DIY Tuesday: Lightbulb Terrariums

Ruffled

We love a good terrarium and just came across this gorgeous DIY project one crafty bride created for her own wedding and had to share!

Here's how you can turn a simple globe lightbulb into a beautiful mini-terrarium. This bride used them as placecards, but they'd also make great favors and would look just as beautiful resting in a dish as a home decor item.

Click here for the tutorial.

DIY Tuesday: Upcycling Burlap

Burlap seems to be everywhere lately in rustic and vintage wedding design. But today we've got a collection of ideas for the crafters out there. Here's how to incorporate the burlap look into your DIY home decor and fashion.

Though unprinted burlap can be purchased by the yard, one of the best ways to create the burlap look is by using old burlap coffee or potato sacks. They're fairly inexpensive and available from many online sources (we recommend checking out eBay or this online fabric retailer) and the colorful printed text and patterns really add to their character and charm.

Simple square burlap pillows

Velvet Bean

Here burlap was framed and covered with glass, creating a dry erase board.

MDesign Tree

Updated burlap upholstery on a thrift store find chair

A Touch Of Mink

Burlap headboard

Belle Maison

Burlap storage boxes- here's the DIY Tutorial.

Ikea Hackers

Burlap Market Totes

White Apple Threads

Burlap flower headband

Elizabeth Anne

Trying to Unbox

Happy Monday everyone! Hope the week is off to a great start.

We're currently setting up our new office and studio but promise to return tomorrow with an interesting blog. Once the redecorating is done and everything is setup we'll post pics!

In the meantime - check out the photo below. I wonder where they got their hair inspiration ;)

"Flower" Dusting

To close out our week of "flower" entertaining we are talking about decorating your fiesta - the finishing touches for any host.

Now that you've incorporated flowers into your food, drink, and serving dishes it's time to focus on decorating. It's summer time so everything is in bloom and ready to be placed on your table.

A "green" way to decorate is to use your potted plants as table decor. It creates a rustic yet chic look and the best part is that you can reuse the plants.

Place flower heads on cheesboards, place cards, dessert bards, and appetizer plates. Simple mums are colorful and budget friendly and their hearty heads are perfect for sprinkling around. They can last a long time without water.

Gorgeous, rich colors for an outdoor get together.

Part 2 of Home Design Companies

To continue from yesterday - the second company I'm obsessed with is Flor. Their innovative and eco-friendly designs are not only beautiful but socially conscious.

Flor's history is an interesting one: Greg Colando was President of Interface's American modular floorcovering business in 2000, when he noticed emerging consumer behaviors in the marketplace: urban lifestyle resurgence, growing Internet purchases and increased design demand. These trends, compounded with conventional carpeting's limitations, posed an opportunity to deliver a more responsible and design-focused floorcovering directly to consumers. He would call the new entity FLOR.

FLOR is a thoughtful, forward-thinking design that respects the earth and celebrates it through innovative artistry.

Although this is a carpet/rug company I'm obsessed with their styling! Check out some amazing rooms below:

These beautiful Cape Cod colors are a beautiful inspiration palette for any wedding. How about aqua linen and white florals in silver containers? Beach chic all the way.

This proves that all you need is one dramatic element to bring the space to life. You can incorporate this in your wedding design by keeping to smaller table arrangements and having a huge tree during cocktail hour or in the center of the reception area.

Again - I couldn't help myself with Old Hollywood Glamour. What is interesting here is that the designer took a modern element (the carpet) and mixed it with some old world pieces (that couch?? wowza). The designer tied everything together with a metal coffee table the beautiful, vintage-feel patter but the simple, metal legs tied in the modern carpet. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

I hope these spaces gave you as much inspiration as they have given me!

Part 1 of Home Design Companies I'm Obsessed With

As an event designer I love to get inspirations from anywhere - be it a flea market, an art gallery, or interior design catalogue. Inspiration comes in different medias and here is one of the two companies that are currently inspiring me:

Horchow - In 1971, Roger Horchow created a retailing empire without opening a single store. Committed to offering unique decorative items from around the world, he launched The Horchow Collection as the first luxury mail-order catalog without a “bricks and mortar” companion. Horchow offers everything from fine furniture and luxury linens to distinctive tabletop designs, lighting, antiques, rugs, and decorative accents.

