Friday Find: One Kings Lane Invitation

Have you heard about One Kings Lane? It's a fabulous online destination for private sales on home decor, accessories and gifts. Prices are up to 70% off every day! If you want an invitation, please go here. Take a look at some of my favorite items currently on sale:

This Contemporary Sunburst Mirror in ebony and gold leaf caught my eye and so did the One Kings Lane price tag for $299.00 - retailed for $649.00!

With the holidays just around the corner, I couldn't resist including this darling John Robshaw Elephant Stocking on One Kings Lane for $59 (retails for $125). Hurry this sale ends on 11/23 at 11am EST.

This lovely reversible fringed throw made of Merino wool is woven into a striking jacquard pattern. I love the subtle, rich colors. This is a classic. Available at One Kings Lane for $129 - beats the $245 retail price any day!

Are you ready to shop amazing deals at One Kings Lane? Happy Friday and happy shopping!

Books As Decor Accessories

Recently I have been searching for beautiful ideas to decorate a clients vast floor to ceiling built-in bookshelf. Today it sits empty for the most part and we plan to fill it with lovely books, artwork, family pictures and stylish home accessories.

The homeowner would like to decorate the bookshelves with antique books. I found this gorgeous collection of French books available at Doxa Home that is a possibility. Biblio.com also has an incredible section of rare and antique books, but as you can imagine buying enough for a large bookshelf would cost a small fortune. So, I was thrilled to hear the gals at The Skirted Roundtable in a recent discussion on, Accessorizing - The Final Frontier found large quantities of old leather books at a low cost on eBay. I will be searching my local consignment, Goodwill and used bookstores too. Any other suggestions?

With all this commotion about books, I ran across delightful cover designs for hardback classics on the Penguin Blog UK. They are currently available at Anthropologie and here are my favorites designs:

Organizing books by color is a fun way to decorate bookshelves and add color to a room. For a simple "how to" - go here.

Do you decorate with books you have read, will read or never intend to read?

*images from Flickr

Thanksgiving - Decorating Ideas for the Kids' Table

Celebrating Thanksgiving with young children is wonderful, but may lead to some challenges. First, do you let them eat at the "adults" table and give them the good china, silverware and crystal glasses? Or will your littlest guests have their own designated table? It might depend on how many kids will be there, how big your main table is and if you think the kids are "ready" for your finest dishes. For me, I prefer the kids to sit at the adult table in the hopes they will learn from their parents, relatives and friends how to behave in a more formal setting. But, when I was growing up I sat at the "kids" table for years. It was always fun when it was decorated in a special way too.

If you do decide to have a kids table, you may want to decorate it in a festive, but kid-friendly manner. Check out the darling turkey plates and tumblers and festive home decor available at Pottery Barn Kids.

Let them help. Busy Bee Lifestyle also had a great DIY idea for kids - cover the table in brown butcher paper, set out some markers and crayons and let your little artists create their own holiday placesetting.

Leave to Martha Stewart to have another super cute idea! These darling turkey, Pilgrim hat and bonnet felt finger-puppets would make the kids at your Thanksgiving feast grin from ear to ear. Place them atop candy canes to create sweet centerpieces. Here is the "how to".

This yarn turkey with "thankful" feathers would make a darling centerpiece and it's another simple DIY project.

For dessert, how about serving these gobbling-good turkey cupcakes? I know my kids would devour them in a second!

Looking for decorating ideas for your "adult" Thanksgiving table or will you be a dinner guest?

*images from Martha Stewart, Pottery Barn Kids, Parents, Family Fun

2010 Goal Setting, Getting Organized and Buttoned Up GIVEAWAY

With 2009 wrapping up in the next month, many of us are looking to set goals for 2010. Getting your home organized may be top of your list. In previous posts I have featured Button Up's excellent organizational products for disaster preparedness and medical documents. Today, I am thrilled to announce a special giveaway sponsored by Buttoned Up - just in time for holiday gift giving and your New Year's resolutions! One lucky Simplified Bee reader will receive a trio of fantastic products by Buttoned Up - Pet Care Package, Fitness.doc and Collison.doc.

