a fresh take on holiday decor

Happy December!

It's so funny, at first the flood of holiday posts seemed premature... but now I'm feeling behind...and like I better catch up before I miss it.  Oh the peer pressure of social media and all us design-y bloggers. Don't get me wrong, I love the holiday inspiration + festive entertaining ideas...but seriously, it can be a little overwhelming. Am I the only one? We are surrounded by "Marthas" these days. It's a good thing. :) 
So much creativity + so many ideas! 
But here's the real deal...

You need to be you.  
And I need to be me. 

We need to find our own design voice. I just read an interview with Meg Ryan in Architectural Digest, and loved her comment, "...with decorating I am in control; it's a chance for me to bring my vision into the world." Love her! ...and love that thought.

My holiday decorating is not over-the-top ornate, and I'm okay with that. In fact, I kinda dig that it's not. Just call me a rule breaker. 

Fresh + simple is my design language, for the holidays + for always. 
Yes, I have managed to actually adorn that naked tree, but I loved capturing the beauty of its utter simplicity.
I would call my style a mix of Scandi minimalism + boho vibes. 

Here are two recent finds on instagram which are my current inspiration...

{image via AHomeFor DesignCrafts}

{image via Karla Venegas-Quiz}

I also wanted to share a few hints for a fresh take on holiday design:

1. Keep the color palette simple. Of course, I have to stray from tradition (surprise, surprise). My colors this year: white + pink, with hints of aqua + mint.

2. Bring in elements of nature. Fresh pine is a timeless cue that the holidays are upon us. I also love using pinecones + branches to add organic shapes + textures.

3. Don't be afraid to keep some decorations in the box. The past several years, I've freed myself of the obligation of putting it all out and it's liberating. Don't be afraid to re-invent some items with a fresh coat of paint (Oh the colors my pinecones have been!).

* * *

Keep an eye out for my instagram to see more as the holiday decorating continues. I also did want to share a recent holiday DIY that I did with SmartStuff4Kids. I made these sweet + simple sand art terrariums for the holidays {photos by Rex Yau @crobarcreative} ...

📷 by Rex Yau

Aren't they the cutest? See my DIY video here...and the blog post here.

I am in love with bottle-brush trees for the holidays. Some of these were from my personal collection (Thanks @targetstyle)...others I sourced via Etsy (my go-to source for all things hand-made). Etsy artists make beautiful hand-crafted bottle-brush trees AND Etsy is the perfect source for colored sand and glass terrarium vases. See all the colorful options here...

{Etsy sand source}

Be sure to follow me on Instagram for more of my latest inspirations.

So, tell me, what's your holiday design voice? I'd love to hear from you.

xo

patti

diy: snowglobes

Merry Christmas Week!  

I've always loved hand-crafted Christmas decorations.  Truly, crafting at Christmas was part of my childhood experience.  My sister and I were all about decorating.  Little did we know, we would both end up designing for a living.  

With holiday festivities in full swing, I wanted to share a short + sweet post of a simple snow-inspired DIY project.  I have always loved  handmade snowglobes. I found some ornaments that were perfect for making a snowglobe wonderland (The little pink house + some bottle-brush trees found at Target were the starting point).  I spray-painted some trees + ornaments white just because I love white at Christmas time (well, let's be honest...I love white any time of year).  If you follow me on instagram, you may have already seen some of the results of an afternoon of crafting...

I used glass pastry stands I already had (one of the perks of being a photo stylist)...and also used some mason jars + vases + glass candle dishes (it's amazing all the resources you can find in your own home). I then added some faux  snow + iridescent glitter.  I shook the snow + glitter around the glass containers to make sure some of the magical shimmer stuck to the insides of the glass bell jars.

I have played around with placing our creations in a collection, as well as along with other holiday decor... 

It was a fun + simple afternoon craft that adds some hand-made magic to our home for the holidays.

Wishing you + yours a wonderful week of magical, memory-making moments.

xoxo

patti

holiday home tour

I recently strolled through the Blogger Stylin' Home Tour Christmas 2015 (If you haven't yet, head on over to the White Buffalo Styling Co to begin the tour for lots of Christmas decorating inspiration)! It's always somehow reassuring that there are others out there equally obsessed with styling down to the details.  I love seeing the wide variety of styles.  I always walk away with a new idea or a new take on an old idea...and new motivation to decorate (as if I needed more).

So, I thought I'd share a look at my holiday home as well.  I worked with what I had + added just a little new.  I always love designing with lots of white in the winter ...and this year I added touches of pink + rose gold, a new fav color combo.

As of late I have spent more time on instagram than on this blog. I blame it on Life.  You know, the real stuff, like parenting, working  + doing my best to balance all my roles.  Scrolling through pretty images is like therapy.  Life is messy sometimes.  And somehow in the midst of the chaos, taking a photo of a perfect little vignette makes me happy.  It sounds crazy, but I'm thinking there just might be someone who can relate. Are you with me?

So, in hopes of sharing maybe just a bit of inspiration of my own, here is my holiday home tour 2015...

It all starts with the tree + twinkle lights. And for me, lots of layers of white...

... including my newly found white porcelain pineapple, white cocktail table books, an Anthro white pom-pom from a gift of year's past and sweet white bottlebrush trees from my fav gift shop Patina in Minneapolis.

In addition to white, I love adding unexpected, non-traditional color...

I have collected ornaments over the years.  My shades of matte + shiny pink balls were a find at Urban Outfitters several years ago.  The pretty icicles, from Pier 1.  I also tie ribbon on white seashells we've collected from spring + summer trips to the beach...

