Mad for Plaid

Who doesn't love the warm and cozy feel of plaid, especially Tartan? Its classic color combinations and symbolic pattern embody regal elegance, so it’s not surprising it has long been associated with British aristocracy. Tartan is everywhere these days, from fashion to home furnishings, and is the perfect addition to your Holiday decor or winter wardrobe. Or makes for a festive gift for everyone on your list. I would be happy to get any of these Tartan goodies under the tree.



1. Tartan: Romancing the Plaid by Jeffery Banks Coffee Table Book
2. Burberry Giant Check Scarf
3. Pendleton Silk Taffeta Plaid Dress
4. Comme de Garcons Tartan Coin Purse
5. American Eagle flats
6. Pendleton Tartan Dessert Plates
7. Dooney and Bourke Plaid Shopper
8. Eddie Bauer Down Ice Scraper Mitt
9. True Religion Trapper Hat
10. Williams-Sonoma Home Tartan Table Linens
11. Ralph Lauren Home Tartan Chair
12. Bagatelles & Co. Etsy  Shop Highlands GiGi Coin Purse
13. Ralph Lauren Home Tartan Party Collection Bedding
14. MAC Cosmetics Tartan Tale Chapter 1 Eye, Lip and Face Kit
15. Lauren by Ralph Lauren Ronson Ruffle Holiday Tartan Shirt

Drink, Craft and Be Merry

Three things that fit quite nicely together: wine, decorating for Christmas and making fun craft projects. Combining them all in one evening makes for a very merry time. Here’s what I’m working on tonight.





Image and Video via Recyclart.com

Coastal Christmas

Although summer is over and warm weather is long gone, at least for the next several months, your coastal decor doesn't need to be put away until Memorial Day. Creating a coastal Christmas is the perfect way to give your holiday a sunny twist. 



Image 1 via ef eDesigns | Image 2 via iStockPhoto | Image 3 via Nantucket Noel | Image 4 via Brett Woodvine | Image 5 and 6 via Coastal Living | Image 7 via Martha Stewart

Sweet Surprise

Oh how I love the Holidays at work. Everyone decorates their office or cube, days seem to go by much faster and my office neighbor starts his annual month-of-festive-ties. On the down side, the office fills with goodies from vendors; everything from fruit baskets to cookies and candy. Not that I'm unappreciative, but with all of the eating that goes on between Thanksgiving and New Years, goodies are the last thing I need more of. Most of the time these gifts go straight to the kitchen for everyone to share, but not today! Much to my surprise, a beautiful pink box of Georgetown Cupcakes showed up from my favorite vendor. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. They are the most delicious cupcakes and are absolutely adorable.



If you don't know about Georgetown Cupcake, then you’re missing out. You can stop by one of their two stores in Georgetown and Bethesda, order online for nationwide shipping or catch their TV show, DC Cupcakes, on TLC.

Image 1 via Washingtonian Magazine | Image 2 via The Washington Post | Image 3 and 4 via Georgetown Cupcake | Image 5 via Real Simple Magazine

Couture Closet

When I think of wallpaper I think of many things…my Grandma’s house,  messy to put up and impossible to take down, never again, you can do so much with paint, requires way too much patience and many other thoughts that probably aren’t appropriate to say, but guess what? Wallpaper is back with a vengeance! It’s everywhere and I hate to admit it, but I’m considering giving it a whirl. These days you can get wallpaper in graphic oversized prints, crisp modern patterns, bold bright colors, fun textures, glam metallics and so many other styles that your choices are almost limitless.

I'm still overwhelmed at the thought of tackling an entire room and risking not liking the outcome, so I've decided to start small and wallpaper the inside of my closet. If nothing else, it’ll be great practice and I’ll get a sexy closet out of it. The only problem is, I don’t know if I’ll be able to narrow it down to just one wallpaper pattern. I love so many of them. If any of you have tried this, I’d love to hear how it went and see pictures of the final product! I’ll post mine when I'm finished.



Image 1 via Houzz | Image 2 via Live Like You | Image 3 via Apartment 123 | Image 4 via Decor Pad | Image 5 via Peppermint Bliss

What’s Cooking

I have folder upon folder of photos saved to my computer in no particular order that I finally got frustrated and decided to go through and organize everything. While doing so I stumbled upon Ina Garten’s East Hampton kitchen, chosen as House Beautiful’s 2009 Kitchen of the Year.

This is one of my favorite casual kitchens. It’s simple, clean, bright, open and inviting. Very East Coast, very me!

I love the idea of using baskets as storage for large cutting boards and baking racks, and mixing everyday white stoneware with sterling silver serving pieces. Brilliant! It’s these small surprises that make this space feel more like a room than a kitchen.

An all-in-one room. Kitchen, office, living room, dining room, outdoor room.

Photos via HouseBeautiful.com

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Photo via MarthaStewart.com

Happy Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day, do something good for the environment. Big or small, it all makes a difference. Turn your lights out and unplug all unnecessary electronics and appliances for an hour, use eco-friendly cleaning products, plant a tree or garden, compost, recycle…the options are endless. Go green! It’s the cool thing to do. Speaking of green and cool, check out the 2010 HGTV Green House. There’s still time to enter to win.

Awarded Gold Certification by the National Association of Home Builders Green Building Standard, the HGTV Green Home is energy efficient, water efficient, built with sustainable and local materials, has exceptional indoor air quality and ventilation and is very environmentally friendly.
Photos via HGTV.com

Spring Has Sprung

 
Spring has officially started in DC. Tourists have invaded for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, traffic is a nightmare and the smell of the Maine Street fish market lingers over the SW waterfront. As a native of the DC area my entire life, I am ashamed to admit I’ve never been to the Tidal Basin to see the Cherry Blossoms, but this year that will change! I’ll be running in the Cherry Blossom 10-miler this Sunday and I’m hoping that I’ll be able to take in the sights as I whiz (haha I wish) by!

Sassy Stripes

I'm a sucker for color. Big, bold, bright colors. Sunny yellow, grassy green, ocean blue, peony pink and melon orange. But nothing makes a bigger statement like black and white, especially black and white stripes. When done right, they scream “WOW look at me!” And take a look at these amazing "WOW" rooms!

BUT because I love color, I couldn't resist throwing in just one room.

Snowpocalypse: Blizzard of 2010

Call it what you want, but DC has had its fair share of major snow storms this season and it doesn’t look like we are through! After a 20” December storm and a few 6” storms, we got the Granddaddy of them all this past weekend. Twenty seven inches and a spot in the record books.
During the blizzard
  
After the snow had fallen


The BIG dig out begins

The blizzard finally ending and rolling out of town


It’s official, 27 inches

Festive Fireplaces

With the last of the 24 inches of December snow finally melting and the heat wave (highs in the 40’s) ending, I thought it fitting to share some of the coolest, coziest fireplaces. From what the weatherman is saying, it looks like we will be back in the 20’s again with a wintery mix headed our way later this week. I have a feeling Ill be cozying up to a nice warm fire this weekend.

 

Lovin’ Lilly

If you’re a Lilly Pulitzer lover, your days and nights are about to get brighter! Lilly just unveiled a new line of bedding and bath items exclusively for Garnet Hill. As would be expected, they are bright, fun and fresh.

Sweet dreams!

Have the Blues?