The Pet Care Package includes the Pet.doc and Petsitter.pad. The Pet.doc is an agenda-aized notebook with sections of two pets. You simply fill in the forms provided and you'll have everything from basic license numbers and immunizations records to detailed medical histories and training notes in one, easy to find spot. And the Petsitter.pad™ makes it a little easier to vacation without worry – its detailed form ensures no instruction is overlooked, from feeding times and walking schedules to favorite toys. Wouldn't this make an excellent stocking stuffer for those with pets?

Need some help getting back on the fitness wagon? Help yourself or someone you love get fit with the Fitness.doc™ from Buttoned Up. This bright orange book will help anyone who uses it set realistic fitness and weight loss goals, plan how to reach them and implement them in everyday life. Another great organizational tool to help you reach your 2010 goals and you can't beat the $4.95 price tag!

No one is prepared for a car wreck, but they happen every day. Unfortunately, most don't realize they're woefully unprepared to deal with them until afterward. Thankfully, the compact Collision.kit™ stows everything you need to document the situation in a handy zippered case you can keep under your seat or in the glove compartment. This brilliant kit includes a 12-exposure disposable camera with flash, preformatted forms for gathering information from all parties (including the police), pen and clipboard for easy writing, and an envelope for storing registration and insurance documents. An excellent gift for a teenager who just got their driver's license!

Two other Simplied Bee readers will win Buttoned up.coupons! This fun, friendly little coupon book has 20 cleverly illustrated coupons that enable you to lighten the load of someone you love – mom, dad, roommate or friend. The set includes coupons for everyday tasks like taking out the trash, doing the laundry and running the errands. Each one is perforated, so you can give one coupon at a time, or the whole book at once. What a nice way to give back to the one's you love this holiday season!

In addtion, Buttoned Up is offering all Simplified Bee readers 25% off $20 or more at Buttoned Up. Please enter promotional code 25OFF at checkout - expires 12/26/09.

Here's how to enter Simplified Bee's Buttoned Up giveaway:

• Leave a comment (include email if you are not a blogger).
• Extra Entry - become a new Follower of Simplified Bee™ Blog (by adding yourself to the follower group on the sidebar) or follw Simplified Bee on Twitter.
• Extra Entry - mention this giveaway in a post or tweet with a link back and leave a comment letting me know you've done so.
• Extra Entry - sign up for Buttoned Up's e-newsletter.
• Please post a separate comment for each extra entry.
• Entry period closes at midnight PST, Sunday, November 22, 2009 and the winners will be announced Monday, November 23, 2009.

**Note: The winners will be drawn randomly using Random.org, notified directly via email and listed back at this post using first name only.

Good luck and happy organizing! Also, head over to a Soft Place to Land for some great DIY ideas.

A Flair for Living by Charlotte Moss Giveaway Winner

With the holidays fast approaching, I thought it appropriate to highlight Charlotte Moss' beautiful Living Room for Holiday House Showhouse last year. It was a benefit for the Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The room is rich in vibrant color and layered in pattern and texture. Moss states it's a room that says, "Roll back the rugs, Turn up the music."

Also, if you haven't seen Moss' much anticipated Aspen home, check out Elle Decor's beautiful article in the December 2009 issue - Charlotte Moss' Chic Ski Retreat. The photo above is Moss with her darling Cavalier King Charles spaniels on the terrace of her mountain house - trying to keep warm I might imagine! The oversized deck chairs are by McKinnon and Harris.

Here is a sneak peak of Moss' gorgeous master bedroom. The stunning branch-like iron canopy bed inspired by 1960s style icon, Pauline de Rothschild is the room's crown jewel. The elegance and sophistication of this master suite is repeated throughout the home and is quite a departure from the views of the cold and rugged Rocky Mountains.