My Collection of Candles are always on my cocktail table and look instantly holiday-ish in the light of the Christmas tree.  The silver tray + some of the glass votives are from World Market. To create the bohemian-inspired look, it's all about the mix...mixing colors, textures + different heights.

For my winter interiors, adding warm + cozy textures is a must (like this fur from Hobby Lobby).

...And just because I love a good barcart, I put together this mini one. I'm getting ready for some Holiday Moscow Mule-making ASAP.  I scored these groovy copper mugs at Home Goods. 

Since no holiday styling is complete without a DIY project.  I painted these pinecones for one of my tablescapes.  I tried to get away with simple spray paint, but had to ultimately go for the paint-dipped pinecones.  I love the depth of frosty color on the organic shapes.

I also dressed up my built-in bookshelf with a few holiday accents + a few West Elm favorites...

...and added some paper snowflakes to my mantel...

There's something about paper snowflakes.  They make instant magic! I keep re-cycling these creations year-after-year. {see my post here for some how-to sources.}

 My two small purchases for the season were these sweet pastel bottlebrush trees + white pom-pom garland from Target. Who could resist?

 I decked my miniature white tree with the snow-white pom-poms + added some gift packages wrapped in blush + white tissue paper, gold wrapping + white feathers. 

 

So...what do you think?  

And just for fun, here's a shot of a real-life scenario during a rare peaceful moment at my house...

I hope you enjoyed the tour.  I would love to hear from you.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you + yours!

xoxo

patti

fresh start

January is like a re-set button, at the very least a re-fresh key. It's time again for goal-setting + mood boards. Honing in on new + fresh ideas.

What new ideas are stirring for you?



I've been obsessed with natural light...

{#silver #pom #stirsticks + @anthropologie #candlestick in the #morning #light}

pink...

{my quick-and-easy #DIY #painted + #glittered #pink #pinecones}

{a holiday centerpiece with @worldmarket #silver #tray, @anthropologie #candlesticks
+ #pink #votive, #painted + #glittered #pink #pinecones, plus #driftwood}

pom-poms...

{my go-to #pink #pompom #scarf from @oldnavy}

...white peacock feathers...
+ cozy details...

{some of my fave personal props... @jonathanadler #vase, @targetstyle #journal + #gold #bowl, @westelm side table + box, @etsy #peacock #feathers, white #cowhide #rug + #candles}

How about you...what's your obsession for the new year?

xoxo

patti

joy to the world!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you joy, peace, wonder, love + many beautiful moments.

{via stylemepretty}



{If you didn't check the last post, the give-away winner is Rachel Mork.  CONGRATS Rachel! Thanks for following. Enjoy all the artist-made goodies.}

I'm looking forward to bringing you all more style inspiration in the new year. Until then, enjoy the season...

More soon.

xo

patti

winter white love

aah! winter white. swoon. 

There's something so fresh, so refreshing about pure-as-the-driven-snow white.

I've been loving it in fashion.  I discovered this image at "for the love of pretty." ...now I'm on the look-out for all the elements to re-create the look. 



{via fortheloveofpretty ...
love the white jeans, cozy sweater, chunky jewels.}

I also love white in holiday decor. I recently met the talented, down-to-earth + uber cool blogger "the nester" ... She had an inspiring post this past week about making your own Anthropologie-esque winter white wreath. See the how-to details here. And check-out the finished product (don't forget to go to her original link to pin this image)...

{Anthropologie-inspired winter white wreath by the nester}

I also did a little decorating myself.  I always have to cut a few paper snowflakes every Christmas season.  I was originally inspired by this image...

{snowflakes in the window, PARIS  via}

I did a much more simplistic version (see how-to tips for paper snowflake-making via martha)...



{twinkle lights + snowflakes in the window}

As I styled my window of hand-made paper snowflakes, I thought of the nester's mantra, "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful."  Sometimes it's the imperfections, the randomness that makes our home projects pretty.  Enjoy today.  Look for the beauty in the every-day. 

Follow me on instagram or twitter or pinterest ... or all of the above. :) Share your thoughts.  Happy holidays!!!

xo

patti

oh christmas tree

How's your December? I hope you're enjoying the simple pleasures of the season.

We were able to get our fresh tree this past weekend.  Oh how I love the smell of pine + the look of twinkly lights.  I thought I'd share a few photos with you as the decorating process continues...



{At the lot selecting our tree}

{the finished tree ~ twinkle lights, snowflakes, white + pink}

...One of my favorite things about holiday decorating is pulling out the old holiday photo cards to see how much the girls have grown-up...



{a few of our Christmases Past}

Despite all the craziness of the holidays, I'm wishing you many special moments. 

...And be on the look-out because very soon I'm going to be offering a Holiday Give-Away!!!

Don't you just love winning stuff? I've contacted some very cool merchants + some artsy friends who are willing to offer up some festive goods (think jewelry, candles + more).  I'll be posting how you can win soon! 

Stay in touch.

xo

patti



simple beauty.

It seems to me that we put all-kinds-of pressure on ourselves to keep up with all the latest and greatest...
but lately I've been drawn to the beauty in the simple.

Here are a few images that have captured my attention as my infatuation with simplicity grows.

Behold the beauty. of simple.



{via llamas valley}

{via northern light}



{via pinterest}



{via stil inspiration}



{via crush culdesac}

{via pinterest}

{via heylook}




{via afinidades-eletivas}

{fine art photography + eye poetry by Irene Suchocki, via is-theblog and via}

Am I right?

Simply beautiful.

I hope these images bring you a little inspiration too.

xo

patti