Christmas Decor 2009

My husband and I are celebrating our second Christmas as a married couple. We love the season and celebrating the birth of our Savior. We anxiously awaited the day we would pick out our Christmas tree, put on the Christmas music and adorn our little condo with the Holiday spirit.

After reading a few blogs and design magazines, I decided to go with a shimmery gold/copper theme for our holiday decor. It matches nicely with our gold/tan walls. It brings a classy, glitzy approach that extends into the new year. I was never a huge fan of the bright red and green decorations.

My husband loves colored lights and all of his childhood ornaments, so I left him in charge of the tree. Therefore our tree is excluded from the glittery gold theme.

Our condo is less than 900 sq. feet, so all we needed was just a few simple decorations to jazz up the place.


#1. Flower Arrangement
With a few flowers from Michael's, a vase I already owned, and some gold ribbon I made this arrangement for our window sill in the living room/kitchen. I placed the arrangement on the table, where there is more light, just for the picture. The next picture shows the arrangement on the window sill.
Price: $ 6.00 (thanks to Michael's 50% sale)

#2. Table Centerpiece
I placed some glittery ornaments into a clear vase (both of which I already owned). I purchased 2 small candle holders to add some light and glam to the table. I also added 2 ornaments to our fan for a more dramatic feel.
A close up of the hanging ornament.

I also made little place setting cards out of gold paper and silver letter stickers. Just a small touch to show your guests where to sit. Can never go wrong personal touches.
Price: 5.00 (thanks again to the Michael's 50% off sale)

#3. 3 candle holders to dress up the coffee table. The window sill, Christmas tree, table and coffee table are all within 5 feet of one another so something small did the trick. They match the candle holders on the table.
So there you have it. A shining gold theme for Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Short Hiatus: Teaching to Blame

My last post was back in October. It is now December 19th and the ground here in DC is covered in over 1 foot of snow. Needless to say my blogging has been on a short hiatus. My full-time job is to teach the minds of young 5th graders. My time has been consumed with teaching. I love my students dearly, but between the grading, lesson plans, and exhaustion it leaves little time for design and blogging.

With the Holidays (and the gift of a snow day) I have some time and Christmas decor to share.

Stay tuned for some inexpensive yet classy Christmas decor.

Mums: The fall flower

There's nothing better than the natural elegance and beauty that come from fresh flowers. During the fall season mums can bring these qualities to any home.

For $0 I was able to bring color and seasonal decor to my kitchen table by taking advantage of this seasonal specialty. My parents' garden provided this bouquet of purple mums. One great perk about mums is they last for a long time with little up keep. I've had these on our table for 3 weeks and they still look vibrant and crisp. I was overjoyed to spend no money AND bring fresh flowers inside.






Take a look around your yard for decoration inspiration. Fall leaves, pine cones, acorns, etc. The possibilities are endless!
(stay tuned for my holiday decorating idea centered around sticks)

Deals of the Week: Fall Edition

Don't miss these deals (all in fall colors)

Ever think of spicing up your bathroom or living room with some fall colors to jive with the season. Without spending a lot of money, you can bring the beauty of fall indoors...



Fez Towels from West Elm
Modern, Moroccan, and Machine washable.
What a steal at $1.99 each.




Pillows from Pottery Barn.
Throwing a simple pillow onto a couch or chair will add a pop of color to any room.
Check out these pillows in all colors, including the warm tones for fall.
Hurry they are final sale items and inexpensive especially for great quality and style!





Vine Pumpkins from Crate and Barrel
I'm always thrilled to fine Halloween decor that is NOT orange and tacky. These pumpkins are neutral, nifty, and nine dollars (well $9.95 but close enough)





Place mats from Crate and Barrel
Add glitz and glam to your table with placements that compliment the season.


Happy Fall!

All Things Handmade

As I previously mentioned in a post about my design style, I love handmade items. I admire their originality and the personal touch they can add to any room. I was thrilled and overwhelmed when I stumbled across the site, www.etsy.com.

On this site individuals create and sell handmade or vintage items. Ranging from jewelry to furniture, to whatever else creative and original.