Drum roll please... And the winner of A Flair for Living by Charlotte Moss giveaway is Victoria! Congratulations and enjoy this wonderful book. Victoria was lucky comment #2 selected by random.org. In addition, please drop by her lovely blog, Art House Design. She has a beautiful post with more Thanksgiving ideas for you.

*images from Charlotte Moss, Elle Decor, Martha Stewart

Friday Find: At Home Letterpress Machine

I have long been a fan of letterpress stationary. When I got married back in 2001, I hired Dauphine Press to design our wedding invitations. We came up with a design that complimented our Lake Tahoe setting and featured a rustic pinecone motif and vellum pine branch wrap. Today Dauphine Press refers to the design as the "Sierra Classic." I must say, the design still stops my heart today!

Of course nothing can replace talented print designers and the endless range of colors they can offer, but I almost fell out of my desk chair when I read that Paper Source is unveiling a brand new Letterpress Machine you can use at home! This weekend they will be hosting demonstrations in all of their retail stores - go here for the details.

This exciting machine - affordable too at $150 - allows you to make homemade letterpress cards, invitations and tags. Paper Source is one of the only vendors in the country to carry this item. What a great Christmas gift! {hint} Is my hubby or mom reading this? What's on your Christmas list?

Tia Zoldan Interiors - Sophisticated Del Mar Home

Los Angeles-based interior designer, Tia Zoldan was tasked with the challenge of transforming a traditional home into a sophisticated space that remained beach-casual and kid-friendly. And, boy did she succeed. The single-story 4,000 square foot three bedroom, four bath home located in Del Mar, California had an existing semi-open floor plan. To ensure visual flow and connectivity, Zoldan used a common color scheme of gray, white and black as a base with hints of bright color throughout the home.

In the living room, Zoldan lines the room with custom sofas by Holly Hunt in a durable, brushed white velvet (she swears it's a kid-friendly fabric and even tested it by spilling coffee on it!). The symmetrical sofa arrangement forces our attention the the gorgeous limestone fireplace. Zoldan infuses vivid color by adding charcoal gray and bright pink throw pillows to the sofas and an avocado green tufted bench in front of the fireplace. The unifying hand-knotted wool and silk rug is Tibetan and is gorgeous over the dark walnut floors.

The dining room is a bit eclectic with modern, traditional and vintage elements, but Zoldan pulls it together brilliantly. I love the upholstered white chairs with with backs in a bold, textured orange fabric. The light fixture from Foscarini and the zig-zag rug by Jonathan Adler add more whimsical elements.

Natural light floods the simple, yet stunning white kitchen. The counter-high table with wooden top serves multiple purposes - it adds visual warmth, a place for family members to gather and of course, an additional food prep area. The white backless stools are from Design Within Reach.

The media room features a large, inviting sectional sofa covered in a gray vintage velvet. Again, Zoldan adds vibrant pops of color with a collection of solid and geometric throw pillows. I am curious to know what color gray paint she used on the walls and cabinets.

The sweet, yet sophisticated girl's room in purple, pearl and beige is certainly one that any age would love. The beautifully designed headboard is brilliant with the pearlescent wallpaper, mirrored chest and chenille rug by Madeline Weinrib. I should have featured this room in a previous post,
Interior Design Color Trends for 2010 - Purple.

The tranquil, airy master bedroom features beautiful windows with ocean views. Zoldan uses the perfect mix of colors throughout the room. The dark gray custom bench and tufted headboard contrast beautifully with milky bed linens.

The serene master bathroom is perfection. The beautiful floor-to-ceiling Calcutta marble tile was vertically set. The raspberry bench with lucite X legs and glass light fixture are fabulous!

I am loving Zoldan's design and the down-to-earth feeling this home communicates. How about you?

*images from Luxe Magazine