Set It Up Part Deaux!!

It’s almost time for the biggest meal of the year! The turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pies are awaiting their time for baking and preparing to fill homes with the wonderful aromas they give off. But don’t put those goodies on the table yet! For any meal to be complete, the environment must fit the occasion. A key element for holiday meals to have this environment come from the place settings on the table. Choosing a setting can be difficult, but we’ve put together a little something to help you out!

Remember that it’s all about individuality and your personal style. Here’s a few more ideas for you to take with you as you’re preparing for your holiday celebrations!

What's your style? Photos from Pinterest, Collage credit: Ansley Nguyen

Remember, this holiday is all about the people you surround yourself with and the memories you create with them. These setting make great pieces to gather around, and customizing each plate with a card allows those gathering with you to take a small piece with them when they go.  So this holiday, cherish those around you, savor the food, and embrace your environment!

Set It Up!

It’s that time of year again! Time for family, friends and anyone out there who knows me, knows i love the food (cue Southern accent).  And what better way to celebrate the food than to have sit upon a beautiful setting? Here’s a few of my favorites that I found on Pinterest:

Looking for a warm and cozy setting this Thanksgiving? Look no further than to bring the outside in and bring the flavor of fall to your dining room.

Warm and Cozy!

For a fun, playful, kid-friendly setting, try this! The adorable little boats filled with goodies are sure to bring a smile to any child at your dinner. Customizing the sail adds an even more personal touch, and it gives a small hint back the the heritage of the season.

Adorable!

 If you’re planning on procrastinating and putting off you table settings to do holiday shopping, here’s a good one for you! It is modern, but gives a pop of color that keeps it festive.

Modern and Colorful

 Looking for a more crisp, clean winter wonderland set-up? Martha Stewart has some great inspirations to show on her site as well! Take a look at this clean and elegant setting that has a touch of romance:

Crepe-Paper Bells, Photo credit: Martha Stewart

Remember, the holidays are all about who (not what) you surround yourself with, so use these settings to bring everyone together. Customize them, tweak them, and make them fit your personality. And don’t be afraid to let the kiddos help… just watch where that paint splatters!

Looking for something ultra lush and elegant this season? Check back on Tuesday afternoon for my video about different setups that will absolutely transform your dining table!

Heritage and Harmony

Drexel Heritage Showroom, Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

I love pretty things. I mean come on, what designer doesn’t?  But oh, the pretty things I got to see at Market!  One of the last stops I made was at the Drexel Heritage showroom, and I was ecstatic to see everything they had this year. Well, they must have saved the best for last, because this showroom was absolutely stunning.

The photo I featured was one of the back of the showroom, where natural light

Drexel Heritage Bed and Mirror, Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

shone through large windows, giving an elegant and romantic glow to the room. The furniture was sleek and lush and inviting. Every room had its own vibe, each one with it’s own personality but still with that swank that is very much Drexel Heritage. Walking from room to room was like a journey through wonderland. Everything you have seen before was transformed into something even more extravagant and sophisticated. A sofa in here was not just a sofa– it was almost alive with personality, each curve of the frame or texture of the cushion shouted out the vibe it was meant to carry.

Drexel Heritage Dining Room, Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

Ok, so maybe all it did was sit there in the room, just as pretty as can be. But the pieces that were placed together worked in such harmony. Like an orchestra on performing night, every piece playing its part so wonderfully, not to stick out on its own, but to work together make a beautiful symphony of furniture. And I could listen… excuse me, look, all day long.

The Down Low on the Update

Thomasville featuring Eastern Accents bedding, Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

Think traditional. No, no. Not that traditional. It isn’t old, it isn’t drab, it isn’t stuffy and boring. It is cultured, it has a story, it is exciting. Well, at least it is now. Thomasville furniture has brought a new light to the traditional style– the company has kept the wonderful quality it is known for while bringing that update that everyone desires.

The Thomasville showroom at Market this fall gave a wonderful peek into the updates they are bringing to traditional furniture. Clean lines, custom headboards, and new fabric options bring an exciting contemporary feel to the brand so synonymous with classic pieces. Pairing the beautiful bedding from Eastern Accents made the settings even more warm and inviting as we walked through.

Forget heavy, dark, and drab. The Thomasville collection this year took the classic structure and made it modern. They made it relevant. They brought true timelessness to the traditional line they created, and in doing so have solidified their place as a top design pick.

Inside Out

Mulloy Residence featuring Lane Venture furniture, Photo credit: Frisco Style

“Our interiors are an extension of our personality… [and] it is important to take your interiors outside.” -Martyn Bullard

No words have ever rung so true than those spoken by the wonderful Martyn Bullard. So many people often forget to extend their interiors to the great outdoors, and in doing so they forgo so much space that is open for them to use. But there are no excuses to give up that space when such beautiful outdoor furniture is available.

Sadly, beautiful isn’t enough. Many companies fall short in durability, customization options, and selection. But there is hope! Enter Lane Venture. The options you get with the furniture are outstanding. The quality is the best of the best, the durability unparalleled. I’m talking 365 days of sun, rain, wind, heat, and cold and it holds up and keeps it’s integrity. Every piece is crafted to stay outdoors all year long, with special fabrics and cushions that don’t need replacing every season.

