"Quick....I Need a Tablecloth!"

 What does one do when one needs a tablecloth and has a particular thing in mind.... no time and no funds? One idea.....make it oneself!

I have a different table in the Dining Room this year than last....the old one was a rectangle, and now it is round. This new (old) table may not be permanent since I think it is too small, but it is doing for now. I had a table cloth in mind....one with bold dark grey stripes. But I certainly did not have time to find it or have one made for the Holidays!

What to do in a pinch? Take out a trusty paint drop cloth....they are huge and very inexpensive....

 Buy some paint and a 9" roller from Home Depot. The 9" size was just about the right size for my stripes.....

 Spread out the drop cloth on top of another drop cloth....don't forget! The paint does seep through....

 If you would like things to be perfect, use painter's tape for making the lines straight. I chose to go a more casual route that ended up being a bit modern looking and "imperfect"...much less stressful! 

 And in one afternoon....I had the effect I was going for....I draped the table and tucked the extra edges underneath....

 Then the real fun of setting the table began! I have a pair of hand blown glass candelabras from Mexico...I used one for the center. I added gold chargers and my vintage Tiffany gold edged plates....I kind of liked the simplicity and was thinking to just stop here....but I kept on going.

 I added some Chinese green glazed plates and my new La Rochere Jacques Coeur wine and water glasses, white hotel napkins and silver....

 I made a boxwood "ball" using boxwood from the yard to put on the candelabra and some little mercury glass votive holders held more boxwood....

A few brass horns and pine cones from my Holiday stash....

Some votive candles, and Mother of Pearl salt dishes.....

All done!



Dinner at 8:00!

I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday!

Here's to a Joyful and Prosperous New Year!

Holiday Decor at the Denham House

 The Holidays are about sharing and being with Family and Friends, right? So I wanted to share a little of what's been going on at our house. In between moving Mom in, working, and spending time with my daughter who is home for the Holidays from her first year at college, we have been decking the halls just a little bit.

Last year I made some stockings for the mantle using white burlap, trimming them with a little left over green linen I had from a local Showhouse I had worked on years ago. I added wooden letters to each stocking for each family member's initials. I made them with carved wood letters that I found at Michael's, which I painted black, then added gilding on top of that. I rubbed through the gilt so some of the black paint showed through. Cost for each stocking, about $6. 

My Mom brought some very fun things with her when she moved it! She had the vintage wire basket (I think it looks like a crown!) and we filled it with crystal bunches of grapes, decanter stoppers, and huge crystal chandelier drops. She also has been collecting crystal balls and spheres for some time, which we scattered across the mantle. I put up a Flea Market painting I found and a copper float that has faded to a beautiful grey-green atop a white ironstone footed bowl. Glass hhurricane lanterns and small glass votive holders, Cedar and Fir garland complete the mantle. Family memories, new and old make it special to all of us.

Our tree is not very "designer-y". There are so many beautiful takes on designer trees out there, my mind is boggled every year with all of the creativity out there! But our tree remains pretty much the same from year to year. Our kids love to put up ornaments we have collected over the years, many of which I had when I was growing up, some of which my Mom has had since her early marriage since the 50's! All of them hold Christmas stories for us....even the gold paper stars that have been on our tree ever since I was little. It may not be the chic-est...but it is perfection to us!

I hope you all have wonderful memories of Christmas past and joyful plans for Christmas present!

* Happy Weekend! *

Ding!Ding!Ding! We Have A Winner!!!

Thank you all so much for entering the Bodmer Throw Holiday Give Away! The response was wonderful! I and the Bodmers much appreciate all of the enthusiastic comments. Bodmer products really are soft, luxurious and beautiful !

As a special treat, the Bodmers have very kindly extended a very nice discount for all of you on their website. Just use the code: KATIEDID for an extra 20% off any purchase you make...just in time for Christmas!

Now......drum roll please!

The Winner is....

NANCY!!

Congratulations Nancy. I know you will have many cozy moments with your new throw!

Thank you all again for entering, and

* Happy Holidays! *

Last Chance to Enter Holiday Give Away!

Tonight is the night! I will be picking the winner of the Bodmer Throw Give Away first thing in the morning!

Click HERE for rules on how to enter!

Good Luck!!!

And

 Happy Holidays

What Once Was Old.....

