Guest Post - Autumn Decorating....

Today I'm very pleased to welcome a guest post by Jessica Phan about decorating during Autumn. Autumn is my favourite time of year, and whilst it's getting close to Summer over here in Australia, it's Autumn for half the world - you lucky things!

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Beyond Blooms: Decorating with Natural Accessories

Autumn is officially here and many people are inspired to decorate their home with the shades of nature. When the leaves start to turn colors, turn to the elements of the season to transform your home into a warm, inviting haven. Here are a few simple ideas to help you customize your décor this fall.

Decorate with Bark:

Create interesting picture frames to hold your favorite family memories with the help of bark. The outer layer of the tree's bark features varying textures and colors that add an interesting touch to old picture frames.

Head to a nearby woodshop or lumber yard and purchase a few sheets of bark. Cut these into squares or rectangles, big enough to be inserted into the frame. Next, trim your picture so that it's smaller than the sheets. Stick the picture in the middle and you have a unique nature-inspired border.

If you want to add color, you can paint a thin layer over the sheet. Pick autumn colors like red, yellow, and orange to emphasize the texture of the bark.

Wooden Tables:

Store-bought wooden tables can be expensive, especially if they're professionally carved and varnished. Instead of buying a new one, keep a look out for tree stumps that you can customize to fit your home. When you find one, paint a layer of varnish over it to keep it looking fresh and termite-free.

You can also use tree stumps as side tables to prop up other design elements in your home.

For something more unique, use several pieces of large driftwood as a base for your table. Glue and nail them together, ensuring both the top and bottom are aligned. If there are odd pieces sticking out, cut and file them out, as you want a sturdy base for the table top glass. Once the glass is in place, you now have a homemade table perfect for the living room or the entertainment area.

Autumn Tree-branch Arrangement:

Since autumn is known for bare branches and the crunch of fallen leaves, bring those elements into your home using materials culled from your own backyard. If you don't have access to a garden, the park is a great place to look for these materials.

Collect dried branches and leaves in varying shades and lengths. Some trees have multi-colored leaves that are perfect for adding life to decor. You can also look for pebbles or rocks to serve as a base for the branches.

Once you have everything, get a tall, clear vase and fill it with pebbles or rocks. Stick the branches in any order and finish it off with a sprinkle of autumn leaves. This vase arrangement is a great way to bring the scenery of autumn into your home.

Wall Decor:

Who says you can only hang art work on your wall?

Wood weavings, wood chips, and old birds' nests that have been flattened and dried make for great wall décor.

Juxtapose the beauty of the outdoors with the home's interiors by framing them or sticking them right on the walls.

Wood chips, for example, add texture to painted walls and create great conversation starters when you have guests over.

Decorate old birds' nests with pine cones and other knick-knacks and hang these as wall décor over the mantel or on doors.

Incorporating nature into your home décor is easy. Just remember to keep yourself inspired by enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. Take a stroll around the local park or your own backyard to look for new elements that can turn any home into a warm, inviting place for friends and families to gather.

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Jessica Phan is a designer for Balsamhill.com, a purveyor of high-end artificial Christmas Trees. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area is perfect for her because she has a wide range of interests, including Art & Design, Fashion, Photography, Painting and Thrift Store Shopping.

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Thanks Jessica!

Linda. :)

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Little Villa Illusia

This little gem is a true "home away from home" in Hanko, the sunny south of Finland.

We went for an Autumn midweek getaway to find some peace, rest and comfort in the middle of our own cabin renovation.

Not only did we find a comfortable bed and warm shower instead of our usual, more "rustic" way of "bucket-showering in the sauna", we found a place that has been planned and created with heart and soul, paying attention to every little detail.

After admiring the harmonious deco surrounding me, I sank into the comfy lounge with great selection of interior magazines that were neatly stacked on the shelf.  Of course, this serene vision was accompanied by the snoring of my lovely partner, snuggled in the end of the couch..

My holiday had begun!

I warmly recommend this lovely little Villa, for more info, check;

http://www.pikkuvillaillusia.net/4

Now, let the pictures speak for themselves...

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Glass Office Furniture Solutions

With the boom in modern office furniture came the demand for contemporary glass office furniture solutions. In today's post we will cover several awesome pieces of glass office furniture we feel you will love. When it comes to the latest trend setting furniture styles, The Office Furniture Blog has your every need covered!

