Our Elegant {and even glamorous} Christmas Mantel

Last year our holiday mantel was decorated asymmetrical with lots of color, vintage ornaments and traditional fir & pine garland. As you can see, this year’s Christmas mantel is symmetrical, monochromatic and frankly more elegant. The Lee Industry arm chairs in chartreuse flanking the fireplace inspired the mantel’s color palette of greens and whites with splashes of gold and silver.

  

A trio of etched mercury cachepots from Pottery Barn are filled with crisp white feathers and playful white winter berries. A small collection of vintage and contemporary Christmas trees are set just off center and each pick up different colors in the palette {actually used these cuties last year}.

For a more formal look, a pair of small live fir trees are placed on either side of the mantel. Each tree is set in beautiful birch wrapped tins – this earthy element balances the sparkling silvers and glass and adds a warming neutral color that compliment the winter berries. Matching blown glass mercury candlesticks {Pottery Barn} hold chunky white candles and are placed next to each tree. The entire mantel is lined with fresh Heather and Camilla tree branches – love the varying textures and shades of green.

Perched on a small present, a silvery white snowman ornament adds a whimsical touch.

Simple, low-maintenance moss balls are placed on a silver “trophies” picked up at an estate sale. I was told they were originally used to place cigarettes. Really? They look much better in this form I think.

Hanging from the hammered tin mirror is a glass ornament wreath inspired by Eddie Ross’ in 2008. This was a fun DIY project and easy to do. The glass ornaments are a combination of ones found at an estate sale {vintage for $1} and Goodwill {$1 for two dozen – brand new}. Here is the how to by Eddie.

A proud white ceramic horse stands stately atop vintage Lucite nesting tables and favorite design books. It’s fun to take everyday home décor items like this and make them holiday ready by simply adding a little festive ribbon and tinsel. A chic Moroccan inspired print fabric is added to crushed avocado green velvet stockings. The pair are hang from a single panel fireplace  screen – love how the patterns in the screen and stocking play off one another. Swags of silver tinsel are added to the mantel for a touch of glam.

Need some more inspiration? Go here are fabulous ideas on how to decorate your mantel for the holidays.

Happy Decorating, Happy Holidays!

* all photos by Cristin Priest for Simplified Bee

Book Review: Pretty Neat & Chance to Win $250

When gazing at beautiful images of meticulously organized rooms, color-coded closets and flawless family schedules, does it make you think you are not measuring up? Some suggest at least 80% of of women feel organizationally challenged. Wow. Could this be true? Buttoned Up’s co-founders, Alicia Rockmore & Sarah Welch sadly found this to be the case when interviewing hundreds of women for their new book, Pretty Neat: The Buttoned-Up Way to Get Organized and Let Go of Perfection : Simply put, many thought their “imperfect” ways left them short of the mark organizationally.

In the introduction, Alicia and Sarah state, “Chasing perfection fuels something we call organizational inertia, a type of paralysis that makes it virtually impossible to get started. All too often, the most difficult part of getting organized is knowing where to start. If perfection is the objective, paralysis makes sense. Keeping your house, work and schedule magazine-ready requires a superhuman effort to achieve and constant superhuman vigilance to maintain. The goal of getting organized isn’t necessarily to have everything picture-perfect, but rather to eliminate inefficiency so that you have more time to do what you actually want to do.”

Pretty Neat is just that. The book drives home that getting organized can be approached in a practical way and insists women need to stop holding themselves to ridiculously high standards. Once readers get past these psychological hurdles, the book provides simple solutions for taking control of their time & stuff without having to become anal. Pretty Neat’s collection of road-tested tips from real women show busy people how to:

* Take charge of to-do lists
* Tame inboxes
* Temper toy tsunamis and more!

I love this simple solution found on page 103 for helping reduce clutter in our closets:

Place a large cloth bag or two on the floor of your closet. Each day as you stare at your wardrobe, ask yourself three questions about one piece of clothing, a pair of shoes and an accessory: 1. Is it flattering? 2. Do I love it? 3. Does it represent who I am today? If the answer to any one of these questions is no, put the item in the cloth bay straight away. Don’t rationalize. When the bag is full, take it to Goodwill. Repeat as necessary until your closet only contains clothes, shoes and accessories that you truly love and wear.

