Designer Bedrooms: Four Poster and Canopy Beds

I just can't seem to get the image out of my head. Designer Charlotte Moss showcased a gorgeous four poster canopy bed in her Aspen home that made quite a dramatic statement.

According to Wikipedia, a four poster bed is a bed with four vertical columns, one in each corner, that support a tester, or upper (usually rectangular) panel. A canopy bed is similar to a four poster bed but with ornate or decorative fabric that is often draped across the upper space between the posts and a solid swath of cloth may create a canopy directly over the bed. Here are some of my favorite designer bedrooms featuring four poster and canopy beds.

This guest room in an Ojai Valley, California estate was designed and briefly owned by interior designer Kathryn M. Ireland. Actress Reese Witherspoon now owns 6+ acre ranch style compound designed by Wallace Neff. While in residence, Ireland used her own colorful suzani inspired fabrics to cover the chunky four poster bed. The stunning long pillow is made of antique suzani fabric.

Designer Nancy Price created a formal, yet tranquil retreat in her master bedroom. The dark wooden Planter's Bed by Hickory Chair contrasts beautifully with the soft, white bed linens.

In this nautical bedroom, designer Tom Stringer placed a traditional four poster bed between two matching 3-drawer sidetables. The sunny yellow sidetables coordinate beautifully with the bed's headboard in Ralph Lauren's Coastal Stripe. Keeping the room simple and serene, Stringer paints the walls, ceiling and antique chandelier white.

The antique barley-twist four poster bed makes quite a statement in this traditional master bedroom by designer Meg Braff. The room's red, white and lime green color palette is beautifully balanced.

In this soft pink, white and brown bedroom designer Gary McBournie centers a Loire iron canopy bed by Niermann Weeks perfectly between two windows. The sweet bedside chest of drawers with monogram is a lovely touch.

The black anodized aluminum four poster bed by Ralph Lauren takes center stage in this modern bedroom designed by Kerry Delrose. The sleek carbon fiber CF1 chair in black leather also by Ralph Lauren gives this white, tan and black room a punch of color.

This tranquil bedroom was designed by Albert Hadley. The 18th-century folding bed in a soft shade of blue is covered in white linens to keep a simple look.

Wow. This stunning mirrored four poster canopy bed in this room designed by Jonathan Berger was based on a 1940s Serge Roche bed. I particularly like how Berger mixes the patterns - the geometric rug and stripes are brilliant together!

Are you sold on four poster canopy beds? For more information on manufacturers, interior designer Patricia Gray has compiled an excellent list of 10 Top Four Poster Canopy Beds.

*images from House Beautiful and Elle Decor

Christmas Decorating with Nutcrackers

As early as 1800, standing wooden nutcrackers in the form of soldiers and kings were found in Germany and in 1830, the term “Nussknacker” appeared in the dictionary of the Brothers Grim. In 1872 Wilhelm Füchtner, also known as the “father of the nutcracker,” created the first commercial nutcrackers.

Today many wooden toy soldier nutcrackers are still manufactured in Germany. Each year interest is renewed by the productions of the Nutcracker Ballet. By the way, there are still tickets available to the San Francisco Ballet's version - it's excellent!

Here are some examples of classic wooden nutcrackers dressed in their holiday finest. From left to right: Williams Sonoma Home, Gump's and D. Blümchen & Company.

Today, collectors can now find hundreds of designs. Here are some of my favorite non-traditional nutcracker dolls. From left to right - White Rabbit, Beekeeper and Hamlet from The Nutcracker Christmas Shop and the Salty and Santa with Sleigh from Gump's.

Crate & Barrel's set of silver and gold nutcracker ornaments would look terrific on any Christmas tree.

How about a gingerbread nutcracker covered in holiday confections? yum.

These festive nutcracker place mats from Gump's would make any table setting magical.

Holiday desserts would be served in style on these handsome set of nutcracker bone-china plates.

Nutcracker salt & pepper shakers from Lillian Vernon would make a great addition to any nutcracker collection.

Do you collect nutcrackers?

* images courtesy of Gump's, Martha Stewart, Lillian Vernon, Crate & Barrel, SF Ballet, Williams Sonoma Home, The Nutcracker Christmas Shop and D. Blümchen & Company

Giving Thanks

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Thanksgiving and Blessings.

*images from Simplified Bee and Veranda, Wikimedia Commons

Trimming the Tree: White Christmas Tree Ornaments

Trimming the tree. A white Christmas tree with hints of silver and antique gold is simple, yet quite dramatic. Here are some delightful ornaments you may want to consider if you are trimming your tree in white this year.

Left to Right / Top to Bottom: Anthropologie, Country Living, Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, Nordstroms, Crate & Barrel, Country Living

Organizing - 5 Gift Wrap Storage Solutions

Keeping gift wrap supplies neatly organized is a year-around task, but during the holiday season it can get out of control. Here are five different gift wrap storage solutions designed to help you organize all those pretty tags, papers and ribbons.

1. The Wall-Mounted Craft Organizer from Pottery Barn is one of my favorite. This space saver is designed so you have all your gift wrap supplies in easy reach.

2. Ballard Designs' Wrapping Cart is very comprehensive. I love how it has hidden casters and can be rolled away when not in use. Thanks to Deliciously Organized for pointing this one out!

3. Organize.com's Underbed Storage Chest for gift wrap is an affordable solution for those with limited storage options. Having a pair of these storage chest would be ideal - one for everyday gift wrap needs and one designated for the holidays. And of course this storage solution doesn't have to go under your bed - it is also suitable for the closet, garage or attic.

4. Another affordable and space saving gift wrap solution is the Hanging Gift Wrap Organizer from the Container Store. Perfect to hang in a closet or on a door or wall hook.

5. For those of you with very limited storage space, a series of stacking vintage suitcase would cleverly store gift wrap. Thank you Apartment Therapy for this fun idea!

Which solution is right for you and your space?

Organizing Household Paperwork and Buttoned Up Giveaway Winners

Tackling household paperwork is certainly a chore. Even in this electronic age, most of our paperwork is generated from snail mail. If you buried in mail and need simple tips on managing and reducing the amount household mail, you may want to take a look at a previous Simplified Bee post - Snail Mail Organization With Style.

For those of you that need a jump-start in organizing household paperwork and don't want to bother with labeling, the File.starter set from Buttoned Up is for you. It comes with ten labeled, color-coded, file folders grouped into three simple categories; Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise. Also included are two blank files for you to fill in with whatever suits your needs. The modern, brightly colored files are easy to find in hanging files and will help get your desk under control for the New Year.

I am also thrilled to announce the winners of the Buttoned Up giveaway. The winner of the Buttoned Up.coupons are Jayme (comment 9) and Carla (comment 23). Congratulations!

The winner of the trio of organizing products by Buttoned Up - Pet Care Package, Fitness.doc and Collision.doc is Kellie (lucky comment 13 picked by random.org). I have a feeling she is going to love the Pet Care Package for sure - the darling Cavalier King Charles Spaniel above is Kellie's Lily. She writes about Lily and more on her lovely blog, Ada & Darcy.

In addition, 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. Their products would make great stocking stuffers! Have you started your holiday shopping?

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 "adult" 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 Collision.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 Simplified 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 addition, 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 follow 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.