Gorgeous Christmas Decor Inspiration

Is it just me, or was there no real "lead up" to Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I feel like Thanksgiving just popped up out of nowhere, and now I can't believe Christmas is so close.  I guess time just goes by faster, but I'm feeling so behind with my Christmas shopping and decorating!

I tend to go for more subtle holiday decor, dramatic singular springs, etc.

What do you think about the lit branches used in this space?

Just one gorgeous and dramatic wreath makes a lot of impact.

LOVE these driftwood ornaments dipped in metallic silver paint!

Are you prepared for Christmas this year, or will it be a mad scramble til the end?

1. West Elm, 2. Crate and Barrel, 3.,4.,5. Rue Magazine, 6.,7. Sweet Paul

A fantastic $100 gift code giveaway to use at Novica!

If you're an armchair traveller, artisan lover, have an eclectic style, you are going to love this giveaway!! One lucky winner will be awarded a $100 gift code to use at Novica!!! To enter the contest, peruse the amazing, artistan made goods at Novica, then leave a comment on the post naming what item(s) you would get.

About Novica

We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow. At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe. We want you to know about who you're buying from. We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it.

I recently received two beautiful Novica items, one from Peru, and one from Mexico. From Mexico I got the Blown glass planters crafted by Javier Gutiérrez and Efrén Canteras. Since it's too cold to put anything out on my balcony right now, I used the large planter as a vase, and the second as a planter for a house plant. I think they are really beautiful.

The other item I got is a pure strip of heaven, a gorgeous scarf of baby alpaca from Raquel Iriarte of the Peruvian Andes.

 It even comes adorably wrapped!

There are so many goodies at Novica!  It also always feels good buying from an artisan whose story is told along with the product.

Here are some of my Novica favorites.  The site is brimming with a large selection of silver chandelier earrings, lush wraps and ruanas from peru, and some really special and unique home decor items.

Balinese silversmith Kenari fashioned these gorgeous silver earrings. See them here.

This looks so soft and warm and comfortable, I would probably end up living in this wrap by Peruvian artist Alfredo Falcon.  See it here.

Kahlil Ahmed's wool rug from India. Click here to see.

I could find so many ways to use a $100 gift code at Novica!  For your chance to win, pick out a favorite item from Novica, and leave a comment on this post (instructions below) sharing that item.  Entry closes Friday the 14th at 12:00 AM EST.  The code expires 1/13/2013, and is a one time use only code.

Good luck!


* To comment on this post (scroll to the bottom of this post and right above "Labels" you will see a number followed by the word "comments." Click on the word "Comments." Or, you will see a link, "Post a Comment," which you click on to comment.

Or, you can email me at ashley [at] decorologyblog [dot] com to enter and with your favorite.

Announcing the winner of a Claire Heffer pen and ink illustration!

Congratulations Chelsea!! - You were selected by Random.org (Random.org selects a number at random) as the winner of a Claire Heffer drawing! Thanks to all for entering! I'm announcing another amazing giveaway later today, so stay tuned!

Check out Chelsea's amazing blog, Gardenia + Glam !

Divine Dining Rooms: My guest post on SummerHouse's blog: Always Summer

I got the great honor of guest posting over at Always Summer, SummerHouse's blog.  You can see it some of it below, but go to Always Summer to see the whole post.

I'd say that the dining room is probably the room I talk about the least. I major part of that is probably because I've never had a proper dining room, and because even after spending hours in the kitchen preparing a beautiful meal, you're likely to find me enjoying it curled up on the couch.

However, I'm coming to realize that now that we are looking for a home, I might actually have a real grown up dining room, and once I have kids we will not be dining on the sofa. Also, the up coming holidays are probably when dining rooms see the most action, so I've gathered up some dining rooms to inspire me and other dining room neglecters like myself to give it a little more attention. Your sofa will thank you!!

I wish I was genius enough to put together spaces like this... those benches with that wallpaper? Sublime.  I also think that's the closest to sofa-like one can get proper dining room seating! Oh, and did I mention those windows!?!

Okay.  Can we talk about that amazing gold chandelier?!?!  There is very little I wouldn't do for that chandelier....very. little.

See more...