Here are a few looks that I'm loving:

The intense colors, the interesting textures, and the inclusion of some unusual elements (zebra rug anyone?) all unite to create an inviting and cozy atmosphere.

*wedding inspiration: incorporating a unique pattern into your design (linen?).

Parisian chicness anyone? Look at those carving details and the pattern in that chair! I'm in love.

*wedding inspiration: using a weathered dresser as your guestbook or placecard table.

What girl doesn't dream of old hollywood glamour? Whether it's the hair, the dress, or the mirrored furniture pieces - Old Hollywood Glamour will always be in.

*wedding inspiration: add mirrored vases to your tablescape. And think about the dramatic effect created by the reflecting candlelight.

The color combination here is ahhhmazing. The deep eggplant purple pops against the creams and beiges. The light purple orchid finds balance between the whites and the eggplant.

*wedding inspiration: eggplant linen with white and cream floral arrangements. Yum.

This palette is great for a garden wedding - light, airy, and shabby chic. The soft, curved lines of the furniture with the burst of floral color (umm hello upholstering?) sets the mood for a relaxed affair. Who wants to grab a glass of champagne and meet me on those chairs?

Come back tomorrow when we reveal another great company - and the best part is that they are eco-friendly!

It's International Women's Day - Time to Look at Something Pretty

Happy International Women's Day to all my ladies!

Today we're talking colored glass. Colored glass is a great alternative to florals to bring your event's color palette to life. Think colored vintage bottles, bowls, and jars. The benefit of buying colored glass (not painted!) is that it is see-through, which provides a beautiful light effect - whether the sun in an outdoor ceremony or candlelight indoors. Below are a few places you can buy these pretty little treasures.

For those of you who don't want to rummage through thrift stores and garage sales these beauties come from Pier 1 - they also come in a clear, aqua color and Ruby Red.

For any color, shape, or style check out Luna Bazaar's collection of these cuties! And for $2.95 a pop they are appropriate for any budget.

Add some elegance with these gorgeous bottles - find them here.

These fabulous amber bottles are from Boothten on Etsy - check out the shop here.

Add a little emerald to your next decor! This beautiful piece comes from MarciLu51151 store on Etsy! Check out her shop here.

Best part about using colored glass? It's recyclable!

Suspending The Goods - A Ceremony Idea

I'm a huge fan of suspending decor - from the ceiling, tree branches, window panes, etc. For almost any theme you can suspend an item. Here are a few ideas that can be perfect for your next Spring Garden Party or Wedding! Suspend any of these from a tree similar to the one on the right and you have a perfect Ceremony backdrop.

Hang up an assortment of vintage hats for a "time era" theme or an overall vintage feel

Hang a collection of bottles - vintage or modern - to set the right mood (fill them with candles, flowers, water of various colors, etc)

You can hang different frames and fill them with pieces dear to you - mother's wedding dress lace, photos of grandparents, etc

The good ol' mason jar - who hasn't seen this?

And for a tea party theme? How about hanging a collection of tea-cups? Whether suspended over a garden table or a dining room - this is visually stunning!

Image credit in order of appearance:

1. Vintage Hats

2. JonathanOng.com

3. http://ruffledblog.com/vintage-seaside-rustic-barn-wedding-near-the-sea-california-by-matthew-morgan/

4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/15790959@N03/4079037085/

5. abeatnikloveaffair-mandy.blogspot.com

Keep the baggage - it adds character

Good morning readers! Hope everyone had a fabulous Valentine's Day - and for all of you hating on the LOVE day you're in luck - it's over! LOL

I know it's been a little bit since I've last written but until today I didn't have anything cool to share so why waste the space? BUT the good news is today I have something FAB.U.LOUS to post. Those who know me know that I'm obsessed with vintage items - clothing, furniture, books, jewelry, etc. But one of my biggest obsessions is vintage luggage - I love the make-up cases, hat boxes, I love it all! So today I'd like to show you how you can take these amazing items (found at a thrift store for crazy cheap) and turn them into fabulous decor (whether interior or event decor) for any lifestyle.

Let's say you like to entertain (or have a couple of cocktails after work...you know who you are!) - a fantastic decor piece for you would be this trunk bar! Check out what Dane Holweger created from an old trunk! It's not only visually stunning and unique but also useful.

For more of Dane's work please click here.

If you're a pet lover and sick of the pillow/pet bed on the floor check out what some creative Etsy designers are doing with old luggage!

