Color Me Happy

There's nothing like quite like the feeling of a crush. Your heart beats faster, you daydream about what you would do if it ever developed into something more, and it's always on your mind. Well, I'm not ashamed to say that I am completely crushing on this Frame wallpaper by Graham and Brown! Ever since I found it last night while searching diligently for the best gifts ever for the C & B Gift Guide I have not been able to stop thinking about it. Where should I put it, who should I let draw on it, what if I ever move...I'll want to take it with me. It's really quite genius. Let your kids color on the walls (within the lines of course) or post photos, loves notes, and found objects within the frames. And the best part is that it doesn't have to be filled in all at once. Watching it evolve over the years would be part of the fun. I think it would be totally awesome to have a housewarming party and let each guest fill in a frame. Or you can even leave it blank and it's still very cool, but I don't think I would be able to contain myself.

Photos: Graham & Brown

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Last Minute Turkey Day Tables

You finally have a total headcount, the turkey is thawing and the pies have been baked, but oops...what about the table? Are you just going to throw down a white cloth and stick your golden bird in the center? Have no fear, there are many quick and simple ways to make your table memorable...and not because the turkey was dry. Nothing says harvest like a simple wheat sheaf....

or find containers of like material but varying sizes and fill them with bittersweet (which you can find on many a roadside-just ask my mother) or any other bloom. Hit your local farmstand or even your grocery store and fill bowls with fruit and nuts in the rustic colors of the season.....

or spray paint them silver or gold for some extra sparkle. For a more simplistic look...


a fresh pear on each plate as a placecard makes a crisp impression, and nothing could be more simple than...

stepping out your back door and gathering some colorful leaves (you may need to flatten in them in some heavy books) that you can scatter under a shear tablecloth.

Lastly....DIG IN!

Photos: Martha Stewart , Traditional Home , and Country Living

Bazaar

Serena and Lily has long been the go to source for fabulous baby and children's bedding and furnishings, but I wasn't expecting to find their incredible new offerings of vintage and found objets when I popped onto their web site yesterday to see what was new. They've named this new section the "Bazaar" and you can find everything from Moroccan Kilim Rugs to Chinese Dragon Masks to Givenchy Scarf Pillows. I happen to love this Hammered Metal Chair updated with Serena and Lily's own fabric. Definitely add this to your list of things you must check out.

Sweet Dreams

I am the proud mother of a beautiful 7 1/2 month old daughter who has decided the word "sleep" is not in her vocabulary. I am coveting a solid night's rest so I thought I would share some dreamy beds where I would love to be snoozing right now.

Photos: Pinecone Hill , Coastal Living , Yves Delorme , and Restoration Hardware .

What's Shakin'

As the holidays approach, it's time to start thinking about how the table will be set. Most people agonize over having just the right linens, flowers and china on the table, but often the little things are overlooked. Who wants to set a beautiful table and then put acrylic rabbit ear salt and pepper grinders on it? Whether you decide to choose shakers geared toward the holiday you are enjoying like the gourd shakers above, available at Sur la Table, or the pinecone shakers below, available at Saks Fifth Avenue....

or you just make your everyday shakers a bit nicer, a seasoned entertainer never forgets the small details that make a table complete. You can find them in metals like this pagoda shaker set by L'objet at Saks Fifth Avenue or...

this pewter radish shaker set by Vagabond House. You can also find fabulous ceramic ones....

like these Jonathan Adler Whale Shakers that I adore or....

this Shake-A-Leg set by Perch Design. And if you find yourself at the...

last minute without a shaker set appropriate for the tone of your table then pour your salt and pepper in small ramekins or glass bowls with a spoon to sprinkle them. Whether you prefer elegance or something more whimsical, just remember that sometimes the littlest details make the biggest impression.

Tie One On

Can you guess what this is? It is a curtain tieback. I generally prefer curtains to hang straight, but there is occassionally reason to use a tieback, like when you find one this fantastic. Each of these Chrysanthemum Tie Backs is hand made of felt in Nepal. This would be adorable in a little girl's room or would stand out in a room with other bold floral patterns.

Roped In

This table is amazing! Hundreds of feet of rope are impregnated with resin and shaped into a cube to create this sturdy table by Josh Urso Designs . His other designs are equally as gravity defying. Think chairs and bowls made of nothing but cloth and resin. I like the table because of it's nautical feel, but it could be just as easily at home in an industrial loft or an artist's studio. No matter where you put it, it's sure to be a conversation starter.

Biggest Fan

Despite the fact that we have no fewer than 30 pieces of artwork or photgraphs in our basement just waiting for us to hang them, not one of them or any series of them is right for above our 9 ft long couch. So for the 2 1/2 years we've lived in our house, I've pondered every day what would be the perfect piece for that wall. It is the first thing one sees as they walk into our main living space so I want it to be right. For a while now, I've had my eye on these Coral Sea Fans from Karen Robertson Collection which are pressed between two pieces of glass. I love their simplicity combined with the aged metal frame that gives them a vintage feel. They come in a variety of colors, although I prefer the white, and I just discovered that there are other options such as starfish and sand dollars as well.

They also come in a variety of sizes, but I think the bigger the better so I would do a series of them in the 24" x 24" frames. Maybe I've finally found "the one".

Ice Capades

Despite the fact that I don't do it all that I often, I love to entertain. I daydream about the amazing parties I would throw if I had the money to do it. It's genetic and the gene was passed on to me by my mother. My mother who has what we call "the party closet". Need 40 matching white dinner plates or champagne glasses? You can find them in the party closet. So I was thrilled to come across the Cordial Sink by Kohler . I think it is genius for home entertaining. It comes with an ice mold that shapes a block of ice that holds 3 wine bottles to covert the sink to a cooler as well as a cutting board that attaches to the sink rim for your garnishes and a tray that sets into it (when not using the ice block) so that if you slightly overpour, it goes right down the drain instead of mussying up your countertop. Once again, I love an item that multi-tasks!