 Our household has been going through some major changes of late. As families grow and change, so do lifestyles and priorities. Recently, it became apparent that my mother needed to make a change in her lifestyle. She was needing a little help managing, and her home was no longer working for her. We decided the best thing was for her to move in with us. When we remodeled our home, we dug out a basement with exterior access, bathroom, laundry room and large open space which became my office. We decided to consolidate my office and split the space in two so Mom could have a little studio and her own bathroom. The Laundry Room will eventually become a kitchenette for her....but one step at a time.

Every day, I thank the powers that be for my husband, Tim. Not every husband would welcome their MIL into their home with open arms. Not only that, he built a wall to separate the space in the basement, complete with French door. He moved box after box of books and household "stuff". He emptied her garage and gave up his parking space in our garage so we could store her things there. He made sure the SureWest guys wired her new room for TV and phone. He was there when the glass shower door was installed in the bathroom. He painted and cleaned. Now that Mom is here, he makes her dinner and lets her do the crossword puzzle....formerly his territory. Sometimes they do it together. All of this he does in addition to all of the other things he does, large and small, for our family. (Last night he brought home poinsettias for the front porch). It is a rare thing to hear any peep of impatience. It is a rare thing to have a husband like this.

So.....this Holiday Season, I feel overwhelmed with appreciation for my husband. He is better than any present I could wish for. He is better than any vacation, car or house. He is better than diamonds. Let me rephrase.....he IS my diamond. There is an abundance in his care for us. 

When Tim and I were moving my mother's things out of her garage, we discovered a little table. It was a bit forlorn, covered in cobwebs and water stained, but it charmed me none the less. The top had come off and had broken in two, but  the rest was in pretty solid shape. Someone had lovingly built this table and I decided it was time to put it back to good use. A few finish nails to put the top back on, and a couple of coats of paint, and it is a wonderful little perch for a drink and a book. It may go through more changes.... A different color, or removal of the paint for a lime wash effect. I haven't decided yet. It will evolve over time....like our family....like us.

I wish you all a

 Very Joyous and Abundant Holiday Season

P.S........Only a couple of days left to enter the Holiday Give Away:

Click on over HERE for the rules and to enter!

Good Luck!!

Shopping for the Holidays? One Kings Lane Weekend Line Up



Barry Dixon, the very first designer featured on OKL's Tastemaker series

  This Saturday One Kings Lane has a Tastemaker Tag Sale line up that couldn't be more perfect for Holiday Shopping Season! Three of my favorite designers are set to offer items from their own private collections to us lucky shoppers at prices up to 70% off retail! Washington DC designer Barry Dixon is on board, as is LA's own Nathan Turner and New York City's design duo, Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke.

Here are just some of the goodies for sale:

Barry Dixon's collection features items large and small, all classic, and all definite conversation starters!



Nathan Turner, star of upcoming Bravo TV Series, "Million Dollar Decorators"...Can you even wait for this to come on?!

 

Nathan Turner's collection.....what can I say? I am all over it! I've got dibs on the ottoman, leather chair, and busts. Stand back.



Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke, fun and fierce design duo from New York



Fresh, fun and fabulous, the collection from Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke would fit into any decor.

And there you have it!

Hop on over to One Kings Lane this Saturday, December 11th to join in the fun. The Tastemaker Tag sale opens 11:00 am ET and 8:00 am PT. And for more information about the sale click on over HERE.

Happy Hunting!!!

Project Peek

 I have been finishing up some projects recently and thought I would give you a peek!

This home is in the Prairie style in an historical neighborhood of Sacramento. The owners had moved here from Georgia and had brought all of their Federal style furniture with them, as well as an extensive art collection. We decided that the furniture was not a good fit for the home and began fresh. Art is a horse of a different color however. If it is good, it always works.  

 The house had been painted in colors more befitting a Victorian palette....lots of bold trim colors that contrasted with the wall colors. The first thing I did was to calm the wall colors so the art would be highlighted. I used a soft putty color for the trim and a warm ivory for the walls.

We wanted furnishings that paid tribute to the Prairie style aesthetic with a bit more modern edge. I designed a table for the Entry in a blackened iron with a grey limestone top. In the Living Room I found beautiful lamps from Aesthetic that were modeled after the block forms used by Frank Lloyd Wright at the Millard house in Pasadena, California. I also had leather armchairs made similar to Wright's armchairs from the Imperial Hotel. A mocha sisal area rug from Merida Meridian added texture and unified the space. (BTW...if you click on Merida's website...you can see some amazing photos of the Elle Decor Showhouse....Merida was a sponsor ya know!)

So......a little peek! Hope you enjoy.

I am very lucky to have wonderful clients. They make a project like this a pleasure. A big thanks to them both.