Our first item, the GT4794 model OFM, Inc. brand glass conference table was an easily selection for today's post. This fantastic new boardroom solution features the contemporary style we all love. However, these professional boardroom tables are built for a lot more than looks. They feature 5/8" thick glass surfaces, stainless steel bases, and are available with a variety of matching conference furniture to meet the needs of any space. The smaller version of this table, the GT3977 conference table is also a fantastic solution!

Next up, the Mayline Vision Computer Desk. This awesome home office desk combines a choice of anthracite or cherry laminate with tempered glass inserts to create a style that's hard to beat. We love this small glass computer desk solution as it provides contemporary flair for the low price of $142.99. That being said, we think this collection of modern computer desk solutions are great holiday gift ideas and are sure to impress. As most of you know, we love Mayline products and when it comes to cool computer desks, this one is a definite favorite.

Another awesome piece of glass office furniture that must be mentioned is the Calico Designs 50400. Even though we already highlighted a glass computer desk, we felt we had to include this awesome product as it's relatively new to our lineup of furniture. This great corner desk is perfect for home and executive office applications. The 50400 Monterey workstation features an ample worksurface with a combination of black and chrome plated legs. Another great holiday gift idea, the 50400 is selling out quick. Get yours while supplies last.

Our fourth item up is this exclusive Brighton series glass wall cabinet with underneath storage. This item, from the Mayline Brighton Furniture collection, offers modern style for a price of only $465.99. Brighton furniture like this unique cabinet is manufactured of high quality laminates and creates Mayline's most affordable line of casegoods. Several other popular Brighton items are also available to match.

Last but not least, the Global Total Office Citi Collection table. This modern glass coffee table has been a huge hit in home, lounge, and reception spaces. The 7888 model is available in 9 laminate finishes and sells for $422.99 with free shipping. If you like glass reception tables, you will love the Citi collection!

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I keep mentioning one of our favorite shows, House Hunters International.  We love to see the variety of homes that are in sunny climates and are beach side or come with a water view.  In many of the homes, we see "plantation shutters."

I didn't know much about plantation shutters until I read this article, Plantation Shutters: Window Treatments that Increase Your Home Value.

Plantation shutters are multi-purpose interior window coverings. They allow for an adjustable flow of air, and an adjustable amount of light, entering a room. They provide privacy. They provide shade, which helps keep interiors cool when outside temperatures climb. Additionally, they add an additional layer of insulation against outside cold. They are a versatile and highly desirable decorative touch.

The article lists five tips for the selection of plantation shutters. Aside from those tips, installation of plantation shutters greatly increase your home's curb appeal.

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Seven Rules Made To Be Broken

As we find in writing poetry, "Smart designers break lots of rules."

Marni Jameson writes,

No wonder so many do-it-yourself home decorators are stuck at their thresholds, afraid to make a move. If they do conjure the courage, they make design choices so wimpy even their pets will yawn.

Syndicated columnist and speaker Marni Jameson and author of “House of Havoc” and “The House Always Wins” (Da Capo Press) lists seven rules that are made to be broken. Still afraid? Call a local interior designer and tell her you want to be bad! You want to break the rules.

UPDATE: I received this email from Marni Jameson: Please change the sentence in the article to read:

I didn't realize how strongly I felt about this until last week, when a refreshing message arrived in my inbox, from the folks at Lou Hammond & Associates,// SHOULD BE Hunter Douglas, a leading maker of window-coverings.

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Cabin or Lodge Style

 

With hurricane Sandy making its way up the east coast, many of us are avoiding making plans for the next couple of days and instead counting on staying in and hunkering down. Lodge style is all about making the indoors cozy when conditions outdoors are less than hospitable. The look is achieved with Pendleton blankets within easy reach, wood floors layered with rugs, collections of antlers, sporting paraphernalia hung on walls and at least one fireplace with logs set ablaze. On a side note: a good friend once told me that love is like a fire -- it needs air to live. Fuss with it too much or leave it alone and it will die out. To avoid the cabin fever that sometimes comes with being stuck indoors too long with loved ones, it may be necessary to run outside every now and then. There's nothing like getting soaked by rain and jostled by heavy winds to make close but warm quarters inviting again.

Images: House Beautiful magazine, February 2011 issue. Canadian House & Home, August 2010 issue. British Homes & Gardens, November 2010 issue. Cote Paris magazine, April/May 2011 issue. Country Living magazine, July/August 2010 issue and unknown issue.