To check out these Etsy designers' shops please click here and here.

Ok - so you don't have a pet and you're not interested in promoting your drinking habits but you've got some bare walls that are in need of some wow factor - how about wall shelving/art work created from old luggage? Check out what www.readymade.com has proposed!

to check out the step by step instructions of how to make this become a reality click here.

Ok - so you don't like drinking, eating, or pets. No worries - I'm sure you have some pens and paperclips that need some organizing. How about taking an old make-up case and turning it into office supply storage? The vintage make-up cases already come with organizational sections so all you have to do is figure out where to put your pens, pencils, staples, paperclips, tape, etc and voila! A beautiful desk/office storage element that keeps the mess hidden but is also very practical and pretty!

Image thanks to Pure Style Home

I can't wait to incorporate luggage in a future wedding design!!!

Thank you to 6th Street Design School for the opening image as well as Ready Made for their inspiration luggage post!

Happy First 2011 Friday!

Today is the first Friday of 2011 and with one week of 2011 under our belts we are striving to bring you more color and mood boards to inspire you - whether you're getting married or redecorating.

Today's mood board is all about silver and pink. Silver is a beautiful color to use during the winter months - it's sophisticated, modern, and luxurious. Pink is a great compliment to silver because pink is soft and romantic. The two styles combined are a perfect mix of enchanting elegance. Check this fabulous mood board below:

thank you to betsywhite.com for the mood board.

Don't Just Dress Up Yourself - Dress Up Your Napkins!

Table decor isn't just a centerpiece - it's all about the details. It can be as simple as dressing up your napkin. Check out some great inspirations (and easy DIY ideas) below:

Evoke a Victorian Christmas with place cards that resemble elegant paper scrolls.

Napkin holders made from felt holly leaves and a jingle bell - how appropriate!

Ribbon isn't just for wrapping presents.

Crepe-paper anyone?

Tree-shaped napkin rings cut from pretty patterned paper.

Thanks to Martha Stewart for these fabulous inspirations.

A few simple Xmas Centerpieces

I've compiled a few fun and easy Xmas centerpieces for your brunch and dinner tables.

This project is extremely simple and very modern/elegant. Take a few glass vases (size and shape don't matter) and fill halfway with sugar or salt. Take a few branches and stick them in. This creates a very "wintery" feel and is beyond easy to accomplish.

Take any glass containers and fill them with mints. Stick a few winterberry branches and you have visual stunning decor.

Don't want to fuss with the mints? Forget about them - just stick the winterberry branches into tall glass vases and you have a dramatic yet modern centerpiece. Sprinkle a few amaryllis heads on the table to add an extra pop of flowers.

Put that candy cane to good use! It's extremely cheap and has a great red and white pattern that is perfect for a glass container. Buy a few different shapes and sizes of this candy and mix and match them into different glass container.

Lastly - fill your favorite bowl with the leftover Christmas ornaments and place it on your coffee table, kitchen counter, or dining room. Filling a few glass containers is also an option.

Images thanks to:

www.celebrations.com

www.glamour.wordpress.com

www.yourdecoratinghotline.com

www.budgetwishhome.com

www.thedesignfile.net

Planning for A Weekend Guest

Lets be honest - being a hostess is sometimes not just for a night. When you have a weekend guest you must not only prepare for your friend's arrival but also for their entire stay. Here are a few must-haves before that special person/s arrive:

1) CLEAN, clean, clean. There's nothing more awful then getting to someone's place and they have old sheets on your bed, trash spilling all over the place, and dog hair balls rolling through the living room.

2) Make some space in the closet - have 10 or so empty hangers for your guest to use.

3) Have extra pillows and blankets sitting on the bed - your guest might get cold during the night so make sure they're comfortable at all times.

4) Stock up the fridge - even if you don't cook have water and snacks ready. I can't tell you how many times I've stayed at a friend's place where I've had to go down the street to buy a bottle of water and some snacks. It sucks - especially if you're not familiar with the surroundings.

5) Stock the bathroom - ensure there are plenty of clean towels (to include wash cloths), toilet paper, and basic toiletries (toothpaste, shampoo, etc)

AND Last but Not Least

6) Have a vase of fresh blooms in your guest room - it not only livens up the space but also makes the guest feel extra special :)

*image from Crosby Hotel NYC