Monogramming is available on these chairs! Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

Lane Venture has always been a favorite of mine, whether it is theirtraditional collection or the swanky collections by Raymond Waites. The company has always had an eye for bringing the indoors outside and completely fulfilling what Martyn expressed. Furniture is made to be enjoyed, and Lane Venture makes it pleasing not only to the eyes but to the body as well. With a multitude of fabric options (some are reversible– talk about serious options!) and a wide array of paint choices, the combinations are endless. Individual personality and unity come together with the monogramming options and beautiful patterns, so really, what more could you ask for?

Raymond Waites for Lane Venture, Photo Credit: Ansley Nguyen

What about some more Raymond Waites? Well, sure! I have always felt so connected with his style and the depth that he brings to his designs. The structure of the pieces is phenomenal and unique, and the textures, patterns, and colors he uses complete the pieces that he creates. I even StyleSpotted one of his sofas from High Point Market! The shape of it was so dramatic yet so incredibly beautiful and inviting, and it seemed to bring life the the room. And I can personally say that Raymond has always had a flair for the dramatics and over-the-top designs, but he does it in a way that is controlled and elegant, so his pieces can be used in any setting.

Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens

Photo Credit: Ansley Nguyen

You know those times when people ask you to pick three of your favorite things out of a list, but you can’t decide because you love them all? Imagine picking between fifteen and twenty-five out of thousands of items. Now talk about being indecisive!

Does indecisiveness occur? Yes. But, oh, how fun it was to walk around ogling at all the beautiful things Market had to offer! Being a Style Spotter at Market was such a great experience, and it allowed not only the opportunity to bring the spotlight to some of my favorite things, but also to foster wonderful relationships. Meeting and spending time with fellow Spotters Tobi Fairley, Lisa Ferguson, Jennifer Brouwer, Meg Biram, Julieann Covino, Wanda Horton, and Heather Clawson allowed me to take a look into the unique and wonderful styles that others might have, and gave us opportunities to discuss our favorites.

There was no restriction on what we as Spotters could choose– it could be lamps, linens, pillows, rugs, a clock, a painting– anything! Anything at all that we found interesting that suited our style. Several items I chose had more than just an intriguing look about them. They had amazing stories behind them (something I talked about in a previous blog) that made them even more beautiful.

So how did I choose? After finding an item, I would ask about it– not just who made it and what it is called, but what was the inspiration? How did the idea for this come about? So what are a few of my favorite things (hint: the list does not include dogs barking or bees stinging, but it does include the Bees Knees!)? They are all pinned on Pinterest, an online pinboard where you can share all of your favorite things as well! Go to High Point Market’s Spotter page to find out more and request your invite to join in! Once you log in, you can head to Pinterest.com/highpointmarket and follow us! Be sure to re-pin your favorites and let us know what you think!

A True Piece of “Work”

Roger's Writing Desk Photo Credit: Ansley Nguyen

The office is a crucial part of the home for the working professional. It doesn’t matter the career path, it just matters to get the work done. But just because something is functional doesn’t mean it can’t be elegant. Making a beautiful workplace can not only inspire you, but can also soothe you. You see, beautiful things have an interesting duality to them. They can arouse you, soothe you, move you, calm you.

Lexington’s Mirage collection features the Roger’s Writing Desk that brings all of these elements to the table (pun intended). Modern design and traditional grandeur come together in an exquisite way to create this piece of art. Sleek and simple lines make it a piece fit to work on. The dark stain of the wood brings a streamlined yet natural effect that contrasts beautifully with the modern composition of the legs.

Going back to nature seems to calm the mind. It forms habit that becomes part of our regular routine. And what better way to go through that normal day-to-day grind on a desk that is all but normal?

High Point Market October 2011 #HPmkt

Elaine on day one of Market Photo Credit: Ansley Nguyen

Ah, market. The highlight of the year, where new pieces and new collections are highlighted and past collections get reinvented. It is where designers, vendors and artists meet and create new connections and friends, and where they can expand the amount of people their products reach.

This year, Market added Style Spotters to go around and choose up to 25 of their favorite things from around the showrooms– furniture, art, accessories– anything that caught their eye and proved worth mentioning. I am blessed to have been able to be step in for Franki Durbin as a Spotter. It has not only allowed me to let the public know about some of my favorite finds, but has allowed me to meet some truly amazing people along the way. I met bloggers Danielle Hatfield, Jennifer Brouwer, Leslie Carothers, Lisa Ferguson, Stacy Naquin, Susan Rapp, Jennifer Reynolds, and Becky Freeman— all women that inspired me to write the blog I am typing right now.

Market is more than just about the furniture. It is about the stories and experiences of the friends you make and the creators you meet. Those are the memories that stay with you and build lifelong relationships and the true love between a designer and a piece. In the two days that I have known these women, we have formed such wonderful bonds and I know that we will continue to be friends for many markets to come.

But stories don’t only matter when you consider the people you meet. Every piece of furniture must have a story for it to have meaning and give life to a room. Like the Black and White Hand-Creweld Chair from C.R. Laine. It was creweled by a village family in the mountains of Kasmir, carried down via donkey and flown to the U.S. Right after reaching customs, the fabric gets washed and sent directly to C.R. Laine to be placed on the furniture. Or The Giving Tree by Seth Marksberry, at Charles Harold Company. The painting is the second in a series of six that is a beautiful interpretation of the children’s book, and this particular piece is the phase of the boy’s life where he is happiest. It is layered, textured, and complicated and just like the life that the boy leads. Those are the stories that count. Those are the stories that matter. After all, without stories and memories, what joy would there be in the adventures of life?