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Halloween haunting DIY 2

I ADORE candelabras. This next project is perfect for those who may prefer not to use real candles. instead, make your own using a hot glue gun, a big bag of glue sticks, PVC pipe couplings & Flame-less flickering tea votive. This tutorial on how to make a faux dripping candle appearance is in a coveted copy of the book "How to Haunt your house" by Shawn & Lynn Mitchell. They have 3 in the series of their Haunting books. They are available on their website :http://www.howtohauntyourhouse.com/

as well as a few online book store sources. This project is in their first book of the series. They kindly shared on the DIY network exactly how to reproduce the look, suiting it to what ever decor use you may have in mind. The tutorial is available here

:http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/halloween-decoration-how-to-make-a-faux-dripping-candelabra/index.html

So overjoyed with how easy it was as well as the outcome which produced many "you made that? no way! Teach me how.".

 

For the Halloween party, I creepified the candelabra by adding a black crow and spider webbing. The perfect centerpiece for the creepy foods table.

I could not get the thought out of my head on how to make realistic creepy night animal eyes which would appear as though they are watching you from a far. Finally the light bulb hit and this is what I whipped up. in daylight, they come out looking a bit like one eyed ninjas but set in pairs dispersed through the haunting woods trail... creep factor and distract from the next jolt of hauntingly fright moment. 

 At the Dollar tree {everything is $1 or below} I found a 12 pack of small pingpong ball style eyeballs. You could always make your own eyes using pingpong's but these were available & quick.

They also had 3 packs of the flamelss battery operated flickering tea candles. I bought over 10 packages of these to use for Halloween. From the carved pumpkins, candelabras and the eyeballs. Still far less in cost then already made projects.

 

 Using an exacto knife or drill, you make a hole in the underside. Depending where you plan to put your one eyed ninjas, determine where you want the hole which will be where you insert the plastic flame tip of the candle. You need to test the size of the hole simply by inserting the flame tip into the hole. Too small? I used a steak knife tip to scrape the hole, shaving small bits off to enlarge it until perfect.

 

On the tea light, you put hot glue circling the plastic flame tip. Not too much or it will ooze from the eyeball placement. Just a few spots close to plastic flame tip.

When you are putting the eyeball on, apply it in a small twist fashion as it comes in contact with the hot glue. This will spread the glue in a uniform way that will help prevent oozing as well.

 

 

 

 Cut rectangle shapes, using your dried eyeball candles as a source of amount, with 1 inch wider then the sides, using black tight knit fabric.Find placement of the eye pupil, mark with white chalk for accuracy. Cut an almond shape from this spot fitting to the proper size of your eye to show.

Using hot glue gun, wrap your eyeball light up, making sure the hole is in proper place. You MUST be sure to have every bit covered right down to the base so light does not shine from underneath. Ruining the illusion.

 

 The eye on the left needs more fabric on the base bottom. Off in the distance, in bushes, amongst the fallen leaves around 20 or more feet away from where people will be walking, place your eyeballs in pairs.

These worked out great for our trail haunting. I place them by tree stumps with leaves scattered around to add to the mirage. The kids LOVED it! These flickered to give the appearance of eyes twitching and blinking off in the distance. Making the kids do a double take, giving a distraction as they walked the trail before... BAM! scary guy moment. Screams and jumps. Thrills and laughter. It's all about messing with their perceptions. Distractions that are not "obvious" help knock their guard off. More or less. Mess with their heads. And they could not get enough. Going back on the trail a few more times.

 Now I'm off to see if I can get my hands on book 2 & 3 of " How to haunt your House " for more projects to work on over the next 360 days... I've got a Teen Halloween Haunting to plan in our own house next year. As well as the creep factor to play on with the woods and old graveyard next door.

Halloween. My favorite Holiday just got better.

Sweet dreams,

~Tammie

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DIY Chevron Pushpin Boards

Hey there! Today I'm sharing a fun and easy DIY project that I recently made using several old frames we had sitting around the store. First I gave them a coat of paint and distressed them a bit. Then I bought gray chevron fabric and foam core boards from Hobby Lobby, cut and stapled the fabric to the board and then stapled the board to the frame which created quite lovely pushpin and photo boards.

I'm sharing at Someday Crafts, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Embracing Change, Beyond the Picket Fence, 52 Mantels,  A Creative Princess, Show and Share, Savvy Southern Style, Clean and Scentsible, Jennifer Rizzo, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, The Shabby Nest, 504 Main, Liz Marie Blog, My Repurposed Life, Blissful Bucket List, Craftberry Bush, French Country Cottage, Home Stories A to Z, and Primp.