Check out these sleek magnetic boards



or these unique handmade pillows



Check out the site for more unique home decor.
(also great for one-of-a-kind gifts)

Happy Handmade Shopping!

Get Crafty with Pumpkins

Hello October! The warm days and cool nights are a sure sign that fall has arrived. Fall signifies, warm apple-cider, hay rides, and pumpkin carving! Kids are not the only ones who enjoy the pleasures of pumpkin decor.

Pumpkins allow for many cheap yet sophisticated DIY projects that brighten up your home and bring the festivities of the season inside.

Pumpkin Projects
Let the fun and creativity begin...

1. Paint a pumpkin (no, not a silly face with black paint). If orange does not match your decor paint the pumpkin white, gold, or any shade to match your room. You may also want to add a small detail for added glitz.




2. Create a Pumpkin Centerpiece
I love the idea of making a pumpkin vase and filling it with a fall assortment. So festive and cheap! You could also place a couple of small pumpkins or gourds in a bowl for an instant, timeless centerpiece.


3. Pumpkin Candles
It's Simple. Carve the pumpkin. Paint it if you choose and insert a tea-light candle and you have yet another fancy use for our favorite fall accessory. So cute and calming.


Happy Pumpkin crafting!
If you take on one of these fun projects...send your pictures our way! (mmhessen@gmail.com)

Bedroom Comfort

Looking for a comfort update? Before I got married, I would often have restless nights or wake up with an occasional back ache. A goodnights sleep is worth spending the mulah.

Solution #1: Purchasing a feather bed (worth the money and the feathers that fall out all over the ro0m) It is an instant improvement and feels like a big puffy cloud.

It's the cheaper option for improving your comfort. Usually around $100-$200 dollars.

Solution #2: Purchasing a sleep number mattress. It is basically an upgraded air-mattress with a lot of bells and whistles that allows each sleeper to adjust his/her mattress. Their famous saying is...What is your sleep number? I prefer a slightly harder mattress coming in at number 35/40. A bonus for purchasing a sleep number is, it never loses its spring (its air) or gets worn down.

If you are looking to invest in a new mattress, I strongly suggest a sleep number bed. It requires you to spend more money upfront, but will pay off in the long run. A sleep number bed comes with a 25 year warranty. They range from about $1000-$3000.

Cheers to sleeping better!

Benefits of Labor Day Weekend

Don't forgot to take advantage of the mega sales over Labor Day Weekend. Not only do we enjoy a three-day weekend, but the sales are on and there are deals to be made.

Macys-Free Shipping with a $99 purchase.
www.macys.com

Pottery Barn- Save up to 75% on selected items.
www.potterybarn.com

Sears- 15% off all Kennmore Appliacces, 5-10% off selected electronics, and tools are sale. Need to update a TV? Or need new dishwasher...now is the time!
www.sears.com

I usually stick with design...but couldn't resist these fab clothing sales.

Banana Republic- 30% off Fall Essentials
www.bananarepublic.com

Express- Save $15 when you spend $60.

J.Crew Factory- 40% off new fall arrivals

During all that shopping you are bound to get hungry...
If your looking for a free meal, put on a sports T-shirt and head to your local Chick-Fil-A for a free chicken sandwich.

Happy 3-day weekend...stock up on the sales before time runs out!

Online Shopping

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As I said before, I love to find deals and dig through any clearance rack. Recently, I was talking with a friend and explaining this passion of mine. She looked at me and said, "I hate doing that...I just want to find what I'm looking for." For those of you who prefer quick, online shopping take a look through some of my favorite stores for home design.

1. www.allmodern.com

2. www.westelm.com

3. www.ikea.com

4. www.designersguild.com/usa-shop-online/

5. www.crateandbarrel.com

6. www.thecompanystore.com

7. www.potterybarn.com

8. www.thegreatindoors.com

9. www.restorationhardware.com

10. www.urbanoutfitters.com

11. www.target.com

12. www.esty.com

Some of these stores are High Style High Budget. But don't forgot to check out the clearance items. No digging here... just a simple click on the word in red.

Happy Online Shopping!

What is my Style?

When designing a room my first priority is always to meet the wants and needs of the client. As I am beginning to design more and more rooms, I am beginning to hear..."What is your style?"

