Freddy Farkel's Fabric Outlet.
Bland, institutional mini-blinds are rarely our go-to window treatment, but Helena Karelson's revamped venetians are anything but boring.
I usually avoid traditional holiday decor, but when I spotted this wreath made from book pages on Design Crush, I instantly fell in love with its elegant form, ruffled texture, and vintage feel. If the thought of taking an exacto to your favorite read makes you a little squeamish, take heart. Most of these designs were made using mass market fiction or found materials.
We're no strangers to modern bunk beds, but this nautical-inspired design featured in Coastal Living's 2009 Idea House is especially see-worthy.
The current issue of Design New England features the colorful West Roxbury, Massachusetts home of interior designer Rachel Reider whose signature "soft modern" style effortlessly blends the past with the present in bold, unexpected ways.
I'll admit that when it comes to hostess gifts, I lack a certain amount of creativity. I usually opt for the standard bottle of wine. But nothing says afterthought like a crumpled brown paper bag. Here are some chic alternatives that will make even a $7 bottle of Trader Joe's Merlot look like a million bucks.
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