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Product Review: Calico Designs Jameson Work Centers

First and foremost, we felt the need to say that the Calico Designs brand is set to make some big waves in the modern office furniture world. This relatively new manufacturer provides a host of awesome products that define the word affordable. From glass office desks to modern office chairs, Calico Designs is an excellent solution for home and professional business applications where budget matters! That being said, in today's post we will be reviewing one of our favorite Calico products, the Jameson LS Work Center. Enjoy!

The first thing you'll notice about the Jameson LS Work Center is the modern style. This awesome glass corner desk provides a contemporary look that is quite pleasing. With several models and color combinations to choose from, it's easy to match the Jameson station to your individual decor requirements.

Now that we've had a fantastic first impression, lets cover the basics. Here are the dimensions on this fantastic workstation.

Overall Dimensions: 59” W x 59” D x 29.5” H

Main Work Surface: 35.5” L x 20” D x 2pcs
Corner Connector: 20” x 20”
 

On to the features! Jameson work centers feature a powder coated steel for durability along with a rear crossbar. Surfaces are made with tempered safety glass that add to the modern look. Floor levelers are included for uneven surfaces and adjust quite easily. The curved leg design, simple assembly, and quick shipping of this product just take it over the top.

We like to think of the Jameson as a high end glass computer desk that works well at home but fits perfectly in upscale executive offices. This desk has the look of stations priced well into the thousands, but with a price tag of only $225.99... value is the only word that comes to mind! We sure hope you'll give the Jameson LS Work Center a try, we feel you will absolutely love this modern glass corner desk. With the holidays right around the corner it makes a fantastic gift for any executive or aspiring business professional.

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Our Halloween Hanuting DIY short series

Halloween is my favorite holiday and this year is even more special. I finally get to expand my Halloween fun by haunting a trail in the woods behind one of Panda's friends home. I volunteered to help the parent with decking out the trail as well as some of the little party details such as the food table. Doing these parties for our children can get a bit overwhelming on our own. Having some help makes itless stressful. Not too mention, a combining of skills most appreciated.

 

I rarely use a glue gun for projects. That is until I began to realize it has far more uses then gluing things down.

I have a few Halloween projects to share with you. This one is all my creation. The others are inspired from other resources.

 

In Frog's garden I discovered some fantastic dead flowers for placing an arrangement on the table. Not just any vase will do. I needed a piece to carry on with the theme.

 

 I grabbed a large glass and began to make crackle spider web effects up and down it's exterior.Keeping the gun tip close to the glass as I trail shaky various size glue strips. Then I utilized the hot tip to squiggle them out which gave a great spidering effect. With a different seasonal theme, this could be done to appear as frost too.

 

Once I felt satisfied with the amount, I grabbed leaves from the yard and stuffed a few in the bottom. The next step was layering them along the walls of the glass so it appears filled to the brim with dead & colorful Fall leaves.

 

 

The next step was arranging dead flowers and stems found in the garden. From Teddy bear sunflowers, basil seed pod strands, dried up zinnias as well as a cosmo appearing flower bunch. I did not want to stuff it full of stems being there must be room inside to retrieve & replace the flameless flickering candle which sets off an eery candle fire effect nestled down inside the glass a few inches from the top.

 

 

To hide the battery operated votive candle, simply place a few small leaves strategically around it's base or just paint the base a neutral color like black or brown to blend it in.

There simply is not a way I have found to share with you the amazing effect seen in person with the candle light on. The votive is great for those dark nights and not so bright rooms. It truly makes it appear as the flowers are on fire inside, casting the shadows of dead stems and heads onto the walls.

This took all but 10 minutes to whip up. Imagine the table decked out with platters of coffin sugar cookies, colored chocolate realistic looking eyeball cookies, deer meat sloppy Joes as well as a few other Haunting foods on a blood deep red tablecloth. Black crows, a realistic dripping wax candelabra complete with flickering flame less candles & bits of glue gun spider webs.{ Of course, don't forget the dead flower arrangement. No proper table is complete without a flower arrangement.

Up next : Have you heard of slender man? Apparently just mentioning this names evokes fear in the minds of the heathens. I'll also share how to make your very own Hauntingly awesome Candelabra. Perfect for everyday use, especially grand for ghoulish mood setting.

 Stay tuned for some Haunted trail DIY & more Halloween treats to whip up.

Sweetest dreams,

~Tammie

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Do You Have Stainless Fatigue?

Do you have an opinion you'd like to share on this topic? MSN asks "What comes after stainless steel?" For 25 years stainless has been the leader in kitchen appliances, but manufacturers are looking for a replacement.

