Happy Holidays

I'm heading over to my parents' farm for the holidays tomorrow, so I'll talk to you guys next week.  I wish everyone a wonderful, wonderful holiday - filled with loved ones and yummy treats!

via Country Living Mag

A fresh spin on Christmas decor...

I was so excited when I saw photos of this home for the first time. It's so fresh and coastal, but somehow still manages to be festive and feels like Christmas. The home is a barefoot style cottage in Florida.

The chair was a flea market find, now reupholstered in a modern coral print.

I didn't know there were fireplaces in Florida...

Okay - I love this banquette. It's custom made in faux-ostrich vinyl that's super kid-friendly

Woolen stockings didn't scream beach cottage, so the kids used buckets in lieu of stockings

If you can, use accents from your own backyard.  They don't look like everyone else's decorations, and they're free. This owner took cuttings of pine from her own property. Don't have property? Take a walk in a park and see if there are any fallen pine cones you can gather.

I adore how she did up her stairs with mercury glass candle holders and jumbo pine cones.

The bedroom color palette is so serene.

Does this home still feel holiday spirited to you?

via Southern Living December 2011

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Photo Via: Fresh Home

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Photo Via: Optische_taeuschung
 

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Photo Via: urbaneapts

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Love art? Like art? Think it's just okay? No matter what your stance - you will be amazed by this...

I sure am. I don't feature that much fine art. I studied sculpture for two years in college and especially loved working in wood. This series leaves me speechless. The creation of Bonsoir Paris, the "Duramen"(heartwood) series was "Born of a simple impulse, the one to break with conventional ways of exhibiting, BONSOIR PARIS and its team have imagined a series of frames so strongly mistreated that they have become unrecognizable. Their wish is to break the properties of the compound, a form of compromise as minimal and it is efficient."

This piece is my favorite.  The contrast of the chocolate-like wood and the white gallery wall is particularly striking. It's hand-carved Glossy Wenge wood.

The piece below is polished oak and sanded fir

A front and side sketch of the carving above, which is constructed of polished linden on hammered pear

Detail

A look at the making of.

Read/See more on BehanceVisit the artist's official site at Bonsoir Paris

What do you think?

A clutter-free and warm home of a Toronto artist

It's often a bit hard to find a home that is minimal and clean but not cold or sterile. This cozy home is a carefully edited space of meaningful objects.

The artist, Cylene

She keeps a rotating art wall, and displays collections, such as the cameras you see here, but the space still feels airy.

The kitchen is so cute.

The artist also let the folks over at Covet Garden tour her studio. I always love seeing a studio because I majored in ilustration and spent many years among other artists in their studios.

Her beautiful, whimsical paper art

via Covet Garden

Finding holiday refuge - perfectly peaceful bathrooms

I really do enjoy getting to see most of my relatives over the holidays, especially my three sister, as we're spread over the east coast. However, ever since I was a child, a room or house full of people can start to leave me feeling a bit suffocated after awhile. Whether or not you're like me in this characteristic, it's still important to take a little time for yourself to recharge. My personal favorite is a hot bath with some candles, because it's so comforting and peaceful.

love this quaint, vintage bathroom.

I don't know if I'd ever pick such bright colors for my own bathroom, but I still think it's really striking.

I've never seen a bathtub at an angle like this!  I love "real" furniture in the bathroom, like the upholstered seat you see here.

*Love* this tile and the chocolate

Okay, so I'm not sure if I actually like this bathroom or not.   The color palette is interesting - maybe it's all just a bit too country for me.  What do you think?  Do you like this palette? Like the style?

so luxurious! I could spend a long time in here.

Which bathroom is your favorite?  Do you use the bathroom as a personal sanctuary?

via BHG

Ready or not, Christmas is coming - some easy decorating ideas for those with little time or motivation to decorate for the holidays

I'm a little ashamed to admit that I love other people's Christmas and holiday decorations, but when it comes to putting up my own, I really drag my feet. I let the weeks pass by, and then it just seems too late to bother. If there are any other of you out there like me, here are a few simple decorating ideas, which are easy and quick enough that you won't need to procrastinate.

Love this photo.  See how just a red throw and a pillow gives it a holiday feel?
 (aside from the snow)
via Log Home

You can always just go with a tree.  Because there are no other holiday decorations around, the tree is all the more noticeable, and really takes center stage.

A red flower arrangement or poinsettia can make a big impact on your dining room table.  Keep the other table linens white to really make the red pop.

2 images above via Lonny Mag

Okay, so I know this adorable little shed is all decked-out, but I used it to impact the instant coziness that warm light gives off. Candle light and incandescent lighting from table lamps and sconces, not overhead lighting, give off a warm glow. I know that incandescent lights are not the most energy efficient option - so check out compact fluorescents (CFLs), which give off a light more similar to incandescents than traditional fluorescents, but still give you energy savings.

via Pinterest

Candle light makes the table festive, even without green garlands and red bows.
via Rue Magazine

Simple pops of red turn an everyday room into a holiday decorated room.  A throw, a table runner, a lampshade, or a throw pillow are all accents that can be swapped in on the holidays.

2 images above via Casa Diez

I thought this idea was cute and easy. Take some glass vessels with a wide opening - a large jar, a hurricane, a glass bowl, and fill them with a simple strand of lights (craft stores sell plain strings of lights super cheap), and cluster them together in an arrangement on the table, mantle, or a sideboard.

via Country Living

What do you do to decorate for Christmas or the holiday you celebrate?  Do you procrastinate or go all out once Thanksgiving has come and gone?