White on White – For Holiday and Everyday

by Jamie Kern, ASID, ARIDO
President, Design Theory Interiors

If you’re like me, you’ve stumbled through years of trial and error with holiday decor only to toss aside more than you can work with.   It’s a daunting task if you really want your home to have that holiday wonderland feel and the price tag that goes along with it leaves no margin for error.    But there’s an easy and affordable way to make your home elegant for the holidays and it could be as close as your kitchen cabinets or linen chest, or closet.  

A white-on-white color composition is a simple way to present a chic and luscious decor theme.   White awakens memories of  fresh snow,  fur parkas (think Lara in Dr Zhivago),  pearls and purity and has long been the most sophisticated and glamorous of all colors.   And when layered with textures, it creates a tactile environment that delights the senses.

Think beyond the boxed ornaments by creating a centerpiece of white dinnerware.   Add some silver or gold for just a hint of sparkle.    Toss a fur throw loosely over a chair.  I use a fur throw as a tree skirt during the holidays and a luxurious accessory the rest of the year.   Empty white boxes can be beautifully wrapped in ribbon and ornaments and can be used year after year for pennies.    Do you have an old dress form?  Then dress it up in glamour and pearls for the holidays.     Faux pearls make great tree garland and decorative accents.

So, channel your inner Alice and be prepared to find your Muchness.   Be Much Muchier . . . . . .

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Festive Decor on a Dime . . . and with a Smile!

by Jamie Kern, ASID, President

Design Theory Interiors

November already. No kidding. I’m already mentally preparing for the agonizing prospect of climbing to the attic on my wobbly wooden ladder to “gleefully” schlep box after box after box of holiday decor back down the increasingly unstable ladder for the joy of organizing my thoughts for this year’s holiday decorating scheme.

Surprisingly my attitude toward this task changes for the better once i fold up the ladder, open up that first box and see an Elf-on-the-Shelf staring eerily

upward. He’s been trapped in that musty attic for 10 months with a cranky Yukon Cornelius and a prima donna of a treetop Angel and is ready to see his new digs for the next few weeks. This is when the fun begins.

Now, I’ve spent 25 years collecting my holiday decor and I try to add a little something every year to continue to build the dream. But this year we have more than our share of expenses so I’ve been looking for inexpensive ways to add some festive elements on a budget and thought I’d share my thoughts.

Cambria Cove has a great selection of really unique holiday cards that are just too pretty to send to everyone else and not keep some for yourself. An inexpensive gold or silver frame turns these cards into pieces of art for your home. Displayed acros

s your fireplace mantel or even at table settings, this is an interesting and inexpensive way to add a little glamour.

The Museum of Modern Art Store also has an intriguing collection of three dimensional cards that can stand on their own without frames and the intricate designs are definite conversation pieces.

I loved this pop-up tabletop holiday tree made of holographic foil that stands 12″ high and costs $19.75. It folds up for easy storage and has a matching centerpiece for $23.35.

I always use candles at the holidays and it can be a really inexpensive way to add something dramatic to a room. But too often we fall into the trap of buying prefab candles in a glass with someone’s name on it. We use the candle and then throw away the glass container . . . . because why do we want a glass jar with someone else’s name on it anyway? Cambria Cove has this really stunning set of glass tumblers by New Arcadia with gorgeous 22k gold

hand-drawn designs. These would be fabulous containers for small votive candles scattered across a fireplace mantel or as a table centerpiece.

Now, 22k gold and hand drawn design means that these are a bit more pricey at $75 for a set of 4. But keep your eyes out at Crate and Barrel, Target and Z Gallerie. All three of these retailers will pull out the stops when they introduce their 2009 holiday entertaining items.

If you really want to get creative on a shoestring budget, display a collection of floating tea light candles in brandy snifters. For a little more pizzazz use a little food coloring to tint the water to match your decor color palette. Just remember that candles are always more dramatic in groups.

So, there’s where I am so far but the season is young so stay tuned for more decorative items for your budget and some great affordable gift items!

Holiday Decor for Small Spaces . . Simplified

     With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, the daunting task of holiday decorating looms around the corner, threatening to transform the gaiety of the season into something more reminiscent of a Friday afternoon conference call . . . . . . the day before vacation.  The job can be especially frustrating in small spaces where the results often fall short on cheer and long on chaotic.  Fortunately a  few simple techniques can guide you in forming a game plan that will help you find the right  balance between festive and functional. 

• First and foremost, I suggest using a monochromatic color scheme in your interior decor.   In simple terms, that means using various shades of the same color throughout to create a consistency in your decor and a flow through the space.    Too many colors introduced in a small space will appear cluttered.   Adding a sprinkling of  metallics in gold, silver or even copper tones will highlight your color scheme without adding confusion.   For a really elegant look, try using only gold and silver decor and spicing it up with hints of white.  

• Transform your kitchen or dining room table from sensible to sensational.   An exquisite table setting can add pizazz  without sacrificing function.   Set the stage with a crisp linen table cloth in a neutral shade and everything on it will “pop”.   Create your centerpiece with a collection of wine decanters and perhaps a bottle of wine.  Add place settings with your favorite decorative dinner plates, wine or martini glasses, and silverware.   I love to use my mother’s antique depression glass dinner plates on high-gloss metallic charger plates with linen napkins and decorative napkin rings.  Top off your plates with a beautiful decorative holiday ornament and your table is not only stunning, it’s ready for holiday entertaining.

• Forego the 8′ fir Christmas tree and add a little sparkle with small tabletop foil trees.   They are small enough to use almost anywhere, ranging in size from 10″ to 3 1/2 feet tall, and are available in a multitude of colors to compliment any decorative color scheme. 

• Introduce clear holiday lights but do so sparingly and in focal areas where you want to highlight a vignette or architectural element – across a fireplace mantel or intertwined around a collection of tabletop foil Christmas trees.   

• Adding a luxurious throw or changing out decorative pillows on your sofa for the season is a simple modification that packs a significant decorative punch.   Don’t go for the embroidered Santa or or felt reindeer.   Instead, look for lush, decorative fabrics, textures and detail – faux firs, silks, and ornate trims.  Check out your local fabric stores.   Some of the more sumptuous faux fir fabrics can be purchased by the yard for pennies on the dollar compared to the pre-made throws you’ll find in your local retail gift store.  

• Replace your cocktail table books with a spread of vintage holiday record albums or old holiday children’s books.  Tabletop plate stands are another great way to display albums and books for optimal viewing.  Either way, these classic items have such wonderful nostalgic artwork and are certain to strike a chord with holiday guests.    
  

     This year, avoid the media blitz with its high dose of sensory overload and cling to the old adage “less is more” as your mantra for seasonal decorating.   Make a plan for your home, keeping it simple, personal and appropriate to the functional needs of your family.