The appliance industry has tried to promote new looks before. In recent years, manufacturers have pitched "oiled bronze," "antique copper" and a gray hue called "meteorite," as well as aluminum and other look-alikes, but none has been able to unseat stainless steel.

We know a look doesn't last forever, but I am not tired of stainless because it's so clean and forward looking.  I have a feeling that some form of Gold finish is on the horizon, because it's been out of favor for so long.

So the question is: Do you have stainless fatigue? If so what would you like to see as a replacement?

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Great New Products from Studio Designs

For those not familiar with Studio Designs, they are an excellent manufacturer of quality home and business drafting furniture. Studio designs provides excellent art and craft table solutions to beginners and professionals alike. In the last few months they have released several great new products that deserve to be highlighted. Enjoy!

First up, the Studio Designs Flex Drafting Table. The 32691, offers versatility to artists and architects alike. This unique adjustable drafting table is available now for only $124.99. Now that's a deal! We love this quality drafting table because it allows users to choose the way they work. This quality piece of modern drafting furniture is easy to assemble, ships quickly, and works great in both home and professional business applications. With the holiday season right around the corner, we expect this awesome product to be extremely popular! What a great gift idea!

Features and Specifications:

Overall Dimensions: 35.5"W x 24"D x 30" - 37"H
Main Work Surface: 35.5" x 24"
Top Angle Adjustment from Flat Up To 35 Degrees
8 Height Adjustments from 30" to 37"
Heavy Gage Steel Construction for Durability
Metal Crossbar for Stability
24" Slide Up Pencil Ledge

Next up, the 10081 Catalina Craft Table. The 10081 is another modern art table perfect for both home and professional business applications. One of Studio Designs specialties is glass drafting tables, the Catalina is a perfect example of this. The 10081 boasts a durable powder coated steel frame, and floor levelers for increased stability. The top angle adjusts up to 30 degrees with ease. One of our favorite features has to be the contemporary look. While most wood drafting table solutions offer a traditional and efficient look, the Catalina stands apart with gorgeous angles and modern style.

Features and Specifications:

Overall Dimensions: 40"W x 23.75"D x 29.5"H
Main work surface consists of two 10"W x 23.75"D flat panels
and one 20"W x 23.75"D glass top
Top angle adjustment up to 30 degrees
Can be used as a drafting table and a light table
20" slide up pencil ledge Powder coated steel for durability
Tempered blue safety glass top
Floor levelers for uneven surfaces

Third on our list of awesome new Studio Designs furniture is the 10071 Futura Craft Station. While the Futura series has been around for the last few years, Studio Designs has recently released these incredibly popular tables in black! The new look has taken this top selling craft table solution to a whole new level. Several black Futura craft station options are available however, we chose the 10071 because we love the fact that the surface can be used as a dry erase board. Now that's versatility. Priced at $199.99 this table is truly an excellent value and another fantastic gift idea for the holiday season.

Features and Specifications:

Table Overall Dimensions: 43"W x 24"D x 31.5"H
Main Work Surface: 38"W x 24"D
Can be used as dry erase board
Black Legs w/ White Glass Surface
Tempered Safety Glass Top
Top Angle Adjustment up to 35 Degrees
3 Plastic Molded Slide Out Drawers for Storage which can be Mounted on Left or Right Side of Table
Four Removable Side Trays for Supplies
9.5" x 28" Pencil Storage Drawer
Heavy Gage Steel Construction for Durability
(4) Floor Levelers for Stability
24" Slide Up Pencil Ledge

Last but not least, the Studio Designs 13272 Antigua Table and Stool Set. When it comes to value, the 13272 set is hard to beat. With awesome products like this we should have titled this post "Fantastic Holiday Gift Ideals" but giving credit where credit is due, Studio Designs deserves some love for manufacturing these fantastic art solutions. The Studio Designs Antigua Set offers everything needed to create a functional art workspace. The solid wood frame and floor levelers offer excellent stability. While the adjustable work surface provides comfort and ease of use. Whether your a beginner or a professional, this excellent drafting furniture set is hard to pass up!

Features and Specifications:

Adjustable Angle Work Surface: 36"W x 24.25"D
Adjustable Height from 27.75" to 34.75" High
Top Angle Adjustment up to 90 Degrees
24" Pencil Ledge
Solid Wood Frame for Stability
Floor Levelers Adjust to Uneven Surfaces
22" Tall Stool Included

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