Wanna win $250? I would love to here your best organizational tip or shortcut. Share your tip here by commenting on this post no later than December 31st at midnight! The reader who submits the best tip across all participating blogs will win $250.  The winning tip will be selected by Alicia and Sarah of Buttoned Up and announced on January 10th.

Can't wait to hear all of your get tips for getting organized!

* images via Martha Stewart and Buttoned Up

** I received no monetary compensation for this post. I received one copy of Pretty Neat (book) for review. The opinions herein are my own.

My Casual Chic Thanksgiving Table

Before I head back into the kitchen, I wanted to share some glimpses of our casual chic Thanksgiving table this year. In the images the table is set for four, but tomorrow it will be extended to seat a few more guests.

Contemporary patterns in greens, blues and browns are mixed and play off the Italian China. The yarn turkey place cards were made a few weeks back. I love how they look on the napkin by Pomegranate.

A gilded pheasant figurine, collection of colorful gourds and chartreuse vintage hobnail glass vase with white baby roses make fun centerpiece.

The pheasant figurine was found at a local consignment store for $12. I spray painted it gold - thank you Mr. Eddie Ross for the inspiration!

Thanks for reading Simplified Bee! Wishing you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving!

 

* all photos by Cristin Priest for Simplified Bee

ELLE DECOR Designer Showhouse San Francisco: Guest Bedroom Design by Suzanne Tucker

Yesterday marked the final day of ELLE DECOR’s first-ever Designer Showhouse in San Francisco. The stately 5,000 square-foot Mediterranean mansion in the heart of the historic St. Francis Wood neighborhood was renovated from top to bottom. In addition, the interior was transformed by eleven of the San Francisco’s most talented interior designers – all of which were handpicked by ELLE DECOR. 

Today I will be showing images of the serene bedroom & bathroom created by interior design icon, Suzanne Tucker. Suzanne’s award winning design firm, Tucker & Marks is one of the most recognized in the United States. Architectural Digest honored Suzanne Tucker as one of the AD100 Top Designers of the World, the Robb Report named her “The Best of the Best in Interior Design” and the list continues. In addition to designing beautiful spaces, in 2009 Suzanne authored a book, Rooms to Remember - The Classic Interiors of Suzanne Tucker and earlier this year she launched a luxurious textile line, Suzanne Tucker Home. 

In the ELLE DECOR Designer Showhouse, Suzanne selected a tranquil aqua palette with crisp whites, greens and yellows for the guest room retreat. The bedroom, bath and terrace are set back in the quietest upper corner of the house. “My design speaks to today's mix in decorating – a stylish blend of casual chic, a dash of traditional, a dose of contemporary, all creating a transitional, timeless livability” said Suzanne.

The vintage beds hold special meaning to Suzanne. Originally Michael Taylor made them for San Franciscan fashion icon, Nan Kempner in 1951 because it was between graduating from College and marrying Tommy Kempner in 1952. Nan's "step-mother" felt Suzanne should have them given her connection with Michael Taylor and that Suzanne knew Nan. So she graciously gave them to Suzanne a few months ago, right before the ELLE DECOR Showhouse opened.

Between the twin beds Suzanne placed a contemporary lacquered white bedside table by Bungalow 5. The three drawer table is topped with crisp white roses, a collection of sweet glass bottles and a ceramic table lap with scale detailing by Sue Fisher King. A small Tiffany’s blue box welcomes guests in style.

A crisp white 1940’s Parzinger dresser is positioned opposite the beds. A feminine ruffled mirror is hung center over the dresser and flanked by a pair of vintage Murano glass table lamps from DWM Maloos.

Romantic pale yellow roses in a silver mint julep cup pick up the yellow hue in the vintage Murano glass table lamp and wallpaper – “Hatley” in aqua from Suzanne Tucker Home.

 

Luxurious crisp white, green and yellow bedding by Scheuer Linens are fresh and inviting. Suzanne tops the bed with Madeline Weinrib’s chic decorative pillows – “Celery Luce” and “Green Sunder.”

This early craftsman turned wood chair is delightful and brings more natural wood tones into the space. Suzanne pairs the chair with a fun , clear Murano glass drinks table. A series of Citrus Cotton Woven  area rug runners by Dash & Albert were combined to cover the dark hardwood flooring.