1. via BHG, 2. via FLOR Blog, 3.  House of Fifty

A guest post from Summerhouse featuring a modern and chic bedroom

Welcome to Summerhouse! I'm so excited to feature this guest post from the talented folks over at Summerhouse.  They create chic, modern, and timeless spaces that I'm sure you'll love! Enjoy their post below:

Hello, Decorology readers! We are so honored to have been given the opportunity to do a guest post for this beautiful blog today! We think Ashley does a pretty phenomenal job of curating a library of lovely images and we're honored to be a part! (Be sure to check out her guest post on our blog when you have a chance!)

Today, we wanted to share a really fun project that our lead designer, Lisa Palmer, just completed. This room is for a beautiful little girl in our hometown of Ridgeland, Mississippi named Avery who was in need of a "big girl room!"

Avery’s mom, Kristen, told Lisa that she wanted a room Avery could grow into, so Lisa created just that! Lisa says, “I had a blank slate, really. I knew she wanted ‘big girl,’ fun, and Avery is such a girly girl but yet a modern little girl. The rest of their house has a classic modern aesthetic so I knew I wanted to go full on modern in this space.”

"Every girl loves pink so that directed our color palette. And the client fell in love with the gray and ivory graphic carpet from Stark that I showed her so that gave us our base," says Lisa.

The main thing that makes this space so outstanding is the detail. Lisa pays very close attention to detail, and loves adding interest in unexpected places. ”I love doing something special on headboard walls so we took the gray and ivory from the carpet and striped the back wall for interest,” she says. “And at the foot of the beds, we used a shaggy wool Flokati rug and made it into benches with sleek acrylic legs.”

Avery and her parents love this new room and plan to keep it as is for years and years to come. See what a worthwhile investment great design is?!

For more projects by Lisa and other SummerHouse designers, and to see our beautiful showroom in Ridgeland, Mississippi, be sure to check out our website! And don't forget to take a peek at Ashley's guest post for our blog, which you can get to here!

Calling all vintage and natural design lovers - you'll love Enjoy Co.'s interiors

If you love that cabinet of curiosities, industrial, or vintage design and decorating sense, then you'll love  Monique Keegan of Enjoy Co.'s interiors.

Any collector/crafter/artist, etc. would appreciate a cabinet like this!

You may remember some of these photos from Country Living's coverage of Keegan's own home.

What do you think of the shiny table and chairs paired with the mostly dark woods of the rest of the space?

If you're lucky enough to live near or in Granville, OH, you can visit the Enjoy Co. store, as seen in the above 3 pictures.

Some Enjoy Co. treasures were used in the German Village Walking Tour.  I had never heard of German Village, but it looks pretty cool...has anyone visited before?


Go to Enjoy Co. to see/read more.

Calling all Decor8 fans!

I imagine most of you are familiar with Holly Becker's amazing Decor8. Well if you're a fan (and really, how couldn't you be?), you will be excited to hear about her new book Decorate Workshop!
I am happy to be a part of the Decorate Workshop Blog Tour, which will feature reviews of Holly's Decorate Workshop by several different bloggers.

Monday, November 26 – Poppytalk 

Tuesday, November 27 – Sacramento Street and A Creative Mint

Wednesday, November 28 – Hooray and Design For Mankind

Thursday, November 29 – Decorology and Bloesem

Friday, November 30 – The Curated House and Design Muse

Monday, December 3 – Simply Grove and In Honor of Design

Tuesday, December 4 – In My Own Style and This is Love Forever

Wednesday, December 5 – Mom Inc. Daily and Knack Studios and This is Glamorous

Thursday, December 6 – Justina Blakeney and Mint

Friday, December 7 – The TomKat Studio and Down and Out Chic

  "In Decorate Workshop, Holly Becker shares all of the design secrets that have made her one of the most beloved bloggers and stylists today. A companion to the international bestseller Decorate, this interactive guide takes readers step by step through her unique eight-step process. She shares her personal design philosophy and explains how to carry a vision into a finished room, from the early paint swatches to the final accents. Readers will learn how to identify their style, create mood boards, outline a schedule and budget, source materials, and start decorating! Filled with expert tips, important checklists, blank space for making lists and plans, and 250 photographs of gorgeous interiors, this is an essential planner for home decorators, whatever their budget."

- via Chronicle Books

Holly will also be doing a blog tour in 2013, so make sure you check in at Decor8 to learn more.  You can read all about it here.

I've included a small sampling of some of the great tips and eye candy that you will see in the book...
(Click on each image for a LARGER view)

This would definitely make a great gift for any design lovers on your Christmas list...including yourself!