Unsure of exactly how to define my style, I came up with "Unique Contemporary."

In relation to Unique , I like a room that reflects some originality. Something that makes the room special to the owner and makes it one of a kind. An antique or homemade item, are examples of personal touch that glorify a room. Simply stated, cookie-cutter rooms are not for me.

In relation to contemporary, I like clean lines, and up-to-date furniture, or furniture of "today." I like the neutral color schemes with pops of bright, accent colors. Contemporary design is simple, sleek, and fresh. Comfortable and cozy. Warm and inviting.

When I took the What is my Style quiz, from HGTV I got the following results:
"My style is Eclectic: Anything goes as long as it goes together. Blending different eras and styles with a single statement. " I partly agree with my results. I do not like a room too busy that is looks disjointed. Single statement with a equal balance of unique and contemporary fits the mold.

Stayed tuned for upcoming pictures of more room makeovers.

When to Save and when to Splurge?

Redoing a room doesn't have to cost thousands of dollars. It's important to know When to Save and when to Splurge. When working with a limited budget it can be confusing and frustrating on deciding where to spend the buck.





1. New furniture-Save and Splurge
Depending on what you need and your budget, I say both. If you need a new bed, I say splurge. Beds last a looooong time (most warranties are for 25 years) and a good night sleep is not something to gamble with. My husband and I splurged on the sleep number bed and I absolutely love it. On the other hand, if your couch is outdated with an ugly floral pattern you can simply save by purchasing a cover that will dramatically change the look without draining the wallet. Stores like Ikea, Walmart, and Target carry inexpensive furniture that can quickly update a space without spending too much.

Anything you buy that will last for years is a good reason to splurge. Sometimes if you buy cheap furniture it doesn't last as long. It all depends on your budget and what you need



2. Paint-Splurge
Buying paint isn't too big of a splurge because paint is rather inexpensive. Painting any room is one of the top ways to update or change a room. Purchasing paint is low-cost and adds pazazz to any room.




3. Accessories-Save
Accessories can be found anywhere, on any clearance rack, but still spice up any room. Pictures frames, pillows, and lamps can all be bought for cheap if you're willing to dig. For example, I was recently at Salvation Army and found 2 picture frames for $1.99 each. With a coat of white paint, they look fresh and new.

Tips for Saving:
1. Work with what you already have (keep your ugly chair-buy a new cover)
2. Shop at inexpensive stores and search for items on clearance
3. Use coupons
4. Do as much as you can yourself (don't hire outside help if you can do it yourself)

Deals of the Day

Check out these great items--ON SALE

1. The Company Store is having a sale. Check out their coverlets, down comforters and these cute kids sheets. For more of there clearance, click here. This is where I purchased the green coverlet for my bed in my room makeover.



2. Skip Hop Lamps on sale for $27.00 from www.allmodern.com. These simple lamps will add a splash of color to any nursery.



3. Plates from from French Bull. These are not on sale, but are rather cheap and so colorful I couldn't resist. $11 each.



4. Decorative Pillows from www.cb2.com Full of bright colors and hip designs.


Happy Shopping!

Adding Color to Any Room

So many people become overwhelmed when redoing a room. Choosing the color scheme can be one of the hardest choices but also one of the most important. Do I want to go bold or play it safe? How do I know what colors compliment one another?

Today I was thrilled to receive a brand new, FREE Behr paint booklet with all of their paint color samples. I never knew so many colors existed.

A few simple tips for adding color:

1. Travel to a store with a lot of pillows. Pier one has an excellent array of pillows. Find a pillow in a color you like. Sometimes one pillow is made up of multiple colors. Pull colors from the pillow to use in your room. In my room make over, I pulled colors from the decorative pillow I found at Target. It will keep the colors limited yet cohesive. David Bromstad, from Color Splash found color inspiration for this makeover simply from the pillows on the couch.



2. If you set on a particular bold color, like teal or orange but are hesitant of over-doing it, use a neutral paint color and accent with accessories in your chosen color.

David Bromstad, the host of Color Splash does this very well.



3. Adding a focus wall (painting just one wall a different color than the rest of the room) is another way to bring in a hint of color.

For more ideas from David Bromstad, click here.