In the bathroom Suzanne covers the walls in a cheery yellow and white Chou-Chou wallpaper by Sister Parish Design. Bath fixtures and tile are kept contemporary and sleek. Two half cylinder sconces - Calliope in polished nickel by Circa Lighting - flank the simple mirror. The sink is softened with a custom pleated skirt. The rich, dark corner shelves are an antique and made of bamboo.

Just off of the bedroom sits a lovely private terrace. The half round faux bois table by Oly Studio is placed just behind a pair of outdoor lounge chairs and ottoman by Michael Taylor Designs. The bamboo style and bronze finish contrasts beautifully with the Perrine in Leaf outdoor fabrics by Duralee. It is surrounded by white marble garden stool, hand-carved old stone Balinese basin and Chiang Mai Palace planter all from Living Green. Hmmm… I think all that is missing is a lovely cup of green tea and a book.

And just in case you missed it, here are tours of the ELLE DECOR Showhouse’s Living Room by Gary Spain,  Teen Girl’s Bedroom by Grant Gibson  and Master Bedroom and Bath by Jay Jeffers.

What do you like most about Suzanne Tucker’s guest room retreat?

*all photos by Cristin Priest for Simplified Bee

Thanksgiving Place Card Ideas and Wembé Giveaway Winners

Thanksgiving. It’s just days away. Whether formal or casual, your table setting and décor will set the tone of the gathering. Setting out place cards for guests is something I do even when entertaining a small group. It puts guests at ease and can add a fun decorative element to the tabletop. Here are some place card ideas perfect for celebrating Thanksgiving:

These handcrafted autumn leaf place cards by Timeless Paper simply perch on wine glasses. Made of cream or white card stock and embellished with custom colored dots, you only need to hand write your guests' names in the spaces. Such an elegant touch to any table.

Paper Source featured these simple printable place cards on their blog recently. An edging of yellow ink  from a stamp ink pad and a simple raffia bow adds the perfect color and texture. Easily adapted to any color scheme too. Here’s the how to.

Here is another Thanksgiving place card idea from Martha Stewart. Name cards are topped with leaves for a whimsical look that is inexpensive and easy to do yourself. Here is the how to.

Here is one of the turkey place cards I made for our tabletop this year. The project needed paper, yarn and glue – and of course a little time. Super simple. I found the idea and how to on Martha Stewart.

If you will be a lucky guest this holiday season, providing the hostess with a small thank you gift is always a nice jester. Go here to see some great hostess gifts under $40. 100% organic and natural soaps from Wembé a Paraguayan Eco-lux soap company made the list.

The nice folks at Wembé Soaps also hosted a giveaway; The two lucky Simplified Bee readers are Wendy and Studio 13. Each has won a Frutal Energizing Set of their luxurious soaps. Enjoy!

Congrats and happy holiday decorating!

ELLE DECOR Showhouse San Francisco: Living Room Design by Gary Spain

{image via Katiedid}

Don’t delay! This weekend is the last to visit ELLE DECOR’s first-ever Designer Showhouse in San Francisco. The stately 5,000 square-foot Mediterranean style home in the heart of the historic St. Francis Wood neighborhood was taken down to the studs and beautifully renovated. The interior was transformed by eleven of the San Francisco’s most talented interior designers – all of which were handpicked by ELLE DECOR. 

Today I will be showing images of the living room created by interior designer, Gary Spain. Gary’s vast portfolio speaks for itself. His use of color, texture and edgy artwork are well noted. However, in the ELLE DECOR Design Showhouse, Gary keeps the living room’s color palette neutral and muted, but stays true to form with bold artwork and brilliant mix of textures.

The tufted linen sofa by Restoration Hardware is gracious and inviting. On the sofa, Gary mixes a pair of oversized white French linen pillows from Erin Martin with a plaid pillow from ABC Carpet and Home.

For the coffee table, Gary selected a pair of distressed ionic capital coffee tables from Restoration Hardware. This reproduction was derived from one of the three orders of classical Greek architectural dating to the 5th century BC. 

Under a window sits a vintage Indian trunk found at 1st Dibs. The studded detailing is spectacular and I love the contrast with the soft floor length drapes.