And I have to credit Peter Medilek for his beautiful photos! Thanks Peter!

***********

P.S...........Do not forget to enter my

HOLIDAY GIVE AWAY!

***********

Click on over HERE for a chance to win this beautiful baby alpaca throw from Bodmer:

The Holidays are Here, and so is Rustic Elegance

If there is one thing I always associate with the Holiday Season, it has to be snow. And why not? The Holidays are smack in the middle of snow season, at least up here north of the 40th parallel. 'Tis the Season for swooshing down the mountains on skis, or boards...whatever works for you. Whatever you choose, there is always the anticipation of a warm fire and a mug of something hot waiting at the end of the day.

When I received a copy of the new book, Rustic Elegance, written and photographed by Ralph Kylloe, I knew I was in for an armchair getaway to some of the most perfect Winter settings in North America. And what perfect timing! I could curl up in front of my own fireplace, Chai Latte in hand and dream a little snowbound dream.

Rustic Elegance is a collection of beautiful log cabins, all creations of Larry Pearson AIA, set in gorgeous country in states ranging from Montana and Wyoming to Colorado and California, and everywhere with snow in between. Larry Pearson has been recognized a a leader in rustic design for some time. Small wonder when one first sees the almost fairytale character (when I say "fairytale, I am talking Tolkien's splendor) of the log cabins...and when one ventures inside to stone fireplaces blazing, candles burning, and cozy down comforters calling.

What I liked about this beautifully put together book, besides the obvious full bleed gorgeous photography and heft of the 12"x11" 256 pg. thing, was the way the chapters were organized. Each chapter shows a different house, inside and out, every room including kitchens and baths. It is full of wonderful ideas ....for example, built-in bunks are a popular way to bring in more guests to share the fun.

If you are looking for a perfect armchair travel book for that mountain loving friend or family member, Rustic Elegance would be the one. Who knows, it might even inspire them to get out of that armchair and hit the slopes! Or at least don a pair of snowshoes and a backpack full of cheese, bread and a bottle of wine. It all sounds good.

All photographs from Rustic Elegance, written and photographed by Ralph Kylloe. Reprinted with permission of Gibbs Smith 

.........

and don't forget to enter my Holiday Give Away for another little something to keep you warm!

Elle Decor Showhouse 2010: Master Bedroom by Jay Jeffers

 What can one say about Jay Jeffers?! Great style, always a sense of humor, elegance, and wit.....in his own terms, "sophisticated fun". Jay manages to brighten up a space just like his smile can brighten any mood.

Jay's Master Bedroom at the Elle Decor Showhouse is no exception. Jay used a backdrop of soothing dove grey in this room and added touches of color to add a bit of drama. Notice all of the details: the gilt nightstands with the hanging lamps above....

The dramatic marble fireplace surround softened with luxurious curtains on either side....the fantastic geometric patterned ottoman with the modern ivory covered chairs...

... Jay even mirrors the ottoman fabric pattern with the tile in the Master Bath. Always thinking, always thinking.

Sigh....I am a fan, it's true. So of course I hopped over to the Elle Decor Website to get every bit of information. You can see a virtual tour of each room, the designers' inspiration sketches, and lots of other fun Showhouse "stuff".

For example,here is a virtual tour with Editor-in-Chief, Michael Boodro:



I hope you have a chance to hop over yourselves!

Oh! And do not forget to enter my fantastic

HOLIDAY GIVE AWAY

HERE!


For a Beautiful Bodmer Baby Alpaca Throw.
I will be announcing a winner December 16th!


Good Luck!!

HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY! Beautiful Bodmer Throw Blanket

It is the Holiday Season, and what better way to express it than by giving? I have partnered with Bodmer Blankets to give one lucky reader a beautifully crafted, luxuriously cozy throw blanket valued at $650 to be chosen from any of the throws found on the Bodmer website.

Bodmer Blankets were introduced to market a little over a year ago and already they can be found at retail stores from LA to Miami. Thomas O'Brien was Bodmer's very first customer buying the Beige Striped throw for his own home and also throws for his Aero store in SoHo. Their blankets and throws can also be found at fine boutiques and designer showrooms across the country like Sue Fisher King in San Francisco, Mimi London in LA, and Fiori Home Collections in NYC.

Before we get to the GIVEAWAY, I would like to introduce you to Craig and Kari Bodmer, the crafters and entrepreneurs responsible for these fabulous throws. I was able to ask them a few questions about how they got this party started:

I know you live in Carlton. Oregon. How did this area become your home and how did you get your start in the alpaca blanket business?

We have always loved gardening, farming and country life in general. It is just so rewarding and fulfilling for us. The first home we bought are we were married was on a small acreage and we loved it. Our corporate careers began to overwhelm the best of our intentions to farm and we had to move back to the city and give up our place, but we swore we'd be back.

Our careers eventually moved us from Idaho to Portland, Oregon. We could finally afford to look for another acreage for farming. At the same time we began to look for an enterprise that would provide a cash flow that was consistent with our aesthetics and interests. We looked for property about an hour outside of Portland and were immediately drawn to the beauty of the wine country south and west of Portland. We soon found a piece of land that was perfect!

During our first 2 years on the property, we were given a video of a story about another couple who started a weaving business. The aesthetics were just what we were looking for, but we did not know how to weave. Craig took a lesson to see if he liked it, and fell in love with the process. He began a year of intensive study in weaving and design. We began to work out how to build a small business on our property weaving luxury blankets and throws.

We now weave beautiful blankets and throws for high-end design stores and design showrooms across the country ad spend our free time managing our farm and our lives in the country.

What does a typical day look like for the Bodmers?

We get up early and after coffee and a little exercise, Craig heads to the studio to weave and Kari either spends time with customers or on financial or marketing aspects of the business, or she takes bolts of fabric from the looms and works on the finishing process. Each throw  needs to be washed, dries, ironed, and fringed before being packaged and shipped. We stop work by 5:00 if we can so that we can get to any farm chores that need to be done before dinner.

Craig at his Loom

How would you describe your own personal style?
We describe our style as subtle elegance. We use traditional weave structures chosen for their drape, the structural integrity they provide the fabric, and their simple beauty. We see the value of our throws and blankets being an elegant enhancement to a beautiful interior design rather than something that makes its own separate statement. But one of the things we love about our throws is that beyond elegance, they are still incredibly warm, comfortable and cozy. When we are at gallery showings, it's fun to watch people wanting to wrap one around themselves. looking for our smiling permission and them wrapping up and purring.

What is happening next?

We began alpaca for all the reasons above, but there are lots of luxury fibers we are really looking forward to using. Craig is in the process of creating some designs which are a blend of baby alpaca and silk yarns. We hope to explore the possibilities of all the natural luxury fibers across the globe before we are finished.



Craig and Kari Bodmer





Just for fun....
Favorite sinful pleasure...
We love good food. We love to cook and bake and to get better and better at it. The natural food we grow and raise helps us create some incredible meals. We went mushroom hunting a couple of weeks ago for Oregon's famous Chanterelle mushroom. We drove up to the coast range of mountains, and found a couple of baskets full of those beautiful orange mushrooms. We came home and made our special recipe of beef stroganoff with our grass-fed sirloin steaks and fresh wild mushrooms. I am getting hungry just telling you about it!

Favorite place on the planet...

Kari loves lakes. Don't know whether it's because she was raised in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" in Northern Minnesota, or just because it seems like air is just fresher on the shores of a beautiful mountain lake.

Craig could stare out at the ocean from the beach forever. His favorite place on earth is the tip of land at Point Lobos State Park south of Carmel, California. Standing there watching the white waves break over the rocks in that blue, blue water and rush up to his feet is his version of Heaven.

Favorite escape/travel destination...
We love Carmel, California. Love the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Love Sun Valley, Idaho. Love Salashan Resort on the Oregon Coast.

Favorite place at home...
Sitting in our chairs in front of the wood stove in the living room reading.

Somehow I think Kari and Craig may have a throw or two tucked around them in front of that wood stove!

Now that you have met the Bodmers, I bet you are ready for the giveaway!!!

The Bodmers graciously sent me a throw so I could see for myself how impeccably beautiful they really are. (I got the Black Herringbone....and it is all mine!! Although Tim doesn't seem to agree)  I received small samples of all of the colors, and they are all gorgeous, soft and cozy. You will be thrilled. (And I can see why the throws are valued at $650!!) 

Here is all you have to do:

1. Visit the Bodmer Website  HERE and pick your favorite throw.
2. Come on back to Katiedid and become a follower.
3. Leave a comment telling me your favorite pick and contact information so we can get your beautiful baby alpaca throw to you before Christmas!!!

 The Giveaway runs from today through December 15th so we can get the throw to you by Christmas. I will announce the winner on December 16th! Keep a lookout.

GOOD LUCK 

and

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!