Dark wooden blinds by Hunter Douglas shade a large window directly behind a small seating area. To define the space, a round pendant hangs by Circa Lighting hangs just above and echos the round side table. Perfect spot for a card game or cup of tea.

The custom display cabinetry is painted a dramatic black and features eclectic artwork and treasures. An African carved stool adds another chic edgy vibe to the space.

Photography by Santa Barbara’s Brian Hodges is hung above a marble and steel console table from Lost Antiques in Dallas, TX. At first glance, I didn’t appreciate Hodges’ large photo of this New Guinea tribe, but now find it’s raw nature beautiful. 

Just in case you missed it, here are tours of the ELLE DECOR Showhouse’s Teen Girl’s Bedroom by Grant Gibson and Master Bedroom and Bath by Jay Jeffers.

What do you like most about Gary Spain’s living room design?

 

* all photos by Cristin Priest for Simplified Bee unless stated.

My Favorite Resources for Chic Baby Nursery Décor

Originally this was a guest post over at Odi et Amo, but I wanted to share it with you because of the many emails inquiring about resources for nursery room décor. 

Designing a nursery room for baby is such a pleasure because of the joy in preparing to bring home a new member of the family. A well designed nursery room needs to be high-functioning, but in doing so it doesn’t have to sacrifice on  style. And there isn’t a better time to design for baby. Today there are so many wonderful baby décor companies producing a vast range of style-savvy, multi-functional and eco-friendly products.  In addition, many of these furnishings and accessories can be easily purchased online. Here are some of my favorite nursery room décor resources:

For Crib Bedding

My favorite resource for classic nursery bedding is Serena & Lily. Their crisp, fresh prints are fun, yet sophisticated and several are organic. Serena & Lily sell fabric by the yard which is nice if you’d like to have some custom upholstery or window treatments. They also offer low VOC paint and accessories that coordinate beautifully with their bedding collections.

One design trend making its way into the nursery is Eastern-inspired block prints. The Rikshaw Design offers a romantic and whimsical collection of crib sets, pillows and accessories, all hand block-printed on soft Indian cotton voile. The line is easy to mix-and-match with coordinating prints, florals, stripes and motifs.

For Nursery Furnishings

When selecting a crib, expecting parents have a lot of terrific styles and options today. Classic cribs are always in style, but many are now designed to grow with your child and transition from crib, to toddler bed, to full-sized headboard. I encourage clients to think ahead and purchase items that will represent a smart, solid investments - that will last beyond baby’s first years and become a permanent part of the home. When shopping for nursery room furnishings, I search Pottery Barn Kids, Rosenberry Rooms, and All Modern Baby. PetitNest is also a new baby & children’s décor company worth checking out.

A good nursing chair is also an important piece and investment in a newborn nursery. I advise my clients to think long-term with this purchase. Will it look okay in a big boy or big girl room? Can we move it to a family or another sitting room? Serena & Lily and Restoration Hardware Baby & Child {above} carry gliders with great lines and customizable fabric options.

For Lighting

Lighting is an important part of the overall design of a nursery. It can set the overall mood and provide needed task lighting. My favorite resource for lighting a nursery is Posh Tots. They have a wide variety and styles to choose from. Recently, I also found some great and economical lighting options at Target.

For Storage

Compartmentalized storage pieces are essential to keeping a nursery organized and efficient. The MacBeth Collection {above left} offers tons of stylish storage tins that are easily tailored to the room’s color palette and best of all can be personalized with your child’s name, monogram or name of item it may be storing. Pottery Barn Kids {above right}, Ikea and Target also have fun storage options for nursery rooms. 

For Rugs

An area rug might be necessary if the nursery room has wooden or tile flooring. I always visit Overstock.com first to see if they have any rugs on clearance that might work in the design. Another great resource is Rosenberry Rooms {sampling above}. 

For Wall Art

There are so many great options for decorating the walls of a nursery. One trend is the use of wall decals. They are wonderful to use in nursery rooms because the can be easily removed or changed out as your child outgrows the space. I am also a huge fan of original artwork. Etsy has loads of talented artists that will personalize pieces for your little ones. Another favorite spot for art is Polka Dot Peacock where I found the artwork above.

What are you favorite resources for nursery room décor?